The stats
-Chicago weather
-Large yard
-Wife is house wife but generally goes out a few hours each day.
-Fetch and long walks daily
-Once or twice a week to woods or doggy beach for major frolicking!
-One three-year-old Boy
-One 14 year old 50lb mutt that like to sleep andgets along with other
dogs
-occasional weekends in country with DOG
-50lb high end size for dog
-short hair preferred

I have kinda narrowed it down to the Mountain View cur which is the
toned down version of the mountain cur

I think the dog fits the bill but the breed is new and i dont know if
the bloodlines are too close (trying not to say inbreeding)

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/mountainviewcur.htm

Does the MVC seem ok? Other dog suggestions?

My first thought was a Golden retreiver, but I think they get over 50 LBS.

Our Beagle is great with my son, loves to play, but not great with fetch.

Maybe a Portugese water dog. They love water and are smart and behaved enough
that they make good therapy dogs - I would think they would love a little boy
and the little boy would love it.

-sunny