228 kid-friendly breeds
Best Dog Breeds for Families with Kids
These 228 breeds score 4 or 5 out of 5 for kid-friendliness. They are patient, gentle, and love being part of a busy household.
🐶
Aussiedoodle
Medium · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
11-32 kg·10-13 years
Basset Hound
Medium · France
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
20-29 kg·12-13 years
Beagle
Small-Medium · England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
9-11 kg·10-15 years
Bergamasco Sheepdog
Medium-Large · Italy
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
26-38 kg·13-15 years
Bernedoodle
Medium-Large · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
5-41 kg·12-18 years
Bernese Mountain Dog
Large-Giant · Switzerland
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
32-52 kg·7-10 years
Bichon Frise
Small · France/Belgium
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
3-5 kg·14-15 years
Border Terrier
Small · England/Scotland
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
5-7 kg·12-15 years
Boston Terrier
Small · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
5-11 kg·11-13 years
🐶
Boxador
Large · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
23-36 kg·10-12 years
Boxer
Large · Germany
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
25-32 kg·10-12 years
Brittany
Medium · France
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
14-18 kg·12-14 years
Broholmer
Giant · Denmark
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
40-70 kg·8-12 years
Catalan Sheepdog
Medium · Spain (Catalonia)
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
16-25 kg·12-14 years
Cavachon
Small · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
5-9 kg·10-15 years
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Small · England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
5-8 kg·12-15 years
Cavapoo
Small · Australia
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
5-10 kg·12-15 years
Chinook
Large · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
25-41 kg·12-15 years
Cockapoo
Small-Medium · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
5-11 kg·12-15 years
Cocker Spaniel
Medium · England/USA
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
11-14 kg·10-14 years
Collie
Large · Scotland/England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
20-34 kg·12-14 years
Coton de Tulear
Small · Madagascar
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
4-6 kg·15-19 years
English Cocker Spaniel
Medium · England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
12-15 kg·12-14 years
English Setter
Large · England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
20-36 kg·12-14 years
English Springer Spaniel
Medium · England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
18-25 kg·12-14 years
Finnish Lapphund
Medium · Finland
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
15-24 kg·12-15 years
Flat-Coated Retriever
Large · England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
25-36 kg·8-10 years
🐶
Goberian
Large · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
20-36 kg·10-15 years
Goldador
Large · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
27-36 kg·10-12 years
Golden Retriever
Large · Scotland
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
25-34 kg·10-12 years
Goldendoodle
Medium-Large · United States/Australia
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
14-41 kg·10-15 years
Great Pyrenees
Giant · France/Spain
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
36-54 kg·10-12 years
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Giant · Switzerland
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
45-64 kg·8-11 years
Harrier
Medium · England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
20-27 kg·12-15 years
Havanese
Small · Cuba
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
3-6 kg·14-16 years
🐶
Havapoo
Small · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
3-9 kg·10-14 years
Icelandic Sheepdog
Medium · Iceland
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
11-14 kg·12-14 years
Irish Red and White Setter
Large · Ireland
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
25-34 kg·11-15 years
Irish Setter
Large · Ireland
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
27-32 kg·12-15 years
Irish Wolfhound
Giant · Ireland
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
48-70 kg·6-8 years
Keeshond
Medium · Netherlands
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
16-18 kg·12-15 years
Labradoodle
Medium-Large · Australia
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
15-30 kg·12-14 years
Labrador Retriever
Large · Canada
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
25-36 kg·11-13 years
🐶
Labsky
Large · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
18-27 kg·10-13 years
Lapponian Herder
Medium · Finland
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
20-30 kg·12-14 years
Leonberger
Giant · Germany
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
41-77 kg·7-10 years
Lowchen
Small · Germany/France
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
5-8 kg·13-15 years
Newfoundland
Giant · Canada
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
45-68 kg·9-10 years
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Medium · Canada
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
17-23 kg·12-14 years
Old English Sheepdog
Large · England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
27-45 kg·10-12 years
Picardy Spaniel
Large · France
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
20-25 kg·12-14 years
Pointer
Large · England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
20-34 kg·12-17 years
Portuguese Water Dog
Medium · Portugal
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
16-27 kg·11-13 years
Pug
Small · China
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
6-8 kg·13-15 years
Puggle
Small-Medium · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
7-14 kg·10-15 years
🐶
Saint Berdoodle
Giant · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
32-82 kg·8-12 years
Saint Bernard
Giant · Switzerland/Italy
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
54-82 kg·8-10 years
Samoyed
Medium-Large · Siberia, Russia
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
16-30 kg·12-14 years
Schapendoes
Medium · Netherlands
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
12-25 kg·12-15 years
Sheepadoodle
Large · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
