Need feedback for a new dog!

[338Shooter]

I'd say adopt a greyhound. We love our girl. She is agile around the house when she gets rambunctious, but she's a big couch potato. She loves to play, but only for a short time then it's back to the napping behind the chair. She minds pretty well and is spoiled rotten. There are several greyhound rescues in the state that will work with you to find a dog to adopt that is right for your family situation. Many are good with kids/cats/small dogs many are not. You just got to find the right one. Ours sheds some, but we use the shed ender after her baths and it is fine. It is at it's worst when she starts losing her winter coat. She weighs about 55# and is on the smaller end for an adult. The big males get up to over 80# and are like 35 feet tall.

 

[Biggsly]

Take her to a shelter, rescue, or Humane Society. They will pick each other. You will know when you find the one.

 

[Deleted member 6551]

German Shepherd all the way.

 

[Guns N' Cars]

I've got a boxwieler (Boxer & Rotty Mix), awesome breed. Best dog I've ever had. I know a guy that's breeds them. Mines 8 months and 91lbs. Super smart, and easy to train. Let me know if you want pics or info.

 

[ricc45]

I've had Black labs and they are great with kids but.... they can be very protective of them if strangers come near which is not a bad thing except if they are actually the kids friends. My oldest son had a friend that one of our labs bit lightly several times(lightly) but he was the only one ever really nipped. I have australian Sheperds now and they are so smart but they need lots of activity and shed alot if you don't keep them brushed.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

It's not so much the breed, as it is the breed-ER, and the breed-ING choices & priorities by the breeder, both in the recent past, and the less-recent bloodlines. That and the socialization and training...

Basic 'papers' mean nothing. In fact, basic papers (AKC registration) actually usually means LESS THAN nothing, because if the breeder emphasizes that fact, as opposed to focusing solely on their breeding priorities, and showing you the working ability and temperament of the parents, other relatives, etc., that means they know or at least THINK that you're a sucker (they are catering to suckers), and they don't a clue about, or care about, what's really important in caring for and improving the breed. There is NO AMOUNT of health problems in the world that will make the AKC return a registration fee. You could have every single dog in the bloodline draggin their back legs like Herbert's dog (Family Guy), and the AKC will gladly 'register' all of them - in fact, they don't ask even the first question about health or temperament - the ONLY things that matter to them are, in order of importance: (1) is your FEE enclosed?, and (2) are the parents of the dog both registered? That's it. The AKC is a ridiculous bad joke.

If the breeder won't stand behind it with a 3-year health guarantee (cover all vet bills for genetic defects, or give refund, at YOUR option), and have them OFA and CERT certified (hips, elbows, eyes), and show you their stated and demonstrable breeding priorities of health, temperament and working ability, roughly in that order, with nary a thought to conformation type (with working-trial-winning certificates from ancestors to prove it), then the breeder is not worth a squirt of warm urine. IMO.

You're probably MORE likely to get a health-problem, temperament-problem dog with an inbred "pure breed with papers" from a typical/average breeder (i.e. bad breeder) than a mutt from the pound.

Gotta distinguish the few and far between good breeders from the many dime-a-dozen crappy breeders.

Here is the order of desirability:
1. Purebreed from a GOOD breeder
2. (very close 2nd, or even preferable in some circumstances) Basic pound mutt, who's genetic mix usually weeds out health problems
3. Other mutt
...
...
958. Purebreed from a bad breeder (which are the vast majority of them)

IMO.

But you're definitely on the right track with short hair / not much shedding / no undercoat thing. Dogs in the 15-30 lb adult weight range are great, because they're small enough to be a lap dog, but big enough to have a little substance to them and heft to their bark. Get one that's trainable, not a hardheaded breed - not ones that will shoot out the door at any opportunity, and not come back (if you live in the city or suburbs / semi-rural).

I'd say adopt a greyhound

- Good advice - great pets with SHORT hair!

On the GSD thing, again, breeding, breeding, breeding - there's at least a hundred different answers to your question, depending upon what breeder/bloodline you're talking about, as well as socialization (but then again, a GOOD breeder makes sure to socialize properly, so once again, it always comes back to the breeder choice). It's not the arrow; it's the Indian. It's not the breed; it's the breeder and breedING. Don't give in on shedding unless it's an outdoor dog - there's hundreds if not thousands of breeds/mixed breeds who can meet your needs/wants without an undercoat.

 

[sixseven]

Thanks for all of the responses. I think I have found my match, I will know more tomorrow. Cheap? NO. But when it comes down to it, is price THAT important when you consider you are getting a loyal companion for the next 15 years?

 

[GlocksInMySocks]

I'd say a golden, but i've got a feeling you won't enjoy it. We have 4 and pretty much gave up on wearing black. A goldendoodle or a labradoodle would solve that. Surprisingly, they're not nearly as gay looking as they sound.

The great pyrenees we have would also be be awesome, but the hair thing kills it

 

[WTJ]

I have a 2 year old Australian Shepherd and she is by far the best dog I have ever had. Mine is a Miniature and weighs around 28lbs
http://www.australianshepherds.org/about.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniature_Australian_Shepherd

Not sure about Minis, but this heah.

 

[MoBoost]

I grew up with a medium (miniature) poodle in an apartment - they are very smart and don't shed.

P.S. I am big fan of American pit bulls - but they are not for everyone.