The Best Dog Breeds for Families With Young Children

When it comes to expanding your family to include man’s best friend, you naturally want to find a dog that’s going to be a good fit for the whole family. And when you have young kids, this is even more important. For one thing, you obviously want to ensure the safety of your children, and regardless of what people say about pitbulls making wonderful pets, the truth is that this dog has been bred for aggression for years, so finding one that is suitable for a family could be like finding a needle in a haystack. The other side of the coin is that young kids are prone to pulling ears and tails, and they’re not terribly coordinated. So you need a dog that can take it in stride – you also don’t want your kids to accidentally hurt your dog. Here are just a few breeds that are sure to be a good fit for a family with young children.

You really can’t start a discussion about family dogs any other way than with the Labrador retriever, more commonly called a lab. It’s almost as if this breed of pooch was tailor made for large families with kids of all ages. Labs are gentle, affectionate, and eager to please their families. They love to run and play and they’re great in the water, although you do have to watch out for ear infections with those floppy ears if you let them in the pool during the summer. And they’re just as happy fetching a ball as they are getting their ears scratched or sleeping at the foot of the bed. There’s simply no better breed for families in search of a dog that will grow with their young children and truly become a member of the family.

Golden retrievers fall into the same category as labs – they’re equally amiable and they’ll give your kids plenty of opportunity for exercise as they get older. But because they have long hair, they’ll require a little more care than a lab, which can be a bit tough for busy parents. Still, they make a wonderful addition to any family. The same goes for Newfoundlands, whose coats require some care. But the great thing about this large breed is that it is perfect for kids, with a calm and gentle disposition belied by its size.

Of course, these large dogs need plenty of space to move, run, and play. So if you live in a condo, apartment, or even a small home in the city, you don’t want a dog that’s going to go nuts being cooped up all day. Luckily, there are some smaller breeds that are also great for kids. If you’re looking for a medium-sized dog, you might consider a bulldog. This breed tends to be very relaxed and even a bit lazy, so it’s not a bad choice for the family that doesn’t have a lot of yard space. But if you want a more energetic option, you could always go with a beagle, which is bound to be a happy, friendly, and playful dog that is basically a smaller version of a lab, if you go by disposition.

You could also go with smaller breeds – kids are sure to love playful Maltese or Shih Tzu, since these breeds tend to have plenty of energy without featuring traits like yapping, snapping, or nervousness that some other small breeds are prone to. And of course, you could look for mixed breeds, like adorable teddy bear pups for sale. You may even find that mutts offer the best all-around family-friendliness. Not only can you find a great personality, but also a dog that lacks the medical issues that sometimes accompany purebred pooches. Finding the right dog for your family will take some searching, but when you know which breeds are best for small kids, you’re sure to find the perfect fit.