Hey all, I lost my dog of 13 or 14 years last week. She was not a hunting dog, but a stray mutt I found at a pound, malnourished, sick and abused. She was about 16-17 when she dies. Thank God it looks like she went in her sleep, my wife was home and found her, she was still warm when I got home.

my remaining dog is an Australian Shepherd, a "miniature" which 40lbs. does not seem mini to me, but apparently is. about 6 years old now probably. Overall a good dog. Needs more exercise really.

Here's the thing, this breed, how are they being alone? he's allowed in the house whenver he wants, sleeps on my bed or on the floor by it, is part of the family. but during the day we're working and the kids are in preschool, he's alone. backyard is about 35-40 (varies) by 65'. Not big. but he has neighbor dogs to bark at and I have a fence on the side he can see through to bark at people getting their mail across the street. (I know, ideally he needs more space, but it is what it is).

I'm not necessarily ready for another dog, but don't want this one to suffer now (bought him as a companion for the other) and I am a dog person. so here's my question, with the above constraints....

what I'm looking for

-I've always wanted a big dog, my grandparents always had danes on their ranch. while my wife isn't enthusiastic about it she said that it depends on the dog. I know there are some large breeds that my house and yard size would be ok for. But recommend non-big ones too! I plan to live long enough and move at some point to have bigger ones later if not now.

-A dog that is protective, maybe not attack dog protective, but I believe the biggest deterrent to robbery is a good dog, and I have two daughters that I would like to have an additional "bodyguard" (my mom said the GD's were always very protective of her, one trapped a boyfriend in a laundry room)

-good with kids, a must with the 3 and 4yo's.

-intelligence and good trainability would be great. the aussie was a pain (stubborn) and I still have issues with him. interestingly, put the shock collar on and he immediately becomes a gentleman.

-low maintenance coat

-money does matter, as I am not rolling in it, it doesn't mean if I decide on an expensive breed I won't get one, it would just be later rather than sooner

I don't realistically have the time or knowledge to train a hunting dog and use him, so that isn't a concern. but I would like to take the dog with me to the mountains when we camp. something to consider is Fresno gets to triple digits in the summer, not so big a factor since I let my dogs inside, but throwing it out there.

some breeds that I've "considered" and find interesting but need more data/info:

-standard poodle (supposedly very smart and hair not fur, no shed, BUT in my experience poodles have attitude)
-doberman (neighbors had 2, awesome dogs, do they really go crazy and eat owners?)
-rottweiler
-german shepherd
-giant schnauzer (I hear need LOTS of exercise)
-airedale
-english mastiff (I don't know if she'd go that big, but I like them)
-staffordshire terrier
-irish wolfhound (have always wanted one, two actually, grey and black)


One last question to add, is it true that females are more consistent personality wise and bond better with kids? further, is it best if I have a male to get a female for compatibility (he's fixed, no breeding notions).

Red

Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Tell me more. I knew a guy with two rhodesians, they seemed very nice, but had a penchant for trouble. they "broke through", literally rammed the fence with their heads, the wood fence to go visit the neighbors dog. not mean, no fight, just wanted to visit.

Red

Large dog (esp giant breeds) and low maintenance do not go together. Food, boarding, medicine, all cost more.

We have fostered a number of Anatolian Shepherds and most have been excellent watch dogs and good with the kids. Have you considered adopting an adult from a rescue group? Do you have a good fence?

Here are some for adoption in your region.

German Shepherds can be great dogs but only if bred with a sound structure and stable temperament.

An American Bulldog. Awesome family animal.

I'm a big proponent of the Labrador Retreiver. They can be high maintenance for the first year (chewing, separation anxiety) but they're smart, even-tempered, etc.

You listed Standard Poodles. The Labradoodles and Goldendoodles my neighbors have are smart and friendly, and have the non-allergenic hair instead of fur. This might be another option you might consider.

Finally, I like Weimaraners. Very protective. Also very high energy, though.

Steve

The "ridge" on a Rhodesian Ridgeback is a congenital deformity related to Spina Bifida. Someone decided it was "neat" and someone else had the poor judgment to use it as a breed criterion.

Lab is the No. 1 dog breed in the USA -- because they're great pets. No. 2 is Golden Retriever -- which can have skin problems, and because of the demand, there are a lot of Goldens w/ hip dysplasia.

