What Kind of Dog Does Your Family Have?

my family of 6 kids has a boxer. we have had her for 3 years, she was a puppy when we got her. Boxerrs arereally great family dogs. very loyal, active, like lots of attention. what is really great they do not require a lot of groomings, has they have short hair. also my sister who has 2 kids is looking for a boxer

My husband and I did a ton of research, and while they can be very high strung they are fanastic dogs with kids. Anyway we got a boxer and he is a lot of work but most puppies are. If you are interested let me know and I can give you the contact info of the place we got him.

We have a yellow/white labrador and she is the most patient dog ever! They are usually extremes of hyper or mellow, and she is a mellow one. We have a three year old and a 10 month old, and they both have crawled all over her, used her as a step to climb, etc., and she just takes it. If she is bothered she either licks them away or gets up and walks away. She was a pound puppy, which I highly recommend over breeders, though they can at least tell you the temperament of the line. She has also been very trainable. Be careful, though - you could get a Marley! Good luck!

When my children were firstborn and just little we had a German Shepher/Boxer mix and he was fantastic. He was so even tempered. The kids could bite him, pull his tail and ears and get away with just about everything. I then started raising Cockers and for my money, there is nothing like a Cocker Spaniel for a family pet; they are not too big and not too small. My Cockers have been friends with my two youngest grand-daughters since they were born. The one we have now is an ideal babysitter and playmate. The oldest grand-daughter used to tell us, "Parky (Sparky) my buddy"; now the second one tells us that. Any dogs we have ever had have been very, very protective of the little ones. I do know you can find some mix breed Cockers that are very good, I just wouldn't go with Pomeranium or Pekingese. I had a Cocker/Poodle once that was adorable and very good with children. Good luck.

I see that you have tons of responses to your question, but I had to add one. We have 2 Basset hounds. They are the nicest dogs. Our 2 year old daughter just adores them and they love her. They do shed a bit though.

We have had several kinds that are great breeds,
Labs, golden ret., german shepard lab mix.
We currently have a Bull Mastiff and a Harlequen Great Dane, I have to say the great dane is the best, huge but awesome. We got him at 3mo old. I have 4 1/2 kids and a home daycare I have never seen a more cautious and gentle dog. He will go out of his way to avoid knocking a child or adult over b/c the path is blocked (he will jump over the end table if my 2 yr old is in the path & he can't get through so he doesn't knock her over).
The Mastiff is really gentle & well behaved but I have to warn you they have a lot of skin/allergy issues but they do not shed and they don't bark.

We have a yellow lab and would highly recommend this breed. (The main drawback for many people is the size, but if you're ok with a large dog, that's perfect.)

I was actually wanting a medium sized dog and we hoped to get a smaller lab. (We chose one with a mother who was small.) Well, our lab is definitely one of the larger labs. But...they are truly just like kids. We got our dog as a puppy and watched her grow. (She just happened to grow more than other dogs.)

best of luck

We have a 1/2 Golden Retreiver 1/2 Chow. If I had known she was 1/2 chow, I would have never agreed to adopt her. She hates other dogs, no matter what the breed. She has been in many dog fights. Last summer, we could have been sued cuz shbehave tore apart a pure bread rare dog of some kind. The cops came over, and I showed rabies vac proof. I don't like her because of her behavior with other dogs, and would like nothing better than to put her down before something else happens, but my hubby loves her and refuses.
On the other hand, the 1/2 G.T. in her is very sweet and loving, to us and the kids. My 2 yr old pulls on her hair and crawls on her, and she's never gotten snippy.

Labs are the ideal family dog; great disposition, good with other dogs, great with kids, etc. But I truly believe that any dog would fit great with a family--even pitties and rotties who have gotten bad raps.

It all depends on if you are willing to work with the dog; obedience training, excercise, etc. And make sure that the dog knows that you are the alpha and so is your three year old--the dog needs to know that he is at the bottom of the pack.

