Best dog breed for kids and families

Nothing quite beats the companionship of a friendly dog. Dogs that are friendly with kids and don’t need too much by way of maintenance are the best. Which is all great – the big question is, which amongst the hundreds of options is the best dog breed, one that fits the bill?

Before we dive down into specific breeds, it is important to know what to look for when choosing dogs, especially for kids:

1 – Size

How large your home and the surroundings are is crucial in deciding how large a dog you want to bring home. Obviously, fitting a large Golden Retriever in a small house, the fact that it's one of the most friendly dog breeds notwithstanding, will be a problem! Another factor is the age of the children at home. Typically, follow the inverse rule here – small kids go with big dogs and vice versa. This is simply because smaller breeds tend to be more fragile, and smaller kids may not know how to handle them gently! So evaluate your home scenario carefully, before deciding on which dog you’d like to bring home. Simply put, the larger the breed, the more space it needs to feel at home.

 

 2 – Your Lifestyle

There are some dog breeds that need plenty of exercise and love nothing better than a romp in the park or on the beach. Then there are others that are happy to cuddle up at your feet or with their head in your lap while you watch TV. That is not to say that the more energetic breeds won’t cuddle up with you, it’s just that they will need a fair bit of exercise before they are ready to do so!

Some of the best active dog breeds ideal for families and kids are Dachshunds, Beagles, Cocker Spaniels and all other Retrievers (Labradors, Golden Retrievers), Irish Setters, Border Collies and New Foundlands . The more laid - back but friendly dog breeds that don’t need as much exercise are the French Bulldog, Havanese, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Pugs and Papillons.

3 – Your family’s Temperament 

Are you a family of quiet, soft – spoken members, or are you a rambunctious bunch that likes nothing better than a few laughs from time to time? Speak to dog owners or do your research, and you will find that they’d recommend breeds depending on whether you like quieter pets, or those that will participate eagerly in your temperament. I have a slightly different view on this, and believe that the dog will take after the temperament of your family.

Dogs are pack animals, and look up to the leader of the pack – in this, the person calling the shots in your family, which would be the mother or the father (or both, in most cases). Invariably, the dog will take to the temperament of who she perceives to be the leader of her pack!

 Still, dogs have their inherent nature too, and amongst the more amiable breeds are Havanese, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Golden Retrievers, Labradors, Pugs, Beagles, Boxers, Irish Setters and Cocker Spaniels.

4 – Your Commitment

Getting a pet dog has its inherent responsibilities. The breed you choose is very important, for it will determine how much time you will need to commit on a daily and weekly basis on grooming and caring for your pet. While the smaller, cuddlier pets look adorable, and are something that children naturally gravitate to, remember, the longer the coat, the more you will have to spend by way of time and effort in maintaining it and ensuring your pet is healthy and disease – free! 

Another factor is the climactic conditions where you live. It saddens one to see people keeping breeds like Siberian Huskies in cities like Mumbai and Delhi, where the temperature can soar upwards of 35 degrees C – which is sheer torture for the poor creatures that are used to way colder climes.

Typical low – maintenance pets are the Dachshunds, French Bulldogs, Labradors, Beagles and Vizslas. While other breeds like Cocker Spaniels, Cavalier Kings Charles Spaniels, and Boxers need moderate maintenance in terms of regular grooming. All said, if you do get a pet home, it is a good idea to brush out the coat at least twice or thrice a week.

The bottom – line is that there are no ‘bad’ dog breeds. There are only bad dog owners! Once you’ve got your ideal dog breed home, check out our blog here on how to best care for her.