When choosing a dog for your family, there are more important things to consider than just appearance. Ease of training, compatibility with children, dominance traits, and aggression should be your top priorities. I have compiled this list based on the following:

– What breeds should you leave them alone at home?

– General intelligence

– Amount of exercise required

– Attitudes with children, strangers and other animals.

– Health problems

– My personal experience

– Typical breed standards

– The results of the American temperament test

Small breeds

Bullmastiff

This breed is the classic lap dog. They come from the Bichon Frize and Maltese line but are more compatible with children. They are generally well behaved, loyal, calm, and submissive. They are easy to train, hypoallergenic and do not shed. They can weigh between 8 and 13 pounds and live for about 14 years. They are perfect for apartment living and are content to exercise indoors. They are not very athletic, so they need a quiet family. They are a long haired breed so a ‘puppy cut’ is easier to maintain (as seen in the photo). If you are looking for an adorable, compact and perpetual puppy, the Havanese is for you.

Boston terrier

Boston Terriers are little bundles of joy. They live to learn, love people of all ages, require no effort to groom, and require little exercise. They are perfect for indoor life. They weigh 10 to 20 pounds and live up to 15 years. They do well with other pets and love to be where the action is. Their coats are shiny and short, so they are very easy to groom, but they do fall off. Bostons have very short snouts, so they can breathe heavily, snore, or drool. Due to the difficulties of childbirth (often by cesarean section), I recommend finding your Boston Terrier at a local rescue rather than a breeder. There are several Bostons available for adoption on petfinder.com.

Cockapoo

The Cockapoo is one of my favorite breeds because even though they are small, they are quite athletic. The Cocker Spaniel’s traits give it a robust, hardy quality and a love of sports: frisbee, fetch, swimming, and hunting (to name a few). Poodle traits give it a dignified and intelligent demeanor unlike other small breeds. Cockapoos aren’t nervous or scared, but they do best when they’re around people all day. They are attentive to their owners, very easy to train, and adore children and other pets. They are also hypoallergenic and do not shed. They can weigh between 6 and 25 pounds, depending on whether the poodle’s parent was a toy or a miniature. Life expectancy is about 14 years. They come in many colors and their coats can be shaggy or curly. Some breeders will dock their tails, but ask yours not to – they have the most beautiful, feather-shaped tails!

Medium breeds

Miniature Australian Shepherd

Australians are extremely intelligent and devoted to their masters. They do best with a medium to large garden and an active family. Because they are sheepdogs, they need a lot of exercise or else they get bored, hyperactive, and destructive. About two hours of rigorous exercise a day is ideal. They can weigh 20 to 40 pounds and live for about 13 years. They are a beautiful breed, they come in a variety of colors, and can sometimes have bright blue eyes. Their coats are thick and shed throughout the year, so daily brushing is recommended. Their coats are insulating so no shaving is necessary, although you can give them a short “puppy cut” during hot months. They are usually a quiet breed, but they can bark at strangers. Unless they are properly socialized as puppies, most Australians are wary of strangers and visitors.

Keeshond

Keeshonden are energetic and lively dogs that are faithful family companions. Although they are not as smart as other breeds, they can be well trained with consistent, firm discipline and lots of positive reinforcement. If you like the look of Huskies and Akitas, the Keeshond is a better option for children. They weigh 30 to 60 pounds and live for about 13 years. They do well indoors, but need about an hour of exercise a day. A small yard is sufficient with this breed. They love to ‘smile’ at people and when they are excited they spin in comical circles. Due to their thick fur, they are average shedders and do best in colder climates. If you are in a warm climate, they can be given a ‘puppy cut’ during hot months. Daily brushing is ideal. They make excellent watchdogs, so they tend to bark frequently, which could annoy nearby neighbors.

American pitbull terrier

The Pit Bull is the most controversial breed of our day and you may be wondering why this breed would appear on my list. But in the hands of a responsible owner, I think they can be one of the best family breeds available. They are loving, funny, smart, and faithful to the end. As puppies, they can be aggressive towards other dogs or small animals, but this can be easily and quickly trained to eliminate them. Pit bulls are so well mannered that they are often chosen as service, rescue, or police dogs. Although their short coat is easy to maintain, they do shed. They can be a bit clumsy indoors, but regular exercise (about an hour a day) and a proper weight can reduce it. Pit bulls are prone to being overweight, so don’t overfeed them. They can range from 30 to 60 pounds and live for about 12 years. It is important to train a pit bull to walk properly on a leash at a young age or he may become too difficult to walk when he is older and stronger.

