What is the Best Dog for US?

[M.D. Holloway]

So my son has been bugging the heck out of us to get a dog. His best friend has one along with the nieghbors. Both my 6yr boy and my 2yr old girl love these dogs and play very well with them. Momma says that she is cool with it. Now - the selction process. I will stay away from the puppy mills but first things first - what sort of beast?

Here is what we are thinking:
1) Has to have short hair
2) Rather be medium to large
3) Must be great with kids
4) Must provide a scary image when I am out of town (a good bark will help)
5) Must be trainable and not act like a freak - some dogs are more over the top then others.

I was thinking a Rottwieler (sp), my boy wants a Boxer, my daughter just wants a puppy and Momma wants something she can feel safe with.

Any ideas?

[Moses]

People jump up and down talking about how Rottweilers and Pit Bulls are great with kids. Statistics say otherwise.

Matching your criteria (sort of) get a Lab.

[billwagnon]

Check out Rhodesian Ridgebacks - I saw two of them last night. Short hair, little shedding, scary looking size-wise but very well behaved and confident dogs, especially next to our Jack Russell....

[asphaltgambler]

My ex.........although not sure if she's available.

[M.D. Holloway]

I wonder if the stats aren't skewed - I think those dogs will attract a certain element that will abuse them. Don't know...but is it fair to say that a certain type of gun is more deadly becuase it has killed more people? Or is it becuase a certain type of person buys said gun for their own illiciet reasons? Good point though...

BTW - labs are cool but the hair is just a bit to long for my wifes liking (the dog nextdoor is a lab)

[widebody911]

Purebred mongrel - they won't have the health problems associated with the inbreded-ness of other varieties.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally posted by LubeMaster77
I wonder if the stats aren't skewed - I think those dogs will attract a certain element that will abuse them. Don't know...but is it fair to say that a certain type of gun is more deadly becuase it has killed more people? Or is it becuase a certain type of person buys said gun for their own illiciet reasons? Good point though...

All breeds of dogs can and do bite. However the stats are not skewed - dogs bred for fighting do not make good pets for kids. The dog could have the total happy go lucky personality but if something unexpected happens and it goes off, the results could be devastating, and beyond your control. Think carefully on this. Good luck.

[jrdavid68]

I agree with Moses. Get a Lab. There will be some shedding, but the dogs are great people dogs. We have a female and when she does bark, people take notice. The only problem is that whoever she is barking at she is trying to tell them to get closer so she can lick them.

[pwd72s]

Originally posted by widebody911
Purebred mongrel - they won't have the health problems associated with the inbreded-ness of other varieties.

I agree...plus you have the pride of having rescued a sentinent being from death row. A being whose only crime was being born.

[M.D. Holloway]

You guys make great points - I never really knew of the Rhodesian Ridgebacks untill I found these pics. Interesting! Good looking dogs. A mutt may be the way to go...unless someone can afford a good arguement against it.

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally posted by pwd72s
I agree...plus you have the pride of having rescued a sentinent being from death row. A being whose only crime was being born.

sure do like the sounds of that - how would you know about it's temperment? Most pups always seem great - does a dogs temperment result from the handling or does genes play a role?

[cstreit]

Border Collie's are great with kids, very smart, and will bond with multiple people (unlike certain breeds). They are also quite protective, not as mean looking as the others you mentioned, but better dispositions....

[928ram]

I'd vote for the Lab also; very smart dogs, and fun too own too (esp if you live near water). My sister has one of the Rhodesean Ridgeback dogs and it's been an awesome dog too.

Honestly, any dog that you take into you're home as a member of your family and give it the love and care that it deserves will reward you with years of faithful companionship; I personally believe a dog should live inside the home with the family not caged in the yard as an occasional toy.

[nostatic]

I can speak from personal experience....boxers are great. Very gentle with kids (from infant on), will take a fair amount of rough play, and absolutely ferocious as a watchdog.

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally posted by cstreit
Border Collie's are great with kids, very smart, and will bond with multiple people (unlike certain breeds). They are also quite protective, not as mean looking as the others you mentioned, but better dispositions....

Agree - they are great but the hair is too long

[gaijindabe]

Dogs are and were bred for certain things. That is why chow dogs are so dumb, dont bark much - but they taste good. (So I am told.) And the jobs most were bred for (like ratting) dont exist.

That being said, I have never known rottweilers and pit bulls to make good family pets. And if they get along with the family, they can be very anti-social towards neighbors, friends and other dogs. Keep your homeowners liability insurance in order..

My cousin is a vet, and he often complains about folks who come to him after getting an animal. Why dont they ask me before hand, rather than come to me with their problems later? He says.. Any good vet can recommend breeders as well. Good luck.

[cstreit]

Mike, I hear what you are saying, but longer hair is actually easier to clean out of things because it doesn't get wedged and caught in furniture and carpet fibers as easily... IMHO it's better...

[Jeff Higgins]

How much do you know about dogs in general? It may pay to do a bit of research on the various catagories of dogs and breeds within those catagories before making up your mind. Any "pure bred" breed of this era has been bred to fulfill a certain role and have a certain temperament. Temperaments will vary with individuals within a breed, but will remain within the general characteristics for which that breed was developed. For example, a "friendly" dog from any of the guard / attack / fighting breeds will always have more potential to be a threat to people than even a less personable dog from one of the retrieving breeds. Get to know the breeds; it sounds like you have already decided what characteristics you are after. In my case, a Lab proved to be the ideal dog when my boys were very little. When he passed away, a Golden Retriever filled his shoes admirably. I'm picking up another couple of Goldens later this spring, so that tells you what I think of them. Their hair can be a hassle, but the trade off in personality is worth it to me.

[widebody911]

Witty, smart, well-read.

[rcecale]

English Bulldog!

Randy