Breeds that aren't your cup of tea.

I was going to say something along these lines- specifically about GSDs. I always hear people talking about GSDs like they all magically fall apart but I know people in my area with GSDs that are super healthy and never have any real medical problems. All bought from good, reputable breeders that health test.

My main reason for not liking a breed is usually personality or a physical trait like crazy shedding or really high maintenance grooming requirements.

I guess I usually group Cavaliers in with toy dogs instead of spaniels so I didn't think of them, but yeah, definitely lots of health problems there.

I haven't met any American cockers with health issues personally, though I have heard of chronic ear infection and allergies. But neither of those going to shorten lifespan and should be easy to avoid by getting a dog from a good breeder.

The springers, English cockers, and field spaniels are generally quite healthy little dogs. And Brittanies too, if you want to lump them in with the spaniels. I've heard that clumbers and sussex can have some health issues, but both are quite rare.



I think health concerns are a valid point. At least as valid as not liking physical characteristics or personality quirks. The big one for me is cancer in FCRs and goldens. You can't test for cancer, and it's not simple to breed away from. Lots of well bred goldens and FCRs die young from cancer and that does make me shy away from both breeds even though I love them otherwise.

Or the breeds like Cavliers where the health issues are so ingrained that it's almost not possible to find a healthy individual without a lot of luck.

It's easier for me to list the breeds that ARE my cup of tea. That breaks my heart as a former dog trainer, but adulting has caused me to fit my dog into my life, not fit my life around my dog. As a result, I can't abide a lot of behaviors that, while extremely fun in a working dog, are anuisance in a pet. :/

The noise is a huge one. I love drivey brainy working breeds but the ****ing noise would get me evicted.

I think it's worth noting that we don't have any clients who have two doodles of different ages. Several have a pair of littermates or two very close in age. Lots of people with an older doodle and then a golden or lab or mini poodle puppy, a few with an older dog of another breed and a doodle puppy. We have tons and tons of clients with older and younger dogs of the same breed, but nobody seems to love their doodle enough to do it over again.

My experience has also been that Vizslas and Weims are totally different. I'd take a V in a heartbeat but you couldn't pay me to take a Weim (except for one particular individual.)

I agree with this. There are some issues that you can test for, and some you can't. I think overall poor health is a totally valid reason not to want a breed. Dobes are great, but DM is a huge problem in the breed, and although there is a test for it, from what I've read, it's not 100%. I adore Bernese Mountain Dogs, but cancer is so rampant that the average lifespan is 6-8. I just can't do that.

Labs - all the ones I've met stare at me blankly. Its like the wheel is still turnin' but the hamster is dead. Don't get me wrong, super sweet dogs...just...no.

American Cockers - super sweet. Love them. Just met one too many with chronic issues (cherry eye, allergies, epilepsy, entropion, heart issues, ear problems).

Bully breeds - too much dog for me. I would never quite fully trust them, either (with other dogs). I know that the majority are lovely, lovely dogs. Just how I feel.

Poodles - I got bit by a Mini when I was a kid. Actually, so did my husband. These dogs still make me nervous.

Right, there are some heartbreak breeds that really are my cup of tea in every other way but that I would never consider actually owning due to rampant health problems.

Just in general, I've found Miniature Poodles to be the worst of the Poodles. Working in a grooming salon, fell IN LOVE with Standards and with Toys; though the toys could sometimes be more barky and standoffish, but overall I found them to be sweet little dogs. While the Miniature size wasn't as common coming into our salon, I could never enjoy those dogs, they always had some quirk or offness to them.

Yep this is how I feel. Is there a chance that ANY dog could die young from something health-related? Of course. But I like to higher my chances personally. I really don't know in the long run if I could get a dog that I knew the lifespan could possibly be only 6-9 years. I mean Jackson is 6 now. I can't even imagine. I can only hope and pray that he lives his full potential, a lot of small terriers easily live to be between 14-17. I can't imagine knowing his life would be ending soon possibly. That's just me personally -- I know some of these breeds are fantastic and it's worth having them for even a shorter amount of time, but for ME, health risks definitely come into play when choosing a breed.