27-36 kg·12-15 years
🐶
Shichon
Small · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
4-7 kg·12-15 years
Shiloh Shepherd
Giant · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
36-59 kg·9-14 years
Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
Medium · Ireland
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
14-18 kg·12-14 years
Spinone Italiano
Large · Italy
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
29-39 kg·10-12 years
🐶
Springador
Large · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
23-36 kg·10-14 years
Stabyhoun
Medium · Netherlands
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
18-25 kg·13-15 years
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Medium · England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
11-17 kg·12-14 years
Teddy Bear Dog
Small · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
4-7 kg·12-15 years
Vizsla
Medium-Large · Hungary
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
18-29 kg·12-14 years
Welsh Springer Spaniel
Medium · Wales
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
16-20 kg·12-15 years
Whippet
Medium · England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
11-21 kg·12-15 years
White Swiss Shepherd Dog
Large · Switzerland
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
25-40 kg·12-14 years
🐶
Whoodle
Medium · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
9-20 kg·12-15 years
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Medium-Large · France/Netherlands
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
18-27 kg·12-15 years
Wirehaired Vizsla
Large · Hungary
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
20-29 kg·12-14 years
Yakutian Laika
Medium · Russia
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
18-23 kg·10-12 years
Afghan Hound
Large · Afghanistan
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
23-27 kg·12-18 years
Airedale Terrier
Large · England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
20-29 kg·11-14 years
Alaskan Klee Kai
Small · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
4-10 kg·12-16 years
Alaskan Malamute
Large · United States (Alaska)
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
34-43 kg·10-14 years
American Bulldog
Large · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
27-54 kg·10-15 years
American English Coonhound
Large · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
20-30 kg·11-12 years
American Eskimo Dog
Small-Medium · United States/Germany
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
3-16 kg·13-15 years
American Foxhound
Large · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
27-32 kg·11-13 years
American Hairless Terrier
Small · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
5-7 kg·14-16 years
American Pit Bull Terrier
Medium-Large · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
14-27 kg·12-16 years
American Staffordshire Terrier
Medium-Large · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
20-32 kg·12-16 years
American Water Spaniel
Medium · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
11-20 kg·10-14 years
Australian Kelpie
Medium · Australia
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
14-20 kg·12-15 years
Australian Shepherd
Medium-Large · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
18-29 kg·12-15 years
Australian Terrier
Small · Australia
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
5-7 kg·11-15 years
Azawakh
Large · West Africa
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
15-25 kg·12-15 years
Barbet
Medium · France
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
17-28 kg·12-14 years
Bearded Collie
Medium · Scotland
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
18-27 kg·12-14 years
Bedlington Terrier
Small-Medium · England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
8-10 kg·11-16 years
Belgian Tervuren
Large · Belgium
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
20-30 kg·12-14 years
Berger Picard
Medium-Large · France
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
23-32 kg·12-13 years
Black and Tan Coonhound
Large · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
29-50 kg·10-12 years
Black Mouth Cur
Medium-Large · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
16-43 kg·12-18 years
Bloodhound
Large · Belgium/France
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
36-50 kg·10-12 years
Bluetick Coonhound
Large · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
20-36 kg·11-12 years
Bolognese
Small · Italy
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
3-4 kg·12-14 years
Border Collie
Medium · Scotland/England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
14-20 kg·12-15 years
Borzoi
Large · Russia
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
25-48 kg·9-14 years
Bouvier des Flandres
Large · Belgium/France
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
27-45 kg·10-12 years
Boykin Spaniel
Medium · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
11-18 kg·10-15 years
Bracco Italiano
Large · Italy
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
25-40 kg·10-14 years
Briard
Large · France
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
25-45 kg·12-14 years
Bull Terrier
Medium · England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
22-32 kg·12-13 years
Bulldog
Medium · England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
18-25 kg·8-10 years
Cairn Terrier
Small · Scotland
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
6-7 kg·13-15 years
Canaan Dog
Medium · Israel
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
16-25 kg·12-15 years
Canarian Warren Hound
Medium · Canary Islands
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
20-25 kg·11-13 years
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Small-Medium · Wales
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
11-17 kg·12-15 years
🐶
Cava-Tzu
Small · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
4-7 kg·12-15 years
Cesky Terrier
Small · Czech Republic
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
6-10 kg·12-15 years
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Large · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
25-36 kg·10-13 years
Chinese Crested
Toy · China/Africa
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
2-5 kg·13-18 years
Chinese Shar-Pei
Medium · China
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
18-29 kg·8-12 years
Chippiparai
Large · India
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
15-20 kg·12-15 years
