The Best Mannered Dogs

Bringing a dog into your family is a big step, especially if you have young children. It's important to find that right dog who is friendly and active, yet gentle and mild. Fortunately, there are plenty of dog breeds that tend toward the milder side. There are plenty of options, then, for families looking to add well-mannered pooches to their households.

  1. Golden Retrievers

    • Golden retrievers have long been one of the most popular of family dogs. There's a reason for this: These dogs are usually extremely gentle and mild-mannered around children. They're energetic and playful, too, without getting too wild. Because of this, the editors at DogChannel.com point to golden retrievers as one of the top breeds for families with younger children. In addition to being easy to train, golden retrievers are protective of the children in their homes. These dogs do need some care, though: Because they are energetic, they need regular exercise. They do better, then, in homes that have access to larger back yards.

    Irish Setters

    • The Irish setter was originally bred to be a hunting dog, and it's a job at which these dogs excel. But Irish setters are also surprisingly mild-mannered dogs, making them welcome additions to most households. The editors at PetPlace.com praise Irish Setters for their friendly dispositions and playful, gentle personalities. These dogs thrive in environments in which they are shown loads of affection. They also become quite devoted and protective of any small children in their homes. These dogs, like golden retrievers, also require daily doses of exercise and do best in homes that have access to a fair-sized back yard.

    Basset Hound

    • The slower-moving and gentle Basset hound is the definition of mild-mannered. These pets are the picture of calm, but are also friendly and affectionate, according to the editors of PetFinder.com. These animals, despite their laid-back personalities, do need regular exercise, though. They are also excellent sniffers and trackers, so will enjoy long walks that give them the opportunity to test out their tracking skills. PetFinder editors, though, did warn that small children may try to sit on these dogs' long backs, something that can cause serious injury to the pets.