What about chihuahuas? They have huge hearts and are very loyal. I've never owned one myself but I think these are one of the many family friendly dogs.
12 Most Family Friendly Dogs
Choosing a dog is a big decision, especially if you have little ones. Having the experience of owning several over the years ( I currently have three ) and observing many types of breeds from my dog crazy friends, I have come up with what I think are the most family friendly breeds. All of these breeds have a good disposition and are great around kids. From one dog lover to the next, I hope you enjoy my picks and welcome any new additions to the list
1. Pug
These cute little characters are big dogs in a little dogs body. Able to withstand the abuse of a toddler and cuddle up with a teen. If you can put up with the snoring, they are a great addition to your family.
We have a Pug named Tootie. She has had 2 litters. The first one was planned and pups were very cute. The second one kinda happened with the Chihuahua down the road. Those were some ugly puppies…
2. Labrador Retriever
Always a favorite in several flavors, chocolate, yellow or black, this breed will be your best friend for life. Known for their outstanding intelligence and loyalty. They can be a little rambunctious as pups, but mature to be great companions.
3. Golden Retriever
Close in personality to the lab, one of my all time favorites. My 1st dog and best friend Woody will always have a place in my heart. Loving and smart, they will look out for you, watch over your children and chase a ball for hours.
4. The “Doodle”
A relatively new breed, poodle/lab = Labradoodle and poodle/golden = Goldendoodle crosses give you personality galore. Each with its own unique look. Wonderful dogs who think they are circus clowns at times. Minimal to no shedding, but more grooming for sure, it is hard not to like one of these crosses.
We have a mini goldendoodle named Dudley who just may be the friendliest dog ever. Warning… if you are looking for a guard dog you best choose another breed. These dogs would rather run from trouble than bark at it.
5. Border Collie
Known as one of the smartest dogs, these are great companions. Just know that they like to have a job to do. They can be as happy chasing a stick as chasing sheep, but need to be active. Wonderful for herding your children as well. No need to worry about them straying.
6. Boston Terriers
These cute little dogs were once carriage dogs in Boston, hence the name. Great dispositions and the perfect size, these mascots of Boston University always become a family favorite.
7. Boxers
How can you not like these characters? Always looking for a pat or a scratch behind the ears, these super friendly dogs are good with everyone. A good size with minimal grooming and maintenance. Beware… just like the pug, the snoring may get annoying to some.
8. Collies
Not seen as much as they used to be in the days of “Lassie” these are fabulous dogs. Great with kids, super smart and beautiful. Be warned though, they do require a fair amount of grooming, but it is certainly worth it.
9. Beagles
There is nothing cuter than a beagle puppy, with their long ears and sad eyes. Beagles make great family pets. They are very tolerant and easy to get along with. Make sure you hold on tight during your walks, a beagle is a hunting dog and will want to chase any rabbit or squirrel just for the fun of it!
10. Bulldog
How can you not like one of these dogs? With their wrinkled faces and powerful bodies, they come in a room like a steamroller. Bulldogs are great with kids and require very little exercise, so if you just want a dog to hang out with, this is a great one. But if you expect him to chase a ball……….well good luck! This breed has been known to ride a skateboard though.
11. Corgi
Another herding dog that makes a great family companion, these dogs are great with kids and super smart. They always enjoy a job to do and will be happy to do what you ask them. It’s also hard to resist their smiling faces and long upright ears. They do have a dense coat that requires a daily brushing.
12. Mutt
Last but not least is the adorable mixed breed. Some of the best dogs I have owned have been some sort of cross. Now with the “designer “ breeds becoming popular, it just goes to prove my point. Easily found in shelters and rescues, look for one that is a cross of some of the breeds listed above.
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Lewis Poretz
Lewis Poretz is an 18+ year veteran of the mortgage business and an early adopter of social media. A passion for blogging led to becoming an ActiveRain.com "Rainmaker" and a featured contributor to the nationally recognized Zillow Mortgages Unzipped blog. A self admited "tinkering techie," after becoming frustrated with the lack of good training for all things social media related, combined with the collapse of the mortgage market being eminent, Poretz launched SocialYo in 2009. Beta tester - Speaker - Product Evangelist - Twitter Chat Host - Guitar Player
77 comments
what about shih tzus???? I have one and he is an angel so sweet loves kids and people
I'm glad to see the Collie on this list. We have one and she has been the best and smartest dog that we have ever owned. She is great with the children and when she was younger she never let them out of her sight (they were her heard). I never had to worry because she was always there to let me know if something was wrong and she would get my attention if something did go wrong. She is now 13 and the children have all moved out so she heards the cats and other dogs. I can't imagine our life without a collie in it.
@RachelintheOC @12most Mine is not on the list but as a rescue, we wouldn't have it any other way. ;)
Nice post! I am partial to whippets. I have 3 very spoiled ones. They are also good family dogs - just expect to share the couch with them.
@reneedobbs Whippets are cool looking dogs. Not too familiar with their temperaments. Thanks for sharing Renee.
Oh, and actually I should have said when we "got" our current dog (not bought), because we actually got him from a shelter.
Good list I will keep it in mind next time we are looking for a dog. I know when we bought our current dog the dog breed highest on our list was a corgi, because they are supposed to be super with kids.
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Glad this was most eyeballed, as I missed it first time around. Well done Lewis! We have a Cavalier Spaniel and he has a wonderful disposition that would work well within a bigger family. Not yappy, tolerant, good with our cat (mostly, but she's a bad ass and happy to show him who runs the show), and very loyal and loving. I also love Shelties , which have many of the same characteristics. I think the final point about always considering a rescue dog is important to make as well. If you can take a look around a local shelter before any other route, I'm sure one of those dogs in need will lure you in and they're forever grateful :-)
I'm gonna go buy Tootie the Pug, pictured above, a new chew toy for making the 12most eyeballed posts of 2012... wow!
