Best Family Dog?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Are bulldogs playful? Will they run after balls, etc.?

Yes, a bulldog might run after a ball, but he will forget why he is running after a couple of steps... Not kidding. They are extremely lovable and affectionate but really not smart.

French bulldogs are much brighter and more playful than American bulldogs, in my experience. Not as many health problems.

And the pp is correct: bulldogs are very prone to respiratory, skin and joint disorders that can be quite costly.

[Anonymous]

Jack Russells can be mischievous. If you are considering a terrier, look at mini Schnauzers. They are not the brightest, but not too dumb. They will bark, but tend to be quite healthy.

[Anonymous]

The best family dogs we've ever had are mutts from the pound. Currently we have a lab mix and she's a keeper.

[Anonymous]

Labradoodle posters. Did you also look at Goldendoodles?

[Anonymous]

And the pp is correct: bulldogs are very prone to respiratory, skin and joint disorders that can be quite costly.

True, and I would like to really caution against Pugs for this reason, too. They can be phenomenonly expensive to keep due to high vet bills that can start coming when the dog is still a youth. Don't ask how I know this


What about a Viszla? I know two personally and they are the sweetest dogs with children. Excellent temperaments. But they do need their daily exercise.

[Anonymous]

We love our pound puppies! I have no idea what they are, except smart, sweet, medium-size dogs. We got them both as puppies (about 8 weeks old) before we had kids. By the time our first DCcame along, our first dog was a little bit under 5 and our second was about 1.5. Unless you have allergy issues to consider, I would be more concerned about the individual dog's personality, size, and energy level than the breed. Figure out what you have time for (lots of walks? grooming?), space for (yard to run? small apartment?), and tolerance for (shedding? drooling? barking?). And then take it on a dog by dog basis...

[Anonymous]

I am a big fan of mixes and mutts. We had a schnoodle when I was growing up - poodle and schnauzer. Sweet, no shedding, not the broightest though but a GREAT kids dog. As an adult, I have had two sheltie-border collie mixed dogs and they are truly amazing dogs - smart, not too vocal (unless you ask them to be), very very very loyal, very loving, very patient, insanely smart (you will swear there is a human in there somewhere), like exercise but dont lose it if they dont get it, and totally gorgeous. Really cool mix but hard to find, and they do shed. But, in general, I would say get a mix or a mutt. A 2-3 mix is perfect but even a total Heinz-57 (too many breeds to count) are often the best dogs. Seriously, go to a shelter and spend some time with ones you like!!! They are much healthier and you dont get the super intense personality traits. Oh, the labradoodles I know are sweet but very hyper and hard to control. My dd (4), who LOVES dogs, has 1 dog she doesn't like - a friend's Labradoodle because he licks her and jumps on her all the time.

[Anonymous]

We have a Puggle (pug/beagle) and he is very loving! (And VERY cute) I might add

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The best family dogs we've ever had are mutts from the pound. Currently we have a lab mix and she's a keeper.

I agree. They're so grateful! Thousands of dogs get euthenized in the metro area each year. The DC Humane Society always has a lot of breeds to choose from-poodles to Blood Hounds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here, I wanted to agree that bulldogs are wonderful but they often have health issues that are very difficult to deal with both emotionally and financially.

Are bulldogs playful? Will they run after balls, etc.?

Poster who said bulldogs have health problems: The bulldogs I've known are loving and affectionate. They put their heads on your leg, but they have no neck so it's like their chin only and it's really very cute. They may run after toys if they're not in horrible pain from some surgery or another they've had to have because of their snout or tail or their legs or their back. Seriously, the people who bred them originally were, in my personal opinion, extremely selfish and irresponsible. They are wonderful warm animals that some jerk made into a mess of health issues. I also agree that they aren't very smart, but they make up for it in that ugly adorable thing that makes you just want to snuggle them despite their massive amounts of drool. I do think the PP was right that the French Bulldog isn't as prone to the health problems.

Jack Russell's are very energetic and they will tend to jump HIGH in the air even when you're just standing there. They are high strung and love to play and can chase a ball over and over for a very long period of time

The breed that runs and plays that people don't expect to is the Bloodhound. They are surprisingly energetic.....they can outdo many dogs on this.....they were bred to hunt obviously so they needed the energy.....and they also are good with kids and sweet. They have health problems associated with their ears, I think, and perhaps with their backs but I'm not sure about that.

Dogs with a "regular" snout, smaller ears (but not necessarily pointy), who aren't far longer than they are tall (Daschaunds....which are also very sweet dogs by the way), and who have not been completely over-bred, are usually less prone to health issues.

Labs are actually rather high maintenance. They have extended puppy-hoods and like to chew on things. A guy I work with has had Labs since before they were popular and he absolutely adores the breed but is very honest that it shouldn't be for everyone. He has always said that they need a ton of attention. They are not at all guard dogs. My Havanese is listed as more of a guard than a Lab. The Havanese will bark....but can not do anything....when they see a stranger.....the Lab is more likely to lick the intruder than to bark at him/her. It's a loveable trait but I have to admit that I like that my little dog would let me know if someone was in the house, particuarly when my husband is traveling for work or something and we're alone. Sometimes I hear something and then I think "Oh, the dog would have barked if someone were here that I didn't know about". I think for the same type of dog a Golden Retreiver may be a better fit if you're looking for something that's not quite as energetic but is good with kids and likes to play.


