If you’re considering getting a dog, we hope our list of the top 10 dog breeds will be helpful. All these breeds are lovable and great for people with certain lifestyles! We recommend that you take the time to learn about each breed and discuss your lifestyle with a qualified canine professional before making a final decision.

To make it on our list, a breed had to be one of the most popular in America. The AKC’s online database has data on over 23 million dogs. We also made sure that the dogs were friendly and great with kids and other animals.

Here are the top 10 of the breeds we recommend you choose for your dog:

1. German Shepherd

You might think of this breed as a service animal but it is one of the most popular dog breeds in America. People with good intentions who use these dogs as service animals need to take care that this dog doesn’t become too attached to their owner and doesn’t grow too big which can lead to damage or even injury. The GSD is energetic, independent, confident, attentive, brave and a great protector.

The history of the German Shepherd is not well documented. The earliest known references to the dog were in the 20th century, with a painting showing a dog that resembles what we think of as a German Shepherd appearing in an 1878 Hamburg court house painting. The first official description of the dog was in 1904.

2. Labrador Retriever

The classic family dog, the Labrador is an everyday dog that can excel in many activities. Active and playful, this breed is also patient and a great swimmer. The Lab has a pleasing personality and generally good with children. They do need to be trained at an early age or they will develop habits you wouldn’t like like toilet paper chewing or digging up your yard.

In the late 1800’s, a small black retriever was a great help to fishermen and hunters in Newfoundland. These dogs were bred from the lineage of the St John’s Dog by American and British fanciers. The average life span for this breed is 10 years.

3. Beagle

It takes some training to get these dogs to stop barking, so it won’t be the best breed for apartment living. This breed is happy, sensitive and affectionate all around good dogs but some may have a tendency towards being stubborn. Trained early on, this breed will be a great companion.

The history of the Beagle goes back to the old British hunting dogs in England. The modern day beagle had its beginnings in 18th Century on two different bases, an Englishman named John Catesby and a man named Frederick Calvert. The Beagle is a lively, hard-working breed that will keep up with you and make you laugh with their funny antics. They have lots of stamina and do very well with older children who don’t treat them well. It is most likely going to take some time for your dog to get used to living with other pets but they will learn quickly once they get past those first few hurdles!

4. Collie

The Collie is the perfect dog for the active family. They are intelligent, friendly and always ready to please their people. The Collie is very good with other dogs and children but may become aggressive with cats and other animals. Once trained early on they can be a great pet.

The history of the Collie is not well documented, but the breed was known to exist in Scotland in 1650. There are many theories as to where the Collie dog came from, but one theory suggests that they descend from a Tibetan Spitz. In 1878, The Scotch Collie Club was founded in Britain.

5. Afghan Hound

These dogs can be very loyal and friendly toward children but they are also very protective of their owners. They are good with other animals but they may have a tendency to bark. The Afghan has the potential to be a great pet in the right environment.

The Afghan Hound is an ancient breed, with one of the oldest examples of the breed having been discovered in a 1907 painting. The painting shows a milky white dog. In medieval times, during various Muslim invasions, Afghans migrated with their families and their prized Afghan Hunting Dogs into what is now Afghanistan.

6. Doberman Pinscher

This breed is known for its courage, strength and speed. The Doberman is an excellent guard dog and may become aggressive toward other animals such as cats, so you should keep them with family members or restricted spaces where there won’t be another large animal like a horse or cow to contend with.

The history of the Doberman Pinscher is not well documented. Some may say the breed descends from an old war dog in Europe, while others believe that they were created in Germany by a man named Louis Dobermann himself. This highly intelligent and courageous breed does need to be trained early on and develops habits you wouldn’t like with their toilet paper chewing or digging up your yard. They are very protective of their family members and people with kids shouldn’t have this as a first choice for a new dog due to its size, which would make them difficult for young children to handle. If it’s anything like any other dogs mentioned before, the average life span will be 10 years with occasional outliers reaching 12 years

7. Golden Retriever

This is a very popular dog, especially with families because they are playful, loyal and intelligent. They also have a sweet disposition which means they can be good with children, other animals and visitors who come to your home.

The Gold Retriever’s name is misleading. They are not all golden, some come in shades of cream, buff or brown. This breed was bred to be a gundog and retriever of game and waterfowl. The Golden Retriever we know today is the result of an English breeding program that started after World War I with the aim to a breed who would combine the traits of both the Flat Coated Retriever and Tweed Water Spaniel.

8. Yorkshire Terrier

These dogs are protective of their people but don’t have a lot of energy or size for guarding. The Yorkie is known as “a dog for the ladies” because it is petite and has a dainty spirit. The Yorkie makes a great companion for an older person or someone without a lot of time to exercise a large dog.

The Yorkshire Terrier was bred in England and was called the “Yorkie” after Yorkshire, a county in England. The first dog they are thought to be the match made in heaven for someone like Queen Victoria. Some people believe that it may have been a terrier-like breed that was on their land when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in 1840 or 1841. Its history is unknown, but some believe it might have descended from spaniel-types seen by Scottish hunting families at Balmoral Castle who sired the dog of Stogies, a sheepdog owned by Sir Walter Scott’s father-in-law, George Scott. The original matings were done to create dogs more suited to David Livingstone’s African explorations due to their small size, spaniel-like face and the ability to adapt to all climates and conditions.

9. Bearded Collie

This breed is playful and outgoing. They get along with other animals and children but be sure to train them to stop their tendency to chase their prey.

The history of the Bearded Collie is not well documented. The breed was developed in Scotland in the 1800s and they were first seen publicly in 1874. Some say that they descend from a Tibetan Spitz, while others believe that they descended like many other breeds from an old European hunting dog. The Bearded Collie can be a great companion for an older person or someone who doesn’t have time to exercise a large dog but it is important to train them early on so they don’t develop habits with their toilet paper chewing or digging up your yard. This highly intelligent and courageous breed does need to be trained early on and needs lots of exercise, so you won’t want this as your first choice if you live in a small town or are limited on space. For more information on the Bearded Collie please visit the AKC website.

This is a great breed if you are looking for something that will keep your family safe from attackers as well as provide plenty of love and companionship, all without chewing through your walls!

10. Plott Hound

These dogs are friendly but they like their own space so they won’t do well in an apartment. They are known for being a good watch dog and will alert you if they hear something they think is suspicious.

The Plott Hound is a different breed of dog to the Plott, which was once called a Beagle.

The Plott Hound is an old breed of dog from the United States used for hunting, tracking and retrieving. It has been around since the seventeenth century and it was used in both the British and American armed forces. The dogs were used to hunt for small game such as rabbits and squirrels. It is thought that these dogs were created from crosses between Basset Hounds and Curs, a type of dog known in Spain as ‘Curtido’.

In 1950, the Plott Hound was rediscovered by Charles Erickson, who took up breeding dogs to restore this old breed.

What are your favorite breeds? Which of the popular breeds would you recommend as a family pet? Tell us in the comments section!