Recent generalizations of the Camassa-Holm equation are studied from the point of view of existence of global solutions, criteria for wave breaking phenomena and integrability. We provide conditions, based on lower bounds for the first spatial derivative of local solutions, for global well-posedness in Sobolev spaces for the family under consideration. Moreover, we prove that wave breaking phenomena occurs under certain mild hypothesis. Based on the machinery developed by Dubrovin [Commun. Math. Phys. 267, 117-139 (2006)] regarding bi-Hamiltonian deformations, we introduce the notion of quasi-integrability and prove that there exists a unique bi-Hamiltonian structure for the equation only when it is reduced to the Dullin-Gotwald-Holm equation. Our results suggest that a recent shallow water model incorporating Coriollis effects is integrable only in specific situations. Finally, to finish the scheme of geometric integrability of the family of equations initiated in a previous work, we prove that the Dullin-Gotwald-Holm equation describes pseudo-spherical surfaces.