Breeds You Love, but Would Never Own

I love a lot of breeds, but only a select few are on my 'need to own someday' list. Which breeds do you love, but would never own? Why? On the flip side, which breeds do you love and absolutely need to have someday?

I really enjoy Great Danes but they're too big, health too poor, etc. I love being around them though.

I can't see myself with a Great Pyrenees but I love them. Grew up with a mix who was all Pyr in temperament. They seem to just be really nice dogs. They don't match anything I want in a dog for myself though.

Saint Bernards. Not even every Saint... just a certain type. One in particular. My old work fostered a pair of Saints and I absolutely fell in love with one of them. If I had been able to adopt her, I would have in a heartbeat. There were a lot of tears shed when she got adopted. I wanted her so badly and we bonded so strongly. Again, not a dog I'd ever actually seek out, but geez did I love that dog. Even thinking about her makes me sad. I will always have a soft spot for them after Molly.

I've met a couple of Alaskan Huskies and I was surprised by how much I like them. More a type than a breed, but still. I'm not a northern breed person and I don't know that I'd be happy living with one, but they were really cool dogs.

Ehh... there aren't a ton of breeds that I really like but wouldn't own. I think I tend to just like dogs I'd have myself.

Breeds I love and WILL own sooner or later: Silken Windhounds, GSDs, more Brittanys, Standard Poodles, English Shepherds... I guess those are the only ones I can say that I want for sure. I have a ton of others I'm interested in pending meeting some.

I'm not sure. I hate to say never, because who knows what life will bring and maybe a breed I love but don't think fits my lifestyle now might later on. But right now, breeds I love that I don't foresee actually owning anytime in the near future or possibly ever depending on circumstance are:

Leonberger: Major love for them. Just too big for what I currently want in a dog. If I ever have one, I'll have to have a larger house so I don't feel overcrowded by a large dog (Ripley verges on too large/in my face in our average sized home).

Dalmatian: Dals have been a long time favourite of mine. I love them so, so much. I actually can see myself with one eventually, but right now I don't want anymore smooth coated dogs and I wouldn't want one along with a Doberman for some reason lol. Not sure why, just doesn't seem to go.

Siberian Husky: I tried to convince myself that I could be a good home for one, but I really don't think I'd enjoy one all that much. I'd probably be pretty frustrated. But I do love them. They are one that I can say I'll never have but I love. Same with Alaskan Malamutes. I like them just as much.

Border Collie: I really like the breed and used to want one, but I like a very specific type of Border Collie personality. I think I could like the right one, but right now I love Aussies more and if I ever get a herding breed that's not an Aussie, it'll probably be a Koolie before a Border Collie just because Koolies seem a little more silly and they just in general appeal to me a bit more.

Dobermans: Yes, I know I've had three (and a foster), but I'm still putting them on my list haha. I love them and they'll always have a special place, but it just seems too difficult to find the type of Doberman I like and would want. There is a big part of me that wants another black girl, but I want a certain personality type that seems hard to find. Plus, the wimpyness about going to the bathroom in the cold gets old haha.

Belgian Groenendael/Tervuren: I love them and have wanted one since about 2005, but I just don't know if I could be a Belgian person. Maybe someday, but not right now. For as dog experienced as I am, Belgians in general seem to be rather quirky, and I wouldn't want to mess one up accidentally.

Rhodesian Ridgeback: I love them and loved the ones I knew, but they're just not for me as far as any degree of permanent living would go.

As far as breeds I have to have, that's a tough one! I own the two breeds I've loved my entire life (Aussies and Tollers) and don't have a strong desire to stray away at the moment. I'd like to be more involved in Aussies in particular which will probably leave less time/energy/money to own other breeds. I'd say Koolies used to be on that list, but now that I know one (who to be honest is not what I expected lol), I don't feel like I have to have one anymore. I still love them a lot, and would definitely still seek one out from specific lines, but I'm glad I got the particular Aussie I did (whom ironically is everything I thought a Koolie would be). So yeah, at this point in time, the only breeds I have to have and daydream about constantly are more Aussies and Tollers.

Basset Hounds. It a rescue fell in my lap I'd totally take it, but they are SO not the kind of dog I'd seek out. But, but, but...the ears. And the tail. And the legs. And the basset bay. AND THE EARS. It would have to have correct legs, though. I can't stand them when they're super short, or bowed to kingdom come.

French Bulldogs. Again, if a rescue fell into my lap, but even more so of what I don't look for in a dog. I mean...they can't even swim without a life jacket. But they are so hilarious.

