20 Best Family Dogs Breeds To Bring Home In 2024

Golden Retrievers are well-renowned family dogs. They are so popular that February 3 is celebrated every year as National Golden Retriever Day. They are extremely gentle and fun-loving dogs which makes them perfect furry friends for your kids. Moreover, they do not bark much. For Golden Retrievers, their motto is "Everyone is my friend".

The Scotland-originated breed Goldens are always active and need lots of exercise. A game of fetch, swimming, and hiking are their favorite activities. They are also apathetic to young kids tugging at their tails or pulling on their ears. Who would not want such patient and fun-loving dogs for their family with kids?

Cocker Spaniels are compassionate, energetic, and athletic dog breeds with gentle souls. When they are well-trained and adequately socialized, they make a great family dog.

These intelligent animals do not like to stay alone and are very affectionate with all the family members, especially the kids. They are also known by the nickname "merry cocker" as they keep wagging their tails all the time as they are ever happy and contented.

According to the American Kennel Club(AKC), Beagles are the best family dogs. They are perfect for households with kids as they possess a high tolerance towards children's behavior and are extremely playful in nature.

They are cute, gentle, healthy, and easy to train. They come in different colors. Beagles require less grooming and are low maintenance in terms of health. Such friendly and happy family dogs are extremely popular in the US.

Labrador Retriever is another popular family-friendly dog. Much like the Golden Retrievers, labs are also specially designed as therapy dogs. Their playful nature, friendly attitude, and hyperactivity, alongside their cuteness, bring a smile to anyone's face. 

Labradors are gentle, easy to train, and loyal to their owners. They also treat even strangers as their friends. Despite the large build, Labradors make friendly and obedient dogs.

Although Boxers look a little scary because of their intimidating stance, they are one of the most gentle and loyal dogs. They make a great companion as well as a guard dog. 

Boxers are generally protective of the kids and family, and they are incredibly patient and upbeat in nature. They are really friendly, active, and playful dogs. Some untrained boxers can be a little hard to handle, so many people use a front-attaching harness to maximize control. They are easy to train and require less grooming and care.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are among the cutest dogs with floppy ears and silky coat. They are affectionate, eager to please and love when human pet them.

They enjoy when kids pull their ears or comb through their hair. However, they don't like much of exercise and outdoor games like tug of war. They are famous as the city dogs and best suited for the apartments because of their small stature.

Border Collies are intelligent, eager-to-please dogs that make terrific pet companions. Collies are hyperactive and playful dog breeds which makes them a great family dog.

They are also the most intelligent dog breed with an IQ of more than 100 which makes them as smart as a 4-year-old human. Hence, they are easy to train.

However, due to high energy, they need to play a lot and require constant mental stimulation. So, for busy families who cannot spend much time with their dogs, Collies can be a handful breed.

Poodles love to learn new skills and are highly intelligent. Known for their cute and fluffy look, Poodles love to please their owners making them trainable.

AKC rates Poodle 5 out of 5 as the best family dog around kids. Poodles are smart, patient, and highly energetic dogs perfect for families with young children.

They are highly cuddly and love forming bonds with humans. Some Toy poodles can be fragile for the rough play of young kids, but the standard Poodles are the best for families with children of all ages.

Doberman Pinscher is one of the most people-friendly, intelligent, and energetic dog breeds which makes them a great family dog. It's important to note that proper guidance and supervision are required for Dobermans to engage with infants and toddlers.

They are so loyal, alert and fearless that you can be carefree when you leave your kids under their security. Moreover, if they are raised together with kids, they become lifelong loyal friends to the kids and family.

Pugs are energetic and small-sized dogs with wrinkly faces. They are also called "Much in little" because of their small stature.

They do not act aggressively under normal circumstances and are well-behaved in families with children. They also act pretty funny according to the owner's mood, so they are a little furry comedian you can add to your house.

Siberian Husky is a friendly and affectionate dog with great tolerance and patience. They make good dogs for families with small children.

Huskies are gentle and love human interaction. Their goofy behavior has been compared with kids by most of the owners. These extraverted dogs are a perfect choice for families to keep the environment lively.

Bulldogs also have different breeds and most of them are even-tempered as well as friendly dogs. They are generally calm and easy to train.

A fun fact, the infamous dog from our favorite childhood cartoon Tom and Jerry is also a Grey Bulldog breed.

A well-trained and socialized bulldog is a perfect companion to be around small children and infants. Bulldogs are not so smart but they do have instinctional intelligence. They are extremely obedient, loyal and lovable dog breeds best for families with kids.

Welsh Corgi are the short legged dogs with stocky body. They were originally an herding dog and their legs were useful to run under the cows.

Corgis tend to be lovey-dovey with not just their owners but other humans. These affectionate and friendly dogs are also good with kids because of their playful nature.

They are surprisingly energetic even with the short legs and do not need much attention. Corgis can have fun independently.

Irish Setters look regal with their red silky coat and loves to play a game of fetch or Tennis. They are famous for their sweet and friendly nature which makes them a great family dog.

They are also more intelligent and rambunctious compared to the Golden Retrievers. Irish Setters were originally bred to locate birds for hunters. These smart dogs are not so high in energy compared to other dogs but can keep up as your running companion and daily activities.

Japanese Spitz are renowned for their snowy white furs, which require less grooming as long as the exercise needs are met.

They are one of the friendliest dog breeds and crave human companionship. This intelligent dog breed is eager to please the owners and are alert, making them both a family companion and a watchdog.

Weimaraners are also known as the Gray ghost because of their sleek Gray-colored coat. This beautiful dog breed is known for its friendly, fearless, and obedient nature. They are loved by the hunters and homeowners alike.

Talking about their traits, they are pretty lovey-dovey around humans and affectionate with kids. They are highly energetic and easy to train, making them a perfect family dog.

Mutts are the combination of different breeds of dogs which makes them healthier and brighter than the purebreds. They are also low-maintenance and some mutts are so beautiful because of the mixed traits.

They are also in more need of adoption, so bringing a rescue dog to your family will be like hitting two birds with one shot. One should consult with the shelter workers to find out about the dogs' personalities and backgrounds to find a perfect fit for your family.

Toy Poodles are the small sized dogs with curly fluffy coat. They are playful and energetic dogs with a gentle nature.

The young children can be rough for the small and weak Poodles but when well-trained, these intelligent and beautiful dogs are one of the best family dogs.

Brazilian Terriers are the most affectionate, loving, courageous and loyal dogs. They make a great companion for kids because of their wonderful temperament.

They were used for canine sports and hunting, so they are really alert as well as smart dogs.

German Shepherds are originally herding dogs but they are gentle, trainable and affectionate dogs which makes them a great companion.

These loyal dogs are loving towards babies and bigger children. They are famous for their high intelligence, fearlessness and loyalty. They are a delight for the true dog lovers. German Shepherds may look intimidating because of their large muscular body but they are kind and protective by heart.