Watch some Cesar Milan episodes on the National Geographic channel, research him online or buy his books--he has awesome ideas on how to be the pack leader and how to bring a dog into the family--you won't be sorry that you took the time to learn a few things from Cesar...seriously!

We have a poodle who is fantastic with our 2 year old and newborn. He does need to be walked daily, but is a very even tempered dog, doesn't bark unless there is a reason and doesn't shed.

We did spend time in dog obedience classes, which paid off. Regardless of the breed that is the best money you can spend. The trainer will help train you and your kids how to treat the dog so it will become the pet you are looking for.

growing up we had cocker spaniels. When my kids were little we had a cocker span. and we had to give it to my ex mother in law because of where we moved to we couldn't have pets. That was the best dog I have ever seen around kids! She was wonderful! Even now that she is 15 she is perfect.. she has never done anything to harm.. snip, growl anything. That is being around my 3 older kids and the 5 neices and nephews from baby to 12 now. She would let the kids crawl on her, pull her fur and all she would do is lick the kids back or get up and lay out of thier reach. If it got to be too much for her she would go to the door and want to go outside for a while... would come back in and was fine. If we were to ever get another in door dog it would be this kind!

Hello B.,
I didn't read through your responses but wanted to let you know my opinion. No matter what kind of puppy you get it will be a handful for a little while. Puppies like to chew on things and take a bit to train. You could see if there are any mellow dogs at the local pound that would be great with your kids. We have always had labs and they are great with kids. Right now we have a black lab and an almost 3 year old and our dog sits there while she sits on him, does headstands with his support, and is really great with her. I would always recommend a lab to anyone. Great family dog. Good luck with your decision.
R.

Hi B.! A dog will be a wonderful addition to your family! We have a cocker spaniel, and he's very good with our 19 month old daughter. My in-laws and my mom have black labs. My mom's is very kind and gentle with Avery. My in-laws' dogs are super-hyper but are still very good with her and very protective of her. My mom also has a springer who LOVES to give Avery kisses and is a little too excited when she's around. She also has a cocker spaniel who is good with her. My dad used to have a golden retriever who was the most patient, loving dog when my brothers were little. My sister-in-law had a boxer when her son was little, and she was a great dog. My nephew could crawl all over her and she loved the rough-housing.

The boxers don't shed, but they're kind of drooly around the mouth. My first choice would be a lab like my mom's or a golden retriever like my dad's. Cockers and springers can be a little excitable. If being raised around kids, they'd probably be fine, but if you're going to a humane assoc and get an older dog, make sure they're okay with children.

I guess that's several ideas. Have fun choosing a puppy!

We have a yellow lab and a brittany...both dogs are great with our one year old, but I have to say that our lab is the most patient with him. Our lab even lets our son pull on her hair...I would definitely recommend a lab to anyone with children.

Hi B.,
We have a boxer and absolutely LOVE her! She is so gentle with our 14-month-old son and loves being around him. He likes to poke and prod her and she doesn't seem to mind. Our dog is full-grown and weighs about 60 pounds (so I'd say medium sized). She is so affectionate and loves to play, requires little grooming (just a bath every once in a while and toe nails clipped). She doesn't drool except for right after drinking water. Every boxer owner I've talked to love their dogs and many I've talked to have made comments about how good they are with kids. My husband thinks that boxer puppies are even cuter than babies; although I'd have to disagree, they are pretty darn cute! Let me know if you have any other specific questions; I love talking about our boxer!: )

S.

Hi B. - when we decided to start our family we did a lot of research on dog breeds. Boxers are the BEST family dog ever. We have a girl and he weighs about 65 pounds. She is so gentle with everyone but can handle being wrestled with.

We love her so much. Good luck!
W.