Most of the Mastiff breeds. (English, Bull, de Bordeaux, Neapolitan) I would squish on them all day long. I've grown especially fond of Bullmastiffs lately after meeting some super awesome ones. But alas. Again with missing key elements of what I'm looking for in a dog (mainly athleticism, heat tolerance, and overall health). *sigh* But, maybe if the right one, or right breeder came along...

I drool over a well built Rottie, but I doubt I'll ever own one, unfortunately. When I was kind of looking before, I couldn't find a breeder that was producing the style of dogs I liked. I emailed one and was basically told I wasn't good enough to own one of their dogs, because all of their dogs were show/performance dogs and they weren't placed in pet homes. Kind of turned me off a bit.

I also have a huge soft spot for Alaskan Malamutes. So much love. But so TOTALLY not my kind of dog. I'll dote on them, though, when I get a chance. I grew up with two of them (although only one was around for any significant period of time) and they were just such awesome dogs. But the dog aggression and small animal aggression wouldn't fit in my life right now.

As for breeds I *need* to own? I'll just go with whatever floats my boat at the time. Hopefully next dog will be a Labrador. After that, who knows! I do know I always want at least one large protective dog around, so when Abrams is gone it will either have to be another Chessie or another breed that has a protective streak.

I absolutely LOVE dogs - all dogs. That said, there are a few I would prefer not to own.

1. Chihuahua - super cute, spunky, and hilarious but really not my type. Their size isn't appealing to me, they tend to be vocal dogs and if that's something they can be trained out of then I've yet to see it, and I really associate them as being more house-pet, litter trained, sometimes-a-dog type of dog, but this could just be due to the media turning them into purse-pets rather than "real" dogs.

2. English Bulldog - in the past I had thought I wanted a purebred English bulldog, but now having a little more experience with dogs in general and having researched more about the breed, I don't think they'll ever be a dog I deliberately look for to own. That said, I would definitely own another english bulldog mix.

3. Husky - From what I've seen, the temperament in huskies is very "what's in it for me", and although I can work with that, there are times when I'd like my dog to simply listen without looking for a reason to do so. I love visiting with huskies I meet, but I'm not sure they're the breed for me.

Just to name a few

- APBT: So many lovely older ones in shelters/rescues, just really sweet dogs. But I travel too much, rent apartments...it's just impossible. No apartment takes them, airlines won't fly them, it's such a shame

- Dobermans: basically the same as above except Sizzle's crew makes me want a poison baby. Love the breed, looked deeply into them for a long time but again, I rent in cities and it's just impossible with any big dog let alone a dobe. Plus if we are looking at SD work, especially because I'm unconscious when people help me, I think a breed known to protect their person would have trouble.

- Great danes. Heartbreak breed...all I can think is that Merlin is 2 years old now, that would be like, almost middle aged! No way.

I honestly can't really think of any breeds that I love but wouldn't own. There aren't a ton of breeds that appeal to me in the first place really lol. I guess the only thing that springs to mind is that I used to really, really like Newfoundlands... and then I realized hair. And drool. Yuck.

Must haves? Border collie, ACD, more boxers...

For me, I love BC's and ACD's. I would love to own an ACD from a breeder some day, and same thing goes for BC's. Even though I *think* Fable is a purebred cattle dog, I have some doubts about it just because the ACD personality and drive are not really there. I would also just about die if I could ever get my hands on a Koolie, but most of the breeders are in Australia and I don't know how I feel about importing a dog from so far away.
As far as breeds I love but would never own, Scottish Deerhounds, Borzoi, and Whippets are probably at the top of my list. I want a dog that has boundless energy and loves training, and in general, I don't think sighthounds really meet that criteria. Also, as far as the Deerhounds and Borzoi go, I would prefer not to own a dog that big.

Bullmastiffs- I love them, but they just don't live long enough. Plus the drool.

Newfoundlands, Bernses Mtn Dogs & Leonbergers - same as Bullmastiffs, but add in the hair. Just too much for me to be able to keep up with.

I'm not sure there really is a breed I NEED to own except Labs. There's been one in our life for almost 24 years now, and I really can't picture our home without one.

*cough, cough, boerboel, cough!!

GSD - grew up with byb GSDs. I love a good looking GSD, but the shedding.

I love Dobermans but in all likelihood will never own one. Same with Rotties.

I do love Great Danes but I just don't know if I actually want a dog that big. Can't decide. Cuz I love Mastiffs too but again, just can't decide. I've kind of turned into a 'small/medium dog' person overall I think but things could certainly change over the next 10-15 years.

I really need to chat with you about the breed! Won't be getting another protective dog likely til Abrams passes, but if I have my Lab before then, I won't necessarily need another retreiver to fill that criteria.

