Dog Breeds

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#1
I started something similar on another site, but I figured it'd be a good stimulus of activity here too! I would like everyone to post their favorite breed of dog, and of course fill us in on why. Let us know why you choose the breed you do, would you personally own the breed, and the downsides to th breed you see. Yes, of course tell us the upsides as well! I'll start.

Great Dane - Origin: Denmark/Germany - large and imposing appearance belies its friendly nature, a gentle giant if you will. Normally they are known to get along well with animals, and humans - but of course that also depends on the individual dog. They can be protective dogs, and of course their size can be rather intimidating. Yes, I would personally own the breed and when I get a house of my own I will. I think the downfall is how weak their backs are, and how they are prone to hip problems later in life.
 

PoodleMommy

Yorkie Love
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#2
Yorkie: BIG personality in a small package. They are energetic dogs and can go all day long if given the chance. However, once they are taken inside they can quickly turn "off" and be happy to relax. They are also super affectionate and want to please you. They like to be with you all the time and are very adaptable... you can take them almost anywhere and they will make the best of the situation. The down side is that they are TERRIERS first and foremost... you have to be careful with them because they do not realize they are small and can get themselves into trouble if you are not careful with them. They can also be stubborn so you must be diligent when training them. I obviously own one and plan to own another within the year... I dont think I could ever be without one.
 

Zoom

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#3
Australian Shepherd: A breed made in the USA, these hard-working loyal dogs can and have done it all, from working on ranches, to performing in circuses to becoming some of the top SAR dogs in the country. They are a medium sized breed (well, to my definition of medium) with tons of energy and brains and a penchant for using them when bored. A good Aussie is one with a steady job! The main "cons" of the breed are shedding, barkiness (they are a herding breed) and deafness/blindness, though the last is typically confined to poor breeding practices and the crossing of two merles together to produce "lethal/pattern whites". The other big downsides are: people breeding "mini/toy Aussies" and those breeders who have turned their dogs into Golden Retrievers with merle coats--big boned, heavy coated and almost no working instinct left.

Obviously I have one and more will be on the way--this is the perfect breed for me!
 

Tahla9999

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#4
I don't have a favorite breed, but if I have to chose between the breeds I owned before...

American Pit Bull Terrier: Great loyal spirits with one heck of a smile. The breed that can do it all and then some with a body made of pure muscle and heart. This breed does not give up no matter how much pain and discomfort they are in. Their love for humans can't be beat, and their stable happy go lucky minds make them the best with children. However, due to their bully nature, they tend to be DA with other dogs, and some can be very stubborn. They are great, and if I could, I will own another in the future, but due to BSL, I may not have the will to own one again.

Oh, but I want to add, owning a pit bull is a life changing experience. I never had to fight for something so hard in my life, and it gives me a purpose in life. I may own another, it all depends on where I am at from now. Where I live now, pit bulls are the most popular breed so BSL is not that big of a worry. Not sure what it may be like in the future...
 
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aussiemyf7

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#5
I may be biased but I love Kelpies.
They are great for my life-style, loyal, loving, caring, energetic.
I have always loved GSD's also, there gorgeous.
I keep thinking of more I like, I prefer big dogs, Dobes, Rotts, Danes.
But I like so many, I could adopt any breed you threw at me.
 

Fran101

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#6
The German Shepherd: A loving companion and protector. Has the drive to work and be amazing at anything you ask them to do. Athletic, Majestic, Smart, Beautiful, Drivey, and just wonderful dogs. Endless energy and mental stimulation are a MUST. Downside? Shedding. they shed A LOT and thats not an under statement. These dogs will put their lives on the line for you and are not happy until their "person" is close to them and they make it their main job to make sure you and your family are safe. Truly in my eyes the perfect dog. Come in the normal RinTInTIn black and tan, as well as all black, Bi color (black and brown), Sable, and white. WORKING LINES are my preference and the only lines I will even look at.
 

corgipower

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#8
Corgi -

Very intelligent, somewhat independent. Medium dog in a smaller package (because of the lack of legs). Generally friendly with strangers. Eager, willing to take on anything - corgis have done sports such as obedience, agility, tracking, herding, they've been all-around farm dogs (herding sheep, cows, ducks, goats, pigs, etc. as well as being ratters), two corgis have Schutzhund 2 titles, they've been used as bird dogs and they even can do a decent job of personal protection. And at the end of the day, they are excellent at curling up on the bed for the night.

Corgis also have an amazing sense of humor. :p

Cons -

They shed. A lot.
They eat anything and are very crafty about getting into food - corgis can and will get onto the tables and counters.
They tend to have a unique approach to training. Very creative. I don't know if that's really a con, I happen to love it.
Some can be quite vocal.
They tend to be mouthy.
DA and resource guarding are not uncommon in the breed.
As with any long-backed breed, there's potential for serious back injuries and paralysis.
 

Romy

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#9
Borzoi. We've got one and hopefully will have a second.

