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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=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.[/quote]  I also agree with this. Our lab mix (part black lab, part sheltie) is amazing with the kids, smart, much smaller than the average lab, and the temperament of a lab. We got her from a rescue and one of the best family decisions we have made![/quote]

They can be great.  Our Rottweiler mix is fantastic with children-- which is a good thing, because he's a baby magnet.  Wherever we go, every kid wants to touch and greet him, and he's supremely tolerant of them.  He's my daughter's best friend and true to his Rottweiler heritage, he thinks that he's also her nanny.  Whatever else is in him makes him a more reasonable size, and more able to enjoy outdoor play without getting exhausted.

Our neighbor's rescued Finnish Spitz mix is another lovable, gentle pet that we trust near our daughter any time.

That said, my husband and I are very experienced dog people and I am a former horse trainer.  Between us, we know a lot about animal behavior.  So finding the "right" rescue dog is something we can be confident in.

Families who have less confidence in their ability to find the right dog alone and who want to get a rescue dog should consider two ways of maximizing your chances of getting it right:

(1) go to a rescue that has the dogs in foster homes with experienced volunteers looking after them.  You will then know much more about how the dog behaves in a home with people, other animals, neighbors, riding in a car, etc. over a period of time.  Often the coordinators of these rescues (like Partnership for Animal Welfare) will know which animal in their rescue might be right for you; and

(2) You can hire a knowledgeable dog trainer (not associated with a breeding operation, so they won't be trying to sell you their own dog) to assess you, work with you, and evaluate the rescue dogs that you are considering.  This is a very worthwhile investment of your time and a relatively modest sum of money to make sure that the individual rescue mutt you find lives up to the reputation that mutts have.  This will also help you avoid the heartbreak of having to give up a dog who seemed suitable but isn't.

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