Best Dog Breeds For Your Family

Insight On Traits Of The Most Popular Breeds

(CBS)  If you're thinking about getting a dog, you should bear in mind that some breeds will be better for you than others.

The Early Show's resident veterinarian, Dr. Debbye Turner, offers insight on some of the nation's most popular breeds, to help you determine which might be best for your lifestyle, personality, home and family.

Labrador Retrievers

Labs are a member of the sporting group. They are naturally athletic, high-energy, and intelligent. They are genetically engineered to retrieve: birds, tennis balls, a stick, you name it.

They require a significant amount of attention. If they are left alone or unattended for extended periods of time, they will most likely develop objectionable, even destructive, behavior, such as incessant barking, digging, and chewing. Labs, like all dogs, are very social. They want to be a part of the family. So leaving a Lab outside all the time is not a good idea. They want to be inside with you.

Labs love to romp, play and roll. You will find that they actively seek out smelly stuff to roll around in.

Although their coat is relatively short, they shed quite a bit. Labs are not for "neat freaks" who don't want a messy, smelly dog. They are also not the best choice for an inactive, frail, or older person who can't provide the necessary activity for a Lab. A Labrador will want to sleep in the bed with you. So this might not be the animal for you, if you wish to keep some distance between you and the dog.

Labs are best suited for a person or family who has plenty of time to spend with them. The owner or owners should be active and willing to provide the dog with plenty of time and space to run and exercise.

Labs can be good family dogs, but might not be the best choice for a family with very young children. Labs' exuberance may cause unintentional harm to a small child. Labs tend not to understand their own strength, and 2-year-olds tend not to enjoy being bowled over by a big dog.

German Shepherds

German Shepherds are herding dogs (as their name implies). Their historic role was that of watchdog and guard dog. They are strong, alert, very intelligent, fearless, and loyal. German Shepherds are great for companionship, for a role as a working dog (guide dog or law enforcement, for instance), or guardian. These are fairly large dogs that require adequate space and exercise.

This is not the best dog for someone with a shy, hesitant personality. This is not the dog for a home that has limited space or no enclosed yard.

These dogs are great for the person with an active lifestyle. They are great running companions.

They are loyal, protective family dogs that are patient with the pokes and prods of small children, provided the dog is properly trained. Of course, no small child should ever be left unattended with the family pet.

Because German Shepherds have such a strong, resolute personality, you should have an equally assertive approach.

Border Collies

Border Collies are in the herding group of dogs. They have an intense, natural instinct to herd, lead, and control almost anything: sheep, flocks of birds, small children, you name it. Border Collies have an almost endless supply of energy. They demand "work" to do. Because of the characteristics selected over years of breeding, they can be quite independent, which is not always a good thing. And they are master problem-solvers.

This is not a good breed choice for a family with small children. Most assuredly, the Border Collie will try to "herd" the child or children. This can be disconcerting to the child. As a natural part of a Border Collie's behavior, the dog may nip at your child's heels or rump. Most kids will interpret this as an attack, which wouldn't be good.

Border Collies are for the person who wants to dedicate a lot of their time to his or her dog. The Border Collie owner must be able to provide an extended amount of time outdoors, exercising.

Because Border Collies are so smart, the owner needs to be smart, too. These dogs are great for the intellectual person who enjoys solving problems.

This may be a dog for a small family or single person. They tend to bond with a particular person to the exclusion of everyone else.