agomez
Frijoles
just remember big dogs take big dumps....i vote a jack russell.....also new pups like to chew the s*** out of everthing......
what dog breed do YOU recommend and why?
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Yeah, it is kind of funny how they can sense when someone has ill intentions. In my post above, I hope I did not convey that labs won't be aggressive at all. I live out in the country so occasionally people pull in the drive when they are lost. The dogs will bark and puff their chests out and make a show, but if someone exits the car in a normal fashion the dogs will cautiously approach to try to make friends. I did have one guy that got out of his car and started walking rapidly up the drive. They were not happy about that and instantly went on the offensive.
I have a Chessie also. Big dog. Lots of lab mentality and playfulness, but a little more on the aggressive side with strangers and strange dogs.
Border terrier.
My boy is awesome and has the true boprder traits.
Border Terrier - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
My boy is awesome and has the true boprder traits.
Border Terrier - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
We have a 12 yr old Shih Tzu with paralized hind legs. He scoots around the hardwood floors pretty well and is happy for a 12 yr old. Anyway, last Sunday we had a new matress delivered and two 250 lb guys came in and walked the stuff up the stairs like they were carring a box of tissue paper. Maxx was at the bottom of the stairs (trying) to bark in his feeble way and my wife noticed the guys at the top of the stairs frozen in fear. "Whats wrong ?" "We are afraid of dogs" We looked at Maxx and looked at the guys cowered at the top and burst into laughter (not at them, the situation) Everybody had a good laugh at that one, including the delivery guys. Maxx's last hurrah...
I would suggest an Australian Shephard - we have had them instead of Border Collies because they are a little less hyper and a little less timid. Ours follow us around constantly and are very close without being overly protective. They don't need as much attention as Borders and ours have all been incredibly smart and easy to train. Some make better companions and others better working dogs, sometimes you can find a working dog trainer who has some that are too cattle shy to make stock dogs but would make great pets.
I would not suggest an Australian Cattle Dog or "Heeler" because they can be very hard headed and ill tempered in my experiences with many, many of these animals as both pets and working dogs. There are a few exceptions but as a general rule they are harder to control and give in to their natural instincts of chasing things much easier than do Aussies.
I am also looking for a couple new Aussie pups in the next 6mos to 1 year timeframe and know a very good breeder in the N. Colorado area if you are interested in getting a new puppy from a reputable source rather than a rescue dog.
I would not suggest an Australian Cattle Dog or "Heeler" because they can be very hard headed and ill tempered in my experiences with many, many of these animals as both pets and working dogs. There are a few exceptions but as a general rule they are harder to control and give in to their natural instincts of chasing things much easier than do Aussies.
I am also looking for a couple new Aussie pups in the next 6mos to 1 year timeframe and know a very good breeder in the N. Colorado area if you are interested in getting a new puppy from a reputable source rather than a rescue dog.
rusty_tlc
Dain Bramaged Member
I saw Standard poodle on your list.
If you can get by the bias people will have they are great dogs. I've had four in my life.
They are smart, very athletic, great indoor dogs, and very loving.
They don't shed but do require grooming which is an ongoing expense of ownership. Unless you learn how to do it yourself. I figure what we save in dry cleaning and time vacuuming more than pays to get Jakes hair cut every four to six weeks.
At first your friends may poke fun at you, but after they figure out that a Standard isn't just a super sized lap dog they will be impressed.
Jake is at home right now, he will be in the house for 10 hours. When I get home he will be more interested in greeting me than taking a whizz. Every Standard I've had was like this, they will never mess in the house unless they are sick.
They have no problem sleeping all day while you are at work then sleeping all night. On the weekends they will run all day. Two weeks ago Jake was still going when my friends hunting dog was pooped.
If you can get by the bias people will have they are great dogs. I've had four in my life.
They are smart, very athletic, great indoor dogs, and very loving.
They don't shed but do require grooming which is an ongoing expense of ownership. Unless you learn how to do it yourself. I figure what we save in dry cleaning and time vacuuming more than pays to get Jakes hair cut every four to six weeks.
At first your friends may poke fun at you, but after they figure out that a Standard isn't just a super sized lap dog they will be impressed.
Jake is at home right now, he will be in the house for 10 hours. When I get home he will be more interested in greeting me than taking a whizz. Every Standard I've had was like this, they will never mess in the house unless they are sick.
They have no problem sleeping all day while you are at work then sleeping all night. On the weekends they will run all day. Two weeks ago Jake was still going when my friends hunting dog was pooped.
I second this vote. My boxer is very gentle with my kids that came along long after we had him. I watched a friend's little one and every time he cried, my dog came to check on him too. Mine is also smart as hell and even at 13 (though deaf and missing one eye) he tries to run around and play like when he was a pup. I doubt I will ever own another kind of dog actually as much as there are other breeds that are possibly as nice.
