Friendliest Dog Breeds: Top-12 Most Friendly Dog Breeds

If you are trying to find the best new family pet and the perfect breed that will be friendly towards your neighbors and other dogs, you may need to dig into the best breeds known for their friendly temperament. The friendliest dog breeds in the world are sure to be excellent companions, but you will need to make sure you are picking out breeds known to be friendly and breeds that can be easier to socialize with. 

In this list, we will take you through some of the friendliest dog breeds in the world so that you can discover the best breeds for yourself and your family. By choosing any of these top breeds, you can end up with a dog that will serve as the perfect family companion and a dog with the best temperament for you to train, relax with and socialize with other pets and people.

Well-socialized dogs are friendly:

Even the friendliest dog breeds in the world need socialization to feel comfortable around other pets and other humans. If you have a friendly breed, you will also need to make sure that you expose them to other dogs and let them experience what it is like to be around other humans.

Dogs can start to get a bit nervous when they cannot interact outside of the people they see every day and even the other pets you have in your home. Getting them to meet other dogs in your neighborhood or even taking them to a group trainer or dog park where they can get used to interacting with other pups and people can be a beneficial experience to keep your pup well socialized and to enjoy more of the friendly traits that your dog should have. Without an effort in socialization, you might have a friendly dog breed that is skittish and somewhat nervous when they are in any kind of social situation outside of your home. Making an effort to see other pets and people can be an excellent way to enjoy a friendlier pup and to unlock all of the best traits from the friendliest dog breeds.

The friendliest dog breeds

1. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

These dogs are best known for their sweet eyes and for being extremely gentle. Cavalier King Charles spaniels are pups that are easier to train and easy to please. They are small, they are brilliant, and they can be pretty active and energetic. They are often happiest with their owners, but they can be a friendly and sweet companion for anyone.

2. Beagle

Beagles are best known for their attitude that many people would describe as being happy-go-lucky. They are active and energetic, and they require regular exercise. They need a fair amount of playtime, and they are great with other pups. Beagles can be pack animals, but they don’t often get aggressive. They are curious and very playful. Even though they are bred as hunting dogs, they make excellent companions for a game of fetch and more!

3. Golden Retriever

Golden retrievers are excellent family pets and they have one of the best outlooks out of any dog on our list. They are somewhat easy to train and they can be very affectionate. The golden retriever is a friendly dog that loves attention and is often willing to stay or sit for as long as someone commands. If you are looking for an obedient family dog, this could be a fantastic option, especially when looking for an emotional support dog (ESD).

4. Boston Terrier

Boston Terriers are known as being silly and affectionate dogs. They are usually up for playing at any time and they are very adaptable for those with busy schedules. They are goofy and dogs that can melt your heart. They are excellent dogs for families and those who want a companion pup with their cute and friendly nature.

READ MORE: French Bulldog vs Boston Terrier

5. Boxer

Boxers are often known as being one of the friendliest dog breeds around. They are usually very silly, and they make excellent watchdogs. Boxers can be quite serious, but they rarely pass up the chance to play. Training can help to channel some of their energy and make them a little less rambunctious. These dogs can be very social but they have a tendency to jump up. They are great as a family pet but they do require some intensive training early on to keep them from getting too wild in moments of excitement.

6. Irish Setter

Usually, they characterize as active but also very carefree.

The Irish setter is one of the friendliest dog breeds around and if you can be close to prevent their more unwanted behaviors, they are excellent pets. They need regular exercise and they can start to overly bark or chew when bored. They are great family dogs, and they can be wonderful dogs as a hunting companion as well.

7. Havanese

This is a very smart breed of toy dog known for its animated personality and for being extremely fun and outgoing. They are the perfect pet if you are interested in an affectionate pooch and they are great for meeting new friends. This is a great option if you are looking for a city dog or a small dog you can keep in an apartment. They can be easy to train and they excel in roles where they are matched up with families.

READ MORE: White Dog Breeds

8. Labrador Retriever

Labrador retrievers are commonly cited as some of the best family pets by the American Kennel Club. They are considered to be some of the most friendly, active, and outgoing. They are the best dogs to have as a family. They are best known for their ability to socialize with animals and with children in the home. They are dogs that love to play and they can be considered somewhat high-energy. With the right training and patience, they can be great pets to consider as a friendly companion.

9. Newfoundland

Even though they are larger dogs, they are often considered to be gentle giants. They are known for their patient nature and they can often be considered as nanny dogs for children. Newfies are large pups, but they aren’t too high of energy. They need regular exercise and playtime but they can stay happy and healthy with the right family. 

10. Corgi

Corgies (both Pembroke Welsh Corgi and Cardigan Welsh Corgi) Wel are some of the most affectionate and energetic dogs in the world. They have many personalities and are considered to be some of the most independent, outgoing, and quality pets. If you are seeking a mid-sized dog, corgies are great for their loyalty and although they can be a bit stubborn, you can devote time and training for some of the best companion animals in the world.

READ MORE: Husky Corgi Mix Personality, Care and Diet

11. Pug

A pug is a companion that can be great for a family but they are known as being somewhat mischievous. They are often described for their personalities and they are smaller dogs that can be very social agreeable and attached to their masters. Pugs are great for meeting new friends and they can be wonderful pets if you live in a smaller space because they don’t require intense exercise.

12. Shih Tzu

This is another breed that is known for being very affectionate and sweet. These are ones that love to snuggle, play and they are some of the best small dogs with children. Their personality, combined with their extremely outgoing nature, makes them some of the best pets for urban environments. They are well suited to apartment life, they are great companions and they don’t always need a lot of exercises.

READ MORE: Best Dog Food for Shih Tzu (Vet Approved Review)

Dog breeds that are known to be less friendly

Some breeds are known for being a bit less friendly and more difficult to socialize. As it is often their nature to get closer to their owners and defend their territory, these breeds often show more of these tendencies rather than always greeting people with wagging tails and entering into social interactions with new dogs and people more easily.

These breeds can be very social and extremely friendly dogs, but they can sometimes take a bit more work and training when compared to some others. Here are some of the top breeds to avoid if you need a friendly and social pup:

Afghan hounds

This breed of hunting dog has a tendency to be a bit more aloof and they are difficult around new people. They are bred often to attack small prey and they can get distracted or excited easily with small dogs or children around.

Alaskan Malamute

This breed looks closer to the Siberian husky and they are bred for hard work also. Malamutes need to have a strong pack leader who they will defend. These dogs will regularly try to show their dominance to other animals but they are quite friendly around people.

READ MORE: Alaskan Malamute and Siberian Husky Differences

Chow Chow

These long-haired dogs look very much like teddy bears and they bond closely with their owners and families. They can become highly protective of their owners and family members, making it difficult to socialize with other people or dogs unless you intervene with training.

Shar Pei

These dogs were bred originally for hunting and their wrinkles and fur can act as a form of protection. They are often very suspicious of strangers and from their history of being guards and fighters, they can become very loyal to their owners. Shar-Peis can become great pets for a family with proper socialization, but they will take some work.

Conclusion

Now that you have heard more about some of the top breeds that make excellent companions and some of the breeds that may require a bit more training to become friendlier, you can make a judgment call on the best breed for you. Remember to consider the activity level you are comfortable with, the size of the dog you want and how easy it will be to socialize your pooch to make them a friendly pet!