[shy_bear]

I was wondering if anyone can suggest a good family dog? We are wanting to get a good size dog that can go camping with us, etc. We currently have two Pom's and a cat. Any thoughts???

[SupaModel]

We got TWO chocolate labs a month before we got DS! Not really smart but our adoption was much faster than we thought. We ended giving one away because the two together was just AWFUL!!

Now since we only have the one he is AMAZING!!! DS climbs all over him and pull his ears etc... and the dog doesn't do anything. I believe he knows DS is a baby. Seriously crazy how smart he is because we definitely didnt train him.

Downside ... Labs are constant chewers. I think that's their puppy stage and it last for 2 years i hear. Right now things are much better and he's 1 yr old.

[lovemy2boys]

We had a german shorthaired pointer...And it is a big dog (a bit smaller than a lab)...

She was GREAT with the kids, but puppies are EXTREMELY (and I can't stress that enough) high energy...oh lordy are they ever.

[joskids]

We have 4 children at home, ages 3 yrs. to 11 yrs. Within the past 4 months we have rescued two dogs and I just cannot tell you how outstanding these dogs are and what they have added to our family. The first is a Golden Retriever/Sheltie mix. Because she had been an outside dog, we were concerned about housebreaking. This dog has NEVER had an accident of any kind in the house. The only thing she's ever done was chew the end of one of my shoes. Now I put my shoes away. She only barks when she should, she will sit outside on her cable (we have a huge yard but it's not fenced) for hours just watching the squirrels, she is timid with strangers but definitely adores us as much as we adore her and she's beautiful.

So . . . about 6 weeks later we thought about adding another dog and I'm amazed I even considered it. But we really felt that "Journee" needed a friend. I got an e-mail about a high-kill rural shelter with a beautiful Golden. I drove 2 hours, ran off the icy road into a ditch with my 3 year old in the car, had to get towed, but got the dog. And, again, we have been incredibly lucky because she's housebroken, not a barker, GREAT with the kids, very attached to us, doesn't chew. I would never again get a small, barky, hard to housetrain small dog. Goldens are outstanding family dogs. Search petfinder.com for local rescue groups. They foster the dogs, know their personalities. I paid $50 for the first dog and $10 for the second.

Best wishes on your search for the best dog for your family. I'm counting my blessings, both with our adopted kids and our adopted dogs.

[JustCourtney]

I have had 2 labs - a chocolate that we had to put to sleep in Npvember who was 10, and an 8 year old yellow that is a rescue. You couldn't ask for a sweeter, fun loving, and friendly dog! My rescue was badly abused, more than a little skittish, and was my baby for a lot of years before Nate came along. I was concerned that she would be jealous of the baby, and we would have to keep them separate. I just finished hosing down the baby after he sat and leaned on her, pulling out handfuls of hair and screaming in her ear while she licked him! ( I know - it was all I could do to sit and watch it for a few minutes, but I know it was good for them both!)

I will say, that they are big dogs! Mine weighed 100lbs and 85lbs. The eat a lot, and can have health issues. The require little grooming, but do shed quite a bit. I would also suggest that whatever breed you decide on, PLEASE contact a rescue group! They do the hard work for you - screening the dogs, nursing them back to health, and making sure that they are good with children and other animals before you take them home! Plus, you are saving a life and not encouraging irresponsible breeders!

Okay, off my soap box now....lol

[midnighttang]

I've always been a fan of a good mutt. My best dog ever was a Australian shepard/husky?/lab? mix named Charlie . Smart, friendly, well behaved (after he had a couple years to grow up). He would go canoeing and camping with us every year. If you do decide to go with a dog from a shelter, pick a puppy. Older dogs take a lot of work to retrain if it's necesary and you never know what kind of training or lifestyle they had before you got them. One of my dogs now was rescued from living wild on the streets and she is nothing but sweet around us after years of training and work, but she is still very skittish when in public.

[devildogwife]

Originally Posted by SupaModel

Downside ... Labs are constant chewers. I think that's their puppy stage and it last for 2 years i hear. Right now things are much better and he's 1 yr old.

