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[quote=Anonymous]My family has bred and shown dogs for several generations, and I've had a lot of experience handling and training many different types of dogs.  Just to weigh in on a few points made above.

I entirely agree with the list posted by the PP of dogs to GENERALLY stay away from:  (Rottweilers, Vislas, Dalmations, Akitas, German Shepards).  I LOVE Rotties, and have known some truly great and gentle ones, but AS A BREED, I would not start there with young kids.

Someone mentioned Cavalier King Charles Spaniels... I think these are great little dogs, if you get them from a reputable breeder.  (But, they can also be high energy).

You might want to consider an English Labrador.  They tend to be a bit smaller than American labs... and, in my experience, SLIGHTLY less energetic.

As for Rescue dogs, there are some really nice dogs out there... but statistically, these are dogs who have been given up for one reason or another.  VERY FEW are given up by owners who truly love the dog and cannot keep it due to changed circumstances.  Many are given up because they were bought by ignorant owners who got the wrong type of dog for their personality, and ended up with a disaster.  While there may be nothing "wrong" with the dog, its important to consider that they may be acting very "breed-appropriate".  For example, if you keep a border collie in your 1-bedroom apartment, and leave him alone all day,... don't be surprised when he chews the snot out of your furniture because he's crazy bored.

As for the -doodle crosses...  Standard poodles are very high energy, and MOST of the dogs that make up the other half of the cross are ALSO high energy (labs, goldens).  You can end up with wonderful dogs... but chances are it will be HIGH ENERGY.

If you can stand the drool, Basset Hounds can be great for city living, as they tend to be gentle, and more sedentary.

There are also some wonderful mutts out there...  But even with mutts, its helpful to have an idea what their breeding is, so you can guess whether the dog will be appropriate for your lifestyle.[/quote]

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