Dog owners: help me pick a breed

[Alex]

get a Belgian Sheppherd
those things are so cool i want to crap myself!

 

[glen]

Border Collie

 

[murban135]

Sounds like a German Shepherd is a good choice for you. They need lots of exercise and are very smart, but they can also get bored quickly if they don't "have a job". Since you plan on jogging with your dog and plan on working on discipline that should keep the dog occupied. If they are correctly socialized they can be protective of the family but not overly aggresive.

If you do get a German Shepherd, buy from a reputable breeder and make sure the mother and father do not have hip problems. They are great dogs, my last three dogs have been Shepherds and I can't imagine owning any other breed.

 

[meltdown75]

German Shepherd :thumbsup:

 

[Kelemvor]

What do you want the dog to do? Just be a family pet? Guard dog? Good with Kids? Every breed is different in how they do certain tasks and how friendly they are with others. I would always recommend a Golden Retriever to anyone that wanted a good family dog that loves everyone. But they would be the worst guard dog ever so if that's what you want, obviosuly don't bother....

 

[imported_Hi]

i have a german shephard that is five years old now. Still active and still take him jogging. youre going to need that obediance training
my dog has lightly bitten two people already

 

[gabemcg]

Austrailian Cattle Dogs are the best dogs on the planet, with kids and everything

I've owned them all my life...

Way better tempermant than the other dogs mentioned

I love Aussies!!!!

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: gabemcg
Austrailian Cattle Dogs are the best dogs on the planet, with kids and everything

I've owned them all my life...

Way better tempermant than the other dogs mentioned

I love Aussies!!!!

you da man :beer:

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Hi
i have a german shephard that is five years old now. Still active and still take him jogging. youre going to need that obediance training
my dog has lightly bitten two people already

When I was about 11, I had an Alsacian Shepherd. They look like a very dark German Shepherd, and I assume they have a similar temperament. Mine was male. I really loved that dog and was inconsolable when my parents put him down without my knowledge. The dog had one bad habit: it chased cars, and one nipped him and he had a dislocated leg, which was set by a vet and it healed. It got dislocated again and he was put down. My parents got another dog after that (a cocker spaniel), but I didn't care for it and have never gotten another animal, as far as I can remember. Don't remember if my parakeet was before or after the dog. Death of that creature was equally sad. My thinking is that it's OK to have a dog if you live in the country but in the city, it's just contributing to the urban problems. The dog should be able to run around and in the city it's just too much of a hassle. I fail to appreciate the appeal of dogs nowadays. I often hear them barking at all hours and I find their crap on my front lawn (and my shoes) frequently. When I had that shepherd I lived on a pretty big piece of land, 3/4 of an acre, with a giant yard. That was sort of marginal. Unfortunately, there was nothing to stop the dog from running out on the street. I had a great relationship with it, though, for the 2 years that he lived. I still have one great picture of me with my dog.

I've really got to wonder about bulldogs. I saw a news story just a day or two ago about a kid that was terribly messed up by a couple of pit bulls. Just last night I rode my bike past a woman walking what looked to be a pit bull. I mused that this creature could make hamburger out of me in a couple of minutes if it had a mind to. I always see negative stories about them, never hear anything positive. That kid's mother complained that those dogs had obviously been trained to kill and that they should have been restrained. I think the law is that they can't be allowed to run about, i.e. that they have to be behind a barrier or leashed.

 

[imported_moabb]

I did a lot of research and ended up choosing a german sheperd for our family for the reasons that you stated. I just wanted you to be aware that there are two types of the german shepherd dogs. One is the working line and the other is the show line. The show line is the typical black and tan that most people are familiar with. These are bred mainly for look and structure conformation. The look now is to have a german shepherd that is so angular with such a sloping back that it is painful to look at. The show line shepherds are usually more docile and less active then their working line counterpart. The working line german shepherds are typically sable color,solid blabk ,or bi-color. These dogs are more active and most are titled, meaning that their breeders often trained their dogs in schutzhund-obedience, tracking, protection, etc.

