Any dog lovers around?

[DaveNV]

The Westminster Kennel Club dog show is tomorrow and Tuesday, February 13 and 14. It's broadcast on USA and CNBC networks. I enjoy watching it every year, trying to pick the dogs I think should be the winners. I'm right about half the time.

This year is a bit different, because I'm looking for a new dog. I had to say goodbye to my 13 year old longhaired Mini Dachshund three years ago, and I've been waiting till the time was right to find a new dog to share my life. I think this is the year. Problem is, I don't know which breed to pick. I don't think I want another Mini Doxie, because I'm afraid I'll always compare it to my previous pet. So I'm breed shopping.

What do you own, why is it the best (or worst) breed ever, and/or what breed do you recommend I look into? I prefer purebreds, only because they're more predictable, but I'm not totally against a quality mixed breed. I'm pretty good with training and such, so most any breed is a contender, as long as it's a good fit. Tell me your thoughts.

Dave

 

[artringwald]

golden retriever

We're on our 5th golden retriever, and wouldn't consider any other breed. What makes them special? They like people! They love your attention. They're easy to train because they want to please you. They're excited to see you when you come home. They're smart enough to understand what you want them to do. The only downside is that because they're a large breed and working dogs, they do need exercise. Unfortunately, they're so popular, the over breeding leaves them more prone to hip and skin problems. If you get one, get it from a reputable breeder, or better yet, from a rescue agency that lets you "borrow" the dog to see if things will work out.

 

[Passepartout]

Don't bother me. I'm watching the Westminster with my Black Cocker Spaniel on CNBC. We're busy. Cherry is easily the best dog I've owned. Her coat needs groomed, but has a very even temperament. She was my DW's 'office hostess' until I retired and she decided to stay home with me. DW's clients miss her.

My brother has standard poodles that do field trials. It's hilarious! But when they came to visit, we were outside and I told my cocker to 'go poop'. She did. Bro said that was the greatest trick he'd ever seen! I told him it was normal for her.

SPOILER ALERT! DON'T LOOK IF IT MATTERS Black Cocker Spaniel wins Sporting Group.
I wouldn't have picked the dog that the judge picked as Best Of Show. but maybe, just maybe I'm biased.

Jim

 

[MommaBear]

We love our labs and were breeders for 12 years. I love my labs for the same reasons that artringwald loves his goldens- happy, eager to please, smart dogs. The down side for a lot of people is the size. I am also very fond of both beagles and cocker spaniels. There are breeders who are working to decrease the bark in the beagle. This takes away from their value as a hunting dog, but makes them a better pet. Cocker spaniels are great pets- affectionate, easy to train and not as active as beagles, labs or goldens. Both cockers and beagles are int he 20 to 30 pound range, which to me is the ideal size. We have had as many as 6 labs living with us and that is a lot of dog, hair, food and the results of eating that food...

Good luck finding the right dog for you. There are descriptions of each breed on the AKC website. They talk about the breed, the qualities of the dog, how active they may be and how they fit into people's lives. Some dogs are easy to train, some are one people dogs and some are aloof. Some take a lot of physical maintenance such as grooming, eye care, ear care, nail trimming. It all depends on what you are looking for!

 

[ronparise]

We went through what you are going through 11 years ago after Bear diedHe was a 17 year old Peek-a-Poo I never thought Id warm uo to a poodle, but he was quite a guy....After he died we, like you, took some time off. until we got Millie and Maddie. Two Cock a Poos..They are now 11 years old I cant imagine having another breed, unless it was a something-poodle mix..they are smart, play-full, cuddly, good with kids, and they dont shed

 

[SpikeMauler]

English Bulldogs!!! We own two, Lucky and Lola. Lucky is 10yrs old and Lola is 8months old. They are the most loving dogs and do the funniest things. Bullies have a personality all there own. People stop to pet them all the time. They're also great with kids and don't need a lot of exercise(nor do they want it.Well,the 10 yr old anyway)
Good Luck

 

[stmartinfan]

Our first and still missed dog was a bichon and I'd definitely recommend the breed if you want a smart dog with lots of personality that loves people. We didn't ever try to do the official puffy coat, just kept it short and it was easy to care for. Also great that they didn't shed and good for people with allergies.

He was good when our kids were young because, while a smaller breed, bichons are actually strong and sturdy dogs. I don't think they've been overbreed yet, but we were careful to buy from a very reputable breeder and actually visited their home to see the dog as a puppy weeks befor we took him home.

Our current dog is a rescue dog, picked by my daughter after we lost our bichon. He appears to be a Westie Schnauzer mix. About twenty pounds, so similar
in size. But because he was abandoned, he's very attached to me, follows me around the house, etc., so he's a bit needier than I'm used to. Also the terrier mix is much more protective and barky than the bichon was, which I find less appealing. Of course despite the negatives, he's still a beloved member of the family. But it is interesting how breed characteristics do appeal differently to people.

