From their sweet, loving personalities to their never-ending enthusiasm, there's a lot to love about Labrador retrievers. They consistently rank year after year as the United States' most beloved breed. Labs are known for their intelligence and good temperament.
German shepherds have long served as hunting and herding dogs in Germany. Often trained as service dogs, they work with police, search and rescue, and the military because of their intelligence and hardworking attitude.
Golden retrievers are depicted as the quintessential family dog in movies and television from the '90s sitcom "Full House" to the "Air Bud" movie franchise.
Berners, Bernies, or Bernese mountain dogs, whatever you call them, this Swiss breed would risk life and limb to help rescue people stranded in the Alps. It's incredibly protective—but not aggressive—with people.
Although they were originally bred to hunt powerful prey, like bears and seals, today's Alaskan Malamutes are fully domesticated, gentle giants that would make an excellent addition to an active family.
If you or a family member suffers from allergies—but your family must have a dog—consider bringing home a goldendoodle. While no dog is truly hypoallergenic, goldendoodles come close, thanks to their poodle lineage.
A basset hound may not seem to be a large breed at first glance, but their average weight places them in the ranks of Siberian huskies, golden retrievers, and goldendoodles—to name a few. Although basset hounds can be very stubborn, they're known for their devotion and unending loyalty to their family members.
Calm, loyal, and clocking in at 200 pounds fully grown, the Great Dane is the gentle giant of the canine world. But don't let their massive stature fool you—these king-sized pooches are calm and only require a few walks per day once they're out of puppyhood.
Despite their tough-guy name, boxers are actually incredibly sweet, attention-loving dogs. Boxers respond extremely well to positive attention but can be a bit excitable—so consider training if you have very young kids or if your boxer tends to jump on people.