Dog Opinion Needed!

[willmaxr]

I would like your recommendation on a dog. After it warms up here this spring (high of -5 the next 4 days), we are planning on getting our first family dog. Remembering the great thread pics of owners/dogs/cruisers, I know many of you have valuable advice/opinions. The three dogs I polled up are the family's narrowed down choices. If you have a different companion in mind, post your thoughts up. My first choice, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, was vetoed by the . Family info for consideration: cold climate, very active outdoors, 4 year old twin boys, pretty big yard for a city/suburban lot, no hunting, would like it to be a bit of protection for the house, willing to spend time with the dog, will be around other dogs at times, a good family dog. Let your .02 rip.

 

[Gumby]

I picked lab, but I'm a big fan of Newfies. Big dogs that are calm, need little space and have a great disposition. Never met a bad one.

I have two newf mixes.

 

[BLKDOG40]

Voted - none of the above
Go to the pound with the family and find a 'mutt'
they are the best!
26,000 cats and dogs were put to sleep last year in NYC alone - and that number was DOWN!
I am not against dog breeding and being 'into' a special breed/ purpose but there are alot of pups that need a home

 

[cruiserwanted]

My parents have a english brittney spaniel and I think that dog is the best I have EVER known. Really like the size of it and the activeness. Second choice would be a lab, great family dogs I personally just have a probably with the size. I have gotten over it a lot and may be getting one this spring also but my first choice if I had the pick of all dogs lined up would be a english brittney spaniel. Good Luck

 

[PabloCruise]

Pound pups are good.

I don't think you can beat a German Shepherd for a family dog.
The GSD is amazing with kids. They will tolerate all from little members of your clan. The minute an outsider looks at them, they will show a little tooth, basically asking, "you want some of this?"

Shepherds seem to either be loved or feared. Not a lot of gray area with that breed.

I had a GSD AND a Golden Retriever - both were great!

 

[LIVERUST]

I've had my chesapeak for 7 years now. She is extremely gentle around little kids. She is a bit harder to train than a lab, as she gets her feelings hurt and sulks. She does well with ducks but we found she can swallow a morning dove whole, I guess she figures the small birds are for her. She is very good in cold weather. I take her winter camping with me and she sleeps comfortably in the vestibule. Only down side is everyone thinks she is a chocolate lab. It's worse than people calling my cruiser a jeep constantly.

Troy

 

[Ming89FJ62]

Bernese Mountain Dog - great w/ kids, no drool (think Newfie and St. Bernards), loves the cold and being outside, definately a "people" dog - they won't leave your side. Heavy under coat = lots of sheading in the spring. Males run 100 lbs +, females 85 lbs +. Just a big lap dog w/ tons of love.

 

[woody]

I have a Chesapeake Bay Retreiver (Teak)....GREAT dog, 110# of fur and drool. However, they are notoriously aggressive, protective, not good with children, etc. Mine is great with kids, and not aggressive, but is VERY protective. He pretty much ignores all other dogs, unless they are aggressive to him, and then he's not shy about kickin ass on most anything.

He is 100% NOT an indoor dog...he's 13+ years old right now, and hasn't been indoors since he was 6 months. Oily coarse hair is great for cold and wet weather, but a disaster indoors, and his solid tail will leave dents in your sheet rock walls (trust me...)

Chessies are stubborn as hell too...C has zero control over him, I only ask once and he knows. When I first got him, I was told to buy an oak 2x4, add nails, and still expect to lose any arguements...never got to that, but I do recall many a "discussion" where I won simply by being bigger, stronger, and more stubborn...

A gal I dated 15 years back had a family Golden...bit her son badly...I've not been a fan since. Any dog can "go off" tho...Teak used to have the little neighbor girl crawl over his fencing, eat his dog food, and he'd walk circles around the kennel until she fell asleep in the doghouse...I came home from work more than once to find that, and my constant warnings to the neighbor gal were ignored...but he was great with her and all other kids he's around. (once they get over the slobber anyways....)

Personally, Chocolate lab...smaller in size usually, good all around dog, easily trained.


add: my Chessie was purchased thru a private guy in Brainerd....nasty snowstorm in Nov 2001 IIRC....guy lived on the Mississippi and had a neat place up there...

 

[Landpimp]

any of the 3 you mentioned would be great. Me I am a lab guy, I am on my 4th and will have a 5th ect ect.

 

[IDave]

I am for rescuing dogs as well. Far too many homeless animals. Who are fine and need the love. And a 4 y/o boy doesn't care about breeding papers.

