The 25 Best Family Dog Breeds, According to a Dog Trainer

Bringing a dog home is like adding another member to your family. While any furry friend is sure to delight you and your kids, everyone will be happier (dog included!) if you take time to consider what breeds or mixes might be the best fit for your family. 

While some breeds might be better than others for life with children, Russell Hartstein, a dog trainer and CEO of Fun Paw Care Puppy and Dog Training in Los Angeles, says the first thing to remember when you’re looking for a family dog is that you’ll need to train your kids, too. 

“Most dogs should be social and friendly to their family and others, but kids always have to be monitored with dogs—regardless of how friendly the dog is,” he says. 

Another thing to keep in mind: Just like people, all dogs are individuals. Regardless of any breed stereotypes, always meet a dog individually to determine if they’re the right fit for your family. 

Ready to learn more about which dogs work best for families? Here are some of Hartstein’s recommendations:

If your kids add all the chaos you need to your home, a Greyhound might be right up your alley. Hartstein says they only need a little bit of space to thrive, and they love short bursts of exercise before they sleep the day away. Also, there are lots of retired racing Greyhounds that need homes.

Hartstein says the Bichon Frise is particularly energetic, so these petite, white cuties make a great fit for active families with time to exercise them. The Bichon Frise might need a little extra time to run around, but once they’re home, they tend to be low-key. Hartstein says they don’t bark much, they don’t shed, and they love to cuddle.

Down to train your dog? When the Beagle is properly trained and has enough opportunities to release their pent-up energy, they can be great family dogs. Without ample training, Hartstein says they can be major howlers. 

If you love big dogs, you’ll love this calm and docile breed. Like the Beagle, they need to be trained, but they love being lazy, and they rarely bark. The only problem you’ll have is finding a place for their huge dog bed.

The Shiba Inu, a Japanese hunting dog, has tons of energy, so it needs to be trained and socialized frequently. Once you’re done exercising this active breed, they’re pretty independent and tend to be on the quieter side. 

The large, fluffy Bernese Mountain Dog may seem high maintenance—this breed sheds excessively and needs regular grooming, exercise, and training. If you can withstand the extra work, you’ll reap all the benefits of the Bernese’s friendly disposition and love for cuddling. 

Another larger breed that requires lots of training and grooming, the St. Bernard makes a great family dog for anyone willing to put in a little extra work. On the plus side, they’re generally quiet and docile (so they won’t disturb your neighbors!). On the downside, all your stuff might have drool and fur on it.

The pit bull gets a bad rap, but they can be great for families. Hartstein says they are wonderfully loyal and intelligent pets that need a lot of training, socialization, and exercise. Unlike other breeds, they’re low maintenance in terms of grooming, and they are very affectionate with their owners.

Known as a classic family dog, Goldens can be hit or miss. As Retrievers, they need constant training, socialization, and exercise to meet their needs. As with most social gregarious dogs on this list, they wouldn’t do well being left alone for many hours at a time, but you probably don’t have to worry about them being too loud. 

If you’re willing to put in the effort, these pups make great family dogs. Like other retrievers, Labs are friendly, intelligent, and very popular dogs for good reason. They are energetic and want to learn, so you need to train them often, or they can develop behavior problems. They also need lots of enrichment and exercise. 

The English Bulldog is bound to make your kids laugh with its thick build and constant snoring. Hartstein says they’re a little high maintenance, but they don’t require a lot of exercise or space—and they’re typically friendly and tolerant with little ones.

More recently made famous (again) by the Obamas, who had a few of them, Portuguese Water Dogs are intelligent, fun-loving pups who love to work. As working dogs, they need lots of exercise, play, and dog training. Prepare to go to the groomer a lot, too. 

A low-maintenance option: the Pug, who Hartstein says will be perfectly happy without much exercise or space. Like the English Bulldog, this breed will entertain your kids with its hysterical noises and snoring. 

Yorkies love to cuddle with grown-ups and kids alike. They are also quiet and calm for smaller dogs, and they do well with new people and other pets. Yorkies may be small, but if they aren’t trained and socialized well, they can develop a barking habit. 

The smallest Schnauzer brother, this guy is spirited, alert, and friendly. Schnauzers are also known for being quite smart, so they love to be trained by their families. Some of them don’t do well with other pets, but with the right training, the average Schnauzer is perfectly fine with little ones around.

While Hartstein says there’s no such thing as a truly “hypoallergenic” dog, the Toy Poodle is a great option for a family who doesn’t want a shedding dog (just keep in mind they do need to be brushed and groomed). Like all Poodles, the Toy is intelligent and does well with training. But the hard work pays off: They love their owners and want to be integrated into the family like everyone else.

If you’re looking for a ride-or-die companion, the Alaskan Malamute could be it. These dogs live for their pack. They do need consistent training and exercise to live up to their sled dog roots, but the extra work is worth the Malamute’s loyal and kind-hearted personality. 

This small breed has no shortage of personality. Though the Shih Tzu requires lots of grooming to avoid matting, they’re great companions and love to snuggle up with their owners. They’re also a more docile breed, so you won’t have to worry about these pups with other pets or kids. 

These long-coated beauty queens are great snugglers and companions who respond positively to the family’s affection. Two caveats to this attention-loving breed: They can be a bit snappier with high-energy kids, and they need lots of grooming.

If the Westie isn’t regularly socialized, it could get skittish in new experiences (or around, ahem, lively kids). But if you stay on top of training, Hartstein says Westies make great adventure partners for active families with older kids. 

The Havanese, which hails from Cuba, is loved for its sweet-tempered, cuddly personality. It’s ideal for families because it’s so adaptable—it’s just as pleased to snore the day away with you or traipse around town with you and the kids.

Intelligent and eager to learn, the sophisticated-looking Cairn Terrier responds well to discipline and training. While they’re loyal and affectionate with their owners—including children—Cairn Terriers might do better in families with older kids.

The spunky Boston Terrier is wired for fun and loves a good ball chase. Get them home, and they’ll cuddle with your family on the couch for hours. Just don’t neglect their training, or you could have an overly-energetic pup with behavior problems. 

Loyal and protective of their families, the Newfoundland is sometimes called a “nanny dog” (there’s a reason a Newfoundland was featured as Nana in “Peter Pan”). They’re known for their gentle-giant personalities, so they’re sure to win over the whole family. Just make sure you have enough room on the couch since Newfoundlands can grow to a whopping 150 pounds. 

Elegant, large hounds who respond well to consistent training, the Borzoi is also an affectionate and loyal family dog. But because of their size and dignified nature, they’re not usually fans of roughhousing. A fenced-in yard is also a must since Borzois are sighthounds who will chase after any small animals they see.