I have to go with those who suggested going to the Humane Society or a rescue group. The will ask you questions about your lifestyle that will tell them if the breed or mix would work with you family. Rescue groups will be very honest and very thorough. I have had a large variety of breeds and the best ones have been mutts. As one of the other posters noted, the breed in only part of it, how the dog is raised and treated is a HUGE portion of its personality.
You can also contact some breeders, not newspaper listings. Most reputable (sp?) breeders do not sell puppies in the newspaper, their puppies are usually spoken for before the litter is even born. They will also be veru honest and ask questions to tell them if their dog would be right for you. Good breeders also offer at least a health guarantee (for hips, eyes, major diseases, etc.) and will take the dog back if you can not keep it for any reason.
Do some research online and contact your local agencies.
Good Luck and happy shopping!

Hi B.,
I think a lab or golden retriever are definitely good family dogs. The biggest things though would be to make sure you get your puppy from a reputable breeder and that you are able to see both the parents. That way you have an idea of how the puppy will be! PLease make sure to take you puppy to the veterianrian as well for vaccines and deworming especially since you have little kids! (Sorry I was a vet tech for awhile)

HEy B.!

We were in the same boat about 4 months ago! We have a 3 year old and at the time our 1 year old was 8 months. We got a golden retriever puppy and don't regret it, but everyday I ask why we did it now!!!!! It is a lot of work to take care of the kids and try to train a puppy. I am home with my kids and the puppy. Potty training was a breeze. It is the everyday things that were/are hard. I just feel that I don't have as much time as I should be giving to the puppy. She is 6 months now and really a well behaved puppy considering she is a puppy. We are in training classes, but I don't have that much time to practice. The puppy is really good with the baby and still a little nippy with the 3 year old. She tends to let out a big high pitch scream when the puppy nibbles which encourages the puppy! If you don't want toys to get chewed up, watch out. Our 3 year old is learning some life lessons with that one. I would suggest a playyard (meant for babies) for when you can't watch over the pup. It has worked out for us to have in the family room. She is close to outgrowing it now, but is great for feeding and just to let her get away from the kids. She is in a kennel at night, but this has a little more room to play. I honestly wish we would have waited another year or so, but it is working out just fine! Have you thought about getting a 1-2 year old puppy. I really wanted to get a puppy since they are so adorable and you feel like you would miss something. Now, looking back I wish we would have gotten the 1 year old puppy that we found that was already trained. The breeder decided that she didn't want to breed anymore and had this 1 year old because she had planned to breed her. We should have gotten that calm well behaved (work done for me) puppy! Good luck in the puppy search! It is a lot of FUN, but there is a ton of work along with it!

GO TO YOUR LOCAL HUMANE SOCIETY....thats where i rescued my pup from...2 yrs ago....they fix them etc.plus make sure their family safe dogs...do not go with a pit.best money i ever spent-cocker/terrier mix....just a blast....

Whatever you decide, dogs are a great addition to the family. PLEASE consider adopting a family pet from your local humane society. There are so many dogs there that need loving homes--and if you are interested in a med-large dogs, those are often the hardest to place. We have two dogs we rescued, and they are the best pets we've ever had! You'd be saving an animal's life, and that is a beautiful thing!

We love our female boxer. She is only 55 lbs and has been great with our two year old. Lucy (dog) was here before baby and we did not have a lot of problems when our daughter was crawling or on the floor. Lucy did have to learn boundaries but she was easy to teach. She has been around a lot of kids and has done great with all sizes and ages. She lets kids crawl on her, mess with her stubby tail and ears, steal treats, and all sorts of things. The one thing we try to teach her is to watch where her paws are because she can get excited and step on toes/feet and that does not feel good. She also likes to give lots of kisses and thinks everyone wants them.

Every dog needs training and if you are willing to do that, any type of dog that you choose will be great. The one thing that I hear about bigger dogs is that they are gentle giants and are great family pets. They might be big but smaller dogs tend to be more nippy. I've heard great things about goldens, labs, bernese mountain dogs, malamutes, dobermans, mastiffs, etc.

