When I was a just a little bitty kid, we had a border collie named Keh, which means “dog” in Korean. She was the most amazing friend. She would take me to the park and play with me and make sure I was safe, then she would bring me back home again.
She lived a long, happy life, and finally died when I was fourteen. I remember sobbing into my mother’s breast, learning what grief really meant.
I have had many dogs, but the most recent was a Giant Schnauzer named Hollis. This was an amazing dog: smart, fearless, playful. For those who don’t know, Giants look much like the Standard Schnauzer, except they are they are the size of German Shephards and coal black. Hollis was absolutely devoted to me and my family, and she was gorgeous, especially when she was newly trimmed in that special Schnauzer cut.
My wife and I are considering getting a couple of puppies for our boys, and the thought has been wandeing through my head about what would be the best dogs to get? I dream about getting a Border and a Schnauzer, as they would make the perfect combination of family pets and guardians. You do not mess with a Giant.
Anyway, there’s been so muc on these boards about cats lately that I thought I’d like to hear your thoughts on the best dog in the world. Was it a special one? Or is it a breed?
I love whippets! But they don’t sound like your perfect dog, so howzabout some lab/shepherd puppy mixes from the pound? This mix incorporates family friendliness with courage, brains, and heart, no ruby shoes neccessary. It’s also one of the most common mixes I’ve seen at the dog park, most people will tell you the best dog they know is a mutt, and hybrid vigor gives you a better than average chance that your dogs will live a long healthy life, being there for your boys to grow up with…
The best dog in the world was Buster, a standard poodle mix.
He was the most gentle, loving dog I’ve ever met. I had him for 17 years, over half of my life. There are so many Buster stories, but my most favorite is the time I took him to the vet and stopped off at a friend’s house after. He decided to jump her fence and romp the neighborhood (He did so love to romp!).
Well, I guess he didn’t realize or care that he was miles from home and got himself lost. Long story short, we put up signs and placed an ad in the paper within hours. By nightfall, we had a winner. I asked the lady where she found him…“He was standing patiently,right under the sign.”
God, I loved that dog! When I was pregnant, he’d rest his head on my belly, waiting for a tiny baby kick. He’d stare at my stomach afterwards, with that sweet quizzical cocked head look. When my daughter was a toddler, he would let her ride his back, pull him back and forth down the street…
He passed away only a few months ago, and it did break my heart.
Okay, enough with the sappy stuff. Quick! Somebody say something naughty!
I’m a Border Collie person. Our current BC, ‘Katie’, is a phenomenal dog. She plays with my 4 year old daughter all day, suffering all sorts of doggie indignities, and loves every minute of it. I’ll go in my daughter’s room, and there’s the dog sitting in front of the tea set with a bib on, playing ‘tea’. She is the gentlest animal you’ll ever meet when it comes to my child, but she’s also protective of her and will bark furiously if strangers come too close.
But a Border Collie isn’t for everyone. You need to give the dog LOTS of exercise, both mental and physical. They are bred to run all day, and to be very smart. So if you put them in a dull existance they’ll go insane and start ripping up your yard, barking incessantly, etc.
But if you’re the type of person that really likes to make a dog part of your life (taking it with you when you go out, etc) then a Border Collie is a great companion.
I could tell stories for pages about why he was a good dog, but I’ll try to keep it for a couple.
Bob camped with me in every major mountain range in Montana. Winter and summer. He once pushed three guys into 1/2 of a three man tent, so that he could stretch out on the other half.
Bob once stayed in a bar while they threw the accordian player out.
He killed a squirrel and two rabbits. While on a 20 foot leash.
When I would take Bob into the bar where I hang out, he’d walk in and get a chorus of “Bob!”, just like Norm on Cheers.
Barbara Walters once made an on-air joke about him.
Go with the breeds you know. I’d suggest starting with one dog, then bringing the other one in later. You can train the first dog and have the first dog train the second dog.
feeling lump of detached cartilage that floats around next to my left thumb as the result of a dog bite
Personally, the best dog in the world is the one that is geographically most removed from me.
reaching under shirt to see if scar tissue on lower back from German Shephard attack is still there – yep, still there
Although I realize the problem is usually the dog owner, not the dog, I still think they improve with distance. So, get out your globe, find Calgary, Alberta then find the dog furthest away from there and voila, the best dog in the world.
I love cocker spaniels (especially the black and white ones). We had one from when I was about 10 years old; she died when I was 25. My brother has one now, and the wife and I are going to get one when we move from Singapore to Europe next year.
My fave is also the Alaskan Malamute. Love their howling. Very affectionate. But because it’s considered a work dog, it needs exercise. Enjoyed hearing about whistlepig’s Bob!
Isaac, the (we’re pretty sure) half Golden and half Yellow Lab. He’s smart, enthusiastic, playful, INCREDIBLY willing to please, and handsome on top of it. And his friend Rusty, the very red purebred Golden, is an absolute sweetie, though he has anxiety issues. He really does think he’s a lapdog!
Um…in a more general sense, I have yet to know a retriever, of any color, that I didn’t like. They can be a bit of a handful in that they’re big, energetic dogs, but they also want to make their humans happy.
Border-Dane. Mom was a giant Great Dane and Pop was a Border Collie. The end result- he got mom’s looks and
dad’s brains.
Big enough to be intimidating but very gentle.
Now, given the extreme size difference, I still wonder how they managed the dirty deed in the first place.
Preferrably a lab mix- strong, smart, heathly and eager to please. Tend to have good natures and low upkeep. We had a black lab/husky mix (our husky escaped from someome watching her for us- she was too smart for him). Ended up with a beefy lab mix puppy (we gave them all away- but one came back) with blue eyes and the great lab nature, Good dog. Get a mix from the pound- save a life and some money ($500 for a dog-- silly yuppies) Take the money and invest in some training courses instead.
The Best Dog in the World was Miss Emily Kimberly. She was the runt of her litter, but had a heart as big as the universe. She adored us (but especially Mr. S) with every fiber of her being. You should have seen her bestowing one of her absolutely adoring gazes on him. She would do ANYTHING to please us. We used to say she had ESP – Emily’s/English/Extra Springer/Special Perception. She was chock-full of personality. I’ve talked about her ad nauseam elsewhere on these boards.
Now we have her springer successor, Miss Phyllis Potter. From our experience and those of other springer owners, I can tell you that English springers are smart, energetic, eminently soft and pettable, compact but strong, very loving, and extremely devoted and loyal. Thanks to Miss Emily’s example, we will always have an English springer spaniel in our lives. They are THE BEST!
The best dog in the world was my dog Zack,
a black poodle that got to be 11 years old,
he died this summer very unexected,
becuse he was still so playfull and full of life,
if you know what I mean.
That dog was very special and wise,
not just in my opinion,
heard it from many other people.
He ment all to me,
was there for me in good times and bad times.
I’ll always remeber him and be thankful
for getting the chance to get to know him.
