The best dog breeds for kids and families

If your family is looking to adopt a new dog, it can be a tough choice deciding which breed to choose. Based on your family’s lifestyle, you might prefer a smaller dog or one that will get along with any current pets living in your home. Here are our top five family friendly breeds which may help with your decision.

The Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever is currently the number one choice for the position of family pet. A confident, smart and loyal dog, the Retriever is neither shy nor aggressive, and has a lot of patience, making them the perfect companion for your children.

While the Retriever does need a lot of exercise, which might put you off adopting the breed, its love of playtime will make this an achievable commitment.

The Labrador

From the same family as the Golden Retriever, the Labrador is also a popular breed. The Labrador’s temperament is kind, pleasant, outgoing and trustworthy. Their mouths are incredibly soft (a Labrador can carry an egg safely in its mouth) and so they are extremely safe around children.

While Labradors can be boisterous, they are also very smart, and so can be trained by a committed owner.

The Poodle

Often overlooked as a family pet, the Poodle is a very smart and gentle dog. They are also a very sociable breed, getting on very well other animals. Poodles are also great for family members with allergies, as they rarely shed.

They love interacting with family members and joining in the fun, so would make a perfect addition to any family.

The Irish Setter

The Irish Setters are known for getting along well with children, other dogs and household pets. However, as they are a hunting breed, living with smaller pets may pose a problem. They are an active breed, requiring regular exercise, including off lead running in wide spaces.

Irish Setters are very smart and trainable, making them a trustworthy and loyal dog.

The Vizsla

Also known as the Hungarian Pointer, the Vizsla is a medium sized hunting dog, best suited to a large, active family. The Vizsla has a lively personality but a very gentle disposition, making them perfectly suited to a younger family.

These dogs tend to form close bonds with their owners and families, and so may suffer from some separation anxiety when away from its owners. However, they are very susceptible to training when commanded gently and with love.

So those are our five top breeds for families looking for a new dog, though of course with the right upbringing virtually any dog can settle into family life. When adopting a dog, you should always speak to your vet and/or an animal shelter before you take on the commitment to ensure you’re ready to become a dog owner.