It will be a lot of work if you get a puppy but if you are invested, you will have a great addition to your family. Have fun choosing!!

We have a big lab who is loveable and playful but way too 'rough' for small children. Whatever breed (or mix) that you choose, be sure to pick one that is confident, friendly, and calm (not too shy or too roudy).

We always adopt from the rescue league, Rescue dogs understand the great deed that you have done for them, since i was young we have done this and i have never had a dog that wasn't just perfect for our family. right now we have a pitbull mix (50lbs) and a "whoknowswhat" that is about 20 lbs by the time our son came along both dogs were older then 2 it has been a year of adjustment for them but they are great with him. no matter what dog you get encourage your children to be very very gentle with the dog even the sweetest dogs will bite when they get threatened. My mom had a aussie mix that bit my nephew because he fell on her (nip on the hand) yet my sister has a pitbull that no matter how much they kids jump on him wont even move. Dalmations are notoriously bad tempered so stay away from them. Breed is only part of it though how you raise the dog has a lot to do with the personality

We don't have any pets, but I've been researching a lot lately as I would like to get a dog (leaning towards a Golden Retriever or Alaskan Malamute).

I'd recommend looking at the Shelter sites. Some of them have breed descriptions with personality traits, etc, so you can see what breed would work best in your family's life. Good luck! :)

Please, please consider a calm, kid-friendly adult dog from a humane society. We've had the best experience adopting from our local shelter. We ended up with an older, very loving and kid friendly poodle mix and my two and eleven year old daughters learned a lot from the experience. The staff will be thrilled to help you find a perfect dog for your family. I really would caution against adding a puppy when you have very young children. Puppies are adorable, but about as much work as babies and unless you have the time and energy to devote to training, they won't become the kid-friendly well behaved dog you're looking for.

We love our Rhodesian Ridgeback!

I'm in with the "lab club"! :) We have an 85lbs 2year old lab. We got him about 9 months before our daughter was born. They've been the best of friends and as one lady said I have NEVER seen a more tolerant dog. He is so good around our DD. She lays on him, hugs him, crawls over him, etc etc. Granted - it took a lot of vigilance and training! To be sure! But they are just the best of buds now!

I would have to vote a lab or lab mix also. Golden Retrievers are also very nice, patient dogs, but pretty much every lab I've seen is mellow, kind and affectionate. Both my mother and father have Labradors that my son adores. My sister has a un-neutered male lab who is the mellowest dog ever and he's only 2. Her kids can fall off the couch onto him and he barely twitches, just kinda glances at them like "Huh? What was that? Oh, the human puppies." Then he puts his head back down.

Personally I would stay away from husky breeds in general. There are some that are very nice of course, but they tend to be a bit more territorial and impatient from the couple I have seen. My ex room-mates had a husky mix that was beautiful and very friendly with adults, but got snappish when my son he would crawl near her.

I would definitely suggest reading Cesar Milan's (The Dog Whisperer) books and/or watching his show to work on your own abilities to be a good "pack leader" and on how to introduce a new dog into your home.

Good luck, and I envy you! I can't have a dog at my condo and I miss having one!

S.

I have a cocker spaniel and she is not only smart but so patient with my granddaughter. She actually misses my granddaughter when she isn't here and will go watch out the window for her to come over. She was jealous a little at first, then loved laying next to her and on her blankets and then when my granddaughter started crawling she was a bit more unsure but was always good with her. They did fight over a blanket I made my granddaughter though. No she didn't bite my granddaughter, just would grab the blanket anytime she had a chance and my granddaughter would tug on the other side. I had to make one for her also. We had black labs while my kids were small. We lived on a ranch back then so a big dog was good to have. Once we moved to town, we didn't want a big dog with not having a big place for it to run. Black Labs are friendly with children but clumsy and will knock little ones over. The smaller the dog, the more snippy they are around children, so watch out for that.

Hi B.-

We have a black lab and she is really good with our daughter. They are inseparable and really enjoy playing with each other. Hope this helps, M.

