The joys of having a family dog cannot be expounded on enough. Your children will learn how to properly deal with and handle a dog from when they are young, and this will teach them to be more comfortable around animals of all kinds.
They will also have a best friend to play with who can give them attention and love when you are busy doing other things. But which large breed dogs would be good for a family, especially one with younger kids?
In the article below we answer this question about family-friendly dogs, so please keep reading.
1. Golden Retrievers
Have you ever met a Golden Retriever you didn’t love? With their fluffy soft fur, their sweet temperament, and their loving, friendly natures, they are the perfect family dogs. Your kids can spend hours playing with Golden Retrievers, without annoying or tiring them out.
They are also quite intuitive and know when someone needs to be comforted, which is ideal when it comes to young children who might be feeling lonely, or in need of some love. If you have a baby in the family, then you can rest assured that Golden Retrievers will be great with them as well.
These dogs also have a lot of energy, which means that your children can play with them all day and this activity will prevent both the children and the dog from getting bored. It’s a win-win situation.
Their life expectancy is around 10 to 12 years.
2. Labrador Retrievers
Similar to Golden Retrievers, Labradors are also quite energetic, friendly, and loving dogs. They need a lot of mental and physical stimulation to prevent boredom, which is why they are perfect for a family with kids, who also have boundless energy.
They are intelligent dogs, so you can even do puzzles and enrichment toys with them to keep them stimulated and engaged. Labs also love to be petted and cuddled.
Their life expectancy is around 11 to 13 years.
3. Great Danes
You might imagine that Great Danes due to their imposing size wouldn’t be appropriate for a family with children, but that’s far from the truth. They are gentle and friendly dogs who can become great companions for children and babies.
Great Danes can be taller than most people if they stand on their hind legs and they do come with a great amount of strength. But they are gentle giants, and most families with Great Danes don’t have to worry about children or babies getting hurt by them.
Great Danes also don’t shed as much as Retrievers do. This means you won’t have to spend as much time cleaning up after them.
Their life expectancy is around 7 to 10 years.
4. German Shepherds
If you want a hardworking and loyal big dog for your family, then German Shepherds are it. They are very devoted to their families and very affectionate with everyone in the family, which means that your children will love their German Shepherd companion dog.
Funnily enough, German Shepherds are herding dogs (evident from the name), which means that they will keep herding your children and keep them in line, so they don’t wander off. This is a positive in one way, but it might annoy your children if you don’t explain the dog’s behavior to them properly.
Don’t let your German Shepherds get bored though. They can get destructive potentially if they aren’t stimulated enough mentally and physically. The same applies to other dogs as well.
Their life expectancy is around 9 to 13 years.
5. Bernese Mountain Dogs
Another one of those imposing dogs, Berners are also calm and sweet-tempered. They might be big, but that doesn’t mean that they would ever harm your children. They are usually quite gentle with children.
You want to ensure that you include Berners in your family activities and don’t leave them alone for too long.
The only thing about these dogs is that they shed a lot! So you will need to spend an extra bit of time every week brushing them, particularly during shedding season.
Take your Berner out for a hike or a walk with the whole family so you can all stay fit together. You can even train Berners to pull your children in a cart, which can be fun for both sides.
Their life expectancy is around 7 to 10 years.
6. Greyhounds
If you don’t have time to take your dog out for exercise, then it’s important to choose a breed like Greyhound. They can easily get into couch potato mode along with you, as you or your children spend all your free time in front of the /television.
They are calm and gentle, but also quite independent. Be kind and use positive reinforcement when training them to be around your children. Dogs Consulting has lots of great information on training your dogs and other related topics.
The great news with Greyhounds is that they don’t shed much, so you won’t have much extra work because of them.
Their life expectancy is around 10 to 13 years.
Large Breed Dogs - Which One Will You Choose?
There’s a profusion of choices available in terms of large breed dogs nowadays, especially those that are family-friendly. Cull through the list above and find the one that fits your family best.
Try to get your dog from an animal shelter if possible, since there are so many dogs there who need a family.
Don’t forget to check out related articles on our website and keep learning about this fascinating topic of family dogs.
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