Canine Companions - your experience and recommendations

R

Radrunner

Joined
Mar 6, 2006
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Merry Christmas, Happy holidays and Happy New Year Forumites!

I'm looking at getting a dog in the next year or two here, as i'll be moving in the near future and will miss not having one around the house. So i have entered into a long look and exploration into the breed of dog I would like.

I'm looking for a very outdoor going dog. I want something I can take hiking, backpacking, and will comfortably head out camping for a week or more (backcountry). That said, I want something that will also be good around the house, won't run away if the leash comes off (such as most huskies), and is good with kids and other animals. Obedience is good, but i'm not planning on taking into competition or anything, so it doesn't have to be psychotically well behaved.

Currently the front runner is a Czechoslovakian Wolfdog. Primarily for it's intense loyalty, endurance, good health and temperment. While it has a few issues due to it's cross breeding, I'm confident i can handle them (for those not familiar with this breed, the Czech army cross breed a German Shepherd and a wold about 50 years ago. It inherited characteristics from each).

That said, there are alot of dogs out there and I was hoping some of you might be able to share your experience with your dogs, and what breed(s) you'd recommend given your experience and my indications.

A few dogs have been ruled out, such as huskies (as I do want to be able to let the dog off leash often), Akita's (too big for the girlfriend to walk), German Shepherds (Health problems). Australian Shepherds and other herding dogs remain an unknown, as do retrievers. My concern is that with the recent weather up here (-30C) and my love of winter camping and hiking, is not conducive to retriever and many other breeds (border collie, australian shepherd, etc). I currently have a retriever, and once the temperature dipped she can't walk for more than 5 minutes without booties and a coat.

Your thoughts are appreciated!
 
My Golden Retriever loves the snow, especially fresh powder to go bounding through. Good dog that likes work and follows direction well, and great with lids as well but tends to shed a lot. They originated in Scotland so they are comfortable in the cooler climates.
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A friend of mine had a very smart, loyal, and energetic Aussie Shepherd. A great dog if they have room to work off energy.

DaddyDett
 
I would seriously look into getting a mutt from a shelter. It wouldn't be as much of a "roll of the dice" as you might think. Mutts tend to exhibit "hybrid vigor" and don't suffer nearly as much from the health issues that pure breeds are inclined to have.

My avatar came from a shelter, where he was described as a "Husky/Shepherd Mix" (Their best guess- they didn't know) but he could easily pass for a Czech or a Sarloos Wolfdog. You don't know exactly what breed you're getting from a shelter, but you can be sure it'll be a great and grateful dog if you treat it right. :thumbup:
 
MacHete said:
I would seriously look into getting a mutt from a shelter. It wouldn't be as much of a "roll of the dice" as you might think. Mutts tend to exhibit "hybrid vigor" and don't suffer nearly as much from the health issues that pure breeds are inclined to have.

My avatar came from a shelter, where he was described as a "Husky/Shepherd Mix" (Their best guess- they didn't know) but he could easily pass for a Czech or a Sarloos Wolfdog. You don't know exactly what breed you're getting from a shelter, but you can be sure it'll be a great and grateful dog if you treat it right. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Whole heartedly agree:D My dog Rox is the best dog I have ever had. He's a sheltie, beagle, rat terrier, mystery dog:D Shelter dogs for me all the way. I'm sold from here on out:thumbup:
 
try a begian malinois, they are great dogs and very loyal or the tavurn---spelling, this is where the belgian malinois came from of course crossed with the belgian shepherd
 
Yep, go for the Mutt - thats what these two chaps are! Both adopted!

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p.s. the short haired breeds are much easier to groom especially when out and abouts in the woods!
 
+1 on getting a mutt. We have had Labs and they had health issues. We now have two mutts from a rescue and they are great dogs.
 
Mix(mutt) breed is the way to go.

Samoyed mix would be excellent full Samoyed has too much fur.
Very loyal and not interested in leaving the family.
I had a Samoyed/Shepard mix I got at a Supermarket in Arizona, when I moved back to Boston he would sleep out in the snow.

Good Luck
 
My Huskie is actually pretty good off the leash, but he's young (and therefore loves attention) and from what I understand is a bit of an anomaly. Australian Shepards and Black Labs are also great choices, when I was a kid I never had my lab on a leash and she was never more than twenty feet from me.

Of course, every mutt I know is also a great dog.
 
Here's another vote for the shelter dogs, only trouble is on occasion they take a lot of work to get them settled down. Our mostly Rat Terrier had never been socialized and didn't like men much, but after a couple of rounds through an obedience school and some trips out in public such as PetSmart Ace settled down and is an excellent companion and one helluva watch dog!!!!

