Whether you are a first-time owner or an experienced dog lover, our breed suggestions should help you choose a loving and fitting family pet.<\/p>\n
Best First Dogs for Families<\/h2>\n
If you have never owned and raised a dog before, your choice of breed is even more important.<\/p>\n
Many breeds are not suitable for first-time owners in many aspects.<\/p>\n
Some have intense grooming requirements that are difficult to keep up with.<\/p>\n
Other breeds are more likely to be independent and stubborn. These dogs are often better matched with owners who already have experience and confidence in training.<\/p>\n
It is not fair for a dog to join a family that cannot care for them correctly.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the best dog breeds for families that are completely new to owning dogs tend to be those that are both easy to train and care for.<\/p>\n
For this, we are going to take a look at two of the most popular breeds: the Labrador and the Golden Retriever.<\/p>\n
Labrador<\/h2>\n
According to the American Kennel Club, the Labrador is the most popular breed in America right now, and for good reason.<\/p>\n
They are a very friendly, companionable breed that can easily get along with children and other pets provided that they have been socialized correctly from a young age.<\/p>\n
A medium-sized dog, their kind eyes and easy-going nature complete their look as a gentle, loyal breed.<\/p>\n
For these reasons, they have gained a reputation as one of the best puppies for families.<\/p>\n
They were initially bred to be water dogs, and still enjoy a good swim!<\/p>\n
They can be very easy to train as they are always looking to please their owners.<\/p>\n
Their grooming requirements are pretty standard: a weekly brush, with regular claw trimmings and teeth brushing to keep them in tip-top condition.<\/p>\n
A Lab does require plenty of exercise. A long walk every day with some added play is necessary to keep them healthy and to prevent negative behaviors from forming.<\/p>\n
However, they may not be suitable for families with very young children. They are rather big dogs and can be very excitable. This could lead to accidents.<\/p>\n
They have also been known to suffer from potentially debilitating health conditions such as hip and elbow dysplasia<\/a>, and eye conditions such as progressive retinal atrophy<\/a>.<\/p>\n This breed is also known to be at risk of a serious condition known as bloat<\/a>.<\/p>\n Taking third place within the AKC\u2019s popularity rankings is the famous Golden Retriever.<\/p>\n Similar to the Lab, this is a very friendly and outgoing breed that bonds quickly and strongly with members of a family.<\/p>\n They can be very gentle and good with kids, and prove to be tolerant of other pets within the household provided they have been socialized correctly.<\/p>\n The breed was originally developed to be a gundog, a dog that would retrieve game for those taking part in a shoot.<\/p>\n They were bred to be loyal and obedient, something that still shows through today.<\/p>\n A Golden wants nothing more than to please their owners, so they can be easy to train.<\/p>\n But they are known to be rather heavy shedders!<\/p>\n A weekly brush is usually enough to remove dead hair before it ends up all over the house. During shedding season this may become a daily affair.<\/p>\n Again, this is a breed that requires a lot of exercise to keep them happy.<\/p>\n A Golden loves to run and play fetch with their owner. He will require a good session of this and a long walk daily to keep him satisfied.<\/p>\n Like the Lab, the Golden\u2019s energetic nature and large muscular body could potentially lead to accidents around very small children.<\/p>\n If your heart is set on this breed, it may be worth waiting until your children are a little bit older.<\/p>\n The Golden Retriever is also susceptible to hip and elbow dysplasia, eye conditions such as progressive retinal atrophy, and bloat.<\/p>\n There are many concerns when looking at the best dog breeds for young families.<\/p>\n While many breeds don\u2019t have a problem with children, some breeds have are more likely to exhibit potentially dangerous traits.<\/p>\n These may include guarding, possessiveness, and a low tolerance for rough play.<\/p>\n These traits can be worsened by poor or no training being given to the dog at a young age.<\/p>\n Your children must be trained to treat their dog with patience and respect as well!<\/p>\n Both the Golden and the Lab are very patient with children if trained well. They will not mind if the children are a little too rough while they are learning how to play nice.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also important to take into account the size of the breed when looking at dog breeds suitable for young families.<\/p>\n Potential problems exist at both ends of the scale.<\/p>\n Many large dog breeds are described as gentle giants. However, some of these breeds can outweigh a fully-grown man.<\/p>\n Regardless of how gentle the temperament, these large breeds can still knock down a toddler, or scare a child completely unintentionally.<\/p>\n On the other end of the spectrum, miniature and toy breeds face the opposite problem.<\/p>\n They have delicate bones which are easily broken by rough-and-tumble play.<\/p>\n Therefore, it\u2019s a good idea to choose a breed that is neither too large nor too small.<\/p>\n As long as you don\u2019t go too<\/em> small, small to medium dog size breeds are often successful in a family with young children.<\/p>\n Of course, you must still supervise young children around their canine pal at all times.