1. Border collie... I LOVE to watch their trick-learning, sports-performing superpowers! The fact that I would not want one though... I have a feeling this is just my opinion now. I may get all up and serious about flyball/agility in the future and end up with one! But for now, their extreme workaholic hyperactive-energy tendencies seem a little TOO much for me to handle, not living in a farmland kinda place, and I'd still like a happy dog. I'd like to stick with a non-working GSD from rescue!

2. Newfoundland... I adore their ultra chill, ultra lazy, ultra bomb-proof and caretaking temperament. I actually would REALLY, REALLY want one... if only they didn't drool buckets!! LOL. For this reason, Ive been looking into comformation-line Golden Retrievers, which should be the closest thing to this kind of temperament (if just looking at expected temperament/genetics) besides the Newfoundland.

Kuvasz. I wish it worked to just shave dogs down. SOO MUCH SHEDDING. But otherwise I 100% love them.

Also most breeds with DA tendencies, which wipes out so many breeds I adore but with all the zois I currently have and will always have, DA isn't something that would work well in my household.

Irish Wolfhounds/Great Danes/Newfoundlands/Great Pyr: I love the temperament and size of these. But hate their lifespan, high cost and the fact that I couldn't pick them up if they became injured/seriously ill.

Doberman/GSD/Rottie: I love how loyal they are, but hate all the health issues and the fact that it would be hard to find one with a good temperament.

Sighthounds: The rarity of most of them (Whippet, Borzoi), plus the fact that I have cats and don't like the health issue in the Grey's (bone cancer, hearts, etc).

Breeds I would love: Shelties, Papillion, Aussie, BC, Brittany, and a Keeshund.

I love APBT's but I know I will never own one for many reasons.

I love Dobe's and Rhodies, but I don't really see myself getting a short haired dog. Same with some mastifs. I really love Molloser breeds, but the lack of athleticism, short life spans, etc. just probably couldn't do it.

Border Collies have a very special place in my heart. I doubt I'll ever have my own. It would have to be very special circumstances.

Pretty much just want pointy eared goodness. Would be very content to have a lifetime of good shepherds.

I would have said in the past I would never own a lab... but the man loves bird hunting and wants a lab next. Willing to go there, so yeah. Kinda want to dip my toes in with raising a guide puppy. Get myself practiced up since getting our own is like 10yrs out since Sage (she's a springer) is only one.

I don't really know. I'm not sure I'll have another papillon and that's sad. But then I think about Nextdog and papillons and shelties are still in the running. Who knows. I love Hank but I miss a lot of the papillon-ness and I think once Summer and/or Mia are gone they will be on top of my list again because it's hard to imagine not having a papillon for a co-pilot. They're so charming. Hank has more drive and more energy and he is VERY sweet but not the same kind of liveliness and intuitiveness... it's hard to explain. I wish they weren't so small though! But I can't think of a breed that quite captures their charm in a bigger size.

I like Belgians a lot but not sure I want one. If they came in a smaller variety then sure.

GSDs- I'm too picky and don't like about 90% of them but I meet a great one and I want. Too big though and too much politics.

Beezers- bad fit but I love them.

Everything else I could see happening but I really do not know what future breeds I'll have. Shelties, papillons, Mini American, pyrshep, border collie, borderstaffy, shelter mutts, mudi, pumi.... all possible. I kinda want a silken or whippet too. Also kinda want a mini poodle, staffy bull, and a JRT. Who knows! I like a lot of dog breeds and could own a lot of dog breeds

I love BMDs, but can't deal with the size or health issues.

Cavaliers, FCRs, and Goldens are all high on my list but I likely won't get any of them because of heath. I don't want to go through losing a dog young if I can help it.

I love the temperament of hounds, but I'm limited in the number of dogs I can have and I just don't see a hound ever making the list. Bassets and beagles are just the sweetest dogs though.

I'm intrigued by Tervurens and I love the ones I know in person (all from the same breeder), but I hear enough about their quirks that I don't think I'll own one. Never say never though.

For breeds I will definitely have, it's hard to say, but I will have a herder some day - either English shepherd or Aussie probably, maybe border collie. Definitely more Welshies. I could be happy with just those I think.

Salukis - I adore them and they would be a terrible fit and we would probably hate each other, haha.

Huskies - Unless my life were conducive to a lot of sledding/joring and I had a partner who was into it as well.

Koolies - Because Traveler has spoiled me for all other Koolies and Linds won't let me steal him

Malinois - Because as much as I love many of them, the likelihood of me finding the right one for my house is extremely low and there are other smaller herders that are a better fit.

Mudi and PyrSheps - Because for every one I like there are ten I don't, and because I have little interest in dealing with a lot of reactivity.