Dog Breed Selectors

[Dakotah]

I am sure mostly everyone on here has taken one of these little tests.

How accurate are your results?
Would you get a dog based off of this? (Not solely based off of it, but use it as a starting ground)
How do you feel these results test up to your current dogs?

I use the Animal Planet breed selector and I use to use another one but I forgot the name of it and I can't find it anymore.

The Animal Planet one always gives me a Brittany, Aussie (which I LOVE and have owned, fostered, and grew up with there dogs), and the Belgian Tervuren.
I know Aussies are a good pick for me.

If yall know of any dog that fits my description, please let me know I am looking for a dog but in the future, nothing right now: I am looking for a dog that is low maintenance as far as grooming goes (as in, nothing that I have to take to a groomer like a Poodle or a Schnauzer), a jogging buddy, a cuddle bug, can tolerate hot/cold weather, can protect me if need be, and something that is trainable because I want a dog to learn basic commands but I want to be able to him/her tricks as well.

 

[Dekka]

I NEVER get JRTs in my results. Apparently because I don't want to dominate them or run 5K every day I am unsuitable.

IME dog breed selectors work horribly for me, I never seem to get dogs I like and the ones they suggest are ones I have very little to no interest ever owning.

 

[Red.Apricot]

I almost never get the breeds I like in my top picks. I like herding breeds, for the most part, but the quizzes say I should have an Irish Setter or a Boxer, most of the time. I've never gotten Tervuren as an answer. Probably because I don't run...?

 

[Dakotah]

I NEVER get JRTs in my results. Apparently because I don't want to dominate them or run 5K every day I am unsuitable.

IME dog breed selectors work horribly for me, I never seem to get dogs I like and the ones they suggest are ones I have very little to no interest ever owning.

See and that's were I think these things aren't very accurate.
People who have owned a certain breed for so long (like you and JRTs), know what breed they work well with, then when they take these little tests and they get something totally off the wall.
Your JRTs are well taken care of and get enough exercise, dogs are individuals like people are. Just cause I'm from south GA doesn't mean I go mud sliggin', throw bonfires every weekend, say YEEHAW! every time you turn around, and I don't spit into a can all day, most people think that southern folks do that. (Does this kind of make sense, I'm trying to get it out the way I want to lol).
Just because JRTs are known for being crazy, bounce off the wall dogs, that doesn't mean all JRTs are like that. (Maybe that made more sense.)

 

[Dakotah]

I almost never get the breeds I like in my top picks. I like herding breeds, for the most part, but the quizzes say I should have an Irish Setter or a Boxer, most of the time. I've never gotten Tervuren as an answer. Probably because I don't run...?

Now Boxers, I adore to death. My uncle, cousin, and one of my best friends have boxers. Do I think they will be the best dog for me? No. Just because I love them and their goofy ways, doesn't mean they are the dog for me.

Tervurens, I know doodley squat about. All I know is they are gorgeous and have to have an energy outlet.

 

[AdrianneIsabel]

I usually get breeds I like and a few I don't. They're fun to take!

 

[Dakotah]

I usually get breeds I like and a few I don't. They're fun to take!

They are fun to take, I agree with you on that.

 

[MicksMom]

I almost never get the breeds I like in my top picks...

Me neither. Despite saying I don't want a lot of grooming, every single time I've done a breed selector thing, Poodles have come up as the first choice. I don't remember Labs showing up anywhere on any of them, let alone Siberians or Norwegian Elkhounds. I do remember other Sporting breeds being listed someplace, tho.

 

[Dekka]

The thing is JRTs should NEVER be off the wall crazy. I find those breed selectors just take a narrow view of what the breed is and run with it. As you said its a stereotype. The issue with many breeds I like they stereotype only happens if the dog is badly bred or bored. But these selectors think the only way your dog cannot be bored is if you run them to the ground every day.

I want them to ask if you plan to do dog sports, or are you dedicated to making sure your dog has busy work to keep them occupied.

(I always get corgis, while I think they are lovely dogs... they are not for me.)

 

[MicksMom]

...I want them to ask if you plan to do dog sports, or are you dedicated to making sure your dog has busy work to keep them occupied...

