In short The most affectionate breeds bond with the whole family and love to be close. Topping devotion are the Labrador, Golden Retriever and Pug — gentle, sociable and poor at coping with being alone.
How we rated
Scored on attachment and affection towards family members and the need for closeness. A high score = the dog is maximally devoted and gentle.
All breeds in this ranking have the same score on the main axis, so the order was decided by the additional ones:
Kids · Apartment · Energy
1
Pug
Kids 5.0
Apartment 5.0
Energy 2.5
5.0
2
Labradoodle
Kids 5.0
Apartment 3.0
Energy 4.0
5.0
3
Wäller
Kids 5.0
Apartment 3.0
Energy 4.0
5.0
4
Odis
Kids 4.5
Apartment 5.0
Energy 3.5
5.0
5
Cavapoo
Kids 4.5
Apartment 5.0
Energy 3.0
5.0
6
French Bulldog
Kids 4.5
Apartment 5.0
Energy 2.5
5.0
7
Alopekis
Kids 4.5
Apartment 4.5
Energy 3.5
5.0
8
Rat Terrier
Kids 4.5
Apartment 4.0
Energy 4.0
5.0
9
Japanese Spitz (Nihon Supittsu)
Kids 4.5
Apartment 4.0
Energy 3.5
5.0
10
Lucas Terrier
Kids 4.5
Apartment 4.0
Energy 3.5
5.0
11
Kromfohrländer
Kids 4.5
Apartment 3.5
Energy 4.0
5.0
12
American Pit Bull Terrier
Kids 4.5
Apartment 3.0
Energy 4.5
5.0
13
Icelandic Sheepdog
Kids 4.5
Apartment 3.0
Energy 4.5
5.0
14
Finnish Lapphund
Kids 4.5
Apartment 3.0
Energy 4.0
5.0
15
Panda German Shepherd
Kids 4.5
Apartment 2.5
Energy 4.5
5.0
16
Swedish Lapphund
Kids 4.5
Apartment 2.5
Energy 4.0
5.0
17
Eurasier
Kids 4.5
Apartment 2.5
Energy 3.0
5.0
18
Irish Red and White Setter
Kids 4.5
Apartment 2.0
Energy 4.5
5.0
19
English Shepherd
Kids 4.5
Apartment 2.0
Energy 4.0
5.0
20
Continental Toy Spaniel (Phalène)
Kids 4.0
Apartment 5.0
Energy 3.5
5.0
Pug
Kids 5.0
Apartment 5.0
Energy 2.5
5.0
2
Labradoodle
Kids 5.0
Apartment 3.0
Energy 4.0
5.0
3
Wäller
Kids 5.0
Apartment 3.0
Energy 4.0
5.0
4
Odis
Kids 4.5
Apartment 5.0
Energy 3.5
5.0
5
Cavapoo
Kids 4.5
Apartment 5.0
Energy 3.0
5.0
6
French Bulldog
Kids 4.5
Apartment 5.0
Energy 2.5
5.0
7
Alopekis
Kids 4.5
Apartment 4.5
Energy 3.5
5.0
8
Rat Terrier
Kids 4.5
Apartment 4.0
Energy 4.0
5.0
9
Japanese Spitz (Nihon Supittsu)
Kids 4.5
Apartment 4.0
Energy 3.5
5.0
10
Lucas Terrier
Kids 4.5
Apartment 4.0
Energy 3.5
5.0
11
Kromfohrländer
Kids 4.5
Apartment 3.5
Energy 4.0
5.0
12
American Pit Bull Terrier
Kids 4.5
Apartment 3.0
Energy 4.5
5.0
13
Icelandic Sheepdog
Kids 4.5
Apartment 3.0
Energy 4.5
5.0
14
Finnish Lapphund
Kids 4.5
Apartment 3.0
Energy 4.0
5.0
15
Panda German Shepherd
Kids 4.5
Apartment 2.5
Energy 4.5
5.0
16
Swedish Lapphund
Kids 4.5
Apartment 2.5
Energy 4.0
5.0
17
Eurasier
Kids 4.5
Apartment 2.5
Energy 3.0
5.0
18
Irish Red and White Setter
Kids 4.5
Apartment 2.0
Energy 4.5
5.0
19
English Shepherd
Kids 4.5
Apartment 2.0
Energy 4.0
5.0
20
Continental Toy Spaniel (Phalène)
Kids 4.0
Apartment 5.0
Energy 3.5
5.0
How the ranking is built
order: Family → Kids → Apartment → Energy → breed · list composition as on the site, order by this rule
FAQ
Which breeds are most devoted to their owner?
Labrador, Golden Retriever, Pug, French Bulldog — they bond strongly with the family and value attention.
Do all affectionate breeds cope poorly alone?
Most sociable breeds dislike being alone for long; they need company and gradual training for the owner’s absence.
Does affection depend only on the breed?
No — socialization, upbringing and the individual dog’s character all play a big part.