Top 10 most high maintenance breeds (according to Yahoo)..thoughts?

elegy

overdogged
Joined
Apr 22, 2006
Messages
7,720
Likes
1
Points
0
#41
It seems there's a very different type of energy between herding dogs (like BCs) and a lot of sporting dogs like labs. BCs and Aussies, while they're not lap dogs, are much easier for me to work with than an energetic lab. Maybe its because their energy is usually focused into something, and not just a BLAST of spazziness? I don't know.
Steve has definitely been easier for me to keep exercised than Luce was when she was young *because* he is so game-focused. Luce would occasionally condescend to chase a flirt pole, but mostly she just wanted to run and do her own thing, the heck with me. But if she didn't get run and run hard, she was jumping on my head, destroying things, etc. She was an utter PITA in other words.
 

Whisper

Kaleidoscopic Eye
Joined
Jun 9, 2006
Messages
13,749
Likes
1
Points
38
Age
31
#42
:rofl1: :rofl1:

I'm just happy that there are SO many breeds out there to choose from! Labs are the most popular breed but like you said, just not the breed for me! I always end up throwing balls or sticks for the labs when we go to the lake and I LOVE spending time with them (they are soooo good at retrieving lol) but they're not a breed I'd want to live with.

It's nice to know what breeds suit you and which don't... a lot of people don't take the time to research or get to know breeds. It's important for a dog and its human to mesh well. I wouldn't want to live with a dog that drove me insane, and I'm sure the dog wouldn't benefit from it either!
I agree! They're fun to be around. They're always happy and I do happen to like playing fetch, lol. (Actually a lab mix named Junior was my absolute favorite when I volunteered at the shelter.) I also think labs get their bad rap from from people you mentioned- who don't think about which breed is good for them. They see labs on TV, nice labs walking down the street with someone, and think, "Oh, they look great!" They get one and it doesn't occur to them that labs didn't magically become so popular. They need *gasp* training, and then we all meet the crazy untrained ones. That's not to say they're my kind of dog even at the highest training level, but idiot dog owners is why I pretty much have a reflex of covering my chest in defense when I see one coming toward me. Marley and Me, anyone?
I don't think I even know exactly how any breeds are acknowledged around the world! I'm happy there is at LEAST one each of us can live with and enjoy.
 

Laurelin

I'm All Ears
Joined
Nov 2, 2006
Messages
30,963
Likes
3
Points
0
Age
37
Location
Oklahoma
#43
I don't do well with sporting type dog energy nor do I do well with most bully types either. I find those types of dogs tend to overwhelm me.

Mia has what I call an 'easy' high energy. She will play fetch till she drops and she's so eager to do anything with me. As long as I involve her, she's good. I will say right now she is annoying me. I got home today at 4:30, picked her up and went to the park until 6:10. Agility 7-8 pm. Dropped by my dad's with her in tow and played ball there until 9:20ish while we talked. (He kept kicking it for her). Now we're back home and I'm trying to eat and she keeps dropping the ball at my feet. My other two have done nothing all day except the park and they're much calmer.
 

*blackrose

"I'm kupo for kupo nuts!"
Joined
May 11, 2010
Messages
7,065
Likes
3
Points
38
Age
33
Location
WI
#44
I don't do well with sporting type dog energy nor do I do well with most bully types either. I find those types of dogs tend to overwhelm me.
See, I'm exactly the opposite. I don't mind sporting dog energy (well, lab energy, anyway), nor do I mind bully energy. Labs and Pitties are actually my two favorite breeds of dogs. Most herding breeds, however, aren't my cup of tea. I find it funny when people see it the other way around! Lol
 
Joined
Feb 26, 2011
Messages
6,405
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Minnesota
#45
See, I'm exactly the opposite. I don't mind sporting dog energy... Most herding breeds, however, aren't my cup of tea. I find it funny when people see it the other way around! Lol
Same here. I like almost any sporting dog, but herders are just not my cup of tea. It's funny I don't even see them as having the same type of energy at all.
 

Laurelin

I'm All Ears
Joined
Nov 2, 2006
Messages
30,963
Likes
3
Points
0
Age
37
Location
Oklahoma
#46
Same here. I like almost any sporting dog, but herders are just not my cup of tea. It's funny I don't even see them as having the same type of energy at all.
I don't see herders and sporting dogs as having similar energies either. I can handle the herding dog energy but not the typical sporting dog energy. Herders just make sense to me, but then again, I grew up with them. I need extreme handler sensitivity and I love a dog that will focus their energy easily.