And if you would prefer a dog that sheds or has to be clipped would be nice. Given how often I get Poodles as my first choice, I'm beginning to think "little grooming" means taking them to a groomer to be clipped.

 

[Aleron]

The last one I took said Belgians were only 80% suited to me because I may not be able to deal with their exercise needs or have enough training experience :rofl1:

The breeds that were 100% matches were largely breeds I wouldn't want. Take these things with a grain of salt for sure.

 

[AussieAshley]

They are fun and they can give you ideas to consider and research breeds you may not have otherwise. However I don`t put much stock in them. I LOVE me some herding breeds and the match usually has one in there, typically a bc, aussie or acd. Then the rest is ALL sporting breeds. They really for the most part don`t suit me at all. In fact in the Animal Planet one I got 95% on (English) pointers. My sister and I live together and she owns one. Sweet dog but I can say without a doubt pointers are not for me. Ever.

 

[nikkiluvsu15]

I think they are so much fun! Every time I take one, I almost always get Lab and Vizsla as my 100% or top match. So, they are pretty accurate for me.

I do sometimes get some "off the wall" breeds in my suggestions though.

 

[StillandSilent]

Oddly, I tend to get good results with them. The last one I took matched me 100% wtih both whippets and borzoi, and considering I long for either a whippet or a silken windhound for my next dog, I think it's pretty neat.

 

[Sit Stay]

I usually get some really good matches and some not so much. I've gotten high % matches for Belgian Shepherds (looked into them eta: specifically Groenendaels as my next dog), Australian Cattle Dogs (own one, had one before), Aussies (grew up with Aussies and love em), Border Collies (may be my 3rd dog) and Collies which are actually pretty good guesses for me.

I've never gotten matches for breeds that I know I have no interest in owning (poodles, boxers, labs, etc) so I guess that's good.

 

[AdrianneIsabel]

Maybe those with improper matches should own different breeds. ;P

 

[Dakotah]

Thanks everyone.

Dekka- I agree with you, and everyone else who said something like she said.

I love Bernese Mtn Dogs and have strongly considered them for years, I just wanted to move someone colder because it would be death to have one in south GA.
I also love Aussies, as said before, and would strongly consider one again.
The only "little" breeds I like are Scottish Terriers and Corgis. I am definitely a big dog breed kind of person, but not Great dane big lol

 

[Lyss90]

I got a Brittany, flat coated retriever and German shorthaired pointer as my results. I think its pretty acurate for me. I dont know alot about the brittany and flat coated, but I love GSPs and they are near the top of my list for my future dog. But I want a shorhaired breed and it didnt give me the option lol

 

[mrose_s]

I nearly always get gundogs as my top breeds, Britanny's, flat coats and english springs pop up a lot. I like all these breeds and they would probably be a good fit (would seriously consider a working line ESS at some point) but my heart lies with herders and they usually pop up 4th or 5th down the list.
And honestly, I know myself and I know what I want and a BC is all I would really consider at this point (I don't think I'm confident enough in my training to take on a Mal yet)
BC's are plenty challenging at this point, they are easy to train but Quinn is constantly pushing me to be better in order to make her better, I love this. I can totally see why so many get dumped though. If training and dogs wern't my passion she would have driven me up the wall a long time ago.

 

[Toller_08]

I usually get a decent number of breeds that I could actually live with, but I also get a fair number of breeds I know I wouldn't want. I think that they're a good base starting point as far as certain traits to look for, but don't take them too seriously. I took another one a couple weeks ago and there were a couple breeds listed as being something like an 80% match (Dobermans were one) because I lack leadership skills (I don't like to lead groups of people, which is kind of what the question asked... but I can certainly lead a dog) and training experience. Mostly those tests give me a lot of herding and sporting breeds as the best matched results, with a few working breeds that are also a match but "require more experience". Which I find odd sometimes, as most of my dog experience has been with Rottweilers and Dobermans and I've done well with them. And then at the same time, they'll say that while I might not have enough experience for a Doberman, I'm nearly a 100% match for a Belgian... and most of the Belgians I've been around look like they'd require more experience and energy than the Dobermans I know.