What breeds of dogs have you owned and would you own them again?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
41

My experiences:

  1. American cocker spaniel: Nope. On the positive side ours was active, a good retriever and swimmer, adequate watchdog, reasonably affectionate. Negatives: Not good with other dogs, stubborn, renowned garbage thief, sneak pee-er on carpets. In general, cockers were long ago compromised by overbreeding affecting conformation and behavioral stability.

  2. Cavalier King Charles spaniels: Yes. Very affectionate and well-behaved. Negatives: coats take a lot of attention/brushing, some health problems, dental issues (they aren’t interested in chewing nylabones or much of anything else and develop tooth decay).

  3. Labradors: No. While both of ours were/have been great dogs in many ways, Labs require a lot of exercise and comprehensive obedience training. More effort than I’d want to expend again.

42

Border Collie/Klepie X - Maybe. Had two of these guys over the years: smart, affectionate and loyal. Fun and amazing personalities - need a good sized yard for them though. Having two young boys, while I’d love another dog like this I’m not sure I would have the time for it and it wouldn’t be fair on anyone*

Cairn Terrier/Silky TerrierX - Yes. Amazing companion dog. A bright little bundle of energy that could also be quite happy to spend a day sleeping on your feet.

Belgian Shepherd(Malinois) - Maybe. This was originally my sisters dog. Her ex bought it for her to keep her company and be a guard dog while he worked shifts.
Sweet, sweet dog and a complete coward :smiley: so that kind of backfired on him. She was on the smallish size for her breed which made her a really nice companion animal. Unfortunately the dog wasn’t ‘tough’ enough for my sisters asshole ex and he was going to have her put down so my parents took her in.

*We now have four cats, 5 ducks and about a dozen chickens in the back yard with the distinct possibility of a sheep or angora goat being added in the near future so one less critter won’t make it seem empty.

43

We had dachshunds growing up. No. Smarter than a cocktail napkin, but not by much.

Boston terrier. HELL no. A Chihuahua with hydrocephaly and the personality of a crack addict.

(Currently) German Shepherd. No. I love him to death, but he is too big, too nervous, and too fear-aggressive with other dogs. I don’t mind walking him - in fact, I kind of enjoy it, and he is a large plush toy with anyone in the family, but it would be nice to have a dog who didn’t regard the UPS guy as a burglary suspect.

Next dog, if I get one, will be smaller and a mutt. Purebred is overbred, IME.

Regards,
Shodan

44

Well, to be hinest, the UPS guy is a burglary suspect, so your grand-dog probably has him pegged. :wink:

StG

45

I’ve had only 2 dogs and I would own each breed in a heartbeat. Springer Spaniel and Irish Setter. Each had a lovely disposition, was sweet, tolerated our foolishness, excellent companion, and good looking.

My sister had a Springer for her kids, and now her son has a Springer for his. Springers are kinda our family dog…

46

[sings]
*There is nothing like a Dane
Nothing in the world
There is nothing you can name
That is anything like a Dane

*They do seem like wonderful dogs, but I would hesitate to own one because of their short life span. sigh Doggies, they all break your heart in the end.

47

Applause :slight_smile:

To which the traditional (and true) answer is: Yes, but they’re good years. A well-bred Dane (from a health-monitored ancestry) can easily live 10 years, which is only a little short of the 13-14 I’ve gotten from other medium-large breeds. Also - for good or bad - Danes tend to go quickly. I am honestly not sure whether watching a devoted Golden haul herself around in pain to stay at your feet (no matter how many times you tell her, “I’m just going to get a cup of coffee”) for a year or more is better or worse than having things go from “uh, oh” to gone in a month.

Yes, they do. You have to figure the net value of the transaction… did they leave you with more than they took away? So far I’ve been lucky - for all my dogs, I gave a lot, they gave a lot, and we both went away at least a little richer.

It did take me almost six months to decide I really wanted another one - that I could handle another ride on that crazy roller coaster. Maybe it’s just one more. This one’s a blue; I bring him home in just over two weeks. He’ll be a ninth birthday present for our (very sprightly) 9yo mantle girl.