Boy are they ever! We have a 14-month-old lab who ate part of our floor on Friday. Yep, OUR FLOOR! How she did it, I have no idea, but I'm now missing a huge chuck of flooring and it doesn't look good. She also ate part of my shoe. Don't leave those out anymore!

[Fran27]

My advice is that whatever you pick, go with a GOOD breeder, or work with a rescue that does temperament testing on the dogs.

We have a golden retriever, supposedly a great family breed, and he has a ton of issues, because we bought him from a 'backyard' breeder that didn't breed according to health and temperament... too many breeders breed for a quick buck or because it's cute instead of trying to improve the breed... So our dog has hip issues, separation anxiety, domination issues etc... and he hates water.

And then we have a mutt who has anxiety issues but other than that is a great dog.

[paigeturner]

Originally Posted by Fran27

My advice is that whatever you pick, go with a GOOD breeder, or work with a rescue that does temperament testing on the dogs.

I second this. We've always had Golden's, but we've researched the breeder. My sister's family bought one from a backyard breeder, huge issues!

My daughter has a golden/chocolate lab mix. I love this pup! She's very smart and easily trained.

My advice: choose carefully. We've always had dogs and they were an important part of our family when our children were with us.

[smash_effect]

Our boxers are fabulous with our little guy! They're loyal, fun, energetic and gentle. LOVE LOVE LOVE them!!

[SuzBerg]

We just recently added a puppy to our family (this was a huge step for me). My boys would have loved a lab or golden retriever but we thought a smaller dog would be better for our family situation. We did a lot of research (internet, books, talking with people who grew-up with them) and decided on a Boston Terrier: smaller (when compared to retriever or lab) dog, doesn't shed much, doesnt bark much, relatively easy to train, is a "companion" dog (which is what we wanted for our youngest son) and good with kids, and my hubby and oldest son think he looks like a "guy-dog" (apparently certain breeds they don't consider to be "guy-dogs").

We really haven't had him long enough for me to recommend this breed but so far so good. Buddy has really been great for us. He is good with our daughter, GREAT with our youngest son (my older boys love him too but they have teenage lives ), he lets the kids walk him, hold him, pet him etc. My only complaint would be the chewing and he has nipped at us a couple of times so we really do watch him for that.

[DannieAS]

If going with a particular breed I can attest to these

Boxers: extreme patience with children
Mastiffs: very large but also patient with children
Schnauzers: high energry but I've heard very good with children...

disclaimer: Since I"m an animal lover, I can't tell you...no matter how good the dog is, never leave children unattended by dogs....kids are kids and want to poke eyes etc....and dogs are still animals.

Too many people give away dogs and there shouldn't be a controversy over whether to keep if you teach kids how to be with dogs and don't leave them unattended

[DannieAS]

sueberg...I had a boston terrier....get ready for energy but the best and most lovable dog ever (aside from my first Boxer dog)...plus who can resist that face.

[just-breathe]

"good size" is different to everyone, but I thought I'd throw out my suggestion:

Great Dane

Yes, they are considered a giant breed, not just large breed, but they are incredibly gentle, goofy dogs. They don't require a ton of room even with their size. Mine is the biggest couch potato ever! Their exercise needs can be met with daily walking, but I know folks who take their dane on long hikes as well as camping, etc. So summer you can have lots of outdoor fun with them, and winter they'll be happy with their daily walk. You do need to be careful of sunburn if you do a lot of outdoor time, because they have a short coat. But that goes for any dog with a short coat.

We have a border collie and a mini dachshund in addition to our dane, as well as 3 cats and numerous foster cats. My dane does great with all of them. She's got a sixth sense about where the other critters are and doesn't step on them, sit on them, etc. She actually is best buds with one of our cats and they snuggle together.

Danes are fantastic dogs!

[starryeyes]

I love our black lab. She was left at the vet after having parvo because the owner couldn't pay, and they didn't want her. The vet donated his services and then found her a home (me).

When she was young, she chewed up my husband's new glasses. He was mad! We took the glasses in to get a replacement and the optometrist said, "Let me guess - a lab!?", so apparently they are notorious for chewing weird things. This stopped after age 12 months, though, and she is a sweetheart.