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

[fibes]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Yeah, get a cat. Dogs are a pain in the a$$. You have to walk them and pay attention to them all the time and they are very needy. Cats are great, you put food out in the morning and empty their litter box once a week and that's pretty much it. You can go away for a few days and as long as you leave plenty of food and water the cat will be fine. Leave a dog alone for a few days...well, forget it...you can't leave a dog alone for a few days.

I love my cat, but she thinks she the owner of the household. She can be playful at times, but if she does not want anything to do with you, she just walks away. Dogs will never do that. Dogs will always love you, know no matter what.

 

[LuNoTiCK]

Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Airdale (sp), part of the terrier family, they are very much a familly dog and will protect you and your family till its death, my dad used to have one and he says they are one of the best family dogs.

Airdales are very good as long as you can find a good one. Their hair grows really long so you have to get it cut if you want them to stay cool.

The only problem is how much is he willing to exercise the dog? They need lots of exercise way more than an average dog. They crave attention. Also they are likely to want to go after animals that they see. Whatever is in the yard it will chase, if possible catch and than play with it a bit. They have a really high prey drive.

 

[prvteye2003]

Originally posted by: Falloutboy525

Originally posted by: fibes

Originally posted by: shady06
rot

Are Rotties good with kids? I heard they are very protective and hard to train?

it all depends how thier raised I've had friends with rots that are the most loveable dogs to can imagin and others that I would not get within 50 feet off

I have a 160lb rotty that is absolutely the biggest baby of a dog there is. Oh yeah, I also have 2 kids that he just loves to death. They used to ride on his back when they were younger. I've never heard him growl or make any sort of gesture of hatred toward anyone. I've had him since he was 6wks old. He is now about 6yrs.

 

[datalink7]

"We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare
and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all.
It's the best deal man has ever made"
- M. Facklam

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

Originally posted by: datalink7
"We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare
and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all.
It's the best deal man has ever made"
- M. Facklam

Great quote. So true. Anyway, get a Shepherd. My $.02 anyway.

 

[Eli]

You people suggesting rottweilers and pitbulls are, quite frankly, insane.

 

[jahawkin]

Keeshond

 

[Apex]

Any breed is fine, it just comes down to training. If you have a well trained dog that understands that you are the alpha, and your kids are the alpha's kids, you should be fine.

We have two 100+lb American Akitas, and a 4 month old baby. No problems. They're great dogs, fiercely loyal, and smart. They must be shown their exact place in the "pack" though.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Find a shepard lab mix then you will have the best of everything.

 

[datalink7]

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

What about a pit/rott mix?

My roomates dog. Maybe the nicest dog I have ever met.

 

[Apex]

BTW, remember to check with your home owner's insurance. There are some dogs that will void your insurance.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: datalink7

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

What about a pit/rott mix?

My roomates dog. Maybe the nicest dog I have ever met.

I know, I know.. I've known a few VERY nice rotties..

But still.. We're talking about a household with an infant here... I just don't think its worth it. They have their reputation for a reason.

 

[TwoBills]

Think about a boxer. Great family dog.

 

[StageLeft]

Lab, dude! They are the best freaking dogs. They don't look mean. They just release an aura of niceness about them. Ever heard of one biting somebody? Not unless it had rabies! They are very well mannered and wouldn't harm a flea.

We wouldn't mind a dog but don't forget - unlike kids who you can bring along on trips - you can't bring a dog on a trip. They need to be let out, you'll need to get them kenneled, etc. too!

 

[Gravity]

Jack Russells are the smartest dog and great with kids. I'm moving into my new house today and hoping to convince the spouse that a jack russell is inevitable.

 

[musicman64]

Since you're considering having children soon, I'd be wary of some of the breeds mentioned. My recommendation would be a Golden Retriever, they're extremely loyal, love to please, and are GREAT family animals. They are active dogs, will need a large yard and lots of exercize - they love the water be it a river/beach/lake and are great to take on trips.

Regardless of which breed you ultimately choose, do some research first, quite a few breeds tend to have certain genetic traits that you may need to be aware of, and check for the proper papers/tests when selecting your dog. When you decide to purchase your animal, try to find someone reputable, while staying away from the "backyard breeders", going back to what I said before about specific genetic traits for indiviual breeds - a good breeder will often have several generations of paperwork and SOME genetic traits can be "bred out" so to speak. Your dog will be an extension of your family, so it's not something to take lightly


Also to those who are suggesting labs - I'm also a lab fan, they're great dogs as well and share many traits with goldens.

Good luck.

PS: One more thing, if you find yourself attatched or attracted to a certain breed - you might consider looking for breed specific rescues in your area, even if you decide to get a puppy instead of adopting, it's a great way to spend some time with the breed and get even more info

EDIT: Bah, I missed the part where you said you were gonna go to a reputable breeder - don't mind me I can't read :/

 

[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.

 

[VirginiaDonkey]

I second the Boxer vote.

We have a Boxer that literally watches our son when he is playing with friends or if he is outside, she will try to see where he is at to keep an eye on him.

She puts up with so much crap from him. My poor girl is getting old and gray now...like her owner

 

[blackdogdeek]

another vote for a lab or retriever.

i know a couple who have 2 girls about 7 and 2 and they have a golden retriever who is great with them. of course, that is due to training most likely.

my sister has a lab and he is great with our 10 month old. he is a couple of years old now and it could just be that he is lazier or less frisky. when he was younger he would tear up and chew lots of furniture. but he has greatly mellowed out now.

so maybe it's better to make sure the dog is a couple of years old by the time you have kids.

EDIT: the retriever above was in training for potential seeing-eye dog positions but did not pass their rigorous testing. the lab above has no training.

 

[0roo0roo]

read up on training big time. dog growth is highly compressed. you only have one time to really make a real impression on some basic training/behavior early.

 

[StageLeft]

Also to those who are suggesting labs - I'm also a lab fan, they're great dogs as well and share many traits with goldens.

I never remember that they're diff but they aren't much are they...

Our dog was a golden retriever. They are the best

 

[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.

 

[NuclearNed]

Here's a third vote for boxers. They are incredibly intelligent and playful.

 

[BDawg]

We have a smooth collie (short coat) who we love. Only problem is he's a little too smart for his own good.

 

[GeorgiaBadger]

Originally posted by: Apex
Any breed is fine, it just comes down to training. If you have a well trained dog that understands that you are the alpha, and your kids are the alpha's kids, you should be fine.

We have two 100+lb American Akitas, and a 4 month old baby. No problems. They're great dogs, fiercely loyal, and smart. They must be shown their exact place in the "pack" though.

I have two 90lb dogs (Humane society pick ups) and have two children. Breed doesn't matter IF training is applied correctly.

That said..... IMHO labs and retrievers are best with kids by default - Sheperds, Rots, need more attention\training in the beginning, but can be fantastic dogs.