Thanks so much for that link, Rick! Their website needs some serious redesign, but the photos are great, and it is wonderful to know that Gentle Giants Rescue exists. I have newfound respect for Burt Ward.
To reiterate what others have said: Short hair does not equal allergy-friendly.
I also immediately thought Standard Poodle or Portuguese Water Dog. A poodle can be kept in a “puppy cut,” which is basically just one-length all over. That way he won’t be too hot in the Florida heat, and he also won’t look like a goober.
A Greyhound is also a fabulous idea. I have the most wonderful greyhound as an upstairs neighbor. His name is Slim. I swear that dog must be eleven feet tall! He’s just an absolute sweetheart, and very calm too.
Jonathan Chance: I have a question for you: Slim has a hell of a time coming down the stairs. His owner told me that that’s because there were no stairs in his environment when he was a racing dog, so he never learned, and that this is a pretty common issue. He was rescued less than a year ago, and he’s getting much better, but…wow.
As far as the mixed vs. purebred issue: I’m absolutely a pound puppy aficionado, but I can understand that in a case where certain particular issues (like allergies) must be taken into account, a purebred might be a a more reliable choice.
I’ll fourth or fifth boxers. All the ones that I’ve known have had been great with kids. I’m not sure how they’d handle Florida’s weather but they don’t seem to have a problem with Oklahoma summers.
Standard disclaimer about anecdotal data.
My buddy has a bull mastiff/american bulldog mix, and it’s one of the best dogs I’ve ever met. Smart, obeys very well, and a big goofball that loves to have fun. So yeah, I’ll go with the mastiff. Or a doberman–I had dobermans when I was a kid, and they were the sweetest dogs. And my mom let me go anywhere I wanted, so long as I walked the dogs. Not many people are going to mess with a six year old strapped to two dobermans.
Every greyhound I’ve met has been big, strong, and sweet. If you have the energy to keep up with them, they’ll be the best pet you’ve ever owned.
Two and a half is right, though. Boxers do shed worse than many other breeds–I’d forgotten about that. Something poodle-y would be better in that regard. And, of course, mixed breeds are awesome and if you get an adult, you can see for yourself how much it sheds.
Yes, they often have trouble with stairs when they first come off the track (and sliding glass doors!) due to never having seen them before. But if he’s still having trouble after a year there’s something else going on there. Greyhounds are fairly smart dogs and can figure things out if demonstrated a time or two. All of the greyhounds I’ve rescued have got steps down pat after a time or two.
Any other questions? I’m glad to answer.
Great Danes.
I have one, she’s about a year old, minimal shedding. About #120 or so, big, but skinny, she’s still growing. 5 kids, she does fine. Good disposition, easily trainable.
Greyhounds are a good option, too.
My sister and brother-in-law rescued a greyhound. They have two small boys, 4 and 1-1/2 (actually, the younger one wasn’t around when they got Spike. He adjusted well to the new little critter in the house), and the dog is very good with them. He, too, had trouble with stairs at first, but seems to have learned all about them. He’s a little shy around new people, but not in any kind of aggressive or unpleasant way; he just tends to retreat to a comfortable place in the house.
He needs exercise, but it’s not an all day sort of thing. Spike seems to thrive on one or two brief periods of running, then he’s a complete couch potato all day. They have a yard that’s just big enough for him to build up a good head of steam for five or ten minutes. Without that, they would need to run with him, but again, not for long.
If I had small children and was looking for a dog, I would give very serious thought to a greyhound. The ones I’ve met have all seemed to be very even-tempered, well-behaved animals.
I think your brother’s kids should also have a strong idea of what they can and can’t do with a dog, whatever the size or breed. I grew up with four toy poodles, and my parents made it really clear how we should treat the dogs – don’t tease them, don’t pull on their tails, don’t mess with them when they’re eating. They were the best dogs ever and I’d get one again in a heartbeat. I couldn’t be more thankful that I grew up with dogs.
