Recommend a Dog Breed

In My Humble Opinion
21

I’ve had a lot of dogs and several breeds. My two best were and are purebred rat terriers. Short hair, No grooming, excellent health, very intelligent, not too big or small, affectionate, doesn’t eat a lot or shit alot… :slight_smile: very active, not too aggressive, easily trained…of course I am talking about MY dog.

The dog’s intelligence reflects that of his master… :smiley:

My Bandit is 4 1/2 years old now and does many things on command. He was housebroken as a pup and stays inside mostly. He has a dogdoor to the backyard. He kinda has the run of the place. He’s never chewed up the furniture. He’s a little possesssive of the family and is a great watchdog. A few strokes and he’ll love you too. Loves to play.

As far as personality is concerned…hell he’s people too. You can tell that he doesn’t know any better. I swear he as bad as any kid sometimes. He knows whats going on, especially when we have to leave him alone. He starts pouting and will go hide under the bed when you call him. When we get back he ignores me.

Bath time :slight_smile: How in the HELL can a dog know when you are running a bath for him? Well both my “rats” could.

BTW Rat Terriers (mine anyway) about 20-25 pounds and just below my knee at his head.

anyway, it’s late and I gotta get up in a few hours to work…good luck.

22

A previous poster mentioned the Great Dane as a possibility, I have two of them, and love them dearly.

These dogs are indeed couch potatos. A daily walk is plenty of activity to keep them happy.

There coat is short and thin. So thin infact, that you cannot keep them outdoors in the winter, they will freeze.

They are friendly and fairly easy to train.

Potty-training was not so easy though. It was over a year (!) before mine had complete control of there bladder/bowels. I did not crate train though, that probably would have helped.

I would recommend the breed to anyone who wants alot of dog love. They are people lovers.

Other than potty training some negatives are:
They are fairly expensive to buy, $400 or $500.
Medical care is also more expensive (you need more heart worm and flea meds because of the dogs size)
They do not live very long, 8 years or so
They are terrible bed-hogs
They scare people simply because they are so huge

But they are a joy to have!

Good luck on finding your perfect dog!

23

Looking at your requirements, I am wondering if maybe a Flat-coated retriever might be a good fit. They do have a bit of a coat, but not too bad. They are good-sized but not humongous, friendly with other dogs, and devoted companions. My neighbor down the street has two. The nice thing about them is that they are active outside but quiet inside. They only bark if the doorbell rings.

Portugese Water Dogs, Bernese Mountain dogs, and Wheaten terriers are very trendy here in Denver right now. I think Wheatens are great, but all of the Water and Bernese dogs we meet seem to dislike other dogs.

We have two English Mastiffs, male and female. They are the best dogs I have ever, ever had. Protective but couch potatoes, neither dog nor people aggressive, quiet, eager to please. Don’t eat any more than a healthy Lab. Few health problems: my older guy is almost 10 and still going. But they are gigantic (180 and 150) and they drool.

I agree with someone else that the sporting breeds can be good pets, but I just want to add that these guys, in my experience (we had a Vizla), can need a lot of exercise. Our neighborhood is seething with Labs, and inconsiderate owners will sometimes put their dogs in a situation in which they repeatedly bark.

Some day we will go to a smaller breed, and I have been interested in both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Shiloh Shepherd. However, the Ridgebacks and Shilohs I have met did seem a bit dog aggressive. Perhaps their owners did not properly socialize them.

The Right Dog For You by Daniel Tortora
This book is exhaustively researched and was a tremendous help for us in choosing a new pet.

24

I’ll second that suggestion. Though he has a tendency to repeition in his numerous quizzes/matrices, his breed by breed behavioral breakdowns are invaluable and anecdotally at least, seem roughly accurate. The only thing he doesn’t cover much is genetic disorders and the relative predispositions to them. But you can research that last from breeders once you settle on a few breeds.

  • Tamerlane
25

I’m a fan of my westie. West Highland Terriers would match most of your needs. The problem is they are a bit hyper, especially as puppies and they might bark. My westie just ran a few laps around the house during one of his hyper moods. Another problem is they are attention hogs, so be ready to pet a lot and train your guests to pet him to because he won’t be ignored.