I also wondered if a second bichon would ever match up to our first one, because he was such a character.

 

[dmharris]

Sorry for the long post, but I ADORE dogs!

I applaud you waiting for the right time for a new dog. I also think you're smart to not try to replicate your past dog. I'm not in love with any breed (well, that's a lie, there are a few I adore) but I do fall in love with the personality of every dog we've owned.

We have found great dogs, purebreeds, on the street, in shelters, through petfinders.com and by rescue websites. I am not a fan of buying a purebred when so many dogs need homes. Every dog who NEEDS a home has turned out to thank us over and over. 25% of the dogs in our local shelter are purebred. With that said, someone has to buy purebreds so the breed continues, so if this is your comfort level, then go for it.

I used to volunteer to help people pick out the right dog at our shelter. I'm not a fan of owning a puppy because of the work, training and baby/toddler two year period before they're supposed to be an adult. So I tend to recommend adult dogs. I look for one that cares about the people they meet, and not want to bolt out of the building on a leash. Also take into consideration your land situation, as some dogs run (ours are trained on an Invisible Fence).

With that said, we've had remarkable luck over the years with an:

• Airedale Terrier = found him on the city streets at 3 months old, long story, not dependable with cats or small children, protector of his family, but very sensitive to your moods, affectionate.
• Harrier Hound = like a tall beagle but more elegant; howls and taught our other dogs to do so when fire or police alarms drive by, needs room to run, wants to hunt, good companion.
• Wire-Haired German Pointer = SMART, territorial, wants to hunt, ornery.
• English Springer Spaniel = Sweet, can have a bad temperament if from an over bred strain but a good one is a friend that you'll adore and never forget; may be a digger, hunter.
• Cocker Spaniel mixes = Oh those eyes! Usually great family dog; sheds
• Bison Frise = what a fool, spunky, playful, affectionate, has hair no fur so no shedding, loves to play fetch, very smart, needs grooming (like you do for a haircut)
• Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier = Gentle, but big (ours is tall) and bouncy, needs exercise, affectionate, thinks he's a lap dog (50 LB) and also has hair no fur.

The last three are what we have currently plus two cats.

So many things to consider. Take a drive to your local shelter and look around. Or go to a good breeder, ask how many litters the bitch produces annually; ideally less than one otherwise it's a puppy mill/breeding machine which is not ideal.

When you decide on a breed, go to the AKC website, look up the breed and find the rescue link and explore options there.

Best of luck, this is an exciting time for you!

 

[BevL]

We've had a bichon as one of the former posters. She was a dear little thing and we loved her dearly. Very easy, they don't shed. A good choice if you don't have room for them to run around. She was a purebred. Don't know how to describe it, sort of a combination of shy to timid.

My absolute favourite dog that we've had though was a mini schnauzer. Bright but not smarter than me - why I'll never get a Jack Russell. Small enough for in the house, but active. And they don't shed. I would suggest that they need a yard or good daily exercise. I still miss him terribly.

We currently have a Lhasa/Shih Tzu cross. Frankly, he's my least favourite dog. He dotes on Greg and tolerates me as long as I remember I am definitely third on his totem pole. It has taken lots of "calm assertive" energy to deal with that since I started working at home three years ago, but now we've reached an understanding and I do love him. Apparently Lhasas have lots of attitude.

 

[Talent312]

A colleague of mine is showing his English Cocker at Westminster.

Apparently, your dog must have a high rank to qualify for an invitation.
Their handler drove the dog from Florida to avoid the trauma of a flight.
His dog is currently ranked 9th in breed. He says they don't expect to win.

 

[pwrshift]

I've had a black cocker spaniel, a party colored cocker, poodle, and Dalmatians.

3 of my 6 were Dals (at different times) so you know how I feel. The Cockers both were sickly, the poodle was extremely high strung (but no falling hair) and the Dals are considered a medium sized breed and due to short hair you get white hairs everywhere but no grooming cost. they are very active dogs, need a place to run, are not fussy eaters, and very protective of you, family members, and your home. Their spots are unique...all you need is a picture for an ID.

My last Dal was the best dog I ever had...after 15 years 10 months she passed last June. We still miss her greatly. http://vimeo.com/26736177

I've thought about getting a new Dal but I'm not ready yet...as you get older you do remember the amount of training time dogs take, how you don't like leaving them behind when you go timesharing, and the emotions of end of life.

 

[dioxide45]

We are cat people.

 

[Passepartout]

Forgive me. I was being catty. Never mind.

