12 Friendliest Dog Breeds — our top picks
Golden Retriever
Golden Retriever: very high friendliness, very high tolerance of children and very high adaptability — sociable with strangers, children and other dogs alike. 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.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: very high friendliness, very high tolerance of children and very high adaptability — sociable with strangers, children and other dogs alike. 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.
Siberian Husky
Siberian Husky: very high friendliness, very high tolerance of children and medium adaptability — sociable with strangers, children and other dogs alike. Medium-sized Arctic sled dog with striking appearance. Energetic, friendly, and excellent endurance athlete. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Siberian Husky needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Irish Setter
Irish Setter: very high friendliness, very high tolerance of children and high adaptability. Beautiful red coat and exuberant personality. Athletic and energetic with a playful, sometimes mischievous nature. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Irish Setter needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retriever: very high friendliness, very high tolerance of children and very high adaptability. 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.
Beagle
Beagle: very high friendliness, very high tolerance of children 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.
Great Dane
Great Dane: very high friendliness, very high tolerance of children and medium adaptability. German gentle giant known for size and calm temperament. Friendly, patient, and excellent family companion. Worth knowing before you commit: the Great Dane does badly left alone all day.
Havanese
Havanese: very high friendliness, very high tolerance of children 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.
Vizsla
Vizsla: very high friendliness, very high tolerance of children and high adaptability. Elegant Hungarian pointer known as the "Velcro dog" for their close bond with owners. Athletic and affectionate. Worth knowing before you commit: the Vizsla needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
English Cocker Spaniel
English Cocker Spaniel: very high friendliness, very high tolerance of children and high adaptability. Merry, active spaniel with beautiful coat. Smaller than American Cocker but with more hunting drive. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the English Cocker Spaniel needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Basset Hound
Basset Hound: very high friendliness, very high tolerance of children and high adaptability. Low-slung French scenthound with excellent nose and gentle nature. Calm, patient family companion. Worth knowing before you commit: the Basset Hound is stubborn enough that first-time owners often struggle.
Newfoundland
Newfoundland: very high friendliness, very high tolerance of children and medium adaptability. Canadian water rescue dog with sweet temperament. Gentle, patient, and excellent swimmer. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Newfoundland needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
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 see which breed you look like from a single photo.
Popular breeds that are a poor fit for owners who want a sociable, people-loving dog
Shiba Inu
The Shiba Inu is a popular choice, but low friendliness put it at odds with owners who want a sociable, people-loving dog. On top of that, the Shiba Inu sheds heavily enough that cleaning becomes a daily routine.
Belgian Malinois
The Belgian Malinois is a popular choice, but its trait profile pulls against owners who want a sociable, people-loving dog. On top of that, the Belgian Malinois needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
Chihuahua (Long Coat)
The Chihuahua (Long Coat) is a popular choice, but low tolerance of children put it at odds with owners who want a sociable, people-loving dog. On top of that, the coat is real work — the Chihuahua (Long Coat) needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Which dog do you look like?
Take one photo and an AI model tells you which of our 321 breeds you most resemble, and which features gave it away. Free, no account, and your photo is never stored. It is a game rather than advice — but every match links straight into that breed's real guide.
See which dog you look likeFrequently asked questions
- What is the friendliest dog breed?
- Based on temperament and care needs, the Golden Retriever ranks as the top choice for owners who want a sociable, people-loving dog, followed by the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Siberian Husky.
- How was this list of dogs for owners who want a sociable, people-loving dog chosen?
- Each breed is scored on the traits that matter most for owners who want a sociable, people-loving dog — such as energy, size, grooming and temperament — using DoggyQ's breed database. The same trait ratings are printed on each breed's own guide page, so you can check why a breed placed where it did.
- Which popular breeds are a poor fit for owners who want a sociable, people-loving dog?
- The Shiba Inu, The Belgian Malinois, The Chihuahua (Long Coat) all rank near the bottom for owners who want a sociable, people-loving dog despite being widely chosen — usually because the traits that make them appealing elsewhere work against them here.