What Traits Make the Best Family Dogs?

Confident, resilient, and outgoing dogs typically make the best family companions, but first, assess your household's traits to ensure you're the right fit for the dog.

0

Though social media posts, movies, and books may portray magical stories of children and dogs growing up together, parents must manage a high-stakes relationship. One simple misstep could end up with your child in the emergency room and your dog with a bite history that could cost them their life.

Committing to a dog should never be taken lightly; before you do, ask yourself some critical questions about your lifestyle. Though there are no guarantees, dogs with certain traits may show promise to be good family dogs with the proper training and care.

Traits to Look For to Find the Best Family Dogs

Experts say the best family dogs are generally confident, resilient, outgoing, and social, with phenomenal temperaments.

“Confident dogs are not afraid to explore new things, and they’re friendly with people and other animals,” says Elysia Ostrander, a CPDT-KA certified trainer and co-owner of Pawsitive Families Education and Training.

But don’t confuse confidence with reactivity; you don’t want a dog that barks at people or other dogs. Look for a pooch that accepts new people and rolls with change. If you have children, there will likely be kids zipping around your house, toys that make weird noises, and people coming in and out.

“The dog should have resiliency, the ability to recover from scary events quickly,” Ostrander says. “When something unexpected happens, they can shake it off and return to their friendly, happy selves.”

A timid dog may not be the best fit for an active family.

“When you encounter a dog or puppy huddled in a corner, appearing frightened or hesitant to approach—those are the moments that tug at our heartstrings—we often think, ‘What a sad, sweet dog in need of love.’ However, that dog may be more likely to feel overwhelmed in a lively family environment,” says Jenny Wyffels, a CPDT-KA and CBCC-KA certified dog trainer and owner of Cooperative Canine Concepts.

Wyffels suggests looking for dogs that come toward you, eager to sniff, interact, and enjoy being touched. “If I take a few steps back and they follow me for more attention, unphased by quick movements or sudden noises, those are likely better candidates to consider,” she says.

Assess Your Family’s Traits

Before considering a dog for your family, assess your household’s traits and lifestyle.

Are you ready for a dog? What kind of breed would fit well? Do you have the time, energy, and money to invest in a canine companion? It’s a 12- to 15-year commitment to another family member who might shed.

“Raising and owning a dog is an extremely time-consuming endeavor,” says Dr. Blake Gibson, DVM, a veterinarian with Texas Veterinary Behavior Services and resident of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. “It is like having another child, and you cannot skimp.”

Calculate how long the dog would be home alone each day. Working full-time and spending your afternoons and weekends driving kids to soccer games might not leave much time for a pup. Be honest with yourself and your children.

If a pooch doesn’t get enough exercise, training, and companionship, they can develop behavioral issues. Dogs are social animals and need contact with humans and other dogs.

“You have to step up for the dog even if you are busy, tired, sick, or weary; their physical and mental needs can’t be ignored,” says Dr. Gibson. “If you can’t meet the dog’s needs, it is especially inhumane to confine the dog to a crate or put them out in the yard.”

Another pivotal question: Are you dedicated to overseeing the relationship between your kids and a dog? Young children and dogs need constant supervision and management. “The stakes are really high when we’re talking about dogs and kids,” Ostrander says.

It takes a split second for something to happen—a toddler innocently falls on a dog, pulls their tail, or takes their toy; it could surprise the dog and result in a bite that causes permanent disfigurement to your child and a bite record that could end with your dog being euthanized.

Besides time, also plan for the financial aspect of having a dog. Veterinary care, training, grooming, food, and toys add up. An unexpected animal emergency bill could cost thousands of dollars.

“It is realistic to expect a pet to become ill at some point,” Dr. Gibson says. “Being prepared for these events can protect your pet’s health and prevent having to make heartbreaking decisions.”

If you can provide the proper enrichment, supervision, and financial support for a dog, reflect on your household members’ ages, interests, and activity levels to help determine the best dog for your family.

Are you an on-the-go crew that likes to walk, hike, and swim? You may want a more energetic dog. Do you have kids? A young puppy or large dog might knock them over.

Best Dogs For Kids

So, what are the best dogs for kids?

“My answer is always, ‘The dog that the parents want,'” Ostrander says. “The adults are the ones responsible for the family. No matter what dog you bring home, your kids will be excited and love them. Don’t allow your children to sway your decision.”

Should you get a puppy or an adult dog?

Puppies are like having a newborn child. They need constant care, multiple veterinary visits, and potty training—which means running outside with them every couple of hours. Most pups go through that “baby Velociraptor” stage.

