What kind of doggie do you have & why is it the best?

[joel]

Well after visiting the wonderful Mr. Ellis yet again this weekend, and my wife and I engaging in yet another failed attempt to steal his amazing little mutts we've come to terms with a tough decision... we need a dog.

Now, mind you - this is not going to be a rash move, I'm quite meticulous when it comes to taking on new commitments, so a copious amount of research, planning, etc will go into this. Likely it will be at LEAST several months before we'd actually have a wagging tail... at the earliest.

So back on point - we have just one problem, we're dog lovers. Frankly, any good natured dog puts a smile on our faces, from a little pug - up to a massive Great Dane. I tend to like smaller dogs though - as they're more couch/furniture friendly - however my wife loves big dogs, and her family has always had monster dogs.... we'll likely end up getting two anyways, so i'm sure we'll end up with one cow sized sasquatch and one 15-40 pounder.

RE: the environment, we've got a good sized (7,000+ sq ft) back yard and we intend to be reasonably active with the dog - IE: usually a brisk walk a day. RE: adoption - we're just as open to adopting a dog as we are to purchasing a purebred, it'll likely come down to the individual doggie.

So here's where you gents come in.... plead your case. What kind of pooch do you share your life with and what makes their breed so great, at least for you? Note: pics should be a must

 

[strat1117]

May I introduce Lola, the giant poodle dog. She is a "royal" standard poodle, which is an unofficial designation for the larger standard poodles (Lola is almost 70 lbs -- that's big for a poodle). The intelligence and temperament of a well-bred standard poodle is, IMHO, unmatched by any other breed. Why else do you think that every new "designer dog" is a mix of something with a poodle? (e.g., ****-a-poo, Golden Doodle, Labradoodle, etc., etc.) Also, make no mistake, these are far from frou-frou dogs. Poodles were originally bred as gun dogs, and they are extremely agile and athletic. You don't have to give them that crazy haircut if you don't want to. A standard poodle will never turn on you and, as a bonus, they don't shed.

IMHO -- the perfect dog.

If you are interested, I would certainly be happy to answer any specific questions and I would also be happy to introduce to our breeder in Minnesota. (I don't think it would be appropriate to post the link to her website here, but I'll PM it to you if you want it. We did our entire transaction over the internet and by telephone, and Lola was flown from Minneapolis/St. Paul to JFK.)

Good luck in your search. I hope this is helpful.

Enjoy!

BTW, my comments apply only to standard poodles, not their smaller siblings.

 

[stobes21]

We have a lab and recently got a golden retriever puppy. Both breeds are about as happy as they come, generally equally willing to work with you and crash out, and are very friendly and outgoing with both people and other dogs. Labs tend to be a bit more independent than goldens, and of course the lab coat is a lot easier to deal with. On the other hand, goldens are a bit easier to train, and (I think) prettier. Both are well known and popular as family dogs for a reason: the temperament, activity needs, and trainability are very good for a family looking for a great companion.

Our Lab:

Our Golden:

 

[richmondesi]

Great question Joel.

My dad told me once, after being around my deceased boxer, Rocky, that the only people that don't buy boxers are people that never had one before. They are my favorite breed, and it ain't even close! FWIW, he's got two of them now.

They fit your situation well too. They are love to be active, and they're extremely athletic. The best thing about them though is that they are GREAT companions. I've never been around dogs that had as much personality, and they are very consistent in their personality from my experience. They also make great house dogs too (shed much less than my Pug). Mine liked sitting with me on the couch and riding in my UTV on my parents ranch. Kids may not be an issue, but they are excellent with kids. Mine would tolerate virtually anything from rough kids. Never any problems.

Quick story: I had a 120 American Bulldog that got mean when he got older. He was with me before I was married and long before the kids came. One day, when my daughter was 3, he started to chase her in the yard (they were far apart, and I my wife got to her way before anything could have happened, but it was scary to say the least). Rocky, all 75 pounds of him, stopped Zeus cold and dang near killed him. They were constant companions before (and after), but I'll never forget the way he protected my girl.

I bought a Pug thinking that I'd try to get a smaller house dog recently. I quite possibly will never own another dog that isn't a Boxer.

I don't have any pictures of Tank (my current boxer), but he looks like this one standing. I don't crop their ears (looks ridiculous IMO)

 

[ouch]

I think the giant breeds of dogs don't live that long, and losing such a friend can be brutal.

I have a loving and stupid cocker spaniel. We love him to death, but cleaning their ears is a major pain in the butt.

When I come home in the middle of the night, I look at him and say "Burglar!" He lies there like Duke from the Beverly Hillbillies.

 

[mretzloff]

Get a mutt. Pure breds are expensive and don't live as long or are as healthy as mutts are. Get one from a shelter. That way you get the pet you want and you help one that would otherwise have a crappy life.

I have two dogs from a shelter. They're lab mixes.

 

[stobes21]

Get a mutt. Pure breds are expensive and don't live as long or are as healthy as mutts are....

Mutts are great, and for many families an excellent choice. But there isn't any truth to the "healthier" thing.

