What could be better than dog kisses and canine cuddles? These breeds aren’t afraid to show their love for you, in fact, they insist on it! Having one of these breeds means having a personal snuggle machine in your home. If you’ve got space in your bed or on your couch for a cuddle buddy and free hands for belly rubs, consider adopting one of the dogs on this list!
#10 – Brussels Griffon
This charming little dog steals the hearts of everyone they meet, and good thing too. He wouldn’t be happy if he wasn’t getting attention from everyone in the room.
#9 – Great Dane
Known as the over-grown lap dog, these gentle giants are as affectionate as they come, often leaning on their person to beg for attention.
#8 – American Staffordshire Terrier
If you don’t own one, this may come as a shock to you, but the Am. Staff is known for being people-orientated and loving with a personality similar to the Labrador retriever.
#7 – Bichon Frise
Often seen as the epitome of the “lap dog,” it’s easy to see why 18th Century French royals were taken with this loving little dog.
#6 – Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
One of the most popular spaniels, the “Cavi” is an attention hog and really isn’t content unless he’s on your lap.
#5 – Bearded Collie
Often called the “happy herder” because of its bouncing personality, this collie loves attention. Their smile when they greet you says it all – “I Don’t Know You, But I Love You”
#4 – Italian Greyhound
A miniature of the full-size greyhound, this doe-eyed dog would rather be giving kisses then winning a race.
#3 – Bedlington Terrier
While terriers are often thought of as independent, this high energy breed has a real soft side. They are very content lap dogs and are often pushy about getting attention.
#2 – Golden Retriever
Also known for its loving nature, the golden retriever is commonly used for therapy work due to its friendly attitude toward everyone, even strangers.
#1 – Labrador Retriever
No surprise that this breed made this list. Labrador retrievers are known for their sweet, loving disposition. No wonder they make sure great service dogs.
Next up…
There are hundreds of dog breeds in the world, each with their own unique look, purpose and personality. While many people think they want a certain breed, they sometimes find out that the dog they thought looked really cool is actually a lot of work to live with. This is why so many trainers and rescues try to advice first time owner to avoid certain breeds. Many breeds are becoming more popular on looks alone, but end up most often in the shelter when their novice owners can’t control them. Here are 12 breeds you think you might want but should probably avoid – unless you’re truly prepared.
#1 – Border Collie
The Border Collie is growing in popularity in pet homes because of its popularity out in the working fields. They are intelligent dogs that need a job, so while they’re very good at cool tricks, they also need to be out herding, running agility courses or working on competitive obedience to be happy. They may be small, but their drive and intensity is a lot more dog than the average owner is expecting.
#2 – Belgian Malinois
The Belgian Malinois is gaining popularity after the media noted it was the breed that helped bring down Osama Bin Laden. While it’s true that the Malinois is the most versatile police and military working dog, it’s also a dog that needs a job. The breed is bred almost exclusively for protection work and its drive, intensity and aggressive tendencies make it a very poor choice for a pet.
#3 – Dutch Shepherd
The Dutch Shepherd is also a popular police and military working dog and shares many of the same traits as the Belgian Malinois. These dogs need jobs and will not only become destructive if left under-stimulated, but even somewhat aggressive and difficult to handle.
#4 – Patterdale Terrier
Patterdale Terriers are becoming more and more popular among the terrier hunting crowd and although they share some qualities of many other pet terriers, they’re much more intense dogs. Although small, they are bred almost exclusively for work and can become a major liability in the wrong hands.
#5 – Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky is beautiful, but novice owners typically looking for a pretty dog to sit around all day find themselves way in over their heads with a Sibe. These dogs were bred for endurance running and without a lot of exercise and proper training, they are very difficult dogs to live with.
#6 – Australian Cattle Dog
The Australian Cattle Dog is a herding breed used for keeping cattle under control, which means they have very strong temperaments and are very confident dogs. The breed can be very difficult to handle for the novice owner and often end up in the shelter because the person received far more dog than they had intended.
#7 – Dalmatian
The Dalmatian is a working dog from Croatia, bred as a carriage dog. They are very strong, active and excitable dogs that need a lot of activity and training to remain mannered houseguests. Dalmatians are beautiful, but they are a lot to handle and many owners don’t realize how much dog they’re getting until it’s too late.
