Need dog advice

Lots of good info in here, Gigante. From my experience, stray dogs are some of the most protective dogs I've seen. Once they find a good home with good people they become great protectors of their adopted family. I see your located in Sweden... do you have any dog pounds or animal adoption groups? Check them out. You can usually find a good mutt as well as purebreeds. I've had some great experiences with 2 small (20-25lb) Scottish Terriers. They are energetic and tough little characters & won't run from danger but also like to lay on laps! Only problem is their fur is always growing (& they do shed) & you'll have to get them groomed at least every other month. We are all different but somehow you will find the dog that's right for you & the family and it will love you for giving it a home! Good luck to you! ;)
 
Rhodesian Ridgeback, no slobber, short hair, loyal, smart and tough as a nickle steak and great for all those Lion hunting needs.

BigPupLilPu2_web.jpg



Ergo the name

rhodesian_ridgeback.jpg


I just wanted to add, there is no such thing as a bad dog. Just idiot owners, as long as you understand the way dogs tick adn love them you won't get any problems.
 
We like how this thread is turning out. :) I swear to God you will not regret a Standard poodle. (Make sure you get a Standard! :cool: )

We had some kind of "sidewalk sales" kind of thing downtown this weekend... (I live in a small town in Pennsylvania!) and I took Alice down there for a walk because I knew a few people with booths. Well, normally I hate a lot of attention, but with Alice it was fun because she got all the attention and I pretty much just held the leash. We'd leave and people would all say, "Bye, Alice!" as if I didn't even exist!

I do think we looked cute in our matching red, blue and silver outfits though. ;)

~ashes
 
I have a Standard Poodle and I cannot recommened them highly enought. She is the best dog I have ever owned or seen. I have three small children and she gets along with everyone. Best dog, hands down, IMHO.

shane
 
Some people seem to have trouble understanding that pit bulls don't necessarily attack children/people more often than do other breeds, but once in attack mode, they do much greater harm than the other breeds.

That's a fact.

No one wants to see his 3 yr old toddler get a nip from a bitchy cocker spaniel or a deep bite from a Dalmation-- but a mangling from a pit bull is entirely different.

My 1st choice would be a good mutt. You can't beat them. Just know what breeds are in 'em.

A border collie is an excellent choice, and so is a Doberman. Dobermans are sweet dogs with superb senses. And strangers are afraid of them.

Stay away from bear killers like Tosa Inus, Presa canarios, and Filas. Tosas are the baddest of the bad ass breeds, but you don't want one watching over your child.
 
I am surprised that no one mentioned the Jack Russell Terrier. They are alert, very energetic and smart. Some bark. Mine does not. He loves to be cuddled and will play non-stop. Granted, he is not the end all defense dog, but he he does have sharp teeth and can use them if he chooses.

I am a teacher in a boarding school. I have 47 middle schoolers. They play with my dog daily and he has never ever portrayed aggressiveness toward any of them...even with the mild abuse that he has had to endure from some of them.

I am a Jack Russell fan.

Seikan1
 
If you didn't have allergies, I would put in my vote for a retriever. Golden, labrador or Chesapeake.

As for pit bulls, I've known a few that were extremely friendly, but more often than other breeds, there are reports of attacks on small kids, true or not. Usually true of the attack, IMHO, but maybe blown out of proportion.
 
I'd have to disagree on the border collie being an excellent choice, not so much for the shedding issue as for behavioral problems. These dogs were bred to herd sheep in the outdoors, and tend to be rather hyperactive and schizoid (not to use too technical of a term) when people try to use them as housepets.

Gigante, sorry for misconstruing your joke concerning mutilation as serious, but there are quite a few people who really think that that would be a good trait in a dog. I erred on the side of caution. :)
 
seikan1 said:
I am surprised that no one mentioned the Jack Russell Terrier. They are alert, very energetic and smart. Some bark. Mine does not. He loves to be cuddled and will play non-stop. Granted, he is not the end all defense dog, but he he does have sharp teeth and can use them if he chooses.

I am a teacher in a boarding school. I have 47 middle schoolers. They play with my dog daily and he has never ever portrayed aggressiveness toward any of them...even with the mild abuse that he has had to endure from some of them.

I am a Jack Russell fan.

Seikan1
Click to expand...