 

[krissy]

I agree on getting a mutt that is a free give away or one from a shelter. There are many great dogs that need a good home.

This is Clover, aka fluffy butt or Ewok look alike. But he's a wonderful puppy that is fun to have around. We have 4 dogs..... yikes !!! But I can't imagine life without them either. All are small lap dogs. (or will be when they grow up)

 

[kwk285]

Mutts are best. I am convinced that all the good attributes carry over and the bad get moved out.

We have had many poound dogs over the years and they have all been great.

 

[gaseousclay]

this is our wonderful dog, Gus. he's a chocolate lab mix and was rescued from the humane society in south dakota when he was a pup. I had no hand in raising him (it was the gf's ex-boyfriend) but all things considered he's incredibly well trained. he's never gone to the bathroom in the house, he farts, he burps, he shakes, he hugs, he loves beer and most importantly, he loves people. he's fairly passive and has never acted aggressively towards other dogs or people. he's incredibly smart for an 11 yo mutt. I taught him how to snatch a dog biscuit from his nose on the first try. labs are known to be pretty high strung animals and aren't for those looking for a mellow canine companion, but they're great fun and obedient. well, most of them are obedient....ours tends to ignore us in his old age. I hope Gus lives another 5 yrs at least. he'll be a great dog to have around once the missus and I start a family.

 

[Bertilak]

I can add a vote for the standard poodle from my limited experience with a neighbor's dog when I was a teenager. I babysat for the family and the dog was wonderful. Smart, friendly, great with kids.

I can also vouch for Rottweilers. I had one and she was the sweetest, happiest, smartest, fun-loving dog I ever had. Absolutely no problem with the kids, nor the cats. They are calm, cool, and collected dogs.

It might help to know that they are the Dog Whisperer's favorite breed.

The only drawback -- they have a woolly undercoat that sheds something fierce.

Unfortunately none of my pictures are digital, so here are a few from the web that characterize her well ...

 

[gaseousclay]

great looking dogs. I love boxers and think they get a pretty bad rap in the dog community. our former neighbor had a boxer and he was the friendliest dog in the world. when I'd greet him he'd lick my entire face and leave a nice glaze.

 

[JimBow]

These are our two dogs. The Grey one is Holly our Siberian Husky, and the white one is Midas our Alaskan Malamute. They are both very friendly dogs. They love to play, and also love to have someone just sit and pet on them for as long as possible. My wife received Holly as a Christmas present from her uncle. He had found her wandering around his backyard. She has not temper problems, nor any health issues. Now, Midas, we found at an animal shelter. Someone had given him up for reasons that are way beyond me. We adopted him, and he's been grateful and loving ever since. They are pretty furry dogs, so if hair is a big problem for you, then I don't suggest these two breeds. Although, for me and my wife, it's not a huge deal at all. Nothing a vacuum can't fix. Both get along well with each other, and very well with other dogs. Midas loves to play with anyone who will give him a chance, and Holly will just let you pet and adore her. Both are amazing dogs who were given up or just not missed by their previous owners. Which worked out for us, because we take very good care of them and they love us for it. Oh, and one other thing. Malamutes and Huskies have this common trait which is pretty cool. They talk. They rarely ever actually bark, or even howl. But they both will talk to us, and carry conversations with us. It's very cool.

 

[BillEllis]

Don't think I didn't double-check to see if we had 8 furry paws in our house after they left. For the record, if you guys see these two dogs over at Joel's, they were stolen!

 

[erudolph]

I could go on....

 

[Brad31]

I've had 2 boxers, an english bulldog, and shih tzu growing up. The boxers were AWESOME. Gentle, playful, smart, well behaved after the first 2 years(before then they did typical dog stuff......knock over garbage, chew shoes, etc. So as long as you put stuff away it wasn't too bad). They got along great with other dogs.

The shih tzu was laid back. He didnt really want a lot of attention. Never played with any toys. Never got into trouble.

English bulldog was amazing. So sweet and gentle. She had such a personality. All she wanted to do was lay by you and get petted. Got along good with other dogs.

From my experience with these 3 breeds, if you want a dog get a shih tzu, if you LOVE dogs get a boxer or a english bulldog. They both shed so they require slightly more bathing and brushing than a shih tzu. They like walks, they like to play, they like to meet new people and new things.

 

[arcman]

For the smaller breed dogs I favor Corgies, they're active and intelligent so you need to give them a bit of activity, but as long as you can keep up with 'em they're great dogs.

 

[RayH]

I'll put in a vote for the poodle. Even the small ones. My late mother had one for years that was devoted to her. It was toy. After it passed away, she said that she missed it every day.
Currently have a toy fox terrier that belonged to my mother. Not the one I would have chosen myself. Very intelligent. Likes to play. But will bark at anything that comes by the house.
I suppose if I get another dog it will be from the pound or the humane society. Give one a second chance.

 

[Bablitz]

My best buddy

 

[Chuckaluck]

Boxers of course! They have been called" the clown of the dog fraternity, canines answer to vaudville." Want a 70 pound lap dog? The Boxer is just that. But I am biased, I have had Boxers since 1984. I would not even think of another breed.