# Which kinds of dogs fit these requirements? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 16, 2008, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kinds-of-dogs-fit-these-requirements/445549 "2008-04-16T02:54:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kinds-of-dogs-fit-these-requirements/445549/42 "2015-12-08T20:33:23Z")
I have a 70-pound American Bulldog. Your OP described her very well except my particular dog is not great with kids because I don’t have any and she’s not exposed to them. She’s excellent with little dogs, puppies, cats, most strangers, and old people: cautious, gentle, affectionate. Short-haired, happy to play or be a couch slug, loves long walks, and refuses to fetch. Any problems I have with her are the result of weaknesses in my training. She’s a great dog. However. American Bulldogs are one of the breeds that are lumped under the umbrella category of dogs referred to as “pitbulls.” You may insert a lively discussion about pitbulls and children here. I believe there are several 20+ page threads on the matter, in fact. The only comment I can make here is that I trust _my_ dog completely and she’s never snapped at anyone. And also I’ve spent a lot of time and effort on obedience training to turn out a secure, stable, happy, \*very well behaved beast. \* Myexperience with American Bulldogs is that they are family-loving cuddle bums and they’re great at guarding the house/watching over your babies. Reserved with strangers is a very good description: Curious, but not aggressive, and not snappy. Not barky, except for intruders like the garbage man, the mailman, strangers who walk up on our property, and even then, she just barks a couple times to alert me. They are very family loyal/home pack protective. When playing with other dogs, she seems to cater to their size/abilities/style of play. Running dogs? Great, let’s run around in circles then. Other bulldogs? Great, let’s wrassle and play tug of war. Tiny baby puppy? Cool, let me just lay down and bat at you with one paw or stand with my body in front of you, protecting you from anyone else who might happen by. Favorite human neighbor with cinnamon roll? Flops over on her back for a belly rub, in the middle of the street, with traffic driving by. She actually visits people and dogs she’s met before on our walks. If you’ve petted my dog once, and she sees you again in the neighborhood, she will straight up drag me right up on your porch so she can say hi to you and offer a little belly. Invest in good obedience training. I’m describing a very powerful, strong, smart dog who knows she is well qualified to lead the activities in my house. I had to learn how to be her leader and build trust between us and that took some work, which is always being reinforced. I have to be strong, firm, consistent, calm, and confident, and control my voice and body language. This can be too much dog for people whose attitude is “if the dog doesn’t pee in the house, that’s all the training we need.” Nope. American Bulldogs must be taught their manners or be given a job. They’re big, slobbery babies if they feel safe and secure and are well trained. If you can’t get the entire family on board with consistent obedience training, then look for a different kind of dog. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kinds-of-dogs-fit-these-requirements/445549/43 "2015-12-08T23:10:29Z")
This is a zombie thread from 2008. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kinds-of-dogs-fit-these-requirements/445549/44 "2015-12-08T23:32:41Z")
:smack: I am an idiot. So sorry. I’ll just… Show myself out. ---
**Author:** ![Whatever4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@Whatever4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whatever4)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kinds-of-dogs-fit-these-requirements/445549/45 "2015-12-09T05:03:42Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > Look for an older (adult) rescue dog. > > Rescue greyhounds (former track dogs) are generally reserved, about the right size. Friend had two rescue greyhounds. They’d been raced and their hindquarter muscles were huge. Very laid back dogs. Really, they were couch potatoes. ---
**Author:** ![Whatever4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@Whatever4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whatever4)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kinds-of-dogs-fit-these-requirements/445549/46 "2015-12-09T05:05:01Z")
Submissively follows Dogzilla into the shadows. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kinds-of-dogs-fit-these-requirements/445549/47 "2015-12-09T07:42:10Z")
A few months after this, I got a lab mix (boxer and pit bull are the usual guesses for the other breed). It all worked out. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kinds-of-dogs-fit-these-requirements/445549/48 "2015-12-09T09:55:05Z")
> [@Omega\_Glory](#): > > I’d like to have a 70-80 lb short haired dog that is reserved (not aggressive) with strangers, good with kids, and good with small dogs. The dog wouldn’t need to be a playmate to children, but would need to be even tempered and non-snappish. Foxhounds have all those traits, with the [American Foxhound](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Foxhound#Temperament) noted as being good with people but initially shy with strangers. All foxhounds are great with other dogs and kids, I’ve heard (I only have actual experience with the English breed, though). ETA I don’t care if this a zombie. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kinds-of-dogs-fit-these-requirements/445549/49 "2015-12-09T11:20:30Z")
A suitably-sized [zombie dog](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/07/9d/1f/079d1ffeaa6ef681d7726458f815fb23.jpg) is just what this thread needs now. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kinds-of-dogs-fit-these-requirements/445549/50 "2015-12-09T16:09:00Z")
> [@Omega\_Glory](#): > > I’d like to have a 70-80 lb short haired dog that is reserved (not aggressive) with strangers, good with kids, and good with small dogs. The dog wouldn’t need to be a playmate to children, but would need to be even tempered and non-snappish. The hypothetical animal would be living with a small, active male dog, and I obviously wouldn’t be willing to put him in any danger. A golden retriever would seem to be a good match. A good German shepherd would also be a good one. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kinds-of-dogs-fit-these-requirements/445549/51 "2015-12-09T18:10:29Z")
> [@Omega\_Glory](#): > > A few months after this, I got a lab mix (boxer and pit bull are the usual guesses for the other breed). It all worked out. Thanks for the pupdate. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kinds-of-dogs-fit-these-requirements/445549.md?page=2)