I know the Labs & Retrievers are good, but I'd like to get some other opinions. We're hoping to get a shelter dog in the spring.

We talked to our vet when we bought ours. We knew we didn't want a lab or retriever because of their tendency to chew up EVERYTHING (we'd already been through that). He suggested a sheltie, and he was so right. Our kids were young, (DS was 2) and they grew up together as the best of friends. They're not too large and are very friendly and loving.

Renee

Our first dog was an English Bulldog. She is a good dog, great with the kids, not nearly as lazy as they get painted to be (the wrinkles win your heart). Our second dog is an outright mutt. We adopted him after DS#2 saw him at an event in our PetSmart parking lot, and heard the women behind the cages talking about euthanization. Once he figured out what it was he wasn't leaving without the dog. The dog did nothing but lay on the floor for about a week, then slowly his personality came out. He is the absolute best dog. He listens (way better then my kids) doesn't chew, doesn't bark, and is a total sweetheart. Sometimes it's not all about the breed of dog. You can use breeds as a guideline for certain traits, but I would actually spend some time with the dogs you are looking at, with the entire family, and see if you can get a feel for their personality. JMO


Just wanted to add that I think it's fantastic you and your family are looking to rescue a dog!

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How old are your kids? Are they physical activity driven or are they more laid back? Once you pinpoint the level of activity in your home and then how much time you and the kids are willing to spend activity-wise with the dog will help you pinpoint the breed for you.
Some breeds are easier to train and some are high-strung and stubborn. You may want to consult a local dog trainer and get their opinion.
When we picked out our lab, she was about 6 weeks old. I held her in my hand on her back and talked to her to see if she would squirm, be submissive or raise heck. She wasn't scared submissive and she didn't raise heck to get away. She did the right amount of letting me scratch her belly and then asked to be let go.
If you visit a shelter, you may want to go in the morning when the puppies are refreshed from sleeping and at their peak of frisky play. If you go after a meal or in the afternoon, you may end up with a hyper puppy that was just tired when you picked them out. Good luck! Oh, by the way, I'm a labrador retriever fan myself.

We have 2 retrievers (4 years and 1 year old) and 3 kids (8,6 and 2) and they are great with the kids. They do shed a lot and chew things but nothing too terrible. Very good docile and well behaved. We do not walk them all the time like we should but they play with each other. The first one was so well behaved we got the second one. Oh and we have one male and one female and the male is much more loving.

Sheltie shelties shelties, they are the most loving sweet easy going and simply beautiful dogs. At the current moment I have 3 and mom is almost ready to give birth to 2 puppies any day now. I grew up with collies and when I got married I got my first sheltie and have never turned back.Also while you may adopt a sheltie puppy, there are so many websites for sheltand sheepdog rescue's who could use a loving home. Honestly the only downfall to having shelties is their personal grooming they do have long hair, but thats basically it. Otherwise they have owed our hearts and forever will. I also agree Labs and Golden Retrievers are also wonderful. Good Luck and you will receive soooooooo much love from whatever puppy you choose. Peace. Catherine

My kids are 7 and 2. The 2y.o. is a tough guy terrible 2!

Definitely don't get a lab! They are very high energy and require lots of training.

My vote is for a golden retriever. However, they do shed lots and tend to chew, but they seem particular about what they chew; for instance, ours prefers socks and dishtowels. But he is absolutely worth it, just the most loving dog and very tolerant w/ kids.

Whatever dog you choose, make sure you do a Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test. Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test

Very simple tests to help you determine whether or not this is a good match for your family.

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I think you have to personally fit the dog with your children. Someone could say to me that the think a certain dog is the best dog for children but if that breed of dog doesn't mesh with my child, then what. Like I said, it depends on your children. People say to stay away from certain dogs but I don't agree with that. I believe it is how the dog is raised. My friend has a boxer and she is like a baby. I had a rottwieler (sp) growing up and she was a complete baby too. Just see how each dog acts around your chlidren.

Count me in with the Sheltie fans! ~Lisa

My concern with getting a rescue dog was that we wanted a puppy, and wanted to know what sort of full-grown dog we would be living with. We knew ours would end up being an indoor dog and we didn't want one that was larger than would be practical for our house. Our neighbors have a dog that they got from the shelter as a puppy that was supposedly... well, I don't recall exactly what they the folks at the shelter thought it was, but the they took home a dog that everyone believed was going to be small... and he's quite a large thing now that he is full-grown! Given our need for the dog to be indoors, that wasn't something we could risk, and our shelter typically only has puppies whose parentage is not known.

We ended up with a mixed-breed, half poodle, half Pekingese (sp?). He is small, which means he poops small and eats small. Those are two qualities I really appreciate in a dog! lol

My first vote would be lab or Golden Retriever..but since you asked for others...

I have two votes:
On the larger side: Newfoundland: Hands down!
On the smaller side: a mutt (a cross between a cocker and a terrier maybe?) and/or a wiener dog (Dachshund)

My kids grew up with a cocker/spaniel mix. He was perfect for busy little boys. Corgis are great too.

We have a Beagle & a Mini Dachshund both are great with my kids. But, dogs are like people, they have different personalities. Even a certain breed that is supposed to be "child friendly" can have issues.

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We've had Black Labs and Beagles and both were great with my girls when they were young. The only dog I have now is a Beagle and she is GREAT with my grandkids.

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GO #24 JEFF GORDON

we have a golden retreiver and a yellow lab and both are great with our 2 little ones, the retreiver does knock the littlest one over alot but he dosent mean it, and he dosent seem to mind much at all.
when my 2 oldest boys were little we had an Akita she was great with our kids, but was not very nice to other kids coming over to visit etc.. so I would not pick an Akita

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Here are some articles to help

Selecting A Dog Breed - Pick The Right Dog For You

Top Dog Breeds for Families

Top Ten Dog Breeds for Families and Why - Associated Content

We have always loved Border Collie mixes however they, like other shepherd dogs, nip at the heels to "herd" their children and like to chase them on bikes and skatboards. This never bothered my son and his friends.