With that said I'm really fond of the Airedale Terrier! They're not a terrier that absolutely has to be kept groomed and can be let go until they're in, "Full bloom" as I think an un-groomed Airedale was called. But I don't know how they would/could handle that cold of a climate.
Another thing about any, or at least most IMO, of the registered breeds and especially the larger ones such as the German Shepard, which is one of the most well known breeds that's been tampered with, is their health or anatomical issues.
Being aware of those issues I would do my damnedest to stay with the hunting or working lines if I had made up my mind to stay with the registered breeds.
The Airedale has been used as courier dogs in war time and at least one was quite honored for his monumental courage and stamina after getting a message through enemy lines after being wounded several times!
The Airedale is also quite a renowned bear and lion hunting dog.
You mentioned something about the Akita being too large for your girlfriend to walk and that could be a big problem with any of the larger breeds. My largest male Airedale was 26" high at the shoulder and weighed in at 85 pounds but he handled a lead well and my wife at the time had no problem walking him or any of the other four we had.
Another problem with terriers is that they love to dig and especially if there's something living underground such as a mole, vole, or gopher. My backyard looked like a war zone most of the time. :eek: :grumpy: :mad: :(
 
I've always wanted a Rhodesian Ridgeback. They meet all the requirements you listed, although I'm not sure about super cold weather. I've read they are really adaptable to all climates though.

But I also must put a shout out for a shelter dog. I rescued Buddy the Wonderdog from the shelter in Rapid City 8 years ago and couldn't have asked for a better dog. Unfortunately his hips are shot, which has cut out our hiking trips... but he still loves to ride in the Jeep and will go camping with me this coming summer.

http://images.google.com/images?cli...&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=1&ct=title

http://www.breederretriever.com/dog-breeds/201/rhodesian-ridgeback.php
 
If you go for the shelter dog try to get one that has a bit border collie or aussie in him. If you can get one like that they will have the intelligence of those breeds but the nutty hyperness will be toned down a bit.
 
+1 on the rescue/shelter dogs. Best to take all parties going to be responsible for the dog to check 'em out, and really spend a bit of time with the dog before you take them home. In my experience mutts have been some of the most interesting and rewarding kind of dogs to own. If you know what you're looking for, the odds are in your favor. It saves a dog, and it's probably cheaper too.

But if you don't see anyone you like, It's probable breeders in the area will have dogs appropriate to the area. It can be helpful to call and talk to them about the breed, though take it with a grain of salt because the breeder is most definitely going to be biased toward their choice breed of dog.
 
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Code (MacHete's avatar), left, and McCain Fine Gold are two of our shelter pets. As you can see, rescues are quite adaptable creatures. All five of our rescued kitties LOVE their big brother Code! :)

Growing up my family mostly had purebreds - German shepherds, poodles, pomeranians, a dalmation and probably others I don't even remember, but Code is the healthiest, most beautiful and best dog I've ever known.

I know if you look around at a few shelters, you can find your own best dog ever!



"Please don't breed or buy while homeless animals die." - This is our email signature line, so you know where we're coming from. ;)
 
Ok, another vote for a rescue dog, but this time from a Breed Rescue Society. :thumbup:

Many pure bred dogs have breed specific clubs who attempt to ensure that lost, unable to be kept and dumped dogs of their chosen breed are re-homed. Just search 'XZYABC breed club rescue.'

My choice is one of these:

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They tick all the boxes you mentioned as wanted in a breed. Although developed in a hot country, the Rhodesian Ridgeback has adapted well and is now found in all climates.

Here is my Ridgie ...

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Only negative is that they can be stubborn but will finally do as bid especially if a food reward is on offer. ;)

The only place a Ridgie does not want to be is alone by itself.
 
A reputable breeder will very rarely sell a dog with a genetic defect. For the most part, they breed those problems out of their dogs
Not all breeders are reputable.
Know your breeder.

A dog's behavior is mostly the result of his/her experience -- before and after you become the dog's person. They display charateristics not remotely like the overgeneralized descriptions of "the breed" in any book OR from the experience of anyone -- anyone. The younger you get them the more the experience will be the experience with you and yours.

We have loved each of our four "pound" dogs. But they had personality problems that could have convinced other "owners" to give up on them. Der Beagle barked and howled nonstop whenever let out in the yard alone (and never stopped digging to try to "escape."). Pointer mix (having lost its first human to deadly illness at age nine months) was convinced for thirteen years that any time we left we would not return (bark, BARK, howl, HOWL, celebrate! celebrate!!!). ???? mix COULD NOT be house-broken (Many tried.). We never really got a puppy - always a grown dog; "sot in its ways," as the ol' man said. While it is hard to resist the sad eyes of an adult dog less likely to be adopted, the smart approach is to get a puppy.

"The more I meet people, the more I like dogs." Mark Twain
 
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