26

You might want to try this website:

http://animal.discovery.com/guides/dogs/selector/selector1.jsp

If nothing else, it’s kind of fun.

27

There’s a bunch of Portie breeders in the Denver area. In fact, that’s where Bailey (the one on the left) comes from.

One thing that you always see in descriptions of the PWD is that they need to be socialized, socialized, socialized! Bailey has been to dog parks since she was 12 weeks old, and she’s a social butterfly. I lucked out with Guinness, a rescue; he’s enthusiastic about meeting other dogs, and he and Bailey get along like littermates.

I have encountered some anti-social PWDs, but the majority are friendly with other dogs.

Still, I wouldn’t recommend the PWD as an entry-level breed. They are high-maintenance, in that they’re not sit-by-the-fireplace types. They’re not hyper, but they are active, and they demand to be am integral part of lives of their human pack members. They’re also very expensive. I think it’s worth the cost of admission, though.

The Bernie next door to me is a big, friendly sweetheart, the gentle alpha of a pack of three dogs. They shed like crazy, though. My dogs play just fine with the Bernie through the fence.

Seriously, check out the Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier. I know most people are goin to recommend the breed they own as the perfect breed, but all the SWCTs I’ve met have been good-natured, happy, intelligent dogs that aren’t hyper, and they meet ALL of your qualifications.

28

I know you said you didn’t like toy dogs, but Miniature Pinschers (MinPins) are great companions, very loyal. They are short-haired, easy to train (highly intelligent), and are more muscular and athletic than most small dogs. Mine wouldn’t take any shit from much larger dogs, and even got many of them to back down! He barked a lot when someone came to the door, but it was just for attention, not one of those “bark at the moon” types. He was very friendly to everybody.

29

That’s not necessarily true anymore for a lot of breeds. At least with Weimaraners most sites I visit have sections for you to read if you’re considering getting one, where they try their best to talk you OUT of getting one. Many breed clubs are taking this approach to prevent the ruination of breeds that happens when they get too popular.

Examples,
Is the Weimaraner Right for You?, and the dreadful Are You Ready for a Weimaraner?–Quiz.

30

I think that even more than the breed, the breeder makes a difference. The very best ones breed for temperament as well as health. It’s incredibly important to do your research on the breeder – read anything about them you can get your hands on, including all their own self-promotion if any; to meet and interact with the adult dogs they keep, not limited to the parents of any puppy you might adopt; to talk with owners of other dogs they’ve produced.

And individual dogs can vary hugely, even in a single litter, so be sure to spend plenty of time with anypuppy you’re considering adopting.

We have The Best Dog in the Whole Entire World and Universe, and he’s a Shetland Sheepdog. He’d meet all your requirements except the barking one (this can be a problem in the breed). But even he barks less than the other dogs on the street. He doesn’t shed much at all; the fur tends to get caught on his coat more than falling to the floor when he does, so we do take him to a groomer on an as-needed basis, which seems to be about once every other month. We’d do that even if it wasn’t a chore to brush him out because he occasionally gets into poison ivy (the most common weed around here) and once I bathed him myself and got the worst case of poison ivy I’ve ever had.

He wants nothing more than to make us happy. He’s wicked smart, but never puts his mind to outwitting us, as did the Aussie we had when I was growing up. He’s affectionate and loves to play with us. Every single day we are amazed at how cute and wonderful and adorable and smart and wonderful and did I mention cute? and wonderful he is!

31

A Welsh Corgi might be right up your alley, too - either a cardigan (my favorite) or the pembroke. Minimal grooming required, they are friendly, and it shouldn’t be at all difficult to find a reputable breeder as neither breed is terribly popular in the US, though pembrokes (no tail) are more prevalent than cardigans (fox like bushy tail).

32

Some great suggestions, guys.:slight_smile:

I like the websites that honestly lay out the “negatives” of their breed, actually. It’s not fair to a person or a dog to mislead the person as to what they need to be prepared for in order for both pet & owner to be happy together.

