Anonymous
Post 01/20/2013 13:53     Subject: Best Family Dog?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Hands-down, GOLDEN RETRIEVERS! IF more people had their personalities then the world would be a better place.


I noticed this is an old thread but just had to comment--you're so right! We have two shelties and a beagle that we adore, but any time I see a wonderful golden "jogging" in the park or playing with kids in the neighborhood, I can't help but smile (actually, grin--probably looking silly!) They're such terrific dogs but a bit too large for our home, so I support their local rescue group.


We just love our goldendoodle. Great personality, gentle, amiable to all dogs and people. Minimal shedding, very sweet and intelligent. Playful, but not "hyper." Our dog is large (90 lbs) but there are many smaller goldendoodles, especially if you look at "mini" goldendoodles (bred to miniature instead of standard poodles).
Anonymous
Post 01/20/2013 13:04     Subject: Best Family Dog?
Friends are on their third German Shepard. They have two kids (4,6) and will never own a different dog.

We have an almost four year old and have a vizsla. He's a bit high strung, but was the only dog we wanted (Hubby hunts and I need a low shed medium size dog, so labs were out). Vizsla is great with my son (he reliably sits and stays for my son) and we are devoted to meeting his mental and physical needs. This includes $1000+ in training and running with him and long family walks. We don't even have a yard but he is pooped by the end of the day because we work him. The question should be: what is your family lifestyle and get a dog that fits that. Every family is different. Vizsla GSD Lab Yorkie -- they all have a place in a home, just depends what home
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2012 14:38     Subject: Re:Best Family Dog?
Anonymous wrote:http://www.coonhoundrescue.com/MONET.html


That is so unfair of you, posting a link to that beautiful dog's page.

Wow, is she a cutie or what?!?

Anonymous
Post 04/08/2012 14:08     Subject: Re:Best Family Dog?
Bichon frise.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2011 22:23     Subject: Re:Best Family Dog?
A vote for boxers!! Great family dogs.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2011 22:17     Subject: Re:Best Family Dog?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Has anyone out there had either a Havapoo (Havanese poodle mix) or a Cavapoo (King Charles poodle mix). Were they good with very small children?


We got a Cavapoo in February. We absolutely love him. He doesn't shed at all, has a wonderful personality, and is great with my 2 kids (age 2 and age 5.) My 2 year has to obviously be contractly watched around him, as he is a typical toddler and will pull the tail, ears, etc. But the puppy has been very tolerant so far. Was fairly easy to train as well. We had a hard time finding a local breeder so we went with someone in the Midwest. We did a ton of research and are really happy!


You're so lucky! I've heard that Cavaliers are by nature chasers (i.e., wil chase after squirrels, etc.). Have you noticed this? Do you always have your Cavapoo on a leash when taking him for a walk?


We do always have him on a leash when going for a walk. I haven't noticed much chasing. He will pull when he sees another dog he wants to go up to, or sometimes he will try to catch butterflies. But just normal puppy behavoir. Been really happy with this breed. Already talking about another one.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2011 11:23     Subject: Re:Best Family Dog?
http://www.coonhoundrescue.com/MONET.html
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2011 11:18     Subject: Best Family Dog?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Coonhounds of any variety. They are great with kids, ridiculously tolerant and smart, but lazy as all hell in the house. They love to go for walks, runs, play etc. but get them inside and all they want is a sunny patch on the couch. Best dogs ever. I had labs growing up and will never go back. Hounds are much less neurotic and high strung. And there are many great hounds available for adoption. Hunters tend to turn them loose at the end of the season instead of feeding them through the winter. Can you imagine?


OMG, I could have wrote this post! We adopted a coonhound (mix) in February from a rural GA shelter, sight unseen. He was due to be PTS within days, through no fault of his own, the shelter was overcrowded with 5 dogs in a run. We had him transported to our home in Alexandria and when he jumped out of the van, I fell in love immediately. He is the sweetest, funniest, goofiest and loving dog, fantastic with our rambunctious 4 yr.old. He's 52 lbs., not to big and definitely not small - small is our 7 lb. Yorkie.

He's a clean dog, with little shedding, though I do brush him with the furminator. He is a digger and has dug his way out of our yard, and buries his bones in my vegetable garden/ mulch. He loves our long walks, and runs with me. Of course, he's very handsome....I could write forever about this wonderful animal. I cry when I think of how many wonderful dogs wait in shelters for their forever home, with only a very small percentage getting their wish, and the rest end up in landfills.


