Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherds.
No other dog lives as full a life as a Labrador
Retriever or a German Shepherd. They are the most intelligent breeds and can be trained to do anything.
Both very protective, especially of
babies and young children. Our Black Lab always knew when our mother was pregnant, after the babies were born this same lab would not let anyone near the babies except for our own immediate family.
Our neighbor had a large male German Shepherd that was raised and trained as a very aggressive Guard dog. It got loose one day and was coming within distance of my 4 year old brother. Our female Black Lab got into a fight with him that you would never believe unless you saw it. She got a couple lacerations, but that was nothing compared to what she did to the Shepherd. She tore him up really bad. Ripped
his tongue out of his head almost. They had to put him to sleep to sew his tongue up and the many other lacerations he had.
The 2 hardest biting breeds of dogs are German Shepherds and Labradors. And Labradors have been known in many instances to be able to bite harder than a Shepherd.
We have had 3 different Black labs and everyone of them knew my mother had hearing loss (only 30% hearing).
All 3 of these dogs were house dogs. Labs are one of the few larger dogs that make a good house dog, if you can put up with the shedding.

After holding out for almost 10 years I finally broke down and got the family a dog.  There was never ANY question about what type we would get....a Lab.  The BEST dog for kids and adults.  They are loyal to the end.  Below are some pics.  My kids are 8 and 10.  We have a pool.  Labs love water.

[img]http://wsphotofews.excite.com/036/Sg/6h/G8/Ol40283.jpg[/img]

[img]http://wsphotofews.excite.com/022/fN/xx/Tx/Or39101.jpg[/img]

[img]http://wsphotofews.excite.com/003/1z/R3/HV/On97578.jpg[/img]

[img]http://wsphotofews.excite.com/009/Q2/VN/7k/OG40459.jpg[/img]

At 3 months she was 24 pounds..at 7 months..she is now 65 pounds..we figure she will top off at about 80.

She is an inside/outside dog.  Sleeps in our room and often on our bed.

She does shed and requires attention.  She is truly part of the family and will NOT be ignored, but if you treat her like family, the rewards are great.

Good luck.

[beer]

Rough Collie or Border Collie. My grandfather bred and raised English Blueticks but we always had a Rough Collie as a house dog. Excellent with children and very protective. My 12 year old daughter was born with Spina Biffida and is wheelchair confined. We have a rough collie that is freaking awesome with her! Borders are frighteningly intelligent and wonderful temperment. Both are great watchdogs.

[b] They are all wrong, listen to me: Australian Shepard![/b]

I recommend a Dachshund. They are smart and bond well with kids. Mine is a great watchdog, nobody comes near my house without me knowing about it. Some of the larger breeds are fine if you have a big yard, but if space is a factor, go with a Dachshund. Kids love them too, they are way up there on the cuteness scale (weiner dogs!) but are smarter than most of the toy breeds. Mutts can be a good choice too. I had a half Boston Terrier, half mystery hound one time that was a great dog.

Y'alls dog looks just like my sweetie Gator, she is a 10 month old lab who wieghs 70 pounds, I tell you man get a lab, if not then a German Shepard, make sure you get one from a quality breeder to reduce the chance of getting hip dyslasia......I choose poorly...........However I have owned 2 labs on during my childhood and one after I got out of college they are the greatest!!

Here!Here! On the labs. On my second one and wouldn't trade him for nothing. Pity the person who harms him, if the wife leaves anything left, then you got me. Golden Retrievers are another great dog, haven't met a bad one yet and boy are they pretty. Our local pound has always got a BLM (Black Lab Mix) And all the people I know who got one had a full 10-12 years or more with them. My last one went 13 Years. Go with the Lab or Golden's, you won't be sorry.

[img]http://www.akc.org/images/breeds/amstaff.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.amstaff.org/images/bobnatl.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.amstaff.org/images/bosnatl.jpg[/img]
[img]http://ns1.dogbreedinfo.com/images/AmericanStaffordshireTerriergroup.jpg[/img]

AMERICAN STAFFORDSHIRE TERRIER!

Why  waste time with a dog bred to herd animals or retrieve animals.
Go for THE REAL THING.

TWO WORDS:  GOLDEN RETRIEVER

Beagles are great.  Currently have one as an indoor dog.  Also have several as outside dogs, all hunt.  Drawback to Beagles are every one I ever saw was hard headed as hell.  They act like they dont hear ya.  Used to have a Jack Russle Terrier.  Great dog, but was a little hyper from time to time.  Either one would make great dogs for you.