I'll throw in my .02 here. Growing up we had two black lab/golden mixes. They were both fantastic dogs. One is still alive. She is 15, and still reasonably healthy. I thing labs and goldens are great dogs. They wouldn't be as popular if they werent. The nice thing about a mix is that, at least in our expirience, you avoid a lot of the issues with inbreeding and avoid many of the health issues. Both of ours had shorter hair and looked like black labs. They were easy to train and extremely obedient.
I now have 2 boxers. both are about 2 years old. They are also great pets, but they are certainly different than the labs. They are extremely high energy. We run them about 3 miles a day and I'm not sure it's enough. Anyway they have been more destructive than the labs were.
The Boxers have been great with other puppies and children. They also get along well with most other dogs. The one problem I have with them is that they are not as obedient as the labs were and they have a natural instinct to chase anything that moves. They have almost been killed twice because of it. They had been around horses plenty of times, but one time a few months ago we were at my wifes parents house and they have a 2 yr old colt. Anyway it spooked and they took of after it. They corralled all 5 of the horses and went right into the corral with them. They were jumping at them and trying to bite them. I'm sure they though it was a big game, but a horse will kill a dog without thinking twice. And they were trying... ANyway once I got their attention they pulled off the chase, but it was very difficult to break their focus. I never had that issue with my labs. It was as if they didn't hear me at all. As soon as I could get one to look at me it was over. Anyway it happened a second time camping. We were in the Uinta mountains and let them off their leashes. They normally just hang around camp like most other dogs. I didn't know there were cattle in the area. They gave chase and the cattle ran. My wife and I chased them for probably 3-4 miles through the woods until the cows got tired. Same situation. Once we caught up with them they seemed obedient, but it was as if they were in some type of zone that blocked the rest of the world. That was also a major PITA because we had to wander around in the woods for a couple hours trying to find the road we were on to get back to the car. They never go off leash anymore. I simply cannot trust them and they do not understand how easily they can be killed by larger animals. My labs never had a chase instinct. I never saw that type of a switch trip with them.
I live in town and have a fenced yard, so it's not too big of deal, however I do wish I could take them to the parks and let them run or let the off leash in the woods. I'm not sure if it's just the nature of boxers, or that ours are just not properly trained. I've been working on keeping a consistent training program to help with their obedience, but I may have to resort to shock collars. I don't want to. I will say that they are very smart, just not that eager to please. Maybe I haven't been hard enough on them. I ususally use positive reinforcement.
On the other hand they are better dogs for city living IMO. They can handle long periods of being idle. They dont shed a whole lot, and they have short hair. They are low maintenance, and they are really clean.
I guess that's been my experience. Good for you for rescuing a dog. One of ours was rescued and one was from a breeder. The rescued boxers is the better behaved of the two. I think she appreciates her home more.
I now have 2 boxers. both are about 2 years old. They are also great pets, but they are certainly different than the labs. They are extremely high energy. We run them about 3 miles a day and I'm not sure it's enough. Anyway they have been more destructive than the labs were.
The Boxers have been great with other puppies and children. They also get along well with most other dogs. The one problem I have with them is that they are not as obedient as the labs were and they have a natural instinct to chase anything that moves. They have almost been killed twice because of it. They had been around horses plenty of times, but one time a few months ago we were at my wifes parents house and they have a 2 yr old colt. Anyway it spooked and they took of after it. They corralled all 5 of the horses and went right into the corral with them. They were jumping at them and trying to bite them. I'm sure they though it was a big game, but a horse will kill a dog without thinking twice. And they were trying... ANyway once I got their attention they pulled off the chase, but it was very difficult to break their focus. I never had that issue with my labs. It was as if they didn't hear me at all. As soon as I could get one to look at me it was over. Anyway it happened a second time camping. We were in the Uinta mountains and let them off their leashes. They normally just hang around camp like most other dogs. I didn't know there were cattle in the area. They gave chase and the cattle ran. My wife and I chased them for probably 3-4 miles through the woods until the cows got tired. Same situation. Once we caught up with them they seemed obedient, but it was as if they were in some type of zone that blocked the rest of the world. That was also a major PITA because we had to wander around in the woods for a couple hours trying to find the road we were on to get back to the car. They never go off leash anymore. I simply cannot trust them and they do not understand how easily they can be killed by larger animals. My labs never had a chase instinct. I never saw that type of a switch trip with them.
