Collection · breeds for…

Dog breeds for kids

A dog for kids isn't the cutest one in the photo: it's the one that puts up with clumsy hugs, excited shouting and a toddler's logic. These 16 breeds score 4 or 5 with kids on the deck.

How this list was built

The rule, out in the open

With kids ≥ 5/5

16 of 30 directory breeds qualify · 14 don't · 0 have no data for a field in the rule (left out, named below)

The numbers come from the Lord Chucho deck: the scale published by the AKC and the books in our library, with a citation on every bar. Where there's no data, there's no breed: we'd rather leave the gap than make it up.

“With kids” is a breed trait, not a guarantee for your dog: any dog needs supervision with children, and any child needs to learn how to treat a dog.

With their bars and their citations

The 16 breeds that qualify

Labrador Retriever
large · sporting · popularity in Mexico ★★★★★
- Energy5/5couch potatomarathonerSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Affection with family5/5reservedglued to youSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- With kids5/5better without kidsexcellentSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Playfulness5/5seriousplayful for lifeSource: Dogs Unleashed (Tamsin Pickeral) · confidence high
See the Labrador Retriever profile →
Poodle Caniche (French Poodle)
very small (toy) / small / medium · non-sporting · popularity in Mexico ★★★★★
- Energy4/5couch potatomarathonerSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Affection with family5/5reservedglued to youSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- With kids5/5better without kidsexcellentSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Playfulness5/5seriousplayful for lifeSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
See the Poodle profile →
French Bulldog Bulldog Francés
small · non-sporting · popularity in Mexico ★★★★★
- Energy3/5couch potatomarathonerSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Affection with family5/5reservedglued to youSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- With kids5/5better without kidsexcellentSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Playfulness5/5seriousplayful for lifeSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
See the French Bulldog profile →
Pug
very small (toy) · companion (toy) · popularity in Mexico ★★★★★
- Energy3/5couch potatomarathonerSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Affection with family5/5reservedglued to youSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- With kids5/5better without kidsexcellentSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Playfulness5/5seriousplayful for lifeSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
See the Pug profile →
Siberian Husky Husky Siberiano
medium · working · popularity in Mexico ★★★★
- Energy5/5couch potatomarathonerSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Affection with family5/5reservedglued to youSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- With kids5/5better without kidsexcellentSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Playfulness5/5seriousplayful for lifeSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
See the Siberian Husky profile →
Weimaraner
large · sporting · popularity in Mexico ★★★
- Energy5/5couch potatomarathonerSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Affection with family5/5reservedglued to youSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- With kids5/5better without kidsexcellentSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Playfulness5/5seriousplayful for lifeSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
See the Weimaraner profile →
German Shepherd Dog Pastor Alemán
large · herding · popularity in Mexico ★★★★★
- Energy5/5couch potatomarathonerSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Affection with family5/5reservedglued to youSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- With kids5/5better without kidsexcellentSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Playfulness4/5seriousplayful for lifeSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
See the German Shepherd Dog profile →
Golden Retriever
large · sporting · popularity in Mexico ★★★★★
- Energy3/5couch potatomarathonerSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Affection with family5/5reservedglued to youSource: Dogs Unleashed (Tamsin Pickeral) · confidence high
- With kids5/5better without kidsexcellentSource: Wikipedia (2006 compilation, secondary source) · confidence medium
- Playfulness4/5seriousplayful for lifeSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
See the Golden Retriever profile →
Miniature Schnauzer Schnauzer Miniatura
small · terrier · popularity in Mexico ★★★★★
- Energy3/5couch potatomarathonerSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Affection with family5/5reservedglued to youSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- With kids5/5better without kidsexcellentSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Playfulness4/5seriousplayful for lifeSource: Dogs Unleashed (Tamsin Pickeral) · confidence high
See the Miniature Schnauzer profile →
Yorkshire Terrier
very small (toy) · companion (toy) · popularity in Mexico ★★★★★
- Energy4/5couch potatomarathonerSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Affection with family5/5reservedglued to youSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- With kids5/5better without kidsexcellentSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Playfulness4/5seriousplayful for lifeSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
See the Yorkshire Terrier profile →
Doberman Pinscher Dóberman
large · working · popularity in Mexico ★★★★
- Energy5/5couch potatomarathonerSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Affection with family5/5reservedglued to youSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- With kids5/5better without kidsexcellentSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Playfulness4/5seriousplayful for lifeSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
See the Doberman Pinscher profile →
Boxer Bóxer
large · working · popularity in Mexico ★★★★
- Energy4/5couch potatomarathonerSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Affection with family4/5reservedglued to youSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- With kids5/5better without kidsexcellentSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Playfulness4/5seriousplayful for lifeSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
See the Boxer profile →
Beagle
small · hound · popularity in Mexico ★★★★
- Energy4/5couch potatomarathonerSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Affection with family3/5reservedglued to youSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- With kids5/5better without kidsexcellentSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Playfulness4/5seriousplayful for lifeSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
See the Beagle profile →
Shih Tzu
very small (toy) · companion (toy) · popularity in Mexico ★★★★★
- Energy3/5couch potatomarathonerSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Affection with family5/5reservedglued to youSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- With kids5/5better without kidsexcellentSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Playfulness3/5seriousplayful for lifeSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
See the Shih Tzu profile →
Cocker Spaniel
small · sporting · popularity in Mexico ★★★★
- Energy4/5couch potatomarathonerSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Affection with family4/5reservedglued to youSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- With kids5/5better without kidsexcellentSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Playfulness3/5seriousplayful for lifeSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
See the Cocker Spaniel profile →
Saint Bernard San Bernardo
giant · working · popularity in Mexico ★★★
- Energy3/5couch potatomarathonerSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Affection with family5/5reservedglued to youSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- With kids5/5better without kidsexcellentSource: The Dog Encyclopedia (DK Publishing) · confidence high
- Playfulness3/5seriousplayful for lifeSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
See the Saint Bernard profile →