This does not a design dilemma make but I'm involved with dog rescue so I'll bite. How will you have time for a dog with 3 young kids? Will you have time to exercise and train a dog or are you looking for a low activity pup? Is the yard fenced?

Try this quiz. It will help you narrow your choices to a few breeds.

http://www.animalplanet.com/breed-selector/dog-breeds.html

Designer breeds like any of the popular crosses (golden doodles, etc) do not breed "true" in the sense of having good established traits that reliably turn up in the majority of the puppies, just because of the genetics of things. For that reason I would be skeptical of anyone who would advise such a dog on the basis of likely temperament.

The actual best breed will really depend a lot on lifestyle as well - not just having kids involved but how much exercise the dog will get, if anyone in the family has experience with dogs, etc. The best dog in the world can develop problems if it is a high energy dog that never gets enough exercise. So it is important to match the needs of the dog to your lifestyle. (All dogs need some exercise but there is a big difference between a nice walk around the neighborhood and then a nap, and needing a three hour hike and then half an hour playing fetch, you know?)

Personally, I would recommend contacting a good rescue. There are breed specific rescues if you want a purebred, and a good rescue will work with you to place the right dog for your particular needs with you. (Even within breeds there will be personality differences from dog to dog.) And these days many rescues have really great dogs that have been surrendered for financial reasons, so it isn't like rescues only have rejects no one else wanted. Plus often a slightly older dog will have some training - I adopted my dude at 5 and he came fully housebroken and has only had one accident one time when he was sick, so I don't blame him for it. He has been my first dog of my own (after having dogs in the family as a kid) and he is about the best first dog I could have gotten.

I have a tibetan terrier. I keep her clipped because the breed is long haired and it's painful for them when they're groomed. She's fantastic because: No shedding, no begging, easy to train, unlimited patience, plays any time you're free but goes into "dog mode" when you're busy, barks once at strangers (great guard dog), small-med breed with minimum grooming needs, doesn't eat treats or steal food. She's a real people person and it's not down to me - I wish I could claim it was! - because she had 5 owners before me.

Aaaah cute !! Small dogs don't need quite so many walkies as big ones -which might be better for a family with little ones . they key is you get back from your dog what you put in - so for a loving friendly doggie - you just need to be firm but fair and shown them lots of love !

Visit your local humane society and see if your children will be allowed to play with some of these frightened and lonely dogs. Go 3 - 4 times a week. What? No time? Surely you must. Then soon, maybe within a month or 2, your dog will find you (as did ours).

I worry about a dog with 3 small children. Kids don't understand that pulling a dog's tail will hurt the animal. Wait a few years until the kids are a little older and can appreciate a dog.

If you get a poodle mix in the hope that they won't shred you will often be disappointed. If you want to make sure you get that trait get a purebred breed that does not shed. I think you need to wait a bit till the kids are a little older and then perhaps an adult dog who is already trained. 3 young kids and a puppy to train is a lot to take on.

We love our cavachon. Bishon frise and king cavalier designer dog.

I agree with saratogaswizzlestick. Getting a dog, even a grown one, is a commitment to a fair amount of responsibility. Walks, cleaning up, grooming, vet visits (and bills) and the mischief! It is a lot to take on, especially with three kids under six. When everyone in the house has the virus of the week, the dog always gets the last bit attention, if any.

About the mischief...Poodle mixes are very active. Poodles are smart and athletic, and the dogs they cross with are also bred to have stamina for hunting all day. They get bored and need lots of exercise. They need a JOB and lots of training. If not, they will find something "to do". I live by a doggie daycare and drive by it daily. EVERY day, even Sundays, the play yard is full of dogs. Most of them are these poodle mixes-goldendoodles, labradoodles, etc-whose owners must hire someone else to deal with all that energy.

Labrador. Will lead you home if you get blind (drunk. ) Great with kids.Youll never have to dig your own holes for a few years. He will lick any burglar.

I have 2 small kids and 4 dogs! The kind of dog depends on if you want to groom them a lot/ or do you want to have to walk/exercise it a lot? We just rescued a neo mastiff pup...he is pretty lazy, No shedding, no aggession with the kids and all he wants is to cuddle...he is prefect for what we needed in a 4th dog. I also have a husky who has been amazing with my kids and a miniture American eskimo who is great as well! I have a pitbull and he is great with kids but very high energy which is exhausting with small kids and sheds like crazy!

I agree from the comment above...contact a rescue and they will place the correct dog in your house.....for example....I didn't want to deal with potty training...so I still got a 10 month old puppy but he was potty trained,etc.

You will need to give it its own room

I love that chookchook2. I have a poodle, great dog but high energy for kids. I think my dog would insist on having tunnels, dog walks and jumps in his room though.

Adopting a puppy is like adopting another baby. They need a lot of time and supervision to get them to the self sufficient trustworthy stage where you don't need to supervise their every waking moment. You get there faster with canines than humans, but not if you don't have the time to put in the WORK that they need.

The best dog for a busy family is often that ADULT Heinz57 mix. They still need exercise, training, and attention,but not like a puppy does. Consider adopting a black dog from a shelter and save a life. It's a good lesson for the kids that animals shouldn't be throwaways. Black dogs and cats are the least adoped and most euthanized. Save a life and gain a friend for life.

Also consider that the best dog for your famly might just be a cat! Cats have taken over from dogs as the most popular pet in the US because they can potty indoors and don't need as much structured exercise and attention. They are perfect for those who seek companionship with less of a time commitment.

Children can absolutely understand no pulling etc. if they are trained and disciplined. I will say with a puppy nipping and jumping and eating you kids toys and food will be a constant so I would think twice. We recused two puppies when my son was 4 and I also now have a 2.5 year old. I will never do puppies again. These guys are great and now 6. Next time we will rescue a older dog. Go visit a reuse they often know the temperament of the dogs because they are in foster homes. That may help pick just the right one.

I agree fully with the "Heinz57" breed, and totally against designer breeds. Mixes are usually much healthier than a pure bred. My current dog is a lab/basset mix, or a "bassador". Got her at 10 months and used to wear her out by running her around the property on a 4 wheeler (I was on the 4 wheeler), she just wouldn't quit. Now at 8 she is laid back and relaxed. Very smart dog. Still has some separation anxiety, but since she can go to work with me, that's not a problem. It's great having her in the shop with me and the whole neighborhood likes her.

When I was a child we always had weimaraners. But, I have heard that the best dogs are mutts because they are smarter.

A mini poodle. They look company, are well tempered and just sweet dogs. Extremely patient as well!

Thanks everyone for such great and helpful comments. Chook, that pink poodle room is err, not exactly my style but I got a great laugh out of it anyway. Graylady, the cavachon is a new discovery for me. And kimedge, that Tibetan Terrier reminds me of a friend's Lhasa Apso. Sooo adorable.

Daisy says you need a rescue dog.