Best dogs
Best dogs for families with children
The breeds rated most patient and sturdy with children, with how trainable each one is.
A good family dog is patient, sturdy and trainable, and it still needs supervision around small children, whatever the breed. These are the breeds the profiles rate highest for living with children, followed by how easily each one learns the rules of a busy home.
The list
| # | Breed | Size | Typical weight | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Labrador Retriever | Large | 55 to 80 lb | 10 to 12 years |
| 2 | Golden Retriever | Large | 55 to 75 lb | 10 to 12 years |
| 3 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Small | 13 to 18 lb | 10 to 14 years |
| 4 | Collie | Large | 50 to 75 lb | 12 to 14 years |
| 5 | Bernese Mountain Dog | Large | 70 to 115 lb | 7 to 10 years |
| 6 | Barbet | Medium | 35 to 65 lb | 13 to 15 years |
| 7 | Icelandic Sheepdog | Medium | 20 to 30 lb | 12 to 14 years |
| 8 | Chinook | Large | 55 to 90 lb | 12 to 15 years |
| 9 | Newfoundland | Large | 100 to 150 lb | 9 to 10 years |
| 10 | English Setter | Large | 45 to 80 lb | 10 to 12 years |
| 11 | Spinone Italiano | Large | 60 to 85 lb | 10 to 12 years |
| 12 | Beagle | Medium | 20 to 30 lb | 12 to 15 years |
| 13 | Basset Hound | Medium | 40 to 65 lb | 10 to 12 years |
| 14 | Poodle | Medium | 40 to 70 lb | 12 to 15 years |
| 15 | Miniature Schnauzer | Small | 11 to 20 lb | 12 to 15 years |
About the breeds
1. Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever is a sturdy, water-loving gun dog with an easygoing nature, widely kept as a family pet and a working guide and service dog. Read the Labrador Retriever profile.
2. Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a friendly, feathered gun dog from Scotland, known as a patient family companion, a bird retriever and a frequent service dog. Read the Golden Retriever profile.
3. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a gentle English toy spaniel with a silky coat and an affectionate nature, prone to inherited heart and neurologic disease. Read the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel profile.
4. Collie
A graceful, gentle herding dog from Scotland, famous for its flowing coat and loyal nature, in both rough-coated and smooth-coated varieties. Read the Collie profile.
5. Bernese Mountain Dog
The Bernese Mountain Dog is a large, tricolor Swiss farm dog known for a gentle, affectionate nature and a thick coat, with a short lifespan. Read the Bernese Mountain Dog profile.
6. Barbet
The Barbet is a rustic French water dog with a thick, curly, low-shedding coat and a sociable, easy-going temperament, used for retrieving waterfowl. Read the Barbet profile.
7. Icelandic Sheepdog
A cheerful, sturdy spitz-type herding dog from Iceland with a curled tail and a lively voice, valued as a friendly and adaptable family dog. Read the Icelandic Sheepdog profile.
8. Chinook
The Chinook is a rare, tawny sled dog from New Hampshire, gentle, calm and willing, bred to combine the power of a freight dog with the speed of a racer. Read the Chinook profile.
9. Newfoundland
The Newfoundland is a giant, water-loving working dog from Canada, famous for its sweet temperament, webbed feet and lifesaving swimming ability. Read the Newfoundland profile.
10. English Setter
The English Setter is a gentle, elegant bird dog with a flecked white coat, bred to range and point game birds and valued as a mellow family companion. Read the English Setter profile.
11. Spinone Italiano
The Spinone Italiano is a large, shaggy Italian pointing and retrieving dog with a gentle, patient nature and a distinctive wiry, bearded look. Read the Spinone Italiano profile.
12. Beagle
The Beagle is a compact, merry scent hound from England, bred to hunt rabbits in a pack and known for its nose, its voice and its appetite. Read the Beagle profile.
13. Basset Hound
The Basset Hound is a heavy-boned, long-eared scent hound from France and England, known for its tracking nose, its droopy face and its easygoing nature. Read the Basset Hound profile.
14. Poodle
The Poodle is an intelligent, athletic water retriever in three sizes, known for a curly non-shedding coat and strong trainability. Read the Poodle profile.
15. Miniature Schnauzer
A sturdy, bearded German terrier-type dog with a wiry coat, a quick mind, and a loud voice, popular as a small family companion and watchdog. Read the Miniature Schnauzer profile.
How this list was made
Breeds rated 4 or 5 for children, then ordered by that rating, then by trainability and suitability for first-time owners. The ratings come from the breed profiles on this site, which rate each breed as a whole. Individual dogs differ, so use the list to decide which profiles to read, then meet the breed before you choose.