Thursday 19 April 2012

Top10 Family Dogs

1. Golden Retrievers.

This is the first dog breed that comes to mind when I try to think of good family dogs. Perhaps that is because several families that grew up around me all had golden retrievers that were practically members of the family themselves. Golden retrievers are considered to be one of the most loyal dogs that there are. Families like this because the dog is friendly with the family but will also be there to protect the children if they are ever in danger from strangers.


2. Labrador Retrievers.



The golden retriever isn’t the only retriever that tends to be a great dog breed. The Labrador retriever is another retriever that does well in almost any home. This is a really laidback kind of dog that tends to get along with other dogs and pets fairly easily. The one negative thing that people say about this dog is that it can be a picky eater but that may be a small thing to deal with in comparison to some of the other dog problems that are out there!

3. Irish Setter.



The Irish Setter is a dog that, like the Golden Retriever actually, was originally a hunting dog. Over time it has changed to be a dog that is often associated with being a family dog. The main reason that this dog is loved by families is that it’s a really accommodating dog. It truly wants to please people so it’s fairly easy to train and definitely easy to love. It’s also a really beautiful dog!


4. Beagle.



The first thing that I have to say about this dog is that I think it’s one of the cutest dog breeds out there! It’s not always considered to be a family dog because it’s a really active breed. The beagle is a dog that wants to be out and about. But if you have the kind of home that is active and you’re willing to get outside and play with your dog a lot then a beagle can be a really terrific companion to have around. You certainly won’t be bored with a dog like this. The one drawback is that they tend to chew things up so you will have to invest time in training if you get this dog.

5. Shiba Inu.




This isn’t a very common dog breed but it’s one that I fell in love with after spending time with a pet of this breed that belonged to someone with whom I was working. (And it’s one that has grown in popularity since the puppy cam found its way to the web!) Like the beagle, this is an active animal and only good for homes that are willing to be active with their dogs. The great news with this animal is that it really loves to keep itself neat and clean so you don’t have to go out of your way to do extra grooming of it and it’s a breed that’s fairly easy to housetrain. It may not be the best dog for a family with very young kids but it’s a good choice to at least consider when looking at adding a dog to the home.


6. Australian Shepherd.




This is the kind of dog that I had when I was growing up so I can attest to the fact that it’s a great dog. The breed is really smart which is a positive thing to see in an animal that is your pet. It’s also a loving and loyal breed which is very affectionate. This tends to be an active dog although perhaps not as much so as the beagle or the shiba inu depending of course on the individual temperament of the dog that you get. The main thing with this breed is that it does best under guidance so you need to be willing to train the animal and give it lots of love and attention.

7. Pug.



People who are looking to add a small dog to their home may be turned off by many of the dog breeds on this list. The solution could be to get a pug. These are hardy dogs that can hold their own with kids but they are small in size. They are really social dogs that love to play, play, play. They can be a bit rambunctious in their younger years but they are fairly easily trained.


8. Newfoundland.



At the other end of the spectrum from the pug in terms of size, you’ll find the Newfoundland. This is a really large creature but it’s often called a “gentle giant” because it’s so calm and nice. In fact, this dog is SOOOO laidback that the biggest complaint about it tends to be that it’s lazy. If you’re looking for a dog that isn’t going to require excessive activity but is going to make for a good companion in the home then you may consider this pet.



9. Poodle.



Most people think of poodles as frou frou show dogs but the truth is that this breed makes an excellent pet for many different types of homes. They like to play with people of all ages and can generally adapt their behavior suitably to playing with children even though they are intelligent dogs enjoyed by adults. They can be mischievous when they don’t get enough attention so they do need more care than some of the other breeds discussed here but they’re basically an easy breed to have around the home.


10. Collie.



This is the quintessential family dog if for no other reason than it’s a breed that will always be associated with the famous dog Lassie. It’s a dog breed that does well as a herding dog as well as being a good show dog. This tends to mean that it’s a breed that’s easy to train and that gets along well with others. They’re really calm dogs that are patient with children and they’re also considered to be really smart dogs so adults will like them as well.

That said, however, you may just want to look around and find the dog that really seems right for you. Sometimes the best dogs are the mutts that we don’t even know what they are!


No comments:

Post a Comment