I've been thinking that it's time to get a new dog and I was looking for input from you guys on what breed might best fit my needs. I have three children (10,9,3) so the dog must be good with kids. I want a dog that is easily trainable and will make a good guard dog for our house. We live in Forks, so I'm thinking a long haired dog would just be wet all the time. It will spend most of it's time outside or in the garage when needed. I've been doing a fair amount of research on different breeds and have some ideas, but was curious to hear what you guys had to say. Thanks!

A big Lab.

Love our dog, Cedar. Yellow lab.

Great with all kids, very trainable, and if you teach them correctly, they will be tollerant of all sorts of other animals.

Just make sure its a lab.

Any breed will do as long as its a lab!

retraction to that statement--avoid the Meth Lab

While there are some very protective labs, I think most would simply bark until someone broke in, at which point they would switch from barking to licking.

Maybe something like a lab/rott or lab/shepherd?

I say that as someone that loves labs.

Tye barks at strangers approaching the house like hes gonna rip their hearts out. Of course, once the bad guy is in the house he would lick him and beg for food. But if you didn't know what a pussey cat he, is his bark would certainly scare you off.

Cedar heard the turkeys make alert calls on Wednesday. They were outside, he was inside, and he went absolutely nuts wanting to get out there and protect them. Someone's chocolate lab was stalking our birds and when i let him out Cedar ran straight for the other dog, running him off, nipping his rear end.

Doesn't do that with humans though. The worst a human would get is a good goosing.

My lab is to young yet to make that call, I can tell you that she acts pretty tough and makes a hell of a racket when she thinks someones on her property.

Heads up on the labs though, I had to induce vomiting today as I found her eating a mushroom from the backyard, fun fun fun!!!!



Fishy

Well...I think we have a consensus! I had been considering a lab and I know a lot of people with them that love them. It is my wife's first choice. My only concern was as mentioned above regarding their lack of aggression when it hits the fan. I want something that will protect our property when we are at work or be willing to jump in between the kids and one of the aggressive neighborhood dogs. I like the idea of a lab mixed with something like a rottweiler or other, slightly more aggressive dog. Thanks again for the replies.

I'll buck the trend here...lab is what I recommend. Had them for over 30 years. Good critters...

BTW Vedder doesn't like labs......

Dogs reflect their owners.
You will get what you deserve.


aka



see Dave's post.

take this as you wish, im not speaking in any form badly about anyones pets or choices in breed, this is my expierience throughout my life...

labs are great dogs, even my father as a kid owned one along with an Irish Setter.. they arent however very good security dogs IMO, yeah they may bark, but barks dont stop generally, and like some stated, they are kinda boneheaded big furry babies and will accept your food and let you come in and watch a movie with them...they will alert you however, but dont expect them to come after the guy running at you with a knife while you are in bed, or if someone pulls a gun, ect... the upside, you can teach them to hunt... so with a lab, you will get alerts, they will fend off other dogs like stated as well, people are different however, this is just from my being around them...

watch it with mixes... you never know what you are going to get, especially when concerning rotts and pitts, and this is coming from someone that just buried his rott pitt not that long ago after 17 years, i had help training him tho, but i still didnt trust him around kids, and wouldnt allow him to be around them... a rott lab mix would be just as dangerous...

i would stay away from breeds such as Dobies, Rotts and Pitts, and any Mastiffs for that matter...

i would look into a pure German Shepard, you have to watch it with them as well.. dont go buying a 450 dollar dog from Craigslist, get one from a reputable AKC registered breeder, yeah, you will pay, likely over 1 grand, and maybe more if you decide to... but what you get with the AKC certified dogs, is history and such with the Dam and Sire of the bloodline, its heritage, ect... in the end tho, it all falls on you, you have to train it and take care of it, it will be work, but it will be worth it, trust me... it will be the most loyal, protective dog you could ever wish for, and the worst enemy of anyone that decides to cause harm to your family... a well trained Shepard will put any pit bull on the planet to sleep, and i will put money on that... it will also take care of any intruder in the house, yes, they can get shot as with all dogs/humans in situations like that, but not getting shot, means you dun fvcked up comin in here...

old pics, but some of our dogs from when i was younger, last one died before i got my pup, but uncles and such have had them since, and i trained a buddies.. my next dog may be one, but im just not ready yet...










my next choice, deffinately a lab.. 3rd would be a hound of sorts, their bark is obnoxious as hell... they however will bolt instead of charge an aggressor...

Well if Stam and Dave say lab...Then I guess a lab it is! Thanks for the story blue water... helps to know that they will jump in the fray if absolutely necessary. Does anyone know of any good sources for pups? I'd like to start with one fairly young so it can "grow up" with the kids. Not real keen on the idea of getting one at a shelter. I do really like the idea of a lab shepherd mix too... hmmmm decisions decisions!

Redhook...I just saw your post right after I posted my last reply. The german shepherd was very near the top of my list. Everything I've read notes how intelligent and loyal they are and how well they respond to training. Have you ever seen a lab/shepherd mix? I really like the concept, but haven't ever seen one.

Up at steelhead camp this fall we ran into a great dog that I believe was a lab/shepherd mix. He seems to have gotten the best of both breeds. But even after all is said and done pups, like kids, will not all turn out the same. I see some real differences in personality in Tye’s littermates. Sure nurture is mighty important but so is nature.

If you decide to check out available rescue/shelter dogs, this is a good site. You can put Labrador into the "Breed" category, and you will get purebred and mixes.

http://www.petfinder.com/index.html

seen plenty.. good dogs if trained right just like any other mutt... my aunt had one for 14 years and it was cool as hell, nowhere near a guard dog tho lol...

the thing with a lab/shep mix IMO, they are both bonehead breeds, Shepards tho, have the will to chase and end confrontations, Labs have the hunting ability, so people think, boom, i created the super breed, it covers all bases... wrong..... a lab shepard mix isnt really a bad idea, but it would be better if you knew the person rather than just bying it from someone you dont know in my opinion...

my OP, your "wants", kids that young, stay pure, stay high in the bloodline, stay away from Dobies, Rotts, Pitts, and anything in the mix with them, including Staffordshire Terriers, and just go with a Shepard ....

or a Lab, they are the second coolest dogs on the planet...

PM or call if you can hunt Tuesday -Thursday. Tye and I will be in your area.