When thinking of a new dog...

[KCat]

Do you find yourself going from breed to breed. One week thinking "Oh, I gotta have a Boxer. They're gorgeous, athletic..."

The next: "Gotta have a Dobie. Smart, lovable, scary (to strangers) without being dangerous..."

Then: "Gotta have an [any toy breed] - they're so cute and fit in a lap and..."

I went through that until I realized I wanted a rescue dog and that meant it could be anything from a purebred to the gorgeous mutt I now own.

[brunosmom]

I like to think with a mutt that your gonna get the best from different breeds...:D I have a Rotti/mix...he looks like a rottweiler... sorta..and I don't know what the mix part is....but he's lovable through and through...he is a gentle giant that loves to lay in your lap....soooo maybe other part would be...poodle...haha..just a joke......don't have a clue as to the mix part..:D :D. But I also understand why somebody would want a specific breed.....My dream dog to own would be a mastiff.....someday...when I have a bigger house!!

[KCat]

But I also under why somebody would want a specific breed.....My dream dog to own would be a mastiff.....someday...when I have a bigger house!!

Oh, I'm not questioning if wanting a specific breed. Not at all. Hubby wants a GSD. I just was struck by the thought of "oooh, that's a lovely boxer (CiCi), I want one. whiiieeennne" and recalled how many times I went down that path. Before I got my Dal, Bayta back in '94, I wanted a Great Dane (Harlequin), then a Dobie (red? is that the right word?) and eventually came around to Dalmatian (at the time, I thought I knew what I was doing.) Instead I fell in love with this funky Shar Pei/Lab/Mastiff/whatever mix. :)

[brunosmom]

Well I think..when talking to people on this forum...most times it really doesn't matter "what breed"...everyone here seems to like ALL dogs...mutts, pedigrees...what ever's. I think all you have to do is look into their eyes and fall head over heals for them (the dogs)....by the way.....I would take Yo ming from you in a heart beat...:heart:...lol...I saw his picture yesterday..the one of him in the back yard.....and yes he is gorgeus..easy to see how you feel in love.

[Sabledog]

i dont think breed should be a factor, it should be more of the traits of certain dogs, like mellow, or hyper, attentive or aloof, i do know that my next dog wil be a purebred, as i have never owned a true purebred of my own, but i have narrowed it down to either a pure rhodesian ridgeback or a german shorthair pointer., i have always loved hunting dogs and hound dogs and have always had my heart set on one.

[vagreys]

I grew up with Weims. When my wife moved east to join me, and brought her cats, I promised not to have another dog until the cats were gone. I had no idea it would be 18 years. Once I was able to have a dog, again, I thought I would want a Weim, but we considered others, too. My wife went through a Vizla phase. Then we found Greyhounds. Now, my wife, formerly a cat person and now a dog fan, has gotten into obedience, and wants a Welsh Springer. But I doubt there will ever be a time when I don't have at least one Greyhound in the house.

[skunkstripe]

My problem is that I will not live long enough to enjoy all the different types of dogs I would love to have. Most of my life was too unpredictable for me to have a dog (and I was traveling 25% of the time anyway). I would love to have a Greyhound, a Water Spaniel, a Spitz, a Keeshond, a Rottie,........

[kmdavies]

I love all dogs but I'm owned by a Boxer there so clever funny and that face so expressive and there so strong and powerful definatly the only breed for me. I like the bigger breeds too like Newfoundlands St bernards and the Neoplitain mastiff have you noticed the simalarity all got that big baggy face oooh gorgeous

[Kaos]

I desperately wanted an Akita, but ultimately decided that the breed would not suit my lifestyle requirements so turned to other breeds (mixes as it turns out). I need my dogs to be able to mix with strange dogs off lead and the Akita's reputation for tending to be dog-aggressive was very offputting to me. I still think they are gorgeous though, and drawl over them when I meet other peoples.

[onedog]

I always wanted an Irish Wolfhound, but, being on a fore-shortened earning and physical capacity, I knew I could never "befriend' one.

Instead I go to the local shows and admire them, as I have always done.

To me they are dogs.

[Ridgie Lover]

Wow, but there is so much choice so little time! So many poor unfortunates needing a loving home too. I have had many breeds, but have always stuck with my Rhodesian Ridgebacks. I guess above all we have more in common, same sense of humour, principles, & I trust them unconditionally.
I guess if you have grown up with a specific breed you "read" it better than any other, therefore helping to trust. I rescued my current RR at 18mths old he was either stuck in abox all day or beaten my the man of the house. So when I got the poor boy he had no confidence and no manners. The lady was leaving her partner for being abusive but couldnt look after the dog alone, so she rang me; initially to do a temperment test. But of course after I saw how great he was with my daughter I took him home. He was a bit wary at first, but not at all aggressive, such a pansie - but we love him. A well bred RR will have the desired "soft" temperment, they are not confronational nor neadlessley aggressive which is why I love my BFG's. "mufasa" has turned out to be an absolute saint with excellent manners & social skills, after alot of hard work and time.
I grew in Zimbabwe on a farm with 3 RR's, a Dobbie X RR, & a Blk Giant Schnauzer. Since moving back to England we had RR's as a family. As I left home I got an RR of my own as a pup, then rescued an English Mastiiff, now I have another RR that I rescued "Mufasa". Sadly my original baby boy RR "Jamba" & "Evie" my mastiff passed away last over last few years, always missed & in my heart. All of these were excellent with my daughter, other dogs & people once given appropriate guidance.
I did rescue a Collie X GSD from Irish pound at 10weeks old, but sadly she bit my daughter - I guess the working bloodlines were too strong to be around small kids. I discovered her litter mate brother did the same thing to his families young boy, so Genetics play a huge part in temperament, alongside the owners input. So I gave her to an older couple that didn't have/want kids of their own, & had 2 other GSD's; was very sad because we did love her but she was genetically predisposed not to growl/warn first just snap - being working lines. We had no other issues with her, so she is very happy where she is now.
I have worked with all breeds, training & behaviour for 8yrs now & have taken many college courses to educate myself better on the sciences of dogs. I dont choose Rhodesian Ridgebacks because I love the way they look (although they are gorgeous) I choose them because I love their attitude to life.
When taking a dog home it is important that they fit all criteria e.g excercise requirements, training/behavioural needs, temperament etc. Not just how they look, they are not an accessory.

