Best Types Of Dogs For Families

Choosing a dog for your family is not a choice that should be taken lightly. Some types of dogs are just better suited to families that have children.

Some of the dog qualities that you should look for:

Even temperament. Kids have a funny way of showing a dog affection. They pull tails, they grab fur and they don’t mind a good wrestling session. Some breeds are equipped with a little more patience and understanding than others. Below, I’ll list some of the “non-biting” breeds.

Size matters. For the safety of your child, you should think about whether or not that that cute little puppy you just adopted is going to become a 125-pound adult. A very large dog isn’t going to mean to knock your child over, but chances are he just can’t help himself. To avoid having your child accidentally stepped on or whipped by a giant tail, keep size in mind. Another sad reality for most of the extra large breeds is that their life span is not that of a medium-sized dog. How soon do you want to have the “death talk”?

Energy. A lot of breeds require tons of exercise (my black lab included). How active is your family? Behavior problems usually result in a dog not getting the proper amount of exercise.

Here’s a few breeds that are known to be great family dogs:

Beagles- Weighing in at 40-59 lbs., they are a good size. They make great companions for your children, but keep in mind that they do have a tendency to shed. If your child has allergies, think about trying a different breed.

Bassett Hounds- These guys are great with all family members, both 2 and 4-legged. Full-grown, they weigh 50-65 lbs. and don’t need much exercise.

Cocker Spaniels- Spaniels are known to do well with kids. Only 13-30 lbs. as adults, they won’t have the space requirements of a larger breed. However, regular exercise will be needed.

Golden Retrievers- Talk about good with kids! 2nd only to Labs in their popularity as a family pet, these dogs make training easy and love almost all other pets. Exercise comes easy, just grab a ball. Keep in mind, though, they do grow to be between 65 and 75 pounds.

Labrador Retrievers- I’m a little partial (Sam’s a black lab mix), so bear with me. Around kids, they rule. However, they need tons of exercise. Their energy level is high! Another plus is that a lab’s short-haired coat doesn’t require much grooming. These dogs do get pretty big, weighing in at about 75 lbs, so if you’re in a small apartment, without a yard, this is not the best choice.

Pugs- Good with kids and fairly small (14-18lbs.), a pug is a great companion. You must keep in mind, however, that they do shed like crazy, so if your child has allergies, this might not be the best choice.

This is just a short list of the types of dogs that would make great additions to your family. The point that I’m trying to make is this: bringing another member of the family home is a big decision. Do not take it lightly. Dogs require a lot of work. Oh, but they give so much in return…

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