What dog should I get? :P

SirPopcorn · May 2014

Okay so I thought I had my heart set on a Weimaraner, but after contacting a few breeders and even 2 of them twice and not getting any response, I've started looking into other breeds. Here is my criteria for breed: - Medium to extra-large in size - Short-hair - Natural liking of water - Medium to high energy requirements - Reasonably few genetic health issues Criteria for the individual dog: - Female highly preferred - Non-aggressive to cats and other pocket pets - Suitable to be around any ages - Not an escape artist (I live in bushland, if the dog managed to escape the chances of me ever seeing it again would be slim) This dog will be around when I start a family of my own, which is why I'm being extremely picky about what I want. It is crucial that the dog be appropriate for living with babies and young children, which I will expose the puppy to when I get it. I currently have 2 very active cats and often foster litters of kittens, live with just my dad and work part-time though I'm aiming for full-time. The dog would be an only dog in my house, but have playdates with other dogs at least twice a week. The dogs 'best friends' would be my local friends large dogs (bull arab/greyhound/lotsofothers and bull mastiff/cross) and would spend time with my families dogs, all elderly, a golden retriever, staffy and my beloved cavalier. I would love to train the dog to be a dock-diver! And also train for agility and possibly scent-sports. I'd love to compete in these sports but I don't know what if I'll have time in the future. Breeds I've looked into: - Weimaraner - German Shorthair Pointer - Dalmation - Vizsla - Saluki Breeds that aren't short-hair: - Standard Poodle - Border Collie - Brittany - German Shepherd And then I'm always on the look-out for a nice mixed breed rescue dog

My breeds are a bit random I know!

PaperWings · May 2014

A dally will make Sim happy hahaa. In regards to your "want" list for a particular breed, a lot of that is void when it comes to picking solely a breed. Mainly because a lot of that is more a personality trait rather than a breed trait that you are trying to narrow down by. For example, to the go with the good with family trait, a vet I used to work with owned 3 (maybe 4) springers that she competed in agility with. So in a sense all dogs were the "same" but when she had her baby there was one that they always had to watch as he wasn't quite trusted. So going on breed alone isn't exactly any help. Most of that just depends on how you raise them and train them, and how their personality is. Some dogs will have high prey drive so little animals will be a tasty snack. My dog is a butt with cats, he just wants to chase them and chew on them, but I'm sure there are plenty of people out there that have shepherds that happily live with cats. Genetic issues you'll have to either check with the breeder, or just hope for the best with a rescue pup. Pretty much luck of the draw with rescue ones! Larger dogs will all have the hip/elbow risk. And if they grow too fast they can damage their bones, and you aren't to do jumping training until 18-24mo just so their bones have finished growing else this would cause more problems. Large dogs also have the risk of GDV (bloat and twisting of the stomach which has high fatality). I'd go hang out at some rescue centres and meet the puppies they have, or get to know some breeders to meet their dogs to get to know their personalities. But general medium/large breeds with the energy that might like water that I'd go with: - Vizsla - Dalmatian - Malinois (Biased choice! Although they aren't super short haired.) - Spaniel (Springer or Münsterländer) Random breed but not sure how they are with water: - Boxer Whatever pup you get I hope you take lots of piccas!

SirPopcorn · May 2014

PaperWings wrote:

A dally will make Sim happy hahaa. In regards to your "want" list for a particular breed, a lot of that is void when it comes to picking solely a breed. Mainly because a lot of that is more a personality trait rather than a breed trait that you are trying to narrow down by. For example, to the go with the good with family trait, a vet I used to work with owned 3 (maybe 4) springers that she competed in agility with. So in a sense all dogs were the "same" but when she had her baby there was one that they always had to watch as he wasn't quite trusted. So going on breed alone isn't exactly any help. Most of that just depends on how you raise them and train them, and how their personality is. Some dogs will have high prey drive so little animals will be a tasty snack. My dog is a butt with cats, he just wants to chase them and chew on them, but I'm sure there are plenty of people out there that have shepherds that happily live with cats. Genetic issues you'll have to either check with the breeder, or just hope for the best with a rescue pup. Pretty much luck of the draw with rescue ones! Larger dogs will all have the hip/elbow risk. And if they grow too fast they can damage their bones, and you aren't to do jumping training until 18-24mo just so their bones have finished growing else this would cause more problems. Large dogs also have the risk of GDV (bloat and twisting of the stomach which has high fatality). I'd go hang out at some rescue centres and meet the puppies they have, or get to know some breeders to meet their dogs to get to know their personalities. But general medium/large breeds with the energy that might like water that I'd go with: - Vizsla - Dalmatian - Malinois (Biased choice! Although they aren't super short haired.) - Spaniel (Springer or Münsterländer) Random breed but not sure how they are with water: - Boxer Whatever pup you get I hope you take lots of piccas!

Haha Simm wants me to take her other dog! My criteria list is all over the place I know, most of it is just me dreaming. I will be doing a lot of training and socialising with the pup but having the natural 'instinct' there will help a lot! I'm regularly at a shelter and there have been a few adult dogs that I've loved, but every single one of them hasn't been suitable for cats $:\$ as for puppies, the only ones that sparked my attention in the past 6months were border collie cross kelpie and they got adopted super super fast. I didn't even think to look at Belgain Shepherds! There aren't many Malinois breeders here but I love the Groenendael and Tervueren as well. I won't be getting a pup till after September, possible longer

PaperWings · May 2014

Ah yeah sadly older dogs are harder to socialise with cats so would definitely need to be a puppy unless you find a dog that came from a cat filled home. Hahaa always fun to dream about the perfect thing! Even if it is a dog. Mine has good natural protection, High energy drive, good willingness to learn and generally clever. He is easily motivated by either toys or sweets. And is a nice size in general. Not crazy large but certainly not small! The only downside is his fur - he moults like crazy and generally all year round

Not tried him swimming as we don't really have anywhere dog safe to swim. But I'm sure he'll be silly enough to chase the waves if I took him to the beach. Hahaa she wants you to have Rune? She is a cute dog but a major pain in the butt. When I stayed over I got to meet her. She was mental and all licky lol

SirPopcorn · May 2014

PaperWings wrote:

Ah yeah sadly older dogs are harder to socialise with cats so would definitely need to be a puppy unless you find a dog that came from a cat filled home. Hahaa always fun to dream about the perfect thing! Even if it is a dog. Mine has good natural protection, High energy drive, good willingness to learn and generally clever. He is easily motivated by either toys or sweets. And is a nice size in general. Not crazy large but certainly not small! The only downside is his fur - he moults like crazy and generally all year round Not tried him swimming as we don't really have anywhere dog safe to swim. But I'm sure he'll be silly enough to chase the waves if I took him to the beach. Hahaa she wants you to have Rune? She is a cute dog but a major pain in the butt. When I stayed over I got to meet her. She was mental and all licky lol

Rune seems very similar to my friends dog, the bull arab/greyhound cross thing, and that dog drives me mental. Couldn't have Rune anyway, she'd chase my cats! Oh damn, my partner has fur allergies and my dad gets annoyed at the cat fur so might have to reconsider

I had the poodle on my list because of my partners fur allergies but then he doesn't like the poodle look -.-

PaperWings · May 2014

Allergies? That sucks. How about a water dog or lagotto? They have poodle type fur - as in doesn't shed. Both water breeds so would love swimming! Lol. Yeah don't think Rune would be good with cats. She loves to chase things I believe.

MorganSmith · May 2014

Boxer

Howdy, Stranger!

What dog should I get? :P

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