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Best breeds for

Best dog breeds for families with children

Every breed whose published profile rates them reliably good with children, the top score of five.

127 breeds. The rule: Good with children scored 5 out of 5.

Toy (12)

Bolognese 2.7 to 4.5 kg · Low energy Coton de Tulear 3.6 to 6.8 kg · Moderate energy English Toy Spaniel 3.6 to 6.4 kg · Moderate energy Havanese 3.2 to 5.9 kg · Moderate energy Portuguese Podengo Pequeno 4.1 to 5.9 kg · High energy Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka 2.7 to 4.1 kg · Moderate energy ZuchonCross 2 to 7 kg · High energy Norfolk Terrier 5 to 5.4 kg · High energy Papillon 2.3 to 4.5 kg · High energy Poodle (Toy) 1.8 to 2.7 kg · High energy Tibetan Spaniel 4.1 to 6.8 kg · Moderate energy Yorkshire Terrier 3.2 kg · High energy

Small (30)

Beagle 9.1 to 13.6 kg · High energy Bichon Frise 5.4 to 8.2 kg · High energy Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 5.9 to 8.2 kg · Moderate energy CavapooCross 3.6 to 11.3 kg · Moderate energy Danish-Swedish Farmdog 6.8 to 9.1 kg · High energy Japanese Spitz 4.5 to 11.3 kg · Moderate energy Lancashire Heeler 4.1 to 7.7 kg · High energy PuggleCross 6.4 to 13.6 kg · High energy Shetland Sheepdog 6.8 to 11.3 kg · High energy Shih Tzu 4.1 to 7.3 kg · Moderate energy Teddy Roosevelt Terrier 3.6 to 11.3 kg · Moderate energy BeaglierCross 4.5 to 10 kg · High energy Boston Terrier 5.4 to 11.3 kg · High energy CockapooCross 6.8 to 10 kg · Moderate energy Pug 6.4 to 8.2 kg · Moderate energy American Eskimo Dog 2.7 to 15.9 kg · High energy American Hairless Terrier 5.4 to 12.7 kg · Moderate energy Australian Terrier 6.8 to 9.1 kg · Moderate energy Border Terrier 5.2 to 7 kg · Moderate energy Brazilian Terrier 10 kg · Very high energy Cesky Terrier 6.4 to 10.9 kg · Moderate energy ChugCross 4.5 to 9 kg · High energy Löwchen 6.8 kg · Moderate energy Miniature Schnauzer 5 to 9.1 kg · Moderate energy Norwich Terrier 5.4 kg · High energy Poodle (Miniature) 4.5 to 6.8 kg · High energy Rat Terrier 4.5 to 11.3 kg · High energy Welsh Terrier 9.1 kg · High energy West Highland White Terrier 6.8 to 9.1 kg · High energy Wire Fox Terrier 6.8 to 8.2 kg · High energy

Medium (40)

American Cocker Spaniel 9.1 to 13.6 kg · High energy Basset Fauve de Bretagne 10.4 to 17.7 kg · High energy Basset Hound 18.1 to 29.5 kg · Low energy Bearded Collie 20.4 to 24.9 kg · High energy Blue Picardy Spaniel 20.4 to 24.9 kg · Moderate energy Boykin Spaniel 11.3 to 18.1 kg · High energy Braque Francais Pyrenean 18.1 to 24.9 kg · Very high energy Braque Saint-Germain 18.1 to 26.3 kg · Moderate energy Drever 15.9 to 18.1 kg · High energy English Cocker Spaniel 11.8 to 15.4 kg · Moderate energy Harrier 20.4 to 27.2 kg · High energy Keeshond 15.9 to 20.4 kg · High energy Miniature American Shepherd 9.1 to 18.1 kg · Very high energy Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen 11.3 to 18.1 kg · High energy Portuguese Podengo 15.9 to 29.9 kg · High energy Segugio Italiano 17.7 to 28.1 kg · Moderate energy Siberian Husky 15.9 to 27.2 kg · Very high energy Whippet 11.3 to 18.1 kg · High energy Field Spaniel 15.9 to 22.7 kg · Moderate energy Finnish Spitz 9.1 to 15 kg · Very high energy French Bulldog Up to 12.7 kg · Moderate energy Icelandic Sheepdog 11.3 to 13.6 kg · High energy Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever 15.9 to 22.7 kg · Very high energy Portuguese Water Dog 15.9 to 27.2 kg · Very high energy Stabyhoun 18.1 to 27.2 kg · High energy Vizsla 20 to 27.2 kg · Very high energy Welsh Springer Spaniel 15.9 to 24.9 kg · High energy Yakutian Laika 18.1 to 24.9 kg · Very high energy Australian Shepherd 18.1 to 29.5 kg · Very high energy Deutscher Wachtelhund 18.1 to 24.9 kg · Moderate energy Poodle (Standard) 18.1 to 31.8 kg · High energy Portuguese Pointer 15.9 to 26.8 kg · Very high energy Samoyed 15.9 to 29.5 kg · High energy Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 13.6 to 18.1 kg · High energy Staffordshire Bull Terrier 10.9 to 17.2 kg · Very high energy Standard Schnauzer 13.6 to 22.7 kg · Moderate energy Swedish Vallhund 9.1 to 15.9 kg · High energy Wirehaired Pointing Griffon 15.9 to 31.8 kg · Very high energy Working Kelpie 12.7 to 27.2 kg · Very high energy Irish Terrier 11.3 to 12.2 kg · Moderate energy

Large (36)

American Foxhound 27.2 to 31.8 kg · High energy American Leopard Hound 15.9 to 34 kg · High energy Bernese Mountain Dog 31.8 to 52.2 kg · High energy Black and Tan Coonhound 29.5 to 49.9 kg · Moderate energy Calupoh 31.8 to 45.4 kg · Moderate energy Chinook 22.7 to 40.8 kg · Moderate energy Drentsche Patrijshond 24.9 to 33.1 kg · Moderate energy English Foxhound 27.2 to 34 kg · High energy Flat-Coated Retriever 27.2 to 31.8 kg · Very high energy French Spaniel 22.7 to 27.2 kg · High energy GoldadorCross 25 to 36 kg · High energy Golden Retriever 24.9 to 34 kg · High energy GoldendoodleCross 22.7 to 40.8 kg · High energy Irish Red and White Setter 15.9 to 27.2 kg · Very high energy Irish Setter 27.2 to 31.8 kg · Very high energy LabradoodleCross 22.7 to 34 kg · High energy Labrador Retriever 24.9 to 36.3 kg · Very high energy Porcelaine 24.9 to 28.1 kg · High energy Redbone Coonhound 20.4 to 31.8 kg · Moderate energy Transylvanian Hound 24.9 kg or more · Very high energy Treeing Walker Coonhound 22.7 to 31.8 kg · Very high energy Wetterhoun 22.7 to 34 kg · Energy not published BernedoodleCross 27.7 to 45.4 kg · High energy German Longhaired Pointer 24.9 to 36.3 kg · High energy German Shorthaired Pointer 20.4 to 31.8 kg · Very high energy Boxer 22.7 to 36.3 kg · High energy Curly-Coated Retriever 27.2 to 43.1 kg · High energy Doberman Pinscher 27.2 to 45.4 kg · Very high energy Estrela Mountain Dog 34.9 to 59.9 kg · Moderate energy German Shepherd Dog 22.7 to 40.8 kg · Very high energy Hamiltonstovare 18.1 to 34 kg · High energy Old English Sheepdog 27.2 to 45.4 kg · Moderate energy Rhodesian Ridgeback 31.8 to 38.6 kg · Moderate energy Rough Collie 22.7 to 34 kg · Moderate energy Weimaraner 24.9 to 40.8 kg · Very high energy Wirehaired Vizsla 20.4 to 29.5 kg · Very high energy

Giant (6)

Newfoundland 45.4 to 68 kg · Moderate energy Greater Swiss Mountain Dog 38.6 to 63.5 kg · High energy Leonberger 40.8 to 77.1 kg · Moderate energy Mastiff 54.4 to 104.3 kg · Moderate energy Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog 45.4 to 59 kg · Moderate energy St. Bernard 54.4 to 81.6 kg · Moderate energy

Other lists

First time ownersApartmentsPeople with allergiesLow maintenanceRunners and active ownersCalm and low energyHomes with other dogsSmall dogs for familiesBig dogs for familiesLongest lived

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How we worked this out

This list is worked out from the breed data, not picked by hand: Good with children scored 5 out of 5. Energy, grooming and the good with children and good with other dogs scores are the kennel club's own published ratings for the breed (for most breeds the American Kennel Club's one to five scores), and each breed's guide links to where its figures came from. A breed with no published score for a rule is left out rather than guessed.

A rating describes a tendency across a breed, not a promise about one puppy. Every dog needs socialisation and training, and every dog needs supervising around young children. Meet the parents, ask the breeder about temperament and health tests, and consider an adult dog from a rescue whose temperament is already known.