[Ridgie Lover]

Wow, but there is so much choice so little time! So many poor unfortunates needing a loving home too. I have had many breeds, but have always stuck with my Rhodesian Ridgebacks. I guess above all we have more in common, same sense of humour, principles, & I trust them unconditionally.
I guess if you have grown up with a specific breed you "read" it better than any other, therefore helping to trust. I rescued my current RR at 18mths old he was either stuck in a box all day or beaten my the man of the house. So when I got the poor boy he had no confidence and no manners. The lady was leaving her partner for being abusive but couldnt look after the dog alone, so she rang me; initially to do a temperment test. But of course after I saw how great he was with my daughter I took him home. He was a bit wary at first, but not at all aggressive, such a pansie - but we love him. A well bred RR will have the desired "soft" temperment, they are not confronational nor neadlessley aggressive which is why I love my BFG's. "mufasa" has turned out to be an absolute saint with excellent manners & social skills, after alot of hard work and time.
I grew in Zimbabwe on a farm with 3 RR's, a Dobbie X RR, & a Blk Giant Schnauzer. Since moving back to England we had RR's as a family. As I left home I got an RR of my own as a pup, then rescued an English Mastiiff, now I have another RR that I rescued "Mufasa". Sadly my original baby boy RR "Jamba" & "Evie" my mastiff passed away last over last few years, always missed & in my heart. All of these were excellent with my daughter, other dogs & people once given appropriate guidance.
I did rescue a Collie X GSD from Irish pound at 10weeks old, but sadly she bit my daughter - I guess the working bloodlines were too strong to be around small kids. I discovered her litter mate brother did the same thing to his families young boy, so Genetics play a huge part in temperament, alongside the owners input. So I gave her to an older couple that didn't have/want kids of their own, & had 2 other GSD's; was very sad because we did love her but she was genetically predisposed not to growl/warn first just snap - being working lines. We had no other issues with her, so she is very happy where she is now. My daughter has been raised to be respectful to all animals & I was there to witness that she didn't aggravate situation. I love my dogs, but my priorities are firstly with my daughter, so to be fair on everyone I dont leave them unattended no matter how much I trust either of them.
I have worked with all breeds, training & behaviour for 8yrs now & have taken many college courses to educate myself better on the sciences of dogs. I dont choose Rhodesian Ridgebacks because I love the way they look (although they are gorgeous) I choose them because I love their attitude to life.
When taking a dog home it is important that they fit all criteria e.g excercise requirements, training/behavioural needs, temperament etc. Not just how they look, they are not an accessory.

[dlambertz]

A dane is always at the top of my list. If ever able to have another one in my lifetime I will have a beautiful harlequin :)

[brunosmom]

A dane is always at the top of my list. If ever able to have another one in my lifetime I will have a beautiful harlequin :)

Darla, that is my favorite color for the Great Dane also...:wubsmiley:

[LesterJ]

I think about this daily. I see beautiful dogs on this forum and "I want one of *those*!". I think when this question is finally answered for us, the result will be a small dog, because of my health problems. But I'll sure miss having a big dog. My big guy is really starting to act old these days, at almost 11. :(

[dlambertz]

Darla, that is my favorite color for the Great Dane also...:wubsmiley:

I was offered one very nicely marked, pink nose...my husband said no! ~wipes tear~ the byb had this as his last litter (yeah!) and can't find a home for her. She has a hernia and a staff infection ~sighs~ all I wanted to do was bring her home, get her better and love on her :)

[dlambertz]

I think about this daily. I see beautiful dogs on this forum and "I want one of *those*!". I think when this question is finally answered for us, the result will be a small dog, because of my health problems. But I'll sure miss having a big dog. My big guy is really starting to act old these days, at almost 11. :(

Seeing these beautiful dogs on this forum can definitely leave one in awe ...

[Firstluvarty]

I love border collie crosses - they are my FAVOURITE and I have one now that I am so in love with - he's my avatar. He is my second border collie cross. We were given a chocolate lab from a breeder as a gift- long story, and I have fallen in love with the chocolates, but again I would adopt another from the SPCA first before going to a breeder.
But there is part of me that wants a standard poodle one day and a chinese hairless.... But I will always rescue first - there are too many animals that need homes from shelters, yet breeders never seem to have a problem finding homes.
There are so many breeds that I love but between my family members we have:
German Shepherd
Weimeraner
Doberman
Brittney Spaniels
Had a Lhaso
Just lost a mini schuazer (can't spell for hte life of me)
2 ****zu's
2 mutts
1 chocolate lab
1 pug
So I get my fix of them all.
My grandparents always had poodle - standard, mini, and toy which is how I fell in love with that breed.

[MyDogShelby]

There are so many beautiful purebreds available its amazing, and all the more difficult to pick just one.

Our last dog was a mixed breed, German Shepherd/Collie, and Shelby is mixed as well, a combination of Australian Shepherd, Border Collie, and hard to believe but supposedly true, Chow (no blue tongue, but her Mom's was)...

I think the dog we choose (most likely adopt) to add to the family will be a mixed breed as well. We simply LOVE mixed breeds, they are really something special:) Anybody who has a mixed breed knows what I'm talking about;)