Help Me Choose A Breed Please

[whiskedaway]

Yes, we had Vizslas as a kid and our Vizslas were as high energy, if not higher energy, than our Sibe.

[~Lisa~]

My first thought was English Pointer. Gorgeous, lovely dogs.

[lappiemum]

They only need about a 20 min brush a week.

I spend closer to an hour a week on mine and I definitely do not find them wash and wear if they happen to like jumping in the swamp, rolling in the burrs and pine needles and annointing themselves with dead rat! Let's not mention what happens when he gets the runs. The dirt does tend to fall off when it dries, but then you get a dirt pile in the house. I love him like life itself, but they are not a breed for someone looking for easy coat care IMO. I'm never having more than one long-coated dog.

I do the 20min brush - never have had a problem, but my guys are def couch potatos a lot! I usually brush for hair when they are moulting, and just to keep them nice for shows - only bath them when they need it.

[lappiemum]

If I spot clean my Lappie he's wet for hours. If he runs around and rolls in the wet grass he can end up being damp for hours. He likes being damp, so we have to be cool with a dog that regularly leaves damp patches inside. I can give my Vallhund a full bath, though, and he's dry in half an hour.

There's a Large Munsterlander litter advertised on the puppies page of Dogz Online.

Bear does take a while to dry naturally - I usually blow dry him. The girls have less coat so they dry relatively quickly. Also depends on if its a nice warm day or a cold wet one!! LOL

[Guest belgian.blue]

I would be looking at an English Pointer

We had one growing up and they are fantastic dogs!

I would have another one in a hot second but they arnt my OH's thing sadly.

Personally I don't think he knows what he's missing

+1

[Miss BeRidgierent]

Ridgebacks are very loyal and their favorite activity is sitting with you on the couch watching tv.

They can be very head strong and suborn so you have to have a strong hand because they will push you to see how much they can get away with.

They are very trainable.... some more so then others. My boy can learn something new within a day and thats not exaggerating. His recall however is not best at dog parks when there is better things to be doing.

They are great with kids and other animals.

And they are just adorable!!!

[jacqui835]

If you want good recall, a Weimaraner is not for you. The one we had was an obedience champion when we got her. A very good dog generally. But once she was on a scent out there, she was deaf as a doornail. OK on our fenced areage once we put up the electric fence. The fence kept in the Dobes, but not a Wei. And once she got out, she had no idea how to get back.

I'd suggest a Dobermann. It would tick most, if not all, of your boxes.

Ah, thank you. I must admit I don't know too much about the breed I just think they're absolutely gorgeous looking! Hadn't considered a Dobermann, I was always a bit frightened of them as a kid and came across rather a lot of not too nice ones so I don't have the best feelings about them :p

Hmm, if you like the look of the hound breeds, like the ridgeback, the GSP and the weim etc, but want something with great recall and super affectionate (I'm sure the others are very affectionate too, but dobes have won the title 'velcro dogs' for a reason, and when you get home from work and are trying to go to the toilet, only to have your dobe open the bathroom door - handle and everything, and come and try rest his head on your lap and stare up into your eyes, or try and get in the shower with you just to rest against your legs when they don't even like showers, you start to understand why..), a dobe could be right for you. It's not the easiest breed to raise right, and you would need to be prepared to put in some training, but it is one where if you put in the effort, you will see great returns. This is the only breed that was bred purely for guarding people, and as such, they are typically very dedicated to their handlers. I have an entire male, but I think because of the guarding instincts, he does not ever wander away from me, and he has perfect recall, even when following animal scents with a pack of dogs. Very intelligent and keen to learn, short wash and wear coat and very very happy to cuddle up between me and my partner on the couch - they're also known as 100 pound lap dogs and work hard to maintain these titles...

He is fine with other animals and kids have ridden on his back, but I sleep very soundly at night because he is so protective and makes us all feel very safe. Of course they won't be the right breed for everyone, but I think in this instance they deserve a mention. I have met plenty of dobes who scare me and I have wanted to yell at the owners for creating such a monstrosity, but there are also dobes worthy of the other title I've heard them referred to as, that being, the king of dogs.

ETA these other dobes have scared me because they gave the impression that they could attack me at any moment just for walking down the street. Dobes true to standard are not just randomly aggressive, and no-one who isn't trying to hurt me or at least acting suss feels scared around my dog when they wouldn't otherwise feel scared around a large breed. Random men who run up to me when I'm jogging in the park after sunset, well, that's a different story isn't it.

Edited November 23, 2010 by jacqui835

[Remarkabull]

If you want good recall, a Weimaraner is not for you. The one we had was an obedience champion when we got her. A very good dog generally. But once she was on a scent out there, she was deaf as a doornail. OK on our fenced areage once we put up the electric fence. The fence kept in the Dobes, but not a Wei. And once she got out, she had no idea how to get back.

I'd suggest a Dobermann. It would tick most, if not all, of your boxes.

Ah, thank you. I must admit I don't know too much about the breed I just think they're absolutely gorgeous looking! Hadn't considered a Dobermann, I was always a bit frightened of them as a kid and came across rather a lot of not too nice ones so I don't have the best feelings about them :p

Hmm, if you like the look of the hound breeds, like the ridgeback, the GSP and the weim etc, but want something with great recall and super affectionate (I'm sure the others are very affectionate too, but dobes have won the title 'velcro dogs' for a reason, and when you get home from work and are trying to go to the toilet, only to have your dobe open the bathroom door - handle and everything, and come and try rest his head on your lap and stare up into your eyes, or try and get in the shower with you just to rest against your legs when they don't even like showers, you start to understand why..), a dobe could be right for you. It's not the easiest breed to raise right, and you would need to be prepared to put in some training, but it is one where if you put in the effort, you will see great returns. This is the only breed that was bred purely for guarding people, and as such, they are typically very dedicated to their handlers. I have an entire male, but I think because of the guarding instincts, he does not ever wander away from me, and he has perfect recall, even when following animal scents with a pack of dogs. Very intelligent and keen to learn, short wash and wear coat and very very happy to cuddle up between me and my partner on the couch - they're also known as 100 pound lap dogs and work hard to maintain these titles...

He is fine with other animals and kids have ridden on his back, but I sleep very soundly at night because he is so protective and makes us all feel very safe. Of course they won't be the right breed for everyone, but I think in this instance they deserve a mention. I have met plenty of dobes who scare me and I have wanted to yell at the owners for creating such a monstrosity, but there are also dobes worthy of the other title I've heard them referred to as, that being, the king of dogs.

+1 for Dobes!

Best dogs in the world. My newest boy is 9 months old and has just started obedience training (not ideal, but our circumstances were a problem for a while) and he is picking things up after only a couple of reps. He has a fantastic recall, even if there is something really exciting happening elsewhere and they are so devoted to their owners you can't help but feel the same way back.

I would have to say though that they are not for first time dog owners and they do require strong leadership.

[noisymina]

Well said Dobe owners.

I agree with all of it!

Definitely wash and wear. Mine can go a month without even being touched if I'm lazy. Or a hose off and shake if she's got a bit muddy.

They are the most beautiful, athletic dogs when in motion. Not much can compare to seeing your Dobe stretching out in full gallop.

[Pepper and Jax]

If you're really keen to meet a GSP, send me a PM. Happy to introduce you to Pepper.