I’m not a first-time dog owner, BTW; I’ve owned a couple of cocker spaniels (American) and a couple of Golden Retrievers. (I’m also an avid watcher of the annual Westminster show.) I like these dogs a lot, but just don’t want to deal with so much hair! The cockers need a lot of grooming or they mat badly, and I ended up shaving mine down (which I hated doing) when I couldn’t keep up. Goldens shed a LOT, and it’s fairly long hair. I guess that’s the price you pay for a beautiful flowing coat, right?

Besides the dogs I’ve owned, I’ve been exposed the most to labs, german shepherds, a boston terrier, poodles, a min pin, a Westie and a shih tzu. The labs were my favorite of these, and is high on my short list. I like the looks of the min pin, but some of the things his owner tells me about sound like they’d clash with my personality. The Westie I know is an absolute doll. I didn’t like the boston’s looks, nor the grunting and farting. Standard poodles with the puppy cut seem an attractive choice, but that aloofness thing someone mentioned may or may not work for me (I’m very introverted, but that doesn’t mean I want to be alone - it just means I process internally and like lots of peace & quiet).

I had been very strongly considering the basenji, but the websites I’ve read have pointed out how destructive they can be if they get bored, and that worries me. I wonder if that means I have to pay attention to the dog 100% of its waking hours, or just that I should minimize how much it’s left alone and/or keep it crated when I must leave it. The websites aren’t clear enough on that. I’m thinking I should go to some dog shows and talk to some owner/breeders with my questions.

Another strong contender is the Brittany, but then I read in one book that no one should own one who isn’t planning to use it for hunting. Well, I don’t hunt. Period. So - is that just one person’s opinion? Anyone here with a sporting dog (or better yet, a Brittany) who can give a dissenting view? My cockers & goldens were sporting dogs, but they were happy enough just playing fetch - they didn’t have to be tromping through the marsh to bring me back a dead bird to be happy. Another question to take to the dog show.

I guess I’d be happiest with a mid-sized dog (even though I think boxers,great danes, newfies and mastiffs are awesome-looking dogs). I don’t want one that will try to dominate me, and I know the herding dogs would be wrong for me. I’d probably try a greyhound, but to tell the truth, I’m having a little trouble getting over that they’re not all that attractive, except in motion.

I think I’ll check out the wheaten and westie some more (maybe also the norfolk/norwich terrier) … and definitely go to the dog shows and talk to the owner/breeders.

Thanks for all the great suggestions!

33

Two words: Dobermann Pinscher

Now I am a bit biased, having picked up a purebred 4 year old from the shelter a couple of days ago.

But;

Minimal coat care
Loyal
Wonderful Nature
Protective without agressiveness
Highly intelligent
Trains easily
Not prone to barking
Can be dominant of other dogs, but if socialised early this is nto a problem

Will love you completely

34

A lot of people say that about Weims. They make such excellent companions, though, that most people are able to say just to give it enough exercise. . .but they were bred to hunt, after all, and I can’t trust mine around our cat. He also does like to pick up dead birds and chase rabbits around the yard. The thing about intense hunting dogs is that their energy level is often high and consistent. My pup runs around all the time, and then we go for a walk/run for a few miles, then when we get home he’s still skittering around the house, then out in the backyard to run some more, then finally around 9:00 he starts getting tired, but he’s just like a little kid and tries to fight the coming sleep with all his might. Then, at 9:30 he just crashes out on the couch (or on ME on the couch), and peace finally prevails. I do however, have to work, so he is crated all day (after some backyard running in the morning). On the weekends, though, we’re often out doing things all day, and unless it’s heatstroke-hot outside he never seems to tire. Consistent energy levels are the norm for field and hunting dogs. I don’t hunt with mine, but we seem to get along pretty well with enough exercise–he doesn’t mind being crated, but he needs a good run in the yard before and afterward.

35

Have you thought about a bull terrier? Not a pit bull, a bull terrier. Remember Spus McKinzie? They have those little egg-shaped heads. Besides being cute as heck, they are very sweet-natured and easily socialized and love people. They are active enough to be able to keep up with you, but not to the point to tearing stuff up just to have something to do. They also have short coats that require little in the way of mussing with them.