I choose to get our puppy from a reputable working line breeder. German shepherds were originally bred to be working dogs so they must have solid nerve, stable temperament, trainability, and courage - qualities that the working line breeders are striving to instill in their dogs. Sorry for the long rambling but I just wanted to share what I learned and hopefully save you some times. Whatever you do, find a reputable breeder to get your dog. I am not sure if I am allowed to post links here but if you want I can send you pm. Good luck!

 

[CVSiN]

write in vote for full blooded AKC rottwieler =)
such good big dogs...
very smart very loyal and great personality...
nothing like a 200lb dog that thinks hes a lapdog LOL

 

[Raspewtin]

Originally posted by: glen
Border Collie

 

[smithdj]

Personally I would get the bulldog. I am lazy and do not want to always have to be exercising the dog and the bulldog is the most lathargic of the bunch. Plus the german shepard will shed horribly. Maybe look into the new breed of bulldog + schitzu.

 

[GTJoe]

I have border collies. I say go to your local humane society, and find one you like. The way your dog acts around others is a combination of how you train it, and how it deals with new experences. I have two dogs, one is outgoing and everyone is his friend. The other is pretty shy and takes a while to warm up to situations. When the shy one is at a dog park, she is fine; no problems. On leash however, she becomes pretty submissive. She didn't really have a chance to be socialized as a puppy though, because she had parvo and had to be isolated for a few months. She is getting better, but it's a long process.

Bulldogs = bad running partner - the scrunched up nose leads to breathing problems, and the stout body isn't really designed for any kind of distance running. It would be like a football lineman trying to run a marathon.

Joe

 

[DainBramaged]

German Shepherd all the way. Those dogs are so beautiful and loyal.

 

[nakedfrog]

Go for a White (German) Shepherd. They're awesome dogs.

 

[vi edit]

Another vote for a Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Very loyal, very well tempered dogs. They are absolute sweeties and only get axious when they absolutely feel like something isn't right.

They almost never bark, and only do when they think there's a problem. AKA: they aren't so wound up that they'll bark at the wind or somebody simply walking past the house. But they are also very protective and will let you know when there's something that just isn't right.

Ours is total people person and loves being around other people. She loves going running with my wife, and loves being around kids.

 

[CraigRT]

I'd go for a Labrador.... excellent disposition, same size as the other dogs... I love labs and retrievers...best dogs you can ever get.

 

[CrazyApe]

Originally posted by: glen
Border Collie

Seconded!

 

[wondersteve]

I know its not on the list but Labs. I love my Labs.

 

[classy]

Originally posted by: SofaKing
German Shepherd!!!!!!!!! The are one of the best breeds to train, if not the best.

I agree. Terrific family dogs, one of the smartest, and one of the most powerful dogs as well. The only drawback is they shed and its a lot too.

 

[Rock Hydra]

My favorite breed is the German Shepherd, next is the Aussie as a close second. I'hve had both types of dogs and they are incredible dogs to have.

 

[housecat]

just a note, i dont like labs. sorry

they are way too hyper for me, and just a bit undiscplined for my taste.

i want one that will listen, and most labs i've seen dont do that well.

but on the other hand, i do want one if a baby was suddenly in the family, he wouldnt get jealous and kill it.

i want a dog that would defend a new baby from anyone it considered a threat (even me and my wife if we were hurting the baby)..
or a bad babysitter.

the dog, i hope, will defend my wife on her walks at night, and a baby. for me its a companion that will wake me up in the middle of the night if there is suspicious activity so i can get my gun.
but i really want a good, obidient buddy who will defend the rest of my family if i'm not around.
loyalty is an utmost, and i want it to be willing to give its life for my wife or kids, or even the cats if they were being attacked by some animal.
oh, and wont kill the kittys either. i want him to take the cats in as family as well.

i live in iowa, so space isnt a concern. this isnt a particularly urban environment.


curious to hear what ppl have to say from this information...

 

[Yo Ma Ma]

GSD, best all-around choice, for your specs, I think.

 

[Apex]

Look up Akitas too. Great dogs for what you're looking for, especially if YOU are planning to train him (instead of using someone else to do the training).