# Best and Worst dogs. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 19, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-dogs/529664 "2010-02-19T19:04:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![YoudNeverGuess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a587f6/32.png) [@YoudNeverGuess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YoudNeverGuess)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-dogs/529664/21 "2010-02-19T21:48:17Z")
Border Collie - very intelligent and friendly. Nice middle-sized dogs. Not too big but not small enough to be yappy and paranoidly aggressive. Or any mix of dog with a large proportion of collie. They really are extremely intelligent. Golden retrievers are also nice. In general I think mutts are better than pure breeds though. I’m also a fan of German Shepherds but some people are (unjustified IMO) overly nervous of them. Old English Sheepdogs are cute but big and require a lot of grooming. Worst dogs:Pitbull Terriers or similar, bulldogs or boxers and small jack russells and terriers can be quite yappy and vicious. Basically try to choose a dog that will be confident but not over-confident, friendly (i.e. doesn’t mind being handled), not neurotic or nervy and preferably intelligent and cute and you’ll have a fine family pet. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-dogs/529664/22 "2010-02-19T21:49:27Z")
[Paws To Consider](http://www.amazon.com/Paws-Consider-Choosing-Right-Family/dp/0446521515) is another excellent book. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-dogs/529664/23 "2010-02-19T21:52:04Z")
YoudNeverGuess, Dinsdale, and everyone else, I thank you so much for your posts. Please keep in mind that I am not personally looking for a dog. I just wanted to get to the bottom of a question that bugs me often on this board…the question of whether some dogs are actually better family dogs than others, all things being equal. Or worse, for that matter. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-dogs/529664/24 "2010-02-19T22:00:36Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > While I have an undying love for mutts, mixes, and crosses, and I am totally committed to recommending shelter dogs, rescues, and re-homed animals in generally, it’s worth noting that there are many breed-specific rescues where you _can_, if you are hung up on breed, get a purebred rehomed animal of the highest quality without supporting backyard breeders, puppy mills, or in fact any kind of breeding-for-money operation. The reason you can get a good-quality dog is because humans (as a whole) are such poor quality – while some badly-behaved animals are dumped, millions of great animals are dumped too, and the overwhelmed rescue folks can only rehome so many, and might as well choose the best candidates. So it’s generally a myth that rescued or rehomed animals are problem animals. > . Yep. Purebred dogs that are dumped off or abandoned still need as much love as mutts. And mutts need as much love as purebreds. Meaning: a LOT! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![happiness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e36b37/32.png) [@happiness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happiness)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-dogs/529664/25 "2010-02-19T22:00:45Z")
I have both a Golden and a Border Collie mutt of some kind (vet thinks he may be mixed with Australian Shephard). Although both of my dogs are well-trained, they still have their problems. Like **ZipperJJ** , my Golden can get a bit manic at times, but with frequent walks and a big backyard, she has begun to calm down some. The biggest problem with the Collie mix is that he is a herding dog. He has never left suburbia, and yet still tries to herd everything in sight. This is fine 99% of the time, but with small children, there is a chance that the dog may nip while exhibiting herding behavior. But again, all dogs are different, even ones from the same litter. You can predict behaviors based on a breed, but you can’t expect them to be 100%. That said, labs and goldens are the most likely to be good family dogs, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-dogs/529664/26 "2010-02-19T22:12:02Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Sounds like a variation of [this National Lampoon cover.](http://www.funnyphotos.net.au/images/national-lampoon-if-you-dont-buy-this-magazine-we-1.jpg) 😃 This link is blocked from work. I had to go on my phone, look up this thread, and click the link to see the picture. Totally worth it. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-dogs/529664/27 "2010-02-19T22:56:12Z")
I would recommend an adult dog, if they’ve never had a dog before. For breeds, I’d say an adult golden would be fine, if they understand the coat care. Standard poodles and dobermans are my favorite breeds, and both should be fine for families with kids. Dobermans are protective, but not aggressive and have minimal coat care. I would assume the dog will be kept indoors, right? The greyhound rescue people take a lot of care to evaluate their dogs and placing them in the right homes. Lots of purebred dogs get sent to shelters and rescues, so if they chose a purebred breed, they can likely find one. Breeds I wouldn’t get - chows or dalmations. StG (Present owner of a doberman, standard poodle, alaskan malamute, english setter and giant schnauzer mix) ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-dogs/529664/28 "2010-02-19T23:22:03Z")
I don’t know that I’d ever want another breed than my miniature schnauzer. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2010, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-dogs/529664/29 "2010-02-20T00:27:33Z")
> [@YoudNeverGuess](#): > > Worst dogs:Pitbull Terriers or similar, bulldogs or boxers and small jack russells and terriers can be quite yappy and vicious. > > Basically try to choose a dog that will be confident but not over-confident, friendly (i.e. doesn’t mind being handled), not neurotic or nervy and preferably intelligent and cute and you’ll have a fine family pet. Boxers and bulldogs make most lists of [best](http://dog-breeds.suite101.com/article.cfm/best_dog_breeds_for_chilren) breeds for children, actually due to their calmness. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2010, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-dogs/529664/30 "2010-02-20T00:30:09Z")