48

I’ve had a couple of Labrador retrievers, one while growing up and a second (actually a Lab blended with some sort of unidentifiable large hound that we got from the shelter) that passed away a few years ago. I’d probably be okay with a Lab or a Lab mix again. Fun personalities, and my wife and I had quite a few memorable adventures with the second Lab.

Shortly after college I adopted a Maltese mix (blended with some sort of small terrier or perhaps a Brussels Griffon) from a shelter and had her for many years. She will always be the dog against which all my other dogs will be judged – incredibly intelligent, mellow but fun personality, and just the sweetest little dog. Members of my family had a purebred Maltese with the same traits – I’d get another Maltese or mix in a heartbeat. A little too small to take on long hikes, but I carried that dog on many long trails and she seemed to enjoy it.

We went from that 15-pound mix to the second Lab mix. After he passed away, we got a Rottweiler from the animal shelter. Great, great dog – a little too eager to please and could have been a little more independent (a clingy 90-pound dog can be a little overbearing), but a great ambassador for the breed and for dogs in general. Sadly, we only had him a year before we had to put him to sleep because he gradually lost control of his back legs and eventually front legs (veterinarian suspected a tumor somewhere along the spine). I’d definitely get another Rottweiler if the opportunity presented itself – no hesitation at all.

Our current dog is a Shiba Inu/Australian Cattle Dog mix, and he’s a handful. He was adopted from a shelter as well, and he came with some major anxiety issues. It’s taken a year to get him to be okay around people other than my wife and I, and I imagine it’s going to take a couple of years to get him to be able to handle being around other dogs. He’s got a ton of personality, though – easily the most “fun” dog we’ve had, and he makes us laugh every day. Lots of energy, but not too much, and only about 35 pounds so he’s a good size to take on hikes but not too big around the house. I’ve known a few ACDs over the years, and I think this dog has a much more well-rounded personality than the purebreds. Really smart, too – it’s an uncommon blend of breeds, but I’d probably consider another one.

49

1: Old English Sheepdog mix- Absolutely yes. He was three years old by the time I was born and lived to be almost 14, passing away in the summer of 1991. Pretty low-maintenance except for having to give him a haircut every summer. Very friendly, but also a good watchdog.

2 and 3: Basset Hound- Maybe. Had two of them. Got the first one shortly after the sheepdog mix had passed away and the second one a year later. House training was a major pain in the ass (the second one had issues with it her whole life), but otherwise were a pleasure. The older one died at age 12 in 2003, the younger one passed away at age 13 in 2005.

4: Pembroke Welsh Corgi- Hard to say. My first dog as an adult (the Basset Hounds lived into my adulthood, but I was 11 and 12 when we got them). My now ex-wife purchased him on a whim, ignoring my suggestion to at least do a little research before making such a commitment, particularly when we also had three-month old daughter at the time. Basically all the responsibility for the dog fell into my lap. I tried, but juggling a newborn, a puppy, and work was a bit overwhelming. Nice dog, though I was pretty much the only person he trusted. The marriage didn’t last and I unfortunately wasn’t able to take him with me when I moved out. My ex held on to him for another year or so before giving him away. I hope he ended up having a great life, he surely deserved it

5: Yellow Lab- Absolutely. The only dog I ever got that was full-grown. He was about four years old and was just amazing. Intelligent, loved kids, though not quite as trusting of adults that he didn’t know (his previous owners were a married couple who’d gotten divorced and neither one wanted to have him). Sadly, I only got about five years with him as he passed away after a brief illness a week before Christmas in 2012. It was comforting to know we made the most of our time together.

6: Black Lab- Current dog. Got her a couple months after the Yellow Lab passed away. Color and sex aside, almost an exact replica. Initially wasn’t sure if I wanted another lab so soon after the heartbreak of losing the previous one, but I can’t imagine life without her. She was a little less than three months old when I got her (as it turned out, born about a week before the Yellow Lab died), but house training was a breeze and aside from being a little nippy at times, no other obedience issues.

