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I've had dogs nearly my entire life .. Shelties, Labs, Retrievers and now Rottweilers.
My 150 pound Rottweiler is probably the most gentle dog I've ever had. We used to have a baby live with us, and he knew he had to lay on his side and not move. Couldn't have him bumping in to the child. He just lay and took whatever the child dished out. The exception being, if a stranger tried to touch the child they'd be eaten.
I am NOT however suggesting you run out and get a Rottweiler.
The fact of the matter is many if not most dogs are suitable for children, but you will need to take responsibility to ensure a SPECIFIC dog will be. Any dog you have will need to be well trained, regardless of the breed. Even the smallest dog could seriously harm a child, if so inclinded.
There are many good internet sites detailing easy ways to mark early aggression in dogs. Don't buy an animal from a Puppy Mill, or mall pet store. Buy your animal from a breeder, or adopt it from a family that can no longer maintain their loved pet.
Please also thing about the health of a dog. If you live in an apartment, a large Lab or Retriever will not be a good choice, even if they are good with children. Match the dog you want to your specific situation, train it will and teach your children that animals speak a different dialect of body language than we do. Any good dog trainer will be able to tell you about this.
Educated children and a well trained dog of any breed, mort often than not will make an excellent pairing.
Daymon
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