Dogs

[steve from staten island]

So the granddaughters want a dog. There old enough now to be responsible. I suggested a lab. From the little i know there great dogs and do well with kids and families. My question is I've seen really big ones like a neighbor has and others not quite that big. Are some bigger than others? I also like Dobermans as there short hair and my uncle had severally found them to be excellent animals with good temperaments. I went to a party recently and they had a Male, the dog was very well behaved and would not leave me alone wanting to be petted. A very good dog but the owner said can be very defensive if a stranger enters the property but yet in that social circle of a house party that dog was very graceful and affectionate. As some are more in the know whats your opinions. I think they might want a lab but im not sure.

 

[Glenwood]

We've found Golden Retrievers to be great with kids and general temperament but the shedding is insane.

 

[1967coronet440]

So the granddaughters want a dog. There old enough now to be responsible. I suggested a lab. From the little i know there great dogs and do well with kids and families. My question is I've seen really big ones like a neighbor has and others not quite that big. Are some bigger than others? I also like Dobermans as there short hair and my uncle had severally found them to be excellent animals with good temperaments. I went to a party recently and they had a Male, the dog was very well behaved and would not leave me alone wanting to be petted. A very good dog but the owner said can be very defensive if a stranger enters the property but yet in that social circle of a house party that dog was very graceful and affectionate. As some are more in the know whats your opinions. I think they might want a lab but im not sure.

I had a black lab pit bull mix, by far the best dog I've ever had, would protect the home and owner. Could let her out the front doors unattended and she wouldn't leave the property. House trained since the first day I got her.

 

[khryslerkid]

I've had three labs over the years and they were great devoted animals who really love kids. All three were the medium size not like the huge ones that I have seen recently. I don't understand how the breed became so large all of a sudden. You would have to see the parents to determine what size the puppy would become. And getting a puppy would be ideal but a rescue would adapt in no time, to any family.

 

[62MAX]

So the granddaughters want a dog. There old enough now to be responsible. I suggested a lab. From the little i know there great dogs and do well with kids and families. My question is I've seen really big ones like a neighbor has and others not quite that big. Are some bigger than others? I also like Dobermans as there short hair and my uncle had severally found them to be excellent animals with good temperaments. I went to a party recently and they had a Male, the dog was very well behaved and would not leave me alone wanting to be petted. A very good dog but the owner said can be very defensive if a stranger enters the property but yet in that social circle of a house party that dog was very graceful and affectionate. As some are more in the know whats your opinions. I think they might want a lab but im not sure.

Dobermans are a great dog but be aware they have a short life. span.

 

[gdrill]

I've had many dogs throughout my life. From strays to Pit bulls. Most dogs are what you raise them to be. Our last little guy, "Cheeko" was a rescue from the humane society. He was so appreciative of being rescued and accepted into a home. You could tell from day one. Probably one of the best dogs we ever had. He was a German Shepard and Beagle mixture, so the vet figured. He passed away last September and we miss him dearly. But my point here is that not only can you get good dog from a breeder, but many good little dogs are living with numbered days due to previous owners or circumstances unknown.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Labs are great dogs, but they are hyper for a number of years.

 

[68gtxman]

We rescued our lab-pit bull mix 4 years ago. She is very loving and very protective. Though she did bite two family members for unknown reasons (we think she thought she was protecting the person holding her leash). We had another black lab before her and she was so docile, she wouldn't hurt a flea or even bark if a stranger came bye. I highly recommend black labs for a family.

 

[wahya]

We've found Golden Retrievers to be great with kids and general temperament but the shedding is insane.

We had a Retriever, great with kids. Ours was a short haired. I can't stand Labs, too hyper for my taste. Several friends have/had Labs and all of them would not leave you alone once you pet them.

 

[Daves69]

My malamute was so docile with people. Kids pulling on ears and tail he paid no mind. But the Mr. Hyde in him came out around other male dogs.

 

[Thunderlugs]

We are on our 4th Doberman. Had 3 males, this is our first female. I will say she has been more demanding than our males. The breed is highly intelligent, ( particularly this dog.) requiring more stimulation than our males seemed to need. She is good socially but has a shy side which could be misinterpreted . Great for protection. Good with the Grand Kids, good socially with other dogs that come over , loves to play. Never tires out . Be prepared to provide some sort of indoor activity especially in the winter months . Make them work for everything. If you don't have time to dedicate , this may not be the breed for you. The Boys seemed a little more laid back as they grew older as compared to my current 4 yr old female, who is always on patrol. Love them dearly. Good Luck! Find a Good Trainer You can work with.

 

[moparnation74]

As others stated, Do not exclude the Rescue dogs.....My current dog is a rescue and is the best dog I ever had the privilege to have.

 

[FlagCraig]

Just bought my daughter a Golden Retriever for graduating college. That's what she has wanted for years. 4 Months old now. Great temperament and I can tell will be great with people. I've had dogs all my life. Glenwood is correct, sheds like there's no tomorrow. Vet says she will be about 60 pounds. I did see the parents and he looks to be about right.

Helped my son raise his Border Collie when he lived with us. Smartest dog I have ever had. Very active compared to Golden. You need to be ready to run with this one. She is very protective of females in our family.

Dogs are a chore but definitely become members of your family.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I highly recommend black labs for a family.

 

[polywideblock]

just shooting from the hip here but what about mastiffs? had a neo mastiff for 12 years and he was GREAT!! loved the kids , docile and most importantly once seen was never forgotten ( no-one ever jumped the fence )

 

[MoparMitch]

Gunner is a 7yr old Chocolate Lab. Weighs 81 lbs. Great temperament, and Very smart. Before I picked him out of the litter of 8, I visited him 3 times. I didn't want the biggest or the most frisky from the litter, so I picked out a middle of the road dog from them. He's with me 24/7 now, since I've been retired for 16 yrs. He is a little defensive, at home here, if he first meets ya, or someone comes on the property. He can scare some, as his Bark is Loud and Deep, But, he's pretty much a sissy. He loves to Catch the Frisbee..And gets pissed if I don't play, at least once a day. We are Best Friends !!!

 

[conv67bdere]

Had a female yellow lab that grew up with my kids and mixed to be 16 1/2 years old . . . she was very smart and she will protect the kids - ask the door to door salesman that attempted to approach when my kids were on the drive ( she was only a year old ) she put herself between him and the kids and growled with her hackles up from her nose to the tip of her tail .
Active - could throw be ball for fetch for hours and she's being or back . . . they need activities .
My years have shown me that black labs are very protective , yellow labs are very smart , and chocolate labs are not the brightest .

Got a great Dane now and he is incredible . . . grwat with kids . . .

 

[dieseldazzle]

As much as I love this ole mule he isn't a little kid dog. He tolerates them at best. But once the kids are around 12 you couldn't find a better "kid" dog. He won't tolerate play fighting or raised voices around my son.

 

[Glenwood]

Reminds me of when I bought my 70 Satty back in the mid 80's. I went to the seller's door and was greeted by a Great Dane...I nearly crapped my pants. It was staring at me at eye level. The guy said it was still a pup and would get bigger!
They are supposed to be great dogs and big sucks. High energy dogs are the ones that tend to be a pita. I had a German Shepherd that was an escape artist...seriously jumped over a 9 foot fence.

 

[Moparsmitty]

We had a Retriever, great with kids. Ours was a short haired. I can't stand Labs, too hyper for my taste. Several friends have/had Labs and all of them would not leave you alone once you pet them.

Some Labs never grow out of the hyper/goofyness that they all seem to have as pups. My neighbors female Lab is 4 years old now and is still as bad as she was when she was 6 months. It would drive me crazy.