Deciding to grow your family is an important and exciting decision, even if the new family member has four paws and a wagging tail. Here at Pets a Go Go, we want to help you make the best decision as you adopt a puppy. With all the different breeds and types of dogs, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Especially if you have kids, choosing what dog to get is a difficult decision.
There are lots of factors to consider such as size, shedding, and friendliness. While no two dogs are the same, different breeds can have different traits and tendencies. In order to help your family begin to decide what type of dog they might want, the team at Pets a Go Go has put together our recommendations of top dog breeds for families.
Below are our recommendations for the top 5 dog breeds that are great with kids:
Golden Retriever: These dogs make adorable puppies and loyal adult dogs. They are playful and caring with children. They have great needs for socialization and exercise, but their high intelligence allows families to train them well. These dogs are often patient as kids learn boundaries and play with them. Golden Retrievers are great dogs for active families or families with multiple kids.
Labrador Retriever: You can never go wrong with a Lab. Labs are reliable, loving, and loyal. They are similar to Golden Retrievers with their ease of training and fun personalities. Labs are consistently the most popular dog in the U.S. with good reason. Their incredible obedience and fun often appeal to families. There are three different kinds of labs: black labs, chocolate labs, and yellow labs. Any of these would be a great addition to your family!
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: If you’re looking for a smaller dog, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel may be your best bet. These small dogs are sweet, friendly, and affectionate, especially with their pack (owners). If you’re more of a low-key family, this dog may be perfect for you. They still love to play but do not need as much socialization or exercise as Golden Retrievers or Labs.
Boston Terrier: Terriers, especially Boston Terriers, are great pets for busy families. Boston Terriers are generally low-maintenance on multiple levels. The necessary grooming is easy and infrequent, and they rarely, if ever, shed. They also do not require much exercise, but still love to play with kids and go on walks. This dog is perfect for a family living in an apartment or a family that wants a small, easy-going dog.
Mutts: Don’t forget about mutts! While some families strongly desire purebred pups, there are many upsides to adopting mixed breed dogs. Mutts are often cheaper to adopt because there is often a greater demand for their adoption than for purebreds. In addition, shelters have an overwhelming population of mutts, so if you adopt a mixed breed dog you will be giving a home to a dog in great need of care. However just because you adopt a mutt, doesn’t mean you can’t bring your knowledge of dog breeds with you! You could look specifically for a dog with terrier or spaniel in him. Or maybe there is a golden retriever- lab- spaniel- terrier mix out there in the shelter, waiting for you to adopt him!
When you adopt a pup into your family, it’s important to remain open-minded because you never know what dog will steal your heart. But you can still go into it educated and have a specific breed or mix in mind. Especially if you have kids, you want to pick a breed of dog that meshes well with them and with your family’s lifestyle.
No matter what type of puppy you end up adopting, the most important thing is that the kids and the puppy are happy and safe. So long as this objective is met, you can move on from thinking about dog breeds and start thinking about dog names!
