Top 5 Most Popular Dog Breeds for Families

best dog breeds for families

There are different types of dogs to choose from. Each of which has its characteristics and temperament. The dog’s breed must complement your family dynamics and lifestyle. If you have small kids, you must get a dog breed that is safe to be around children and gentle with kids. Learn about the top 5 picks of the best dog breeds for families. 

best dog breeds for families golden retriever


Golden Retriever

You might have noticed, there are plenty of movies with families owning Golden Retrievers as pets. But more than being one of the best dog breeds for families, they are also known to be great field workers and hunters. Golden retrievers are also used as guides for blind people. They also are a great help in search and rescue missions. 


If you have energetic kids running around, Golden Retrievers could be your playmate. This dog breed is known to have a medium energy and playfulness level. They are easy to adapt to their environment which could be a downside as they can also be open towards strangers. 

Golden retrievers have a high trainability level. Your family won’t be having a hard time teaching this dog basic obedience. It also needs mental stimulation so make sure to incorporate things such as puzzles during playtime with your kids.  

As a family pet 

  • Affectionate towards the family: 5/5

  • Gentle with children: 5/5

  • Friendly with other dogs: 5/5 


Bernese Mountain Dog

best dog breeds for families bernese mountain dog

Bernese Mountain Dogs may seem intimidating due to their size, but this dog is a popular dog breed for families. This dog breed is known to have a high tolerance for children due to their calm demeanor. Bernese Mountain Dogs are social animals and love companionship. They are intelligent animals so training them won’t be such a challenge.

Before getting this breed, consider your living space if you have enough room to accommodate it. They are known to have such high energy and need physical activity and exercise to keep them active and happy. 

 Do not allow your kids to ride this dog or climb over it, it might seem fun but it’s not advisable. This could lead to accidents where your kid could fall over or the dog tripping over your kid. This could also lead to intense barking which could startle your little one or worse, a bite from your pet. 

As a family pet 

  • Affectionate towards the family: 5/5

  • Gentle with children: 5/5

  • Friendly with other dogs: 3/5 


Standard Poodle

best dog breeds for families standard poodle

If you have kids with allergies, poodles could be an option due to their hypoallergenic coat. Not only are they known for their intelligence, but they are also playful and love to spend time with their families. Poodles are great hunters and protective of their owners, they would send you a warning right away if something is off. 

A standard poodle is also known for its patience and can tolerate different kinds of play with your kids. This dog breed is energetic and could run around with your kids for hours. They are also loyal pets and would naturally bond with the whole family. Poodles could be trained easily with fun tricks. 

As a family pet 

  • Affectionate towards the family: 5/5

  • Gentle with children: 5/5

  • Friendly with other dogs: 3/5 

Crossbreed Poodle

There are crossbreeds of poodles that are exceptionally great for families with young kids. The Sheepadoodle is one example. It is a mixed breed between a Sheepdog and a Poodle. This breed is popular for its ability to read emotions thus it is also used as support dogs. Sheepadoodle are social animals. Your kids will surely have fun being around them, same goes for your pet. 

Another mixed breed of poodle that is ideal for families is the Bernedoodle. It is the product of a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Poodle. This breed is affectionate and loves to be around the family. Although it is not as open to strangers as compared to a Golden Retriever, Bernedoodles are kid-friendly. It can also interact with other dogs. This breed is playful and smart so make sure to play games which are mentally stimulating. 

Aussiedoodles are also a popular dog breed for families. It is a cross breed between an Australian Shepherd or a Mini-American Shepherd and a Poodle. This breed enjoys physical activity due to being a high energy dog. Your kids will enjoy playing chase or tug-of-war with this pet. They are also known to be incredibly smart dogs thus they are easy to train. 

As a family pet 

  • Affectionate towards the family: 5/5

  • Gentle with children: 5/5

  • Friendly with other dogs: 4/5 



best dog breeds for families crossbreed poodle

F1 Merle Sheepadoodle Blue Merle

Other Mixed-breeds

You can also consider getting some mixed-breed pets as they are also popular dog breeds for families. Some mixed breeds that you can get are Golden Mountain Doodles and Aussie Mountain Doodles

Golden Mountain Doodles are a breed of Poodle, A Golden Retriever, and a Bernese Mountain Dog. Having read all the descriptions above of its parents, you’ll know right away that this designer doodle is such a great choice for a family. The combination of many great traits from its parents makes GMD such a great pet to have. In addition, they are hypoallergenic which makes them perfect for families having kids with allergies.  

best dog breeds for families golden mountain doodle

F2 Golden Mountain Doodle

Aussie Mountain Doodles are the cross-breed between a Bernese Mountain Doodle Dog and an Australian Labradoodle. They are protective breeds and perfect watchdogs for your kids. AMD is also friendly and eager to please its owner. 

As a family pet 

  • Affectionate towards the family: 5/5

  • Gentle with children: 5/5

  • Friendly with other dogs: 3/5 


There are other mixed breeds that you can choose from and are considered to be great family companions. If you want to learn more about mix-breed designer doodles, you are in the right place! Check wisconsindesignerdoodles.com>Breeds

 Overall, these dog breeds are considered family-friendly pets. Although these breeds are known to be popular dog breeds for families, supervision is still recommended. But, as a gentle reminder, for the safety of both your children and your pet, make sure that dogs are supervised around young children. 

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