If you want a large dog, go to the pound and get a pup w/big puppy feet and vice versa. Almost ANY dog will take on the personality of the family... or at least that's what my cats say... mutts aren't bad dogs... just train them early whose boss and they can/do perform at least as well as purebreds. If you don't like dog hair on everything poodle like dogs are good... our Boykin Spaniel (45lbs... a large one) doesn't shed... hair clumps and falls out in clumps so just shave it 2x a year and you do not need to worry about it... Girls/women LOVE the breed.

Wonderfully lucky event here. My wife and I drove to the county animal shelter...just for the heckuvit.....to see the dogs. As we parked the car, a young man and little girl walked by with a young golden retriever in tow...headed for the door of the bldg. I called to the man and asked him if he were about to leave the dog at the shelter (the dog was OBVIOUSY PURE-BRED GOLDEN and gorgeous). He said yes. At that moment my wife astounded me by whispering "Get it". So we conducted the switch in the parking lot. This was 6 weeks ago. We absolutely LOVE the dog. She is BRILLIANT, adorable, loving, and everything we might imagine as possible but elusive in an individual dog. Good things happen!!

Only thing I don't like about rescue dogs is that you never know its back ground. After all they were given up for a reason.

Dago Red, the ridgeback is a hound and as such loves to lay around BUT he will run all day if you want him to. My bloke was aloof around strangers but very loyal to my family and me. My wife always felt safe when I was on night shift because she knew Fred was in the back yard. In fact on night she got a knock on the door by a man claiming to be from some religious group . She let Fred inside and opened the door (screen door was locked)Fred (all 48kgs of him) was at her side with a very deep growl. The fella quickly apologised and took off
They can be stubbon to train but start young and you shouldn't have any problems. Socialise with other dogs and animals as a pup and again you'll have no problems.This is my fella Fred, I had to put him down at the age of 11 and still miss the big lug. When he was inside he would follow me around and if I was laying on my bed or the couch I knew that if I put my hand down he would be right there within touching range.


Make sure you do your home work with the breed to know what your getting into.

We discussed it at length yesterday, both had lists (mine of course researched ) and we first went through and knocked off those we didn't want off each others and came up with what we together could look through. put down our criteria (good with kids, don't need lots of excercise, okay for our size yard, etc.).

I was liking the american bulldog idea, but that and the staffordshire got shot off my list. I shot lab off hers (sorry folks, I know they're great hunting dogs everybody loves them, but I've been around quite a few friends had and they seem to take a lot of training or they can be problematic, and seem very high energy. I know two people who had labs that jumped fences with leashes on when and hung themselves, yes, owner negligence as well, it's the jumping fence thing I speak to. I also know one that was chasing something at a picnic/party type event and charged through a lady breaking her leg)

but, what would you think surprised me more than anything, especially considering drooling and what not, the one she is most leaning to is the mastiff. she has a friend with one that loves the dog.

there's a few others on the list, but it's a process.

pound dogs, ahhh, my last one came from there, i love mutts truly, I also though have the problemw ith not knowing the history, especially on grown dogs. on pups, well one most people wait till their older, and two I think for the kids overall it'll be better and they'll be more vested in it if they get the dog as a pup.

I will say this though, I believe when you rescue a dog, especially one that NEEDS rescue (meaning the chances of somebody else taking it are slim to zilch) the bond is unbreakable.

some things you don't know though. my little mutt was great, to me, but didn't like kids (not her fault really, I discovered early she'd been abused pretty badly and apparently by kids), which was fine for almost a decade of bachelorhood, but became an issue when the kids were born. Had no idea till the first time she was around little kids.

Thanks for all the info guys, I will bring up the rhodesian in next round of discussions.

Red

quote:

Thanks for all the info guys, I will bring up the rhodesian in next round of discussions.

Show her the photo's of Fred....how could she resist that lovable boof head? Good luck mate

Reconsider a lab in one sense: you can find a lab breeder who is done with one of their breeding animals. Many folks find good homes for these dogs once they are out of a breeding program. They are generally around 4-5 and not high strung. They make excellent dogs at that age and in many cases you don't have to worry about any hyperactivity.

Other than that a mastiff is a nice big laid back dog. My neighbor has one and he is the coolest laid back dog ever. Big, sweet, and little to NO maintenance. His name is Zander

I just put down my Aussie 2 weeks ago. I found him as a pup of maybe 4 weeks old when I was out quail hunting with my buddies 13 years ago. Someone dumped a litter of puppies out in the desert, we found 2 of them left alive. Both were skin and bones and infested with fleas and ticks when we found them. I called my wife on the way home with them and remember telling her they were so weak I didn't think they would live. I kept one, and my buddy kept the other one. I named him "Lucky". He was a great dog and I miss him, so I know how you feel.