We have a Cockapoo and while he is extremely tolerant of our son, he hasn't been as warm to him as I hoped. I think as our son gets older that is starting to change though. I would highly recommend a Golden Retriever. Labs are good as well but more hyper. My parents have a Golden and our son absolutely adores him. He rolls on the floor with him and can tug on him and the dog takes it all. You could even consider a goldendoodle which might cut back on some shedding. They have been pretty popular lately.

We have a yellow lab. We got him when our daughter was 1 yr old. Now our daughter is almost 5 and our son is 3 and Sam (our lab) is GREAT with the kids. He's gentle with the kids and takes their roughness. He loves to fetch and the kids love throwing the frisbee for him. I'm sure our next dog will be a lab too.

We just got a Great Dane puppy 2 1/2 weeks ago and we love her put she is a extralarge breed but they are great with kids.
Good luck on your search

I'd check with your local humane socity. Not only is that a great place to get a dog (I've gotten 3 over the years)but they could give you some advice for dogs that would be great with kids. I have 3 poms and a malamute (sp) like a husky at this time after having a couple labs, and a couple spanials (among other mutts) . I have found my 3 grandkids (age 8,5 and 4) are more afraid of the 3 smaller dogs then they are of the larger one. Good luck with your hunt. A dog will bring alot to your family.

Growing up we had Shelties and Black Labs. Whenever we get a dog as a family we are going for Black Labs. They are so gentle and protective with kids around. I agree with everyone check with your Human Society or another local shelter. Have fun and let us know what kind you decide to get!

I am partial to pugs, because they are sturdy and great with families, but it seems that a larger dog is what you are looking for. Many of our friends with families have labs or golden retrievers as they seem to be unfazed but rough play with kids.

we have a black lab; I think lab and golden retrievers make good family pets--they are easily trainable and are "people" dogs. Just be sure to research the breed and look for qualities that match with your family's habits.

Hi B.! I have 3 girls ages 7,5 and 3. We have always had dogs. We currently have a black lab who is 10,yellow lab who is now 12 and a golden retriever who is 2. Our Golden is a house dog and the other two are outside dogs. I would say these breeds are GREAT for kids. I also do daycare and they are great dogs around kids.

Hope this helps!

L. :)

I grew up on a breeding kennel that my parents ran and now I have kids and no dogs. Here's what I learned: there is very little difference between babies and puppies. They are essentially the same thing, except that kids have opposable thumbs and wear diapers. I don't say this lightly! So be warned--having a puppy is basically like having another child! Do you have the energy for this?

We have three mutts (mixed-breeds) that we adopted, one from a PetSmart Adoption Day and two brothers from a private family. It's unclear exactly what breeds they are, but we have loved them a lot and trained them somewhat (should do more) and they have fit in with our family beautifully. Whatever kind you get, spend a lot of time with them and teach them that you are "top dog." Teach your child to be gentle with the dog and the dog to respect your child. Be ready for another "baby" in the house though: their eating, sleeping, toileting, and playing schedules have to be considered, just like a baby's. Good luck!

We have a yellow lab. She is almost 3 years old, and our son is almost 18 months. The dog was our first baby, but she's done great with our son ever since we brought him home from the hospital. She plays a little more rough with my husband than she does with our son. Somehow she just knows that he's smaller & more fragile. They love playing together -- mostly chasing each other around the coffee table. Labs are always great pets for kids!!!

We have a sheltie who is great with the kids. The only issue with shelties are they are herding dogs so when the kids are out running in the yard he tends to try to move they around where he wants them to go (like herding sheep) and they've been knocked over a time or two.

Any breed of dog that you are drawn to can be a good family pet. It all depends on the tempermanent of the dog and how they are raised. If you're looking at a litter of puppies you probably don't want to get one that appears overly aggressive or one that runs away from you, pick one that wants to be with you. I know golden retrievers are known to be great family dogs as are labs.