[img]http://www.akc.org/images/breeds/stbult.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.interlog.com/~nvision/staffies/lolaO.jpg[/img]
[img]http://sculptor.as.arizona.edu/foltz/bullys/dbl1.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.staffordnetwork.com/isbta/images/index/tilly.jpg[/img]

STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER

Another GREAT BREED.
Like the Am. Staff. these dogs are loyal,courageous and very sturdy,unlike some of the dogs I have seen suggested here.
While they are somewhat expensive,they are fearless when protecting family and unlike those retreiving and herding dogs they know the difference between someone invited in by the master of the house and an uninvited "guest",I mean I hate it when someone has a dog that growls at you when you are a welcome guest,won't see that with this breed.

I'm just being a silly, sappy female, but cocker spaniels are great.  Mine just passed away..  [>(]  Labradors are also great dogs.  I was invloved with the puppy raising program for Leader Dogs for the Blind.  Labs are great family dogs!  The only problem with labs is that they generally have a lot of energy and it's pretty fair to call them puppies until they're middle aged dogs.  I would never personally want to have a poodle, but they are very low maintenance dogs.  They don't shed, don't require much exercise..  

Keep in mind that while some traits are particular to certain breeds, not every dog of the breed is going to have the characteristics that you want.  I tend to get upset when people steroetype a breed because of things that other dogs of that breed have done.  Each dog is different, and they learn what behavior is acceptable from their master.

Good luck finding the perfect dog for you and your family.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever...nuff said!

Best dog we ever had was a Golden Retriever. Bear was the most gentle,friendly dog and devoutly loyal. We recently had him put to sleep but he lived 13 years before arthritis and blindness set in. Up to the end he was an outstanding guard dog, never barked unless someone was right outside the house. We had a pit bull get near the kids one time in a threatening manner and bear at 12 years old got into it with the Pit Bull. Once I seperated them, Bear had a chewed up ear, but he managed to put a cut in the Pit Bulls chest that bled so bad the dogs owners had to take it to the vet for internal and external stiches. He was a Golden Retriever around family and friends but a Rotwieller around potential threats. I can think of no finer breed. I miss him very much.

The best all around dog breed for what you describe is a English Setter. Check "Dog Breeds On Line" also AKC site.

I have to reply, even though this is getting long.
In the last ten years I've had three pugs, a lab, a dachshund and a Jack Russell Terrorist..oops Terrier.

All inside dogs.

Pugs are fine if you want a lap dog. They are sinocephalically challenged, in that their sinuses are small so they are prone to colds and runny noses. Their eyes need daily wiping, and watch for hair patches that fall out. But, all in all good little rolly poly dogs.

Labs are amazing dogs, in or out only they are large. If a lab gets the drizzling sh**ts inside while you're out...well, it's a lot of crap....

Dachshunds are the cleanest little sweethearts and ours still sleeps in bed with us. They bark like a big dog and are very loving. They can be mean to strangers, even kid strangers, so you gotta watch the one you get.

Jack Russell Terrorist(terrier)? Very intelligent, very strong, very hyper! Ours is the strongest dog pound for pound I've ever seen. He only weighs 16 lbs and can jump about 5 feet straight up. Unfortunately, he does that constantly. When left alone, they get bored and anything is game. Ours ate our cabinets, the walls..yes the walls, metal mini blinds were chewed to pieces, and tore the bottoms out of chairs. When I threatened to kill him, my wife agreed to kennel him whilst we're gone. He's a great dog, only he has to be played with. He swims like a fish, but must jump about 6 feet out and 4 feet up to get into the pool. He loves everyone he meets and wants to play constantly.

I say we parachute about 10,000 Jack russells into afghanistan and they'll reduce the country to rubble  faster than daisy cutters!

my .02 cents.

twins, do you have a Chessie!!

I have two, they are near perfect dogs for field and companion. In Iowa too, they are pretty rare here!!!

LOL Randy! Our first JRT ate three large holes in the walls! Books, eyeglasses, clothes, (pair of 501's that I wore once!) you name it. We had her 15 years. Our newest, a 2yo female, is alot mellower. She acts like she only does an ounce of crank a day...!

BOSTON TERRIER