Paps have a strange type of energy. I like it, but it's different than my other dogs have been. They're kind of a combo of 'hyperactive little dog' and 'really really want to work with you'. I know the BC people I've known with paps complain that they're too easily distracted. Compared to about every other dog in class, though, my dogs seem much easier when it comes to handler-orientedness. But they definitely can have a little bit of a frantic/hyperactive edge imo.
 

Brattina88

Active Member
Joined
Jan 10, 2004
Messages
12,958
Likes
6
Points
38
Location
OH
#47
I think compared to some Cockers are high maintenence. They're not a wash and wear dog unless clipped really short. I like a particular cut, and so I try to maintain it by trimming up every couple of weeks, and of course ear care. So in comparisain to some breeds that are wash and wear, I agree to that. Maddie has always had pretty high energy compared to most of the couch potato byb cockers we come in contact with. But I find her energy great, workable, highly trainable.

I'm surprised Shelties were up there with the BCs and Aussies. A lot of people complain about them :rofl1: love it
 

puppydog

Tru evil has no pantyline
Joined
Nov 27, 2006
Messages
7,500
Likes
0
Points
0
#48
My border collie is lower maintenance than my papillon was.
This this this! I had border collies my whole life before I got paps. The paps are horrible attention mongers with NO off switch AT ALL.
 
Joined
Feb 26, 2011
Messages
6,405
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Minnesota
#49
It's so interesting to me how different people see different things as high maintenance. Like, the attention whoring thing... to me, that's not high maintenance at all. Squash is a terrible attention *****. But at the end of the day, I feel like I don't really have to DO anything about it.

ETA: So is Maisy, now that I think about it, aheheh.
 

javadoo

New Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2011
Messages
65
Likes
0
Points
0
#50
LOL, me neither! I mentioned a lab foster I had in another thread. He was a handsome 18-month oldish chocolate boy, very sweet, a really good dog. But even though there were many great things about him, he drove me INFREAKINGSANE.
When it was time for him to go to his new home, the night before as I always do, I was thinking, "Should I keep him?" :eek: I let him out of his crate and let's just say that night I knew I was doing the right thing and he was not the dog for me, lol. Knowing I could still visit him when I wanted, I was happy to send him off, ROFL. IMO labs are nice dogs to spend time with (if they're trained), but not to live with.
It's all good, though. Plenty of people love labs. They're just not for me.
Labs are great dogs to live with....if you train them well and exercise them enough. I have 2 chocolate lab girls (Java and Moka). Java is 3 years old and Moka is 2 years old...and they're amazing.
They are very well trained and have great manners. My girls are very low maintenance all the way around. They do need a ton of exercise though...but you just have to find what their trigger is. Java's trigger is swimming...she will swim for hours and hours. Moka's trigger is frisbee and fetching. Once you get that down, piece of cake!!







 

javadoo

New Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2011
Messages
65
Likes
0
Points
0
#51
Exactly how I feel!

Labs aren't a good fit for me at all. I WISH they were because I think the chocolates are some of the cutest dogs ever. We're just not on the same wave length!
There is almost nothing cuter than a chocolate lab puppy!!
I'm on the hunt for my next chocolate lab puppy for next spring. He'll be a show puppy.
I do understand how labs are not for everyone though....they are very high energy, if you don't focus their energy you will have an unbelievably destructive dog...an absolute nightmare.





 

Whisper

Kaleidoscopic Eye
Joined
Jun 9, 2006
Messages
13,749
Likes
1
Points
38
Age
31
#52
javadoo, your dogs are lovely. :) Labs just aren't for me. I like high energy dogs, but more like the energy of border collies, Aussies, GSDs, etc. For some reason most sporting breeds just don't work for me. The only exception is Tollers.
 
Joined
Jul 18, 2010
Messages
1,226
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Ontario
#53
I have never really found bcs to be hm, my aussie is probably higher maintenance than my bcs where. I think bcs have a reputation as being energetic and smart and as such they have garnered a reputation however its fairly easy to focus and channel their energy. My sisters pointer is certainly worthy of being on the list he drives me NUTS!! He has no off switch and is just bouncy and in your face all day. Labs are too all over the board to really be on the list. There are as many easy keeper labs as their are off the wall ones.
 

