Best dog?

I think it would depend on the family and where you live and if you are keeping it inside or outside. We have a mixed lab (yes he's huge) but he's very friendly. Obviously he's an outside dog but we live in the country so that's ok and he has a large yard to play in.

I think it depends on the family. I know a lot of people like labs. I was always afraid of big dogs as a child so we always got small dogs. Terriers are a lot of fun, and the one's we have had have been great with kids.

I'm not a dog expert but I would say think about size first as a consideration. Do you want a small, medium, or larger dog and then work your way from there. Personally I'm a big proponent of going and seeing dogs and seeing what fits well. Our dog when I was younger was a border collie which was great with my sister and I, but was definitely a high-maintenance pet in terms of walking/brushing. Some breeds are definitely better or worse suited to families but it does depend a lot on your space/time constraints and the actual temperment of the dog itself.

Depends on the surroundings and the people taking care of the dog.

A cat!!

Labs are typically great with kids and have a lot of energy, they are friendly and love to cuddle too. I grew up with one chocolate lab as a kid and have one currently. I've had great experiences with both.

If you're looking for a big dog, go with a Boxer. They're almost always sweet as can be, just a bit derpy and drooly at times.