What breed for me?

That's pretty much what I want to, SillySally, only swap birds with caged rodents/cats.

One of the things I LOVED about Seabees was that she lived in my apartment and don't react to any noises. Neighbors, people outside my window talking, cars, loud thumps, nothing phased her. When we'd go out to potty and kids and people were everywhere, she was social enouh to be comfortable in that setting, but indifferent enouh to ignore everyone, and in to "her person" enough to want to be by my side and waiting for my direction instead of saying hi to the neighbor right by us sitting in his lawn chair. And when a big guy started walking towards us (he was just walking, mind you, but I'm sure she picked up on my watchfulness) she stood alert and woofed, which, in my mind, made it seem as if she would have defended me (althouh I'm fairly certain she would not have, other people didn't know that). That's pretty much my ideal, although having a dog that would back up that bark with a bite in the right situation is also fine by me.

She'd follow me from room to room, but didn't have to be in my lap. As long as she could see me. She could play for hours if you wanted to, but was also just as happy chomping on a bone. She loved my rats and Dameon, but also had enough prey drive that outside the house she would chase small animals. Great social skills with other dogs, extremely patient and tolorant of handling of all sorts, loved to wrestle, short coat, medium/large size, quick learner, toy and food driven, responsive to voice/body cues...just brilliant. Chloe is much the same way and I really enjoy her as well, she just has **** poor social skills and can't be trusted around anything or anyone outside of her person: I think my sister and I are the only ones that she responds to and hasnt tried to bite. She's a reactive, touchy, domineering bitch. She is the reason I'm so adamant that my next dog have the social skills I want - I can't handle another Chloe. Been there, done that, hate it.

How about learning to appreciate the canines you already have?

I cannot see a GSD suiting you AT ALL. Especially with how much of a Lab/sporting breed person you are. I strongly advise against ever getting one. Please don't.

I agree with this.

I didn't say I was going to get a GSD - I said it was a breed I had looked at in the past and had piqued my interest.

As for the other comment - I currently have no dogs. Cynder is Mike's dog, through and through. She's mine to help care for, but her entire body and soul belongs to Mike. Gracie and Cooper are dogs we took in and neither one of us really wants to keep as they don't suit either one of us. If Mike joins the Navy, they will be going to live with my family. I have nothing against them, they're good dogs. I enjoy them in the sense that they are dogs. But they are no where near the kind of dog I really, truely enjoy having.
None of them live with me.

Chloe lives with my mom and will likely stay there because of her anxiety and aggression issues. Its for her stability of mind and saftey as much as everyone elses. She will likely stay with mom for the remainder of her life, unless I am living in a rural setting and have the ability to keep her seperate from other household dogs/people.

I find it offensive to be told to just learn to enjoy the dogs I have and not get another. I have wanted my own dog ever since Blackie passed away three years ago, life just keeps happening and postponing it.

One thing though is that German Shepherds are one of the most common 'banned breeds' as far renting goes. Just something to keep in mind.

My thought was definitely sporting breeds.

Nevermind.

This was a reply to Krista's post, but since she (wisely, IMO) chose to change it, I'll do the same out of respect for her.

Thanks.. now back to the topic. Sorry.

Not sure if this was aimed at me or blackrose or both, but I very much appreciate the dogs I have . They're awesome, but I don't see the harm in learning about other breeds that may suit me.

I absolutely love labs, but I love traits of other breeds too, and the more I'm around dogs the more I learn what I like and don't like. Besides, I've seen a lot of owners with both labs and GSDs.....

:rofl1: We made a huge mess.

Anyway, blackrose, I would probably avoid GSDs. Genetics and socialization go a LONG way but I definitely see many that are reactive/aggressive in one way or another. The right one would probably fit you REALLY well, but finding the right one would be kind of difficult and chancy, I think.

I think if I were you I would start by looking within the sporting breeds, maybe at some of the less popular retrievers. I've met several really cool Chessies and Curlies.

I didn't see any of it, so I shall pretend it never happened. lol

And Emily, that's the conclusion I've come too as well. I won't stop looking for the right Lab breeder, either.I think I may end up biting the bullet and having a pup shipped to me.
How do Chessies and Curlies differ temperament wise? I've never met either.
Also, do Curlies have the same kind of cancer rate that FCR do?

The one Chessie I had in a class with me regularly was motivated, goofy, totally non-reactive and fine with new people but more handler focused. My grandpa also knew lots and LOTS of Chessie from his hunting days and said he never knew one that wasn't good natured and intensely loyal.

