Instructions
Analyze the dynamics of your family. If you have children who like to explore and get into everything, you will want a dog that can handle the kids' energy and a little chaos. A child still getting the feel for walking may not do well with a larger dog that could unintentionally knock him down.
Determine the limits of your home and lifestyle. An energetic dog will need either a yard to play in or a family that will take it for walks everyday. A smaller, calmer dog may be better suited to apartment living.
Visit your local shelter or breeder with your whole family. Many shelters provide an area in which to play with the animals, as do most breeders. Let your children interact with the dog as they would at home to gauge the dog's reaction. If a breeder keeps its puppies only with other dogs, you may find the puppies are skittish around children.
Consider a Golden or Labrador retriever if you can devote time each day for exercise. Retrievers have a lot of energy, which can be burned off through walks and backyard play. These breeds are known to be gentle and tolerant with children.
Look into collies if you have preschool-age children. This breed is loyal and known to protect children. Collies are intelligent and energetic, so both physical and mental exercise is needed on a daily basis.
Consider smaller breeds if you live in an apartment or do not have a yard suitable for a larger dog. Yorkshire terriers, Maltese and cavalier King Charles spaniels are affectionate breeds known to play well with children.
How to Choose Family-Friendly Dog Breeds
You can search the Internet for the so-called "best" dog breeds for a family environment. However, more goes into selecting the right breed for your situation than a generalized list will cover. You may find that the best dog for your family isn't a specific breed at all, but rather a mix. Just as people have individual personalities, so do dogs. Meeting a dog face-to-face is important. Simply researching the traits of different types of dogs and then going to a breeder and buying a dog does not guarantee the right dog for your family.