Dog Breeds for Families Series: Best Dog Breeds

Dogs are very good companions to humans. They can cheer up someone who is sad, they can be a great listener for someone with a story to tell, and they can put a smile on just about anybody's face. A dog is a man's best friend. But when children are involved it is a little bit of a different story.

A family with a dog seems to be complete. But if the family has small children and the wrong breed of dog the result could be bad, perhaps even disastrous. With the large variety of dogs in the world it can be difficult for a family with small children to choose the right breed for their family. The perfect dog might have to endure hours of play, the accidental squishing of paws or pulling of the tail, and even the occasional tea party or dress-up time.

Golden retrievers

Golden retrievers were originally bred to be hunting dogs. Though this was their initial line work, these dogs are loyal, gentle, and very friendly, making this breed just right for families with children. Golden retrievers are also very athletic. This could be a great fit for a family with energetic young children looking for a playmate. They have a good temperament as well, which is essential when a young child is looking for something to grab hold of as they fall and happen to grasp the tail of the family dog.

Schnauzer

There are three different sizes of schnauzers, the miniature schnauzer, the standard schnauzer, and the giant schnauzer. All three are great choices for a family dog. Schnauzers are known to be great watch dogs and are very protective of their family. A schnauzer is pretty tolerant of children and very loving to their owners.

Labrador Retriever

Labrador retrievers have a lot of energy and can keep up with the endless supply of energy that young children have. These dogs are very loyal to their family. Labs are very smart dogs and can easily be trained. This is a great attribute in a family dog because children can have a great time teaching the lab tricks. Labs are not aggressive and are very eager to please.

Poodle

The poodle is a great family dog. This breed is very friendly and intelligent and loves human companions. Poodles like to play and it seems that they like to be thought of as one of the family and not just like the family pet. This may be especially fun for young girls to have another "sister" or "brother" to play house or have a tea party with. There are three different sizes of poodles, the standard, the miniature, and the toy poodle. The three different sizes offer a choice for families so they can get the right size of poodle depending on the size of their young children.

Collie

Collies are affectionate, loyal, and patient dogs. Patience is a wonderful trait for a family dog. This breed is very intelligent and does very well in training. Collies adore human companionship and are very tolerant so they do very well in families with children and with other dogs. Collies are very active and are a great choice for a household where the children like play.

In general, these dogs are better for families with small children, but it is important to remember that sometimes there can still be a bad dog in a good breed. Parents should always try to stay close to their children when the dog is around.

More Dog Breeds

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