Have you thought about getting a dog that isn't a puppy? I only say that because even breeds like golden retrievers that are great family dogs can be a handful when they are super young. Good luck, whatever you choose!

We have two terrier mix dogs. One is a rat terrier/jack russell mix, she is about 4 and great with the kids. We have another terrier mix dog, your guess is as good as mine on what kind of mix though. We are actually discussing putting him down since he is getting old, hard to move, etc. If and when we do put him down we'll be getting a lab. My husband and I have had great experiences with labs in the past and would like another one.

I am so glad to see that you are looking for a med.-large dog. I work in the veterinary field and we all know that small dogs and small children do not mix well. There are too many injuries that can occur with small children being too rough with the little ones. I have a 5 yr old and a 3 yr old and we have a German Shepherd Dog. She's really a big wimp, but most strangers are intimidated by the way she looks. She is great with the kids and is also very quiet (not very typical of the breed). I may not have gone for this breed if my hubby wasn't so breed specific with his search. I love the crazy mutts at the pound! The ones that are so ugly they're cute! :) As long as you find one that fits your family's personality and activity level, you should be fine! Good luck! (I personally also really like Australian Shepherds - very high activity level though)

I have a lab and she is great with all kids of all ages. She was not happy when my son was born as she was the only child but she quickly adapted to having company. She allows my now 12 month old to pull her ears, take her toys with no problem. They have good temperment for kids. Old kids try to ride her and she just takes it. Good luck picking the right dog.

We have two dobermans, a brother and sister. They are great dogs. They are both very tolerant of the boys, and we have 4 of them. Our male will let our 2 year old sit on him and climb over him. When he's had enough he gets up the same with our female. They aren't very big he weighs about 99 and she's about 90. They are protective of the boys also. If they get to rough housing to much the male will wedge between them to get them to stop. They are just big babies with 4 legs and fur.

We have a labrador retriever. She was a year old when we had our son. She has always been extremely gentle and tolerant with the kids and loves to play with them. I highly recommend this breed to anyone with young kids!

My family and I raise Brittanys. These are a type of hunting dog but are also great family dogs. They are medium size with kind of a curly coat. We have a two year old daughter that plays pretty rough and all of our dogs take it very well. Our female even lays down so Mili can sit on her when they are playing in the living room. Great dispositions

We have a Springer Spaniel (who is now 8 yrs old) and she is an absolute doll! She's smart, loyal, and LOVES kids! Over the years she has put up with many different ages of kids (I do in-home daycare) and has tolerated anything they've dished out. We adore her =)

I know you put "a med-large" dog, but we also have a 2 yr old Mini-Daschund and she's just as wonderful as our Spaniel. She actually puts up with being carried around and having clothes put on her! LoL

If I were you, since you say you're not too breed specific, is go to your local shelter and let your son play with some of the dogs there. See if he bonds with any of them. The shelter or local vet can also keep their eyes open for you, if they know what you're looking for, when they get new dogs in that they think might fit your family. Good luck!

We have a Chesapeake/German Shepherd 5 month old puppy that has been awesome w/the kids! (we got her from a guy who couldn't keep her anymore). She's going to be big so we're really working on her training and socializing her to everything.

I'd suggest looking to shelters, rescue groups, Homeward Bound, Last Hope, Petfinder, RAGOM, etc. These days, many families are having to give up their puppies/dogs do to the economy and these dogs are kind and loving like other said, already trained/up to date on shots/spayed or neutered. Have fun and Good luck! How lucky your kids are going to be to have a puppy :)

Hi B.,

We have a Lasha Apso 20pounds and Maltese/Japanese Chin 7 pounds. If you are looking for a non-shed dog the Lasha's are very good. But he is kind of grumpy, we love him, but we like better our Maltese/Japanese Chin she is just adorable and very cuttly, she sheds but not much, she is very good with our daughter. Good luck finding the right breed. Ohh my husband didn't want a small dog and now he loves the little one.

