[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Dog breed suggestions please. (Page 1 of 3)
Posted: 12/1/2008 6:09:54 AM EDT
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I need to get my son a dog that meets the following qualifications:
1. Great with kids 2. Won't roam the neighborhood biting anybody or stealing things out of my neighbors' yards. 3. Isn't going to chew up my deck, small trees, or dig holes all over the yard. 4. Cannot be an ankle-biter/fru-fru lapdog, etc. Suggestions? |
Sounds like you want a cat.
I've shot people for less.
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lab, or some of the best dogs are found at the pound We already tried that, he stole all the neighbor's cushions off their porch furniture on the first day and brought them home to make a bed out of on my back deck. On day two he dug 7 tiger pits in my backyard. I think they were tiger pits, might have been ponds that he was waiting for the rain to fill. |
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Baring a mental health problem 90% of how the dog acts is up to you. That said a few breeds I've enjoyed are: Black Mouth Curr (think old yellow) Rhodesian Ridgebacks Doberman Pinscher I've always been told that labs are just going to be that way their first two years. Are you guys telling me that's not true and there are ways to break them without being cruel? When I talked to my vet he just said"that's how they are as pups". |
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I got two boxers who cover that.. however with any dog they will do all of the above until they are trained.. If your not committed to having a dog that needs serious training over the first 2 years then you should not get a dog. I have a four year old boxer. His digging is vary rare now. If he is bored and I have not spent time playing or training him he will find some way to amuse himself. |
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A bit larger than what has previously been suggested, but Berners [Bernese Mountain dogs] are gentle giants. Mine was a bit of a rescue [breeder no longer wanted him] and he wouldn't hurt a flea and stays pretty close to the homestead. My nephew pulls on his ears and fur with no reaction from him and I've never heard of a Berner attack. |
Since everyone is just going to list their favorite breed of dogs, I'll do the same with pros and cons. English Mastiff. Pros: big lazy dog that is great with kids, doesn't require a ton of exercise, doesn't "chew", great guard dog, house trains in ~1 week, doesn't get "doggy" smelling very often, loyal and as friendly as they come. Cons: can accidently knock small children over due to size, costs a lot to feed, take to the vet, buy toys for etc. poop is well...large, signifantly dumber than a GSD or other smart dog. Some people call them "velcro dogs" because they need to be constantly touching/leaning/etc their owners. This could be a pro or a con depending on how close you want your dog to be.  
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I need to get my son a dog that meets the following qualifications: 1. Great with kids 2. Won't roam the neighborhood biting anybody or stealing things out of my neighbors' yards. 3. Isn't going to chew up my deck, small trees, or dig holes all over the yard. 4. Cannot be an ankle-biter/fru-fru lapdog, etc. Suggestions? English Mastiff. Your kids will be VERY safe (God help anyone that gets between that dog and your kids) They are loyal, very intelligent and well mannered Give them a bone or two and you're covered for chewables You won't find one in anyone's purse as they get to be over 200 pounds 'nuff said |
| I am with my fellow boxer owners. They can get bored. My male is not trained but I have worked with him. The neighbors kids lay all over him and he loves it. I have watched him around strangers coming towards my kids, he would rip somebodies leg off if they tried to touch my kids. Very protective. |
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Doesn't exist. Try Build-A-Bear Workshop. Nonsense. My neighbors have dogs that roam around and don't hurt anything and they're not prissy little lapdogs. Why are you looking for a dog that you can let roam your neighborhood? Do you understand that all dogs can bite? You may have the best trained, mild tempered dog and it can be provoked to bite. When this happens you are liable. Depending on the breed, you insurance company may not cover you. Some dogs that insurance companies will not cover under homeowner's insurance are Pitbull, Doberman, Chow and Rottweiler. |
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I can tell you with 100% certainty, that a Golden Retriver is best family dog you can possibly get. In my mind they are "the" family dog.
