I've never paid for a dog
Slo_ride...Like you, I have never paid for a dog.
I always got dogs from a friend's pups or from a friend of the family. I am from a small town, so everyone pretty much knew everyone.
Growing up, we always had 'yard dogs'. These dogs doubled as hunting dogs.
Usually Labs and Retrievers were our 'yard dogs'. Sometimes Catahoula Curs (note that I actually grew up in CATAHOULA PARISH LOUISIANA) are the best all-around hunting dogs.
A good Catahoula Leopard Cur is hard to beat as a 'family/hunting dog'.
I always loved having larger dogs. Mainly for hunting and tracking....as well as the security. But if you raise a dog right, it will be calm and playful w/ children.
Hell, I have pics I can post of 8yr old Labs w/ 4yr old kids playing w/ them. The kids are rolling all over the dogs while they pretend to sleep...then they just play w/ the kids tenderly.
Its all in how you raise an animal...and the child.
(you have to watch out w/ the Curs though, 8-10yrs+, they tend to loose their hearing w/ age...you don't want a child 'sneeking up on them')
But, I have to say...if I had my pick for a dog in my current living arrangement (apartment w/ small back yard).
I would have to take a Jack Russel. Mainly because I want to get myself a squirrel dog.