Good luck with the dog search. We’re about to go on one of our own and basically hang out on Petfinder.
A breed doesn’t necessarily have to be big to endure roughhousing. I have a Standard Schnauzer and four little brothers. 
Bea is about knee-high, but she’s small for a female; the breed standard for males is about 18-20 inches. They’re not big, but they’re rough and tough. Other smaller but “durable” breeds in my circle of friends include Portuguese Water Dogs, German Pinschers, Standard and Miniature Poodles, Finnish Lapphunds, and an inordinate amount of mixed-breed shelter dogs.
That being said, a dog shouldn’t necessarily have to endure any excessive amount of roughhousing, whatever the breed. Of course, when there are kids in the house, they will play with the dog, and most dogs I’ve met seem to enjoy hanging out with children (except for the psychotic Chihuahua-Miniature Poodle mix my parents’ neighbor owns, but that beast won’t tolerate anyone, be it kids, adults, squirrels, small shiny rocks or the poor guy who delivers the newspaper in the morning), but children should be taught that not everything goes with a dog.
Speaking as an owner of two mini poodles, I would not suggest them as punching bags for children. They are much less tolerant of children than any other dogs I’ve met, but they’re great pets for people who just want a dog to lay at their feet while they read the paper. It’s definitely a breed for grownups.
I’m sure Burt is doing wonderful things, but that webpage just made me want to howl in pain. There must be a big dog lover/Burt Ward fan out there with some web design skills that wouldn’t mind seeing that monstrosity overhauled for a small fee.
Big dogs are great, but Boston Terriers have to take the prize for most family-friendly and fun in the small dog category. Though short-haired, shedding is a minor issue, however.
I was thinking the same thing. Wow! What a horrible web site.
How about a Neopolitan Mastiff?
The drool might be a problem, though 
A neighbor of mine, when I first moved out to Nevada, had a RR. He was the best dog ever. He was so calm around kids, but still a big ham and playful, 100 lb lap dog. They moved away, I miss that dog and he wasn’t even mine. Next to a boxer, I would consider getting a RR.
We had a boxer for a while, and while he was indeed a very sweet dog with a great disposition, he was also very destructive. He chewed up anything he could reach, and wasn’t dissuaded by that “sour green apple” stuff they say stops chewing. He would dig holes under the fence in the back yard big enough for our other dog, a pug, to escape. And, he thought he was a puppy, even as he zoomed past 70 pounds, so he’d leap around crashing into stuff, wanting to jump on your lap.
We just didn’t have the time to spend with him to break his bad habits, so we gave him to a retired K-9 officer. He’s very happy and well-behaved now.
Pugs are sweet, but they shed a ton. I second the Great Dane recommendation; they’re extremely patient with children, even as they pull on their ears and try to ride them. The downside, as mentioned above, is the relatively short life span that most large breeds have.
I certainly wasn’t suggesting poodles as punching bags; I wasn’t suggesting any dogs as punching bags. However, all the miniature poodles I’ve met (4 so far) have lived in homes with children and have seemed perfectly happy and content. Of course, this may vary between different individual dogs, and I certainly wouldn’t recommend a small dog into a home with children without proper training, both of the dog and children.
If you ask anyone about greyhounds they’ve owned, the first thing they’ll tell you is how sweet and well-behaved they are. My mom has rescued several from racing, and they are lovely animals.
Brainy, I second the Catahoula. Warning, big files: this is The Blue Dog. Although he’s only 65 pounds he’s a firecracker. Loves to fetch, talk and speak, herds horses. Make sure you crate and scruff him until he knows you’re top dog or he’ll run riot. (And if I may impose, the Monks of New Skete have a clean, logical approach to dog stuff in “The Art of Raising a Puppy.”)
Since he comes from Louisiana swamp dog he loves water and he really digs the ocean. Hates showers, though. He’d love to live in Florida.