Puppies, Puppies and More Puppies - I can't Choose!

Have you considered adopting an older dog? Then you could get a breed like a boxer or a lab after it has already burned through the "puppy crazies" and it will be a lot more calm and sedate for you. They also often come pre-housebroken, and with a little kid and other pets, not having to housetrain might be really nice! []

When you say an "indoor dog," what kind of exercise commitment can you make on a daily basis? That'll help with the breed search.

Do you have any of the 5 acres securely fenced for a dog? This can help with some of the exercise requirements although not all of them. I've also found that having more than one dog can help in that aspect too.

Where abouts are you located in Canada? The reason I ask this is because there are so many different climate ranges up here. For instance here in NW Ontario, I find that a dog does best with a good coat to deal with the elements, but a dog on the coast of BC wouldn't require that to be comfortable in winter.

No slight against shelter dogs, but BEWARE of adopting and older dog if you have young children!! i cant say this enough! older dogs, even when they used to be good with kids, sometimes lose that nanny dog nature. just like when grandparents get older and grumpier and end up scarying the kids.... older dogs can be dangerous. just keep that in mind please. i love dogs, but i love kids too and it breaks my heart a million times when i hear about one getting hurt by a dog.

Now... in another thread in Breeds someone brought up English Shepherds. That sounds more like the breed for you.
They are all purpose dogs and arent showy/high strung like the other herding breeds you listed.
But i am a huge fan of dobies. next to American Bulldogs (another breed to consider) i grew up with both breeds and loved them dearly and they loved me and my family. couldnt have asked for a better companion.
Check out bulldogbreeds.com's forum and ask around about the American Bulldog, and do some Dobie research while you're at it.
Either one of the three, English Shepherd http://www.englishshepherd.org/) Doberman, and American Bulldog, will be good with kids if you go to the right breeder and make training a priority. They're all three working dogs, but they are not usually prone to high prey drive. BUT.... With the American Bulldog, if you say go get it... expect it to be severely roughed up....
My cousin is caring for one of my dogs while i am recovering from surgery and having a baby. this dog has taken to her family like a duck to water. he is protective of them and even does a head count when we're outdoors. And this dog is only 7 months old.

I have some experience with both Boxers & Dobermans.  I would strongly recomend that you NOT consider either of these breeds for a variety of reasons.
1.  Both of these breeds are great with older children, but these dogs are quiet exhuberant & would very likely, though unintentionally, knock your child down.
2.  Both of these dogs have high prey drives.  Both my Boxer & my Dobe have killed ducks/chickens, along with other small animals such as opossums, skunks, & racoons.  If I do not call them back quickly enough, something is going to die.
3.  Both of these breeds have energy to burn.  My dobe runs 5-8 miles on the treadmill every morning.  He then goes to day care & plays for the day.  When we get home, it takes at least 50 throws of his frisbee before he is tired.  The Boxer is a little less active, but definately not a low to moderate energy dog.
 
I really don't think that either of these dogs would fit into your home, without causing you & your family a major amount of stress.  If you have any questions feel free to PM me.

Books on choosing a dog:
[linkhttp://forum.dog.com/discus/messages/48/147603.html#POST446838]http://forum.dog.com/discus/messages/48/147603.html#POST446838[/link]

Sites on picking the right dog for your family:
[link>http://forum.dog.com/discus/messages/48/159583.html#POST480331]http://forum.dog.com/discus/messages/48/159583.html#POST480331[/link][/size]

Consider a poodle. I'm biased, but they're great dogs for just about anyone. Pros: intelligent, people-oriented, no common neurotic behaviors, moderate exercise needs, non-shedding... Cons: people assume your dog is high-strung and spoiled when they hear you have a poodle. It seems like I see a lot more standard poodles these days though - I guess people are realizing how great they are.
 
I also second the recommendation to consider an older dog. You don't have to deal with housebreaking, and the dog's personality is formed so you know if it's a good fit.

Along the lines of a poodle, standard poodles are wonderful dogs.  They are highly intelligent and make wonderful family pets.  I've seen them range in size from boxer size to almost as tall as a great dane.  They don't shed like normal dogs but would require a trip to the groomer every now and then unless you learn how to groom on your own.  Did I say they are smart, they are easy to train and do well in families or in almost any home.