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We rescued a doodle of some sort...not sure what the mix is, but you are absolutely right about this breed. He is the friendliest, sweetest dog ever, and we adore him. I am a strong advocate for animal rescue!
@sharongreenthal I have never met a doodle that didn't have a smile on its face.... what's your doodle's name?
@LewisPoretz His name is Lambeau, in honor of the field where our family's beloved Green Bay Packers play. Plus, he's white, so the "lamb" part works for him!
Ok stepping out on a limb I can already hear groans and we are suppose to voice our experiences right! Good.
I have had a Lab , named him Duke- was gift to my son's father when we married (tears up everything, including any and every flower bed) Loved him to pieces with us for YEARS (still a pill).
I have had a Blue Tick Coon Hound-she was already named when we got her Beguale Ann( well technically the kids as a friend gave her to him) she was Fabulous dog well behaved (most hunting dogs are).
I have had a German breed German Sheperd AWESOME dog, smart as hell, Named him Baldur (Norse God of LIght and Beauty) When his ears where growing between the floppy puppy ears to grown sheperd ears I played a game with Baldur. When he would do his ears down I said Baludr is Yoda. Very quickly (remember I said he was incredibly smart) even as his ears where the perky grown state I could say, Baldur is Yoda and voila he would fold his ears and give you that look ROFL.
Then I was blessed with the best dog and will probably stop there, as any other dog has so much to live up to this dog- it's a high mountain. Buster Brown a pure breed Rottweiler. Never met a dog with a better disposition. He was well trained and I learned a lot from the breeder (who had a doctorate in animal behavior). The breeder taught me that to have a large powerful dog like a Rottie you have to be Alpha of the pack. I trained him with help of professionals and he would walk by my side without a leash and NEVER move without permission.
I could down him and walk away and he would stay there until called. He could leap over 6 ft in air to catch a ball ( his favorite) and he went everywhere with me. He loved riding in the explorer, he disliked motorcycles and would bark at them in protective mode. He was very cautious of horses ( as he and I were almost killed by one leading a carriage in Philly when it bolted and leaped over two cars and landed on another).
Needless to say after his 12 years here on earth, he truly was my best friend, as he silently protected me, was always loyal, when I had a bad day he would plop his head in my lap and I would smile and we played in many a snow together until we both almost dropped from laughter.
SO, for me it's about how well do you and the breed fit together. How well do they fit in your lifestyle. Is their temperament a fit for your family. Did you pick the right dog and let him or her be the light in your life that they wanted to serve.
12 Most Family Friendly Dogs http://t.co/oglwTdi via @12most is yours on this list? / @susanborst
Had a Shnoodle as a kid - snouser (no idea how to spell) and poodle. This best friend of mine was a total disaster....
Fun post Lewis
My dog is adopted (the best kind!!!) and I believe her to be a border collie/shepherd/golden retriever mix. She is beautiful, unique, and has the PERFECT temperament. She is smart, yet not so smart that she goes looking for trouble. She loves to be loved and petted, so she often will listen and learn in exchange for affection. I wish I could clone her!!!
I don't have a dog in this race, but I always liked Deputy Dog. What happened to all the good cartoons? Sorry, off topic, but there's your next list.
@margieclayman Great article! I'd also have to add the Italian Greyhound; no smell, no shedding, no noise, just wants to sit in your lap all day (and can run like a striped ape). The one downside is the house training can take quite some time. Thanks again!
Nice, Lewis. You missed the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - regarded as a great family pet - a small dog (18-20 lbs as adult) that acts like a big dog (fetches, swims, etc) but snuggles. Great disposition, few notable health issues. Yes, long hair sheds - biggest negative. Ours is named Brownie - we love him!
@susanborst I spent some time with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel several months ago. Totally agree - awesome dog!
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@margieclayman OK Margie, honest to god true story.... I grew up in Alexandria, Virginia. A close friend throughout my childhood was Chris Meloni... you know, the guy on Law and Order SVU that all the ladies go nuts over... He had a Schnauzer. I remember as if it was yesterday playing football at Chris's house a few blocks down the street from where I lived. I tackled Meloni and his mini schnauzer did not like that a bit. I think I was about 10 years old at the time. I swear I think that damn dog had his teeth clenched to my butt the whole time I was running home screaming Chris Meloni's dog bit me.... whaaaaaaaa - I am not fearful of many animals, but because of that one vivid memory, I stay on the other side of the room from those little guys.... :)
Wow! That's awful!! My bro and I had a similar frightening experience but it was with a dalmation. Poor little guy became really different after his "parents" had their first child. @LewisPoretz
Pugs & Poodles, Goldens & Labs for sure! We have a West Highland Terrier now & his a perfect family dog!
Hi Lewis, I'm so excited that you rated Pugs as number one family friendly dogs. I'm in the middle of writing a post - 12 Most Important things I've learned from my dog - Oliver, who is a pug. He just rocks.
@mariepayton Does Oliver talk a lot? I swear sometimes I look at Tootie the Pug and she is trying to say something... looking at me like I am the dumb one who doesn't understand lol
@LewisPoretz He speaks with his body language. Very expressive little face. And pretty much always gets what he wants! It's very clear who runs our house, and it's not the humans.
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This is a great list! Just don't forget the Bichon Frise. One of the most friendly breeds around, they're great with kids, active, fairly easy to train and they don't shed!
@leladavidson hi Melancholy..been a while. Thanks for checking out 12 most. How bout 12 most effective ways to get booted from the PTA?
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My new favorite is Pub/Beagle = Puggle. The longer nose helps with the breathing/snoring.
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