Things I love: Easy to groom and they don't smell like dogs. They are very clean like cats, quiet, and biddable. They are huge, but don't eat too much. And despite their gentle regal appearance, there is still that tough as nails fierce part of them that is capable of chasing down a wild wolf and fighting it. I love the way they run, it gives me goosebumps. I love the intelligence of these dogs. Strider's comprehension of english just blows me away.

Things I wish were different: I wish it was possible to let them off leash outside a fenced area. There are so many millenia of chasing and running behind these guys, and they are so fast you just can't risk it.
 

Laurelin

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#10
Papillons, well, I obviously own some and will most certainly own more!

Why? They're just such COOL little dogs. They're wickedly intelligent and highly active. They tend to be very trainable (except Nard) and have great sense of humor. They're great at many dog sports like obedience and agility. They love people and typically like other animals. In short, they provide more love than you'd think possible by such a little animal and they never cease to make me laugh. I'd have a houseful if I could.... oh wait..... ;)

Downsides? Active, very intelligent dogs means they can get bored pretty easily. Small size is a concern you have to get used to. Some can be talkers.
 
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#11
Alapaha Bulldog: newer breed developed in the US, a lovely combination of the bulldog loving attitude and the mastiff protective instinct. Naturally protective over their family, but appropriately so. Not big shedders, most aren't big droolers (**** you Blue!!), no real health problems in the breed to mention. Very drivey, but also able to turn it off and be with the family as wonderful house dogs. Absolutely the perfect dog for me.

Cons: the dog aggression that can pop up isn't exactly something I enjoy, just something I deal with. And of course, BSL :(
 

Pops2

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#12
Sis
i'll disagree w/ your assesment for the breed as a whole. i am however willing (even hopeful) to believe that your particular line is all that.

OP
i don't have a one favorite breed i just love the dog that catches the game. my current dog is a mix of grey & saluki. i don't want another saluki (or any tazi type) blooded dog. i'll stick w/ european blooded longdogs. i love him as he's great w/ the kids and hunts hard, but he's dumb as a post and took a long time to turn on.
there are just too many breeds & mixes i want to try working to list them all.
 
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#13
Fila. There is nothing about this breed I don't adore. Their downright eerie intelligence, ability to reason and adapt, the scheming, stealth, athleticism, determination, strength, feline agility, the "off" switch when they morph into lounge dogs, the beautiful lion gait and stalking, their vocalizations, their intense love and loyalty, gentleness and ferocity, warped sense of humor, ego, their attention to detail, their suspicion at anything out of the ordinary, sense of drama, the fact that they could survive and even thrive without our assistance, but they CHOOSE to live with us, that they aren't completely domesticated, that they are fierce, but not savage and have the concept of "sufficient force," oh, just everything about them.
 

Zoom

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#14
Sis
i'll disagree w/ your assesment for the breed as a whole. i am however willing (even hopeful) to believe that your particular line is all that.

OP
i don't have a one favorite breed i just love the dog that catches the game. my current dog is a mix of grey & saluki. i don't want another saluki (or any tazi type) blooded dog. i'll stick w/ european blooded longdogs. i love him as he's great w/ the kids and hunts hard, but he's dumb as a post and took a long time to turn on.
there are just too many breeds & mixes i want to try working to list them all.
Just because I"m not overly familiar with Alapahas, what would your overall assessment be for the breed?
 

Zhucca

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#15
The Ibizan Hound!
Obligatory Picture:

Credit to photo of the Lovely Naboo goes to Aza Hounds.

Here goes ..
Also called the Podenco Ibicenco, is a agile and independent sighthound. Hailing from the island of Ibiza, where hunters use them in packs to hunt small game. While they are technically a sighthound, they are very keen on their other senses as well, and while working in heavy bush one does have to rely on other senses. They do, however, have another solution for working in places where it's hard to see, they are very good jumpers and like to "hop" in tall grass/bush so that they can more easily see their prey. because of this, more than a 6ft fence is needed because they can easily clear most fences from a stand still.

Called the "peter pan" of the sighthounds, they seem to never grow up and are definitely comedians. Always playful and youthful even well into the senior years..

They do generally do well in packs but males can be iffy with each other. Very very intelligent and great problem solvers. They are very trainable however they did hunt away from the hunter, so they are independent and provide a few different challenges than a more people pleasing breed. They are moderate shedders, come in wire and smooth, and long haired however I have only seen the wire and smooth variety. Low maintenance grooming for all hair types. They are very clean dogs, most sighthounds seem to be.

Plus they're just so graceful, wonderful.. lovely etc etc. :)

I haven't owned one yet however I definitely want to, and will.

Cons - Iffy with small dogs and cats. Fine if raised with them however may still chase and injure/kill others outside their pack if not watched.

Can jump most fences easily. :eek:

No reliable recall. They'll come back after they're done, and don't think you can catch 'em!
 

