Palmetto Proving Grounds

Franklin, I got one of those in college and ended up giving it to my grandparents bc i couldn't take care of it back then. I think it's a bloodhound mix.. but she is definitely the best dog ever.. If you go a random saturday to the SPCA there's no way in hell you can leave with out a dog

Labradors are great dogs, however they shed incredibly. . . I recommend a laboradoodle. Its a cross breed between a poodle and a lab. However, the laboradoodle does not shed, is extremely intelligent, and extremely complacent. I have had both and anything with "Lab-" will turn out to be a great dog.

Please consider getting a rescue or shelter dog. A great new family member and save a life.

I have a 3 year old Beagle and a 1 year old Golden. Both are inside dogs and I would definitely recommend both breeds. My Beagle is the most loving dog I have ever been around.

Newfoundland. I have one my parents have 2. They are truly gentle giants extremely sweet and loving but they can be a bit messy sometimes with the drool. I've had retrievers labs and English bull terriers and I will never own another kind of dog other than a Newf.

If you're after big though there are plenty more good breeds but they may start to get expensive depending on what you want.

Friend of mine has a rott, I guess he has serious hip problems. Common with bigger dogs.

I would recomend a mutt if there is not a specific breed you want. They are cheaper, have less health problems, and like another poster said you are likely saving his life since the pound puts down dogs if no one picks them up. Everyone wants the pure breeds.

Imo, a small dog in the house is best, especially w/ kids. We had a Lhasa Apso/bichon Friese for 21 years, and he was a fabulous pet. No shedding, and was house trained right away. My girls got him from the pound. My wife loved him like a child. I've had labs before, and theyr'e great, but our little 12 lb dog was the best ever.

My daughter has 2 Golden Retrievers now, and the kids only have contact with them through the fence, for the most part. Her husband insisted they get Golden Retievers because that's what his family always had.

I would say that if you are worried about dog smell in the house then you aren't a dog person and should not get one. Also if you aren't going to spend a lot of time with the dog training,socializing, exercising it then please don't get a German Shepherd. These dogs will give as much as they get and deserve a lot. They do shed.

Things to consider:
How much time will the dog spend alone ? Do you work or are you retired ?
Where will the dog sleep in the Winter,Summer. Mine sleeps by my bed.
Do you have fenced in property ?
If no fenced in property ,what will you do with the dog when you are working ?
What will you do with the dog when you go on vacation ?
I feed top quality food for my German Shepherd (1/2 raw meat 1/2 Royal Canine at about $3.30 per day. He also gets Heart worm preventive and flea and tick preventive once a month. This isn't cheap. I also brush his teeth once a week and trim his nails as needed.
I do all the training myself and my dogs are always well behaved. What good is a protective dog if you can't trust him around your friends and keep him in a kennel.
Never ever chain your dog to a tree,
Sorry for the long response but I am passionate about dog ownership and feel that most people don't deserve one. Drive around your area and see the dogs that are chained to a tree their entire lives and you will see what I mean.

Bigger the dog, probably more smell but I dont notice and with a 15# Affenpinscher I doubt there is much smell.

Highly, highly sugggest Shelty for loyalty and intelligence...they do shed but over 40 years weve almost always had one or more

same with the one Boxer.....man o man I Ioved the Boxer. Small problem with a big dog though is they tend to unintentionally harm stuff around them just due to size

I think but dont know that Bichons are excellent too

i'm a bullmastiff guy. I had one for 12 years and he passed a couple years ago. That dog was unreal loyal. I found the BEST bullmastiffs on the face of the earth and they're bred by a guy in nc.

One of his dogs (ozzy-i've attached a picture of him) is having a litter around new years and i get to pick one march 1. My family and I are unvbelievably jacked and i suggest you rule out bullmastiffs because they are loyal, tough and they will go to war for you and his family.