I would want a Tibetan Mastiff. Their BIG, loyal, and despite being a large breed they live for a decent number of years, 10-15. compared to others at 8-10.
By the way, the most intra-bree diversity are in the English Springer Spaniels. I knew one who was the lowest-key dog ever. Knowing the owner, he was almost certainly the “working” line. Apparently the “show” line is all kinds of more aggressive, maybe ironic considering they aren’t made for hunting.
I know that they can be, but longer snouted dogs don’t have the health problems. I know a pug that just died, basically blind, and could not eat without supervision for fear of choking. She was a five-figure vet bill, by owner’s choice obviously. Can’t dysplasia be somewhat screened for? Personally, I’m not interested in the respiratory lotto.
Aye. They are the #1 smartest dog. And probably in the top 3 at least for energy.
A dobie. And a min-pin. I had a min-pin years ago. He was sweet and fairly smart, but I never could get him fully house-trained.
Good call. Image grabbed from a post at this blog, which I find to be usually hilarious.
Just know what you’re doing. Which is good advice before adopting any dog, really.
English Springer Spaniel. To me, there is no other dog breed. Absolutely love them.
http://www.countrysidekicks.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/english-springer-spaniel2.jpg
I almost passed out laughing at the Border Collie picture.
And a dachshund. And a German Pinscher. And a Manchester terrier. And a Rottweiler. Make them all black and tan (rust) (except the last two don’t have a choice). Line 'em up in order of height, that’d be a sight! Maybe mini versions of the ones that have them too.
Well, me. But Old Yeller was in “real” life (i.e. in the book), not a mutt but a southern landrace breed called Blackmouth Cur. They look a lot like yellow Labradors but they are nothing like them otherwise. They are bred to bay up wild cattle (find them, roust them out, gather them in a group and hold them there, baying to let the cowboys know where to find them), hunt feral hogs, and guard the homestead. No tougher more loyal dog.
Mutts are great.
Rat Terrier. I just like them.
Another dachshund.
I think about this all the time…
I adore my Malinois. He is the most fun, the most willing, the most enthusiastic about everything dog I have owned. Anything I ask him to do - protection sports, obedience, agility, dock diving, mushing - he tries so hard and just does it for me. He is also a colossal pain in the butt, non-stop, energizer bunny on crack kind of dog who is finally starting to mellow at ten years old. I am torn between wanting another like him and wanting a normal dog for a change.
I have always liked herders… I think my next might be an Australian Cattle Dog, if I can find a good one from working lines. Medium size, tough, and smart.
Oh yeah i agree, this is just a “what if in a perfect world” Im actually waiting for a buddy of mine for his english bulldog to have her puppies, he said I can have first pick before he starts selling.
Well, I think you can probably find a horror story for every breed. All I can say is that my two are pretty damn healthy, with the exception of one of them got a very rare disease a few years ago that has nothing to do with the breed at all (it can affect any breed/dog). We had a rough couple months but she came through it with no lasting effects. They’re getting up in years - 10 and 11 - and, with the exception of that one issue, haven’t cost us any more than standard dog care. My vet told me he thinks pugs are generally pretty hearty, and does not consider them a breed to avoid.
No clue on the other smoosh-faced doggies, just the pugs. No blindness, no breathing issues, no problems eating.
Biteth thy tongue, lowly human.
And then kneel before the majesty that is the Kuvasz!
I didn’t refer to my big white fuzzy as The Queen fer nuthin. She ruled.
We had a beagle when I was growing up, and he was a great dog. And the wife likes beagles. So it would probably be a beagle.
We had a dachsund for a while too when I was little, but it was a nervous little thing. Quick to bite at the slightest surprise. We got him grown from some people, and he may have been abused. We finally had to hand him off after a year or two. But I like dachsunds in general, and that would be a second choice.
I’m not a fan of the dog-breeding industry, so I’d most likely wind up with a nice mutt from the animal shelter. But if I could, say, choose to find a breed in the pound, it would be a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.
Boston Terriers. Always.
Unless things are radically different in the US dog show world, I would completely disagree here. As I mentioned earlier, my parents were very small scale English Coloured Bull Terrier breeders and showed again to a minor degree. Once had best Bull Terrier pup at Crufts (sadly she was killed in a road accident before we could breed from her).
But I did learn that one of the **key **attributes looked for in selecting a breeding bitch, and indeed a female pub, was temperament. To say otherwise is simply wrong.
My own experience is that temperament is something individual breeders may select for, but the only thing a show dog absolutely needs is the ability to look happy while trotting up and down a small arena on a leash, and the ability to stare at a piece of liver while frozen in place. Over-sensitive or easily-depressed dogs wash out, but unless the dog is psychotic or vicious, generally it can be manipulated into the correct behavior.
There is no reward or prize or incentive for good temperament in the show dog world, therefore breeding for it is entirely discretionary. While it’s true that a brood bitch who is hard to handle might be more trouble than she’s worth, I believe it is more true that your parents were simply more long-sighted and better people than their peers.
double post