help me choose a breed of dog...

MarcusMcRae · **Posted:** Mon Jul 07, 2008 6:13 pm

German short hair pointer. Best dog I ever owned. Smart, family friendly, loyal, I could go on and on. They can get kinda big.

George Bright · **Posted:** Mon Jul 07, 2008 6:18 pm

Now I have two cats. Growing up we have had:
Boxer bought before I was born about 90 lbs.
Beagle stray rescued by an old neighbor about 25 lbs.
1/2 poodle 1/2 terrier The smartest dog we had small 15 lbs.
Brown dog born to a stray rescued by the same old neighbor about 30 lbs.
The brown mutt was the best dog we had that I remember. However I have been told stories about the boxer that I do not remember very well.

I recommend the SPCA. Wake SPCA let's you play with the animal before you commit. They are a little stricter about playing with the dogs than the cats. One of my cats came from Wake SPCA.

He shares some of my tastes in snacks.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Mon Jul 07, 2008 6:44 pm

Keith Quistorff wrote:

Interesting. My family adopted a beagle puppy when I was a kid, and it was, hands-down, the worst pet of all time. He had no interest in being with people, only in running off into the woods to roll in as many piles of poop as he could find, and destroying every household object in his path - many a toy, footwear, clothing, etc. was ripped apart by that dog. The last straw was when my mom let him in the house to watch him run straight to my parents' bedroom, jump on their bed, and pee all over their white comforter.

I'll admit, we probably have an "exception" beagle. She HATES going outside most of the time.

She did go thru a "chewing" period but is cool now for the most part.

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Mon Jul 07, 2008 9:39 pm

I love dogs, so i am maybe not the best place to get advice. I have a boxer.. I like her, i am new to boxers.. but she is a good dog.. she likes to lick my face alot! so be ready for very enthusiastic greetings, if you go that route.
they are strong too. they were bred in Germany as a hunting dog. overall, they are not as difficult as folks say though.

- Good luck with whatever dog type you go with.

the dog park on spring forest road, at millbrook exchange park, is a good place to ask questions about dogs too.

Adam Ligon · **Posted:** Mon Jul 07, 2008 9:49 pm

Ok first off people, please quite combing breed names in these new aweful made up 'breed' names. If its a mix then its a mix, or a mutt. And mutt's are some of the best dogs very often.

As for some of the other choices listed, as the son of a vetinary pharmacutical salemen, I have been around a lot of dogs. And while there are expections to everything, Daschounds are one of the worst breeds around in my opinion. Much like Dobermans, there is rampant in-breeding in them and many have issues with personalities. Boxers tend to be great pets, if they arent bigger than you are looking for. Jim mentioned them, and I grew up with a Corgi, and they are great dogs. They tend to think of themselves as a much bigegr dog than they are, and I like big dogs myself.

But as for pound puppies, as I said a mix or mutt is just that. And often they are nothing like the 'parent' breeds. Go to a shetler, or many, and interact with them to make the choice

jeremy gast · **Posted:** Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:16 pm

def a rescue!!!!

The wife and I have 2 basset hounds. We work with the rescue. www.cbhr.com

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Tue Jul 08, 2008 12:11 am

i voulenteered at the spca, in garner NC, for a while.. after my beagle passed.. to be around dogs of different types.. it is a good way to get used to dogs, and being around different types.

Chuck Frank · **Posted:** Tue Jul 08, 2008 1:36 am

Keith Quistorff wrote:

Ryan Holton wrote:

BriceJohnson wrote:

http://www.tribeagles.org/

Beagles rule, just get them a bark collar at a very young age. People always ask us "oh, you got a beagle, bet he howls a lot huh?", and the answer is no, b/c we got him a bark collar very early on.

X 2

We love our beagle, she barks a little but its mostly cute. Very good with kids

Interesting. My family adopted a beagle puppy when I was a kid, and it was, hands-down, the worst pet of all time. He had no interest in being with people, only in running off into the woods to roll in as many piles of poop as he could find, and destroying every household object in his path - many a toy, footwear, clothing, etc. was ripped apart by that dog. The last straw was when my mom let him in the house to watch him run straight to my parents' bedroom, jump on their bed, and pee all over their white comforter.

I've had three dogs since then with the following basic results:

1. A female Cockapoo (cocker spaniel / miniature poodle mix, ~20-25 lbs) - excellent dog, great personality, great family pet, no or little shedding (but requires haircuts). Lived 13+ years.

2. A female Keeshond (~30 lbs) - other than the long hair and mild shedding, the perfect family pet IMO - zero aggressive tendencies, smart, very well behaved, wonderful with children. Lived 13+ years. I'd have another one, except I wanted a larger dog.

3. A female goldendoodle (golden retriever / standard poodle mix, ~50-55 lbs) - my current dog, another non-shedding breed (requiring haircuts). On paper she appeared to be an ideal family pet, but has turned out to demand a lot more attention than expected - she's 2-1/2 years old and still acts like a puppy in many ways. Also, the retriever in her overrules any/all human commands - she'll chase another animal for miles, requiring a fenced yard and on-leash when walking. The breed is supposedly very smart, but she has a couple annoying habits that I can't seem to train out of her (after three different training classes w/different approaches).

Good luck, Chris.

