I've been a dog fan all my life. The best dog I ever had was a Shetland Sheepdog but he was bigger than he was supposed to be for the breed standard, had bad teeth and even worse breath all his life, hip problems and was also the yappiest dog I've ever had in the yard where he simply would not shut up! I won't get another. He also shed a lot and required a lot of brushing.
Second best dog ever for me personally is the one I have now. A Great Pyrenees, Barney. He is a super dog. He is 12 years old and will probably not see 2009 but I hope he proves me wrong. I'll cry big tears when he goes but again I won't get another. He has shedding issues but thats not the worst thing. He is huge as far as foot print. I had a friend with a Mastiff once and Barney, my Pyr takes up as much space as the Mastiff did in the house even at half the weight. He fills up the car as much as Moose did and his turds are just as huge in the yard too!
Barney is a light eater compared to other dogs this big though, and at 32" at the shoulder its surprising how little he eats. My Chows at 50lbs ate more generally speaking. At half the weight of the Mastiff, Moose, My Pyrenees, Barney weighs in at an even 100 pounds most trips to the vet. I think the most he ever weighed was 110 lbs. Moose hit over 200lbs at one time and was so strong it was scary.
The real draw back to me is this. The size makes it very hard to find someone willing to watch the dogs when you have one or two this large should you leave for long.. They intimidate folks by their presense. The Mastiff related breeds slobber a lot also, Barney included. You'll have to get used to being slimed when greeted, cleaning up slobber from the floor, the walls, the inside of the car windows, basically anywhere they spend time or shake off. Shedding aside I'll take brusing anyday of the week over the slobbering.
Sporting dogs? Well, its been my experience that a hunting, retriver, setter, pointer type dog is going to hunt with or without you and tends to be very hyper, especially when young. My Red Bone Coon dog was out of the yard all the time and an escape artist. So was my Irish Setter. I won't get another sporting dog.
Cleaning up dingleberries is a thing of the past as soon as Barney goes. I will never own another long haired dog either. :thumbdn: But don't think just because its short haired it won't shed. In my experience my Red Bone Coon hound shed worse than all my other dogs and he had hair so short you could barely pinch it between your fingers. Duke was a great dog though. Hyper and hard headed until he got to be about three years old but after that wow. What a great dog he was. He'd hunt anything from squirrel to duck too but like I said, with or without you. Leave the gate open, he was gone!
If you want no shedding or even very little its a tough bill to fill. Little shedding I'd say focus on something like a hairless dog. Call the brushing bonding time.
The sheppard breeds are very intelligent. I'd go for something there like a Short Haired Collie maybe. Bulldogs like Mastiffs slobber. Forget that. Been there done that.
I also have a Saint Bernard currently, Daisy. She is a great dog. She sheds, is great with kids, loves everyone actually and would wag her tail after slobbering on intruders stealing me blind but she'll eat you out of house and home if you let her, is prone to weight problems and obesity, and slobbers worse than Barney does. She was also quite hyper until about three years old. Now she is great though. I won't get another St. Bernard either though. Just too darn big man! Both mine were spur of the moment purchases. They are so cute when young you know. Don't fall prey to this. Study and get you one that you think will work out.
Nope, I think a mutt is probably a good choice but I do like knowing what I am getting which is the main reason I get pedigrees. I never once filled out the papers to get them registered though. Don't much care about that. I'm thinking of something like a Basenji barkless dog with short hair next that I can keep without having to worry about sizes of droppings so much, or slobbering but there are draw backs of course. I'm being sarcastic here of course. Basenjis are high maintenance.
All dogs have some issues you have to get past I think. I think in the end the best dogs are the ones that pick you. :thumbup:
STR
