Quote:
Originally Posted by blueangel
Another choice might be a labrador retriever or a golden.. but now you're talking massive shedding problems (hair everywhere!). They're really smoochy dogs that just crave love. And.. they tend to have hip dysplasia problems as they grow older.
Why not check out the pound and see who needs a home? Unless you're going to breed or show your dog, why not find a lovable mutt? They can make the best pets.
Good luck!
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As someone who knows a lot about labs and goldens (I'm a volunteer puppy raiser for an org. that provides service dogs to people with disabilities), let me clarify a couple things. First, some of them shed, some don't. Some labs shed very little, and some goldens have shorter hair and only shed a little. In my opinion, I don't know if there is a finer family dog than a golden retriever. My family has had different breeds of dogs over the years, but it keeps getting goldens. They're easy to train, very patient, not overly hyper (usually), not aggressive, gentle and happy, and LOVE their people. They will follow you from room to room, and though they love to go outside and play/run, they are happy indoors. Labs are wonderful too, but they have more energy and can be too hyper around kids.
Now, I'm a big fan of the pound/shelter too, but I certainly understand why people look for a puppy from a breeder. Puppies are easier to train, and when you select a purebred dog after you've done your research, you know generally what type of a dog you're getting. Many dogs at shelters have suffered trauma or have behavioral issues that require a lot of extra patience, and by purchasing from a breeder, you also usually have an idea of the kind of health issues in the dog's line. For example, the hip displaysia you mentioned is NOT common, in fact it is a fault. Labs especially may get arthritis in the hips when they're older, but hip displaysia is actually a developmental disability usually apparent when the puppy is young. On that note, please realize that every breed has diseases and physical "issues" that commonly plague it.
Regarding chewing and other bad behaviors, that is common with puppies and adult dogs that aren't trained. Dogs require an owner that can provide consistent correction and praise, especially when they're new to the household. Dogs are actually happier when they are told what to do...the owner needs to be the alpha dog. It is challenging at first when you have a wild puppy that needs to be watched like a hawk, but after a few months of training, it's amazing how well-behaved even a young puppy can be. Whichever dog you end up with, please take some obedience classes!
If you'd like to read up on which breeds would be good for your family, here are a couple good sites:
AKC:
www.akc.org
Animal Planet:
http://animal.discovery.com/breedsel...lectorindex.do