Best Dog Breeds for Families
Your first puppy as a family is an exciting time full of joy, and also a little trepidation! Choosing the right breed can be a tricky thing to decide, likely with each member of the family having different opinions or ideas of what their dream dog might be.
As new puppy parents, you probably have a lot of questions, and well, raising puppies is a lot like raising children. Let us be your ‘dog nanny’ and help you find the right path.
What makes a great family dog?
A great family dog is one who can fit in with you and your family’s lifestyle, so a breed that has a high exercise requirements and a need to work might not be the right choice for a family with young children but might do well with older kids who can take them to agility or obedience training.
All puppies need help with management to begin with, so that potty training and sleep training goes smoothly, and the biting is managed you’ll want to think about puppy proofing your home and utilizing playpens or crates to keep everyone happy.
How can I train my dog to be good with kids?
By giving your puppy a safe place to retreat to like a playpen or crate and having supervised play and training sessions, you can ensure your puppy doesn’t get too overwhelmed or overstimulated. Lack of sleep causes puppies to become irritable and more bitey so getting them into a routine which ensures they get tonnes of downtime to recharge.
Puppies like to chase, and small children like to run, so care needs to be taken that your puppy doesn’t learn the kids are a toy to run after. You can have them doing on leash training around the kids, while they learn to be calm around them.
Best Dog Breeds
for Families
Your first puppy as a family is an exciting time full of joy, and also a little trepidation! Choosing the right breed can be a tricky thing to decide, likely with each member of the family having different opinions or ideas of what their dream dog might be.
As new puppy parents, you probably have a lot of questions, and well, raising puppies is a lot like raising children. Let us be your ‘dog nanny’ and help you find the right path.
What makes a great family dog?
A great family dog is one who can fit in with you and your family’s lifestyle, so a breed that has a high exercise requirements and a need to work might not be the right choice for a family with young children but might do well with older kids who can take them to agility or obedience training.
All puppies need help with management to begin with, so that potty training and sleep training goes smoothly, and the biting is managed you’ll want to think about puppy proofing your home and utilizing playpens or crates to keep everyone happy.
How can I train my dog to be good with kids?
By giving your puppy a safe place to retreat to like a playpen or crate and having supervised play and training sessions, you can ensure your puppy doesn’t get too overwhelmed or overstimulated. Lack of sleep causes puppies to become irritable and more bitey so getting them into a routine which ensures they get tonnes of downtime to recharge.
Puppies like to chase, and small children like to run, so care needs to be taken that your puppy doesn’t learn the kids are a toy to run after. You can have them doing on leash training around the kids, while they learn to be calm around them.
Training Essentials for Raising the Perfect Family Dog
Finding the right puppy for your family starts with the breeder, so choose one who rears their puppies in a home environment, so that your new arrival is used to the sounds and sights of living indoors.
It can be an idea to outline responsibilities, so that everyone in your family knows what is expected of them, who is going to do the walks, pick up poop and go to training classes. Setting out a daily schedule of feeding, exercising and training can help get everyone involved in puppy raising, and do their bit when required to.
Having a confinement area of a playpen, crate, baby gates or a combination will make day to day life less stressful and give your puppy (and you!!) much needed respite, kids are often great with dogs, but puppies need to sleep a lot so need a bolt hole to get away to.
Choosing reward based puppy classes so that everyone can be involved in the puppy training and signing from the same hymn sheet is also a wise choice.
Zigzag App
Fun & Easy Puppy Training App
- Personal training schedule based on age & breed
- 24/7 Puppy expert coaching for pawnic moments
- 3-5 Daily dog exercises
Breeds suited to families & children
Cavalier King Charles
Affectionate, gentle, and great with kids.
Poodle
Intelligent, active, good for allergies, can learn tonnes of tricks and like performing.
FAQs on Family Dogs
Best protective dog breeds for families
Most dogs will be protective of their families, but German Shepherds and Dobermans will want to guard. Miniature Schnauzers can be just as protective, and they will definitely bark at someone trying to get in!
Best hypoallergenic dog breeds for non shedding
What people tend to be allergic to is the dander, so when you have a non shedding breed like a Poodle or Poodle cross the dander is held in the coat instead of being released around the home. For this reason Cockapoos, Cavapoos, Maltipoos and other Doodles tend to be popular.
Is having a dog good for children?
Yes, research shows that dogs have a positive impact on people’s lives and health, and for children we think it also helps them learn to take responsibility and care for someone or something other than themselves.
Can rescue dogs make good family dogs?
Yes, rescue dogs can make wonderful family dogs. We have a dedicated program for rescue dogs in the Zigzag app!
What dogs are not good around kids?
There are no bad breeds, but some of the larger protection breeds such as Great Pyrenees, Tibetan Mastiff and Komondors may not be the best suited around children, and not so motivated to want training.
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Training Essentials for Raising the Perfect Family Dog
Finding the right puppy for your family starts with the breeder, so choose one who rears their puppies in a home environment, so that your new arrival is used to the sounds and sights of living indoors.
It can be an idea to outline responsibilities, so that everyone in your family knows what is expected of them, who is going to do the walks, pick up poop and go to training classes. Setting out a daily schedule of feeding, exercising and training can help get everyone involved in puppy raising, and do their bit when required to.
Having a confinement area of a playpen, crate, baby gates or a combination will make day to day life less stressful and give your puppy (and you!!) much needed respite, kids are often great with dogs, but puppies need to sleep a lot so need a bolt hole to get away to.
Choosing reward based puppy classes so that everyone can be involved in the puppy training and signing from the same hymn sheet is also a wise choice.
FAQs on Family Dogs
There are no bad breeds, but some of the larger protection breeds such as Great Pyrenees, Tibetan Mastiff and Komondors may not be the best suited around children, and not so motivated to want training.
Yes, rescue dogs can make wonderful family dogs. We have a dedicated program for rescue dogs in the Zigzag app!
Yes, research shows that dogs have a positive impact on people’s lives and health, and for children we think it also helps them learn to take responsibility and care for someone or something other than themselves.
What people tend to be allergic to is the dander, so when you have a non shedding breed like a Poodle or Poodle cross the dander is held in the coat instead of being released around the home. For this reason Cockapoos, Cavapoos, Maltipoos and other Doodles tend to be popular.
Most dogs will be protective of their families, but German Shepherds and Dobermans will want to guard. Miniature Schnauzers can be just as protective, and they will definitely bark at someone trying to get in!
