If you're thinking of welcoming a new dog into your home, but you have kids or want a more docile, easy-to-train type, you might want to research the nicest dog breeds. In this post, our Concord vets have created a list of the friendliest dog breeds for your family.
Choosing The Right Dog
When choosing a new dog - especially when you have kids - you don't just want to pick a breed that you think is the cutest. It's important to research the general temperament and trainability of certain breeds.
Consider where you live, your lifestyle, and what type of personality you'd prefer for a dog. Do you spend a lot of time outdoors? Are you busy with work so you're constantly away from home? Would you prefer a couch potato companion?
Below, our vets have highlighted the best friendly dog breeds that fall under almost every type of personality a dog owner could want.
Pug
These adorable little pups savor their eating and sleeping time. If you've got small kids at home or children with lower energy levels, they may appreciate a pooch that will want to play indoors, then curl up to watch a movie.
Pugs weigh in at about 15 pounds and may be the right dog for your family if you don't have much space. They will also need only a couple of short walks per day.
Golden Retriever
Are your kids the kind that love to take a ball to the park for the afternoon?
They might like a pup that can learn new tricks. Golden Retrievers weigh anywhere from 55-75 pounds and are smart, friendly, loyal, confident and king, making them the perfect pooches for family life.
Newfoundland
Do you have a large home and would like a dog to help you fill it? If so, a huge Newfoundland might fit the bill for you and your family.
These sweet-natured, intelligent dogs are nicknamed 'Nature's babysitter' as they love to be around kids. Friendly, water-loving Newfoundlands can make fantastic family pets.
Irish Setter
Weighing around 65 lbs, this breed is more than just strikingly beautiful! These dogs are lively, intelligent and have a great sense of mischief.
Irish Setters love to chase balls, go for long runs, but also enjoy playing in the back yard with kids. High-energy kids will love spending time with this breed.
English Bulldog
Less energetic, this breed weighs in at about 50-55 lbs, making it suitable for smaller homes and apartments.
These dogs seek out social interactions with their people and will love cuddling up with the family to watch a movie and relax. English bulldogs make sweet, gentle and dependable family pets.
Beagle
At between 18-30 lbs this medium sized breed craves spending time with its people, playing games, and going for walks.
These smart dogs can make very loving family pets when provided with plenty of family interaction and exercise. This is not the best breed for families who are out of the house a lot.