Pug

Pugs are one of the better choices for a family with children. Expect a small dog that is low-energy, sheds heavily and needs very little grooming. The big catch is running cost — this is one of the pricier dogs to keep well.

Source: American Kennel Club breed standard.

Pugs were bred as companions for Chinese emperors well over two thousand years ago and have essentially never had another job, which is why they are so single-mindedly focused on human company. A group of them is called a grumble. They are comedians — sturdy, affectionate, entirely uninterested in exercise, and famously good with children. The face is the thing to take seriously. The Pug's flat muzzle causes real breathing difficulty, and veterinary and welfare bodies including the British Veterinary Association have raised significant concerns about breeding for that shape. Practical consequences: heat is dangerous, exercise must be gentle and never in the midday sun, the facial wrinkles need cleaning and drying, and the eyes are exposed and injure easily.

Day to day. Low-energy — short walks and a warm spot to sleep suit this breed fine, which makes it one of the easier dogs to fit around a busy family. On noise, it is quiet.

The coat, honestly. This breed sheds heavily and needs very little grooming. That is the opposite trade: almost nothing to do to the animal, but hair on the sofa, the car and your school uniform, all year.

Being left alone. Fine alone for a few hours. A full working day, every day, is asking a lot.

Training. Trains at an average pace. Consistent, reward-based training from day one does most of the work. With a puppy, buy the crate for the adult and shrink it with the divider meanwhile.

• You want a dog with a reputation for putting up with children
• Your idea of a walk is twenty gentle minutes, not five miles
• You want a dog whose coat looks after itself
• You are short on space and want a dog that fits your home

• You cannot live with hair on the sofa, the car and your clothes
• A surprise vet bill would be a real problem this year

Every animal is an individual, and plenty of Pugs live long, healthy lives. This is here so nobody is surprised — ask a vet, and ask whoever you get the dog from what they have tested for.

Rough running cost: $$$ (one of the pricier dogs on our list) — because the breed has known health issues that can mean extra vet visits.

Those are relative bands, not live prices. For real numbers across every pet we cover, see the pet cost study and the cost calculator.

Picked for this breed’s coat, size, energy and known health issues, not a generic list.

Rescues do have Pugs and Pug crosses, usually adults whose size, coat and temperament you can see rather than guess at.

French Bulldog

Charming, funny and hugely popular — and the flat face brings real breathing and heat problems.

🐕 Small😌 Low energy🧹 Some shedding

Bulldog

Placid, stubborn and famously fond of naps. The wrinkles and the flat face both need daily care.

🐩 Medium😌 Low energy🧹 Some shedding

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Possibly the softest, most people-loving small dog there is — and a breed with serious heart problems to know about.

🐕 Small🙂 Moderate🧹 Some shedding