“They’re super cute and cuddly when they come home, then a few weeks later, you’ve got kids running and screaming because the puppy is nipping at their ankles,” Ostrander says. “A puppy is a ton of work. People need to be ready for that challenge.”

Another puppy pitfall is there’s no guarantee how they will act when they’re older.

“We don’t have reliable temperament tests to administer to a puppy and predict how that dog will turn out as an adult,” Dr. Gibson says. “The only exception to this is anxiety—anxious puppies are likely to become anxious adult dogs.”

A dog over the age of two years may give you a better idea of their personality.

“The nice thing about an adult dog is a lot of times it’s what you see is what you get,” Ostrander says. “They’ve established who they are. Look for one that isn’t scared by the kids, is super excited to see you, and has wiggly, loose body language.”

What’s the best way to find a family dog? And what are the best breeds to consider?

Best Family Dog Breeds

There’s no certainty that a dog of any breed will be the perfect match for your family. Each pooch is their own unique being. “It truly does just come down to a study of one,” Wyffels says.

Typically, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and Brittany Spaniels are known for having traits that may make them among the best family dog breeds.

“There is a huge amount of variability in behavior even between individuals of the same breed,” Dr. Gibson says. “This makes giving blanket recommendations like this difficult. As a very broad generalization, I do feel that many of the herding breeds have a harder time in homes with children. Their herding behavior (mouthing and chasing) often gets them into trouble with younger children.”

Even a “mutt” may fit your family well. “We see a lot of mixed breed dogs that have phenomenal temperaments that come from shelters,” Wyffels says.

Is a shelter, rescue group, or breeder the best place to find a family dog?

Let’s start with rescues and shelters; many groups and facilities are overflowing and overwhelmed with puppies and dogs. Thousands are euthanized each year to make space in overcrowded facilities.

Besides saving a life by adopting, there are some other potential benefits.

If a puppy or dog lives in a foster home, you can get key information about a pooch’s personality, disposition, and quirks by speaking to the foster family. Ask if the dog has ever been around or lives with kids.

“A lot of times, the shelter staff or the foster home will know so much about the dog,” Ostrander says. “If the dog previously lived with kids and did well with them, that’s great. If the dog lived with kids and didn’t do so well, that’s not the right dog for you. Listen to what they say because they know that dog the best.”

While you’re most likely to find an adult dog by adopting, sometimes breeders sell adults no longer used for breeding or dogs that were returned, but most offer puppies for sale.

“There’s good breeders and bad breeders,” Ostrander says. “Interview your breeder and understand what their intention was. A Golden Retriever from a working and hunting line differs greatly from a Golden Retriever bred to be a good family dog.”

Ethical breeders will answer all your questions and help you by socializing and training the pup. If a dog doesn’t work out, a good breeder will take them back so they don’t end up in a shelter.

“I look for breeders that will place puppies,” Ostrander says. “So, it’s not, ‘Come pick your puppy.’ It’s ‘Oh, you have kids; we want to make sure the puppy is a good fit for you.’ A responsible breeder supports families.”

Lifelong Training and Management

If you’ve decided a new furry family member is in your future, lifelong training and management are crucial.

“I tell people to start training their kids before the dog comes home,” Ostrander says. “Set expectations of what that life will look like so there are clear rules and boundaries.”

Plan where to put baby gates, crates, dog beds, and toys. Assign everyone a role and responsibility. Hire a professional trainer or sign up for group classes immediately. (Find pain and force-free, positive reinforcement programs.)

Even if you think you know it all, each dog has different quirks. Training can be life-changing, even lifesaving.

“At the end of the day, I’m a people trainer—I’m training you to train your dog,” Ostrander says. “I get the kids involved. Then, I teach the parents to watch a dog’s body language to see if there are signs that the dog is uncomfortable.”

Dogs often give warnings like yawning or licking their lips if they’re tense, something adults should watch to prevent a situation from escalating. No dog should ever be considered bite-proof.

Training is a lifelong process, so after your dog graduates from behavior classes, continue their training sessions for a few minutes daily. Even service dogs lose some of their skills without practice. The better behaved your dog is, the more likely they will be welcomed at soccer games, outings, and social gatherings with you.

Once you find a dog you believe fits your family perfectly, remember that patience and empathy are key to a loving, successful, and harmonious relationship.

“Like children, caring for a dog will involve moments of stress, setbacks to some of your efforts, or unexpected changes,” Dr. Gibson says. “A dog is a living being with their own needs and emotions. There will always be at least some balance between the good and the bad, but your perspective and effort determine whether it all is worth it.”