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re in the market for a dog on the smaller side that would be among the best dog breeds for families, the Beagle is a good choice.<\/p>\n Another incredibly popular breed, the Beagle<\/a> is a well-loved small dog.<\/p>\n Energetic and companionable, they easily get along with the family and love to entertain.<\/p>\n They can have a playful nature, meaning they get along with children just fine if they have been trained well.<\/p>\n In fact they usually enjoy the attention!<\/p>\n Their outgoing and friendly nature usually means they are placid with other dogs and strangers too if they have been socialized correctly.<\/p>\n The Beagle was originally bred to be a rabbit hunter; they are a very strong scenthound.<\/p>\n They need at least an hour’s exercise a day, and you’ll need to invest a lot of effort in recall training before you let them of the leash.<\/p>\n Their tidy coat needs brushing about once a week.<\/p>\n As for health issues, the Beagle has been known to suffer from hip dysplasia and patellar luxation. Both of these can cause severe and debilitating pain.<\/p>\n They are also vulnerable to epilepsy.<\/p>\n We don’t recommend huge dogs with very young families.<\/p>\n If your kids are older, though, it’s a valid option. You will want to ensure that the dog has a calm temperament and is properly trained.<\/p>\n Be forewarned that a large dog will need a spacious home to live in. They will need to properly stretch their legs and relax!<\/p>\n If a giant breed is what you are looking for, one of the best dog breeds for families is the Newfoundland.<\/p>\n This breed is a very large dog.<\/p>\n They average 26-28 inches tall at the shoulder and\u00a0 100-120 pounds on the scale.<\/p>\n But their sweet temperament has many referring to them as gentle giants.<\/p>\n They are famed for their affinity with kids, proving to be exemplary nanny dogs.<\/p>\n They are also tolerant of other pets if they have been trained and socialized correctly.<\/p>\n However, we don’t recommend housing small dogs or other pets with a Newfoundland.<\/p>\n Newfoundlands are talented swimmers and have a history as rescue dogs in icy waters. Their ability to save a fully-grown man in such conditions is truly remarkable.<\/p>\n They can be a little bit of a hassle to brush; there is a lot of fur to get through!<\/p>\n Newfoundlands shed continuously throughout the year and need brushing several times a week.<\/p>\n As with all giant dog breeds, training is critical. Having a disobedient 100-120 pound dog is not something you are going to enjoy!<\/p>\n Luckily, the Newfoundland is eager to please and takes well to positive reinforcement training<\/a>.<\/p>\n Puppy obedience classes are the perfect place to start.<\/p>\n The Newfoundland can do well on just 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day.<\/p>\n As for health issues, the Newfoundland is known to potentially suffer from both hip and elbow dysplasia.<\/p>\n Both of these may be avoided by choosing a trustworthy breeder who can prove the health of the parents.<\/p>\n Let us preface this section by saying that no dog breed is going to lead a happy life their people are out for 8-12 hours a day.<\/p>\n While some breeds are more tolerant of being left alone than others, no dog is going to enjoy being left alone for most of a day.<\/p>\n If you work a very tiring job, you might also struggle to find the energy to exercise a Golden or a Lab for a few hours each night after work.<\/p>\n If your pup will be the only one at home for most of the day, then we don’t recommend you get a dog at the moment.<\/p>\n Every family has their own unique situation and responsibilities.<\/p>\n Luckily, with so many different kinds of dog out there, as long as you have the time to spend with them, there’s sure to be a perfect breed for you.<\/p>\n The breeds brought up in this article have proven to be good suggestions for many families.<\/p>\n They are well-known family dogs, and are certainly worth your consideration!<\/p>\n What breeds are a part of your family?<\/p>\n Let us know in the comments below!<\/p>\n American Kennel Club<\/a><\/p>\n Podadera, JM, et al, Canine Elbow Dysplasia<\/a>, ANZ Nuclear Medicine, 2010<\/p>\n Richardson, DC, The Role of Nutrition in Canine Hip Dysplasia<\/a>, The Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 1992<\/p>\n Priester, WA, Sex, Size, and Breed as Risk Factors in Canine Patellar Dislocation<\/a>, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 1972<\/p>\n Patterson, EN, Clinical Characteristics and Inheritance of Idiopathic Epilepsy<\/a>, Tufts\u2019 Canine and Feline Breeding and Genetics Conference, 2007<\/p>\n Coopman, F, et al, Prevalence of hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and humeral head osteochondrosis in dog breeds in Belgium<\/a>, The Veterinary Record, 2008<\/p>\n Petersen-Jones, SM, A review of research to elucidate the causes of the generalized progressive retinal atrophies<\/a>, The Veterinary Journal, 1998<\/p>\nGolden Retriever<\/h2>\n
The right home for a Golden Retriever<\/h2>\n
Best Dogs for Families with Kids<\/h2>\n
What size dog for families?<\/h2>\n
Best Small Dog Breeds for Families<\/h2>\n
The Beagle<\/h2>\n
Best Large Dog Breeds for Families<\/h2>\n
The Newfoundland<\/h2>\n
Life with a Newfoundland<\/h2>\n
Best Dogs for Working Families<\/h2>\n
Best Dog Breeds for Families \u2013 Summary<\/h2>\n
Do you have any breeds you\u2019d like to add to the list?<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nReferences<\/h2>\n