 I was in the process of researching this breed and wanted to get one and then we found Auggie, The Cutest Dog on the Planet (TM) in a ditch and rescued him instead.  I wouldn't trade him for anything, but if I ever do get another dog it will be a bull terrier.
36

IMHO, thumbs up for well-bred Brittany Spaniels.
The two Brittanies I knew were not used for hunting and were sweet, loyal, non-barking dogs. They did chase the tennis ball.

About Dobermanns:
The three Dobies I knew and know now are gentle, devoted, intelligent pets. I think maybe they get a bad rap, or perhaps there just have been too many bred in puppy mills.

37

It goes further than this. A good breeder will quiz you almost as much as you quiz them. In the case of my Shiloh it was clear the breeder wouldn’t sell me a dog unless she felt I would be a good owner and provide the dog with a good home. If a breeder seems happy to just sell you a dog without ‘approving’ of you as much as you approve of them I would be very wary that you are facing a puppy mill type breeder and look at them under a microscope.

I’m curious why this is so? I’m not trying to push a dog that is wrong for you…just curious is all. A German Shepherd and an Australian Shepherd are two very different dogs although they are both herding dogs. As to the domination thing you might want to stick with a female of whatever you decide on getting as males (especially if they aren’t neutered) will tend to be more of a handful in this regard. FWIW none of my shepherds (Shiloh or German) ever pushed for domination…not even once. If it did happen it likely occured when they were adolescent but I missed it as a consistent hand in their training and your expectations of them kept them in line. The hierarchy was established from the get go and the dogs never questioned it (they were all females). You should be training and socializing your dog such that the domination bit will never even be noticeable to you as the dog will naturally view you as the alpha (if you get a male American Pit Bull and don’t neuter it you will probably notice a struggle for dominance).

I think labs should be on anyone’s short list. They are simply wonderful dogs in every regard and it is hard to get a ‘bad’ one. The only downside I’ve seen to labs is inconsistent intelligence. Some I’ve known were pretty smart but I’ve known many that were truly dumb as bricks (although this might be partly the owner’s fault). They also have a natural affinity for water which may or may not be a problem for you depending on how much you find a wet dog to be an inconvenience. I’ve known several labs that would beeline to water for a swim as soon as they spotted the water and you couldn’t stop them (in one case a friend of mine had a lab and close to his house was a scummy river…that lab got a LOT of baths).

In this respect a Shiloh is perfect for you. They love attention and will accept it whenever you give it but they are happy just being in the room with you and will quite contentedly curl-up nearby. They will occasionally come by seeking attention but if you’re not in the mood for it they just amble away with no hurt feelings and wait for another time. In short they are not overly insistent dogs. They are also very good at sensing your moods and adjust accordingly…you’re happy and playful they are happy and playful…you’re quiet they are quiet.

This is definitely a socialization thing and speaking for Shilohs they need a bit more attention paid to it than other breeds but it isn’t especially onerus to do. Here’s what the AKC website has to say about GSDs (which essentialy is what a Shiloh is but made to conform even more closely to the ideal):

‘Aloofness’ in this case does not extend to its own family but rather to strangers…dog or human. Given this tendency a lack of proper socialization can see this turn to mild aggression (usually just the dog letting it be known it doesn’t want to make friends and not outright attack). Once they know you however they readily make friends. As such the Shiloh is not for the novice dog owner but is easily managed by someone who understands dogs and is willing to properly train and give guidance to the dog as it is growing.

Personally I covet this aspect of the Shiloh/GSD. It fits perfectly with their natural guarding instincts. My dog is very friendly to people and usually other dogs (some dogs she just doesn’t seem to groove to while others she makes quick friends…sort of like a human in this respect). She has never attacked anything however and either first tries to get away from a dog she doesn’t like or (on rare occasions) tosses a quick snap at the other dog without actually touching it…just sending a message.