We have a treeing walker hound. She is the best dog ever with kids. The kids can do anything to her and she doesn't care. Obviously we teach the kids to be nice to the dog but they could play with her, sit on her, ect. She is just happy for the attention.

It is really hard to get better then a lab or lab mix for a family dog. We have a lab mix we got at the pound as a puppy and he has tolerated almost everything for years- babies crawl on him and children lay on him- he loves it all.

We have a golden retriever. She is great. They LOVE people, especially children. They are definitely a great family dog.

We LOVE our yellow lab. Our older two kids are very active around and with her....and she's soooooo patient and gentle with them.

Hi B.! I see your post is a bit old, and you've probably already found your pup - but if you're still looking - a great place to find the right dog for your family is from a rescue organization. Most dogs in rescue orgs have spent time with foster families before being adopted out, so they fosters know their temperaments and behavior issues (if any). There's a great rescue org here in MN called Homeward Bound Rescue. Sadly, they have a HUGE selection of dogs available. Visit their website at homewardboundrescue.org and click on Available Dogs to learn more.

Also - as for breeds - it really depends on your family lifestyle. If you're a more sedentary family, laid back, homebody type - choose a dog that isn't known for their energy and enthusiasm, and prefers to take it easy on the couch. However, if you and your husband are active and are always on the go - choose a breed that can keep up! Also - I love my pit mixes - but we do travel a lot which means they spend lots of time at the local boarding facility. One of our boys doesn't get along well with other dogs, so he has to be kept away from them when we're gone. :( The kennel can get pretty lonely for him. If you foresee boarding in your pup future while you're traveling, try to find a dog that gets along well with other dogs. Hard to tell with puppies, but with adults, you'll know when you get him/her if she plays well with others. Don't exclude bully breeds from your search either - out boys are both rescues, and our 4 kids adore both of them unconditionally. Bully dogs are incredibly loyal, friendly, and love to be around people! Good luck!

Wow! You got a ton of responses! We all love our dogs. I have a 4 yr. old son, and we've had a Weimaraner (86 lbs., med/large breed) for about 10 years now. They're the gray dogs that William Wegman (the photographer) dresses up and uses for fairy tale/coffee table books, and they're the dogs that form the alphabet with their bodies on Sesame Street. Our dog has the patience of Job. As a breed, they are extremely intelligent and truly act like a person. They get very attached and are extremely loyal. Like most large-breed puppies, they are a bit of work, as they're pretty active. Our dog mellowed out quickly after about 1 1/2 to 2 yrs. Ours was not a chewer (sp?). They're inherently "soft-mouthed" dogs, but can lose that if you play with them certain ways. They do shed a little, but have short hair, so no hair floating in the air. Buy from a breeder. With a child, I wouldn't recommend a rescue dog, as the dog can be pretty devastated emotionally. Good luck!

We have a basset hound and she is awesome with the kids. Bassets are known to be very gentle, friendly and rarely any meanness to them at all, as a breed in general. They are very good family dogs. The nice thing about them, is they are a sturdy dog ( Ruby Sue is 50 lbs) without being a big dog. They are big enough to rough house with, yet they dont take up so much room.

I agree with everyone who says to go through shelters and such. Ruby is a humane society dog. We got her as an adult, and that was awesome! She was only maybe 2 years old, so still young at heart, but was already potty trained and past the annoying puppy behaviors, such as chewing! A lot of rescues have rules about adopting to households with small children, so that is something to be aware of. But a lot of rescues will know their dogs more and be better able to match a specific dog to a particular family.

So many good suggestions! There really are a lot of great breeds out there that are good with kids. I grew up with labs and English setters & they were awesome with my siblings and I. We got a Boxer a year before my daughter was born. He is now 2 1/2 & she is 1 1/2 & he is so good with her. He is a very sweet, loving dog to all of us. But he is especially good around Kate. He is patient with her..she has fell on him, dropped toys on him, etc..never once has he done anything back but lick her in the face. I definitely would recommend a Boxer. The one negative of boxers is that they can be very needy & clingy & not very independent. It is a little overwhelming at times. There are a lot of Boxer rescue groups out there. Any breed you look into or decide on, I think it is well worth it to look into rescue leagues for that breed. I've also adopted from a shelter in the past & would like to do so again with our next dog. The nice thing about adopting older than a puppy is that you can get a feel for their personality prior to taking them home, which is an advantage over getting them when they are a puppy. The dog I adopted from the shelter was a lab mix & also incredibly sweet and had a very mellow personality. Good luck! Take your time and do your research & I'm sure you will find a dog that is a great fit for your family!

We have a female boxer. Boxers are awesome with kids great family dogs. I prefer a female since they calm down a little sooner then males but they are active and very loving at the same time which I love about a dog. Oh, and they are real cute also.

A.

We have a Boxer and he is GREAT with the kids. We have a two year old and a new born. Boxers have a lot of energy but are 'advertised' as a great family dog. Ours will fall over himself in order to avoid toppling our two year old. He will also take quite a bit of 'living' from our daughter. She will give 'puppy' big hugs or flop down on him while he is sunning and just lay on him for a while.(I see this in the boxers our friends own as well) Really his temperament is great. I would say that the only down fall to a boxer is that they shed and ours is kind of gassy. He fits very well into our active lifestyle (we take him hiking and camping for most of the summer and he does very well with it.) and is very attached to us. Good luck with your search!

I would suggest a golden retriever. I personally don't have one - but would really like to get one once our children are a little bit older. I think they are the best family dog. Very low key and mellow.

I'm glad to see that you are doing your research before choosing a puppy/dog. We've had several different breeds and each have had their pros and cons. With having a baby at home that will be crawling and learning to walk soon, think about the size and fur factors. Larger dogs will easily knock your baby over and dogs that shed a lot will cover your floor and furniture.

Our larger dog (who is older) had to move to Grandma/Grandpa's house when our daughter started crawling around and started bothering him. We now just have our medium sized (larger than supposed to be) Papillion. She is the perfect size of about 15 pounds.

I'd recommend a female (spayed) short hair (or long haired nonshedding) dog of 15 - 25 pounds. Not too large and not too delicate. They eat and poop less, too! :)

And like other posters have said, it is like having another child. Puppies take at least 1.5 years to calm down and settle in.

You also need to think about where this dog will "live." Inside? Out? In a crate?

Good luck and take your time. It is worth it!

We have a black lab. She is super hyper but is good with our 2 yr old pulling on her, taking her toys, ect. Hoping she will have calmed down by the time #2 comes this fall. She is only 7 months old now so she is still needing training. In laws also have a black lab who is 6 and tolerates anything our son can do, even ride her.

we have a yellow lab and she is the most loveable and tolerant dog I have ever seen. My 18 month old has taken to climbing on her, placing blankets on her back, etc. and the dog just allows it without a care...she is very loyal as well- good luck!

I too have to agree with the other lab owners. They are the best and most tolerant dog when it comes to small children. We have a 3 year old 80 pound female yellow lab and like other posters have said she lets my 2 year old daughter crawl all over her. I would recommend a female as they may not get as big as the males and supposedly they are easier to train.

Nikki

If you can, go through a rescue group or Humane Society--there are so many dogs out there in need of a great home! We adopted a terrier/husky/etc mix and were very happy with him. Plus, the dogs usually are up-to-date w/ shots and have been spayed/neutered. Good luck!

We have a rott/lab/malamute mutt, and she's FANTASTIC with our kids! She does try to herd them occasionally, but she's always tied up (she runs) and she has only "gotten" them with her cable once in 5 years--she seems to be aware that it could trip them. She is gentle with them and puts up really well with the boys. I don't know how it happened; we certainly had nothing to do with it as our dog has no manners at all!! :)