I have heard that they can have a very serious protective streak as well. Tough dogs when it comes down to it, I think.

I would be careful with chessies, dog aggression issues are not uncommon in the breed and they do tend to be most guardy of the retrievers. Not that they aren't great dogs, just something to keep in mind when looking into them. I've met a couple that I've really liked- curlies too.

Blackrose, if you can make it up to Chicago in February you should check out the IKC show at McCormick Place in Chicago. It's a huge show, and it's benched, so you can meet a number of different breeds and talk to some breeders directly.

AFAIK Curlies aren't known for being DA the way Chessies are and don't have the high cancer rate FCRs do.

With Chessies, is it typically DA towards strange dogs, or is SSA/household aggression an issue? I don't really care about DA towards strange dogs, as long as the dog is not so aggressive it can't be in public around other dogs. Blackie was DA towards strange dogs, but I never had any issues taking him places or getting him to focus on me around other dogs. He held a down/stay in an obedience class while a Golden puppy broke its down and went over and said hi to him the way golden puppies do. Lol I have no desire for a dog park type dog, I just don't want a dog that can't be social with its own household. Even then, though, I plan for this pup to be male and Cynder is female, so SSA won't bother me. Blackie was also SSA with family dogs, but he always got along with the girls.

What is the texture of a Curly's coat? Is it like poodle hair, or...? I have to say, I don't really care for the feel of curly coats. But I could also get over it, I think. Just every time I see a picture of a Curly I have a desire to shave it. LOL (Which I would never do.)

I haven't ever known one to be so DA it couldn't do stuff. The ones I have known were more resource guard-y, reactive, etc.

LOL the look is really different for sure!

They're nothing like a Poodle coat though, it's not soft or fluffy at all and never gets long. It's more of a coarse/crisp feeling coat. Here is the breed standard for coat:

"The coat is a distinguishing characteristic and quite different from that of any other breed. The body coat is a thick mass of small, tight, crisp curls, lying close to the skin, resilient, water resistant, and of sufficient density to provide protection against weather, water and punishing cover. Curls also extend up the entire neck to the occiput, down the thigh and back leg to at least the hock, and over the entire tail. Elsewhere, the coat is short, smooth and straight, including on the forehead, face, front of forelegs, and feet. A patch of uncurled hair behind the withers or bald patches anywhere on the body, including bald strips down the back of the legs or a triangular bald patch on the throat, should be severely penalized. A looser, more open curl is acceptable on the ears. Sparse, silky, fuzzy or very harsh, dry or brittle hair is a fault."

I'm completely biased, but I think you should stick with Labs.

They're pretty awesome and really over looked in the dog community. They've really filled my sporting dog niche and although I might consider a toller in the future, I'm pretty sure they're one of the only breeds in the sporting group I'll have. They seem to fit your ideal to a T. Don't fix it if it ain't broken!

Sorry for your loss.

If I would have listened to people I wouldn't have my trio of wild animals. Most Belgian breeders are reluctant to sell a puppy to somebody without Belgian experience and especially to somebody who never had a dog. But I went and got one.

My first dog was a Belgian/German shepherd mix adult, already obedience trained. Later I bought a working line Malinois. That was a LOT OF WORK, but I survived and learned in the process. Then I bought my sweetie Laekenois. I'm so lucky to have such a perfect dog and totally opposite from my Malinois.

Finally, I imported a Dutch Shepherd from "pet" lines. You'd think they'd be a lot like the Belgians, but they have a very different attitude. But after all my experience with 3 other dogs all with different learning preferences, the Dutch was very easy for me.

I'm glad I went for variety and didn't stick with the same breed, or pay too much attention to the nay-sayers. After all, how do we learn, but from our mistakes.

I love this photo. They all play well together.

That is why I decided against a GSD. Also the difficulty in finding a reasonably priced puppy that isn't from a BYB. I also wanted something smaller. Two of my dogs are 24" and my supermodel (all legs) Malinois is a whopping 26", but a lightweight at 50 pounds. They also aren't on the banned breeds list.

Yes, you will have a very difficult time finding a family suitable DS born in the USA. Our breed club is starting to get a lot of requests, and one of our members does searches for suitable imports. She's very good and finding puppies and keeping the shipping costs down. I think she's going to have to start up an import business if this keeps up. My dog loves children and will run over and kiss them if I let him.