When selecting the best dog for your family, there is no one right answer. A number of factors must be considered, including the children in the family and their ages, how active the family is, the amount of space available in the family home, the amount of time the family can dedicate to the dog and so on. Some popular choices of family dogs are discussed below to assist in making the decision.
A new dog or puppy, regardless of breed, should be obtained from a reputable source such as a good breeder, preferably registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) or similar body, or a credible rescue organization. Back yard breeders, puppy mills and the like often sell puppies of dubious health or temperament.
Any dog chosen will have a lifespan of ten or more years, so it’s a good idea to do research on any breed you are considering, and meet dogs of that breed, before deciding on whether it will be the best match.
As well as the pure bred dogs discussed below, the old family favorite, a cross breed dog, is also worth considering.
Basset Hound
Basset Hounds are not very active dogs, making them a good choice for a less active family. They are tolerant and friendly, and tend to get on with other dogs, as well as being able to cope amiably with the antics of younger children, hence their reputation as one of the best dogs for families. For a family who would like a loyal, cuddly dog, to sit on the couch and watch movies with them, the Basset Hound is ideal.
Like most hounds, the Basset can have quite a powerful voice, so they may require training if barking will be a problem. As they are bred to work independently, they may be more difficult to train than, for example, a Border Collie. However, they certainly are trainable and also don’t have the high exercise requirements of many other breeds.
Beagle
The Beagle is happy-go-lucky, friendly dog and good with children. They have moderate exercise requirements and are also usually get along with cats, making them one of the best choices for cat loving families. The Beagle has a short attention span and is easily distracted by scents, making training a little harder, and is not considered to be a good competitive obedience dog. They are, however, excellent trackers and have a playful, even-tempered personality.
They are not guard dogs but will alert the family to intruders by barking. Being social dogs, they do not enjoy being left alone and can be noisy in this circumstance.
Cocker Spaniel
The Cocker Spaniel is alert, intelligent, loyal, and easy to train and has long been popular as a good family dog. Its medium size makes it easier to handle than some of the larger breeds. This dog will need a fair amount of exercise as well as grooming.
They enjoy company and are very devoted to their families, often bonding strongly with one person. Although generally friendly, some individuals can be aggressive, so selecting a good breeder, who has dogs of sound temperament, is important. It also appears that there is a relationship between coat color and aggression in Cocker Spaniels, with the solid colored dogs being more prone to it than the bi-colored dogs.
German Shepherd
For a family looking for a guard dog, as well as a family dog, this breed is one of the best choices. This breed is loyal and devoted to family but reserved with strangers, thus good socialization from puppy-hood is important to prevent excessive wariness. They are fairly tolerant with children, but may not be happy to put up with as much rough-housing as, for example, the Labrador, so children will need to be taught to treat them with respect.
This breed is curious, intelligent, brave and easy to train, and they do best with regular exercise and a job to do.
Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is often recommended as one of the best choices for families. They share many characteristics with the Labrador Retriever described below. While they are still generally fairly lively dogs, most are mellower in personality than Labrador Retrievers.
This breed will require exercise, and, due to the longer coat, fairly regular brushing. They are a large breed and so will need to learn to curb their boisterousness around smaller children, but are generally fairly tolerant of clumsy handling from youngsters.
Labrador Retriever
Labradors can range widely in temperament from fairly mellow to highly excitable. Most are quite lively dogs. They are playful and physically tough and will tolerate rambunctious children well. Labradors are very intelligent and are easy to train but will require a certain amount of exercise.
This breed is consistently listed as the most popular pure bred dog in several countries, and is often the first breed to be recommended as a family dog, and it’s easy to understand why. However, it should be borne in mind that a Labrador is a lot of dog, being a large breed with a powerful tail that can send things flying when wagged. Training is important, especially if the family has young children who might be knocked over. Most Labradors are not couch potatoes and will do best with a family who enjoys to go for long walks and play games with them.
Miniature Schnauzer
This is a good choice for a family who would prefer a smaller dog. They are alert, watchful, playful, even-tempered and easy to train. Due to their small size, interactions with children should be supervised and children taught to be gentle with the dog.
They do not shed much, but usually will require trips to the groomer to have the outer coat shaved. They may be prone to chasing smaller pets, so they should be habituated to these from puppyhood to prevent problems.
Poodle
All dogs shed, but Poodles do not shed much, making them one of the best choices for families with allergies. Poodles, however, do require quite extensive grooming.
Poodles can be standard, toy or miniature in size, so regardless of whether a smaller or larger dog is preferred, a Poodle can be a good match. Poodles are known for their intelligence and trainability but have high levels of energy and are best suited to a more active family. They can become destructive if their requirements aren’t met.
Pug
The Pug is another good choice for a family who would prefer a smaller dog. They are fairly hardy, making them suitable playmates for children. This breed does not tend to be noisy or highly active and are generally easy to train, with minimal grooming requirements. They will fit in easily with many families.
Selection of a good breeder is important as Pugs may be prone to health problems.
Rough Collie
A well-bred Rough Collie should be friendly and good with other animals and with children. As is the case with many herding breeds, they are prone to shyness, so socialization should be a priority. Their long coats will require regular grooming. When gently trained, they are very responsive to training. Children would need to be taught to be gentle with this sensitive dog. They are usually alert but calm and can live happily in a smaller space, although some exercise will need to be given.
Which is the best dog for a family is a difficult question to answer and there are many other breeds which can be fantastic family pets. The best advice that can be given, with regard to choosing the best dog for your family, is to do your research thoroughly before bringing a new dog home.