Family pet dogs and child-friendly breeds

About family pet dogs and child-friendly breeds

Choosing a family dog shapes the next decade or more of family life, so it pays to choose carefully rather than quickly. This page covers family dog breeds, how to find family friendly puppies from a responsible breeder or rescue, and the law that protects buyers.

What this work involves

There is no single best family dog UK households can all agree on. The right dog depends on your home, the time you have for exercise and training, the ages of your children, allergies and your budget, including insurance and vet bills over a lifetime.

Dogs good with children are made as much as born. Temperament comes from the parents, early rearing and socialisation with children, household noise and visitors, then consistent training and supervision at home. No breed is automatically safe with children, and young children and dogs should not be left alone together.

Buying well follows a simple pattern: research breeds, phone breeders before visiting, see the puppy with its mother, check health test results and paperwork, and do not take a puppy home before eight weeks. The Royal Kennel Club recommends speaking to a breeder by phone with some basic questions before you visit, and its Health Test Results Finder lets you check the parents of registered puppies.

Who trains and supplies these dogs in the UK

Private breeders raise many of the puppies that go to families, and families train them, ideally with the help of puppy classes. The Royal Kennel Club provides puppy buying guidance, registers pedigree puppies and runs Find a Breeder, a directory of pedigree breeders who meet its Good Practice Health Standard where one applies; it is currently free for breeders to join. Rescue is the other route: Dogs Trust rehomes dogs through 23 rehoming centres across the UK, and the Royal Kennel Club’s Find a Rescue lets you search for dogs at rescue centres by breed and location.

Breeds and lines

• Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever: sociable, trainable family favourites, but large, active and heavy shedders. Look for hip and elbow scores, eye results and the breed’s DNA tests.
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: small and gentle, suited to quieter homes. Ask about heart testing under the Royal Kennel Club heart scheme, the breed’s DNA tests and MRI screening for Chiari malformation and syringomyelia.
• Cocker Spaniel: affectionate and busy. Working-type cockers usually need more exercise and mental work than show types.
• Beagle: friendly and robust, but a scent hound that can be vocal and hard to recall off the lead.

Crossbreeds of these breeds are also popular; ask for the same health tests on both parents.

What to ask a breeder

• Can I see the puppy with its mother, and meet the father if he is here?
• What health tests do the parents hold, and can I check the results?
• Is the puppy microchipped and registered on a database, and will you transfer the keeper details to me?
• How have the puppies been socialised with children and everyday household life?
• Are you licensed by your council, and what are your licence number and, in England, your star rating?
• Will you take the dog back at any stage of its life if I cannot keep it?

Legal and welfare notes

Lucy’s Law, in force in England since 6 April 2020, bans commercial third-party sales of puppies, so buy directly from the breeder who bred the puppy or from a rescue. Under the Microchipping of Cats and Dogs (England) Regulations 2023, a dog must be microchipped and registered on a database by eight weeks old, and the keeper must keep the details up to date; the government warns of fines of up to £500. GOV.UK states that all dogs in the UK must be microchipped and registered by eight weeks old.

In England, breeders need a council licence if they breed three or more litters in any 12-month period, or breed dogs and advertise a business of selling dogs. Licensed breeders must not sell puppies under eight weeks old and may show puppies to buyers only with their mother present. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own licensing rules.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best family dog in the UK?

The one that suits your household. Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Cavaliers, Cocker Spaniels and Beagles are long-standing family favourites, but a well-bred, well-socialised dog that matches your time, space and energy will make a better family dog than a popular breed that does not.

Should we get a puppy or a rescue dog?

Both can make excellent family pets. An adult rescue dog’s temperament is already known, which suits some families, while puppies for families from a responsible breeder come with parents you can meet, health testing you can check and early training you can shape.

Is a registered puppy guaranteed to be healthy?

No. Royal Kennel Club registration records a puppy’s parentage; it is not a health guarantee. Check the parents’ health tests, the puppy’s vet check and the breeder’s after-sales support.

If you breed family pet dogs to high standards, you can list your kennel on Canine Breeder and show families your health testing, licence details and how you raise your puppies.