Kid Friendly Dog Breeds For Families

Choosing the right dog for your family needs a lot of thought as every family and its lifestyle is unique. There is no doubt that dogs make a great companion and a lovely addition, but keep in mind that it is a long term commitment and may not be for everyone. If you are planning to get a puppy, it is no different from raising babies as they need lot of attention, care and timely vaccinations, it may all be well worth it once you experience the unconditional love and affection dogs shower on their family.

Let us look at some of the crucial factors that will help you choose the perfect kid friendly dog breed for your home and family.

Size of the Dog:

If you have really small children, a medium sized dog would be perfect as it would be ideal to play as some younger kids may roughhouse or yank the dogs, smaller breeds may not be able to handle and also medium size would not be too intimidating for your child.

Large breeds are perfect when you have big house or open spaces for them to run around and also when your kids are slightly grown up so they can play and walk the dog as well. Small breeds fit right in whether you are in an apartment, big or small spaces. They do need their walks but not as much as medium or large breeds and are perfect for kids to handle.

Irrespective of the size, all dogs need their daily walks, exercise and love to move around the house. Keep in mind that young dogs will be full of energy like a toddler and will love to explore their surroundings. They would need daily dedicated time from the family to tend to their needs as well.

Age of the Dog

Know for a fact that puppies would be almost like a toddler just learning to walk, bumping, slipping, peeing and pooping around the house till they reach an age where you can train them. But as they grow with you the bond gets stronger each passing day. They blend right in with your routine, lifestyle and needs.

Older dogs need some work too they would need to adjust to the family that adopts them, you will have to work with them, give them lot of time and space so they learn to trust you and gradually accept you but on the bright side they would already be trained and well behaved in most cases. Whether a puppy or a grown dog both have their own pros and cons, so there is no right or wrong but just an individual preference based on your family situation.

Temperament

Just like humans dogs have their own personalities too which need to be respected. Some are outrightly friendly, shower affection and love all the attention, while some are shy and take time to open up. Some are very protective, some easily accept changes while some are introverts and love their space. Choose a dog that suits your family expectations.

Aggression in dogs comes as a response to threat, anxiety, fear, neglect, ill treatment, disease, pain, or hormonal rage. While some dogs may show aggression from time to time as a natural tendency its essential to catch the cause and get the help needed to make them learn alternate responses. Research suggests smaller dogs tend to get intimidated more and display aggression as a defensive mechanism, work with a trainer to teach them better responses.

Many dog owners over the years that female dogs are more family oriented, affectionate and very gentle with kids. Although there is no strong scientific evidence to back this claim could be attributed to the male dog tendency to explore and

Lifestyle

If you are a family that runs on a tight schedule think hard before choosing the breed as some dogs need lot of exercise and are active most of the time. They get very anxious and destructive when left alone for a long time. Some love to be left alone and are very happy to lazy around while you run your errands. Not all will be right for your family situation so make sure to think through before you choose the one right for you. We will look at different breeds and their needs later in this article that will help you decide what works best for you.

Allergies in the family

All dogs shed, a few may be perpetually shedding and others seasonally or occasionally but that might still be a lot for families with allergies to pet dander. The more the shedding the more the pet dander triggered allergies. Don't lose hope though as you can still get a dog, there are kid frienly dog breeds that don't shed as much as the others or are hypoallergenic (less likely to cause allergies) that you could consider.

Cost

The price you pay to get a dog may be different for different breeds but the overall cost would not be just limited to that. A dog will need life long care, food, vaccinations, grooming and medical interventions time to time. Some large breeds tend to eat a lot and go through bags and bags of food each month just to sustain while few pure breeds tend to get more genetic issues so think about your finances and how much you are able to shell out.

Maintenance

Dogs need maintenance just like us they need hair trims, nail trims, baths and if you are willing to spend occasional massages. Some breeds also need their anal glands expressed time to time compared to others. The longer and thicker the fur the higher the chance of matting and tangling so they need to be brushed and groomed regularly also it takes longer to dry so best done by professionals with the right tools. If you are on a tight budget, choose breeds that don't need much maintenance and can be taken care at home.

Before we dive into the breeds, remember not to leave your young kids alone with pets. Young children are very unpredictable, some even rough house the dog, yank or trouble the dog to a point where they get agitated or retaliate. While most dogs are very patient and give ample warning growls and signs, children may not be able to understand them or their needs. Adult supervision is must at all times to ensure both your child and the pet are safe and comfortable.

Best Dog Breeds for Families with Kids:

Let us look at some of the kid friendly breeds with different characteristics, nature and needs that you can choose from based on your budget, expectations and space.

Golden Retriever

One of the most popular dogs with families having kids. They are active, intelligent, playful, outgoing and thrive on attention and affection. They need lot of physical and mental stimulation and love outdoor activities like running, swimming and goofing around so be prepared to handle their high on energy personalities and find creative ways to engage them. They love to please people and befriend easily so are not great guard dogs but on the flip side are are easy to train and perfect companions for kids.

They come in shades of gold, being the most common, cream and red, being the least common. They shed their coats twice a year and also expect some minimal shedding throughout the year. Brushing weekly with monthly baths and grooming every 6 to 10 weeks helps maintain their coats.