The guarding aspect works well for me. Living in the city (Chicago) I have occasion to run across some people I’d rather not meet. I was walking my dog around midnight once when a bum appeared out of nowhere and approached (on a poorly lit street). At just over a year old at this point my dog had always shown herself to be open to meeting new people. This guy was a different matter. I don’t know if she sensed my unease or if she just twigged to this guy on her own but she wanted none of him. She did not attack or bark nor did she shrink away and take cover behind me. She went into ‘alert mode’ taking an unmistakable ready stance (fully erect posture, ears forward, direct eye contact and a sense of readiness to move at a moment’s notice). The bum noticed this as well and clearly eyed my dog nervously. Bums in Chicago are a fairly forward bunch and usually will get right up to you…this guy seeing my dog stopped 10 feet away and would approach no closer. On a dark street at midnight with no one else in sight this was fine by me. The bum asked for money to which I responded I don’t carry money just to walk my dog and that was it. Mind you my dog was only a year old at the time and I never trained her for guard duty…she just did this of her own accord and performed spectacularly. She didn’t attack or show overt aggression but she communicated her readiness to get to that if the situation called for it. When I say ‘communicate’ I really mean communicate. As her owner I certainly saw it but even the bum who had never met her before could see it. Maybe she is hooking into some primal instinct in humans that tells us a predator is eyeballing you and prudence screams at you to get out of there as a wrong move at this point would be a bad thing. If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of this (as I once was caught in a field alone by a strange GSD) it is unmistakeable and scary. At all other times my dog is happy to meet new people and hasn’t shown a single drop of aggression towards any human except that bum.

All this goes somewhat to the OP. Padmaraga has already stated she has owned dogs in the past and her willingness to go to the trouble she is to pick a proper companion makes me feel confident she could handle a Shiloh or Rhodesian Ridgeback (or any dog really) with ease. My sense is you don’t go to this kind of effort just to get a dog to sit in a corner and mostly ignore it and hopes it turns out ok. Nevertheless that doesn’t mean she wants to work overly much on dog training either. Certainly some dogs will be ‘simpler’ to own than others. A Shiloh, for example, absolutely needs formal training. They are extremely smart and learn quickly but without guidance you don’t know what mischief that intelligence might turn to. Shiloh’s want to learn and enjoy their training and pick up their lessons quickly. For the person this can be a fun time to bond with and be with the dog. However some people see that as a chore and don’t want to do it. In that case they are better off with a lab (for example) that will likely be ok (if a bit rambunctious) without much formal training (although all dogs benefit from training and it should be done to some degree).

Dogs, especially the particularly intelligent breeds, want a framework to fit themselves into. This order jibes well with their social, pack nature. Given a consistent and orderly set of expectations and guidelines your dog will thrive and be a wonderful companion…no matter what the breed. If not you risk getting a loose cannon of a dog that can be a major problem for both of you.

38

I’m Dober-biased too. Glad I’m not the only one here! Brains, beauty and snugglers.

I’ve met a few Brittanies that weren’t used for hunting and they were well-adjusted dogs. Their owners kept them well exercised and I’m sure that makes all the difference.

Have you tried checking out some local dog shows? You can spy out the breeds and chit chat with the handlers/owners about their postive and negative traits. (It’s a good idea to aproach them after they’re done showing.)

Infodog.com should be able to tell you when the shows are happening in your area. (It seems to be down at this moment, so keep trying.)

39

Welsh Corgi’s

I love those lil dogs.

Pro’s:
-Good natured
-bold but not viscious in any way. They tend to
-Extremely Loyal
-Every one I have met are very loving to their owners
-When they run the look silly
-Generally no real medicalproblems with the breed
-Quiet after the puppy years.
-Look like they are grinning
-Very responsive to training. Can be used as herding dogs and show dogs.
Con’s
-They shed. But are not too hard to brush (no matting). The corgi I know absolutely LOVES being brushed

40

My suggestion would be a lab…you really just can’t go wrong with one. Sweet, happy, loving, relatively active to very active depending on what you want. Pretty much ditto what Whack-a-mole said.

I love corgi’s too, but really can’t see one going on a hike :slight_smile: