What Are Good Family Dogs? A Primer on Picking the Perfect Pooch

How To Choose Good Family Dogs? Picking the Perfect Pooch.

Do you want to get a dog for your growing family? Do you want to learn what the ideal dog breed is for families with children? Are your kids hounding you to get a dog?

More families are adopting dogs in the US, with 67% of US households owning at least one dog. That may be a reason why you or your kids desire a pet canine.

However, as all parents do, you’re likely worrying about the right pooch to have as a family dog. Here, we’ll answer the question of what are good family dogs and more. Keep reading to learn more about the things you need to know before you get a family dog.

1. Things to Consider When Getting a Family Dog

Before you adopt a dog, ask yourself a few questions. First, ask yourself if becoming a dog owner will fit and benefit your lifestyle. Where will the family dog sleep or do its thing?

Dogs need to have their space, especially big dog breeds. Other than that, dog ownership is expensive. Are you ready for the financial responsibility of having a dog?

Who will walk, feed, and bathe the dog? Who will buy its food and shampoo? Some dogs are also playful, so who will play with them?

As a parent, you will likely tell your child that caring for a dog is a big responsibility. However, this doesn’t mean that the child will take full responsibility for the dog. It is a family dog, after all. Everyone in the family needs to do their part to care for it to some extent.

Also, everyone in the family needs to be okay health-wise with having a dog. By that, nobody in the family should be allergic to dogs. Remember that you can’t treat allergies to animals by frequent exposure.

Finally, it’ll help to research basic knowledge on how to care for dogs. All first-time dog owners need to understand how much responsibility having a dog entails. That includes you and your partner and not only your children.

2. Why Get a Family Dog?

Having pets at home has a lot of awesome benefits, especially dogs. Dogs help de-stress and the lower anxiety levels of their owners. They also increase the chances for owners to exercise and go outside to socialize.

Kids have a companion to play with and bond with. Children who grow up with dogs also find it easier to socialize. Dogs also boost the emotional development of children who grow up with them.

Another notable benefit is that having a family dog improves a child’s immunity and prevents allergies. Dog ownership encourages increased self-control too. A study found that teens have better self-control when they care for a pet compared to those who don’t have one.

Adults get more exercise when they go out to walk their dogs. Research also found that having a pet can lower blood pressure and cholesterol. If you want to get these benefits for the members of your family, consider adopting a furry friend soon.

3. What Kind of Dog Should You Get?

Not all dogs are ideal for a family environment or lifestyle. Some factors that determine this include the dog’s history, attitude, emotional aptitude, and energy levels. Some dogs and dog breeds are friendlier and more sensitive to emotions than others.

The top breeds for families include the following:

• Golden Retriever
• Labrador Retriever
• German Shepherd
• Bulldog
• Beagle
• Poodle
• French Bulldog
• Yorkshire Terrier
• German Shorthaired Pointer

Note that many other dog breeds will make good first dogs. However, these are some of the ones best considered as family dogs. You may also want to check out these Presa Canario puppies for sale.

A variety of other factors determine what makes a good family dog as well.

Consider breeds that are least likely to suffer health problems. Veterinary bills can cost a lot, so you want to avoid those if you can. You may also believe that it’s better to adopt an animal that isn’t going to suffer from its medical issues.

Will you get a grown dog or a puppy? That depends on what you think is best. You may want your kids to grow with the dog.

The trouble with taking care of puppies and children is that you may have to double your effort as a parent. Puppies, like kids, are energetic. They also need to get housetrained.

However, the advantage of getting adult dogs is that they are easier to take care of. Puppies need a lot of time for play and training. Adult dogs often already have house training and aren’t likely to chew on your furniture.

4. What Are Good Family Dogs?

Let’s finally answer the question of what are good family dogs. One of the first things you need to look at is the temperament of the dog. Does it engage with your kids or other family members well? Is it social enough that it’ll make quick friends with your kids?

Certain dog breeds are great at being social and being with small kids. These friendly dogs are the ones that make good family dogs. That includes beagles, bearded collies, and Boston terriers.

Next, consider affordability. Greyhounds, collies, and Chihuahuas are some examples of dog breeds that are easier on the wallet. You want to look for low-cost dogs maintenance-wise.

Consider your living situation as well. If you have a home, it’ll be easier to care for large dog breeds. Otherwise, you may want to keep small dogs instead and those that are more tolerant of being indoors.

Get the Right Dog for Your Family

Indeed, dogs make the ideal best friend. Your kids may do better in life when they grow up with a pet dog. You are also likely to enjoy the companionship of a dog even as an adult.

That ends our guide on finding the perfect family dog. We hope you finally have the answers to the question of what are good family dogs. We also hope you learned something helpful about adopting a pooch for the family from this guide.

Of course, picking a dog breed is only the beginning. If you need more informative guides like this one, check out our other posts to learn how to take care of your pet and keep it happy with the family!