Though she wasn’t mine, my uncle and grandparents had a Rottweiler in the mid/late 80s to early 90s. I visited often, and she was very friendly and playful with me. She was never quite the same after my grandfather died in May 1992, though, passing away herself about a year and a half later. Based on my experience, I’d have no problem with a Rottweiler of my own.

50

Border Collie > Yes and no. My elderly Scout girl (12) still requires at least two hours of fetching per day. She is a classic uber-focused BC and was a very difficult puppy to train because she was so damn smart but it was matched with obsessiveness. I have a fenced acre and she could use even more land to run. She actually got kicked out of sheep herding school for being too intense.

Labs (current and present) > Always and forever. My only difficult experience was with Cooper, my mixed guy. He was a stray I picked up off the street and he was incredibly dog aggressive. While he loved his home-herd of canines, I couldn’t take him anywhere another dog dared be (even if the doggie was being walked on the other side of the street – he’d go ballistic and it was distressing and embarrassing).

Rough Coated Collie > Definetely. Jack (14) is a funny, smart, and dignified guy with no behavior issues and a joy to have around. Needs some running space, but nothing near what Scout the BC demands.

Pit Bull/American Staffordshire > Yes (thus far). Baxter is five months old and loves his three herd mates (collies and yellow lab). He adores being cuddled and just passed the AKC Star Puppy kindergarten class with flying colors.

OPD (Other People’s Dogs, based solely on my own experiences):
Chihuahua > my mother’s chi is a mean, snappy little rathead and I would never own one. (Plus I’m not keen on small dogs).
Akita > My friend’s Akitas were mean and dangerous: couldn’t be around kids or any other dogs. Keeping them in a very small kennel didn’t help the situation.

51

It’s a big, wide world. I have absolutely no interest in ever living in a home without an animal in it! To me that just seems sterile.

We had German Shephards growing up and while I like them fine, they shed too much for me now. I have a strong preference for medium-large dogs over little yappers.

We adopted a greyhound some years ago, and then got addicted and adopted another one the following year, and then I volunteered intensively with our adoption group. Retired racers are just amazing animals. I’ve walked into a room that had nearly 20 dogs in it and what they do is all come up to sniff your hands to say hello, then they leave you alone again. Only a few are loudmouths and bark, but once they get a sniff they shut up. The shape of their long needle noses means that they can huddle around you and everybody say hi at the same time without conflict. Hubby and I call that getting a “bouquet of noses”. It’s also wonderful that we can take our dogs to social events with other greyhounds because they all know each other, or so it seems. You put a new dog into a roomful of other greyhounds and they sniff and then act like they’ve known each other all their lives, even to the point of resting their heads on each other’s backs like horses do. Just the most charming little beasties!

52

I’ll just list the three that I’ve been responsible for, although I’ve worked with thousands of dogs and at this point my “NO NEVER” list is longer than my “Yes, please”.

  1. Tibetan Terrier: Hell yes. He’s wonderful. Sweet and cuddly and so cute. He’s not as bright as his sisters but I don’t care because he’s just the best little buddy.

  2. English Lab: I love her to bits but no more Labs for me. Too much energy to burn and so much impossible-to-vacuum fur. She’s smart as a whip and very sensitive, which made her a breeze to train but in her younger years she was so busy that it made me nuts.

  3. Poodle mix (possibly a badly bred labradoodle): my shelter mutt. She’s awesome. Silly and stoic all in one shaggy mop of a dog. Would clone her if I could. Smart, silly, and other than a few quirks (thunderstorm phobia and resource guarding) a very stable dog.

53

That’s… very oddly put. Does it mean something other than “I don’t want to live with a dog or cat”?

54

Airedale: No. Was very tolerant of me as a toddler/young kid, but apparently a bit hard-mouthed playing with adults and as stubborn and difficult to train as any terrier.

Doberman/German Shepard cross: No. She was usually a fairly submissive and good-natured animal, but had a few signs of “shy-sharpness.” That plus occasional submissive urination was a poor combo.

Vizla/Golden Lab cross: Maybe. Some hunting dog issues - not real easy to train and poor recall in particular. But otherwise a sweet thing.

