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Anonymous
I'm thinking of a dog for my family. Since I have a hyperactive 4 year-old son, I was considering a Labrador (since most people I know say they have high tolerance for abuse from children such as tail or ear-pulling, things my son might do to the dog), but I also want a guard dog and a Lab might be too passive for that job. Any thoughts on the ideal dog for us?
>> Anonymous
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Get a baby mastiff. They're really gentle and protective, though their sheer size could prove to be a hazard for the kid.
>> Anonymous
Get a pitbull, if you can't train the child I'm sure a highly aggressive dog will get the message through to him loud and clear.
>> Anonymous
If you think your son is going to abuse the dog, dont fucking get one.
>> Anonymous
um, labs aren't gentle at all. If you're holding a ball god help you if you don't throw it or your hand is getting bitten as they lunge for it
>> Anonymous
If your kid is like that don't even consider putting the dog through that kind of torture. Besides a lot of good breeders wont sell you a puppy if you have small kids like that.

And labs are good guard dogs, of the 20 or so I know, none of them will bark or growl unless they see something as a threat. (or if they're roughhousing. But you'd have to be a complete Idiot not to be able to tell the difference.)

If you really want to get a dog, research the different breeds, contact breeders Etc. But with you're kid. Do the dogs and your kid a favor and don't get one.
>> Anonymous
>>193134
I'm just assuming the worst-case scenario since kids can be like that.

Christ, I forgot that I'm talking to 13year-olds.
>> Anonymous
>>193137
Thanks, I guess I'll talk to the local petshop guy first then.
>> Anonymous
>>193141
uh no. Not pet shops. Breeders! Never buy a dog or get advice from a pet shop. Very rarely do they know shit about the breeds of dog they're selling.
>> Anonymous
get a chiwawa. those little fuckers deserver ADD owners.
>> Anonymous
what kind of dof is this ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40ZzR1rQPSw
>> Anonymous
>>193140
Look, the fact is you should wait a couple of years before you get a dog. If you dont like that opinion, fine, but take the butthurt sensitivity somewhere that gives a fuck where you can bleat to the mods that someone flamed you.
>> Anonymous
>>193141
Noooo.... pet shop dogs come from all manner of famrs and/or mills... there's no telling what the temperment of any purebred from a pet shop will be.
>> Anonymous
"Good with children" is tricky subject matter. There are breed stereotypes, but a lot of it comes down to how well the animal was socialized as a pup. Good breeders will get the dogs used to being grabbed oddly from a young age. They'll touch their puppies' feet, pull on their ears, etc. The flip side is also that you must teach your son how to be good with dogs. Don't pick out a dog just because you think it'll tolerate constant rough handling by a child.
>> Anonymous
Golden retriever
>> Anonymous
>>193147
Don't listen to this troll. I personally had a Beagle when I was a toddler and she would let me pull her ears and tail (I was three, children don't know any better and yes I eventually learned it was bad to do) all I wanted, but she was also an escape artist and Beagles in general probably wouldn't be what you're looking for.

I agree that a lab would be good, but my personal favorite to have with kids are McNabs or any other sort of collie/shepherd. Our second dog was a McNab and she was like my second mother growing up, a little hyper as a puppy but would stay with me and protect me to the end. So I really suggest like a border collie or a Lassie or something like that.
>> Anonymous
>>193192
german shepherd??
>> Anonymous
>>193197
Obviously no.
>> Anonymous
>>193192

aren't beagles a bit on the noisy side?
>> Anonymous
Actually, German Shepherds are quite smart and will 'look after' (make sure the kid doesn't get too close to stairs etc) their human puppies very well.

I say this because when I was a kid, our German Shepherd wouldn't let me go anywhere near water. Also, whenever my daughter gets too close to the gate, Fang (my current dog, 2 year old GS) picks her up by the nappy (diaper for americans) and takes her back to the house...
>> Anonymous
our lab is a great "alarm" dog, but not so great at guarding things. and she's fucking beautiful and she lets little boys sit on her and all kinds of shit. the only thing she can't stand is our kitten coming close to her.
>> Anonymous
>>193124

Herding dogs. corgis, collies (this one's actually iffy, collies can be the easiest or the hardest dog to raise), german shepherds, You get the idea.

You will also need to get the dog as a puppy, and be strict with training your kid for the dog, as well as the dog for your kid. An alternative is to take in a dog you know for sure has come from a good family.

Mind you, its never recommended for a young kid to be near a dog, no matter how gentle the dog is. Airways can get clogged with dog shedding, and until your child has had all his/her immunisations for the first round (which would be 6 at the very least) it's just not advised.
>> Viewtiful Elvis Henshin
My family has had two labradors and they've both been great with children.
>> Anonymous
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>>194044
Pretty much. We have a gorgeous black lab, and she's pretty good at barking at things, but not so good at fending them off. She'd sooner love an intruder to death than attack it. She's also amazing with kids; puts up with all their tail-pulling nonsense with a big grin on her face. (But of course if your kid is liable to do that sort of thing, be sure to rectify it immediately.)

I've owned labs all of my life, and they've all been intelligent, obedient, loving dogs. But if you really want a defensive dog, they might not be the right choice. But as a lot of other people in this thread have said, I've heard German Shepards are the best of both worlds.

(Pic is my dog.)
>> Anonymous
>>194061
MARYLAND LOL
>> Anonymous
German Shepards can be prone to arthritis, but that's pretty much the only down side to them.
>> Anonymous
whatever you do don't get a jack russell, fer christ's sake. Just a warning.

But as for your kid, no matter what breed you get if your kid annoys the dog enough there's ALWAYS a chance that the dog will snap at or even bite the kid. If you wanna take that chance, that's your call. But don't take it out on the dog if something happens to your kid.
>> Anonymous
That dog's neck looks like a vagina. :/

Well, not really, but that's what I thought when I looked at it.
>> Anonymous
>>No.193124

If you get a lab as a puppy it will do exactly what you want by nature, no need to train it
>> Anonymous
>>194066
I was about to be like HOW'D YOU KNOWZOMG but then I realized. lol.
>> Anonymous
>>194401
Quoted for fucking emphasis. I fucking hate parents who do that shit.
>> Anonymous
adopt a shelter dog :)
>> Anonymous
>>193124
...vagina neck
>> Anonymous
>>194049
the collie we own is pretty awesome about everything.
>> Anonymous
>>But don't take it out on the dog if something happens to your kid.
Fucking agreed. There's little that's more tragic than a dog that gets put down because after hours of torment from some brat he finally gives the kid a snap.

>>193140
You can get on the dumb name-calling if you want, but the guy has a point here. If there's a chance your kids are gonna bug this dog, then don't get indignant when someone tells you the aggressive, "guard dog" type is a bad choice.

How about a compromise... most potential burglars-to-be are put off just by barking alone. Get a dog with a good temperament but that barks at intruders. Maybe a Beagle or something.