🐶
Ciobanesc Romanesc Mioritic
Giant · Romania
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
50-65 kg·12-14 years
Cirneco dell'Etna
Medium · Italy
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
8-12 kg·12-14 years
Clumber Spaniel
Large · England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
25-39 kg·10-12 years
Coonhound
Large · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
20-36 kg·10-14 years
🐶
Corgipoo
Small · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
5-12 kg·12-14 years
Croatian Sheepdog
Medium · Croatia
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
13-20 kg·12-14 years
Curly-Coated Retriever
Large · England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
27-41 kg·10-12 years
Dalmatian
Large · Croatia
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
16-32 kg·11-13 years
Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Small · Scotland/England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
8-11 kg·12-15 years
Doberman Pinscher
Large · Germany
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
27-45 kg·10-12 years
Dogo Argentino
Large · Argentina
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
36-45 kg·9-15 years
Dorgi
Small · United Kingdom
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
6-12 kg·12-15 years
Dutch Shepherd
Medium-Large · Netherlands
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
20-30 kg·11-14 years
English Foxhound
Large · England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
27-34 kg·10-13 years
English Mastiff
Giant · England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
54-100 kg·6-10 years
Entlebucher Mountain Dog
Medium · Switzerland
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
20-30 kg·11-13 years
Eurasier
Medium · Germany
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
18-32 kg·12-16 years
Field Spaniel
Medium · England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
16-23 kg·12-13 years
Finnish Spitz
Medium · Finland
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
9-14 kg·13-15 years
French Bulldog
Small · France/England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
8-14 kg·10-12 years
German Longhaired Pointer
Large · Germany
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
27-32 kg·12-14 years
German Shepherd
Large · Germany
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
22-40 kg·7-10 years
German Shorthaired Pointer
Large · Germany
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
20-32 kg·12-14 years
German Wirehaired Pointer
Large · Germany
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
27-32 kg·14-16 years
Giant Schnauzer
Large · Germany
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
25-48 kg·12-15 years
Glen of Imaal Terrier
Small-Medium · Ireland
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
14-16 kg·10-15 years
Gordon Setter
Large · Scotland
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
20-36 kg·12-13 years
Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen
Medium · France
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
18-20 kg·13-15 years
Great Dane
Giant · Germany
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
45-90 kg·7-10 years
Greyhound
Large · Egypt/England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
27-40 kg·10-13 years
Hamiltonstovare
Medium-Large · Sweden
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
23-27 kg·12-14 years
Hovawart
Large · Germany
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
25-40 kg·10-14 years
🐶
Huskydoodle
Medium-Large · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
18-27 kg·12-15 years
Ibizan Hound
Large · Spain
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
20-29 kg·11-14 years
Irish Terrier
Medium · Ireland
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
11-12 kg·13-15 years
Irish Water Spaniel
Large · Ireland
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
20-29 kg·12-13 years
Jack Russell Terrier
Small · England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
6-8 kg·13-16 years
Japanese Spitz
Small · Japan
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
5-10 kg·12-14 years
Jindo
Medium · South Korea
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
15-23 kg·12-15 years
Kai Ken
Medium · Japan
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
9-18 kg·12-15 years
Kerry Blue Terrier
Medium · Ireland
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
15-18 kg·12-15 years
King Shepherd
Giant · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
41-68 kg·10-11 years
Kishu Ken
Medium · Japan
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
14-27 kg·12-15 years
Lagotto Romagnolo
Medium · Italy
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
11-16 kg·15-17 years
Lakeland Terrier
Small · England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
7-8 kg·12-15 years
Lancashire Heeler
Small · England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
3-6 kg·12-15 years
Large Munsterlander
Large · Germany
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
23-32 kg·11-13 years
Lurcher
Large · United Kingdom
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
18-32 kg·12-15 years
Maltipoo
Toy · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
2-5 kg·10-15 years
Miniature American Shepherd
Small-Medium · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
9-18 kg·12-13 years
Miniature Schnauzer
Small · Germany
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
5-9 kg·12-15 years
Mountain Cur
Medium · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
14-27 kg·14-16 years
Mudhol Hound
Large · India
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
22-28 kg·10-14 years
Mudi
Medium · Hungary
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
8-13 kg·12-14 years
Norfolk Terrier
Small · England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
5-6 kg·12-16 years
Northern Inuit Dog
Large · United Kingdom
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
25-50 kg·12-14 years
Norwegian Buhund
Medium · Norway
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
12-18 kg·12-15 years
Norwegian Elkhound
Medium · Norway
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
20-23 kg·12-15 years
Norwegian Lundehund
Small · Norway
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
6-7 kg·12-15 years
Norwich Terrier
Small · England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
5-6 kg·12-15 years
Otterhound
Large · England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
