Do Your Fave Breeds Suit You?

[Baxter'smybaby]

have to say I love my hounds--and yes, they are a generally a good fit for me --just would love it if I could let them off leash--but alas, I know better (darned noses!). And I still have my love for labs---very good fit for my family.
I have always had a thing for afghan hounds--but don't think they would be a good fit--so I admire them from afar.

 

[sammgirl]

Corgis are my head breed and Samoyeds are my heart breed, if that makes any sense.

Other breeds that are interesting: bernese mountain dog, leonberger, akita

Corgis suit me perfectly: the cardigans in particular. I met my first cardigan while in a dog park, and have been smitten ever since.

They are smart, drivey, and gorgeous. I LOVE their satellite ears! I know that I can do everything I want to do with a cardi and still have a dog I can live with. CAN'T WAIT FOR HARPER TO COME HOME! JANUARY 29TH YOU'RE TOO FAR AWAY! sorry. lol.

Samoyeds are a breed that I will have once I'm a more experienced dog owner. Every time I see one my breath sort of catches and it feels like I really need to own that breed. It may not make sense, but I really do feel a sense of fate about that breed.

They are beautiful, smiley, drivey, well built, active...and they are alot of dog to own!!

Berners...geesh...I would own one...I contacted the breed club and I talked to people who owned them and...I just can't do it. Dying at 7 years old, which is the average age BTW, is just too early for me.

Leonbergers- much more likely to own one of these lovely gentle giants. They are tight lipped, beautifully coated and HUGE! Plus, the puppies are ridiculously cute!

Akitas- I really really came close to getting an akita puppy. But, when it came down to it, the dog aggression and the aggression towards those outside the family were what cinched it for me. I talked to soooo many people and they said that most akitas did have some type of aggression.

 

[PoodleMommy]

My favorite breeds include poodles, yorkies, biewers and they all suit me as well.

However, I would LOVE a standard poodle but at this point in my life they dont suit my lifestyle..if I ever moved out of NYC I would consider one but I dont ever really want a dog that I need to hire a walker for, because I SEE the walkers here.

 

[BleuButterfly]

Interesting replies everyone. Forgot to mention, that I really like Ibizan Hounds as well. I don't know if the sighthound temperment is for me however.. Are Whippets velcro-ish? I like dogs that are happy-go-lucky, have sweet temperments, but are not extremely high energy. I prefer my dogs to pay attention to me, and to want to spend time with me.

I noticed that mostly everyone who like Poodles, prefer the Standard variety..

 

[PoodleMommy]

I noticed that mostly everyone who like Poodles, prefer the Standard variety..

Poodles are so great that no matter what size you get they are amazing... I used to say I was going to have a matching set (1 toy, 1 mini, 1 standard all in the same color).

poodles (or some doodles) are the only large dog I could ever have.

 

[Bigpoodleperson]

Poodles- my heart breed, and i do think they fit me perfectly. Perfect amount of intelligence, personality, drive, looks etc that im looking for. They just "fit" me. I will always own one!

Dobermans- i dont know. I would love one someday, and i do think i could fill their needs well. I would like to try.

Ive pretty much taken dogs off my list that wouldnt fit me, or that i wouldnt be a good owner for. After having perfect poodles though, i really have to reach and think Why i would actually want other breeds... I would like to see though.

 

[MandyPug]

Standard Poodles - Too much grooming right now, maybe in the future

APBT - Not enough reputable breeders around here and i don't want to take the chance of a dog from a byb with this (there's pretty much none in rescue in my area)

Great Dane - Size right now maybe after I'm done school, lifespan makes me sad too

Borzoi - Size, inexperienced with sighthounds at the moment

Shiba Inu - mischievous, independent, but i could deal with one most likely

Cavalier King Charles - Hard to find a good one around here, health issues (testing is RARE in my area apparently)

and finally...

