I have a sit on top one and my little dog sits right between my legs (in his life jacket with a handle on top of his back). What is most important when considering the kind of kayak is your center of balance. A friend visiting from out of state (who loves to kayak also) tried mine and HATED it. The only reason I could figure out was that she is alot taller than me and that might have effected her balance.
I hope you and your husband have both tried out lake kayaking before you invest. Also make sure you try out the different types of kayaks. So often people buy without trying them out first and then hate what they purchased.
Let us know what you end up deciding.
Kat