Help deciding which breed

[myermay]

We are looking to get our first family dog. Our kids are 5 and 7 and very active. We've got a good size back garden and 5 minutes from a huge park. We often go our for walks etc. This is our shortlist adn i would welcome advice please:

German shepherd, i do favour this breed as grew up with one.

Boxer - are they crazy and hard to train?

Beagle - are they also crazy?

Shitzu, so gorgeous and i have a friend with 2 of them, but they are so lazy,

I work very part time hours, and if i go back more it will only be school hours. I want a dog who will be obient & fairly easy to train, which i realise is all to do with the owners, but i know some dogs are easier to train than other. Can anyone help me decide please. TIA

My thoughts/experinces on some of your list:

GSD - as you know, require mental stimulation and obedience training, but fab.

Boxer - major health issues

Beagle - cute but yappy

Any reason you're not considering labs?!

I'd go for the GSD personally.

Best of luck

thanks for that. Just not drawn to them really, however whenever i see one of the above i'd stop to stroke/talk to the owner.

Nearly choked when i saw that gsd cost in the region of 750!!! would you consider a rescue puppy depending on circumstances?

Beagle - I understand that they do occasionally get wanderlust - which can be a problem.

Boxers - can get breathing/nose problems due to in breeding.

Shitzu - they don't seem to be in the same league as the other breeds!

I've known some lovely alsatians - but they can be quite large - and do have large mouths and teeth which, until they learn better, could cause quite a few painful nips as a puppy...

We've got a lovely mongrel - we think that she's got some alstaian in her, a little bit of greyhound, some lab or retriever - and quite a bit of non specific stuff...

When, eventually, we have to get another dog, I think we might see if we can find a smallish lurcher as that would be great for playing and running - but also happy to sit still and crash for periods.

I have a beautiful greyhound.
Active briefly while out the lazy the rest of the day!

Don't really know anything about other dogs.

Not sure how easy it would be to find a rescue GSD pup

We too have a rescue GSD X lab whom we got as an adult from Battersea - she is pure gold.

Why not a Heinz ? They are often a lot healthier, prone to less inbred problems and you'll be helping out the Rescue centres and giving an unfortunate dog a lovely new home.

I'd steer clear of Beagles. A friend has one and it's a nightmare because it disappears whilst out on a walk. His natural hunting instinct takes over and 'Whoosh' he's gone.

Sod em all and get a rottie

Train it to herd the kids