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Which of America's favorite dog breeds are best for families with children?

Of the top 10 dog breeds, five are particularly family-friendly.

Photo credit: Canva

Beagles are one of America's favorite dog breeds that are also good for kids.

Getting a family dog is practically a rite of passage for many American families, with parents wanting their children to grow up knowing the joys of a loyal, beloved pet. Sometimes, a pet dog predates a child, with the furry friend having to adjust to a tiny human suddenly taking their owners’ attention.

What kind of dog is most suited to both of these scenarios? Some dog breeds are known for being child-friendly, or at least having some natural personality traits that make them wiser choices than others. Several of those breeds land on America’s list of favorite dog breeds, likely for that reason.

Oh Boy Dog GIFGiphy

But those favorite breeds also include some that parents or prospective parents might want to think twice about. While any dog can be dangerous, some breeds are exceptionally strong or have some tendencies toward aggression, which might make them less suitable for families who are looking for more than a guard dog.

Among the American Kennel Club’s 10 favorite dog breeds in America for 2024, five are also on the AKC lists of Best Dog Breeds for Kids and Best Family Dogs.

Beagle

beagle dog, american kennel club, best family dogs, best dogs for kidsBeagles are happy-go-lucky and funny little companions.Photo credit: Canva

Who couldn't love a beagle? Look at that face.

"A breed described as 'merry' by its fanciers, Beagles are loving and lovable, happy, and companionable—all qualities that make them excellent family dogs. No wonder that for years the Beagle has been the most popular hound dog among American pet owners. These are curious, clever, and energetic hounds who require plenty of playtime." – AKC

Bulldog *honorable mention*

bulldog, dog, american kennel club, best family dogs, best dogs for kidsPhoto credit: Canva

The Bulldog gets an honorable mention because it didn't show up on the AKC's "Best Dog Breeds for Kids" list, but it did show up on the "Best Dogs for Families" list. (Same for the French Bulldog below.) However, the Bulldog only scored 3 out of 5 for "Good With Young Children" on the AKC site, so that may be something to keep in mind.

"Kind but courageous, friendly but dignified, the Bulldog is a thick-set, low-slung, well-muscled bruiser whose 'sourmug' face is the universal symbol of courage and tenacity. These docile, loyal companions adapt well to town or country. Bulldogs can weigh up to 50 pounds, but that won't stop them from curling up in your lap, or at least trying to. But don't mistake their easygoing ways for laziness. Bulldogs enjoy brisk walks and need regular moderate exercise, along with a careful diet, to stay trim." – AKC

French Bulldog

French bulldog, dog, american kennel club, best family dogs, best dogs for kidsPhoto credit: Canva

After 31 years, French Bulldogs took over the No. 1 dog breed spot from Labrador Retrievers in 2022 and has maintained that spot through 2024.

"The one-of-a-kind French Bulldog, with his large bat ears and even disposition, is one of the world's most popular small-dog breeds, especially among city dwellers. The Frenchie is playful, alert, adaptable, and completely irresistible.

The bright, affectionate Frenchie is a charmer. Dogs of few words, Frenchies don't bark much, but their alertness makes them excellent watchdogs. They happily adapt to life with singles, couples, or families, and do not require a lot of outdoor exercise. They get on well with other animals and enjoy making new friends of the human variety. It is no wonder that city folk from Paris to Peoria swear by this vastly amusing and companionable breed." – AKC

Golden Retriever

golden retriever, dog, american kennel club, best family dogs, best dogs for kidsGolden Retrievers are often seen as the friendliest dog breed. Photo credit: Canva

No surprises here. Golden Retrievers are a family favorite for a reason. These goog-natured fluffballs even look like they're smiling.

"Goldens are outgoing, trustworthy, and eager-to-please family dogs, and relatively easy to train. They take a joyous and playful approach to life and maintain this puppyish behavior into adulthood. These energetic, powerful gundogs enjoy outdoor play. For a breed built to retrieve waterfowl for hours on end, swimming and fetching are natural pastimes." – AKC

Labrador Retriever

black lab, labrador retriever, dog, american kennel club, best family dogs, best dogs for kidsPhoto credit: Canva

Again, not a surprise. If you want a dog that's energetic enough to keep up with your offspring but friendly enough to not worry much about, a lab might be for you.

