- Joined
- Jan 20, 2004
- Messages
- 1,526
Ironman -
I commend you for reading and evaluating before buying a dog :thumbup: I did so myself, before finally getting my Newfoundland. I took 3.5 years to find the dog I wanted, but he was well worth it. Of course, it may not take that long for you
Here is an interesting dichotomy that I've found in different dog breeds: the large dog breeds, such as Boxers, Dobermans, Golden Retrievers, and German Shepherds, are high energy animals who need exercise and room to roam (a typical suburban yard is fine, with walks and outings). The giant dog breeds, though, have less energy and, in fact, don't need as much yard to be happy. They do need exercise, of course, but they aren't as wound-up as the large dogs. By giant breeds, I mean dogs like Bull Mastiffs, English Mastiffs, French Mastiffs, Newfoundlands, St. Bernards, etc. Basically, any breed whose males average 130 pounds +.
I don't know exactly what qualities you are looking for, but another dog to consider is a Great Pyrenees. They are wonderful with kids, very protective without being unduly aggressive, and beautiful to boot. They aren't terribly playful, though; their modus operandi is to wander with their "pack", laying at a distance and guarding from all predators. From what I've seen and read, Pyrs have great discernment concerning children. Pyrs can tell that kids is kids, whether part of the family or not, and can distinguish between youth and adult.
Here's a good dog breed selector that will give you good info on numerous breeds as well as open your eyes to options you may not have considered:
http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogselector.do
Their info is decently reliable, too, from what I've seen.
I commend you for reading and evaluating before buying a dog :thumbup: I did so myself, before finally getting my Newfoundland. I took 3.5 years to find the dog I wanted, but he was well worth it. Of course, it may not take that long for you
Here is an interesting dichotomy that I've found in different dog breeds: the large dog breeds, such as Boxers, Dobermans, Golden Retrievers, and German Shepherds, are high energy animals who need exercise and room to roam (a typical suburban yard is fine, with walks and outings). The giant dog breeds, though, have less energy and, in fact, don't need as much yard to be happy. They do need exercise, of course, but they aren't as wound-up as the large dogs. By giant breeds, I mean dogs like Bull Mastiffs, English Mastiffs, French Mastiffs, Newfoundlands, St. Bernards, etc. Basically, any breed whose males average 130 pounds +.
I don't know exactly what qualities you are looking for, but another dog to consider is a Great Pyrenees. They are wonderful with kids, very protective without being unduly aggressive, and beautiful to boot. They aren't terribly playful, though; their modus operandi is to wander with their "pack", laying at a distance and guarding from all predators. From what I've seen and read, Pyrs have great discernment concerning children. Pyrs can tell that kids is kids, whether part of the family or not, and can distinguish between youth and adult.
Here's a good dog breed selector that will give you good info on numerous breeds as well as open your eyes to options you may not have considered:
http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogselector.do
Their info is decently reliable, too, from what I've seen.
Later that day, we talked to my wifes Dad. Turns out he was really looking for a mini Pin too. He went the next day and took the male home. So, now the brother and sister will still get to visit each other. They have been together all thier life. We named the girl Bella Star. She is not really an attack dog, well, you might be surprised! But, she is a real good watch dog. Housebroken, excellent with kids and cat. Calm, yet willing to play. Already spayed with shots too. Needless to say I am very happy with her. A big THANK YOU to everyone who replied to this thread!
). They were occasional treats, and they never experienced any ill effects. What I would strongly advise you against is canned dog food. Many canned foods are very bad for dogs, as QC is virtually non-existant. I'd generally feed Purina ONE Lamb & Rice kibble mixed with cooked ground turkey. 
