Cale,
I’m in the “get a Lab”, group.
I had one for years and he was one of the best dog’s that I’ve been
lucky enough to have as part of the family.
Big silly grin, happy, protective. He did have the Lab habit of roaming
around the neighborhood and we were offered the pick of the litter
on more than one occasion.
No mattter which breed you pick, please spay or neuter.
keep their shots up to date & treat proactivly for heart worms
and canine influenza.
Dave…
Dogs like many things are very subjective so rather than suggesting a breed I’ll merely give you my personal experience with the best dog I ever had (or that had me).
We had a wire haired fox terrier for 15 years. a fun packed dog that loved kids and was smart as a whip. Small enough to be indoors but frisky enough to keep kids occupied for hours outdoors. They can be a bit stubborn at first as they think for themselves but once trained you could not ask for a more devoted and faithful friend. Never once did he ever bite either a family member or a stranger or another dog although he took great delight in barking at the mailman.
While most dogs cringed under the bed on the 4th of July because of the fireworks “Sammy” loved them and would be heart broken if he wasn’t included in the night time neighborhood fireworks viewing with the rest of the family. He could get quite excited when playing with children and twice ran through the screen on the sliding patio door, once knocking it off the runner and once going right through it nose first. He just shook his head for a moment and was ready to go again.
He learned several tricks such as playing dead when you went bang and the usual sitting up and rolling over, etc., but the best trick was one he taught himself. He knew he could never touch any food that was on a table but that once it fell on the floor it was all his. When a food item was placed on a low coffee table he would eye it and then place his head carefully on the table close to it. Next he would slowly move his muzzle towards the item and gently move it until it fell on the floor and then pounce on it. Smart little bugger. hehe! Of course circuses used the breed for years as performing dogs.
I realize reading about someone’s dog is like watching home movies but it shows a bit about the temperament and intelligence of the breed. If I have one complaint about Sammy it is the fact that it is very humbling to have a dog that’s smarter than me. hehe!
Well I had a Border Collie many moons ago when I had some acreage and he watched the 100 or so chickens all day long for he learned that they were not allowed out on the front lawn. He would watch all day long just waiting for one of them to get near and then he would make sure they stayed in the back yard. Just before dark he would help me round up the chickens. Smart dog and that was his job. I couldn’t even get him to go with me during the day for a ride to the store or where ever else.
Now we have three Yorkies and they are very nice pets. Two old fardts and one youngster.
That’s my story and I’m going to stick to it !
Cheers, Darryl
Cale you could try this one.
Go to the pound and take the kids and wife with you.
Walk thought the area were the dogs are and let the dog that is for you find you and the family.
If you don’t find one on the first trip try going back again later.
The best dogs find you. You don’t find them.
Just my 2 cents worth
About all I can add is just to be careful when your out shopping for a dog. There are too many unscrupulous people running puppy factories out there and what may look like a cute little bundle of fur can harbor some serious medical and genetic problems. I would contact a couple of local Veterinary Hospitals in the area and get some recommendations from them on some of the better breeders and/or pet shops in the area. Pets can come down with the same maladies that people do, and some breeds are more susceptible to certain ailments than others. Whether you choose a pure-bred or just a plain mutt, have it checked out by a vet before you make any decisions. Most serious pet establishments won’t have any problem with that.
My wife works at a Vets and on more than a few occasions has come home with some new pet owner’s heart-breaking experiences that a little research may have avoided.
Geoff George said:Good advice from Geoff. Most of my dogs have come from the Humane Society shelter. Reasonable adoption fees and they are spayed/ neutered and have all their shots. The Foothills Humane Society just across the state line has half price adoptions this month. $40, quite a bargain. All of my daughters have done volunteer work there. Ralph
Cale you could try this one. Go to the pound and take the kids and wife with you. Walk thought the area were the dogs are and let the dog that is for you find you and the family. If you don't find one on the first trip try going back again later. The best dogs find you. You don't find them. Just my 2 cents worth
Cale,
We’ve had a Beagle for 17 years. Great dog and had seniority over the kids. Never could control the howling when she caught the smell of a rabbit and she was great with the kids. Over the years we’ve had 3 labs. All great dogs and lived 9 to 13 years. We now have a 6 month old half border collie / half lab. She is keeping us all busy, including the 13 year old “house slipper” with eyes that we keep for my Father in Law and then there is the cat. To us, dogs make a house a home. I’ve always had dogs and so has my wife. We like the “shelter dogs” that you give a home to. We believe in nuturing and think of our dogs as part of the Family. “Beagle Junction”, “Sweetwater” and “Anbandon Dog Mine” all are the final resting places on the KVRwy. “Millie” will rest in the front yard where she enjoyed to lay in the shade, so much. Its all just seems like it is part of life and the “History of Our Family”.
Every child should have a pet.
As I write this, I’m watching “Kassy” tear something up in the back yard. 
Cal you cant go wrong with fish. No high vet bills, they dont live as long so when the kids tire of them your not stuck taking care of them for the next 13+ years LOL Yo can go on vacation and not worry about whos going to take care of the fish. There relaxing to watch, free fishing with the kids, more money to spend on trains, dont have to worry about them running away or running into the road.
In all honesty I had a brit spaniel great dog with a lot of energy. Perfect size and she kept the critters out of my layout and great with my little ones.
We have a yellow lab/golden retriever mix (Sophie) and a Beagle/Basset, called a Bagel, (Greta). Both are great dogs, and we got them from shelters.
Out in the country, you’ll need a dog to keep wild things at bay. Just being present will discourage visiting racoons, opossoms, coyotes, weasels and whatever else you have around. Our Angel (of destruction) was a Springer Spaniel / Labrador accidental mix. HYPER! Definitely Caleb’s hyperdog. She was very friendly. Sit down to pet her, and she’d be so excited she’d run around the yard for half an hour. She loved the kids, loved to go for a “walk,” and would not tolerate a mole in her territory, which included a large piece of the surrounding farmland. Oh, she loved cats too.
She fought with a skunk one night. Caleb was scolding our rather smelly dog. “Caleb! Don’t scold her. She was doing her job. If she hadn’t fought with the skunk, you wouldn’t have any kittens.”
Angel was very intelligent and obedient, but you had to know the right code. “Angel come!” was the command to run down to the doghouse and wait to chain her up. If you wanted her to come to you, you had to clap your hands twice.
She figured out that I’d allow geese to rest, but didn’t want them taking up residence. After geese would land in the pond, she’d let them stay for an hour or so, then chase them off.
Always met the boys at the school bus. When she got hit by a car, Caleb mentioned that he missed her waiting for the school bus every afternoon.
They now have a terrier mix they call “Sass.” When I was last there, Susan said, “She loves to fetch. Throw one of these apples.” I threw an apple, and Sass joyfully ran after it, tackled and subdued it, then carried it to Susan, expecting her to throw it again.
We have owned Corgis for nearly 40 years, good dog on all accounts, smart, rugged but small, good watchdogs (had one take down an intruder) and asbolutely great with kids
Ralph Berg said:We just got an ex-pound dog, a 2 year old Shih Tzu. Never thought I would own one or cared for the bread, but he is a GREAT dog and goes with me nearly everywhere. This might be your best option both for the family and to save in many cases some dog that is in dog jail most likely for no fault of his own.Geoff George said:Good advice from Geoff. Most of my dogs have come from the Humane Society shelter. Reasonable adoption fees and they are spayed/ neutered and have all their shots. The Foothills Humane Society just across the state line has half price adoptions this month. $40, quite a bargain. All of my daughters have done volunteer work there. Ralph
Cale you could try this one. Go to the pound and take the kids and wife with you. Walk thought the area were the dogs are and let the dog that is for you find you and the family. If you don't find one on the first trip try going back again later. The best dogs find you. You don't find them. Just my 2 cents worth
I’ve always had dogs that came from a shelter, save one Airedale/Shepherd mix and a Dalmation that came to me when they were puppies.
My first border collie was found at the shelter. All of the other dogs in the runs were going crazy with barking, but this one was sitting in the middle of his run, practically shaking with excitement and anticipation, and the message I got was, “I really want to go home with you, but I’m far too cool to say so.”
Our Jack, ‘Cool Dog Cody’ has been a great find. And like Ralph said, this one found me. Ran right up to me while the others stayed away.
(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/sheepdog/cooldog2.jpg)
Smart… sometimes too smart, guards the back yard, good with kids, big bark when someone comes to the door but wags her butt off when you let them in. Had a very nice black lab mix. Nice weather, let her out in the morning, let her in that evening. Did like to run her traps tho… The second time a car hit her, it did her in.
Our last Cogi picked us, she ran up and nearly knocked over my wife!
Had a Husky/wolf mix growing up best damn dog for me and my sister and the whole family. My wife had mixes growing up and the dog her parents had when we met was a Runt Black lab. Smartest dog. Year and half ago the wife gave me an ultimatum. Get a dog or have another baby. She found a not so local breeder of Siberian husky’s and we picked out an all white male puppy. He is a bit over 2 years aold now and we are growing used to him as he settles in. MY biggest complaint is there are not enough chew toys in the world for him. I learned this the expensive way. Leather jacket, Hot tub cover, Trailer wiring harness and marker light. He tends to want to jump on the kids right now but is getting past that as the girls learn how to deal with him. I’d NOT get a husky in your area as I believe it is simply too hot for them so saying that I’d recommend a shelter dog that picks you and you feel comfy with OR a lab.
Chas
Shawn said:But Shawn have you ever tried to find a leash for a fish? They tire much too quickly when you take them for a walk. Just a few feet and they play dead and you have to literally drag them along. They don't fare well riding in the back of a pickup either and it's impossible to teach them to fetch. They don't even bark to warn of intruders! Sigh! No more fish for me.... ;)
Cal you cant go wrong with fish. No high vet bills, they dont live as long so when the kids tire of them your not stuck taking care of them for the next 13+ years LOL Yo can go on vacation and not worry about whos going to take care of the fish. There relaxing to watch, free fishing with the kids, more money to spend on trains, dont have to worry about them running away or running into the road. .
Lab.
I grew up with my first lab who was my best friend, kept her pup and just had to put her down last year at 14 years old. Best dogs i’ve ever had. Loyal friendly and great with kids. Never liked my wife though but she came into the picture after the dog and i think the dog was jealous 
Even at 14 wih bad hips she was at the door every morning when i came home from work, would let ya know when ‘unwanted’ people were about and let the kids dress her up and climb all over her and pull her ears. big bark no bite unless you threatened the kids. my only dislike is the chewing but they get over that.
now I have a german shepard. my insurance went up… good dog though, loyal and great with the kids. Hates the UPS man and pizza guy. I was gonna get rid of him beacuse of insurance costs (shoulda checked first) but the day he cleared a 5 foot fence to take on 2 coyotes that were pacing the kids… he’s been a valued family member ever since.
Beagles and border collies are too intelligent and independent to be really good “Pets”, especially for kids. We had a beagle for 14 years, we loved her but she was a pain in the butt. I’d go with the Lab. Even tempered, self sufficient, low maintenance. But, I was advised by a well respected local dog breeder who specialized in Shepards that the best all around PET is a standard poodle. Smart as a border collie, sweet tempered as a lab and does not shed. I suppose that if you didn’t have it groomed in that typical phoofie way it would be a good choice.
Walt
We had beagles for many years, they are great dogs.