"Labs are famously friendly. They are companionable housemates who bond with the whole family, and they socialize well with neighbor dogs and humans alike. But don't mistake his easygoing personality for low energy: The Lab is an enthusiastic athlete that requires lots of exercise, like swimming and marathon games of fetch, to keep physically and mentally fit." – AKC

So what are the breeds that made the most popular list but not the kid-friendliest or family-friendliest ones? These five:

Dachshund

German Shepherd

German Shorthaired Pointer

Poodle

Rottweiler

german shepherdGerman Shepherd wants to know why he's not on the list.Giphy

That doesn’t mean that these breeds are not good for families, of course, just as being on the family-friendly breed lists doesn't make any individual dog a good fit for a specific family. For sure, there are families who will swear that their Poodle or Dachsund are the best family dogs they've ever had.

Some breeds, like Rottweilers and Pit Bulls, have reputations for being aggressive or dangerous, but much of that comes down to how they are trained. Like Bulldogs, the American Kennel Club gives Rottweilers a score of 3 out of 5 for "Good With Young Children," which might surprise some people. Rottweilers tend to be loyal and affectionate with their families, but they are large and strong and can be territorial (and therefore aggressive if not trained properly), which may be why they aren't on the kid-friendly list. However, the German Shepherd has a 5 out of 5 for "Good With Children," yet still didn't make the kid-friendliest list, so who knows?

As the AKC points out, "Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs." Just because a dog breed is considered good with children doesn't mean basic precautions shouldn't be taken. There are no guarantees with any dog, but knowing which breeds might be easier to keep with kids can help parents make a choice that will keep the whole family happy.

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Joy

Cool new video explains the mystery of where the huge variety of dog breeds came from

The global history of man's best friend is fascinating.

BioArk/YouTube

Where did each dog breed come from?

No other mammal is as varied in size, shape, color and features as domestic dogs. If you put a Chihuahua and a Puli in front of an alien, they would never guess they were the same kind of animal. Seriously, how can a Dachshund, a Poodle and a Samoyed all be the same species?

Some dog breed origins are somewhat discernible by the location clues in their names, such as Newfoundlands, Labrador Retrievers, Alaskan Malamutes and Great Danes. Other names have recognizable regional language roots, like the Shih Tzu and Shiba Inu. We associate Poodles with the French and Huskies with the Arctic, but there are over 450 dog breeds the world over. Where did they all come from?

It could take hours to explore the vast history of dog breeds, but a video from BioArk offers a fascinating and entertaining overview in less than 20 minutes.

The story of domesticated dogs began more than 23,000 years ago when nomadic peoples started giving wolves table scraps. Since then, dogs have evolved alongside humans as our loyal companions, hunting helpers and protectors, but most modern dog breeds bear little resemblance to their wolf ancestors.

Some evolutionary change and adaptation are to be expected over thousands of years, of course, but that doesn't explain the enormous variety in dog breeds in a relatively short period of time. While dog breeds originated on basically every continent, a good percentage of the dogs we know today came from what's known as the Victorian Explosion, when intentional dog breeding intensified and expanded in the British Isles in the 19th century. Even so, as the video explains, each dog breed's unique history almost acts like a microcosm of the history of the culture it came from.

Check out BioArk's "Where Every Dog Breed Came From" for the full overview:

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The photos from this world record charity event are a must-see for dog lovers everywhere.

Imagine going down to a park and meeting a dog.

Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images.

And then another dog.

Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images.

And then another dog. Or maybe two more dogs. Wouldn't that be the best day ever?

Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images.

Well what if you got to meet those four wonderful pups ... and then 30,110 more after that?

Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images.

If you live in South Shields, England, this might have been your weekend.

On June 4, 2017, the small city of South Shields, England, was home to the 27th Annual Great North Dog Walk.

The start of the walk. Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images.

The event, started by physical education teacher Tony Carlisle back in 1990, brings together dog owners and their pups for a brisk stroll along the North English coast.

The route goes along The Leas, a National Trust area along the North Sea. Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images.

Carlisle says seeing the event grow from 13 hounds and a few of his students to a grand total of 30,114 participants this year is pretty mind-blowing.

"I never in my wildest dreams ever imagined it'd get as big as this," Carlisle says.

Over 180 different breeds of dog showed up, according to Carlisle. From the very small...

Two pugs stop for a meet and greet. Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images.

Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images.

...to the very large.

Definitely a gentle giant, this one. Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images.

From the elegant...

Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images.

...to the stylish...

These Chinese crested dogs have a natural flair for the dramatic. Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images.

...to the suspiciously bipedal.

Dear Lord, that is the happiest dog I have ever seen. Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images.

The event has gathered at least 16 Guinness World Records over the years.

Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images.

Similar dog walking events have popped up in places like Texas, Canada, and Scotland, and have occasionally stolen the title of World's Largest, but it's hard to unseat the king. Carlisle is confident this year's walk will be another record-breaker.

