The 10 Best Dog Breeds for Kids and Families

Dogs are the best pets ever. I know some people prefer cats, or rabbits, or even pigs. But dogs are inredibly loyal and they comfort, protect and love their owners unconditionally, making them superior to any other pet.

And although any dog can be brought up and trained to be a wonderful family companion, some dogs are better suited to this role than others. And in my opinion these are the 10 very best dog breeds for kids and families...

This is the most popular breed of dog in the world for a reason. Labradors are devoted, playful, obedient and always eager to please. They have an even temperament, which makes them good with children and other animals. And they are very intelligent, and take well to training.

They do need a lot of exercise though, and they particularly like swimming; so make sure your family is up for the challenge.

Golden retrievers are loyal, intelligent, sweet-natured, affectionate and eager to please, so they make perfect companion dogs. And their patience and tolerance make them ideal for small children.

They do need lots of exercise, but as they love to play "fetch" this is easy to achieve. And their beautiful golden coats require twice weekly brushing to maintain it in peak condition.

Poodles are proud and elegant, gentle, playful and loyal. Extremely intelligent, they take well to training, and they are great with children.

Poodles like a lot of attention, and their coats need regular grooming. But they don't shed very much, which makes them ideal for people with allergies.

If you're looking for a smaller sized dog with a calm and friendly nature, the beagle could be your ideal choice. Beagles are intelligent, playful and don't have much in the way of inherited health problems. But they do shed quite a bit, so require regular brushing. And they need quite a bit of outdoor exercise too.

This relatively new breed of dog (dating back to 1899) is an exceptional animal. German shepherd's are intelligent, courageous, loyal and obedient. They respond extremely well to training and form a very close bond with their owners, so will tend to suffer from separation anxiety if left alone. They do shed a lot though, so regular vacuuming will become a way of life.

Well known from the "Lassie" movies, collies are beautiful animals. Gentle, intelligent, mild-mannered and easily trainable, collies are great with children and love to please their owners and protect their families.

Their long coats do require regular grooming though, and they can be a bit stubborn, so do ensure you give them some obedience training.

The English cocker spaniel is a good-natured, gentle, playful and trustworthy family companion. A very intelligent breed, the cocker spaniel is good with children, the elderly and other pets. They have lovely silky coats which require weekly brushing to keep them in good condition. And they do shed quite a lot.

The only toy breed on my list; the Maltese is a gentle and peaceful dog that doesn't require as much outdoor exercise as the larger breeds. He will however enjoy dashing around the garden and accompanying you on walks.

The Maltese is sensitive, but responsive to nonforceful training. They don't like to be left on their own for very long though, and their coat's will require regular brushing. They do not shed very much though, so are good for people with allergies. And although they are good family dogs, they are not suited to very small children, who cannot help being clumsy and may injure the little dog.

Corgi's are playful and sweet natured dogs that only require moderate exercise. They are also smart and attentive and respond well to obedience training. Their short coats are easy to take care of, but they do shed a lot. And they tend to bark a lot as well. They make great family companions, but should not be left alone too much or they may become destructive.

The Newfoundland is a very large, powerful dog. But he is calm, peaceful, very good natured and great with children.

Newfoundland's require long daily walks and they love to swim. They also like pulling carts and romping in the snow. A very sensitive breed, they do however respond well to patient training. The females are more willing to please, but the males tend to be somewhat hardheaded.

Newfoundland's do shed a lot though, and they also drool quite a bit. They also suffer from separation anxiety and should not be left on their own for more than a few hours.

Apart from these, some other great dog breeds that are ideal for families include the Irish setter, dachshund, pug, springer spaniel and cavalier King Charles spaniel, as well as any number of mixed breed dogs. But whatever breed of dog you choose, make sure you give it love and attention, as well as confident leadership, and you will have a loyal and devoted companion for years to come.

What about you? What's your favorite dog breed for kids and families? And what is it that makes it so great? Do let me know in the comments below.