I would strongly reconsider on the Mastiff. My friends have 2 of them, one from a breeder, and one was a rescue. They are not long lived dogs, and are prone to needing medical attention as they get older. Their 2 do not like strangers, and the rescue dog doesn't like kids. Anytime someone comes to the house with kids, they have to put up the rescue dog. Just my 2 cents worth and comments from my friends that have had them.

I think you should reconsider the Lab or Retriever also. They are great family dogs. I've had 2 Labs in a row the last 15 years. The first one, a black Lab, was a rescue dog I got at 1 year old and she lived to be 13. The one I got 2 years ago, a chocolate Lab, was also a rescue dog and he's about 3 years old now.

I don't think Labs take any more work than any other dog. The big plus with Labs is the breed seems to be very eager to please, as long as they know what it is you want. Both of mine have been this way from the beginning. Neither of mine had been trained as hunting dogs as pups, but my first one, a black Lab, took to it pretty well anyway. The one we have now is just a "family dog", a chocolate Lab, but he is wonderful. He could very well be the best dog I've ever had.

When we adopted this chocolate Lab, we were told that he had been returned to the shelter 3 times by families that couldn't "handle" him. He's been wonderful. He just needed some attention, and some structure. He was a year old, and it was like no one had ever spent any time with him. He wasn't even house trained yet. We got him trained up in no time, it took less than a week for him to figure out what to do. Having another dog there to show him the way was a big plus I think.

They have both been good with kids, old people, strangers, guests, and other dogs. When my daughter was little, she used to try and drag my black Lab around the kitchen floor by her tail. That black Lab would just "take it", or defend herself by licking the child in the face until she stopped trying to drag her.

Our chocolate Lab has got to be the most eager to please, gentle, and ready-to-play dog I've ever had. He "knows" to modify his play to the person. Be it an old person, or a small child, I've seen him automatically "soften" his play to match. No one taught him that, he just does it himself.

I'm going to be looking around for another dog myself in the next few months, maybe around Nov-Dec, as our chocolate Lab will need a playmate also. I'm thinking either another Lab, or a Retriever.

my two yellow labs were hell on wheels and both were from show breeders. I paid over $1000 each. My next door neighbor's mastiff is a pussycat compared to them. I have permission to hunt a large farm and that owner has a mastiff also. This is my only experience with this breed...these 2 dogs. In terms of behavior, I'd take both over another lab. But admittedly, I didn't exercise my dogs like they should have been either...just didn't have the time.

I don't know much else about mastiffs. My brother got a male yellow lab when I got my first female. His dog is incredibly laid back and has been since he was 3.

Everyone is partial to their dog, that being said...check out the Blackmouth Cur. Sounds like the exact dog you are looking for. They vary in size though depening on their line.

quote:

-standard poodle (supposedly very smart and hair not fur, no shed, BUT in my experience poodles have attitude) the poodles can indeed have "attitude" and may not be the best choice for a novice owner, but any dog that has protection value will have "confidence", though some are certainly more stubborn. Poodles are also very smart, and loyal, though I just couldn't...
-doberman (neighbors had 2, awesome dogs, do they really go crazy and eat owners?) There have been a few cases of mental instability in this breed, but that is true of every breed, though more common in some. Of the ones I've known, they've been smart, loyal and basically sweethearts. I think they'd be a great choice, from a known breeder.
-rottweiler At least in my area, these became a fad a decade ago, and the breed has suffered for it by backyard amateur breeders mass producing crap. I've always liked them, but, again, I'd onlyl go with a well known breeder on this one.
-german shepherd They darn sure shed, and their hips can be a problem, so know if the parents had certified hips, other than that, the GSD is one of my all time favorite breeds.
-giant schnauzer (I hear need LOTS of exercise) These are very dominant type dogs, and I would not say that they are for novice handlers at all. Not saying that you're family would have problems, but your neighbors and their pets may. Not one of the most exercise needy on your list, but may be one of the more stubborn.
-staffordshire terrier Opinions vary. Personally, I would only go with a dog like this if I felt extremely confident as a handler. No matter what you may here, they ARE VERY DOG AGGRESSIVE TOWARD THE SAME SEX.