Pugs - Love mine, not actively searching for another for a good while (unless my female black drops into my lap), don't like the politics with the breed regarding the conformation of the dog. Temperament-wise great breed and tend to be friendly and clownish; energywise they can be anything, happy laying on the couch or going for walks (or in izzie's case, roller blading trips)

 

[gazillionkisses]

Okay Erin, here are my fav breeds:

My favorite breed and the one that best suits me is the Chinese Crested. I love their size(yet not fragile), and I love the fact that they can come in hairless and coated, and come in many different colors and combinations. They are fun to be around, and their personalities often make me forget that they aren't really humans, but funny little dogs. Let's also not forget that they are perfect sleeping buddies and bed warmers! lol.

Afghan Hound: Beautiful dogs. I am hoping to someday have one.
Bull Terrier and Miniature Bull Terrier: I love the way they look, but too muscular and strong for me.
Irish Setter: Never really been around one, but I do love their look.
Beagle: I have had plenty of these dogs! lol. Love them, but not the right breed for me.
Wire Fox Terrier: GORGEOUS dogs. I absolutely love the way they look. Maybe I will have one someday.
French Bulldog: Love their head.
Xoloitzcuintli: a hairless and coated variety. shall I say more?
Peruvian Inca Orchid: " " same as above.

I pretty much love all of the terriers, just based on their looks.
I love hairless and wirehaired coat varieties.

 

[gazillionkisses]

well my list of faves consists of:

cresties, this breed seems to work well for me, good energy level, great personality for me, still "froo froo" enough i can also play dress up and they actually LIKE it...
QUOTE]

Yupp, my chinese cresteds love to dress up too!

 

[BleuButterfly]

Gazillionkisses, I knew you had some Afghan love! The Cresteds do remind me of Afghans.

 

[Punkygirl0101]

All the breeds I have now fit my life great. Smooth coated dachshunds, chihuahuas (amd mixes), and my poodle mix fit in great too, hes the one with the most energy.

I love pugs and they would fit in great in my life.

 

[theresa92841]

I am drawn to dogs with dramatic coats . . . Puli, Collie, Afghan, PGBV, Sheepdog, . . . but I know that in reality I will never care for their coats like they need.

 

[~Jessie~]

My breeds fit me perfectly.

To be honest, I don't think I'll ever have any other "larger" breed besides the Border Collie. They are just awesome, amazing, intelligent dogs... Rory is everything I've ever wanted in a dog and by far exceeds my expectations. I was terrified about getting a BC at first... but they are the perfect fit for my husband and I.

I love the small size and tenaciousness of the chis... they are sooo different from BCs, but such fun little dogs. I love how I always have a chi (or 3) on my lap when I'm sitting on the couch.

There are other breeds that I like the look of, but I know they wouldn't fit my lifestyle at all.

 

[Paige]

Border Collies, Borzois, Bull Mastiffs, Cocker Spaniels and Shelties are the breeds I have fallen head over heels for. Cockers are my newest love. I groom at least one a day and took care of such a happy litter of five for a few weeks that I am smitten. As for what would suit my life now and with my future plans I probably will stay away from Borzois. I understand dogs of any breed may not be able to be off lead ever in an unfenced in area but having a life so filled with horses it's nice to be able to take the dog to the barn with me and let it romp without worry.

 

[ds5160]

Newbie here, and saw this and thought I'd post. My ideal breeds are larger dogs, Akitas, Australian Shepherds, German Shepherds, Huskies, but none of them work for me. Far too allergic to them. I have had friends who had all of these breeds, and they were just the greatest dogs. The Akitas, especially. I have always heard about the aggressiveness potential of them, but I've never seen it. Lucky, I guess. Standard poodles are borderline due to my allergies. I've spent a week with two of them, once immediately after a grooming, and I was fine, and once when they needed to get groomed, and my allergies were horrid that week. I'm allergic to the dander and the hair.

