Dog
Parenting

10 Best Gentle Dog Breeds for Toddlers

When you decided to choose a family dog, there are a lot of factors to consider. But if you have young children, finding a good match is significant. Not all dogs are well-suited for life with small children, and some breeds can even pose a danger to them. Choosing a suitable breed with children and having a gentle, easygoing personality is essential when selecting a family dog. You’ll also want to consider size, energy level, and shedding factors. Here are the popular dog breeds among Americans since the beginning of the new millennium. To help you find the perfect breed for your family, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 Best Dog Breeds for Toddlers.

The related articles in the blog are listed here:

1. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small spaniel classed as a toy dog by The Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club. It is one of the most popular breeds in the United Kingdom. Cavaliers have been described as “one of the world’s most gentle and loving dogs.”

  • Why Are They Good for Toddlers?

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are good with children and make excellent family pets. They are playful yet gentle dogs that love to be around people. Cavaliers are also relatively easy to train and are not known for being barking dog breeds.

2. Alaskan Malamute

The Alaskan Malamute is a large breed of domestic dog originally bred for their strength and endurance to haul heavy freight as a sled dog. They are similar to other arctic, husky, and spitz breeds such as the Greenland Dog, Canadian Eskimo Dog, the Siberian Husky, and the Samoyed.

  • Why Are They Good for Toddlers?

Alaskan Malamutes are gentle, affectionate, and patient dogs that love to play. You can even leave your toddler unsupervised with an Alaskan Malamute, as they are very reliable around children. They are also one of the few dog breeds that can tolerate cold weather, making them ideal pets for families who live in colder climates.

3. Boston Terrier

The Boston Terrier is a breed of dog originating in the United States. This “American Gentleman” was accepted in 1885 by the American Kennel Club as a non-sporting breed. Originally bred to fight other dogs in pits, today’s Boston Terriers are gentle, loving companions.

  • Why Are They Good for Toddlers?

Boston Terriers are also known for being good watchdogs, which means they will be sure to alert you if any strangers are approaching your home. They are also brilliant dogs that are easy to train. Boston Terriers make great family pets and are good with children of all ages.

4. Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever is a large-sized breed of dog bred as gun dogs to retrieve shot waterfowl such as ducks and pheasants during hunting and shooting parties and were named ‘retriever’ because of their ability to retrieve shot game undamaged. Golden Retrievers have an instinctive love of water and can quickly train to basic or advanced obedience standards.

  • Why Are They Good for Toddlers?

Golden Retrievers are pretty active and may require you to take them for walks regularly if you don’t have a large yard. However, they are still good dogs for families with small children.

5. Bulldog

The Bulldog, also known as the English Bulldog or British Bulldog, is a medium-sized dog breed. It is a muscular, hefty dog with a wrinkled face and a distinctive pushed-in nose. The American Kennel Club, The Kennel Club, and the United Kennel Club oversee different standards for the Bulldog.

  • Why Are They Good for Toddlers?

Do you want a big, cuddly dog to protect your toddler from harm? Then the Bulldog might be the right breed for you. Bulldogs are gentle and loving dogs that make great family pets and they are also relatively easy to train and are not known for being barkers.

6. Beagle

The Beagle is a small-to-medium-sized breed of dog. A member of the hound group, it is similar in appearance to the Foxhound but smaller with shorter legs and longer, softer ears. Beagles are intelligent but single-minded dogs with strong hunting instincts. The Beagle is the most popular scent hound in the United States.

  • Why Are They Good for Toddlers?

Beagles are pretty active and may require you to take them for walks with your child, but they aren’t overly needy, and your baby will love them. They’re playable and very friendly.

7. French Bulldog

The French Bulldog is a small breed of domestic dog. “Frenchies” were the result in the 1800s of a cross between bulldog ancestors imported from England and local ratters in Paris, France. They are popular pets in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and other countries.

  • Why Are They Good for Toddlers?

French Bulldogs make great family dogs and are especially good with children. They are gentle, affectionate, and patient dogs that love to play.

8. Collie

The Collie is a distinctive herding dog, including many related landraces and formal breeds. The name derives from the Old English word for sheepdog, ultimately from Late Latin columbinus (“of doves”), referring to the color of Collie’s coat.

  • Why Are They Good for Toddlers?

Have you ever seen Lassie? Well, the Collie is that dog breed. If you are looking for a dog that will be good with your children, the Collie is a great choice. When your toddler grows up, they’ll be able to take the dog for long walks and keep their health at a high level.

9. Cocker Spaniel

The Cocker Spaniel is a breed of gun dog. The word “cocker” in English refers to the bird woodcock. Woodcock hunting was a common sport in England during the Victorian era, and many Cockers were bred for this purpose.

  • Why Are They Good for Toddlers?

These dogs have the softest ears and sweetest facial expressions of any dog on the list. They’re fantastic playmates for children of all ages. They’re so gentle that you can quickly leave them with your baby without worrying for a minute.

10. Pug

The Pug is a dog breed with physically distinctive features of a wrinkly, short-muzzled face and curled tail. The species has a delicate, glossy coat that comes in various colors, most often fawn or black, and a compact square body with well-developed muscles. Pugs were brought from China to Europe in the sixteenth century.

  • Why Are They Good for Toddlers?

Pugs get along famously with kids, and they will lay around and play all day if you let them. Be aware that they do snore, so if your baby is a light sleeper, this might not be the best dog breed for you.

10 Best Dog Breeds for Toddlers – Closing Thoughts

Here are the Best Dog Breeds for Toddlers, picking the right dog breed for your family is a big decision. You want to make sure that you choose a breed that will be good with your children and that you are prepared to take care of. The best way to find the perfect dog for your family is to do your research and talk to a professional. Once you have found the right breed, you will have a lifelong friend that your children will love.

About Me

Hi, there. I am Lin. Together with my husband and two kids, we live in the beautiful Netherlands in Europe. I am dedicated to self-development, creating quality time for the whole family, and fully supporting kids with their potentials with all I have learned from engineering, MBA, and 10+ years of working experience in the energy sector.

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