hello everyone!
this is my first post on the board, but based on the great information i have found in different online communities for different things (I'm an avid fisherman) I'm sure I will get great info from all of you.
My girlfriend and I are looking for our first dog together. Before I get into living details here are the breeds on our list:
Lab
Rot
Vizsla
Boxer
Pit
Mix of any of the above.
now for details of environment. we live apart still, and the dog will be with me. I will be living in a house with a proper yard. there will be 6 guys in all living there. there is currently a 3-4 year old lab/pit mix female living there. she has grown up with several different dogs, both older and younger then her. most recently a lab puppy. there is always a decent number of people coming and going from the house, due to its central location and we are all surfers, so sociability is a must. we have some chickens, but they are in their own pen, and not free range around the yard. the dog will be predominately outside once it is old enough. but that can possibly change when we move elsewhere in the state (california) for my girlfriend to go to Med School. we are looking for a dog that can go anywhere with us. the beach, hiking, the park, etc etc. a dog we can let off lead and throw the ball for and take swimming in the water. my girlfriend has grown up with Ridgebacks so she is used to bigger dogs while i have only lived with smaller dogs. all the above mentioned dogs have great traits IMO but we cant decide upon which is best. also important is we would like to try to get the dog from a rescue/pound as a puppy. and not from a breeder/pet shop. but, breeders can be considered, depending on reason why. so far most of the info i have has been based on what i have found online and from my aunt who shows her Rottweiler's competitively.
all that being said, I look forward to hearing your opinions.
thanks for your help
-Chuck
this is my first post on the board, but based on the great information i have found in different online communities for different things (I'm an avid fisherman) I'm sure I will get great info from all of you.
My girlfriend and I are looking for our first dog together. Before I get into living details here are the breeds on our list:
Lab
Rot
Vizsla
Boxer
Pit
Mix of any of the above.
now for details of environment. we live apart still, and the dog will be with me. I will be living in a house with a proper yard. there will be 6 guys in all living there. there is currently a 3-4 year old lab/pit mix female living there. she has grown up with several different dogs, both older and younger then her. most recently a lab puppy. there is always a decent number of people coming and going from the house, due to its central location and we are all surfers, so sociability is a must. we have some chickens, but they are in their own pen, and not free range around the yard. the dog will be predominately outside once it is old enough. but that can possibly change when we move elsewhere in the state (california) for my girlfriend to go to Med School. we are looking for a dog that can go anywhere with us. the beach, hiking, the park, etc etc. a dog we can let off lead and throw the ball for and take swimming in the water. my girlfriend has grown up with Ridgebacks so she is used to bigger dogs while i have only lived with smaller dogs. all the above mentioned dogs have great traits IMO but we cant decide upon which is best. also important is we would like to try to get the dog from a rescue/pound as a puppy. and not from a breeder/pet shop. but, breeders can be considered, depending on reason why. so far most of the info i have has been based on what i have found online and from my aunt who shows her Rottweiler's competitively.
all that being said, I look forward to hearing your opinions.
thanks for your help
-Chuck