I want a dog....

I suggest and recommend Japanese Spitz Dog, they are very loyal,friendly,playful,loving,caring & sweet,, also good for guard dog, they will risk everything just to defend the house or the owner,, trust me,,, search it on google for more information and me is the evidence because i have a japanese spitz dog

Greyhounds make amazing family pets.

adopt a younger dog and skip the puppy stage. It's BS that you need to get a dog as a baby for it to bond with the family. We have a German Shepherd, he is the most patient loyal protective dog. The kids can do whatever to him, he alerts me when the baby cries (she's 8 weeks old) and he keeps up with the boys when we go hiking/camping. He's getting older and every day I wish we had not got him neutered because I would love so much to be able to let him have pups now, keep his lines going.

Adopt! There are tons of dogs who need homes.
Loyal to the end, friendly and the best friend anyone could have.

Adopt! Skip the puppy stage if you are concerned about housetraining, chewing, etc... that is part of a puppy that you have to accept.

QFT

Adopted my dog from the shelter when he was 1 and a half years old. He was still a puppy (he's a large-breed male and they don't stop growing until about 3 years), but he was house-trained and past the chewing stage.

I recommend fostering from a local shelter first. It will give you the opportunity to see if your family is suited for a dog and if you can be responsible pet owners (cleaning the yard, walking, feeding, playing, etc). Often times the shelter has already housebroken animals so that part isn't so difficult. The only downfall of fostering is getting attached and having to let go but if you get especially attached to one, you adopt it!

The best way to keep a dog from chewing / eating stuff they shouldn't is to make sure they are getting enough play time and providing appropriate toys for them to chew on and play with. Go to your local pet store and check out the wide selection. In addition, I recommend an obedience class. Teaching them that you are the "alpha" of the pack is very important.

Good luck! BTW - pit bulls are amazing dogs and there is a high need for fostering / adoption with this breed due to their unwarranted bad reputation. Make sure the shelter knows you have kids and what ages they are so they can match you with one that is kid friendly.

Visit a shelter and rescue your next best friend. Will be amazing for both of you!

Research the breed that will fit your lifestyle and family. So many people get dogs because they look cute but get upset when the dogs do things they are naturally bred for.. i.e. shed, bark, dig, run away etc.... Then they give the dog away to shelter because it is not what they expect. Not fair to the dog.

What kind? Will I have enough time? Will I have enough space? How long until its housbroken? Will I crate train? Will my kids pull its tail? Will it eat my couch, running shoes, iPod, computer cord, extension cord, woodwork, rug? When it eats said items how much will it cost to have them remove from its stomach? Will it learn to run with me on a leash? Will it bark too much (too little)?

lol okay i have the worlds most pushy puppy, he is now a over a year and still very pushy. his name is alpha, he is a pit bull, lab mix, i got him at barely 4 weeks old. and i love my little man, now 75 pounds and still growing. he ate everything! my brand new $4000 couch set, totally ruined. countless pairs of shoes.
at the time i got him me and my older brother were living together, and he had his pit bull, that totally loved having a pup around, we had a huge house and deck but no yard, they didnt really mind though. he never took up much room, for a big dog, he was well behaved but more stubborn then me, and thats saying something lol. he is very very smart, at 4 months he taught himself how to open doors to let himself in and out, but refused to be potty trained, until he got neutered at 6 months. i didnt crate train because my bros dog got to run free in the house and alpha flipped if he couldnt play with deebo. he ate countless cords, chargers, clothes, towels, shoes, shoes, and did i mention shoes? he loves to eat wood, and eats his stairs to the back yard daily. i never had to have anything removed from his stomach he just processed it on his own, even as a young buck. he very seldom barks ever even as a puppy he was rather quit, deebo taught him to guard the house, although if you gave him a milkbone he would let you take whatever you wanted. he would rather be free to run, but he is fine on a leash or runner, although now he shares a yard with his new sister. he sleeps on his bed, or with mama if daddy isnt home.
he destroyed so many things but i wouldnt give him up for anything, dogs are your best friend, and furry child

I believe Welsh Corgis are very good with kids, and they're very protective of their families. They don't really drool or make huge messes, and they're fairly small.

Don't get me wrong, I love big dogs, and if you can adopt that's even better. It's funny that this topic showed up because my husband and I are debating on whether or not this is a good time to get a dog, and that's the one I'll be getting

Will it eat my couch, running shoes, iPod, computer cord, extension cord, woodwork, rug?

Yes.

But you will love it anyway.