I live in town and have a fenced yard, so it's not too big of deal, however I do wish I could take them to the parks and let them run or let the off leash in the woods. I'm not sure if it's just the nature of boxers, or that ours are just not properly trained. I've been working on keeping a consistent training program to help with their obedience, but I may have to resort to shock collars. I don't want to. I will say that they are very smart, just not that eager to please. Maybe I haven't been hard enough on them. I ususally use positive reinforcement.
On the other hand they are better dogs for city living IMO. They can handle long periods of being idle. They dont shed a whole lot, and they have short hair. They are low maintenance, and they are really clean.
I guess that's been my experience. Good for you for rescuing a dog. One of ours was rescued and one was from a breeder. The rescued boxers is the better behaved of the two. I think she appreciates her home more.
I'm going with the Golden or Labs. I currently only have one Golden, he's about 80 some pounds as well. His demeanor is fantastic and he works well with other (people and dogs). I plan on getting another this summer.
The only other one I'd consider is a "Flat Coat Retriever"
Maybe I'm choosing the retriever because we are very water/hunting/family oriented, but they are great dogs.
I've seen just a few too many basket case German Shepards and the like.
The only other one I'd consider is a "Flat Coat Retriever"
Maybe I'm choosing the retriever because we are very water/hunting/family oriented, but they are great dogs.
I've seen just a few too many basket case German Shepards and the like.
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Cruiserdrew
On the way there
I still miss our Springer Spaniel and it's been 6 months or more. They are active, smart, happy, healthy dogs. They are amazingly tireless. You can't wear them out. They want to do whatever you want to do. They don't shed too badly, slightly smaller than a Lab-45-50 pounds. The whole spaniel family makes good people dogs. Excellent pheasant dog too if you like to hunt.
I'll get another at some point.
I'll get another at some point.
I vote Lab.
Smart, fantastic with the kids, loves the outdoors, ours travels well, and they do chew, but he has had the toy frog for 9 months and hasn't destroyed it. He only chews on Kongs and a rope toy, not anything else. He is 78 pounds and will be 1 on Feb 5th.
Dave
Smart, fantastic with the kids, loves the outdoors, ours travels well, and they do chew, but he has had the toy frog for 9 months and hasn't destroyed it. He only chews on Kongs and a rope toy, not anything else. He is 78 pounds and will be 1 on Feb 5th.
Dave
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Peepers, the coincidence is pretty funny. My brother lives in Denver, Co, and his pregnant Chocolate Lab's name is Peepers. She is going to be due in early April, I have been waiting for him to breed his dog for 4 years. It is probably the healthiest lab I have ever seen. It's mother was an English Lab and has a great bloold line, even my Stepfather, who is a vet, thinks the world of his lab. I can't wait to get a puppy from him, late wedding gift to us from my brother. Labs are tricky due to their popularity, usually the best breeders are the ones who breed them for hunting as they are very particular about blood lines and verifying hip dispatia. His Peepers is from Idaho. My $.02.
I vote Lab.
Smart, fantastic with the kids, loves the outdoors, ours travels well, and they do chew, but he has had the toy frog for 9 months and hasn't destroyed it. He only chews on Kongs and a rope toy, not anything else. He is 78 pounds and will be 1 on Feb 5th.
Dave
Mine didn't get the don't destroy while chewing gene. He has eaten two temporary tags off of cars in my yard now, and about a 1/4 mile of water hoses.
You can work w/ labs when they are pups to develope a soft mouth. Takes some work, but it is worth it if you value your shoes.
A little story about the "lack of aggressiveness" of Labs:
My wife and youngest were home and the doorbell rang, we have trained Chaco to sit at the corner of the 6x6 tiled section in front of the door when we answer. The guy was sketchy at best and wanted to be let in (Not a good idea, My wife carries a .45) Chaco sensed the danger and stood up and used what for the first time was ever heard, his "Man bark" and stood right next to my wife at the door and continued barking. The guy left, was later arrested for trespassing a few doors away. He was only 9 months old at the time and we had never heard a real bark from him prior.
Another time we were dogsitting a PITA Aussie and he kept sort of nipping at my kids. Chaco kept himself between the kids and the Aussie the whole night and wouldn't let the Aussie near them.
He's a good boy.
My wife and youngest were home and the doorbell rang, we have trained Chaco to sit at the corner of the 6x6 tiled section in front of the door when we answer. The guy was sketchy at best and wanted to be let in (Not a good idea, My wife carries a .45) Chaco sensed the danger and stood up and used what for the first time was ever heard, his "Man bark" and stood right next to my wife at the door and continued barking. The guy left, was later arrested for trespassing a few doors away. He was only 9 months old at the time and we had never heard a real bark from him prior.
Another time we were dogsitting a PITA Aussie and he kept sort of nipping at my kids. Chaco kept himself between the kids and the Aussie the whole night and wouldn't let the Aussie near them.
He's a good boy.
