Quote Originally Posted by StarandBratsmom View Post
My boyfriend and I are moving pretty soon, to a place where we can have dogs. Currently we have cats because my landlord doesn't mind cats. We think adding a dog to our family would be great.

We both want a BIG dog, but we both do not know what will be a better breed to have. We both like the Bull Mastiffs, but they are large and very slobbery dogs. I kind of want a fluffy dog, leave it to a girl to want cute and fluffy. We also both want one that is smart, easy to train, and does great with kids. We plan on marrying and having kids too.

What do you think?
Well, here's what you're asking for:

A big dog will eat a lot, poop a lot, drink a lot, take a lot of space. A big dog probably eats a $30-40 bag of good quality kibble every month. Can you afford that for the rest of the dog's life?
A fluffy dog requires regular grooming - either from you or a groomer. Groomers aren't cheap.
A "smart"/highly trainable dog is a dog who NEEDS constant mental stimulation. A "smart" dog is a dog who needs a job. He will NOT be content to sit on the couch for 8 hours while you're away at work. In fact, the "smart" dog will find ways to occupy himself (and it's usually something destructive, like ripping apart your laminate floorings ).
A "smart" dog often needs adequate physical exercise. This doesn't mean 15 minute strolls around the block. This usually means a hard jog/hike/run/play at park, etc.
Being good with kids is completely an individual characteristic. You just can't generalize and say one breed is better with kids than another. It's an individual thing.

So my suggestion is: search your shelters. An adult dog from a shelter is a dog stable in size, coat, exercise requirements, and compatibility with other dogs/kids. Whenever you get a puppy, you're in for a bit of a crapshoot, so I suggest adopting an older adult.