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!