The top 6 dog breeds for families

Dogs are a popular choice for a family pet in Australia. According to the Bureau of Statistics, there is nearly as many domestic dogs in Australia as there are people, with three in five households owning a dog. There are many breeds of dog in Australia ranging in sizes, fur length and colour and energy levels.

Dogs are a great addition to every family, but not every breed is suitable for families. Tiny toy breeds can be easily hurt by boisterous children or larger breeds may bowl toddlers over. Here are our top 6 dog breeds for families:

King Charles Spaniel

The Bondi Vet rates the King Charles Spaniel as a top choice for a family pet, as they have a great nature, are cute, get along well with kids and make a loyal and loving addition to the family. They also don’t make too much noise and almost never become aggressive.

Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever makes an ideal family pet as it is good tempered and loyal and so great with kids. They are also fairly low maintenance, apart from needing a brush of their coat once a week. Being a larger dog, the Retriever will need regular exercise to stop them becoming overweight, but this gives you an excuse to also go walking every day!

Pug

Pugs make great family pets because they have such good temperaments, they rarely bite and have big personalities that will keep the kids entertained for hours. The pug loves to be inside with you and is at their happiest when they are playing a game with their owners. They do however tend to have slight breathing problems, and can also put on weight easily as they love their food, and will also quite enjoy a bit of your food as well.

Poodle

The Standard Poodle makes a great family pet, as they have a lot of personality, love to play and do not shed hair. Poodles are very intelligent and gentle and due to their non-shedding coats are great for people with allergies. There are smaller versions of poodle such as the Miniature and Toy but the Standard is the better breed for families with kids.

Labrador Retriever

Labradors make great pets for families because they are intelligent, have bounds of energy, and can be trained easily. The Labrador Retriever is often trained to be used as a working dog and also is trained for use as blind guide dogs. A popular choice for families, they are also great for young couples who have time to walk them every day.

Mixed Breeds: Cavoodle

There are a growing number of mixed breeds on the pet market which make great pets and can have less health problems than their purebred parents. The Cavoodle is a great mix, as it gets the best of both worlds, with the intelligence and non-shedding coat of the Poodle and the easy going, good nature of the Spaniel.

If you’re thinking about getting a pet, there are Pros and Cons of Having Cats and Dogs to be considered so it’s great to do your research first. Pets make a great addition to the family, but each year many pets end up abandoned or in shelters, so it’s best to only get a pet when you are sure you will be able to care for it.