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

– What breeds do well to leave them alone at home?

– general intelligence

– Amount of exercise needed

– Attitudes with children, strangers and other animals

– Health problems

– My personal experience

– Typical breed standards

– Results of the American Temperament Test

Small breeds

Havana

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 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 longhaired breed, so a ‘puppy cut’ is easier to maintain (as seen in the photo). If you’re looking for a lovable, compact, lifelong puppy, the Havanese is for you.

boston terrier

Boston Terriers are little bundles of joy. They live to learn, love people of all ages, groom themselves effortlessly, and require little exercise. They are perfect for indoor living. 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 glossy and short so they are very easy to groom, but they do shed. Bostons have very short muzzles, so they can breathe heavily, snore, or drool. Due to the difficulties of childbirth (often by C-section), I recommend finding your Boston Terrier at a local rescue center rather than a breeder. There are several Bostons available for adoption at petfinder.com.

cockatoo

The Cockapoo is one of my favorite breeds because even though they are small, they are quite athletic. Cocker Spaniel traits give him a robust, resilient quality and a love of sports: frisbee, fetching, swimming, and hunting (to name a few). Poodle traits provide dignified and intelligent demeanor unlike other small breeds. Cockapoos are not jumpy or skittish, but they do best 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 fluffy or curly. Some breeders will dock their tails, but ask yours not to: they have the most beautiful, feather-like tails!

Medium Breeds

miniature australian shepherd

Australians are extremely intelligent and devoted to their masters. They do best with a medium to large yard and an active family. Because they are herding dogs, they need a lot of exercise or they get bored, hyperactive and destructive. About two hours of rigorous exercise a day is ideal. They can weigh from 20 to 40 pounds and live for about 13 years. They are a beautiful breed, coming in a variety of colors and can sometimes have bright blue eyes. Their coats are thick and they shed throughout the year, so daily brushing is recommended. Their coats are insulating, so shaving is not necessary, although you can give them a short “puppy cut” during the warm months. They are generally a quiet breed, but may bark at strangers. Unless properly socialized as pups, most Australians are wary of strangers and visitors.

Keeshond

Keeshondens are energetic, lively dogs that make devoted family companions. Although they are not as intelligent as other breeds, they can be well trained with consistent, firm discipline and plenty of positive reinforcement. If you like the look of Huskies and Akitas, the Keeshond is a better choice for children. They weigh from 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 excited they go around in comic circles. Due to their thick coat, they are average shedders and do better in cooler climates. If they are in a warm climate, they can be given a “puppy cut” during the warm months. Daily brushing is ideal. They make excellent watchdogs, so they tend to bark frequently, which could disturb 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 believe they can be one of the best family breeds available. They are affectionate, funny, intelligent 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. Pitbulls are so well-mannered that they are often chosen to be 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 suitable weight can reduce this. Pitbulls are prone to being overweight, so don’t overfeed them. They can range from 30 to 60 pounds and live about 12 years. It is important to train a pitbull to walk properly on a leash at a young age or it may become too difficult to walk when he is older and stronger.

large breeds

Collie (rough or smooth hair)

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 make loyal and dignified pets. They weigh from 50 to 75 pounds and live for about 15 years. They make excellent watchdogs and are natural ‘babysitters’ for the children in the family. Rough Coated Collies do not 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 the hot months. Smooth-Coated Collies have shorter coats, so they do well in any climate. Both are average throwers. Collies need about two hours of exercise a day and a large yard. Country life is best for this breed as they love to explore the world.

golden retriever

Happy, fun-loving, 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 their home, they would rather invite a burglar in than scare him off. They weigh from 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 it’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 make refined pets, but inconsistent training will lead to a runaway dog ​​that will take 4-5 years to establish.

labrador retrievers

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

Please understand that although I include Golden Retrievers and Labradors on this list, I tend to discourage families from buying them because they are being overbred 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 abandoned in shelters due to their hyperactive (and destructive) activity. There is 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 with your local shelter, rescue, or petfinder.com. Keep in mind that even protected or rescued Goldens and Labradors will likely be overbred, so training and tolerance are a must. Together, we can decrease the popularity of this breed and put an end to overbreeding.

Giant Races

american mastiff

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

Remember, there may be exceptions with each litter, so be sure to research breeders and always insist on meeting with the parents to determine the general temperament of the litter. With adoption, thoroughly research the breed’s characteristics 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’re looking for a Labrador/Mastiff mix, a good rule of thumb is to combine traits from both breeds, so you know what to expect.