My family and I want a new puppy in our lives here in the next few weeks. I have 3 small kids, 7, 5 and 1.5 years old. I will have to use an electric collar as I am not fencing in my backyard. I currently have around 1/3rd of an acre that is rigged with an electric fence. I also have one older female dog who is a 10 year old, lab/cattle dog mix. She has never attacked another dog, yet is not the nicest thing in the world in terms of playing with other dogs. She is more solitary in nature and loves human company. I need a dog that will stay within the electric fence, is nice to children, and will tolerate another dog. I have rescued dogs in the past that gave me problems from hell in terms of running through the electric fence, fighting each other, and one unfortunately bit my daughter many years ago. I just want a peaceful dog that will protect my family if necessary. Thanks guys for any suggestions. My children cannot wait to get a new little puppy.
I own a black lab, she's really very sweet but hyper to the nth degree. (bird dog, she's supposed be hyper) If I were looking for a pet dog. I'd get a golden retriever.
Brett, I have had a black, brown, yellow and currently a black lab...would not own another dog. Your welcome to bring your kids by to meet my dog, he is amazing with kids, mine sit on him, lay on him, pull him you name it - he just wags his tail and looks adoringly at them - or goes back to sleep. Great with our cat and big enough that I feel safe having him with my wife on walks. I wanted a brown female lab, but came home from Iraq to him last trip...
Hijack... I'm going to post pictures of my dog here. Circe the water lover. Circe the eternally happy and dorky dog.
Labs can be really hyper, but in my book it's hard to find a better all around dog, both for the family and if you decide to do a little hunting. Retreivers can be great dogs as well, not the smartest creatures out there but great family dogs.
Christine, your dog looks adorable. Sean, I am seriously considering a lab. A side benefit would be that he/she could possibly be a blood tracker if he/she were trained. I do want a dog my kids can push and pull on without too much stress. Thanks for the info so far guys.
If you want purebred's Labs are hard to beat. If you are wanting to avoid the hyperness I would look for a good breeder of English Labs. Good noses, great family dogs and loyal as all heck.
If I had small kids.....I'd get a Lab. My life's been blessed with two awesome labrador retrievers. Cooper says "Hi....remember me, Brett"?
I owned labs my whole life. When I married I discovered my wife was allergic to their dander. I was crushed. So we bought the most comparable to a lab. A golden retriever. She has been nothing short of awesome. Great character... intelligent... and not so hyper as the labs of my youth. And she adores children. So much so... that some of the neighborhood kids come over just to play with her in my back yard. Damn kids... always pestering me to play with my dog. And... she finds sheds too! I will likely never own a lab again.
Yes, I remember you Cooper. Good dog. You guys have some good looking dogs. Well I think I am going to make my suggestion to my wife...a lab or golden retriever, preferably a lab. I have never owned one, I have always just had mutts and dogs my dad or wife couldn't resist and wanted to help rescue. This time around I trying to do a better job matching the dog with my my needs.
My family is a big fan of German Shepherds. They are loyal, gentle giants in our experiences. Great dogs. My brother has a golden retriever and is super duper hyper but she's a real sweetie pie.. great family dog. In my opinion though it doesn't matter what breed you get, it is all in how you raise them. You can mold a Doberman into a family dog with the right training or you can make a rabbit beagle a menace if you neglect it and abuse it physically and mentally. Sure all dogs have their instincts, but a dog that is well trained will always know who's the boss.
Another vote for lab here. Copper is almost 7 and is an amazing dog. He is the only dog in the world I would trust alone with my 3 year old and 6 week old. Since they were born, he sleeps near their beds and watches over them like they are his own kids. Great waterfowl dog as well!
I'll also add that if I were looking for a lab, I would steer clear of any bred for field trials. These are the hyper labs people complain about.
We got two labs and a golden retriever/chow mix, I wouldnt trade any of them for the world. Moose, our yellow lab, is about the best family dog youll ever find and has gone 5/6 on deer retrieves in the past two yrs. I will always have one lab in the family, or try to at least
Hold It right there Cody. My job allows me to see many different breeds of dogs. Trust me, certain breeds of dogs are just not good kids dogs no matter how well they are trained.
We have a young Collie. She is nearly 2 years old now and couldn't hurt a fly (seriously....she's scared of them). Over the summer, my nephews kept her (1, 6, and 9), and about the only harm she ever did to them was a few licks to the face. She's a pretty big dog, and they would often try to ride her like a horse without her caring one bit.
My vote is for the lab.I have a 2 1/2 yr old yellow female and a 1 yr old chocolate female that is the same age as my son. He beats on both of them and like someone said before they take it all and more and just turn around and lick him to death. I would deff be getting a puppy though especially with an older dog cuz they will put the puppy in its place. Best of luck hope you get one that works.
I vote for a lab/golden retriever as well. When I was really young we had a black lab that was awesome with everyone. The only time she got angry was when another dog would come into our yard, and she would chase them off. Now we have a 3/4 lab 1/4 golden retriever that is around 11 or 12 years old, and she is even better tempered than my first dog. They will definitely be hyper as puppies, as well as destructive, but they can be very calm as well depending on how they're raised. The dog we have now is so good with kids that she can sense if someone is scared of her. One of the neighbor girls that is young and scared of dogs was outside, and Sandy (my dog) just laid down and slowly scooted her way towards the girl.