This thread is revealing another issue – people who fall in love with a particular dog often fall in love with that dog’s breed (or mix), and say they want only dogs of that breed from now on. I am somewhat subject to the feeling myself. I advance the suggestion that this phenomenon makes choosing a breed that matches your physical activity level even _more_ important, since you may find yourself always draw to similar dogs for the rest of your life. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2010, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-dogs/529664/31 "2010-02-20T00:32:18Z")
Get a Great Pyrenees and name him Mr. Tadakichi! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2010, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-dogs/529664/32 "2010-02-20T00:36:53Z")
> [@YoudNeverGuess](#): > > Worst dogs:Pitbull Terriers or similar, bulldogs or boxers and small jack russells and terriers can be quite yappy and vicious. > [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Boxers and bulldogs make most lists of [best](http://dog-breeds.suite101.com/article.cfm/best_dog_breeds_for_chilren) breeds for children, actually due to their calmness. Pit bulls too, actually, which your citation alludes to (American Staffordshire Terriers). Although I sometimes mention the [Jack Russell Terrier that killed a child](http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/13906247.html), I don’t really want to contribute to breed prejudice against any breed. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2010, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-dogs/529664/33 "2010-02-20T00:52:37Z")
[The Good, The Bad and the Furry.](http://www.amazon.com/Good-Bad-Furry-Choosing-Thats/dp/1594740216/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266627023&sr=8-1) Dog training is exactly like child training and vice versa. You get out of it (kids or dogs) what you put into it. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2010, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-dogs/529664/34 "2010-02-20T00:54:40Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Pit bulls too, actually To clarify: I am pointing out that, historically, pit bulls were so regarded. In today’s world of trashy backyard breeders and an overheated media climate, I would not recommend pit bulls for an inexperienced and not fully committed family (which, in effect, includes anyone who would ask as opposed to already knowing what breed they want). ---
**Author:** ![kathmandu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kathmandu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kathmandu)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2010, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-dogs/529664/35 "2010-02-20T01:59:10Z")
Could we have just one dog thread that doesn’t degenerate into a debate about pit bulls? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2010, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-dogs/529664/36 "2010-02-20T02:08:15Z")
> [@kathmandu](#): > > Could we have just one dog thread that doesn’t degenerate into a debate about pit bulls? [Alice Cooper]Welcome To My Nightmare[/Alice Cooper]. ---
**Author:** ![kathmandu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kathmandu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kathmandu)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2010, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-dogs/529664/37 "2010-02-20T02:16:22Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > [Alice Cooper]Welcome To My Nightmare[/Alice Cooper]. 🙂 Anyways, I watched the Westminster Kennel Club dog show the other night, and man, are there a lot of different kinds of purebreds out there. It makes me wonder why some breeds are so much more popular than others - it seems that I tend to see only around 20-30 different breeds out and about at my local dog park. I though the Affenpinscher was awfully cute, and from the announcer’s description might be a fun little dog, but I’ve never seen one other than on a dog show on TV. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-dogs/529664/38 "2010-02-20T17:20:11Z")
I had a collie/shepard mix growing up and I loved his tempermant. The shephard made this fur short enough so we didn’t have the collie fur problem and the even temper of a collie made the shepard in him calm down. He was smart, and big enough for me to fight with as a kid. I remember growing up, I’d toss a rag in the yard and we’d spend hours wrestling over the rag. I do agree any old mutt that is big enough for the kids to wrestle around with is the best dog. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2010, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-dogs/529664/39 "2010-02-21T03:29:09Z")
> [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > I would never recommend that someone get a purebred dog. 3 to 4 million cats and dogs are euthanized every year in shelters in the U.S. For anyone who is looking for a dog, I would tell to go to the local pound, Humane Society or rescue group. Then spend time with the animal and make sure you are getting one will a calm, even temperament. > > The odder the mix of dog, the better. If you can find a lab / poodle / basset hound / corgi mix with a bit of greyhound, it will probably be the best dog in the world. I’ve heard the large majority of dogs in animal shelters (esp city shelters) are pitbull type dogs or pitbull mixes. Is this true? ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2010, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-dogs/529664/40 "2010-02-21T14:58:19Z")
> [@astro](#): > > I’ve heard the large majority of dogs in animal shelters (esp city shelters) are pitbull type dogs or pitbull mixes. Is this true? In my area, yes. On average, 75% or more. This is a breed/type that many love, but they are NOT right for everyone, and unfortunately bred by everyone and their brother… often as fighting dogs. So many end up being dumped in shelters. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-dogs/529664.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-dogs/529664.md?page=3)