Are you looking for a breed that is great with children? Then seriously think about a golden retriever. There are 100’s of breeds. I’ve worked with many different breeds throughout the years, but none I would ever consider as higher trusting with children more than a golden retriever.

However, how do other breeds stack up. AKC has their recommended best dogs for kids. Golden Retrievers are 4th on the list. This is their list:

Bulldog
Beagle
Newfoundland
Golden Retriever
Labrador Retriever
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Weimaraner
Bull Terrier
Boxer

4th is on the list is great. Bulldog’s are very very popular. Bulldog’s are nice and friendly, but you do have to put up with nights of snoring and more due to a brachycephalic nose. Beagles are very active, and bark a lot. I can’t say anything informative about the Newfoundland breed other than they are not commonly known. Labradors are much like Goldens, although a bit more hyperactive. Wheaten Terriers, Weimaraner, and Bull Terrier’s take a special type of people. I do like weimaraners personalities. I had one randomly jump in the back of my care wanting to go on a ride. We had never met before. If you are looking for something outside of golden retriever, then they might be a great way to go. Below is our recommendations.

Our 10 Best Recomended Breeds for Families with Kids

Golden Retriever
Labrador Retriever
Collie
Newfoundland
Weimaraner
Boxer
Beagle
Bulldog
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Poodle

I am a bit partial, but I do believe golden retrievers are the best all around dog. If you are looking for a smaller dog, then indeed that probably isn’t going to be the direction you would want to go. Maybe you might go the route of a beagle. I personally love Boxers as well. My mother has a boxer that I adore. They have quite the character. They can be a bit more aggressive, but they would protect your children. Golden Retrievers are not known for being a guard dog. I’ve had experiences with collies and they are great around children which is why I placed them up the list. I added poodles, but that one is iffy. They are high maintenance, and I’ve seen smaller ones tend to bite children. I’d stay to a medium sized poodle, who generally don’t have to overcompensate as do their smaller counterparts.

Other sites place other breeds in their recommendations such as Mastiffs, Dalmations, Vizlas, Irish Setters and others. I would actually say that some of these come very close for me at the 10 spot over a poodle. There are other sites who mention breeds that I would never utter in a sentence with children and I would automatically dismiss their sites. The risk of bites are far too great to even mention them.

However, if you indeed want a calm, loving, children friendly, large breed dog, and all around great dog then look no further. A golden retriever is probably right for you. That’s not being partial.