Size: Medium - Large (based on weight)

Weight: 25 - 35 kgs based on gender

Lifespan: 10 - 12 years

Labrador Retriever

Labs are equally friendly and great family dogs. They are full of love, eagerness and have an outgoing personality. Don't be fooled by their floppy ears, expressive eyes and lazy demeaner, they are very athletic, high on energy and need lot of exercise and attention. Labs love human contact and attention and are very social and gentle with kids.

They are very intelligent and easy to train, Labs come in yellow, black and chocolate brown with short coats that are easy to groom, weekly brushes and monthly baths should keep their coats healthy

Size: Medium - Large (based on weight)

Weight: 25 - 35 kgs based on gender

Lifespan: 10 - 12 years

German Shepard or GSD

One of the most intelligent, loyal and extremely protective dog breeds that are also extremely affectionate and dedicated towards their owners. They make amazing family dogs with protective instincts and guard the family with life. GSDs are athletic, with loads of energy that needs to be spent to keep them out of trouble. They are highly trainable, thrive on learning new commands and tricks and need lots of daily exercise. For families that are active, love outdoors or have ample open space they are a perfect match. They can be good apartment dogs as well provided you give them lots of exercise and time outdoors with necessary training to ensure they are well behaved.

Most GSDs have thick coats and under coats that shed heavily 2 times a year and mildly throughout the year. They need weekly hair brushing especially if long coat, monthly baths and grooms every 6-8weeks to maintain their coats. They come in multitude of colours like black and tan, being the most common, black and red, black and grey, gold, and rare colours like black, blue, dark brown, reddish brown, white, and panda

Size: Large

Weight: 25 - 40 kgs based on gender

Lifespan: 9 - 14 years

Beagle

Beagles are know to be fun loving, affectionate and funny. The are friendly and love to be around the family. Their size and nature to adapt easily make them a perfect option for families living in small places as long as you give them the necessary exercise and find them outdoor spots to play. As they have a short coat, they can be groomed at home but they would still need their nails trimmed, earls cleaned, baths and timely vaccinations.

If you are a family that works or travels a lot and tend to leave your dog alone for long hours then beagles may not be your dog as they don't do well when left alone for long and can get destructive with constant barking.

Size: Medium

Weight: 9 - 11 kgs

Lifespan: 10 - 15 years

Bichon Frise

They are a match made in heaven for families with allergies as they are hypoallergenic and also for those that are busy and live in apartments or have space constraints. They are small dogs so get tired fast, short walks and some fun activities to keep them engaged would do. Even though they don't need a lot of exercise they hate being left alone for long hours, as long as someone can keep them company from time to time they are good addition to any family with kids.

Hypoallergenic doesn't mean they can cause allergies but the change of getting one from them is very less. If you have a child with severe allergies or other respiratory conditions talk to a doctor before getting one.

Size: Small

Weight: 5 - 8 kgs

Lifespan: 12 - 15 years

Poodle

Whether toy, small or medium sized, this aristocratic dog breed is very intelligent, active, hypoallergenic and a lovely add to any family with kids. They are people pleasers, full of life and love to try different activities, so be sure to give them plenty of exercise to avoid destructive behaviour due to boredom. They are gentle, affectionate, social and easy to train but are high on maintenance as they coat needs regular brushing, baths and grooming.

Many trim their coats frequently to avoid matting, if you don't have the time make sure to send them to good a groomer as this is a must to keep their coats healthy. They come in white, brown apricot and black.

Size: Toy, Small and Medium

Weight: Ranges from 2.5 to 30 kgs based on the size.

Lifespan: 12 - 15 years

Saint Bernard

These magnificent giants may seem intimidating if you go by the size but are actually extremely affectionate, loyal, friendly and gentle. They are very good with children and do well in family homes. Don't go by the size, they do well in small homes too as long as you take them for regular walks and give them their daily exercise. They love to stay indoors, snuggle with the family and are quite mischievous. If you are one for tidy homes, this may not be your dog as they drool, shed, play and create a mess but kids love them.

They are massive eaters, this should come as no surprise, need regular upkeep and are prone to certain diseases so if you are on a budget then this is not a dog for you. Also they prefer cold weathers, are made to survive extremely low temperatures so please don't get one if you are in a hot place.

Size: Giant

Weight: 54 - 82 kgs based on gender

Lifespan: 8 - 10 years

Great Dane

Also known as the gentle giants are majestic, massive, one of the largest breeds known for their affectionate and friendly nature. They are huge and imposing yet very gentle and good with kids. They have muscular sleek bodies that look very athletic but in reality they are pretty lazy couch potatoes that do very well indoors with the family. They don't need a lot of exercise but do need regular walks to keep them healthy, lots of food and their short coats need occasional brushing and baths. They are trainable and need to be taught young so they learn to be obedient, gentle (they are very strong so need to learn to be extra gentle with young kids) and patient.

They come in fawn, black, brindle, blue and white with black irregular patches. While they are perfect for families that love to lounge be ready to be wiping their drool off the walls, furniture and may be yourself, but that shouldn't deter you from getting one as they make up for it with unconditional love for you.