I only ever introduced my dog to two separate Jack Russell terriers (on two separate occasions) and both of them tried to bite her. She is very friendly and submissive and they both tried to go after her and she ran to me, scared. Fortunately the other owners had a hold of their dogs. I'm not saying this is true of all Jack Russells, but it is my only experience. Maybe they just don't like other dogs? Those dogs are very sweet with me without my dog around.

~ashes
 
I was going to get a Jack Russel for my little sister, but was told by Jack owners that they are very terrirtorial. Great with kids, but if you have other dogs in the house, the Jack will make him or her self the leader of the pack. They will assert dominance over all other dogs. One of my fathers friends told him that his Jack Russell asserted dominance over two full grown Dobermans.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
, but more often than other breeds, there are reports of attacks on small kids.
Click to expand...
I'd like to see where you got that info....is that hard fact, or are you just ASSuming things?
sleeping1.jpg
 
English Bulldog, the Marine Corps Mascot type, they're great animals and like kids, not the most active dog, but extremely loyal.
 
srtungate said:
English Bulldog, the Marine Corps Mascot type, they're great animals and like kids, not the most active dog, but extremely loyal.
Click to expand...
I will own one someday......
2004173163438.jpg
 
srtungate said:
English Bulldog, the Marine Corps Mascot type, they're great animals and like kids, not the most active dog, but extremely loyal.
Click to expand...

Great choice for some, I thought about offering it for a sec, but the cost and health issues, nixed it. Really cool dogs, though.
 
m1marty said:
I'd like to see where you got that info....is that hard fact, or are you just ASSuming things?
sleeping1.jpg
Click to expand...

Don't have a fit, it's what I've read in the papers. And seen on local tv. And heard on the radio.

Maybe they don't report every dog attack out there, yeah, there is bias towards pit bulls, I used to think it was deserved, now I am unsure. What I wrote wasn't an attack on pit bulls, read what others have posted before you crap a brick! Just stating what I have seen.
 
Pit bulls are usually in the middle of such lists. Rottweilers, GSD type breeds, Doberman tend to take the top spots depending on whose list you read:rolleyes:. Chances are that if it's a large popular breed, it will make it on to those lists one day.
 
Temper said:
Rhodesian Ridgeback, no slobber, short hair, loyal, smart and tough as a nickle steak and great for all those Lion hunting needs.

BigPupLilPu2_web.jpg



Ergo the name

rhodesian_ridgeback.jpg


I just wanted to add, there is no such thing as a bad dog. Just idiot owners, as long as you understand the way dogs
tick adn love them you won't get any problems.
Click to expand...


Temper, beautiful dogs, are they yours? I have a RR bitch and she's perfect. Well, my wife wouldn't say that. SHE would say she's a counter crawling furniture chewing prima donna. :D
 
Well, I've been attacked by all kinds of dogs through no evident fault of my own, from retrievers (my favorite type of dogs), to Dobermans, to mutts, the list could go on and on. It was usually while I was out walking, and most times, after a thunk on the head from my walking stick, they left me alone. I am sure if they wanted to kill me, they could have. I used to think that pit bulls were the vermin of the Earth, but after spending time around several, and hearing more positive stories from owners etc, I have changed my views on them. I believe that any dog can go bad, either from their own cause, an owner, whatever.

But the news media has reported every single pit bull attack out there. Might be the reason for my former opinion on the breed.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
Don't have a fit, it's what I've read in the papers. And seen on local tv. And heard on the radio.

Maybe they don't report every dog attack out there, yeah, there is bias towards pit bulls, I used to think it was deserved, now I am unsure. What I wrote wasn't an attack on pit bulls, read what others have posted before you crap a brick! Just stating what I have seen.
Click to expand...
No brick crapping from me, I just wanted an answer as to where you got your info. It's that unfounded "well, this is what I heard" type of attitude that does the most damage here. Please believe everything you see and hear on the TV, radio etc. I bet you will never buy a Corvair either huh? 'Cuz you know those are the most dangerous cars, right? ;)
 
I agree with you, the inaccuracy of the media is one of the reasons I've changed my views on pitbulls. Do you have any good stories about pit bulls to counterbalance the horror tales?

BTW, what in hell is a Corvair? Should I be scared? :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top