I've never met a bulldog who didn't have health issues, or a Golden who didn't die of cancer, etc. So certain breeds where health problems are just BOUND to happen, no matter what health testing is done, I'd likely avoid.

I *never* said that health concerns were not a valid point. I simply pointed out that it is the go-to reason for not liking some breeds, and maybe I wasn't clear, but meant that it seems especially common in breeds that aren't that unhealthy, because of experience with poorly bred dogs and no genetic testing, like in the case of GSDs.

I've only looked into DM testing a little bit... I know dogs with the double mutant genes can go their lives without being symptomatic, but I thought only dogs that did have both mutated genes (not just one/a carrier) have been symptomatic? Is that not correct? I thought that dogs could be cleared through parentage with this philosophy, but I might be mistaken.

Having been a groomer for 10 years, I am very adamant in my breed prejudices. I am also very aware that there are exceptions to the rule in every breed, but my list of "breeds that aren't [my] cup of tea" is pretty immense.

I don't do drool, so anything that produces strings of drool is just out. I also hate baying, I really do. So at the top of my list to never, ever, have in my house?

Bassets and Bloodhounds - I avoid handling them if possible

And then in general:

Gun dogs, especially spaniels, retrievers, and weims.

Brachiocephalic breeds, although I'd take a well bred Frenchie in a heartbeat

Siberian huskies and German shepherds (same reasons)

Mastiffs

Dachshunds, American Eskimos, American cocker and English springer spaniels, and Min Pins (same reasons)

I don't consider herders "my cup of tea," but don't have any strong feelings of dislike toward them unless they spin in circles. Or you group GSDs with them because the AKC does.

Would you believe that once I witnessed a mini schnauzer barking with such force that I heard it "knocking" off the wall across the room? I don't know if I'd believe it if I hadn't witnessed it myself.

On a side note, my Akita drools (no match for a saint, newf, or mastiff, but enough to freak me out) and makes a sound that borders on baying. Sad stuff, lol.

Threads like this make me feel so picky

- DOODLES. I can't do it. Others have said it better (doodley doodley doodly dooooo).
- Labs. The ones I have met are just total meatheads. And the oily retriever coat is not my cup of tea.
- Huskies. So. Much. Fur. And howling. And just generally being annoying assholes with other dogs.
- Not a GSP person at all. They definitely hit me as labs on steroids: lots of energy but not a lot of actual thought going on.
- I've never met a nice Min Pin.
- Aussies. Cool little dogs but OH GOD the barking.
- American bullies. There is one at work that is an okay dog temperamentally but his structure just kills me.

While I don't think I'd ever not consider a dog solely on it's breed, there are certain ones I wouldn't search out and purchase/rescue. Examples:

Huskys- Had a foster for 7 months, and it was enough. Beautiful dog, too much work.
Chows-Too aloof for my liking
Akitas/Malamutes/most Spitz type dogs-Just don't do it for me. Same as the Husky.
Wheatens- Very few that I have met that seem stable, there's either hyper hump-bags or sketchy weirdos.
Labs-Just too blah. Plain toast dogs.

I also never thought I'd like a Shar Pei until I fostered one. However, she was much sweeter than most that I've met, and I wouldn't search out one to buy. Same with Pugs, which I have always considered loaves of bread with faces, until I fostered and adopted a very sweet, but short lived little girl.

I also don't love terriers, but there are some that I could deal with. Toy dogs in general too (even though I have a Japanese Chin).

Oh, and I'd never own another Saint Bernard. Mine was a rescue and a nutter, and most of the ones I meet these days have temperament issues. Same with Danes.

Wheatens and Airedales: Who the hell thought giant terriers were a good idea?

Who could not like a Lab like Bonnie? She was laid back, super easy to train, smart. (not as quick as my Poodles, but quick enough and that willingness made up for it) Super great with kids....hugely tolerant.

And whoever doesn't like Chihuahuas didn't meet my Chulita and Jose`. Calm but playful, tough as nails, great hiking buddies in the mountains of north Idaho wilderness, willing, sweet temperaments with everyone...friendly, not terribly clingy...just super nice little dogs and they were from a BYB. LOL.

