Families
Family dogs that are good with other pets
When the family already includes a cat, a rabbit or another dog, a new dog has to fit in with everyone. These breeds score well with children, with dogs and with other animals in our data. A good score opens the door; slow, careful introductions do the rest.
- Every breed here scores at least 4 out of 5 for children, for other dogs and for other pets.
- We sorted by how good they are with other pets first, then with children.
Breeds that get along with the whole household
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
A small, soft-natured companion that wants to be wherever you are. Calm company rather than a project.
- Good with other pets
- Very high
- Good with other dogs
- Very high
- Good with children
- Very high
- Exercise needs
- Low
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,200–€2,000
Cavapoo
Small, affectionate and easy to carry into everyday life. Most Cavapoos want far more human company than solitude.
- Good with other pets
- Very high
- Good with other dogs
- High
- Good with children
- Very high
- Exercise needs
- Low
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,300–€2,300
Havanese
Sociable, funny and adaptable, provided company is part of the deal. The long coat is a choice between daily work and regular clipping.
- Good with other pets
- Very high
- Good with other dogs
- Very high
- Good with children
- Very high
- Exercise needs
- Low
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,200–€2,100
Papillon
Delicate-looking but athletic and exceptionally quick to learn. A Papillon wants games, training and sensible physical care.
- Good with other pets
- Very high
- Good with other dogs
- High
- Good with children
- High
- Exercise needs
- Moderate
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,100–€1,900
Toy Poodle
Tiny, athletic and exceptionally bright. A Toy Poodle needs brain work, careful handling and professional coat care.
- Good with other pets
- Very high
- Good with other dogs
- High
- Good with children
- High
- Exercise needs
- Moderate
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,200–€2,200
Australian Labradoodle
Sociable, trainable and usually carefully selected for companionship. It remains a developing type, so breeder transparency matters more than the label.
- Good with other pets
- High
- Good with other dogs
- Very high
- Good with children
- Very high
- Exercise needs
- High
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,700–€3,000
Bernedoodle
Usually affectionate, substantial and people-oriented. Size, coat and confidence can differ greatly even within one litter.
- Good with other pets
- High
- Good with other dogs
- High
- Good with children
- Very high
- Exercise needs
- Moderate
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,800–€3,200
Bernese Mountain Dog
Enormous, gentle and calm. A Berner is soft company for a family with space and a soft spot for hair.
- Good with other pets
- High
- Good with other dogs
- High
- Good with children
- Very high
- Exercise needs
- Moderate
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,800–€3,000
A friendly nature still needs a careful start
Even the gentlest dog needs time to learn that the cat is family, not a game. Keep early meetings short, use baby gates and give the cat high places to escape to. Puppies raised with other animals usually adapt most easily; adult dogs with a known history around cats are the next best thing.
Costs vary widely on this list. The Papillon, Havanese and Toy Poodle cost roughly €1,100–2,200 a year in our data, while the Bernese Mountain Dog and Bernedoodle reach €3,000–3,200 — and the Bernese has a sadly short life expectancy.
Please don't choose from this list if…
- You have small caged pets and no way to keep them safely apart during the first months.
- Your current pet is elderly or anxious and wouldn't cope with a bouncy newcomer.
- You can't give introductions several weeks of patience.
Questions people ask us
Which dog breeds are good with cats?
In our data the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Cavapoo, Havanese and Papillon score highest with other pets. Individual history matters too — ask how a dog has lived with cats before.
How do I introduce a new dog to my cat?
Start with separate rooms and swapped smells, then short meetings with the dog on a lead and a baby gate between them. Reward calm, and make sure the cat can always get away.
Which breeds are not good with small pets?
Breeds with a strong chase instinct — many terriers, sighthounds and northern breeds — are the hardest match. Check the 'good with other pets' score on each breed profile.
Your week is the other half of the match
A list can only get you so far. The Find My Dog quiz sets your home, your hours and your limits against every breed, and shows you the reasoning behind each score so you can judge it for yourself. It takes two minutes and it's free.
For when your dog comes home
DoggMatch+ helps with the practical side of the first year: training week by week, food portions worked out from your dog's weight, a care calendar and a printable Dog Pack. It's entirely optional, and everything on this page stays free.
See what DoggMatch+ includes