Which breed is for my family?

[darkchild16]

i go with saint girl on the saint ours is awesome with little kids we were able to have my 9 mth old neice crawl all over and play with patches when she was only 2. Shes a long coat but its not that long compared to most long haired breeds but you can just get a smooth coat. and the drooling isnt much of an issue if you choose a dog with a lil less of a fleshy mouth. more later class time

 

[SarahFair]

The only problem I have heard with saints is they die really early because their hearts just arent big enough..
Dobermans I love but convincing my boyfriend that they are good dogs is going to be hard. He thinks they are ALL vicious. I try and tell him a dog is how you raise it. Any ideas on how to convince him other wise?
What about Great Danes? I know they have their own problems but I really admire their size..

 

[Boemy]

Great dogs, but very short-lived.

 

[Saintgirl]

All giant breeds have a shorter life span than other dogs. 8-10 years is the estimated life span of Saints and Danes. However reputable breeders often have dogs that can live to be 12 years old, and all giant owners will tell you that the shorter life span is worth a giant breed dog! Danes are wonderful dogs, however they typically have more energy than their other counterpart giant breeds so can be a bit more difficult with children. You also have to be very careful with Danes and bloat/gastric torsion. It has been estimated that 40% of Danes will suffer from bloat at one point in their life (Purdue study), and it is crucial they recieve immediate vet care ASAP. But there is something about a Dane, they will make any dog lover stop and stare when one walks by!

 

[MyIrishWolfie]

I agree with Saitgirl.. St. Bernards are great breeds. I have one too. Stella is extremely sweet and very protective.

How about an Irish Wolfhound? I have one too

Pro's- Gentle giants, loves kids, easy to train.

Con's- Short life span, is very tall and very big, owner has to be extremely dedicated to the care of the breed.

 

[showpug]

I would look into a Bullmastiff. They are superb with respectful children and very protective over their property and family. What's nice about them is that they are generally mellow and loving dogs and big babies. One of my good friends shows and breeds them and hers are absolute angels.

 

[jacensolo]

Well I am going to say Saint Bernard. They are wonderful animals with children and other dogs. They are okay in weather as long as it isn't too hot. They are wonderful watch dogs, their size is deterrent enough for any unwelcome visitor. My boy is a big cuddle bug, but nobody would think of coming throught the door unwelcomed when 190lbs of dog is on the otherside!And if you aren't looking for something so big, females are typically smaller than males. Saints come in rough and smooth coat, my boy is a smooth, which means he has a naturally short coat. And you say you would like a larger breed...well you just might not be wanting something this big . They are a wonderful breed and I will never be without one in my life.

How the heck do you get them to accept a stranger?

 

[planet molosser]

Even tougher breeds that will protect can be socialized and CUED to accept strangers I start by getting them social from 7 weeks of age and cue them to accept strangers we call it properly introducing them.

When kids run at my dogs while crated I them them stop I will take him out and I train my dogs when I say KISSY face they look for the nearest kids to KISS this included chasing down school buses and going to 4h class.

its all on the tone and body posture of the owner

 

[Toller_08]

The first breed that came to my mind was a Chesapeake Bay Retriever aswell. They sound like they'd be a great match for your family. Rottweilers also fit your description, but I think Chessies would be a better match.

 

[bubbatd]

Chessies are great dogs , but with a higher drive than Goldens or Labs. Of all , Goldens are the most layed back . All my Goldens , ( and now Ollie ) were /is good watch dogs. don't need an attack dog ... just warning !

 

[Char_06]

Prehaps a short haired alsation?

 

[ToscasMom]

Well Tosca's a Collie and she is good at all those things. She's a great watch dog because her bark can scare the bejesus out of you or as a minimum blow your ear drum. But she's no guard dog so if you want guard, fergettabowtit. But Collies are Greeeeat with kids and animals. Her hair is too long for you, so how about a Smooth Collie?

 

[skyeboxer]

Oh, I have to say boxer. We had Skye for a year before our first baby came along. Wasn't intending to have any two legged kids, you see. Now five years and another rug rat later, Skye is just such a star with them both.

The only part of your list that I'd think twice about is the indoor/outdoor part. Boxers are not really that tolerant of excesses of temperature.

Playful, loving, protective and minimal hair up your nose - what else could you ask for?

 

[oc_spirit]

I''d say a Rottweiller sounds like a good match for you.

 

[Bahamutt99]

If I were looking for a dog to fit those requirements, I'd look for a Dogo Argentino. The one we have (retired and lives with my mom now) is an excellent natural guardian, but not excessive. (Socialization is important to a dog inclined to guard so they don't try to guard against harmless people.) They're also a short-haired, large breed. They're generally good with kids, and what I call appropriate with other dogs. (Meaning if another intact male faces off with my boy, he's ready to rumble. But with non-threatening dogs and females, he's fine.)

The only disadvantage with this breed is their relative rarity. And there's the additional concern that a lot of people think they're Pit Bulls or "pit mixes." This can either be a big issue or a non-issue, depending on your situation. It doesn't bother me, but I'm a Pit Bull person.

ETA: Here's a pic of our Dogo, Jedi.

And for the heck of it, a vid I made with a bunch of pics of him: http://youtube.com/watch?v=J0FZ5AG9Q_c