8 Breeds of Affectionate and Loving Dogs

Written and verified by the lawyer Francisco María García

Last update: 18 November, 2023

Loving dogs are loyal, hard-working, protective, and responsible animals. They are completely devoted to their owners, without expecting anything in return. These dogs are very affectionate, and therefore are perfect for children.

There are breeds that stand out for their working or hunting abilities, and others that stand out for their emotional effusiveness.

Some loving dogs: Those that stand out

Mixed breed

For many people, rescued animals are much more thankful than other animals.

Dogs without a pedigree tend to be looked down upon because of their “impure” nature. Fortunately, it’s not always like that.

Once you provide them with shelter and love, these caring dogs will become even more loving in return. In addition, they will worship and watch over the integrity and security of their owners until the end of their days.

Golden Retriever

Besides being physically good-looking like a giant stuffed animal, they are very friendly and good-natured dogs.

The Golden’s personality reflects a mix between patience and calmness, and hyperactivity and excitement. 

They express their submissiveness without any reservations, even in front of strangers (that is why they are not good guard dogs).

Their relationship with children and other pets is excellent. Some of these loving dogs never get tired of playing.

For many, Golden Retrievers are at the top of the list of affectionate dogs. 

Boxer

Boxers are a very lively breed, but also quite adaptable. They can efficiently fulfill the work of a guard dog. If they grow up in relaxed environments and around children, they are very fun and loving pets.

Boxers can be eternal puppies, always wanting to play and licking their owners’ faces without stopping.

Pug

These small dogs are very sociable and loyal to their family. They can adapt to living in small apartments or houses with a lot of land without any problem.

Pugs are very playful, and so they are not an issue when interacting with children. They are rarely aggressive unless physically abused. They also respond when they sense imminent danger signals for their own integrity and that of their family.

A healthy and happy pug looks like he is living in a state of unbreakable happiness. 

Yorkshire Terrier

They are one of the smallest dog breeds in the world. Also one of the sweetest.

Despite their small stature, they are very alert animals. This makes them insistent and sometimes rude barkers. However, this ability can be improved with training and some patience because they are very intelligent.

Yorkshires are loving dogs, and they never get tired of playing. They enjoy long petting sessions, and sometimes even being groomed.

Frequent walks and running around freely are their favorite activities.

German Shepherd

The opposite of the Yorkshire Terrier, the German Shepherd is a dog as big as he is imposing, with a reputation of being fierce and bad-tempered.

Although they can thoroughly fulfill the duties of a guard dog, they are a good-natured, happy, and affectionate breed.

They are enormously popular dogs because they obey their owners without question and are very easy to train.

With families, German Shepherds come to provide protection and affection to small children. They treat them as if they were their own offspring.

St. Bernard

This is another example of a large-sized dog, although they are as big as they are friendly.

St. Bernards are “kangaroo” dogs par excellence, thanks to their infinite patience and endless kindness. Their tolerance with babies and small children is admirable.

Easy to train, they are always ready to follow instructions.

They also don’t have any major problems providing protection and vigilance to their family. They use their intimidating demeanor very well for that.

Labrador Retriever

Along with the Golden Retriever, they earned their spot on the list of loving dogs by popular acclaim.

They are a pet “without but’s.” The Labrador lives happily with children and adults, adapts to living in small apartments or in big and spacious houses. They also enjoy walks (even going on trips to the countryside, the beach, or the mountains) and long exercise sessions, just as much as relaxing at home.

Labradors are easy to train, and respond to positive reinforcement like no other breed.

Furthermore, these dogs perfectly fulfill the duties of guard, guide, police, and detection dogs. Similarly, they are often used for therapeutic purposes for patients that require a distinct type of support.