Help me pick a dog

skammer said:
They need miles of exercise every day or they would go crazy.
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Good point Skam...this is why I say research research research before you choose and buy. You don't want to buy a dog that needs to work work work but you work 8AM to 8PM and live in the city on the 40th floor. That would be cruel to the breed and you would be ill-served. While this may not be your situation, it's an example of matching your needs and situation against a breeds needs and capabilities.
 
Daniel Koster said:
Mastiff family of dogs - really sounds like what you want, hardheart...except for the drooling part. *shrug*
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Mastiffs are GREAT dogs. I had an Old English Mastiff many years ago. Her name was Olivia. What a sweatheart she was...a real load of love...but FIERCELY protective of the family. You DO NOT want to come between a Old English Mastiff and her owner. But ohhhh the drool. :) Also, remember that large dogs like the Mastiff often don't live all that long.
 
CitizenQ said:
I've purchased 10 purebred dogs over the last 20 years. Here's my $0.02…Don't trust what anyone tells you. Fact check. Observe the parent's behavior and temperament. If you can't see the parents for this reason or that, walk. Research researh reasearch. Ignore the "hurry may not last" pitch. Never want a dog so bad that you let the details slip. Don't assume because a breeder has been in the business they know everything...they probably do...but fact check. The price for your dog varies according to demand for the breed, availability, and dog quality. I always look for "pet quality." Heck, I ain't gonna be showing no dog. Been there done that itsa lotta work, the dogs are more expensive, and the reward is bluenose IMO. Research on the Internet is a must. Learn everything about the breed you want to purchase. The more you learn the better dog you'll have in the end, and you'll avoid unnecessary surprises. When you get your dog, remember that itsa dog, not a person. And love it as such. Be the leader of the pack.
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Thanks for these hints. I will use them.

I don't want a dog for show either. I have read as much as I can find on the internet about the ridgeback and want to look at one. As far as the "hurry, may not last" thing. I never listen to that and that is the quickest way to raise my suspicions about thier motivation. Be it cars or dogs or anything else. :D There is always another one around the corner. It's a world filled with cars and dogs and just about everything else. I know I won't have trouble finding one I like.

Thanks everyone for the information.
KR
 
Boxer would work well. But with Boxers you have to pay attention to 3 things:
1.) Don't buy one where the kennel is bread for looks or money, but rather at one were the dogs are bread for health (applies in general, but especially for breads that have easily identifiable looks (like bull breeds). Unfortunately, there is a lot of questionable breeding going on. A boxer mud would work well, too.
2.) They need a firm hand when young. They are extremely friendly towards family members so they don't pose a threat even when spoiled, but they are a high energy breed and they will bounce off the ceiling if they aren't trained appropriately.
3.) Don't ever let them get fat. Provide exercise (no problem with your yard) and keep them on a well controlled diet. A health boxer looks like a shredded middle weight champion.

On the up side, they are probably the best dogs with children around. They form extremely loyal and friendly ties with children.
 
Out of a sense of loyalty to the province where i live (and the fact that they are great dogs) i must list Newfoundlands and Labradors as my two favorite breeds!
Newfoundlands do get HUGE though, but a friendlier more loyal breed is hard to find.
They are hairy as bears, drool a lot and they have webbed feet as well (great swimmer and rescue dogs)!
A Lab would be easier to groom though.
If it wasn't a choice of those two i'd pick some breed of Shepherd or Husky.
If you want a small dog Silkie Terriers are affectionate, loyal and very amusing!
:)
 
Daniel Koster said:
Mastiff family of dogs - really sounds like what you want, hardheart...except for the drooling part. *shrug*
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Yeah, I've been looking at a lot of molosser links. The Am. mastiff is supposed to have a 'tighter lip' to reduce drooling. 7/8 English & 1/8 Anatolian, supposedly been purposefully bred since 1989. Also looked at Fila, Alano, Cane Corso, Great Swiss Mountain Dog, Leonberger, Shar Pei, Canis Panther. I looked into the malinois and greyhound as suggested, I don't know about the exercise requirements and sensitivity.

I believe in getting a dog that fits, and since breeding was meant to develop a suite of traits, it's good to research the breeds to better your odds when you start to encounter individual pups, who undoubtedly don't fit the mold to a tee. I have very few friends, and don't go looking to get out there & make new ones. I should exercise more, but a weekly run gets it done for me. I like to work outside, but I don't 'play' outside. If I have nothing in particular to do, I will plop my ass down in front of a computer. Having a dog means responsibility and required adjustments to schedule, but your personality isn't going to undergo a fundamental change.