 

[GeraldineT]

Have an incredible Boston Terrier. Got him about 6 months after we got married which was 6 months before or first child was born. He is an amazing member of our family. I swear he is capable of human emotion. He is incredibly bright but yet not stubborn. 6 years and 2 more kids later he is still as much fun as ever. Great with the kids. Loves to play but also a snuggler. Rarely barks and not a big shedder. IMO the perfect size dog. Small enough that I can carry him but manly enough that my husband doesn't look foolish waking a "ball of fur".

 

[ausman]

Every so often some here posts about knowing what is the time to put their beloved dog down. We can relate to that having to do it twice in 27 years. I suppose we have been lucky, only having to do it twice.

Nice to see it on the other end. We have had Border Collie mixes, both shelter dogs, one smooth hair and one rough coat. Both fantastic dogs, smart, loyal, good with the kids and somewhat against type in that they didn't require a lot of activity and physical challenges, but were certainly up for that if offered. On the smart level, when our son was about 3 yrs old and had some language, Tessie, smooth hair collie had at least 300 words or commands recognised, which son #1 did not.

The pain of the last loss has us between dogs, probably retirement years now before we attempt it again. Boarding kennel fees and the need to spend a day often before and after travel also contribute to a delay.

Naturally I'd be looking for another Border Collie.

 

[slip]

My son lost his beloved Max after 15 years, just this past summer. Best dog we
ever had. He was a Sheltie. Really smart good looking dog. My wife trained him
and did an excellent job. Shelties are barkers and do shed a lot but everything
else made up for those short comings.

We now have a Yorkie. She's 2 years old and a great dog too. Cute as hell but
still leaves us presents on the carpet maybe once a month.:annoyed:

 

[chellej]

We have had lots over the years. Our favorites:

Shelties - we have had 4, Lance is currently about 12 and winding down - Starting to have arthritus issues

Siberian Husky - Actually she is my DS' dog who currently is deployed. Beautiful animal but they are a challenge to keep in the yard, dig and need lots of exercise.

Black Lab - Loyal, don't bark - shed terrible but very smart and easy to train. Ours is a little OCD.

Our least favorite:

Irish Setter - the one we had DH swore someone had dropped her on her head when she was a puppy - not very smart.

We have also had an american spitz, yorkie, golden retreiver, and shepard mix.

 

[MuranoJo]

I grew up with dogs and pretty much have had a dog my whole life.

Had an Airedale at a young age, a mixed breed, a Scotch Collie (wonderful dog!), then met DH and moved to hunting breeds. Started with a Black Lab, and then on to German Shorthair pointers, which we've had ever since. We usually have two at a time to keep each other company--one older and one younger.

In my experience, they're good with kids, easy house pets, short hair of course (clean), very lovable and smart. However, these larger hunting breeds need exercise--not the kind of pet you'd want with a small yard.

Worse thing about having pets is what to do with them when you travel. We eventually started paying for housesitters we trust, but it's not always easy to find someone you trust.

 

[heathpack]

Work with dogs all day every day. Obviously I like em a lot. There is tons I could say on the subject but would need a little more info. What are you looking for in a dog? Athletic? Lazy? Good at tricks? Low maintenance?

In general, many terrier and herding dogs are what I would consider for "advanced" dog owners. They can be too smart and energetic for everyone's good but with an owner who knows what they are doing, they can be tons of fun. Toy breeds are bred to be sweetie pies and most are, but be aware they are genetically "freaks" within average way more medical problems, open a bank account just in case. Hounds and smart and sporty, but not necessarily eager to please (ie they don't always listen). Many bird dogs are smart and trainable, although some (like setters) are so high energy you have to basically exhaust them before they will ever hear you- and it typically takes something like a 30 mile run to exhaust them, lol. Giant dogs have short lifespans, be prepared for your heart to be broken in 6 years if you get one. Dogs with pushed in faces have lots of respiratory problems and they gulp a lot of air when they breathe which makes them very farty (seriously!!!).

Best all around dogs for your casual pet owner IMO:
1. Standard poodle
2. Beagle
3. Whippet
4. Cocker Spaniel, English over American
5. Golden Retriever or alternatively Flat-Coated Retriever
6. Papillon
7. Fox Terrier
8. Miniature Schnauzer

That said, my personal favorites are:
1. Daschund
2. Setter (any)
3. English Cocker
4. Bull terrier
5. Standard poodle
6. Bearded collie
7. Pointer
8. Border terrier
9. Papillion

One more piece of advice: most people who have owned a great dog believe they made their dog great. The truth is they really just didn't screw up a great dog. Temperament/personality is absolutely something than can/is bred. If you decide to go for a purebred dog, you want to find a breeder who is intentionally producing dogs with good heads on their shoulders. A mixed breed puppy or a puppy whose parentage is unknown to you will always be a crapshoot. If you decide to get a mixed breed dog, I'd recommend either getting an adult or a juvenile (8-9 month old), it's way easier to tell what kind of dog they will be.