A lot of dogs means a lot of dog dishes! Photo from Ian Forsyth/Getty Images.

The best part of the event, though, is that it's not just a chance to get out and meet some dogs. It's raised millions for charity too.

Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images.

Participants in the dog walk can sign up to donate from one of 34 different beneficiaries, from pet shelters to veteran support to cancer research. Over the last 27 years, the Dog Walk's raised about $8.67 million (6.72 million pounds), according to Carlisle.

Not bad for a day out with your pooch.

Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images.

Of course, walking 30,000 dogs comes with some ... logistics.

Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images.

"Every walker's given a poo bag," says Carlisle. And they have plenty of bins on site.

Good plan.

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He noticed pit bulls weren't being adopted. So he grabbed a camera and got to work.

With snacks, peanut butter, and silly faces, this photographer brings a lighthearted look to dogs facing a heartbreaking issue.

What comes to mind when you think of a pit bull?

Say "hello" to Hogan. All photos by Adam Goldberg/AGoldPhoto Pet Photography, used with permission.

If you're friends with photographer Adam Goldberg, it's probably a nose covered in peanut butter, a tongue sticking out, or a head cocked to one side with a big smile.

With every picture, Goldberg hopes to rewrite a damaging narrative about these sweet doggos — and help a few find good homes too.

Ginger, who definitely loves peanut butter.

While managing the Humane Society of Broward County's website and social media accounts, Goldberg was asked to photograph some of the animals. Having only ever used the camera on his phone, he spent eight months teaching himself portrait photography and treating every animal at the shelter to a photo shoot.

Part of Goldberg's job was to increase public awareness of dogs that had been in the shelter for a while, and he quickly noticed a pattern in the types of dogs he was photographing and posting about on Facebook.

"Nine times out of ten, they were pit bulls," he says.

Ned, a bull terrier with one heck of a smile.

Leia's attitude lives up to her namesake.

Just 20 miles south of the Humane Society of Broward County, a breed-specific legislative line is drawn.

In Miami-Dade, it is illegal to own any breed classified as a pit bull if you reside within the county.

Rousey, who doesn't quite live up to the ferocity of her collar.

American pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, and Staffordshire bull terriers are all banned under the "Pit Bull Law" as well as "any other dog that substantially conforms to any of these breeds' characteristics."

Breed-specific legislation like Miami-Dade's can cause problems for dog owners. For a lot of people, relocating for a job or family can mean the difference between finding a home or keeping your pet.

Stella is still working on her catch skills.

Miami-Dade is far from the only place that restricts people from owning the breed — Sir Patrick Stewart was recently unable to adopt his foster pit bull Ginger because of legislation in Britain.

All of this legislation helps contribute to stigma against pit bulls.

As Nash McCutchen, marketing coordinator at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, has seen firsthand that stigma means pit bulls wind up waiting longer to find a home, if they find one at all.

"Large adult dogs in general sit longer than the small breeds or a puppy. You add the pit bull stigma to that and it’s going to be even longer," she explains.

To many, pit bulls represent dog fighting and attacks, a narrative created at least in part by American media in the 1970s. But to owners, they're as sweet as can be.

"I got to know them," Goldberg says. "And [I] realized that these were the sweetest dogs ever, they just wanted to lick me all day. And that's where I just fell in love [with them]."

Ajax knows the power of a bow tie in bringing a look together.

McCutchen — who hadn't been around pit bulls a lot before working at the shelter — had a similar experience when she started working with them. Since then, "I’ve just fallen in love with the breed," she says. "They’re such human-oriented dogs. They’re very dynamic personalities, very loyal and playful."

When Goldberg moved across the state in 2015, he connected with McCutchen and began volunteering as a photographer at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay.

In July 2016, Goldberg held his first photo shoot fundraiser for the Tampa shelters, and in August, he launched the Pit Bull Picture Project.

Pocket, who is ready for some more peanut butter.

The project features pit bulls he's photographed and dogs that are up for adoption, all in the hopes of changing the breed's image and helping a few find their forever homes.

Ellie, who found her forever home.

His photo shoots have helped raise nearly $18,000 for shelters around Florida and have become so popular that he's recently launched AGoldPhoto Pet Photography as his full-time endeavor. He's already branching out of Florida — Colorado and Washington, D.C., are next — and he hopes to bring his unique style of photography to pets and shelters across the country.

You can follow Adam Goldberg's work on Instagram and Facebook or check out his website to learn more about the Pit Bull Picture Project and upcoming fundraisers near you.

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