What's your dog of choice?

[flava]

One of my favorites a Transylvania Hound also known as a Erdelyi Kopo (how cool is that to have a dog named after you? :thumbup: ), or Hungarian Hound.

Country of Origin: Hungary
Height: Tall: 22-26 in./56-66 cm.
Short: 18-22 in./46-56 cm.
Weight: Tall: 67-77 lb./30-35 kg.
Short: 48-55 lb./22-25 kg.
Other Names: Erdelyi Kopo, Hungarian Hound

Here's a link:Erdelyi Kopo

Interesting breed, we call it Copoi (Hound) Ardelenesc (Transylvanian) in Romania. As one can see from the sizes listed in your post, there were two flavors: the small ones used to hunt small game (fox,badger, ...) and the big ones for the big game (boar, bear, ...).
This breed was mostly found in Romania before WW1, in the west side of the country (which was under austro-hungarian occupation) and even befor WW2. They were introduced by hungarians, who liked to hunt in the transylvanian mountains.
After WW2 and when the commies came to power they didn't want no hungarian breed in the country and the Erdelyi Kopo almost went extinct, except for a few dogs succesfully smuggled into Hungary.

 

[iubigred007]

german shepherds, dobies, boxers, great danes... i like all the biguns'...

 

[Ilovetoolsteel]

C'mon, you know that Stimpy is a cat; his name is Stimpson J. Cat.

You need to see the dog show episode, Ren enters him as a cornish rex-hound

 

[Nixelplix]

I don't have any dogs of my own, but my dad likes to hunt with standard poodles. Years ago, we had a lab/poodle mix that was one of the best bird dogs ever. After that he started getting standard poodles, and they hunt like no other dog I've seen. Running 25+ mph, jumping 12' ditches, chasing and catching cripples across 1/2 mile of flooded rice fields, they are just amazing. Labs are great, but they just don't have the speed and grace that a standard poodle does. The only problem I've had with his new poodle puppy (2 years old now) is that when we're phesant hunting, she'll catch half the phesants before we can shoot them!

 

[Tom in NC]

I take it she dines at the table and has first call on dark or white meat. :thumbup:

Ha!

Well, She does get spoiled now and then! Sometimes Royally! Here's a pic of the girls after Thanksgiving Dinner - they had all the trimmings!

As a side note, and I know other dogs have demonstrated this ability, a few months before I was diagnosed with cancer, she detected it. She would come sniff me and cuddle against my stomach and whine and try to paw at it. I'd heard of other dogs abilities to do this. A trip to the doctor proved her right. Once again, saving or at least prolonging my life.

Since that time, when I get run down or start having pain, she stays right at my side until I'm over it. She can be outside 200 yards away when the episodes hit me and she comes running. How do they know??? Our beagle, Sweat Pea, seems to have picked up on this too. One will stay with me while the other goes and finds my wife or who ever is in the house or yard. Dogs are amazing. Truly man's best friend. All they require is some basic care and some kindness - dare I say - love? Unlike my wife, who in addition to this, I have to bribe with jewely and all manner of fooferaw just so I can spend a few of my hard earned bucks on a new knife LOL!.......and then I may still have to sneak it in the back door! But I love them all, the wife most of all! But have you ever heard of a dog asking for a divorce? Seeking alimony? Running up the charge cards? Yeah, I spoil Maizy and Sweat Pea every chance I get!

 

[Win Heger]

I don't have a dog but the neighborhood "shares" a Border Collie owned one of them. The dog runs free, lives outside and is absolutely the most intelligent, well behaved dog I have ever seen. This breed is fairly common around here and they all seem to be of good character.

If I was to ever get a dog it would definetly be one of these! But at 62 I'm not getting anything that might out live me!

Win

 

[T. Erdelyi]

......If I was to ever get a dog it would definetly be one of these! But at 62 I'm not getting anything that might out live me!...

Don't get a turtle or a parrot then, stick with goldfish and hamsters.

 

[Tom in NC]

Don't get a turtle or a parrot then, stick with goldfish and hamsters.

That's the truth!
I got Buddy when she was a baby in 1986. My children were in their early teens. At 20, she's got another 60 to to 70+ years to go. My children want her when I pass on and they know how to care for and keep her healthy. I'm sure one of my 5 grandchildren will step up to the plate if needed.

Buddy rules the roost and the dogs respect her. At dinner, she compares whats on her plate with ours. If anything is not the same, she raises hell until we make it so. When the cats were alive, she would bait them by dropping food off her plate onto the floor at the base of her cage. As soon as one of the cats got in range, she would grap a claw full of nuts and bomb the living sh** out of the cat. Our dogs have learned it's better to wait for treats from us than to go near that da**ed bird when she's holding out food and winking at them!

 

[Bob W]

Years ago, we had a lab/poodle mix that was one of the best bird dogs ever.

A friend had an accidental labrador-poodle that lived nearly forever, a great old dog named Moe. Since then I've read about people breeding "labradoodles" on purpose. One artical was about a breeder in Australia and an American family that paid thousands of $$ to adopt one and bring it to the US.