-airedale Painting with a broad brush, I'd say that each of these breeds will also be fairly stubborn and have dominant personalities. The Airedale and Wolfhounds will want to "hunt", if you don't give them something to hunt, they'll find something. If your neighborhood has a stray cat problem, it won't for long. All of these would be very protective of your family and formidable. None of the Larger, and esp. the Giant breeds live long, and can indeed have expensive later years (they are getting old @8 and a 12 year old mastiff is a very old dog).
-english mastiff (I don't know if she'd go that big, but I like them)
-irish wolfhound (have always wanted one, two actually, grey and black)

I don't see as much difference in behavior between the males and females as some do. I've had very "soft" males, and very bold females. Neutering/spaying equalizes the field. FWIW, finding another treasure at the pound, or in the paper/rescue shelter may be the perfect option for your family. I would spend a bit of time researching various temperaments though, for instance, terriers all have similar temperaments (broad brush again) and may not suit what you are wanting to do. Good luck, and hope that helps.

The mention of the Boykin Spaniel above may make some since. I happen to have an friend who acquired one about 2 months ago and they love her! Not very big but very affectionate.
I have always had high strung bird dogs (English Setters). Very lovable and gentle but you will NOT have a yard if you leave them outside.
Golden Retrievers are about the best family dog I can imagine. Note the Hip dysplasia mentioned as well.

quote:

Originally posted by eezridr:
The mention of the Boykin Spaniel above may make some since. I happen to have an friend who acquired one about 2 months ago and they love her! Not very big but very affectionate.
I have always had high strung bird dogs (English Setters). Very lovable and gentle but you will NOT have a yard if you leave them outside.
Golden Retrievers are about the best family dog I can imagine. Note the Hip dysplasia mentioned as well.

My English Setter (8 months old) is gentle as a lamb and one of the best lazy couch potato house dogs I've ever had (though he'll run forever if you turn him loose in a big field), while my father in law's spaniel is hell on wheels hyper and destructive even though it's an old dog. Just goes to show you sometimes there's move variance within a breed than between breeds.

The airedale is a good choice. Not overly aggressive but should be very protective. Widely regarded as one of the toughest dogs out there, pound for pound. Good kid dog.

Inside, we've got labs, which I think everyone should own at least one , and a smallish female schnauzer (18-20 pounds). If she weighed 75 pounds, no one, and I mean NO ONE, could come into the house. She dominates the three labs, who each outweighs her by about 50 pounds. Not real bright, but very fierce and a fine companion to my wife. I'd hate to say it's the dog or me, because I'd almost certainly be looking to rent somewhere.

Dobes can have some medical problems, but are truly fine dogs and obviously protective.

Same for German shepherds.

If you want a different breed, that is somewhat high maintenance (long hair) but very protective and loyal, consider a briard. I can assure you the neighbors won't have one.

Not too long ago, we seriously looked into buying a Russian Black Terrier, which comes very close to meeting all your requirements. You won't have to lock the doors when you leave unless you want to protect a potential burglar. However, the cheapest puppies we could find cost $2500 (admittedly from one of the top breeders), and that was more than I wanted to pay for one. Fine dogs tho.

Red.

Sorry about your loss.

Had to put our oldest female Springer down just a year ago, she was 15 1/2 yrs.
Our oldest male will be 16 yrs next month.
We also have a 7 month old Female now, who is a sweatheart.

We have always had the smaller hunting breeds, Golden Cocker, American Water Spainel, and a Britteny once ( that did not last very long as she was very high stung ) Went to the English Springer Spainel a number of years ago and have had great luck with them in the house and around kids.

I did some research last year about the Bokin Spainels, they are a neat breed as well, just not many up here in WA.

Do your research, and see if you can find a breeder close to you so you can look at the pups parents, and how they are cared for.

Good luck

James Wisner

I have a couple of suggestions you might think about. We have two large dogs, a Great Pyrenees and an Akbash. These are both great dogs. Our male Akbash goes about 170 so he certainly fits the bill on size, but at the same time he is very gentle with children and gets along very well with other dogs, cats, and every other critter he's encountered. Our Pyrenees is a little shy until she gets to know you, and then she wants to be a lap dog. These dogs were developed as stock guard dogs, and are still used extensively for that purpose. They are very protective of their families, but don't have the attack dog stigma attached to pit bulls, rotweillers, or dobermans.
There are a couple of issues you should consider. One, these are long-haired dogs, and require a weekly brushing, and they do shed. The other issue is that they are very independent by nature, and can be hard to train. On the other hand, they have few health problems, live on average of 11-12 years, and eat surprisingly little for such large dogs. Pyrenees show up in shelters often when they don't work out as stock dogs. Akbash are very rare in the US, but they do also show up in shelters and at rescue groups.

