# I'm going to be getting a dog soon… **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 29, 2013, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-be-getting-a-dog-soon/669936 "2013-09-29T17:47:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-be-getting-a-dog-soon/669936/21 "2013-10-01T03:01:53Z")
This is way off your list, and it was off our lists when we started thinking about adopting a rescue dog, but have you considered a grayhound? They have already been trained to perfection, they don’t chase unless they are given permission and are very sweet and playful. Our lil sweetiepie is the easiest dog I’ve ever handled, very smart and very eager to please. When we let her off leash, she runs like the wind but always comes back when she is called. She will fetch for hours, while she really REALLY wanted to chase the our cats, she knew better. So, being the smart people we are, we taught her that cats aren’t squeek toys and now use her to fetch the idiot declawed, half toothless housecat when he squeeks out the door. She came with a very gentle mouth. I don’t think that she knows how to bite. She rarely barks, but we always know when someone is coming to the house because she gets so excited about meeting a new friend that she gets in our faces and runs to the windows and doors. So, maybe think about it. And, thank you for considering a rescue dog. I hope you find the perfect once for your situation. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-be-getting-a-dog-soon/669936/22 "2013-10-01T03:57:35Z")
The only drawback I can see to a greyhound is that they’re not really set up for New England winters, and would need protection from cold weather, otherwise I would consider them ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-be-getting-a-dog-soon/669936/23 "2013-10-01T04:15:57Z")
You might also consider an Aussie or an English Shepherd. They were both bred for farm life. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2013, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-be-getting-a-dog-soon/669936/24 "2013-10-01T17:50:28Z")
The [American Bulldog](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Bulldog) was bred to be a utility farm dog. But they are not dense-coated for cold or wet weather. ---
**Author:** ![Glazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e57/32.png) [@Glazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glazer)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-be-getting-a-dog-soon/669936/25 "2013-10-01T19:10:59Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > The [American Bulldog](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Bulldog) was bred to be a utility farm dog. But they are not dense-coated for cold or wet weather. This +1 [My dog Chuck.](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8310/8046013628_7a8c4a59bd_b.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-be-getting-a-dog-soon/669936/26 "2013-10-01T22:05:50Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > You might also consider an Aussie or an English Shepherd. They were both bred for farm life. And if that thought intrigues you, there is an English Shepherd “Gathering” (they don’t do dog shows, just picnics) in your part of the country in a few days: [english shepherd gathering](http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeoy641/foxhilles/id28.html) ES are the old time farm collie of the eastern half of North America. My grandparents had one on their Wisconsin dairy farm. They are pretty much ideal for your situation, so I encourage you to look into it. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-be-getting-a-dog-soon/669936/27 "2013-10-02T02:21:17Z")
Two of the absolute best dogs I’ve ever had that would fit your requirements were GSD mixes: Shep was THE dog of my childhood, and was half collie (standard, Lassie-type collie.) He was a wonderful companion, very smart, protective, and good with kids and smaller animals. Scooby was half lab, and just a big lovemonkey, but protective of his pack, without being agressive. Another breed you might consider, depending upon what’s available: great Pyrenees are generally quite smart, bred for herding so they typically get along with small animals, and are excellent guard dogs. Our late Sebastian was a wanderer, but smart enough to be property trained. We have Pandora now, who’s a Pyr/St. Bernard mix, and very dumb, but she doesn’t wander, (and I sincerely believe she’s brain damaged, perhaps due to a birth injury.) Most Pyrs are scary-smart, and pretty independent, and surprisingly low-maintenance, assuming you train them to know their territory. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-be-getting-a-dog-soon/669936/28 "2013-10-02T14:20:41Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#): > > Two of the absolute best dogs I’ve ever had that would fit your requirements were GSD mixes: Shep was THE dog of my childhood, and was half collie (standard, Lassie-type collie.) He was a wonderful companion, very smart, protective, and good with kids and smaller animals. Scooby was half lab, and just a big lovemonkey, but protective of his pack, without being agressive. Another breed you might consider, depending upon what’s available: great Pyrenees are generally quite smart, bred for herding so they typically get along with small animals, and are excellent guard dogs. Our late Sebastian was a wanderer, but smart enough to be property trained. We have Pandora now, who’s a Pyr/St. Bernard mix, and very dumb, but she doesn’t wander, (and I sincerely believe she’s brain damaged, perhaps due to a birth injury.) Most Pyrs are scary-smart, and pretty independent, and surprisingly low-maintenance, assuming you train them to know their territory. Just a note: Pyrs are not herding dogs, they are Livestock Guardian Dogs (commonly known as LGDs). They, along with many similar breeds such as Anatolian Shepherds, Kuvaszok, Komondorok, etc. are bred to live with a flock of sheep or goats and protect them. They identify with the flock, not, like a Border Collie, with the shepherd. All these breeds are large, territorial, usually white, independent, with low prey drive. They drive away predators by barking, not usually by attacking (so they have a tendency to bark). The use of LGDs, introduced in the 1970’s into North America, has become very common in flock management especially with sheep, as predators are a huge economic problem here (unlike in New Zealand & Australia which now dominate the sheep industry – partly for that very reason). These breeds run on a continuum from most to least people-friendly/aggressive.Pyrs are the most people-friendly of the lot, and are often used in cross-breeding to bring in that quality. They don’t wander as far as some of the others, either. But they are not the devoted companions that a shepherd-type dog tends to be, they are not bred for that. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-be-getting-a-dog-soon/669936/29 "2013-10-02T16:17:38Z")