This is my Golden, her name is Belle. She is 1 1/2 old, already an awesome bird dog. Doesn't bark, only whines when she needs to go out. Pretty much anything we're doing she wants to be right there with us. My first Golden and already is easily the best dog I've ever had. 
Halloween playing with my girls: 
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Like was mentioned already, any dog will behave like a raw baby hurricane unless you put some time and effort into training the beast.
Is there a reason you want a purebred dog? Before you decide on a breed or breeder, take a trip down to the pound and see what's down there. You may not find a pedigreed dog there, or you might, but what you will definitely find is a bunch of dogs that NEED a place to go, and should you provide a place for one, they will know what you have done for them and be forever grateful. You'll also save a ton of money from not going through a breeder. If you are set on a purebred, look and see if the breed you decide on has a rescue organization committed to the breed. Most breeds do have a rescue org. Look them up, and you can save a dog through that avenue, and have a real good shot at getting one that's already trained and housebroken, but just needs a new home due to some set of circumstances beyond the dogs control. Just be prepared for an extensive interview process from the rescue people. They will not place a dog in a home they think will not be super for the dog. |
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Doesn't exist. Try Build-A-Bear Workshop. Nonsense. My neighbors have dogs that roam around and don't hurt anything and they're not prissy little lapdogs. Why are you looking for a dog that you can let roam your neighborhood? Do you understand that all dogs can bite? You may have the best trained, mild tempered dog and it can be provoked to bite. When this happens you are liable. Depending on the breed, you insurance company may not cover you. Some dogs that insurance companies will not cover under homeowner's insurance are Pitbull, Doberman, Chow and Rottweiler. I got to agree.. if your only getting a dog to let it roam the neighborhood it sounds like your not looking for a pet. Dogs should be leashed or fenced.. Mine are inside dogs but thats just me.. Loose dogs WILL get into toruble eventually and will allwyas piss off some one... you dont see that now as you are not the one they are complaining too.. Letting dogs roam is just asking for hassles snf confrontsations with a neighbor. I dont think you want a dog personally... |
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Since everyone is just going to list their favorite breed of dogs, I'll do the same with pros and cons. English Mastiff. Pros: big lazy dog that is great with kids, doesn't require a ton of exercise, doesn't "chew", great guard dog, house trains in ~1 week, doesn't get "doggy" smelling very often, loyal and as friendly as they come. Cons: can accidently knock small children over due to size, costs a lot to feed, take to the vet, buy toys for etc. poop is well...large, signifantly dumber than a GSD or other smart dog. Some people call them "velcro dogs" because they need to be constantly touching/leaning/etc their owners. This could be a pro or a con depending on how close you want your dog to be. http://snorable.typepad.com/snorable/images/2007/10/28/giant_mastiff.jpgThe clingy-ness of mastiffs can not be over stated. It's not just english, my brother's bull mastiff is the most touchy dog I've ever seen. But, they are the most loyal animal I have ever seen, God help anyone who tries to hurt my brother while that dog is around. |
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I had a female Boerboel for a few years, and she was great with my two, very small daughters. She would bite anybody that she thought might be a threat to my kids though, and we had to start doing some serious training. These dogs have very low prey drives and are difficult to train. She mostly responded to food as a training stimulus. Training was a labor of love, but was frequently like beating your head against a brick wall.
Most Boerboels are pretty crappy though. Most have really crappy temperments (fear biters), and health issues. If you want a good one, you'll have to go with a breeder that either works thier dogs, or one that has a long track record of good dogs (none of the good ones are AKC affiliated). Harris in KS, Blackwell in OK, Heater in OK, Tashi in DC area are all good. If Norman Epstein ever breeds Gordo, that'd be a good litter too. |
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I have a GSD and an APBT, and either one of them would fit the description of what you're looking for. Both of them require alot of exercise, and the pit is rather strong willed, but if you have the time, the energy, and the know-how, both dogs are great with people.
And yes, my nomex has been donned. |