As you can tell....I'm a dog person and I really love all dogs. I think every breed has good and bad traits and it's just finding the right mix for you. Also remember that breeds are overall traits, but the dog will have his/her own personality. My Parents have a dog that is supposed to be calm and is really a nutball. My one friend got a dog that should have been 10 lbs. and is more like 25. There are Golden Retrievers bred by very reputable breeders that are riddled with health issues and Bulldogs in shelters that are perfectly healthy. It's a good place to start though by figuring out the breed.

[Anonymous]

Though the OP has already ruled out labradors, I'll throw in my 2 cents. I fostered guide dog puppies in high school, one a year for three years, all labs. Sweet, loving, fun dogs-- and incredibly needy, energetic, ornery, and destructive. I had one who would do anything to get dirty underwear, so he could rip them to shreds. One chewed the leg clean off a dining room chair, and damaged several others-- this was while he was on a short tether, as recommended by the guide dog school trainers. My mom stayed at home, and she spent hours a day involved with these dogs, not just training them, but stimulating them and keeping them company. Obviously, it was a great experience. Otherwise we wouldn't have done it three times. But a lab puppy is a full time job, and they keep their puppy personalities for two years, on average.

[Anonymous]

The dogs I have had in my life, have all just fallen into my lap. I had a beagle/poodle mix when I was a child. This was a great dog, but a bit of a runner. He was friendly, and loving, but he would run (yes he was fixed) and be gone for days at a time. Once after four days he saw the dog catcher, and chased her car, because he knew she would bring him home.

I had a Shi'tzu. Great dog, but not all that great with small children, as they tend to be a bit nippy.

My current dog is a miniature poodle. She is a year old, and the best dog I have ever had. She hardly barks, never nips, and was very easily trained. I actually was able to do the training myself, and she takes to new commands very quickly. When she wants to go out, she bats at some bells that I have hanging on the back door.

My miniature poodle is the best dog I have had. I really wanted a lab, but my husband doesn't care for dogs, and when he agreed to get one, I didn't want to get one that was in his way. I would never have gotten a poodle, it wasn't my dog of choice, and I never thought I would like one. I went by the stereotype, and not by the actual dog.

[Anonymous]

Pugs are little athelites and love children. I would never get a Jack Russell. I have too many friends that had one before kids and had to get rid of the aggressive little dog. Cockers are great as long as you do not get a buff, basically the darker the cocker the sweeter they are. I would go for a Golden Retriever, and please do not think that Labs and Golden are same, they are not. Goldens are much more mellow when they get pass the 2 yr mark. good luck

[Anonymous]

I have to put in a plug for Brittany Spaniels. They are really gentle, sweet dogs and great around kids. My parents have owned lots of Brittanys, and they just got another one from a Brittany rescue group and my children LOVE her!

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of breeds being recommended here that I strongly disagree would make a good family dog... especially with YOUNG kids. Older kids (9, 10, 11) is a different story.

Vizslas are very strong willed working dogs (have been used for police work, hunting) that CAN be aggressive. They are similar to German Sheperds in terms of temperment. They are great dogs for people who really know what they're doing, and really know how to train a dog well (as they're very bright), but I think they make poor family dogs for your "average" American family.

Spanials - I LOVE Spanials... and Brittanies are great, but ALL breeds of spanials are fairly high energy (maybe the smaller breeds like Cockers a bit less so), and can also end up being neurotic if they don't get enough room/exercise/work.

Terriers (Jack Russell, Fox, whatever), are well... TERRIERS. They are known for their tenacity, and somewhat aggressive "big dog in a little dog body" attitude. They can be great, but they can also be very nippy and aggressive... especially around babies/small kids who are too young to pick up on signs that they are moving into the dog's space.

What would I recommend? Greyhounds can be very nice. And, if you can deal with the health issues, Bulldogs and Pugs are also nice. Pugs probably have the most energy of the three, with most Bulldogs and Greyhounds being big lazy bums (often a good thing). There are several good dog books that will give you an idea of different breeds and their relative energy levels.

But really, as much as I like purebreds, a good old fashioned mutt might be PERFECT for you. If you like the Labs, you could look for a lab mix (there are lots of them in shelters) that couples the Lab with something more sedentary and/or smaller in size. I'd also like to recommend the Arlington Animal Welfare League... they are a pretty knowledgable bunch, and if you tell them what kind of space you have, what kind of termperment you want, they will probably steer you in the right direction. And, too... sometimes OLDER dogs (ranging from 2-10 years) are good bets. They need homes, and you KNOW what you're getting (in terms of size and temperament), whereas, it can be much harder to tell with a puppy.

Another option are the many many Lab Rescues. Again, I always think labs have longer than usual puppy years. They can be very playful and high energy for several years (many of them are playful and energetic their whole lives!). But SOME of them slow down around age 4. If you're not averse to owning an older dog... an older Lab might be perfect for you.