So, I currently own a Bichon Frise and a Bichon Frise/Shih Tzu mix. The Bichon is 10 and we got her as a rescue about 3 years ago. She's a friendly dog, but had an unhappy life before the shelter. Not socialized properly, afraid of everything, and still doesn't like us to brush her. The mix is about 3 and we've had her 2 weeks, we got her from as a rescue, too. (Finally got the first dog socialized enough so she could live with another dog, and it's been great.) She gets brushed every night for a few minutes, it's just part of the attention we give her. She plays, wants to play with the older dog, but the older dog doesn't know how to play. We got lucky that both dogs had basic training done, now we are just reinforcing our training, and I want to get the younger dog the CGC cert. While the older dog is far less fearful than when we got her, she's still too afraid of new situations and dogs to push her on the CGC. Never thought I'd end up with a dog that looks like a marshmallow when shown in a ring, but that's the breed I got. Their energy levels are perfect for my girlfriend and me and our lifestyles. I can take the younger dog for a 4 mile walk, then another 30 minutes with the older dog. When we get home, the younger dog wants to play fetch, and the older dog goes back to sleep.

 

[Paige]

Thought I'd add I love the generic "pit bull" type dog but after watching that duo for a few nights I know if I were to ever get one there would have to be a lot of screening. Bandit is really sensitive about his personal space and their big wiggly bums trying to snuggle up to him left, right and center did not amuse him at all.

 

[PlottMom]

dogs I have or have had/grown up with/fostered/ADORED. - standard poodle, porti, basset, plott, beagles, feist, pit bull... I'd say they all fit me great with the exception of the beagles. But most of my experience is with rescues, my boyfriend's hunting pack or mixes. There were a few I really liked, but in general just not my breed. LOVE my basset more than life itself, but I also realize she's somewhat atypical (although I saw 2 or 3 running formal obe at our last rally trial, so I imagine it depends on the lines...). Love my plotts, the feist has been the *easiest* dog since day one, and my foster pittie was my 2nd heart dog - if she'd gotten along with my girls, she'd have stayed here, no question. Obviously the standard poodles made me think I was the best dog trainer ever

Dogs I love: Bouvs, mastiffs, bull terriers, frenchies, Kerry blues - most of these I've heard have very strong personalities and I'm not sure I'm owner enough for it, honestly (except the Frenchie. which I'd like to have when I'm old and non-active )
Sighthounds - love love love them - especially Afghans. However, while I'm confidant at this point in my ability to train scenthounds to return when called, sighthounds are a completely different ballgame, and I'm not sure I want a dog I can never trust off leash.

 

[SpikedMarkus]

My favourite breeds: Pug, English Bull Terrier, Weinmarner, Great Dane, Border Collie, Labrador, Bichon Frise, Miniature Schnauzer, Kerry Blue, Beagle.

Since we don't have a big garden or even much room inside the house it wouldn't be fair on any of the larger breeds mentioned above. But i'm active and enjoy taking long walks, we have a lot of natural surroundings here with plenty of rural paths and open fields so the more energetic breeds wouldn't be a problem.
Also I don't mind if the dog is too large to lie on a sofa or bed, as long as they don't tear them to shreds.
I think Bertie definitely suits me.

 

[elegy]

mmm yes and no.

i love me some pit bulls, but get a little tired of the dog-dog issues and the terrier-brain prey drive. and the politics. especially the politics. but the boldness, athleticism, intelligence, adoration of people, and drive is 100% what i want.

and i love love love the intelligence and the drive of the border collie, but i really find that i prefer a bit harder dog. steve is soft even for a bc, and i find him emotionally exhausting. although on the flip side of that coin, one of my favorite things about him is how handler-focused he is and how much he enjoys playing with me (ok maybe not so much ball 24/7, but geez he's easy to reward!)

i'm really really interested in dobermans, but they're too big. i like standard poodles a lot also, but again, bigger than i want (and i'm not sure if they're drivey enough for my taste).

i'd like to meet more tollers.

 

[Bigpoodleperson]

Haha Elegy! I would not probably discribe poodles as a "hard dog" either. Deffinatly not BC drive either. I am currently looking for a performance poodle though, so ill let you know!