Quote:
Originally Posted by Radar Chief
This.
Though I’d add female, males can be bull headed.
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I think just the opposite.
Females can be stubborn and independant. Males are just your standard, happy, oafish dogs, especially if they're fixed. If you breed a male it has a tendancy to get a little stubborn, but otherwise I think they're much easier to work with.
Full disclosure, I've got 3 males passed out on the floor at present. But I've had ample experience with females and I've found them to be far less compliant than males.
If you don't want to go with the more standard route, go with a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. They're going to get bigger than most labs and don't have near the energy that labs have (i.e. not as playful) but they're just as laid back and will also become protective of children.
If you go with a shelter dog, don't get a puppy. I always advocate shelters and rescue dogs, but not for people with small children w/ little dog experience. You just don't know how a shelter puppy will turn out as it matures. When younger they may not show terrier or something, but as they get older that terrier nature will come out and you'll end up with a bad kid dog. If you're getting a shelter dog, get one that's no younger than 18 mos old, IMO.