Best Family Dog Breeds

Coat & grooming — Short dense double coat; sheds seasonally and needs weekly brushing

Suits — Active families, children, first-time owners, working roles

Coat & grooming — Medium-length water-repellent double coat with feathering; sheds and needs regular brushing

Suits — Families, children, first-time owners, therapy and assistance work

Coat & grooming — Dense curly low-shedding coat; needs regular clipping and grooming

Suits — Allergy-conscious owners, families, active and dog-sport homes

Coat & grooming — Short dense weatherproof coat; sheds moderately and is easy to groom

Suits — Families, children, active homes, multi-dog households

Coat & grooming — A short, smooth, tight-fitting coat in fawn or brindle, often with white markings and a dark mask. Grooming is very easy: a weekly rub with a grooming mitt or soft brush removes loose hair and keeps the coat glossy. Boxers shed moderately and are fairly clean dogs that need only occasional bathing, though their short coat offers little protection in cold or wet weather.

Suits — An excellent choice for active families, including those with children, thanks to their patient, playful nature and strong bond with their people. They suit first-time owners willing to commit to training, as their exuberance and slow maturation need consistent guidance. They prefer a home with a garden over a small flat, need plenty of daily exercise, and generally get on well with other pets when socialised early.

Coat & grooming — A moderately long, silky coat that is straight or slightly wavy, with feathering on the ears, chest, legs, feet and tail. It comes in four recognised colours: Blenheim (chestnut and white), tricolour, black and tan, and ruby. Cavaliers shed moderately and need brushing several times a week to prevent the feathering from matting, with regular ear cleaning and occasional bathing; their coat needs little or no trimming.

Suits — An ideal choice for many homes, including families with children, first-time owners, older people and flat dwellers, thanks to their adaptable, easygoing nature. They are gentle and tolerant with children and usually friendly towards other dogs and pets. They form intense bonds and crave company, so they dislike being left alone for long. Their exercise needs are moderate, met by daily walks and play, though they happily enjoy more activity too.

Coat & grooming — Long, soft, silky double coat that is light and slightly wavy, designed to insulate against Cuba's tropical heat. It needs daily brushing to prevent mats and tangles when kept long, though many pet owners opt for a shorter clip to reduce upkeep. The breed is very low-shedding, with loose hair staying in the coat, so regular grooming and occasional bathing are essential.

Suits — A superb companion for families, first-time owners, older people and flat-dwellers, thanks to its friendly, adaptable and people-focused temperament. Havanese are gentle with children and usually sociable with other dogs and pets when socialised early. Bred to be constant companions, they bond intensely and can suffer separation anxiety, so they suit households where they are not left alone for long stretches.

Coat & grooming — A dense double coat with a long, straight, harsh outer coat and a soft, tight undercoat, forming a profuse mane and frill around the neck. Shelties shed heavily, especially during seasonal moults, and need brushing two or three times weekly (more when blowing coat) to prevent matting behind the ears and on the legs. They should be bathed occasionally rather than clipped.

Suits — Excellent family dogs, gentle and patient with children they are raised alongside, though their herding instinct can prompt chasing and nipping at running youngsters. They suit active first-time owners willing to manage barking, and adapt to flats only with ample daily exercise and mental stimulation. Generally good with other dogs and pets; they need at least an hour of activity plus training games each day.

Coat & grooming — A thick, moderately long double coat that is slightly wavy or straight with a natural sheen, in the breed's signature black, rust and white tricolour. Bernese shed considerably, with heavy seasonal moults, and need brushing several times a week to prevent tangles around the ears, legs and tail. Occasional bathing keeps the coat clean; the breed copes far better with cold than heat.

Suits — A wonderful family dog, patient and gentle with children and typically sociable with other dogs and pets. Their calm temperament suits attentive first-time owners, though their size, strength and grooming and space needs should not be underestimated. They do best with a house and garden rather than a small flat, need moderate daily exercise, and crave close human company, disliking long periods alone.

Coat & grooming — A soft, dense, curly double coat with a plush velvety texture, almost always pure white. The Bichon is low-shedding, as loose hair is caught in the curls rather than dropping, but this means it mats easily and needs daily brushing plus professional clipping and bathing every four to six weeks. The signature rounded 'powder-puff' trim is created by scissoring rather than nature.

Suits — An excellent, adaptable family pet, friendly with children, strangers and other animals, and well suited to flats given its small size and modest exercise needs. The affectionate, trainable Bichon is a fine choice for first-time owners, though grooming costs and time should be budgeted for. They bond strongly and dislike being left alone for long, so they suit households where they will have plenty of company.

Coat & grooming — Medium-length, silky coat that is flat or slightly wavy, with abundant feathering on the ears, chest, legs and underside. Sheds moderately and is prone to matting, so it needs brushing several times a week and regular professional trimming or hand-stripping every six to eight weeks. The long ears must be kept clean and dry to avoid infections.

Suits — An excellent family dog, gentle and patient with children and generally sociable with other dogs and pets. Suits first-time owners who can meet its grooming and exercise needs, and adapts to flats if walked enough. Needs around an hour or more of daily exercise plus mental engagement, as it is a working gundog at heart and can develop attention-seeking habits if bored.

Coat & grooming — A short, smooth, close-lying single coat that sits tight to the muscular body in colours such as red, fawn, black, blue, brindle or any of these with white. Grooming is minimal: a weekly rub-down with a rubber grooming mitt or bristle brush removes loose hair and keeps the coat glossy. They are low to moderate shedders, need only occasional baths, and the short coat offers little protection from cold, so many appreciate a coat in winter.

Suits — A genuinely people-focused family dog that typically adores children when socialised and supervised. Staffies suit committed owners, including capable first-timers, who will provide training, exercise and company; they hate being left alone for long. They can be dog-selective, so careful socialisation and management around other dogs matter. They adapt to flats if well exercised, needing around an hour of vigorous activity and play each day.

Coat & grooming — A medium-length, water-resistant double coat that lies close and flat or slightly wavy, with feathering on the ears, chest, legs and underside. It is a moderate, steady shedder. Brush two or three times a week to prevent the feathering matting, with occasional trimming and tidying of the ears and feet; show coats need more grooming, while working dogs are often kept shorter.

Suits — A superb family companion for active, outdoorsy households, including those with children, and rewarding for committed owners. Its energy and need for stimulation make it less suited to sedentary or very small flats unless exercise needs are fully met. Sociable and generally good with other dogs and family pets, though its flushing instinct means small animals may be chased. It bonds closely and can dislike being left alone for long.