Pops2

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#16
the alapaha as a whole usually has a severe undershot (unlike Sis's dogs) and the hawed eyes like the english & many johnson bulldogs. they also suffer heavily from hip & elbow dysplasia (more than performance bred buldogs but not really any more than bull & mastiff breeds heavily BYB). cardiac issues are fairly common. serious bulldog men don't use them because most tried have been found lacking in the personality traits needed for catch work & personal protection. many of the dogs that had the personality for work broke down quickly and so the breed has a bad name among working dog men. it didn't help that these crappy dogs were priced in excess of $1K (often closer to $2K), for a hogdogger accustomed to paying $100 for a pit or cur that was a lot of money to waste on dogs that were afraid of a shoat. people buying them for personal protection had similar experiences. sinve then the breeds rep has been bad.
all of that said Sis's dogs look to be pretty fair bulldogs. i would expect their health issues to be considerably less than the breed as a whole and their performance traits far superior.
 

FoxyWench

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#17
hmm cresties:

why:
there gremlins crossed with fireys crossed with the sweetest dog on earth...
mischevious little munchkins who keep you on your toes, and while may not be the shaprpest tack in terms of trainability...they are incredibly smart if properly motivated.
FAST, i love to see them run...and i mean REALY run....when there not full out flying they hop like bunnies.
there a primitive breed, certainly not for everyone, very "unusual" looking and just super cool little dogs.

small enough to take everywhere big enough to not get trampled, and just the right size to fit into any lifestyle (one day i will live on a boat!)

as good as any cat in terms of rat/mouse control though they do seem to have more fun playing fetch with it...(they catch it, bring it back let it go and then chase and catch it again!)

in terms of their history, its very all over the polace depending on who you talk to, however its primarily belived they originated in africa (dna proves a very close relation to the basenji and african dogs) where they were named the african hairless terrier (though honestly id put these crazy beasts as a cross beteen a terrier and a sighthound.
they were picked up by chinese traders due to thier amazing rat catching abilities, and lack of fur meant less flea issues. they became the first "pirate" pups sailing aroudn the world and soon became known by their current name the chinese crested.

pros:
shedding and dander are none ot minimal, the puffs need regular brushing but even they are incredible lacking in the dander/shed department

they are extreemly loyal to "their person/people"

extreemly adaptable to many situations as long as their people are there (making them awesome travel companions)

cons:
skin care is quite intensive, black heads, pimples and sunburn are all concerns...their skin is more akin to humanskin and generally comes with the similar issues that the mexican hairless breeds tend not to have as many issues with. be prepared to bathe every 1-2 weeks, sunscreen, lotion, exfoliate ect these little dogs and look for a dog from lines not prone to skin issues...

prone to seperation anxiety

tend to be standoffish with strangers even when well socilized
 

Laurelin

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#18
The Ibizan Hound!
Obligatory Picture:

Credit to photo of the Lovely Naboo goes to Aza Hounds.

Here goes ..
Also called the Podenco Ibicenco, is a agile and independent sighthound. Hailing from the island of Ibiza, where hunters use them in packs to hunt small game. While they are technically a sighthound, they are very keen on their other senses as well, and while working in heavy bush one does have to rely on other senses. They do, however, have another solution for working in places where it's hard to see, they are very good jumpers and like to "hop" in tall grass/bush so that they can more easily see their prey. because of this, more than a 6ft fence is needed because they can easily clear most fences from a stand still.

Called the "peter pan" of the sighthounds, they seem to never grow up and are definitely comedians. Always playful and youthful even well into the senior years..

They do generally do well in packs but males can be iffy with each other. Very very intelligent and great problem solvers. They are very trainable however they did hunt away from the hunter, so they are independent and provide a few different challenges than a more people pleasing breed. They are moderate shedders, come in wire and smooth, and long haired however I have only seen the wire and smooth variety. Low maintenance grooming for all hair types. They are very clean dogs, most sighthounds seem to be.

Plus they're just so graceful, wonderful.. lovely etc etc. :)

I haven't owned one yet however I definitely want to, and will.

Cons - Iffy with small dogs and cats. Fine if raised with them however may still chase and injure/kill others outside their pack if not watched.

Can jump most fences easily. :eek:

No reliable recall. They'll come back after they're done, and don't think you can catch 'em!
If only they were better with small dogs... I have always adored them and have always wanted one. I just can't see myself not having paps.
 

Dayaxaron

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#19
Irish Wolfhounds

They are regal, gentle, loyal and very intelligent. Ok they are a little big (i had one standing 104 cm shoulder height), but they are very calm and disciplined.
Downside : like with any giant race, they are short lived.

Danielle
 

Zhucca

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#20
If only they were better with small dogs... I have always adored them and have always wanted one. I just can't see myself not having paps.
It is do able.. Aza Hounds has a Podenco Andaluz (who are the size of a manchester terrier, I think.) and Italian Greyhounds.. and kitties! :D

But I do understand because you'll always be worried of when and if that switch will be turned on.
 

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