New Dog

[Xiphos]

Our Shiba Inu is getting old and will probably die here in the next year or two. It's a great breed and we love it except the things shed like you wouldn't believe.

Even though we have an alarm system my wife insists on having a dog. The current dog is great for barking and warning us of people outside. My wife likes the backup.

So the new dog has to shed less.

The new dog has to be a good guard dog and protective of the wife and kids. Especially when they are outside playing in the yard and sleeping in the house when I'm gone.

I've seen our Belgian Malinois dogs on the department's K9 unit. They are beautiful dogs with short hair. Reading up on them they have good temperments and are good with children when socialized from an early age (I would get puppies.) I think I could get the kids in on obedience and play time with the dog to satisfy his high drive.

So I'm leaning towards the Mally but I'm curious about any other medium to large size dogs that fit the above criteria? When I was looking into German Shepherds or Rottweillers most reputable breeders won't give you one until your kids are minimum 8 years old and my youngest is 4 now.

Any sugestions?

[Ducky]

Malis are incredibly high energy dogs, think of a bow string, pulled tight. With little kids, it could spell disaster by enthusiasm. What about a mastiff?

[deputy29]

I have a Douge de Bordeaux (Hooch dog). She has short hair and is great with kids. The down side is she drools. OK, she drools alot. It will hang down six inches and then she shakes her head and it flies. She's the third one I've had and the only one that has had a drool problem.

[lewisipso]

Doberman Pinscher. My family used to breed and raise them. Very protective of me when I was a child. The males tend to lean towards territory and the females lean towards family. We have always had females and never had a problem with them. I used to take them on walks when I was a kid. We have one now and no one wants to walk on the sidewalk in front of my house.

They are very protective. Very short hair and no noticable shedding. Loveable and the kids can lay on her like a pillow with no problems. Most love the outdoors and like to chase, be chased and retrieve a ball. Highly intelligent and train easily. They're colors are very nice from a "Traditional" color of black and tan, red or fawn, and blue. The albino dogs are pretty but stay away from them. An albino dog will be an anomaly with many health problems. They are removed from the breed line when discovered.
Draw backs are without proper training these dogs seem to think they should be allowed to sit on the furniture and sleep in the beds like you do. They become very personal in their relationships with family. It's as if they think of themselves as members of the family and not pets. They become very attached.

[Willowdared]

Malinois are like all shepherd dogs...they need a job.

The AKC web site has a breed search where you can enter traits and lifestyle factors, and it will give you a list of breeds that would be compatible.

Great Danes are very good with children.

[Pudge]

Our Shiba Inu is getting old and will probably die here in the next year or two. It's a great breed and we love it except the things shed like you wouldn't believe.

Even though we have an alarm system my wife insists on having a dog. The current dog is great for barking and warning us of people outside. My wife likes the backup.

So the new dog has to shed less.

The new dog has to be a good guard dog and protective of the wife and kids. Especially when they are outside playing in the yard and sleeping in the house when I'm gone.

I've seen our Belgian Malinois dogs on the department's K9 unit. They are beautiful dogs with short hair. Reading up on them they have good temperments and are good with children when socialized from an early age (I would get puppies.) I think I could get the kids in on obedience and play time with the dog to satisfy his high drive.

So I'm leaning towards the Mally but I'm curious about any other medium to large size dogs that fit the above criteria? When I was looking into German Shepherds or Rottweillers most reputable breeders won't give you one until your kids are minimum 8 years old and my youngest is 4 now.

Any sugestions?

I am malinois owner and overall huge fan.

Think long and hard before you get a mali. They always want to be doing something, and when boredom sets in they can be very destructive (To the point my mali who is in a kennel has ripped the chain-link down and roamed the neighborhood).

They are great dogs though. Extremely intelligent (almost too intelligent), loyal, defensive, and energetic. Their high drives can make or break them depending on the household they live in.

[Five-0]

Danes have a short life expectancy. 10 years is a good life for them. I wanted a Dane until I found that out. Went with a Boxer instead. Very smart, high energy, and not as intimidating as a Doberman. Granted my next dog will be a either another Boxer, Doberman, or Shepard. I will post pics of Caesar when I get home.

[Pudge]

Danes have a short life expectancy. 10 years is a good life for them. I wanted a Dane until I found that out. Went with a Boxer instead. Very smart, high energy, and not as intimidating as a Doberman. Granted my next dog will be a either another Boxer, Doberman, or Shepard. I will post pics of Caesar when I get home.

Congrats, you got a good one. My boxer is an idiot. (But I still love him to death)