I've been a professional Service Dog Trainer for many years ( too many.) I've trained all kinds of animals and most breeds of dogs. I owned two chihuahuas and they can be VERY snippy with children. The rule of thumb in my opinion is the smaller the dog, the more they feel vulnerable and the more often they take a pre-emptive strike at things that scare them. Sort of to prove they're not afraid when they are. Schnauzers and miniature schnauzers (my cousin owns them and adores them) are also prone to be snappy with children, other dogs and strangers. Both Chihuahuas and Schnauzers would alarm bark and my CHi's chased large dogs off of my property more times than I can count.
I train mostly Golden retrievers for Service Work. My dog, Journey, does 100 tasks including laundry. They are working dogs and tend to want to work, so your husband is right about that. While they do love people, you can place different behaviors on cue. For instance: Journey will bark if I close my fist, growl if I show her an open hand and then will knock a man down and hold him there until I release her, but only on command. She does NOT do it with aggression and I'm a 100% humane trainer, so she thinks it's part of a game (although the volunteers only play it once for some reason.) The dog does NOT have to intend aggression in order to scare someone.
When I work her in malls, for example, teenagers often flick her ears, stomp on her tail, etc. When I ask the dog to bark, then growl, all from a seated position, the kids go "cool dog" and usually will get into a discussion about what Service Dogs are, etc. etc. A robber who sees the dog is showing aggression "on command" will not mess with you because after the growl they'll be wondering what comes next (kill maybe?) and pick someone else.
My experience with any dog is that it will, when it feels its territory, people or self is threatened will click over into defensive/survival drives. It's hard wired into them, but some dogs have been bred to where that threshold is higher than others. Pit bulls for example are extremely territorial and will (generally) attack and chase off (or on occassion, kill) dogs that come ont he property. My Golden will make friends with you, but she did kill a ground hog.
Border collies are pretty good with kids but they are bred to run 26 miles a day herding sheep and will bug you to death to go work. They don't just lie by your chair and they don't normally bite. A sheepdog that bites instead of nudging along with its nose was usually euthanized or culled from the breeding stock because they bit the stock. They wanted dogs that protected and herded, but didn't kill. The same with Shetland Sheepdogs.
I had thought perhaps a very stable Shetland Sheepdog (look like Miniature Lassies
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/shetlandsheepdog.htm ) might be good for you as they alarm bark, chase away intruders, and with proper selection are good with children (I raised them for 10 years) but they do need to be brushed. Nobody messed with me when I had them either.
German Shepherds can be good depending on which line you get them from. They get a lot of hip displaysia and can be extremely hyper and bark all the time. The good stock are stable, but expensive.
Guard training, done humanely does not affect the dog's stability around kids. It's only pain training that makes dogs unstable. Skinner, Pavlov, Thorndike's et al's studies prove this out in the laboratories....long story, but can give you case studies if you want them. pain training even for basic obedience makes dogs less stable around children, people and other animals. So please make sure you go to a positive reinforcement trainer.
Big dogs can be controlled with Gentle leaders which are just like horse halters and do not cause them pain. The theory is the same as with the horse; wherever the head goes, the body follows and if the dog pulls ahead, you can turn them in a circle. My disabled clients, often people with strokes, quadraplegia etc. have used them sucessfully.
As for breed of dog, the dog I think most suitable would be an autrailians shepherd, but it does have a medium coat. It's wonderful with kids, courageous and protective.
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/australianshepherd.htm You could get a Smooth Collie, which is Lassie with short hair which almost no care
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/collie.htm . Here are some links to different breeds you might consider. Good luck and I hope I helped a little bit. Karen
CarolinaBound said:
Dh and I are deciding on a dog. I am thinking chihuuhua or little schnauzer. Dh is thinking lab, golden retriever, something that isn't what he calls a "dust mop".
He says I need protection.
But I've heard that the bigger dogs really aren't that hyper and won't bark unless someone is in the house. Also, that unless they are trained to be guard dogs, they really aren't a hindrance. But if they have the guarddog training, then they aren't really good to have around little kids (We have a few visit us, live around us etc.)
That anyone intent on getting into your house, isn't going to be stopped by a big dog anyway. They'll either just shoot the dog or bash them with whatever they used to get in the house in the first place.
However, the smaller dogs tend to bark more than the larger breeds and serve as a early warning system although not a protection.
He says plenty of people would think twice with a lab barking at them.
I say, who's going to walk it? I don't think I can control a dog that big.
He says a chihuahua and the little breeds are not good with little kids.
Any thoughts or comments? Taking into consideration I don't want anything with fur that need to be combed or brushed or bought to the pet place to be shaved or trimmed. That's why I said no to a golden retriever. Too much hair for living in the south.
Thanks!
CarolinaBound!
rather than the Bigger models ejected from a 15o pound monster . Something smallish that doesn't take a Forklift to retrieve....fordy... 
