My Dog Drank My Choc Milk!

greymouser7 said
What kind of dog was Kramer? A good people dog? good for just one master? tolerant of strangers? any protective traits?

I want to get a dog that will protect my wife while deployed but won't try to attack every stranger- i want a happy, obedient big dog that loves the family and is tolerant of friends coming over. The wife got bit in the face as a child and is leery of me getting a dog; i put up with her cat for so long that she will let me get one once, so i can't screw it up.

i had a german shepard (as a kid)that looked out for the family but she wanted to attack strangers all the time-with some horrible success. i am thinking a female puppy with a kitten as a pal (maybe on the kitten theory)

i have a fairly large back yard.

Look into Black Lab's.
Very protective, loves kids.
Extremly smart dogs. You can teach them anything.
The one we have is so attached to my wife, it is almost like he is her shadow.
We keep ours in the house, he does not shed much, and is trained to hold "his business" for over 9-10 hrs while we are at work.

When the grand kids come over all he does is watch over them and make sure nothing happens.
He knows the difference in how to play with 3-4 yr old kids vs the 16 month old one that have just started walking real good.

If somebody rings the front door bell his is right at it barking, teeth showing, and hair raised up on his back.
After he realizes it is somebody knows the tail starts wagging, and he wants petted.