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Spend time with them awhile before you pick not all dogs of a breed have the same personality. been around dogs all my life and have to say it's a toss up between my Corgi and my pure mutt that was better than any human friend anyone could have. Go and visit the shelters, visit over the course of a week or so and get the know them before you pick a breed cause someone said that's the one.



<Oh I do have to add my friend Dachsund as being a true sweetheart. Single guy and the dachsund was as spoiled as a kid but he'd sleep upside down hanging off my lap just be able to be near me when i came over>

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I word: SCHNOODLE !!!!

I would talk to a vet to get some advice.

I was very surprised to find out last week that my vet and the office staff do not have dogs themselves. The vet and a couple of the women have cats

They said it's because they've "seen too much" to have ANY dog around their children

They had a couple of awful stories to tell about dogs simply "snapping" with no warning and seriously hurting kids.

I came home and did a ton of research and found that all breeds (not just the ones that you would expect) have the capacity to "snap"

We have an adorable 8-year old shih tzu that has never shown any aggression towards anyone. Nevertheless, DH and I are very, very vigilant when she is around kids -- especially toddlers.

We have a Basset Hound and I must say he is great with my toddler daughter. He is a bigger baby than she is, lol. And he sleeps more than my cats do.
But, I have to agree with the other posters, dogs are like people and they all have very different personalities and can sometimes be very unpredictable.

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Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes.
That way, if you do criticize them, you're a mile away and have their shoes.

We have a golden retriever ... ours just turned 2 and is starting to be a little calmer ... she was a little hyper to begin with. She is very good with our kids though. She loves the boys, and my 5 year old can be alittle rough with her but she loves him best I think. She loves to chew, but I just always make sure she has her own toys around and she'll usually leave our things alone. Usually the chewing and other bad behaviors are just because they're bored and you have to give them things to do! She loves to walk and run, but some days she doesn't get one b/c of weather or busy-ness and she's fine.

W e got a sheltie when my youngest daughter was 2 , and she was the perfect dog till she passed at 13. Absolutely perfect!! I want to get another one to grow up with my 2 year old!! Can't brag on them enough!!!

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We've had a female Sheltie and a female Golden Retriever...both dogs were so good with the kids. I love both of those breeds. ~Lisa

I would also visit the shelters. We got both our full breed black Labs from the shelter, they were 8 week old puppies when we got them, brother and sister. They have the best personalities and neither one chew. However, they like to bark alot, if they see a cat in the neighbors yard they bark (but they don't bark at our cats), if they see anything unusual they bark. My neighbor chops his own wood, they don't bark at him, but if they see another man over there (like someone visiting that is not normally over there) then they will bark. I hang clothes on the line they don't bother them, we swim in the pool, they don't get in, they are pretty good most of the time. The only thing they do is they eat the peaches off my tree (when I am not outside) I have watched them through the window, they jump up and pick them off, they ate my strawberries that I had planted in containers last summer, so I had to move them all up on tables and they dug up and ate all the potatoes I had planted, but they don't normally dig any other time. They do like to "hunt" in the backyard for possum and armadillo and have cornered a few and killed a few. For the most part they are great dogs! They are inside/outside dogs and they do sleep in the house every night. Depending on the weather depends on how and when they are outdoors. They are great with kids, yet very protective at the same time. Mine have never snapped at any child, however they have amost gone after male adults they thought were coming too close to me that they didn't know. There are alot of things to consider when getting a pet. I would do alot of research.

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Ballmom run do not walk and kindly get yourself another Sheltie again they are simply the best best sweetest most kind loving beautiful dogs there are, Like I have said I have alot of experience with them, I have 3 right now and Momma Sushine is ready anyday to have 2 more. I know someday I will have a huge huge piece of property and would love someday to have many many more..Personally they have been with my kids since they were infants and never once ever ever epxressed or showed any agression or harm ever ever....Sheties forever and forever.You know what they say a dog is man's best friend, some dogs are trained to help the blind, the disabled, some are trained as therapy dogs, some are trained as police dogs, some are trained to help find drugs, is there anything a dog cannot do, they are simply the best and could never ever believe that a vet would say its better to own a cat and not a dog. Do not get me wrong I love my cats so much, but with a dog , its plainly known they were breeded to live with humans..Peace .And to the op I wish you much success in finding the best dog to get to grow and love with your children,,,a child and his puppy what better relationship it is so sweet.. Peace.Catherine

Beagles are so great with kids, but they are a bit of wanderers. Just make sure you have a fenced in yard.

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I am partial to Black Labs - they are wonderful family dogs, but I do agree they have a tendency to chew. My neighbor has a dog that is a Golden Retriever/Black Lab mix and it is the most wonderful dog. We don't have a leash law here so most dogs are outside dogs. This dog is just the neighborbood dog - everybody loves him and most everybody feed him - he is very spoiled. Whenever the neighborhood kids come home he hears the bus and goes running for the bus stop to greet them. And most everyone lets him in their houses - he takes turns sitting on doorsteps waiting to be let in. He scared me one night when he pushed the door open and let himself in at 10 p.m. - I must not have had it closed all the way.

Definitely a poodle in my book. Poodles are so smart and have a great disposition. Plus there's no shedding. Our little poodle is now 17 years old and basically grew up with our boys. He slept with them every night. Never bit, even though I'm sure there were plenty of times he could have. They're really easy to housebreak, too.