You do realize that a standard poodle despite the typical foo foo haircut, is a hunting breed as well? So you have a mix of two hunters, no wonders it likes to run and chase.
We are on our third Shitzu and/or Laso mix, and all have been wonderful dogs. All were rescued, first from a friend who moved into a pet free apartment complex, second from another out of state friend who found her wandering on the expressway outside Atlanta, our current dog is the smallest of the three at just 10# and was a stray picked up by Durham animal control and adopted from the animal shelter.
Despite the small size, they are a sturdy, fiesty dog who love to curl up in your lap and get it's ears scratched while kissing you apreciatively.
They are a long haired dog that needs a lot of grooming if you let them grow out, but they do not shed or agravate alergies, and look just as cute and feel so soft when kept clipped short. They are not "barkers" unless they hear another dog barking, at home it's almost a surprise if Winky should bark, which is typically less than once in a week.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Tue Jul 08, 2008 7:59 am

Kevin Butler wrote:

I'll second weiner dogs. They can have health issues with their backs though...

That is mostly because 99% of Dashshunds are WAY overweight. To date ours is the only one I've seen (in person) that isn't as fat as a "Ballpark Frank". Ally weighs in at just 10lbs and is very active. She is almost 7 years old and loves to run jump and play as much as she did when she was a puppy. We make sure her weight stays down for her longevity.

jimpastorius · **Posted:** Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:08 am

Vincent Keene wrote:

Kevin Butler wrote:

I'll second weiner dogs. They can have health issues with their backs though...

That is mostly because 99% of Dashshunds are WAY overweight. To date ours is the only one I've seen (in person) that isn't as fat as a "Ballpark Frank". Ally weighs in at just 10lbs and is very active. She is almost 7 years old and loves to run jump and play as much as she did when she was a puppy. We make sure her weight stays down for her longevity.

That is true of any short legged, long bodied dogs. You really have to be mindful of their weight.

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

Ryan Holton wrote:

I'll admit, we probably have an "exception" beagle. She HATES going outside most of the time.

She did go thru a "chewing" period but is cool now for the most part.

I must have an exception beagle too. Ours is lazy as can be (when he's inside).

One thing about a beagle, If you want a dog you can let out unfenced to run around and expect it to obey voice commands, beagles are not for you. Their priorities as far as what they listen to outside goes:

1. Nose
2. Nose
3. Nose
4. "Whats that faint sound I hear, is that my owner?"

We keep ours on a leash outside though and he's well behaved as can be. He has no problem with us tying him to out lamp post while I wash the cars or do stuff as long as he can see where we are.

When he's inside, he almost always HAS to be in contact with me or my wife, laying on us, or behind us, or sitting on our feet, etc.

Pictures of our beagle:

http://picasaweb.google.com/brice.johns ... lePictures

Dachsunds are great dogs too, and lower maintenance, but I think they lack personality compared to our beagle. He's got big dog personality, but small dog maintenance.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Tue Jul 08, 2008 9:07 am

border collie mix. i have two. very intelligent & kid friendly, but require activity & excercise.

check Camp Canine in Cary, Chris. they usually have a few available for adoption. PM Lupella, i am suprised he hasn't weighed in on this thread yet.

David Spratte · **Posted:** Tue Jul 08, 2008 9:18 am

Our dog is a rescue. Best guess is that she's a Australian Shepherd mix of some sort. Fits the size criteria at about 35 pounds. But sort of breaks the long hair rule (it's not shaggy DA long, but she's by no means a short haired mix.

I think, almost beyond breed*, that training is key. Make a point of committing to it yourself (read a good book on it) or if you don't feel like you can, consider obedience lessons.

I know a really good dog trainer. In fact she's written a book about how to insure that your kids and dog get along. Let me know if you're interested Chris.

*Of course size limitations or hair preferences are important.

DanDurusky · **Joined:** Sun Apr 10, 2005 7:31 pm **Posts:** 686

We also have an Aussie mix and she's a really great dog. She weighs 37lbs.

I grew up w/ Lab hunting dogs and its interesting to compare the two. The labs were 100% more "i'll die for you if you say so". they'll fetch anything you threw and would die trying to find it. They'd sit and stay for hours. Maybe it was their pedigree, who knows.

My Aussie is a mix from the pound (and from what i've read typical of aussies) is very submissive. She's extremely gentle, good with kids (even toddlers and babies), loves people and other animals, etc. Won't compete w/ any other dog for anything. heck she even eats slow and gently. Def not a lab! hah But while she's well trained and obedient, she doesnt have the obey-drive that the labs had. She'll fetch once or twice and have enough, etc. She doesnt seem to enjoy learning as much as the labs. She's smart though and figures out a lot about people and objects on her own it seems.

But yeh, just go to the local pounds and rescues and look around. You'll know it when you see it.

P.S. i know a girl who works for the NC Aussie Rescue if you want to go that route.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Tue Jul 08, 2008 12:35 pm

steve remchak wrote:

border collie mix. i have two. very intelligent & kid friendly, but require activity & excercise.

check Camp Canine in Cary, Chris. they usually have a few available for adoption. PM Lupella, i am suprised he hasn't weighed in on this thread yet.

I did already. thanks for the referral :lol:

The two we have for adoption are bigger 55lbs than Phil wants. They do have the right personality though. (get along with people, kids, dogs, and cats). I would always suggest anything mixed with a lab though they do tend to be high energy and very ball focused and/or water focused

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