H

 

[stmartinfan]

We've had a bichon as one of the former posters. She was a dear little thing and we loved her dearly. Very easy, they don't shed. A good choice if you don't have room for them to run around. She was a purebred. Don't know how to describe it, sort of a combination of shy to timid.

.

Interesting to see differences even in a breed. Our bichon was a male and I would never have described him as shy or timid. Loveable, yes,but slight
larger in size than some bichons and quite outgoing and engaging with the big bichon eyes. Also someone else mentioned theirs as liking to play fetch. Ours never would consider that as an activity to waste his time on. He had quite a list of tricks he'd do, but no interest in chasing a ball!

 

[dmharris]

If you decide to get a mixed breed dog, I'd recommend either getting an adult or a juvenile (8-9 month old), it's way easier to tell what kind of dog they will be.

H

Agree 100%! And easier because they're more likely to be past the chewing stage.

 

[dmharris]

Interesting to see differences even in a breed. Our bichon was a male and I would never have described him as shy or timid. Loveable, yes,but slight
larger in size than some bichons and quite outgoing and engaging with the big bichon eyes. Also someone else mentioned theirs as liking to play fetch. Ours never would consider that as an activity to waste his time on. He had quite a list of tricks he'd do, but no interest in chasing a ball!

I'm the "someone" and our boy thinks he's the "Big Dog" of the house, when he's really the smallest. He has a big attitude and spunky as all get-out! Loves sticks to chew and fetch as well. We can't say ball or he goes and gets his to play fetch. He also likes to go "BYE-BYE"!

They become like the next generation of your children, don't they?

 

[ScubaKat]

I used to breed and show poms before dd came. Was active in APC and local clubs. My first puppy in the house Cary went on to be an AKC Ch. with an invitation to Eukenuba before he started showing signs of alepecia X.. We brought him home and neutered him.. He is much happier as a spoiled pet and recoated fully.

We also had a golden and a blue merle aussie.. All were the greatest dogs ever with totally different temperaments. I love pure breds as well and was lucky enough to know the breeders through friends to know their lines... All our dogs (pets) were Ch. sired.. There are just so many horror stories even amoung top show breeders I would recommend researching tons on the breeders. Local breed clubs are a good place to start. Sorry to be off topic! Anyway...

Love our golden.. Biggest teddy bear ever.. Easy to train.. Eager to please.. She would be happy sitting by you all day for attention. Aussies.. Not so much.. Sydney was too smart for his own good.. Tons of socialization during puppyhood to make sure he was happy/friendly to all people, cats and dogs.. When he turned a teenager he was much more stubborn than the golden.. We started working with him on obidience trials and the onto agility which he loved.. He definitely needed a job.

 

[hypnotiq]

Welp! It looks like I'm the only big dog person in here (at least so far).

I had labs growing up my entire life (with the exception of my moms freaking maltese). They are great dogs but when I became an adult, I decided I wanted a dog that was less energetic. LOL

Since then, I've owned Mastiffs. I absolutely adore the breed and they are fantastic pets. I have two currently, one of which is a show dog. They have a fantastic temperment and they let my almost 2yo daughter treat them like a jungle gym. LOL

That said, they aren't for everyone (especiall the neat/clean freaks. :ignore

And please don't ask what kind of horse they are or if they are shetland ponies.

And if you guys don't mind, here's a few pics of my guys.

Standing at over 7ft tall on his hind legs and 220lbs, Selene Requesting a Fly By (Maverick)

Enjoying a hot summer day

My daughter and Rossi, my other one.

And my girl, Selene Pin It To Win It (Bayliss) who passed @ 11mo of CHF.

 

[BevL]

To be fair to our bichon, we got her about two months before we had children, she was a purebred puppy from a breeder we had rsearched. Then I got pregant - a happy surprise - and we had two children in quick succession.

I think it was a bit much for Muffy. She was very good with the kids and we had her until they were both in school, but it was a bit busy for her, I think. I hasten to add that we are NOT people that let our children (and now our grandchildren) abuse the dog.

I would definitely look at getting another bichon - she was a good dog and our life is much quieter now. SHe used to love to chase a ball - she would run right along the ground with her ears flying out behind her.

But Gizmo (Gizzy) our schnauzer was still my favourite. He too we got from a breeder that really put us through the paces before we could have him.

Moe, our current dog was adopted from a rescue organization. He was not quite two when we got him. Not housebreaking a puppy was a huge factor, especially since we were in our condo by then.

I love dogs.