I should also mention the cost. A big dog will cost more, and I can absorb that without having any other mouths to feed. But my level of compromise is also tied to the initial cost. I need to get real close to my desired set of traits if I'm going to pay breeder prices. For a pound puppy, I would have to accept the dog as is, warts and all. This is probably the opposite of the way a lot of people think, paying top dollar and then trying to live around the animal because it was a significant investment in a 'special' breed.

Anywho, I don't want to hijack this with my own set of criteria, although it probably gives a good indication of what dogs not to get for the TC, who has kids and likes to travel double digit mileage without the benefit of internal combustion (crazy folks out there ;))
 
If one has a lot of demands a dog must fit and finds it difficult to choose a breed.

One must take a long hard look at whether they should get a dog at all. Its not fair to the dog if your lifestyle buts stress on it day in day out. Its actually cruel and why many get behaviour problems and end up gased in a pound.

Wait until your lifestyle supports your choice of dog.
Dogs are not cats the have a heart and need us, the family interaction to be happy.

Skam
 
German shorthaired pointers GSP are great dogs.

The have much the same traits as labs. they have the stamina you are looking for but winter they may need a thin coat as their fur is short. They drink a lot of water when working so this maybe an issue in the mountains.

they are not terribly protective but do have some instincts.

Like labs they are energetic when pups, need training.

A good all round dog.

PLEASE DONT DOCK THE TAIL! There is no need.

I will remind again off trail off leash exercise is good for pups but not on hard flat surfaces until they are 2.

Do not neuter them until 2 or until they get male behavior dominance issues.

I know of one of few cadaver trained SAR dogs in the country trained well for SAR work is a GSP.

http://www.earlham.edu/~biol/amy/home/searchdog.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Shorthaired_Pointer

Skam
 
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Another photo...Wired Haired Pointing Griffon.
 
raindog101 said:
Soulrack,
My wife went crazy when she saw that pup. We may have a winner here, folks! What's her temperament like? Gimme all the details!
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She's an extremely sweet German Pointer/Blue Heeler mix. I got her from a pin by an RV outside a minor league baseball game for free. Well behaved for a puppy, eager to please and smart enough to be mischievous. My first dog, now I can see my mom did a lot of the work when I was a kid. Stella is easy to love.
 
Read up on Australian Cattle Dog to get more info on the Red/Blue Heelers. :thumbup:

dogbreedinfo.com
wikipedia.org
 
I'm a little partial to the Boxer. These are my second and third Boxers. My first, Shasta, was the best dog ever and looked much like Pitdog's Maisy. Great dogs. -Matt-

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Another vote for the German shepherd dog. It is really hard to beat a well-bred, well-socialized GSD as a family companion. They do everything you ask of them well. Easy to train, very obedient, very loyal, excellent watchdogs, and good protectors. As mentioned earlier, shedding is the only drawback.

Here is a picture of our guy patiently awaiting for yet another goldfish cracker from his little master. We adopted him from our local GSD rescue. Breed rescue is a great way to go. You save an unwanted dog and the volunteers are generally more knowledgeable about their specific breed than the average shelter volunteer that can't be a master of dozens of breeds. Most are passionate about their breed and are willing to help you find a dog that is suitable for your family, not just any dog. Others have made a good argument for purebreds over mixes.

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Just thought I'd stick a few more pic's of mine on as the threads still running....
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I have had, pitbulls, rottweiler, australian sheppard, husky, cocker spaniel.

But If I were ever to get another dog, it would be a Giant Schnauzer, as they are great companions and don't shed, territorial (making a great guard dog), love children, will even mother a newborn.

Great looking dog, they surprised me, that's for sure!
 
I like German Shorthairs. They are extremely athletic, and need plenty of exercise, but that fits my general lifestyle so it's no problem. Here is the new little guy in his favorite chair. He is 9 weeks old now, and already he is showing great aptitude for hunting...pointing his toys, loves to retrieve stuff.

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Anyone interested in working dogs should check out the ARF.
http://www.stodghillsarfregistry.com/

I like mixed breeds. I have a border collie-australian shephard mix. She is a great watch dog and LOVES kids. However, a friend who works livestock with border collies said she would never be a good herd dog because she is a cross between a header and a heeler. Sort of like crossing a pointer and retreiver, the instincts sort of cancel each other out.
Genetics is only half of the equation, you need to train your dog too. My dog doesn't do tricks (except maybee "shake") but she knows when I want her to come, go, sit, stay, heel and "get in the truck"(her favorite). One of my friends took his dog to obedience school, I think it was almost worthless. The most important part of training your dog is to spend as much time as possible with it. A good smart dog won't just respond to command signals but will learn to read your mood and body language.
 
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