medium puppy to suit?

Question
Hi,
My partner and i are looking for a puppy to buy. I love the little shi-tzu by he wants a bigger dog. This has left us going for a medium size dog, only i dont know which dog is best suited to us? We are looking to have children in about 2 to 3 years so this also is a major concideration. We are both very active people, and would walk the dog often along with regular trips to the beach. Short hair is prefered. Can you help us please.....

Answer
A beagle would be a great choice it maxes out at around 13-15 inches at teh shoulder the females are shorter...always in any breed, they are great with children/other dogs and can be ok with other pets if brought up with them, they are short coated and very loving must be an indoor dog, the american cocker spaniel is a nice meduim/small dog as well but has long wavy hair that needs to be cut every so offen, A golden retreiver or labrador retreiver(my personal favorite for a large dog) are awsome with kids/other pets and strangers genrally making poor gaurd dogs but they are loving with mostly everyone and everything, the labrador retreiver is between 21-24 inches at teh shoulder and 65-85 pounds thou some males can reach 100+, the golden retreiver is 22-24 at the shoulder with wavy mid lenth hair it ranges from 50-80 pounds thou most are 55-65. You might also want to think if you want a dog that sheds or doesnt shed much? Shituzs can be snappy with children weve noticed as are chihuahuas/yorkies and toy breeds ingenral thou the pug is a very loving small breed that snort/snores but like the Boston terreir is very very loving. A Boston terreir is such a great little family dog I have one Hannah is 8 months old and is wonderful with my two and one tyear old neices and doesnt bark, is freidnyl to strangers and will give you a sloppy kiss everytime she gets the chance the only down side of teh boston is like the pug they can have breathing problems my Hannah had to have stenic nare surgery at ten weeks of age the breeder I got her from was a backyard breederer I should haeve payed the extra for a papered boston but after I'd had her for two weeks she wasnt gonig anywhere, having said that if you go to a ckc or akc registered breeder you shouldnt havea  problem with this...the boston terrier likes other pets but they are dog aggressive meaning they may groiwl or snap/attack strange dogs on walks/other dogs in teh home will likely be snapped or growled at over toys from time to time...but the boston terrier isnt dog agressive. They range from 12-25 pounds depending...mine is 12 pounds and fully grown. Shiba inus are meduim dogs the orange color looks like a litlte fox I am not sure if there good with children thou, www.dogbreedinfo.org    go into the links at the very top of the page there a wonderful site for breed information and pictures.