Why do my cats like the 'cheap' cat food better?

[Murloc]

as for looking for my very first big dog, im looking at labs, my ex roommate had a black lab that was sweet as sugar wouldn't hurt a fly but would also be an extra set of eyes in the house god forbid anything happened. anyone have experiences with bigger dogs, i had small toy dogs all my life and i finally have a nice enclosed big backyard for a big dog to roam and play but i don't now much about the temperaments of bigger dogs or much about them in general, im not looking for no pit-bull or rottie, i want some sweet and playful, not just something to scare the shit outta the little childrn in the community.

I've never seen labradors but golden retrievers are also playful and sweet big dogs and I guess they're pretty similar, on the internet you can find plenty of character descriptions for the various races.
Just prepare for the smell if they get wet and don't let it enter your car dripping wet, and always cover the trunk floor and bring towels to dry them. They love bathing.
Avoid wolf-dogs if you're not 100% convinced as they have a more nervous character and too much energy, so good training and dedication is paramount.
With any big dog you're gonna have to go to dog school.
I often see ball-breaking small dogs that bark and bite all the time and I just want to kill them, that's because they're toys and they were not brought to school. Now if the same thing is done by a big dog, it becomes dangerous and scary. So go to dog school right off the bat (after the vaccinations) and train it yourself too.


I have one cat that eats dry food only, he ignores anything else. In exchange he wants the fresh milk and goes crazy for grass.

 

[unokitty]

as for looking for my very first big dog, im looking at labs, my ex roommate had a black lab that was sweet as sugar wouldn't hurt a fly but would also be an extra set of eyes in the house god forbid anything happened. anyone have experiences with bigger dogs, i had small toy dogs all my life and i finally have a nice enclosed big backyard for a big dog to roam and play but i don't now much about the temperaments of bigger dogs or much about them in general, im not looking for no pit-bull or rottie, i want some sweet and playful, not just something to scare the shit outta the little childrn in the community.

How do you define big?

Remember that breed guidelines and breed temperaments are like a template. The fact that a breed tends to gentle doesn't necessarily mean that the one dog of that breed that you choose will be gentle... Though, it does increase the likelyhood that they will be ...

While my primary experience is with German Shepherds, its hard to go wrong with a lab or a golden. Another breed that you might consider is the Corgi. Often, it is described as a large dog in a smaller dog's body. If you are considering a hybrid, you might also consider the Labradoodle.

My experience is that most larger dogs will be smarter and more trainable than smaller dogs. (My experience with most toys is that they have had the brains bred out of them.)

Remember though that intelligence is a double edged sword. If you have the time, you can train the dog well. If however, you don't spend the time with the dog, an intelligent dog will find ways to amuse themselves that you may not care for...

If you don't have the time to train you dog, do yourself, and the dog, a favor and don't get one.

Getting training for yourself is also critical. The more you understand how to train a dog, the better you will be at it. And the happier your dog will be.

Final point. Each dog and each human has a personality. Not all personalities have chemistry. Be careful to understand the dog's personality before you choose one...

One of the toughest things I've ever had to do was to match Sentry Dog Handler Trainees to a Sentry Dog. You can have a good troop and a good dog but without the right chemistry, they will never make a good Sentry Dog Team.

Best of luck,
Uno
Sentry Dog Handler
US Army 69-71