 

[willmaxr]

I am for rescuing dogs as well. Far too many homeless animals. Who are fine and need the love. And a 4 y/o boy doesn't care about breeding papers.

I guess I should have mentioned that in the poll. My wife takes the boys to the pound about 2x per week to walk dogs. We certainly have not ruled that out either. :whoops:

Thanks for the info so far!

 

[Jman]

I vote mutt. Go rescue a dog. Seriously.

I love dogs, love lots of breeds, an Irish Setter would fit your criteria, I would have chosen Chesapeake myself (one with an immense head ) if forced to pick off that list, love Malamutes but the family would say no, same with Staffordshire, but actually the whole "breed" thing tends to piss me off more and more. (I mean, really--apply that logic to people and you will see where I'm going.) Dogs are living organisms--yeah, maybe they have genetic traits, but they are individuals.

So, I say go to the pound (or use a rescue agency) and get some dog that fits the general criteria and have fun. If you absolutely must have a purebred, go through a breeder, not a pet store.

 

[willmaxr]

I vote mutt. Go rescue a dog. Seriously.

I love dogs, love lots of breeds, an Irish Setter would fit your criteria, I would have chosen Chesapeake myself (one with an immense head ) if forced to pick off that list, love Malamutes but the family would say no, same with Staffordshire, but actually the whole "breed" thing tends to piss me off more and more. (I mean, really--apply that logic to people and you will see where I'm going.) Dogs are living organisms--yeah, maybe they have genetic traits, but they are individuals.

So, I say go to the pound (or use a rescue agency) and get some dog that fits the general criteria and have fun. If you absolutely must have a purebred, go through a breeder, not a pet store.

I think I am going to hear rescue a lot. And that's cool - it's what my heart was telling me anyway. Breeders (some) wierd me out anyway. Can you say "Best in Show"?

 

[bsilva132]

Lab. Great family dogs, protective, but not aggressive, highly active, love to be part of the family. My two (black and a yellow) are inside/outside dogs. If we are home they are inside with us and get into trouble if they can't be part of the family (chewing on the house, plants, shoes, etc.). So if you want an independent dog, a lab might not be the best choice. Mine also shed quite a bit, but we just vacuum more often. All in all they are great companions and are great with kids.
-Brian

 

[concretejungle]

I agree, labs are great family dogs. They do need companionship or else they will get bored and start tearing stuff up.

I also would have voted for a golden. My old neighbor had a golden, it was one of the best dogs i have ever been around. IT would wait ouside our house to walk my sisters to the bus stop EVERY morning, and then be there to walk them home. It almost brings a tear to my eye remembering how great he was. RIP Decafe.

 

[Mr.Bryan]

www.Americanbrittanyrescue.com My mom's worked with them for years. Brittanys are awesome dogs. We have two and they've just been awesome. Great family dogs medium sized (about 40 lbs.) They dont shed, they have a dry mouth (no drool) . I couldnt ask for a better dog.

 

[CruisinGA]

Llewellyan Setter

 

[archie]

I voted Lab because we had one. The only thing I would consider next time I get a dog is the hair factor. Dog hair can be so fine that it can end up everywhere floating around and landing in your food and attracting moths(for those who have wool clothing and rugs). It will even end up in the cooling lines of your refrigerator. Just something to consider when looking at the longer haired varieties.

 

[Doc]

Rescue a Malamute. They are awesome with kids, and LOVE the outdoors. You could also safely leave him/her outside during the winter if you had to and not have to worry about it.

A small word of warning about Mal's. They are 'terra-formers'. Which means they'll dig up every patch of green in your yard if you let them. My advice would be to build a decent sized kennel or run with large diameter crushed rock as a base. You could safely leave the pooch there and not worry about the yard. Mine are outside all day when I'm at work since I can't trust them alone in the house. Of course, when you're outside with them I wouldn't worry about the kennel.

There are a million and one rescue groups out there- use them.

The Minnesota Malamute Club of America is a good resource.

http://www.minnesotamalamuteclub.com/mnmaldoc.htm

They'll help you decide if the greatest dog on earth is right for you.

 

[flounder]

Rottweiler

I have a two year old and three dogs, a Rottie, a sheltie mix, and a border collie mix and the Rottie is by far the best of the three. Great with the two year and by great I mean, lays there and takes whatever my daughter can dish out without getting the least bit anoyed. Excellent with family and VERY protective of my daughter. She won't even let the other two dogs near her whnen they are all together. I would adopt though, far to many great animals out there than to wait for a new one. Every dog is great, it's the jackasses associated with the animals that give the bad reps and bad training. I'll have a rottie for the rest of my life.