DoggyLuva1128 said:
I want a dog who can protect the home and look after the family, a guard dog basically. But one who can be friendly with kids and playful.
1)What dog is right for me?
2)Do you think a American BullDog falls in these Characteristics?
Any dog, individually, could fit the bill. The very small breeds tend to be intolerant of children, and the larger or heavier breeds can be a very serious problem if there is any mistake in their selection or training. The right American Bulldog can probably be friendly and playful, and a good deterent to criminals. But - they're probably not the best choice. The truth is that a 35lb spaniel mix will protect her child just as passionately and in 99.99% of cases, will be just as effective a deterrent to burglars and kidnappers. American Bulldogs weigh 60-120lbs, and are very, very strong. Your children will not be able to safely walk such a large and powerful dog, which is a very big disappointment for kids. Most of the guard and fighting breeds are too strong for a child to walk- without that, a child's relationship with their dog is limited to the house and yard, which is no good.
I like collies and terriers, myself. They are both a bit nippy and tend to bark - makes them good watchdogs, but they can be a little scary to small children or strangers as they're very energetic and mouthy (not biting, but jumping around with their mouths hanging open) - they're not the most peaceful dogs. They can keep up with the kids, though, and they'd die to protect their families. Terriers tend to be a bit snotty with other dogs, but they are light enough (except for the Airedale) for a child to control. Both collies and terriers are very conscious of their territory, which means they're both great watchdogs and will not passively watch someone threaten their family.
While I don't like Labs particularly, they are very popular family dogs and they are (the reason I don't like them) very territorial, and pretty assertive watchdogs. The only caveats are - some breeders are creating monster labs, similar to the oversized Rotties, and these would be absolutely too much dog for a child to handle.