12 Best First Dogs for Families With Kids — our top picks
Golden Retriever
Beautiful, gentle retriever with flowing coat. Outstanding family companion with high intelligence and eagerness to please.
Labrador Retriever
Most popular family dog worldwide. Excellent retriever with gentle mouth, high intelligence, and outstanding temperament.
Goldendoodle
Golden Retriever and Poodle cross combining best traits of both breeds. Popular family companion.
Labradoodle
Labrador Retriever and Poodle cross bred for service work. Intelligent and friendly with variable coat.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Gentle toy spaniel with silky coat and sweet expression. Perfect family companion with sporting dog heritage.
Havanese
Cuban toy breed with silky coat and cheerful disposition. Adaptable and social companion dog.
Vizsla
Elegant Hungarian pointer known as the "Velcro dog" for their close bond with owners. Athletic and affectionate.
Brittany
Compact, athletic gundog with boundless energy. Eager to please and excellent family companion when properly exercised.
English Springer Spaniel
Athletic, medium-sized spaniel with excellent flushing ability. Energetic and devoted family companion.
Cavapoo
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodle cross. Gentle and friendly with reduced shedding.
Cockapoo
Cocker Spaniel and Poodle cross, one of the first designer dogs. Friendly and adaptable family companion.
Border Terrier
Small British terrier with otter-like head. Good-tempered, affectionate, and excellent family pet.
How this ranking works: each of DoggyQ's 321 breeds is scored on the traits that matter most for this lifestyle — energy, size, temperament, grooming and trainability — using our vet-reviewed breed database. Read more about our methodology, or take the free quiz for a ranking personalised to you.
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Find your perfect matchFrequently asked questions
- What is the best first dog for a family with children?
- Based on temperament and care needs, the Golden Retriever ranks as the top choice for families getting their first dog, followed by the Labrador Retriever and Goldendoodle.
- How was this list of dogs for families getting their first dog chosen?
- Each breed is scored on the traits that matter most for families getting their first dog — such as energy, size, grooming and temperament — using DoggyQ's breed database. For a recommendation tailored to your exact situation, take the free quiz.