My wife and I are thinking of getting a dog. Any suggestions?

[maziwanka]

Originally posted by: datalink7
Great Dane
Old English Mastiff
St. Bernard

All great dogs, and all huge.

But the best dog in the world is the German Shepherd

hell yes (or siberian husky, or perhaps a mix of the two)

 

[Anubis]

Pit Bull
my sister has 2 and they are the nicest dogs ive ever met, they actually shy away from lil dogs like pomerians when they bark at them
and they are great with peopl/ children

 

[fibes]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
I'm a fan of shepards. I've seen shepards do some amazing things around kids. Like prevent them from walking near stairs or keeping them out of "bad areas" like the kitchen or bathroom if they see you keeping the toddler out of the area. They'll mimic it too.

Great dogs.

Wow, that amazing. That is exactly the reason why dogs are so cool.

 

[Freeze]

Well, I have a Pug. He's the greatest. I'll ind out how he is around kids/infants very soon though. I don't anticipate any problems.

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: fibes

Originally posted by: vi_edit
I'm a fan of shepards. I've seen shepards do some amazing things around kids. Like prevent them from walking near stairs or keeping them out of "bad areas" like the kitchen or bathroom if they see you keeping the toddler out of the area. They'll mimic it too.

Great dogs.

Wow, that amazing. That is exactly the reason why dogs are so cool.

interesting. Any other breeds that naturally do that?

 

[jcuadrado]

Originally posted by: Anubis
Pit Bull
my sister has 2 and they are the nicest dogs ive ever met, they actually shy away from lil dogs like pomerians when they bark at them
and they are great with peopl/ children

That's great that your sisters Pits are nice dogs...she probably trained them well. I recently had a daughter and I would never ever get a Pit as a pet....seems like they can turn on a dime and go nuts. When they bite they just don't bite...they bite to kill.

 

[teckmaster]

I suggest having your child first, and then introduce a dog into the mix. All dogs have a territory and bringing a baby in, after the dog will take over his/her territory.

 

[nakedfrog]

We had a white shepherd/english mastiff mix, and she was a great dog. Wonderful with our kids, smart, and well behaved.

 

[TheSavage]

Standard Poodle.

Rescued one from the local pound, and have never looked back. No shedding, no smell, extremely loyal....my 6 year old uses it for a pillow. I have had labs (they like to wander), shepards (herding runs deep), chihuahua's (can be mean), doxies, pugs, chesapeakes (one of my favorites, but they can be agressive away from the family) None have measured up to the pound poodle.


EDIT I do get a lot of ribbing/jokes about this one: however, anyone who gets to know him really loves him. Far and away, he is the smartest dog I have ever owned. My labs were good bird dogs, the chessie was awesomely athletic and could swim the Colorado river for hours, but that darned poodle....

 

[MrBond]

Beagles are GREAT dogs with kids, but they can be very thick-headed and hard to train. If it's going to be an inside dog, or a dog with a good fenced in area to play, a Beagle is a good choice. They can't run free though, because they will start to track something and ignore everything else.

A lab is a good choice, but make sure you check the family history for hip problems (ask the breeder). I love labs, they're great for playing catch with

 

[gourmettea]

Originally posted by: fibes
We might end up by getting a Lab. I have had a Lab mix in the past, and he was a great dog. Does anyone know of any reputable breeders in the state of Illinois or Wisconsin? Does anyone have any links? Much appreciated.

Here's my 2 cents. It seems like you're pretty set on a medium to large dog. That is fantasic if you have the yard space. Personally I don't like labs, owned one before and know many people that do own them. Every dog has a different personality, but GENERALLY, labs are extremely high-engergy and kind of ditsy. My advice to you, as a lifelong dog owner, HAVE THE BABY THEN BUY THE DOG. You don't want ANY chance of your dog being jealous of your child, which does happen. My second advice is get a mutt, unless you plan on showing your dog, there is no point in dealing with the thousands of years of inbreeding. Mutts are generally much healthier with less predesposed problems.

If you already have a breed in mind get a mix with that breed in it. The most important though is to test the prospective dog/puppy's personality individualy.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

Aussie Sheep Dog

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: Eli
You people suggesting rottweilers and pitbulls are, quite frankly, insane.

Your ignorance does not invalidate their experience...

 

[GasX]

my vote is for a mutt

I have a Siberian Shepweiller

 

[LeadMagnet]

all sporting breed puppies are the reincarnation of Satan, they chill out after 15++ months. That is way there are so many 6 to 9 month old puppies available in the pound and rescue leagues.

 

[KDOG]

I just got a pure-bred beagle pup and shes the greatest. Fun, energetic, affectionate. Good with my son. But Mr. Bond is right, you can't let them run free - if they pick up a scent theyll follow it to exhaustion. They don't get real big, either. About 13-15in at the shoulders.

My grandmom had the Aussie Sheep Dog and I loved that dog. Thats another good choice. Hmmm, I might have 2 dogs here shortly.

 

[DougK62]

Boxer. They're fantastic, gorgeous dogs. Very strong and protective, extremely friendly, and won't shed long hair all over the place. They're a very hardy breed too.

They're fun to watch when they run really fast - they have a stride like a horse!

 

[Kobota]

labradoodle or my new favorite the
goldendoodle

Edit: mixing the two breeds makes them healthier and they don't shed for people with allergies.

 

[Falloutboy]

Originally posted by: Freeze
Well, I have a Pug. He's the greatest. I'll ind out how he is around kids/infants very soon though. I don't anticipate any problems.

my parents just got one also. they are great with kids my sisters try to annoy that dog so much but it never complains

 

[KingNothing]

Breeders are overrated in my opinion. My dad bought a female golden retriever/yellow lab mix from a family for $30, she's now 9 years old and is an awesome dog. Both parents were purebreds, but I don't really think it matters.

Also, I think females are generally friendlier than males.

 

[DT4K]

Chows are NOT recommended for being around children. I'm sure there are some great chows, but the tend to be more aggressive and bite more.
I would also NOT get a pit bull. Again, I'm sure there are some great very friendly pits, but they have their reputation for a reason. Why would you get a dog that is capable of killing your small child?
I have never heard of a healthy lab, retriever, collie killing someone. Even if they did become aggresive and bite, the extent of the injury would be far less than with a pit bull.

I'd also suggest a mutt. They are healthier and you can have some very interesting mixes.

We have a 2-3 year old Australian sheperd mix from the pound who is the sweetest dog ever. My 3 year old lays on the floor snuggling with her all the time.

 

[Nanotech]

I'm surprised to see Mastiff on your list as I was going to suggest getting one so it could eat your children.

The one I encountered was my best friends cousins and at only a year or two old it weighted in at ~240 lbs but had a good enough temperment. Until one day its temperment changed and it took four police officers to put it down. I think it took eight rounds to kill the damn beast but it was by far the coolest dog I've ever laid eyes on. The dog looked like a freakin tiger for gods sake!

 

[fredtam]

Originally posted by: datalink7
Great Dane
Old English Mastiff
St. Bernard

All great dogs, and all huge.

But the best dog in the world is the German Shepherd

 

[classy]

From that list get the Lab. Especially if your going to have kids. Mastiffs can be very fickle, I wouldn't get one of those to be around little ones.

I also want to add the German Shepherds are excellent family dogs. Powerful and great with kids, even kids from the neighborhood. But they also are highly intelligent and will protect your family. You gotta be very careful because your going to have around kids around. Make sure you meet the parents of the dog as well.

 

[classy]

Here's a good link on dog breeds

Dog Breeds