If you've never read the wonderful book, Where the Red Fern Grows, be sure to read!! Yes, coonhounds are wonderful! About five years ago, my husband and I were driving on a rural, central Florida highway. When we crested a hill, we could see about 1/2 mile below that a farmer was driving his truck fast up the median and stopped fast. Then we saw a gap in a fence, a coonhound in the middle of the highway and the farmer trying to get him back into the truck. When we started up again and passed the farmer, we saw that he was fairly old with the most leathery, lined face imaginable but giving us the biggest grin and a tip of his hat. I'm sure he couldn't believe his wonderful dog was safe.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2011 11:03     Subject: Best Family Dog?
Anonymous wrote:Coonhounds of any variety. They are great with kids, ridiculously tolerant and smart, but lazy as all hell in the house. They love to go for walks, runs, play etc. but get them inside and all they want is a sunny patch on the couch. Best dogs ever. I had labs growing up and will never go back. Hounds are much less neurotic and high strung. And there are many great hounds available for adoption. Hunters tend to turn them loose at the end of the season instead of feeding them through the winter. Can you imagine?


OMG, I could have wrote this post! We adopted a coonhound (mix) in February from a rural GA shelter, sight unseen. He was due to be PTS within days, through no fault of his own, the shelter was overcrowded with 5 dogs in a run. We had him transported to our home in Alexandria and when he jumped out of the van, I fell in love immediately. He is the sweetest, funniest, goofiest and loving dog, fantastic with our rambunctious 4 yr.old. He's 52 lbs., not to big and definitely not small - small is our 7 lb. Yorkie.

He's a clean dog, with little shedding, though I do brush him with the furminator. He is a digger and has dug his way out of our yard, and buries his bones in my vegetable garden/ mulch. He loves our long walks, and runs with me. Of course, he's very handsome....I could write forever about this wonderful animal. I cry when I think of how many wonderful dogs wait in shelters for their forever home, with only a very small percentage getting their wish, and the rest end up in landfills.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2011 10:39     Subject: Best Family Dog?
Goldendoodle!
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2011 10:34     Subject: Re:Best Family Dog?
Another vote for pugs. My pug is great with my toddler!
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2011 08:36     Subject: Re:Best Family Dog?
Anonymous wrote:Along the lines of a Labradoodle, I will suggest just a regular ol' poodle. A miniature poodle is a wonderful in-between size (probably 12-15 pounds). They are super smart (smarter than any breed except for maybe a border collie, which is not what you'd be looking for), do not shed, and are wonderful, friendly, loving companions for adults and for children. By nature they are loyal, sweet, and docile and contrary to popular belief, are not naturally yappy or high-strung (though they can become that way, if, for example, they have a particularly anxious owner). While being too smart can be challenging, like a PP suggested, the miniature size is a lot easier to handle in that way than a standard, and gets plenty of stimulation from a few romps outside and/or a daily walk, as long as they are getting plenty of companionship.

I come from a lifelong poodle family and really, I'm biased, but I think they are the perfect family dog. What can be better than a smart, sweet dog that doesn't shed? (The one drawback to not shedding is that they do require lots of grooming... but I will take that over a doggy-haired house any day.)


I agree with this poster. What she didn't emphasize is that a Miniature Poodle is NOT a toy poodle. They are slightly larger; think the size of a cocker spaniel. Poodles are awesome and smart!
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2011 08:02     Subject: Best Family Dog?
Anonymous wrote:We absolutely love our Greyhound! She is so.sweet and is wonderful.with our small kids! Greyhounds have mild.temperaments and are such gentle, mellow dogs!


We're getting ours soon.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2011 00:56     Subject: Re:Best Family Dog?
Neighbors just got a Bichon Poodle Cavalier mix. The cutest puppy I've ever seen. Seems great with kids too.
Anonymous
Post 08/03/2011 18:34     Subject: Re:Best Family Dog?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Has anyone out there had either a Havapoo (Havanese poodle mix) or a Cavapoo (King Charles poodle mix). Were they good with very small children?


We got a Cavapoo in February. We absolutely love him. He doesn't shed at all, has a wonderful personality, and is great with my 2 kids (age 2 and age 5.) My 2 year has to obviously be contractly watched around him, as he is a typical toddler and will pull the tail, ears, etc. But the puppy has been very tolerant so far. Was fairly easy to train as well. We had a hard time finding a local breeder so we went with someone in the Midwest. We did a ton of research and are really happy!


You're so lucky! I've heard that Cavaliers are by nature chasers (i.e., wil chase after squirrels, etc.). Have you noticed this? Do you always have your Cavapoo on a leash when taking him for a walk?