DoggyQ

12 Best Family Dogs for Kids

The best family dogs are gentle, patient and sociable — happy to be part of a busy household with children. These breeds consistently rank as the most kid-friendly.

12 Best Family Dogs for Kids — our top picks

1

French Bulldog

French Bulldog: very high tolerance of children, very high friendliness and very high adaptability — patient with the noise and handling that come with young kids. Muscular flat-faced breed with bat ears and adaptable personality. Excellent apartment companion.

2

Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retriever: very high tolerance of children, very high friendliness and very high adaptability — patient with the noise and handling that come with young kids. Most popular family dog worldwide. Excellent retriever with gentle mouth, high intelligence, and outstanding temperament. Worth knowing before you commit: the Labrador Retriever sheds heavily enough that cleaning becomes a daily routine.

3

Golden Retriever

Golden Retriever: very high tolerance of children, very high friendliness and very high adaptability — patient with the noise and handling that come with young kids. Beautiful, gentle retriever with flowing coat. Outstanding family companion with high intelligence and eagerness to please. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Golden Retriever needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.

4

Beagle

Beagle: very high tolerance of children, very high friendliness and very high adaptability. Small to medium scenthound with gentle temperament. Excellent family dog with moderate exercise needs. Worth knowing before you commit: a strong prey drive makes off-leash recall a long project for the Beagle.

5

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: very high tolerance of children, very high friendliness and very high adaptability. Gentle toy spaniel with silky coat and sweet expression. Perfect family companion with sporting dog heritage. Worth knowing before you commit: the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel does badly left alone all day.

6

Boston Terrier

Boston Terrier: very high tolerance of children, very high friendliness and very high adaptability. American Gentleman with tuxedo markings and friendly disposition. Intelligent and easy-going companion.

7

Havanese

Havanese: very high tolerance of children, very high friendliness and very high adaptability. Cuban toy breed with silky coat and cheerful disposition. Adaptable and social companion dog. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Havanese needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.

8

Bichon Frise

Bichon Frise: very high tolerance of children, very high friendliness and very high adaptability. Cheerful white powder-puff with hypoallergenic coat. Playful and adaptable companion with minimal shedding. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Bichon Frise needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.

9

Keeshond

Keeshond: very high tolerance of children, very high friendliness and very high adaptability. Dutch barge dog with fox-like face and spectacles markings. Friendly spitz breed with moderate exercise needs. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Keeshond needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.

10

Pug

Pug: very high tolerance of children, very high friendliness and very high adaptability. Charming flat-faced toy breed with wrinkled face and cheerful personality. "Multum in parvo" - much in little. Worth knowing before you commit: the Pug sheds heavily enough that cleaning becomes a daily routine.

11

Goldendoodle

Goldendoodle: very high tolerance of children, very high friendliness and very high adaptability. Golden Retriever and Poodle cross combining best traits of both breeds. Popular family companion. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Goldendoodle needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.

12

Labradoodle

Labradoodle: very high tolerance of children, very high friendliness and very high adaptability. Labrador Retriever and Poodle cross bred for service work. Intelligent and friendly with variable coat. Worth knowing before you commit: the Labradoodle needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.

How this ranking works: each of DoggyQ's 321 breeds is scored on the traits that decide this particular question — the same trait ratings shown on each breed's own guide page, so you can check the reasoning rather than take a ranking on faith. Read more about our methodology, or take the free quiz for a ranking based on your own answers.

Popular breeds that are a poor fit for families with children

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Chihuahua (Long Coat)

The Chihuahua (Long Coat) is a popular choice, but low tolerance of children put it at odds with families with children. On top of that, the coat is real work — the Chihuahua (Long Coat) needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.

!

Chihuahua (Smooth Coat)

The Chihuahua (Smooth Coat) is a popular choice, but low tolerance of children put it at odds with families with children. On top of that, the Chihuahua (Smooth Coat) is vocal, which matters if you share walls.

!

Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire Terrier is a popular choice, but low tolerance of children put it at odds with families with children. On top of that, the coat is real work — the Yorkshire Terrier needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.

Not sure which breed is right for you?

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best dog for families with children?
Based on temperament and care needs, the French Bulldog ranks as the top choice for families with children, followed by the Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever.
How was this list of dogs for families with children chosen?
Each breed is scored on the traits that matter most for families with children — such as energy, size, grooming and temperament — using DoggyQ's breed database. For a recommendation tailored to your exact situation, take the free quiz.
Which popular breeds are a poor fit for families with children?
The Chihuahua (Long Coat), The Chihuahua (Smooth Coat), The Yorkshire Terrier all rank near the bottom for families with children despite being widely chosen — usually because the traits that make them appealing elsewhere work against them here.

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