Tom, dogs do similar things for people with epileptic seisures. There's a trigger (smell?) that the dogs detect prior to an attack, and they can be trained to respond or perform certain tasks when it happens. It's very interesting stuff, and the emotional capabilities of animals is only recently begun to be studied by serious scientists.

-Bob

 

[Steve Hayden]

This is Kermit the Dog a 100lb Chesapeake Bay Retriever. His coloring is atypical and called dead grass brown.

He is a great friend and companion and the biggest gun nut for a dog I have ever known. He goes banannas just seeing me load a magazine for a pistol and starts doing anti-gravity moves in the presence of my shotgun. He is 11 1/2 years old now and starting to slow down a little.

 

[J. MacDonald]

This is Kermit the Dog a 100lb Chesapeake Bay Retriever. His coloring is atypical and called dead grass brown.

He is a great friend and companion and the biggest gun nut for a dog I have ever known. He goes banannas just seeing me load a magazine for a pistol and starts doing anti-gravity moves in the presence of my shotgun. He is 11 1/2 years old now and starting to slow down a little.

That sounds like a real working dog you got there. Only truly happy when on task. Working dogs are great pets if you find a way to work them, but can be frustrating if you just toss em in the back yard. Good to hear you've been working with your boy.

Have you tried giving him glucosamine or some other joint supplement? Seems to help a lot of old dogs be more comfortable.

 

[Steve Hayden]

That sounds like a real working dog you got there. Only truly happy when on task. Working dogs are great pets if you find a way to work them, but can be frustrating if you just toss em in the back yard. Good to hear you've been working with your boy.

Have you tried giving him glucosamine or some other joint supplement? Seems to help a lot of old dogs be more comfortable.

I started him on Glucosamine and Chondroitin suplements last fall when he started showing some limitation of movement and it has helped a lot.

We go for walks every day for a couple of miles and I pretty much keep him out of the water during cold weather now, which also helps-icy water really stiffens him up these days. I think he won't get to do much winter hunting anymore. He used to sit in water when he had ice all over him and never seemed to notice.

 

[linzoy]

A friend had an accidental labrador-poodle that lived nearly forever, a great old dog named Moe. Since then I've read about people breeding "labradoodles" on purpose. One artical was about a breeder in Australia and an American family that paid thousands of $$ to adopt one and bring it to the US.

Tom, dogs do similar things for people with epileptic seisures. There's a trigger (smell?) that the dogs detect prior to an attack, and they can be trained to respond or perform certain tasks when it happens. It's very interesting stuff, and the emotional capabilities of animals is only recently begun to be studied by serious scientists.

-Bob

I don't think labradoodles cost that much now, but I did hear that the best breeders of them are in austrailia. You can also get a labradoodle if you have a disability.

I had a labrador when I was a little kid, and I have a poodle now, so I think a labradoodle would be great.

 

[TNRat]

I know its impolite to say, but with the way many people act today, I would not trade a worthless dog for half of them.

A good dog can't be beat.

 

[Blue Jays]

Hi All-

My vote would have been for "hounds" and specifically Rhodesian Ridgebacks if we want to be particular. This is a dog that I've wanted for two decades and just now have the home that can accomodate one.

Earlier in my life I've had a black Labrador Retriever and a brindle Pit Bull that were both fantastic pets. The LR lived to nearly sixteen years of age and the PB made it to about ten years. I miss them both dearly.

~ Blue Jays ~

 

[Yvsa]

Another vote for the Terror-ior family. When I moved to Oklahoma in 1980 I had four Airedales! Wonderful dogs but a lot of maintainance. Now we have a Rat Terrier mix that's about 3/4 Rattie that we rescued from the SPCA up in Bartlesville. I found Ace by searching the Internet looking for a Rat Terrier. Ace goes around 30 pounds when in trim weight, he's a little fat like the dad and mom now at 33.8 pounds and is on a diet, also like dad and mom.
He learns at a rate I've never seen another dog learn at!
Ace can roll over, set up, set, down, heel, give kisses on demand, catch, and wait until he is told he can eat. We're trying to work with him now so that he'll leave a cookie on his head until we tell him it's okay. A little problem with this trick as he is very excitable about cookies whether on a diet or not.
Ace also hunts hot dog or treat jerky chunks. We will put Ace outside and then cut up a hot dog into small pieces and hide them all around the house. Then when we let Ace in he starts going around sniffing until he finds them all, of course he goes to the standard hiding places first.
If I were able to get out into the woods I'd try training Ace for squirrels. I'm betting he would make one helluva squirrel dog!:thumbup:

 

[Walt2]

Rottweiller, best watch dog I have ever had in my 67 yrs. This is our third one.

 

[Jim (Oh)]

English Springer Spaniel. I am shocked that this is the first vote for this Sporting Breed. A friend asked me if I will always own a dog. My reply was "yes" and it will always be a springer!!!

Jim

 

[kricket]

Best dog I ever had, her name is Sandy, she is a Bullmastiff. My best friend and constant companion.

 

[shootist16]

I am really attached to my wirehaired pointing griffon pup. He is 10 weeks old now. One of the smartest pups I have seen. I can't wait to go bird hunting with him next year.