We are moving, to our very own house (allowed to have a dog). When we are stteled and I am baack from course, we want to get a puppy.
I am the dog person in the family (although my five year old loves them) and am considering a couple of different breeds. My husband learns to love them, but is not naturally a “dog guy”.
Here are my specs -
[ul]
[li]I want a dog that is able to run and train with me - even on trails [/li][li]I work during the day, so it can’t be too hyper-energy - I will be living close to work though, so I can come home during the day (lunch) and spend time with the “new baby”[/li][li] As a female running alone, I would prefer a dog that helps me feel safe[/li][li]I want a dog that will cuddle me on the couch after running and be licky and lovey [/li][li]The dog will be crate trained and obedience trained [/li][li]I am thinking about something that can do agility or flyball - keeps us active [/li][li]I prefer big dogs, but would not be adverse to a smaller breed - as long as it’s not yappy[/li][li] It gets cold here, so it can’t be a super-wuss about the cold, but it also gets freaking hot in the summer[/li]
[li] MOST IMPORTANT - Must be good with kids, cats and other dogs [/li][/ul]
I am considering a Weimeraner, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Border Collie and Dobie (I think the pup will need a coat) - any suggestion is welcome
Look up Hungarian Vizslas. Those things live to run and they’ve got a reputation for cuddling. They’ll need coats in winter though.
I’d also recommend American Pit Bull Terriers, which meet your criteria on all but three points: they’re not big (35-65 pound males), they aren’t very useful for protection (too people-friendly) and they’re total wimps about cold or wet weather.
I love dobies - I have two right now. They aren’t wimps about cold, although not an outdoor dog. They love to be loved, love to make you happy, obviously great security dogs (protective but not aggressive).
Another breed to think about is the standard poodle. Great intelligence, highly trainable, good coat, good for security. Maybe not the intimidation factor of a dobe, but believe me, no one would want to mess with one in protective mode. I have one of those, too.
I do a lot of walking in Fairview Park, which is the premier destination for joggers in Decatur. And my observation is that any dog that’s big enough to be able to keep up with you jogging is going to be big enough to intimidate potential muggers; don’t worry too much about obtaining a specific breed on that account. Even a Heinz 57 mutt, if it’s running steadily right alongside you, is going to send out a big “Do not mess with us” vibe. One of the scariest dogs I see out there is a 35 lb bull terrier mix. She got the mean eye on her, yanno?
Similarly, any puppy that’s properly socialized and welcomed into the pack will grow up to be licky and lovey, and will happily play flyball with the best of 'em, too.
The very first dogs I thought of were the German Shorthaired Pointer and German Wirehaired Pointers, or really any of the sporting breeds. They’re generally very amiable, trainable dogs that play well with everyone, and are bred for physical capability and endurance–good running buddies. Weims are nice dogs. I am personally averse to border collies unless you have a serious job for it to do–they are very bright and very, very active. Tollers are very nice dogs, too. Dobies can be great dogs but also can be very insecure or what they call sharp/shy, be careful about breeders. Guardian breeds are my favorite dogs overall, but do your homework!
You might want to consider a Rhodesian Ridgeback. Some breeder’s lines may be too lazy for you, though. A friend of my sister’s got one to run with them and the dog ended up being too lazy. They tend to be very inactive indoors and very active outdoors. Originally bred to hunt lions in Africa. Many, but not all, are aloof with strangers. My girl is about as far from “aloof with strangers” as possible. Very rambunctious as puppies, they tend to start settling down at about 18 months. They’re very independent and have a mind of their own. They do very well in the heat.
Make sure you get a puppy that has had its hips x-rayed. Our dog is wonderful, but unfortunately, can’t go for a run due to hip dysplasia. He’s a mutt, but we suspect lab and Shepard, both notorious breeds for bad hips - which is unfortunately all to common in larger breeds.
I don’t think you can tell anything about hip dysplasia until at least 9 months. If you’re getting a puppy, best thing to do is to buy from a breeder that screens hips and elbows. OFA won’t even certify until age 2 IIRC; PennHip certifies earlier.
Golden Retrievers are Og’s perfect dogs and meet all your requirements.
I like mutts, though, and I think their ‘unpredictable’ rap is exaggerated. Just hang out with the mutt in question for an hour or so and play with her. If you adopt from your local shelter, they usually give you a room to get to know the dog and let you take as long as you like. Spend a little time and you should get a pretty good idea what the dog’s temperament’s like. All my best-est dogs have been grateful mutts.
What about a retired greyhound? I’ve often wanted to adopt one of those.
We adopted a Rottweiler/pit/??? from our local pound, and she’s wonderful to walk with, play with, snuggle with, and definitely a deterrent to any mugger. We had a woman attacked at knifepoint here at Rock Springs Environmental Center, about half a mile from our house, where my kids hike, and our rule is, you take the 50-lb. lovable mutt with you, because she turns into snarling, fang-baring Cujo when she thinks someone’s threatening you.
I would prefer a puppy for a few reasons (although I may look at a slightly older dog).
I would have the chance to train the dod as I want to - with no bad habits
My daughter would see the dog grow up, and would be more comfortable, big dogs can be intimidating when you are small.
His hip is so far out of joint that it really doesn’t cause him pain - believe it or not. And he’s pretty darn happy. But he can’t really run without risking fairly severe knee injury - walks are limited to about half a mile at a time. And he doesn’t get to eat much cause extra body weight won’t help. We are a family of couch potatoes, so he fits in well, but Poysyn probably wouldn’t be getting what he was looking for from a dog like ours. As he’s a rescue puppy of unknown origin, parental screening really wasn’t in the cards for him.
We had a Border Collie puppy that had to be put down at nine months due to such bad hip problems - it broke my heart to put the sweet little guy down, but all the vet could promise was two years of surgery and terrible pain - with no guarantee it would even help (the condition was so bad one side was completely missing any ball or socket, just bone on bone grinding).
I honestly never got over it, so the hip thing about larger dogs does worry me - I would be so vigilant.
I will admit this one dog has me thinking though - Kiko 1
Kiko is a spunky young lady with a wonderful personality. She arrived in rescue shortly after she was owner surrendered to the pound when her size exceeded her owners expectations. Typical of her breed, she is only about 45lbs. Kiko is 9 months old and she is a wiggly, playful pup. She has recently been spayed and has only just arrived in her foster home, so we will update her description soon with more information. Kiko gets along famously with every dog she has met so far, and having a more submissive personality she would fit easily into a multi-pet home. She did not bother with the cats during her stay at the pound, and she has a soft nature but she is not fostered in a home with cats. We do not have a ton of information on this young lady yet - except that she has a very sweet nature. She came from a home with small children and would be fine with kids, but we do recommend anyone with small children research herding breeds before considering one. These dogs have a tendency to try and round up anything that moves quickly - including toddlers! Kiko has been quite laid back so far in her foster home, but we will update her description further after she has had a couple more days in foster care. (Indoor Home Only!) *
She’s nine months - that’s still a puppy, right?
I have to stop looking - I need to wait until after I am back from course, but she seems like a darn sweet dog
They tend to be very inactive indoors and very active outdoors. Originally bred to hunt lions in Africa. Many, but not all, are aloof with strangers. My girl is about as far from “aloof with strangers” as possible. Very rambunctious as puppies, they tend to start settling down at about 18 months. They’re very independent and have a mind of their own. They do very well in the heat.