36-54 kg·10-13 years
Papillon
Toy · France/Belgium
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
2-5 kg·14-16 years
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Small-Medium · Wales
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
10-14 kg·12-13 years
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
Small-Medium · France
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
11-18 kg·14-16 years
Pharaoh Hound
Medium-Large · Malta
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
20-25 kg·12-14 years
Plott Hound
Large · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
18-27 kg·12-14 years
Polish Lowland Sheepdog
Medium · Poland
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
14-23 kg·12-14 years
Poodle
Varies · Germany/France
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
3-32 kg·10-18 years
Portuguese Podengo
Varies · Portugal
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
4-30 kg·12-15 years
Portuguese Shepherd Dog
Medium · Portugal
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
17-27 kg·12-13 years
Pudelpointer
Large · Germany
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
20-32 kg·14-16 years
Puli
Medium · Hungary
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
10-15 kg·10-15 years
Pumi
Medium · Hungary
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
10-13 kg·12-13 years
Pyrenean Shepherd
Small-Medium · France
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
7-14 kg·15-17 years
Rajapalayam
Large · India
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
22-32 kg·10-12 years
Rat Terrier
Small-Medium · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
4-11 kg·12-18 years
Redbone Coonhound
Large · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
20-32 kg·12-15 years
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Large · Zimbabwe/South Africa
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
32-41 kg·10-12 years
Saluki
Large · Middle East
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
18-27 kg·10-17 years
Schipperke
Small · Belgium
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
3-9 kg·12-14 years
Schnoodle
Varies · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
3-34 kg·10-16 years
Scottish Deerhound
Giant · Scotland
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
34-50 kg·8-11 years
Sealyham Terrier
Small · Wales
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
10-11 kg·12-14 years
🐶
Segugio Italiano
Medium · Italy
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
18-28 kg·12-14 years
Sheprador
Large · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
23-36 kg·10-14 years
Shetland Sheepdog
Small-Medium · Scotland
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
6-12 kg·12-14 years
Shih Tzu
Small · China/Tibet
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
4-7 kg·10-18 years
Shikoku
Medium · Japan
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
16-25 kg·10-12 years
Siberian Husky
Medium-Large · Siberia, Russia
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
16-27 kg·12-14 years
Sloughi
Large · North Africa
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
18-28 kg·12-14 years
Small Munsterlander
Medium · Germany
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
18-27 kg·12-14 years
Spanish Water Dog
Medium · Spain
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
14-22 kg·12-14 years
Standard Schnauzer
Medium · Germany
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
14-20 kg·13-16 years
Sussex Spaniel
Medium · England
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
16-20 kg·13-15 years
Swedish Vallhund
Small-Medium · Sweden
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
9-14 kg·12-15 years
Tamaskan
Large · Finland
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
25-40 kg·14-15 years
Teddy Roosevelt Terrier
Small · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
4-11 kg·14-16 years
Thai Ridgeback
Medium-Large · Thailand
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
16-34 kg·12-13 years
Tibetan Spaniel
Small · Tibet
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
4-7 kg·12-15 years
Tibetan Terrier
Medium · Tibet
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
8-14 kg·15-16 years
Tornjak
Large · Bosnia/Croatia
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
28-50 kg·12-14 years
Transylvanian Hound
Medium-Large · Hungary/Romania
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
22-35 kg·10-14 years
Treeing Walker Coonhound
Large · United States
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
20-32 kg·12-13 years
Weimaraner
Large · Germany
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
25-40 kg·10-13 years
Welsh Terrier
Small-Medium · Wales
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
9-10 kg·12-15 years
West Highland White Terrier
Small · Scotland
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
6-10 kg·13-15 years
Wetterhoun
Medium-Large · Netherlands
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
25-35 kg·12-14 years
Xoloitzcuintli
Varies · Mexico
Good with Kids
Trainability
Energy
4-25 kg·13-18 years
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a dog good with kids?
Family-friendly dogs are typically patient, gentle, and tolerant. They can handle the unpredictable behavior of children without becoming anxious or aggressive. High trainability also helps, as well-trained dogs respond better to commands and boundaries. Breeds like Labradors, Golden Retrievers, and Beagles consistently rank highest for families.
At what age should kids interact with dogs?
Children of all ages can interact with dogs, but supervision is essential, especially for children under 6. Toddlers should always be supervised, and children should be taught how to approach and pet dogs gently. By age 7-8, most children can learn responsible dog care like feeding and basic grooming.
Are big or small dogs better for families?
Both can work well. Larger dogs like Labradors and Golden Retrievers tend to be more tolerant and sturdy enough for rough play. However, they need more space and exercise. Smaller family dogs like Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Beagles are easier to manage and great for families with limited space.
Which family dogs shed the least?
If your family needs a low-shedding dog, consider Goldendoodles (1/5 shedding), Labradoodles (1/5), Bichon Frises (1/5), or Havanese (1/5). These breeds are kid-friendly and produce less dander, making them better for families with allergies.