*blackrose

"I'm kupo for kupo nuts!"
Joined
May 11, 2010
Messages
7,065
Likes
3
Points
38
Age
33
Location
WI
#54
There is almost nothing cuter than a chocolate lab puppy!!
I'm on the hunt for my next chocolate lab puppy for next spring. He'll be a show puppy.
I do understand how labs are not for everyone though....they are very high energy, if you don't focus their energy you will have an unbelievably destructive dog...an absolute nightmare.
Me, too! Well, it will be a black Lab puppy and not a show prospect, but I'm on the puppy hunt. lol I'm on a wait list for a litter being born late this summer, but I'm not convinced now is the time to be getting a new puppy...and unless by the time deposits are ready to be put down I'm still not 100% convinced, I'll likely ask the breeder to put me in touch with the sire's breeder and see what her litter plans are for next year. It will suck having to wait, but I don't want to get the right puppy at the wrong time, either, as that will suck even more.

On that note, a cousin of mine just bought a 4 month old male black Lab puppy. This makes me want my puppy even MORE, but what kills me is that I'm almost 90% sure this puppy is going to end up rehomed. Every pet he has ever owned has been gotten rid of after a few weeks due to him loosing interest in it. He lives with his girlfriend and her little toddler and I'm sure he got a Lab thinking, "Oh, great family dog, great with kids!" This poor puppy is going to be so underexercised and undertrained and it is going to grow up to be an adolsecent whirlwind of a Lab that will probably bowl over the little one (who already has issues with dogs due to being bit by a dog in the past due to improper supervision)...*sigh* I just feel like saying, "Give me the puppy, you don't deserve one. I have been waiting for a puppy for three years and still have to wait, and you just go out and buy one when you have no business buying one. [Totally not fair.]"
 

ACooper

Moderator
Joined
Jan 7, 2007
Messages
27,772
Likes
1
Points
38
Location
IN
#55
It's so interesting to me how different people see different things as high maintenance. Like, the attention whoring thing... to me, that's not high maintenance at all. Squash is a terrible attention *****. But at the end of the day, I feel like I don't really have to DO anything about it.

ETA: So is Maisy, now that I think about it, aheheh.
But HOW do they attentionwhore? With Orson, he's right up my arse.......following me to the bathroom, staring at me longingly while I type on the computer, laying his head (and as much of himself as possible) on me while I watch TV, sitting on my feet in the kitchen as I chop veggies............on and on and on.

I could handle more energy, more bathing, clipping, brushing, etc etc I guess "high maintenance" does vary from person to person........One person's "trash" is another's "treasure" so to speak, LOL
 
Joined
Feb 26, 2011
Messages
6,405
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Minnesota
#56
But HOW do they attentionwhore? With Orson, he's right up my arse.......following me to the bathroom, staring at me longingly while I type on the computer, laying his head (and as much of himself as possible) on me while I watch TV, sitting on my feet in the kitchen as I chop veggies............on and on and on.
Squash paces, stares, barks, or paws. Maisy waits for an opening (eye contact or talking to her) and runs with it by leaning in or wiggling onto your lap. They're both sort of in your face about it, but I guess I don't consider it high maintenance because I don't actually have to DO anything about it if I don't want to pay attention to them.
 

javadoo

New Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2011
Messages
65
Likes
0
Points
0
#57
Me, too! Well, it will be a black Lab puppy and not a show prospect, but I'm on the puppy hunt. lol I'm on a wait list for a litter being born late this summer, but I'm not convinced now is the time to be getting a new puppy...and unless by the time deposits are ready to be put down I'm still not 100% convinced, I'll likely ask the breeder to put me in touch with the sire's breeder and see what her litter plans are for next year. It will suck having to wait, but I don't want to get the right puppy at the wrong time, either, as that will suck even more.

