Kid-Friendly Dogs for Adoption in South San Francisco, CA: 20 Dogs Good with Children

Remi is house-trained and knows sit, stay, and down. He’s also learning that the crate can be a comfortable place to relax and has recently started going in on his own to rest. When left alone for short periods, he settles calmly within a few minutes and does well staying inside the house.

On walks, Remington may wander from side to side at the beginning, and then he gets into the rhythm of things. His current daily exercise routine is just right for him.

Remington enjoys people and gets along well with children. He has been around kids ranging in age from 9 to 18 and has done well with them. He also gets along well with other dogs and could be happy as either an only dog or with a canine companion.

One important consideration is fencing. Remington has jumped a fence in the past, so he will need a tall, sturdy, secure fence at his new home. He hasn’t attempted to jump the fence lately in foster care, but his new family should take this seriously, especially as he gets adjusted to his new digs.

Remington would do especially well with someone who works from home, is retired, or is semi-retired and can spend plenty of time with him. He’s a well-settled, easygoing guy who enjoys companionship without being demanding.

If you’re looking for a mature GSP with a great personality, good manners, and plenty of life left to enjoy, Remington may be your guy.

Adoption fee: $250 for seniors (nine years and up). If you are a prior adopter, you can add a Great Senior Pooch to your family for free! Your adoption includes a post-adoption training allowance.

Our adoption process begins with our adoption questionnaire: https://norcalgsprescue.org/adoption-questionnaire/

(Please note that we adopt primarily within Northern California and our minimum age for kids is 6)

If you'd like to see what Remington's been up to, check out his posting in the Available Foster Dogs section: https://norcalgsprescue.org/available-dogs/. That's where you'll find all the latest info about all of our available dogs.

Don’t let his senior status fool you! Buddy is active and playful. He enjoys walks, indoor ball games, and especially his stuffed toys. Before his neuter, he was enjoying 1.5-mile walks with plenty of hills, so he can keep up with an active household. He pulls a little on leash but is manageable, and he knows or is learning sit, wait, and come.

Buddy is wonderfully easygoing with the world around him. He has done great with dogs, cats, and children and isn’t bothered by normal household noises. He lives with both an energetic dog and cats, and he simply ignores the cats—even sleeping next to them in bed. When his canine foster brother gets pushy or barky, Buddy doesn’t engage; he just carries on with his day. He’s also been great with an energetic, loud, and unpredictable 8-year-old and a calmer 10-year-old kid. He loves car rides and hasn’t shown an interest in chasing squirrels.

He’s house-trained and has done well having the run of the house while his foster family is away for up to eight hours. He may howl when his people first leave or when he can see them outside, but once they’re actually gone, he settles down. This has continued to improve since Buddy first arrived (although an apartment or other close-quarters living situation probably isn’t the best fit). He also did fine in a crate at the veterinary clinic.

Now, let’s talk about Buddy’s special talents. He is an expert at getting under the covers. You can barricade the bed and tuck everything in, but somehow he’ll find his way beneath the blankets—and may leave a little drool on your pillow for good measure. Consider it part of the Buddy experience!

Buddy prefers to have a say in how he’s handled and isn’t a fan of being restrained, especially at the vet. He’ll need sedation for nail trims to keep the experience as stress-free as possible. He can also be protective of things in his mouth and isn’t always cooperative about taking medication, so a patient approach and a little creativity may be helpful. Understanding his preferences and giving him space when needed will help him feel comfortable and secure. Buddy has been diagnosed with mitral valve disease/heart murmur (does not need medications) and has some age-related lumps and bumps. He recently had a dental cleaning and is all spruced up for his next home!

Overall, Buddy is a lovely, affectionate, easygoing companion with plenty of personality and a real talent for snuggling. He’s good with dogs, cats, and kids, enjoys his walks and toys, and is happy to share his home with his favorite people. If you’re looking for a devoted companion who will keep you company, make you laugh, and probably steal your pillow, Buddy could be just the dog for you. Just remember to leave room under the covers!

Adoption fee: $250 for seniors (nine years and up). If you are a prior adopter, you can add a Great Senior Pooch to your family for free! Your adoption includes a post-adoption training allowance.

Our adoption process begins with our adoption questionnaire: https://norcalgsprescue.org/adoption-questionnaire/

(Please note that we adopt primarily within Northern California and our minimum age for kids is 6)

If you'd like to see what Buddy's been up to, check out his posting in the Available Foster Dogs section: https://norcalgsprescue.org/available-dogs/. That's where you'll find all the latest info about all of our available dogs.

Alvin LOVES people. Kids, teens, grandparents, even a party of 20+: he’s happy to meet everyone. Our trainer has been impressed by his manners: he greeted her politely without jumping, sat when asked, and was curious about her treats without being pushy. She called him “extremely biddable,” so he should be a joy to train with food and affection as rewards.

He also adores his foster family’s Sphynx cat. He’s curious about cats outside and has a strong GSP prey drive for birds and squirrels, so a feline sibling could work depending on the cat.

Alvin’s road to rescue was a hard one. He was found injured on the side of a road, then moved between several short-term foster homes. With all that stress, he had a rough start with other (resident) dogs. Our trainer describes him as “a mature and skilled dog communicator”: he’s clear about when he needs space, and he does best with people who read and respect his signals.

Alvin’s ideal home:

Active people who want an athletic dog for walks, runs, outdoor fun, and are able to keep up with his energy
Adopters who understand dog body language, or want to learn, and will keep up with training (leash skills, recall, impulse control)
Only dog at this time. A second dog in the home may be considered in the future
A tall, secure fence (he has cleared 6′ fences!) or a jump-deterrent like a coyote roller

Alvin has been through a lot. What he needs now is a stable home where he can settle in and be the loving, cuddly companion he already is.

Other notes: Alvin is likely able to live successfully with cats. Dog-savvy kids are preferred. He is able to be around other dogs if supervised but not yet ready to live with another dog.

Adoption fee: $425 (includes a post-adoption training allowance). Training will be required.

Our adoption process begins with our adoption questionnaire: https://norcalgsprescue.org/adoption-questionnaire/

(Please note that we adopt primarily within Northern California and our minimum age for kids is 6)

If you'd like to see what Alvin's been up to, check out his posting in the Available Foster Dogs section: https://norcalgsprescue.org/available-dogs/. That's where you'll find all the latest info about all of our available dogs.

Lucy is a quiet, gentle dog who enjoys a nice quiet home; she's hanging with two other chihuahuas and does great with them. Lucy did meet some cats and no one seemed to care so yes, we'd say she can live with cats! She enjoys spending long periods in the garden and relaxing in the sun. Indoors, she likes laps, soft sofas, and rearranging throw pillows.

She is potty trained, uses a doggy door, and will use a potty pad at night. Lucy walks well on leash and enjoys slow neighborhood strolls. She may initially appear aloof for a few minutes, but she warms up quickly and accepts gentle affection. She rides well in the car.

Lucy is spayed, microchipped, vaccinated, and recently had a wellness exam. Based on her condition, her age estimate was revised from 10 years to 7–8 years old. She also had a major dental procedure and is now fully ready for adoption.

A yard not required but sunspots a must :)

Grateful Dogs Rescue incurs substantial veterinary and other expenses in rescuing our dogs. In order to recoup some of these costs, we request a tax-deductible donation for each adoption. The suggested donation for Lucy is $300.

If you are interested in adopting Lucy, please complete our online adoption application at
https://www.gratefuldogsrescue.org/adoption-process/

. One of our volunteers will get back to you. Adoptions are local, confined to the SF Bay Area.

See our other available dogs at
https://www.gratefuldogsrescue.org/available-dogs/

Leash Manners: Potts pulls mildly on leash and is mostly interested in sniffing, marking, and exploring at his own pace.
Independent Explorer: Potts enjoys entertaining himself, often running around the perimeter of the yard and investigating every interesting scent. He doesn’t actively seek out attention but may lean in for pets when he’s ready.
Playful: Potts enjoys chasing a tossed ball, although he doesn’t always bring it back.
Treats & Engagement: Potts knows “sit”, “paw” and can catch treats mid air. He takes treats gently, though he isn’t consistently treat motivated. He may be curious about activities around him and may vocalize when excited.

Potts will do best with appropriately matched dogs or as a solo dog with well-matched canine friends.

People-focused and affectionate: Dan likes to stay close to his person and will often come right over and automatically sit at their feet for attention. If the pets stop, he may politely nudge his person a few times to let them know he’d happily like more.
Smart and treat motivated: Dan responds very well to “sit” and enjoys “find it” games. He’s especially fond of cheese and may happily follow his person around in hopes of getting another tasty treat.
Mellow with a playful side: Dan has an overall mellow demeanor, but he can get a little bouncy when he becomes especially excited.
Manageable on leash: Dan pulls a bit on leash but is very manageable.

Dan will do best with appropriately matched dogs or as a solo dog with well-matched canine friends.

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A people-loving sweetheart: Pavlova loves attention and will happily jump onto outdoor furniture to get closer to her person. She’s a big leaner, enjoys butt scratches, and may even try to climb into your lap for extra cuddles.
Happy and playful: Pavlova is always cheerful and may be a little bouncy when excited, especially when greeting people.
Smart and treat motivated: She responds to “sit,” takes treats gently, and can even catch them mid-air!
Calm around other dogs: Pavlova calmly passes barking dogs nearby and generally ignores her noisy neighbors.
Likely housetrained: She prefers to go outside to do her business and keeps her kennel quite clean.

Pavlova is working on her leash manners in the shelter but has shown great leash walking manners on a recent field trip. She would do best with appropriately matched dogs or as a solo dog with appropriate dog friends.

Kyle is a treat-motivated smarty pants who loves practicing and learning new tricks. He’s also always ready for a game of fetch! He's making great progress with leash manners for walks and jogs—he loves to run!

With his sweet nature and puppy enthusiasm, Kyle is ready to find a loving home with adopters who can keep up with his playful energy and continue helping him learn. Click here to learn how to adopt and submit your adoption questionnaire.

Cliffy
is great with people, kids of all ages included, and he especially LOVES men! The joke is that he's a "dude's dog." He likes women too, though, which would make him an excellent wingdog for anyone who could use a charming icebreaker at the other end of the leash. Are you looking for that special someone to be in matching pajamas with on Christmas Day?
Cliffy
is here to help you! And don't forget a matching set of pajamas and an ugly Christmas sweater for him too, because this guy looks great sporting some dogwear.

Cliffy
is eager to go on his daily walks and is also great in the car for adventures farther away from home. The car is one of his favorite places to be, and he will try to convince you to take the car to go places rather than walk there. In fact, he will sometimes try to convince you to steal someone else's car, just so he doesn't have to walk the whole way.

At home,
Cliffy
has impeccable manners. While he's a strong chewer who adores his spiky ball and tasty chews, he doesn't destroy anything in the house. He is not a big barker, though if other dogs in the house start up, he will join the choir, even when he doesn't know what the song is about. He loves cuddling up next to his humans and being petted for as long as they are willing. He is also okay being left home alone for several hours and will stay in his crate even if the door is left open.
Cliffy
loves his crate, so much so, in fact, that after a walk he lets himself in and sometimes closes the door behind him. Because, manners!

Cliffy
currently lives with two female dogs, and could share his home with a well-matched female dog. If you have a spot on the couch, a spiky ball subscription, and a healthy treat budget for ball negotiations,
Cliffy
would love to meet you.

Active explorer: Jones loves running around, sniffing, and investigating his environment. He’s not particularly interested in fetch, but he enjoys having the freedom to explore.
Affectionate and food motivated: In foster, Jones was described as affectionate with people and responsive to treats. He can get bouncy during exciting greetings, so calm, thoughtful interactions help him stay settled.
Still fine tuning his manners: Jones is working on leash skills, and a front-clip harness/collar combination makes him considerably easier to manage. Jones is mostly housetrained, with occasional accidents if he isn’t taken outside soon after drinking lots of water.
Dog-social: He successfully lived with an independent 7-year-old female Pit Bull in his foster home.

Jones would benefit from continued positive training, calm greetings, and plenty of opportunities to exercise his curious mind and young-dog energy. Follow him in foster with @foster_fandi_oas on Instagram and click here to learn how to adopt and submit your adoption questionnaire.

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A gentle walking companion: Rocket trots along nicely beside you with very little pulling, making him a pleasant partner for relaxed walks.
Sweet once he settles in: After getting comfortable, Rocket alternates between exploring and coming back to his person for treats and gentle pets, gradually revealing his affectionate side.
Exceptionally gentle: He takes treats very politely and sometimes responds to “sit.” He enjoys quiet connection and seems happiest when given the time and space to build trust.
Sensitive and observant: Rocket notices sounds and activity around him and may be startled by crowds or very barky dogs, but settles nicely with calm, reassuring vocal engagement.

Rocket would do best with appropriately matched dogs or as a solo dog with appropriate dog friends.

Sweet and affectionate: Laverne enjoys spending time with her people and is always happy to be by their side.
Smart and treat-motivated: Laverne is eager to please and already knows “sit” and “touch”. Her love of treats and enthusiasm for learning have also been wonderful assets as she continues building her skills.
Well-mannered at home: Laverne is house-trained and settles nicely in the home. She would likely thrive in a home that offers a nice balance of adventures, training, and relaxing time with her person.
Working on her confidence: Laverne walks well overall and enjoys exploring. She is friendly with unfamiliar people but can become anxious and reactive when encountering other dogs or runners. She is making progress with positive-reinforcement training and building confidence in these situations.

Laverne is looking for someone who will appreciate her sweet, loving nature and patiently help her navigate the world with greater confidence. Follow Laverne in foster with @adoptmesf on Instagram, and click here to learn how to adopt and submit your adoption questionnaire.

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While his foster family hasn’t had the opportunity to see him around young children, he would likely do well with respectful kids ages 6 and up. Because he’s a larger dog who can be enthusiastic when seeing wildlife and critters on walks, a home without frail seniors or very small children would be the best fit.
What Ace wants most is companionship. He forms strong bonds with his people and prefers not to spend long periods alone. He’ll thrive in a home where someone is home much of the time, works remotely, or enjoys bringing their dog along for daily activities. When left by himself, Ace can become anxious and vocal, so he’ll do best with adopters who understand his desire to stay close to his favorite humans.
Ace also has a few medical needs that his future family should be aware of. He has mast cell tumors on his right shoulder and left wrist that are being managed under veterinary guidance. He takes daily medications and supplements to help keep him comfortable and feeling his best. His adoption will include 6 months of the medications and supplements.
Despite these challenges, Ace approaches life with a happy spirit and a wagging tail. He’s settled nicely into foster care, loves being part of the household, and is ready to find a family that will appreciate the loyal, affectionate companion he is.
If you’re looking for a devoted best friend who will happily accompany you on car rides, neighborhood walks, and quiet evenings at home, Ace may be the perfect match.
Our adoption process begins with our adoption questionnaire: https://norcalgsprescue.org/adoption-questionnaire/
(Please note that we adopt primarily within Northern California and our minimum age for kids is 6)
If you'd like to see what Ace’s been up to, check out his posting in the Available Foster Dogs section: https://norcalgsprescue.org/available-dogs/. That's where you'll find all the latest info about all of our available dogs.

Calm and well-mannered: Nita walks beautifully on leash, takes treats gently, and is learning cues like “sit” and “come” with the help of tasty rewards.
Growing in confidence: Although shy with strangers, Nita has become noticeably more comfortable with her foster family. She now occasionally approaches with a soft tail wag or a gentle lick and especially enjoys calmed and relaxed interactions.
Affection on her terms: As trust grows, Nita has started enjoying belly rubs, ear scratches, and quiet companionship. Her affectionate side continues to blossom with patient, gentle handling.
Settling into new experiences: She may be a little anxious when car rides begin, but she relaxes quickly and often settles down for a nap once she realizes she’s safe.

Nita would do best with appropriately matched dogs or as a solo dog with dog friends outside the home. Click here to learn how to adopt and submit your adoption questionnaire.

Easygoing explorer: Palomino walks with only mild leash pulling and is content entertaining himself while exploring his surroundings, enjoying all the interesting sights and smells.
Born to run: Palomino absolutely loves running and enjoys sprinting back and forth around the yard, showing off his energetic and playful side.
Smart and treat motivated: While somewhat picky about treats, Palomino has a clear favorite—cheese! He takes treats politely, responds to “sit” and “touch,” and enjoys interactive games of chase with his people.
Affiliative and uncomplicated: Palomino accepts pets and gentle strokes but doesn’t actively seek attention, preferring a balance of companionship and independence. He may occasionally chase a ball for fun, though he’s not too concerned about bringing it back.

Palomino would do well with appropriately matched dogs or as a solo dog with dog friends outside the home.