If you are searching for a family pet and have decided on a dog, don’t rule out large dogs. Experienced pet owners know that there are child-friendly large dog breeds you can have at home. Here are four dog breeds to consider if you are still deciding on a dog for your family.

4 Child-Friendly Large Dog Breeds

You already know that a Labrador Retriever is an excellent choice for many families searching for a pet. However, if you are looking for a breed that is a little out of the ordinary but still excellent with children, then we have four top suggestions to get your research started.

Great Dane

Starting with arguably the largest canine globally, Great Danes are massive, loveable giants. Although they are excellent with children, Great Danes have no concept of their size, so they can unintentionally bowl smaller children over. In addition, their whip-like tails require everything at tail height to be puppy-proofed.

Nevertheless, if you are looking for a giant breed that requires surprisingly little daily exercise, a Great Dane might be your ideal next family pet. They will happily eat any food that kids drop on the floor, so check the answer to can dogs eat carrots and other human foods. If you add a Great Dane to your family, your children will love having the most impressive dog on the block and snuggling with them in front of the television.

Characteristics of this child-friendly large dog breed

Origin: Germany

Size: 28 to 34 inches

Activity Requirement: Low/Moderate

Lifespan: 8 to 10 years

Shedding: Moderate

Famous Great Danes: Scooby-Doo, Marmaduke, and Astro from The Jetsons

Standard Poodle

The typical image of a Standard Poodle is one with the Continental Clip, including pompoms of fur teased at the tail’s end, ankles and wrists. Despite this aristocratic image, most owners prefer a less distinctive and easier-to-maintain sporting clip that makes a poodle less defined but certainly cuddlier.

Poodles are an excellent choice if anyone in the family has a mild allergy to dog dander, since shedding is minimal. However, you will need to allocate the responsibility of daily brushing and clipping every other month. Poodles are tolerant and patient with children, but they require more exercise than other breeds on our list.

Characteristics of this child-friendly large dog breed

Size: Over 15 inches

Activity Requirement: Moderate to High

Lifespan: 10 to 18 years

Shedding: Low

Famous Poodles: Freddie Lupin (100% Wolf), Georgette (Oliver and Company), Rhapsody (Best in Show)

Basset Hound

People unaccustomed to the breed are often surprised at the sheer bulk of a Basset Hound. They can weigh 40 to 65 pounds in adulthood. However, there is nothing quite as cute in the animal kingdom as seeing a Basset puppy excitedly bounding towards you before tumbling and tripping over their hilariously long ears. This breed loves their family and is exceedingly patient with young children.

Characteristics of this child-friendly large dog breed

Size: 15 inches

Activity Requirement: Moderate

Lifespan: 12 to 13 years

Shedding: Moderate

Famous Basset Hounds: Napoleon and Lafayette (The Aristocats), Toby (The Great Mouse Detective), Droopy (MGM cartoons)

Boerboel

If you are an experienced dog owner looking for an imposing breed, the Boerboel might be the dog you never knew your family needed to be complete. This South African native was originally bred to fend off predators and protect their household. As such, they still have guarding tendencies and do well with training. However, they are incredibly devoted dogs and need a stable home environment to affectionately bond with their family.

Characteristics of this child-friendly large dog breed

Size: 22 to 27 inches

Activity Requirement: Moderate

Lifespan: 10 to 12 years

Shedding: Moderate

Famous Boerboels: None

 A final word on child-friendly large dog breeds

We spend a great deal of time training new canine family members but don’t forget to educate your children on how best to behave around your pets. Small children should constantly be monitored when interacting with dogs of any size, though large dogs can be particularly susceptible to knocking a child over inadvertently.

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