On that note, a cousin of mine just bought a 4 month old male black Lab puppy. This makes me want my puppy even MORE, but what kills me is that I'm almost 90% sure this puppy is going to end up rehomed. Every pet he has ever owned has been gotten rid of after a few weeks due to him loosing interest in it. He lives with his girlfriend and her little toddler and I'm sure he got a Lab thinking, "Oh, great family dog, great with kids!" This poor puppy is going to be so underexercised and undertrained and it is going to grow up to be an adolsecent whirlwind of a Lab that will probably bowl over the little one (who already has issues with dogs due to being bit by a dog in the past due to improper supervision)...*sigh* I just feel like saying, "Give me the puppy, you don't deserve one. I have been waiting for a puppy for three years and still have to wait, and you just go out and buy one when you have no business buying one. [Totally not fair.]"
I'm with you...there is a *perfect* litter being whelped in about 3 weeks that I want a male from so badly(the sire is my #1 pick and the dam is as close to my perfect girl as I could ask for)....but it's just not the right time. I keep going back and forth about it, but I know I won't get a pup now if I have any doubts...which I do. So, I'm going to wait.

I'm actually not looking forward to having a puppy again....lab puppies are literally the Spawn of Satan. They are the worst puppies ever. I prefer them when they reach about 10-12 months old. BUT-going through puppyhood is an important part of bonding for me, plus I want to show the new pup, so I have to suffer through puppyhood...LOL

Does your cousin have any idea what a lab puppy is like??? They're adorable little barracudas...all teeth!!!

Great labs are not born...they're trained.
 

*blackrose

"I'm kupo for kupo nuts!"
Joined
May 11, 2010
Messages
7,065
Likes
3
Points
38
Age
33
Location
WI
#58
I'm with you...there is a *perfect* litter being whelped in about 3 weeks that I want a male from so badly(the sire is my #1 pick and the dam is as close to my perfect girl as I could ask for)....but it's just not the right time. I keep going back and forth about it, but I know I won't get a pup now if I have any doubts...which I do. So, I'm going to wait.

I'm actually not looking forward to having a puppy again....lab puppies are literally the Spawn of Satan. They are the worst puppies ever. I prefer them when they reach about 10-12 months old. BUT-going through puppyhood is an important part of bonding for me, plus I want to show the new pup, so I have to suffer through puppyhood...LOL

Does your cousin have any idea what a lab puppy is like??? They're adorable little barracudas...all teeth!!!

Great labs are not born...they're trained.
Ugh, yes, sounds like our situations are similar. This breeding is absolutely *perfect* for me and will produce the kind of dogs I would kill for...but the timing just may not work out, and it is going to be the last litter this particular breeder produces for a few years. The stud that she is using, though, is from another breeder I've been oogling over for some time (but have never been able to get in touch with), so I'm hoping she can direct me to them and that they may have a litter of what I want when I need it.

And I'm preparing for a rude awakening with a Lab puppy. LOL Sadie was really the only Lab pup I ever had, and she was perfect. Or that's what my memory says. I do remember not being able to leave any shoes on the floor, and having to keep everything picked up if she wasn't able to get out of the house that day because she would steal something she wasn't supposed to and then play keep away. And it took her FOREVER to go poop. With Chloe, we go outside and BAM, she's done her business and we're good to go. Not looking forward to actually having to devote five or ten minutes to get the puppy to pee in the morning.

But I think part of the reason I remember Sadie so fondly was because she was a seeing eye dog in training, so she was able to go EVERYWHERE with us, which kept her energy level down to what I consider perfectly acceptable. I'm hoping I can work out a similar situation with this pup.

Although, even though I bitch and moan about the puppy stage while it is happening...I remember it fondly, so it can't be too bad. I even want Chloe to be a puppy again, and she was a brat demon puppy, so if I want that back I think I'm ready for a Lab pup. :p

And no....my cousin doesn't. I am really, really hoping this puppy is taken care of the way it should be, but somehow I doubt it is going to happen. I think this is going to take a similar turn to another cousin of mine who bought a lab pup a few years back (same time we had Sadie, actually). It started jumping on his little girl and he couldn't "break it" of that, so he dumped it off at the shelter. *sigh*
 

hey_jude

New Member
Joined
Jul 27, 2009
Messages
1,027
Likes
0
Points
0
#59
My dogs are definitely not the easiest but I'll tell you- I grew up with a lab and altho we loved her for 14 years I found her energy harder to deal with. My guys as long as they're getting long walks everyday (honestly that's about all we do these days) and I interact with them a lot- they're really pretty easy.
 

hey_jude

New Member
Joined
Jul 27, 2009
Messages
1,027
Likes
0
Points
0
#60
A true there IS nothing cuter than a chocolate lab puppy- I'll attest to that!
 

Members online

Top