German Shepherds are low maintenance generally but need something to do. Siberian Huskies are not for the faint-hearted. You have to be busy and outdoorsy (not a couch potato type) and you have to be the Alpha Male all the time. Both breeds need consistent, firm training and they will run roughshod over you if you let them. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-be-getting-a-dog-soon/669936/30 "2013-10-02T16:36:18Z")
> [@Glazer](#): > > This +1 [My dog Chuck.](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8310/8046013628_7a8c4a59bd_b.jpg) Daaaawwww, who’s a good boy? Who looks just like my big girl, [Harriet](http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn91/Dogzilla_02/MoarSushi.jpg)? :: virtual booty scritches for Chuck :: ---
**Author:** ![Glazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e57/32.png) [@Glazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glazer)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-be-getting-a-dog-soon/669936/31 "2013-10-02T16:59:25Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > Daaaawwww, who’s a good boy? Who looks just like my big girl, [Harriet](http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn91/Dogzilla_02/MoarSushi.jpg)? > > :: virtual booty scritches for Chuck :: She’s a real cutey. But she looks like she needs some chin scritches. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-be-getting-a-dog-soon/669936/32 "2013-10-02T17:58:52Z")
> [@Glazer](#): > > She’s a real cutey. But she looks like she needs some chin scritches. She does. So horribly neglected. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-be-getting-a-dog-soon/669936/33 "2013-10-02T19:48:48Z")
**Ulfreida** is correct, and I misspoke. Pyrenees aren’t herding dogs. But they’re excellent guard dogs, and their barks are definitely a deterrent to any except the most foolhardy intruders! My Pyrs, and the ones I’ve been around,aren’t immediately friendly towards new people, but they don’t tend to be aggressive - just wary. And if you are part of their pack, beware: a 140-pound lapdog can be a little awkward! ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-be-getting-a-dog-soon/669936/34 "2013-10-02T21:38:48Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > … > snip… breeds I’m considering, in no particular order, are; > Border Collie > German Shepherd > Siberian Husky > Alaskan Malamute > Labrador Retriever > Or a mixed breed with one or more of the above bloodlines > > My prime consideration, must be good with cats, must be intelligent and trainable, and must be mellow and easygoing, personality-wise, no high strung yapper, but also must be a good watchdog > > I know, tall order…? I vote for Border Collie, the herding breeds are just SOOOO much fun and super-smart, especially vocabulary wise. You don’t want a husky. Malemutes…same thing, both are one-track mind BULL-headed **hard to train** dogs, and the Malemutes especially shed like nobody’s business. I mean HUGE clumps of hair, anywhere they live will look like a cotton mill exploded. 😃 And cats aren’t usually too safe around huskies. I’ve had more than a few friends, when I still lived in Alaska, whose cats were ripped apart by a husky. However, take my advice with a grain of salt, I’m sure there will be malemute and husky owners in to dispute that with tales of the best dog ever, which is of course entirely probable. Any dog has the potential to be the best dog ever. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-be-getting-a-dog-soon/669936/35 "2013-10-02T21:46:39Z")
Missed the edit window…(edit) whoops, as others have mentioned, the draw back of “scary smart dog” is potentially neurotic. I have an Aussie, and they need a LOT of interaction. They really need a job, that’s the hard part, the easy part is, it can be a lot of really easy to do things. Fenced yard + basketball + herding dog = self-exercising dog. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-be-getting-a-dog-soon/669936/36 "2013-10-02T22:22:15Z")
50 acres and a lake? Do you need any new friends? ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-be-getting-a-dog-soon/669936/37 "2013-10-03T17:15:58Z")
Since shelter 2 is down the road from work (5 minute drive) I stopped in a second time, as they claimed to have a new Lab there… Nope, Mastiff/Lab mix, and showed clear signs of aggression barking, once again, this shelter felt… Wrong to me, so I left, on the drive back there was a doggie daycare/dog supplies store called K9 Kaos, clean, bright, had a happy feel to it, they have adoption sessions on the weekends and the dogs are kept in foster homes They partnered with this rescue org for adoptions > **[Save One Animal Rescue - Dover, NH | Adoptable Animals](http://www.seacoastareaanimalrescue.org/adopt.php/)** > > Save One Animal Rescue is a rescue organization located in Dover, New Hampshire. We were founded to add more support in our community for animal welfare; education, placement, surrender and other services as needed I’ve already found three contenders, and will be meeting them on Saturday, Jax, Garth, and Cha-Cha ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-be-getting-a-dog-soon/669936/38 "2013-10-03T17:27:50Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > 50 acres and a lake? > > Do you need any new friends? If by “lake” you mean “one acre man made bass pond”… Hmm, maybe a herding breed can keep the white tail deer away from the garden… 😉 And more freinds are always good 🙂 ---
**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:** [October 3, 2013, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-be-getting-a-dog-soon/669936/39 "2013-10-03T19:17:39Z")
They look like good candidates. Keep us updated! ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-be-getting-a-dog-soon/669936/40 "2013-10-03T19:45:46Z")
I have found with cats that most dogs will get along with the family pet cat but the barn cats will be another story. I would stear clear of the malamute and siberian husky, great dogs but can be a handfull if you don’t know what you are dealing with. I second the collie lab mixes, great dogs on a farm. German sheperd mixes are great as well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-be-getting-a-dog-soon/669936.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-be-getting-a-dog-soon/669936.md?page=3)