I loved my GSDs. Our last one herded our piglets...great herding dog and was wonderful with the kids and everyone. A lovely, old fashion GSD.

On my list is anything I can't lift when I'm another 10 years older. So, now I'm down to small dogs. Poodles are wicked smart and a couple reps is all they need to learn something new. The problem is sometimes, they think too much and while willing for the most part, do come with their own mind.

Okay, now away from my likes to my probable dislikes. Hounds. Although sweet and endearing (I fostered a Beagle...loved)...that obsession with following a scent can be annoying when you're a person who likes an attentive, obedient dog. He was smart enough and learned readily IF we were doing something indoors. He tried outside, but once on a scent...forget it. Of course, not having had a vast amount of experience with them, my assessment could be over done. I know of some Beagles winning plenty of obedience titles. So, it's probably somewhat dependent on the owner or trainer. But yeah...they do have their instincts for what they were bred to do. And that conflict wouldn't be something I'd go for.

I love Dobermans but not the tendency to dog aggression. Don't want to do that anymore. So Poodles are great in that respect. So any of the bully breeds, plus the brachiocephalic aspect of most. Don't like drool but love some of the temperaments of some of those breeds...like Newfs.

Hair: Since having Poodles, I don't think I'd ever go back to fur and all that shedding.

Aloof is okay...it's not a huge deal one way or the other...but I find it's more fun to have a dog that likes people and other dogs too, at least for me. I'm sociable and my present dogs are sociable too...so anything that's super aloof, I'm sort of losing interest in. But would not be a deal breaker if I liked other things about them.

I am attracted to very, very biddable dogs...dogs that are attentive, interested in learning, willing, don't take forever to teach something to because I'm not that patient and am getting lazier and lazier about training. So, although beautiful and nice in many ways, I'd probably steer away from most of the northern type breeds.

I don't like breeds that have a ton of hair, slobber, doggie odor, big tongues that drip all over the place when they're hot. Loose jowls, droopy eyes...I'm sort of a neat freak and that spills over into the breeds I am attracted to...tight lipped, tight skin, longish snouts. The thing is, a lot of those more sloppy type breeds are truly sweet and adorable personality wise. So it just depends on what's priority to different people I guess.

I don't like breeds that are prone to near ocd. My sister's Sheltie is nuts! Back chains behaviors that lead up to running any kind of appliance or the ice maker. She reaches for a loaf of bread. That means the toaster is going to be used. Bark, bark, bark, run around, spin in circles, yap, yap. Oy! That dog yaps worse than my Poodles and at more things. But I think it's an off shoot of that herding thing which has gone sort of hay wire.

Yapping, loud barking dogs. Don't love that and I'm stuck with it because as much as I thought my girl Chihuahua was fairly barky, she couldn't hold a candle to these Poodles. So, they're a work in progress....it's difficult to train them not to be such alarmists. They really can be shrill. So, yeah...not my favorite trait. Good thing they're so adorable and wonderful in every other way or I'd tear out their vocal cords with my bare hands. Did I just say that? OY!

I was mostly referring to cocker spaniels, and cavaliers when I wrote that. They have so many issues with their ears and skin and bladders. I haven't met any Welshies so far. There are some sussex (or field spaniels, I can never tell the difference, just chocolate dogs lol) who board at work who are very nice and they seem quite healthy.

I like them all, big and small, just certain types I wouldn't seek out to own.

Yeah, cavs and American cockers are genetically removed from the rest of the spaniels.

After having a wash and wear breed, I can't imagine having one that needs extensive grooming. I don't mind grooming per se, and I know how to clip and brush and all that. But for me it's a matter of time. I just don't have it.

Huskies. Their shedding and stubbornness are just not me. Their howling also I mean come on, who wants a dog that howls ALL DAY? Not me. Did I mention the shedding?





(No offense to husky lovers and owners)

So funny that you said that, as I also find retrievers and pits to be surprisingly similar. As a volunteer at an Animal Shelter, I've found that there are some individual ABPTs that bug me, but others that I connect really well with (including the one who is now my own). For me, hyperactive dogs bug me, regardless of breed, but I like medium-energy dogs, regardless of breed. I don't buy the idea that energy level is determined solely by breed.