Anyone recommend a good family dog?
 

Another thread inspired me to post this and since I have been thinking of getting a dog I would ask what others thought.

I want a larger dog, not a monster mind you, but no poodle either. I want an animal that will be gentle with my son when he's older and not try to kill my cat hehe.

I was thinking about a black Lab, then I realized, they don't live as long and get hip problems. Then I thought of a golden retriever, hrm,, way too much hair.

Any ideas?

btw, what the hell are those dogs called that most people cut the tails off of? Their coats are silky soft and really short but it's thick and straight. My friend when I was a kid had one, it was such a good animal. Docile, playful and very obedient.

doberman, hands down. Intelligent and very family oriented.

Its a doberman

You should get a Husky.

Get a rotteiler.

Get a black lab. I think most pure breds have hip problems, so get a mutt. Labs are perfect for little kids.

You're thinking of a boxer. I had one as a kid and they're awesome. They can play nice or rough, it really depends on how you play with them. They don't come cheap but they do live for quite a long time (mine did 13 years and I left the family home before he was put to sleep).

That's what I'd recommend :thumbsup

look into German Shorthair Pointers. Great dogs. Just need to run alot. If you have a yard, they are great. I have 4 right now. great with kids, love the family, but very protective of the house and family. My 9 month old male scared the hell out of the fed ex guy the otherday. Then turned around and licked my GF when she called the dog into the house. Great dogs.

get a black lab

Chow-chows (sp?) have the cutest faces.

a german shepard

if you get it as a puppy, your cat will be safe.. but not other cats

Huskys are even worse about killing cats than shepards are. But if you get a puppy, it will think the cat is family and not hurt it.

Get a lab from a respected breeder and you shouldn't have a lot of hip problems. Easy to get X-rays done on a puppy and see the exact situation with it. I've had both black and chocolate labs. Great family animals, soft mouthed and gentle.

actually, I think it was a chocolate lab. I just did a google search for a few keywords and that's what I came up with. Damn, what nice looking animals.

I had a mix between a poodle and black lab when I was a kid, what an ugly animal, her legs were so weak (poodle legs) that they would shake as she stood holding up her lab body. She lived to 20 years old at my grandparents. Lived with a leg tumor for 10 of those years.

Bull mastiff.

Definitely a bull mastiff. haha.... KIDDING! Bull mastiffs are huge and insanely muscled up. Your furniture will suffer.


I have a collie-husky cross, he's the perfect size in my book. Weighs about 65 lbs full-grown, is friendly and loving, loyal and protective like a dog should be.

Consider a border collie. :D

golden retriever - big deal, you vacuum some fur during shedding season. every member of your family will fall in love with any golden retriever. black labs are good too but they are more rambunctious than a golden, goldens kinda go with the flow, if they're in quiet house they just hang out and sleep, if they're in a very active house they are up for the same level of activity.

ah I forgot about them. Beautiful animals.

any kind of lab or retriever would be good with kids

Get a Pug, they are awesome :thumbsup

http://photos.roythepug.com/albums/family/pug.sized.jpg

DH

i've seen some nice things done by labrador... they should join 911....
mah best friend...sweet loving and woohooo...bright dog!

I have a Dogue De Bordeaux and they are 100-140 lbs ... not a monster but very very family oriented, smart & cuddly...

I also second the doberman... I grew up with Dobermans & they are also very sweet & great house pets... very clean...

I love Shepards, unfortunately my GF is terrified of them wooses.

Dalmatian or a greyhound..you would be amazed at the obedience of a greyhound

golden retreivers are really good with kids, and work well with families.

don't get a chow. i had one for years, a mellow dog, but not good with kids. also, our vet says that chows prefer to bond with one person rather than a group. don't know about that, but he bit one of neighbors once.

I'm really leaning towards a lab for that reason, the gentleness. I guess I should check the breeders. I was hoping to pick one up at the SPCA to save an animal though. Although purebreeds are rare at shelters here. They get snatched up too quickly for me to have a chance to get one. I have never heard of a lab turning on anyone unless he/she's been abused.

Get a middle aged mixed mutt from the pound. He'll love you forever for saving his life. :thumbsup

Chows are not good for kids. We had one too, had to send him away because he started biting out of the blue.

A Boxer is also cool..

Shiba Inu

gorgeous dogs, small but nothing Paris Hilton would carry around, and friendly - very smart

we have a yellow labrador retriever...he is so adorable with kids...and hates suspicious looking guys...careful if he sees you with a cap during night time..
very protective! great companion...

vizslas are great
http://www.vizsla.com/standing.jpg
Theyre super loyal, playful, and have a beautiful coat and short hair. But need to exercise often.

nice dog :)

Get a pit bull and love it to death. It will be the most loyal and loving animal you will ever own.

Pugs ARE very cute too. But they shed like crazy. HOpe you have a house cleaner...or dont mind vacumming every day.

do your research:

http://www.akc.org/breeds/complete_breed_list.cfm

Female Boxer or a Healer. I have a Choc. lab ( acts like a 2 yr old ) a healer and a boxer . The boxer and healer I'd get again.

Talk to SleazyDream, he's an expert

I have a blonde lab, and she's really fun and a great people person. They'll sleep on your bed if you want and never really cause trouble, (except mine has a thing for small dogs for some reason). But after seeing a lot of different dogs, I'm happy I have a lab.

i was in my mid-20's -- and i realized i had never yet been "a boy and his dog" -- i was living in a new york apt. -- but i wanted a dog with some substance -- so i did some research for a few weeks -- and i chose an akita -- to be honest, i chose the breed because it was the only one in the book that was large <up to 120lbs.>, would be energetic out-of-doors and -- most importantly -- would be no more active than a lump in the corner, when inside my place.

http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/dogs/akita.jpg

but, the dog i bought as a little pooch of 8 weeks turned out to be quite a pet -- he was the most loyal, most gentle, most patient (with children, especially), most vigilant, goofiest, most incorrigible, most aware being i have ever had in my company -- of any species. he was a good dog -- :)


j-

if you train them at an early age, pitbulls are the way to go

sweet , golden :P

yeah, very friendly dogs.
boxer is another good option

Even if a pit bull is behaved, when you take him to the dog park some of the other dog owners will take their dogs and leave, fearing that your pit will get agressive and start a fight.

so what? ive had several pitbulls and not one has been agressive to any other animal. if people dont like your dog who gives a shit.

ps, i think most dog parks ban pitbulls

any kind of retriever or lab is an excellent family dog. good sized animal, but very well tempered and affectionate.