Which Dog Breed Is Best Suited For Your Family?

Bernese Mountain Dog

Miniature Pug

The large Bernese Mountain Dog or Miniature Pug would be best suited for a small family that prefers to stay mostly by themselves. These dogs tend to be shy with strangers and should be socialized early. The family would consist of a couple with no more than one child. These breeds will tend to be protective of the child, but obedient only to their adult master. Good with children.

Mastiff	Basset Hound	Bouvier des Flanders	Black & Tan Coonhound	Scottish Deerhound
Labrador Retriever	Chesapeake Bay Retriever	Gordon Setter	Harrier	Standard Poodle
Border Terrier	Pug	English Bulldog	Boston Terrier	English Bulldog

Families best suited for these breeds would consist of no more than 2 children. These breeds would also be suitable for and protective of small children in the family. They would tend to obey more readily to a dominant adult family member and be playful with, but not heed the commands of younger children. These dog breeds would be suitable for and could be protective of small children in the family. However, the children should have a limited number of friends coming and going. Good with children.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Newfoundland	Clumber Spaniel	English Setter	English Springer Spaniel	Sussex Spaniel	Vizsla
Field Spaniel	Keeshond	English Cocker Spaniel	Brittany Spaniel	Bichon Frise

Large families with a number of kids coming and going out of the home is suitable to these breeds. With the exception of the Brittany Spaniel, the Clumber Spaniel and the Sussex dogs, these breeds can stand the havoc caused by many kids running around, making noise and constantly on the move. As mentioned, the Sussex, Brittany and Clumber Spaniel being the exception, it should be noted the Clumber and Brittany Spaniels may disregard the commands of younger children, whereas, the Sussex Spaniel is a dominant dog and may obey only its master, ignoring even older children. Some breeders consider the Clumber Spaniel to be more ideal for an older couple who like a bit of outdoor exercise like a casual stroll, but want a quite inside dog that can tolerate the comings and goings of grandchildren. The other less active breeds in this group would fit this bill as well. Good with children.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Bloodhound

English Foxhound

American Foxhound

Beagle

Families most suitable for these breeds can be a rather large family with lots of activity and people coming and going, accepting of most people and not expect their dog to protect them. These types of dogs would serve only as a companion or playmate. Good with children.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Belgians

The Belgian Sheepdogs, Tervurens and Malinois are most suitable for small families with no more than 1 child, with an exception being that some Belgians are somewhat intolerant with children and should be socialized early. This dog would serve only as a companion or playmate. Good with children if raised from puppyhood.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Bull Mastiff	Great Pyrenees	Irish Wolfhound	Akita	Briard
German Shepherd (wb)	Curly Coated Retriever	Collie	Irish Setter	American Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Families most suitable for these breeds would be relatively small with 1 or 2 children. Most, if not all, of the family members should be dominant over the dog. Children in these families should be older and able to exercise control over the more dominant breeds and be able to take the rambunctiousness of the active breeds. Also, most of these breeds should be raised from puppyhood with older children.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

St. Bernard (wb)	Great Dane	Old English Sheepdog (wb)	Golden Retriever
Wheaten Terrier	Cocker Spaniel (wb)	Flat Coated Retriever

Families most suitable for these breeds would be large and active, with kids going into and out of the house. However, it would be best for the children to be older.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Otterhound

Families most suitable for this breed would be relatively large, chaotic family accepting of most people and not expect protection from this breed. This type of dog would serve only as a companion or playmate. Children should be older to withstand this breeds clumsiness.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Borzoi

Saluki

The family best suited for these breeds would be a 1 or 2 person household with no children. The Borzoi and Saluki dogs are unsociable and standoffish that are not often tolerant of children, not playful and don't show much affection to their owners.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Komondor	Skye Terrier	Norweigian Elkhound
Scottish Terrier	Norwich Terrier	Standard Schnauzer

These breeds would be best suited to singles or childless couples who don't plan on having children. Potential owners of the larger dominant breeds (i.e.) would probably need the security of a powerful one-person guard dog. These people should not desire or need many visitors or friends.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Rottweiler	Weimaraner	Rhodesian Ridgeback	Cardigan Welsh Corgi	Pembroke Welsh Corgi	Doberman	Wirehaired Pointer Griffon	Norwegian Elkhound
Pointer	Greyhound	Bull Terrier	Airedale Terrier	Afghan Hound	Welsh Springer Spaniel	Sealyham Terrier	Dachshund
Kerry Blue Terrier	Irish Terrier	Cairn Terrier	Basenji	Shetland Sheepdog	Whippet	Welsh Terrier	Miniature Poodle
Miniature Schnauzer (wb)	Bedlington Terrier	Lakeland Terrier	Australian Terrier	Silky Terrier	Yorkshire Terrier	English Toy Spaniel	Miniature Pinscher

Manchester Toy Terrier

Families most suitable for these breeds would be relatively small. They shouldn't have any young children or have the possibility of being visited by young children. These breeds are more suitable with older, mature and considerate children. For the dominant breeds all family members should be capable of being dominant over the dog and controlling it. All family members should be prepared to do some work training, socializing and dominating these breeds. The larger and bulkier the breed, the older and more expert at dog control the family members should be.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

West Highland White	Shih Tzu	Fox Terrier
Brussels Griffon	Papillon	Maltese

Families most suitable for these breeds would be a single person, childless couple or older couple who have teen-age or older children. These families would feel comfortable inviting people over. All family members should be able to exert control over the more dominant breeds.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Alaskan Malamute

The Alaskan Malamute is considered an any person dog and good with children.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Kuvasz	Chow Chow	German Shepherd (pm)	Borzoi	Irish Water Spaniel	Cocker Spaniel (pm)	Toy Poodle
American Water Spaniel	Pekingese	Manchester Terrier	Manchester Toy Terrier	Chihuahua	Pomeranian	Toy Poodle
Old English Sheepdog (pm)	Dalmatian	German Wirehaired Pointer	German Shorthaired Pointer	French Bulldog	Dandie Dinmont	Puli
Tibetan Terrier	Schipperke	Italian Greyhound	Lhasa Apso	St. Bernard (pm)	Giant Schnauzer

These dogs are best suited to a single person or childless couple who have no intention of having children. They may not even like children. Owners of the miniatures and toy dogs may want a dog as a child substitute.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(pm) puppy mill
(wb) well bred

6 Classifications of Dog Breeds | Sitemap

Which Dog Breed Is Best Suited For Your Family?

Other Links