Large breeds

Collie (rough or smooth coat)

The Collie is another fabulous family companion. Like the Australian Shepherd above, they are a herding breed, so they are exceptionally intelligent. Eager to please, snuggle, and protect, they are loyal and dignified pets. They weigh 50 to 75 pounds and live for about 15 years. They make excellent watchdogs and are natural ‘babysitters’ for the children in the family. Wire-haired collies don’t need haircuts; They do well in the warm months, as their fur acts as a heat insulator. Although they can overheat if they exercise too much during hot months. Smooth-haired Collies have a shorter coat, so they do well in any weather. They are both average movers. Collies need about two hours of exercise a day and a large garden. Life in the country is the best for this breed, as they love to explore the world.

Golden retriever

Happy, funny, and loyal, Goldens are one of the most popular breeds in the United States. They love people, so although they may bark when a stranger approaches your house, they prefer to invite a burglar rather than scare him away. They weigh 50 to 80 pounds and live for approximately 11 years. They are average shedders and benefit from daily brushing. Because they are retrievers, they need at least two hours of rigorous exercise a day, whether that’s swimming, playing fetch, or running alongside you while you jog. Some do not do well if left alone and become destructive. Although they are highly intelligent, they are being bred to have more dominant traits that can make training difficult. With firm and consistent discipline, Goldens can be refined pets, but inconsistent training will lead to a runaway dog ​​that will take 4-5 years to establish.

Labrador retriever

The Labrador is the most popular breed in the United States. Their friendly, energetic, and loyal dispositions make them excellent family pets. They are wonderful with children and they enjoy water, hunting, hunting, frisbee, just about anything you love, they will love it! Although their coat is short, they are average shedders. They can weigh 50 to 100 pounds and live for about 11 years. Like Goldens, they do well indoors, but they need two hours of exercise a day or they can become destructive. Without proper exercise, Labs can become overweight, which can lead to joint problems. Due to overbreeding, American Labs are often hyperactive and rarely submissive. These labs will be boisterous and difficult to train for the first four to five years. Since Labs are the most popular breed, they are also one of the most popular breeds found in shelters, so check with your local rescue before visiting a breeder.

Please understand that even though I include Golden Retrievers and Labradors on this list, I tend to discourage families from purchasing them because they are being over-bred due to high demand and popularity. This overbreeding creates unhealthy and extremely hyperactive dogs, which then results in: 1) euthanasia due to expensive vet bills, and 2) dogs left in shelters due to hyperactivity (and destructiveness). There’s no question that both breeds can make great family companions, but I encourage all families to consider other equally wonderful breeds before Goldens and Labs. If you must have one, check out your local shelter, rescue, or petfinder.com. Keep in mind that even protected or rescued Goldens and Labs will likely be overbred, so training and tolerance are a must. Together, we can decrease the popularity of this breed and end overbreeding.

Giant races

American mastiff

For those partial to giant breeds, I recommend an American Mastiff. Calm, dignified and gentle, these dogs are patient and affectionate with children. They can weigh between 140 and 200 pounds and live up to 12 years. As with most giant breeds, Mastiffs don’t need a lot of exercise and they do well indoors or in a small yard. But due to their inactivity, they may be overweight. Mastiffs get along well with other dogs, but must be supervised when there are other types of animals. They can be very protective but rarely aggressive unless threatened. As puppies they can be unruly and clumsy because they grow quickly during the first year, but they mature quickly. And even though they are one of the gentler breeds, their size can be intimidating, so always keep your Mastiff on a leash in public.

Remember, there can be exceptions with every litter, so be sure to research breeders and forever Insist on meeting with the parents to determine the general temperament of the litter. With adoption, research the characteristics of the breed thoroughly before bringing a dog home. Even mixed breeds can be properly researched, just check the traits of each breed in your bloodline. For example, if you are looking for a Labrador / Mastiff mix, a good rule of thumb is to combine the traits of both breeds, so you know what to expect.

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