ORIGINAL: DumDog

No slight against shelter dogs, but BEWARE of adopting and older dog if you have young children!! i cant say this enough! older dogs, even when they used to be good with kids, sometimes lose that nanny dog nature. just like when grandparents get older and grumpier and end up scarying the kids.... older dogs can be dangerous. just keep that in mind please. i love dogs, but i love kids too and it breaks my heart a million times when i hear about one getting hurt by a dog.

Um, actually, before adopting ANY dog, you should be taking your entire family (you, your wife, kids...) to meet with this dog and a behaviorist/trainer. You should be able to safely see how this dog will be with your child. Ask them to bring in another dog and have them temperament test right in front of you. Well, certain parts of temperament testing. Have them meet you in a busier place (when we did the introduction for our dog that we adopted, we met at a dog training center so it was busy and I could see how she was with tons of distractions.)
But, in reality, your best chances of getting the dog you want is to adopt a mature, non-puppy dog. Mature dogs have already developed their personality and what you see is...well, what you're basically getting.
Too bad you want a low prey-drive dog, because an American Pit bull Terrier is probably the BEST dog with children that you could ever find.

Well heres a 3rd vote for a Standard Poodle.  I have one, Bogey.  He is very smart, adapts easily to new situations (sp?) and new people. Can be high or low energy, depending on MY mood.  People oriented, all together a great family dog.  Drawback is grooming.  I would also suggest getting a young adult then all the teething and housbreaking are done for you[].  Let us know what you decide and good luck!

We live in SW Ontario, near Windsor so it is crazy hot in the summer here.  Unfortunately my land is not fenced in, and my neighbour (only one) is about 500 ft away, he has a young white male GSD.  We just moved here about 10 months ago, eventually I would like to fence in some/all of my land.
 
Thanks, all for the great help!
 
Matt

Actually the giants are more likely to offer what you are looking for than most of the other things you have mentioned.  The giant dogs of the working group may be worth considering.  One issue you did not mention was age, these guys tend to have shorter lives.
 
I would consider a Newf, a Berner, or a bull mastiff.  Of the three, the mastiff would appear the smallest.
 
Standard poodles can be very high energy, especially early in their lives.  I would suggest you pick a breed and start contacting people on the national clubs breeder referral list looking for a "rehome".  This is an older dog, some times a finished champion or dog who has been at dog shows.  Often that means well socialized, crate trained, and with basic manners at a minimum.  Some times there are dogs that have been returned for reasons; these animals can be a good fit.
 
The other issue to remember, although breed traits are a typical indicator, the actual temperment of the dog is far more critical to evaluate than the specific breed.
 
I do not recommend herding breeds with toddlers unless you have very good skills, very good mentoring and a very easy kid to raise.

Just tossing my opinion in here. I 2nd the suggestion for a large breed dog. I think that you'll get what you want out of something like a Newf or a Bernese.

[linkhttp://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogprofile.do?id=2470]http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogprofile.do?id=2470[/link]
 
[linkhttp://dogbreedinfo.com/newfoundland.htm]http://dogbreedinfo.com/newfoundland.htm[/link]

Both are low energy, great family dogs and good with other pets. A friend growing up (I grew up in Oakland County, MI which isn't far from Windsor) had a Newf along with several acres of land. The dog never left the property and they never had to tie it up. He was the best dog ever. He swam in the pool, patrolled the property and never went after the horses and such.

Btw, "crazy hot" is a matter of opinion Newfs can handle Michigan and Windsor weather in the summer, trust me Just give them a little kiddie wading pool and they are happy.

Here's another website for you to read through. You'll find info on all different dog breeds and there's a test to find the perfect dog for you.

[linkhttp://dogbreedinfo.com/searchcategories.htm]http://dogbreedinfo.com/searchcategories.htm[/link]

Although you probably already know this, just wanted to put in a reminder that even if you get part of the yard fenced in and even if you get an older and less exciteable dog you'll still need to put in some time each day for walks/exercise for the dog.

All of the breeds that you listed have high energy levels. Have you thought about a great dane? They're pretty laid back inside, they're great with kids...not really a guard dog but their sheer size is enough to scare off anyone!!