My two are:

Kuvasz (I currently have a 3 year old)

Great Pyrenees (Little Bubba is now 6 months and over 75 pounds)

If you will not give up something you are doing now so you can train any dog you get, then get a cat.

I've had Boxers all my life, as had my father, and my grandfather (so there is a lot of bias here). Always been very friendly dogs, yet, somehow they knew who was welcome at the house and who was not.

My last one passed away a little over a month ago. He was actually a rescue, but a great dog none the less.

Sorry about your loss and good luck in finding the right replacement. I lost my buddy this Spring to cancer, and I still miss him, badly.

My partridge dogs would be just about perfect for you -- if we were a bird hunter. Without a "job" they (like many hunting breeds) will go a little psycho on you.

Don't stare yourself too blind on breed -- finding the right breeders is more important than the breed in most cases. JMO, Dutch.

None better than a Boxer,, Hell, their kids themselfs.. Amazing a breed can be so attached to kids but they are.. Protective, but with brains. They seem very well aware who's bad and who's nice. Very smart, loyal and love people almost as much as they love their kids. They are not an alone dog, they are very social and desire nothing more than being with their family. You do not dump these dogs in the back yard and just throw food and water out to them. You get a Boxer, you get a family member..

I've had nothing but Boxer's from Los Angeles Boxer Rescue for the last 25 years.. Everyone of them has been a dear and devoted friend who when the passing of time called them, ripped my heart from my soul. Every time I've lost my best friend I swear I'm through with dogs, six months or so later I'm back at Boxer rescue checking out personalities and finaly at the end of the day, a new friend is going home with me that really need's a home and family of his own..

Have you checked into a Bullmastiff? Great dogs.

How goes the search Dago Red?

quote:

Originally posted by Dago Red:

-standard poodle (supposedly very smart and hair not fur, no shed, BUT in my experience poodles have attitude)

All smart dogs have some attitude. It depends on their owner whether the attitude will be funny or obnoxious.

quote:

-doberman (neighbors had 2, awesome dogs, do they really go crazy and eat owners?)

No, not true. It depends upon the individual dog and owner, we had dobermans and shelties together. Not problems at all. Again, it is the owner that has the most effect on how the dog interacts with other dogs and people.

quote:

-rottweiler
-german shepherd
-giant schnauzer (I hear need LOTS of exercise)
-airedale
-english mastiff (I don't know if she'd go that big, but I like them)
-staffordshire terrier
-irish wolfhound (have always wanted one, two actually, grey and black)

Definitely not on my short list with a 3 year old in the home.

quote:

One last question to add, is it true that females are more consistent personality wise and bond better with kids?

No, not true. It depends upon the individual dog and owner, not the breed or sex of the dog.

quote:

is it best if I have a male to get a female for compatibility

No, definitely not correct . He will still want to mate with her when she goes into heat. They do not know that they are fixed. It is better to have 2 bachelors.

I'm very sorry to hear about your loss. They all break our hearts someday unfortunately.

I would agree with Bakes on all accounts. Consider the Rhodesian Ridgeback. I have two and they are great dogs. Great with kids and other dogs when socialized like any other breed. Low maintenance, smart and no barking unless there is something wrong. They are protective of their family around strangers without being aggressive. They can go all day if you want or they are happy just sleeping the day away. They are very “pack” oriented and will be by you or your family’s side always.

I have a 7 ½ year old male and a 6 year old female. We started out with the male as a pup and got the female as a pup 1 ½ years later. I think the males are more loveable with the females being a little more aloof. If you are going to have just one go for a male.

I like their history, they are from Africa and not a breed you see every day. I don’t think I could have another breed now.

Good luck with your search!!

Sorry not to update you guys, we've talked about it quite a bit but haven't made a decision yet. Due to cost we're considering checking the local shelters and seeing what turns up. My kids did tell me the other day that they miss Bailey and want another dog. They actually want to name the next one Bailey (if it's a girl), I didn't think at first I was ready for that but am not sure, if it was better for them I guess I'd do it.

It's a difficult decision, and buying one from a breeder significantly increases cost. I liked the english mastiff Idea for a while until I remembered I'm the one that cleans up and they must crap logs.

Red

Huge fan of my Golden Retriever! My little neices and nephews ride him like a horse and pull on his ears... he could care less! Takes it with a smile on his face. Not too shabby of a field dog either, does waterfowl and upland!

quote:

Due to cost we're considering checking the local shelters and seeing what turns up.

There are a lot of deserving dogs down at the shelter.