Boxer: No. EXTREME separation anxiety. He once chewed through a hole through a wooden door in just an evening. Also other more minor behavioral issues.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever: No. Fun guy, but dumb as a rock and very oily coat - needed frequent swims. But far more importantly people dominant and highly territorial. He never bit anyone, but was not above knocking people down and pinning them :rolleyes:. Way too much trouble to contain.

Aside from that I also have a strong standing anti-Chow and Toy( not Standard )Poodle bias. I love dogs generally, but they are a heck of a lot more time, work and $$ than cats. I might get another after I retire to help keep me active, but as long as I’m still employed full time with irregular hours I’m just going to have to vicariously enjoy my neighbor’s goofy Golden Retriever ;).

55

My German short haired pointer was a pure pleasure to be around and valued member of the family. I can’t say enough good things about him. Great company on hikes and when camping, great guard dog, very social with people and other dogs.

His one slight draw back was that he could not be trusted around raw meat, if left too long the temptation would get to him and he would steal it.
56

The dogs I had growing up lived on a farm, but now I live inside the DC Beltway. That makes a difference.

Beagle: No. Sweet, friendly, great with kids; also dumber than a box of rocks. Would probably cause problems when left alone.

Beagle/mutt mix: I had this guy age 9 to 24. He was my best friend, and I unashamedly bawled when we had him put down. I think he would have been fine as an indoor dog. A big yes.

Yellow lab: first dog we got as a family. She was wonderful with the kids and cats. Her ears were almost always infected, and she stunk to high heaven. We still loved her and her cat was really upset with me when I took his dog to the vet’s office and she didn’t come back (our next dog insisted on going when we took that cat at the end). She was a great dog, but probably a no for another.

Australian Cattle Dog Beagle mix: our present dog; we got her too young (probably less than a year), so she was hyper the first year or so. She settled down to be a great dog. She has the temperament of a beagle and the intelligence of a cattle dog. At first we though we’d have to give her back because she wouldn’t leave the cats along. We called and said it wasn’t going to work out, but asked us to let her stay one more night so they could find someone to foster her. She never bothered a cat again. If we cold get a mix like her, but a little older and more settled, a definite yes.

57

St. Bernard - Yes, because Daisy is big bowl of sweetness, and moves at about my speed. I expect, though, that I’ll be too heartbroken when she dies to get another one for a while.

Pug - Yes and no. Jasmine was a good dog, though she had some medical issues due to bulgy eyes and such. The current pug, Winston, is pretty annoying. He’s way too licky, and he’s a jerk to Daisy.

58

Briefly had a Cocker spaniel. A rescue dog from humane society. Found out she had cancer. Probably why the owner dropped her off.

Didn’t have another dog until I was an adult.
Owned three Boston terriers in the past 25 years. (One at a time)

Currently have one Boston terrier and a chihuahua.

59

I had a collie growing up. She was beautiful and well-behaved. Her death devastated my mom. She’s never had a dog since. I would consider a collie, but I think ours was exceptionally trained (we rescued her).

I have had 4 Boston Terriers and will always have one. I just adore them. A lot of males can be rambunctious, but not all. One of my boys was a couch potato.

In addition to my current Boston, I have a Chinese crested powder puff. You know the hairless dogs everyone thinks are ugly? She’s one of those, but with fur. I am torn… She is a great dog. I love her to pieces, but the breed has really bad teeth problems. Plus the grooming (it gets expensive!!) and the fact that their temperaments do not take to Bostons too well.

60

I have working malinois and a bloodhound. I do not recommend these two breeds to anyone, they would drive most people insane but for my purposes they are perfect. I am particularly fond of the bloodhound. They are notorious for being “quirky” and she’s quite strange sometimes but always in very funny ways. I’m not sure if I’m going to get another one though because they are quite large and I’m thinking I want to go smaller in future. It is nice to be able to pick up your dog if you need to for some reason such as an injured dog who needs to be hoisted into the car to get to the vet.

I had a Great Dane some time ago and would never have another. He had exactly one year of being an adult dog in his prime sandwiched in-between being an annoying puppy and being a rapidly failing senior.

Most of my other dogs were mutts and I’d definitely own a mutt again in the future.