Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are the best dog for me. I was nervous around dogs for years after being badly bitten by a friend's Afghan. No one could be afraid of Molly. She is 15 lbs of love, wagging tail and doggie kisses. Cavaliers are great with kids, not prone to barking and don't have a mean bone in their body (unless you happen to be a squirrel or chipmunk). They are smart and easy to train.