The Top 5 Best Dog Breeds for Families

We have been independently researching and testing products for more than 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process. If you're looking for a loyal and loving companion for your family, you'll want to make sure that you choose the right breed.

Here are the top 5 best dog breeds for families, based on factors such as health, personality and general popularity.Labrador Retrievers are one of the most popular and recognizable medium-sized dog breeds. They adapt well to most environments and are great with children. They are intensely loyal and affectionate dogs that form close bonds with their families. This breed is active, playful and intelligent, and they thrive in active homes that can provide enough exercise and training.

Labs love to learn and can be trained to do just about anything, enjoying fetching, running and hugging.Border Collies are one of the most popular dogs among active people. Athletic puppies need a lot of action and attention. But for those who have the time and inclination to keep their four-legged friend happy, there are few dogs more enthusiastic than the Border Collie. The Border Collie is on our list of the best dogs because they are widely considered to be the most intelligent dogs on the planet.Basset Hounds are a very recognizable breed with their big ears and droopy eyes.

And thanks to their discreet nature and their penchant for relaxing on the couch, they are great dogs for busy families who constantly go from dance class to soccer training to school and don't have much time during the day to hang out with the family pet.Portuguese Water Dogs were originally bred to herd fish, recover lost gear or broken nets, and act as messengers from the ship to the coast. They also enjoy being petted and are friendly to strangers. Keep in mind that, like many larger dogs, boredom can cause them to become destructive.Newfoundland Dogs are known as nature's baby-sitters. Perhaps the best-known Newfoundland is Peter Pan's fictional Nana, who was so wonderful with children.

Newfoundland Dogs are also good swimmers, and the breed was trained to rescue people from drowning. A dog even saved Napoleon Bonaparte.Maltese Dogs are one of the oldest toy breeds. The Greeks even erected graves for their Maltese Dogs and, in Elizabethan times, they were called El Consolador because they were believed to relieve pain and cure diseases. Maltese Dogs are also extremely hypoallergenic, with a silky coat that doesn't shed.

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