#8 – Akita
The Akita is a large Japanese dog with a striking appearance and a temperament most owners aren’t prepared to live with. They are very aloof and wary of strangers, loyal to their owners and protective of their property. The breed is very independent and does not tolerate too much attention, so caution should be taken with children.
#9 – Weimaraner
The Weimaraner is a very active German hunting dog with a coat color that is undeniably beautiful. Unfortunately, just how powerful and active these dogs are isn’t realized by the owner until it’s too late. Weimaraners need a substantial amount of exercise and training to keep them stimulated and easy to live with in the house and they are often too robust to be around children.
#10 – Airedale Terrier
The Airedale is the largest of the terriers and has been used as both a hunting and working dog. The breed is intelligent and independent, often deemed as stubborn, and can be difficult to manage for the novice owner.
#11 – Australian Shepherd
The Australian Shepherd is a very beautiful dog that can be seen participating in various dog sports. While this does prove the breed is smart and enjoyable, it also proves that they are very active and need a job to do. Without a proper outlet for their desire to work, the breed will become unruly and destructive.
#12 – Schipperke
The Schipperke is a Belgian spitz-type dog used for herding. Although small, the breed is not easily managed by the novice owner. Schipperke are tenacious and headstrong, making them sometimes difficult to train. Despite their size, they’re also very active dogs that need adequate exercise to live a standard pet life.
#13 – Korean Jindo
The Korean Jindo is one of the few Korean breeds that is still relatively rare in the United States. That said, they are beautiful dogs that do attract attention to those who meet them. They were originally used as hunting dogs and still maintain a lot of the prey drive necessary for the work. Because of this, they do not fare well around other small animals, dogs included. Jindos are very independent and are not the social butterflies many owners wish their dogs to be.
#14 – Rhodesian Ridgeback
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a large, powerful hunting dog from Africa. Although the breed is affectionate and loyal to its family, it is aloof and sometimes wary of strangers. Originally used as guard dogs and hunting dogs, they maintain the tenacity needed to tackle large game such as lions and wild pigs.
#15 – Catahoula Leopard Dog
The Catahoula Leopard Dog is a striking animal originating from Louisiana. The breed was originally created to hunt wild boar and still serves that purpose today. Because of this, they are large, powerful and independent dogs that need an experienced owner to control them.
Next up…
When we call a dog “sensitive,” we don’t mean it in a bad way. We’re just talking about dogs that are a little bit more emotionally delicate than others. Some dogs handle mild punishment very well, while others crumble apart at so much as a dirty look. This just means they’re very sensitive toward their owners, which is usually a good thing! If you’re looking for a dog that’s very receptive to your emotions, look no further than this list!
#1 – American Pit Bull Terrier
The American Pit Bull Terrier might have a bad rap, but they’re actually very sensitive dogs. Even when you take their rough history into account, the breed was developed to be soft and gentle toward their owners – only to hunt and fight other animals. Today, they’re very loving and affectionate dogs that do respond strongly to their owner’s emotions.
#2 – Australian Shepherd
Australian Shepherds are hard-headed toward livestock, but very sensitive to their handlers. This breed is affectionate and social, enjoying quality time with their owners regardless of the activity. Their sensitivity makes them easy to train for various working venues and dog sports.
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#3 – Border Collie
Like the Australian Shepherd, the Border Collie has been bred to work long hours in tough conditions. That said, they’re very soft dogs – emotionally sensitive to their handlers. Their sensitivity also makes them easy to train and work with because they respond very well to their owner’s desires. This aspect is one of the reasons you see Border Collies being so successful at working venues and dog sports of all kinds.
#4 – Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was developed as a lapdog and serves that purpose today. They are gentle, affectionate companions that want nothing more than to see their families happy. The breed is very sensitive to the emotions of people and make excellent therapy dogs for those in need.
#5 – Dogue de Bordeaux
Despite their intimidating appearance, the Dogue de Bordeaux is actually a very emotionally soft dog. They are very sensitive to their families, deeply loyal and gentle around those they know. Although aloof with strangers, they respond strongly to their owners feelings and emotional well-being.
#6 – Rottweiler
Another powerful working breed, the Rottweiler can be very foreboding to strangers. However, they are very sensitive to their owners. These dogs are capable of police and military work but remain soft toward their handlers throughout their lifetime.
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#7 – Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Like the American Pit Bull Terrier, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a dog that was bred to be sensitive and gentle around people. They are often called the “Nanny Dog” because of their gentle nature toward children. Staffordshire Bull Terriers make excellent family companions.