Family Dogs

There is no AAFCO life stage called senior, so the label details matter more than the front of the bag. Here is how to read them, with AAHA and WSAVA guidance.

AAHA does not set one age for senior dogs. It uses the last quarter of estimated lifespan, which puts large dogs at 7 to 8 years and small breeds around 12.

That compact body and squashed, big-eared face turn heads, so at some point you’ve probably asked it out loud: are French bulldogs good family dogs? Like most breeds, the honest answer is that it depends on the home. A Frenchie is a wonderful family dog in the right house and a poor fit in the

Great Pyrenees are calm, well mannered, and completely devoted to the people they live with. That sounds like the perfect family dog. So does that make them a fit for every family? Not necessarily. For a household with a relaxed pace and kids who already know how to behave, this dog can be wonderful. The

You don’t have to know a thing about dogs to spot a Pug. That squashed little face, those big dark eyes, the flat button nose. The breed disarms just about everybody, dog person or not. So, are Pugs good with kids? Mostly, yes, and it’s not really close. This is one of the easier-going small

Say “Dalmatian” and most people picture 101 Dalmatians or a dog riding shotgun on a fire truck. There’s a good deal more to this breed than the spots and the movie poster. Dalmatians are friendly and fiercely loyal to their people. If you’ve ever asked whether Dalmatians are good with kids, the short answer is

The Golden Retriever started out as a hunting dog, bred in Scotland to bring back waterfowl without a mark on them.  These days you see far more of them on living room floors than in duck blinds. Sweet, patient, and bonded hard to their people. So, are Golden Retrievers good with kids?  Yes. A well-raised

The Great Dane is a big dog in every sense. Size, presence, and personality all run large. People call them “gentle giants” for good reason. With the people they trust, they are soft, affectionate, and a little goofy. Around strangers or unfamiliar animals, that easygoing nature can turn cautious until they read the situation. So,

Few breeds surprise new owners the way a Greyhound does. People picture a hyper racer and end up with a dog asleep on the couch by noon.  They cost little to feed for their size, ask for almost nothing in grooming, and tend to be patient with kids.  There are real trade-offs, though, and you

As a pet owner, are you trying to find the perfect breed for your family? If so, have you considered Poodles? These are some of the cutest breeds on earth and are great with kids. Still, every dog is different, and no breed suits every family. In this blog post, we will discuss everything you

Picking a breed is one of those decisions that sounds fun until you actually sit down to do it. Every dog comes with trade-offs. What works for a couple in a quiet condo can be a daily headache for a house full of toddlers, and most of us only find that out the hard way.

Dogs make wonderful family members. Not every breed fits every home, though, and that gap gets wider once allergies enter the picture. For a deeper dive, see our article on the best orthopedic dog beds for large and senior dogs. Here is the part most lists skip. No dog is 100% allergy-proof. The trigger is

So you’ve got your heart set on a Husky. Smart move, mostly. Siberian Huskies tend to be patient with kids and forgiving of the chaos that comes with a busy house. Before you go pick out a puppy, though, there are a handful of things about this breed that catch new owners off guard. They’re

The AKC article on whether the Doberman is a good fit says Dobermans can make excellent family dogs: a very loyal and alert breed that offers companionship and protection. It also lists conditions. This guide uses that article and the AKC Doberman Pinscher breed page to cover what the breed is like at home, what

A new dog reshapes the house from day one. If a German Shepherd is the breed you keep circling back to, one question tends to sit at the front of your mind before anything else. Are German Shepherds good family dogs? Luckily, the answer is that these dogs can be perfect for a family as

That soulful face from Lady and the Tramp sold a lot of people on the breed, and it is easy to see why. The long ears, the wagging tail, the eyes that follow you around the kitchen. But are Cocker Spaniels good family dogs once the novelty wears off? The answer is yes, Cocker Spaniels