Dog breeds friendly with strangers

Some breeds greet new people with joy rather than suspicion. They suit homes with frequent visitors, though they make poor guard dogs. This list has the Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Bichon Frise, French Bulldog, Poodle and Samoyed and others.

How the breeds were chosen

We included breeds with the top score (5 out of 5) for “Openness to Strangers” in the American Kennel Club (AKC) breed ratings. Breeds without an AKC profile are not included. The rating describes the breed in general. Every dog has its own character, and training and socialisation matter just as much.

See all dog breeds.