Which Breed is Best for.....

[BaconShep]

(Before I Begin.....)
I'm a college student from Atlanta and going to school in Atlanta as well. I am currently living in a large house of about 20 guys who all have agreed to get a house dog. Before you begin saying, "don't get a dog while in college, blah blah blah, its a bad idea, blah blah blah, it will be neglected after you leave, etc." let me be very clear on two things. First off, if for whatever reason after we leave college none of the 20 guys can take care of it (which is obviously not going to be the case since right now everyone is fighting over who will take it once we leave) my parents have agreed that they will look after the dog if we are unable to. So dont worry about that because the dog will always have a home. Secondly, we are getting a dog no matter what anyone says on this forum so if you reply and try to convince me NOT to get a dog, i promise you that I won't even read your response. So rather than waste your time doing that, why not be constructive in trying to find a dog that will be happy with all of us.

(Now on to the fun stuff...)
Like I said, we are living in a huge spacious house with about 20 great guys who are eager to get a dog. There is a ton of yard space and local parks outside. I think everyone agrees that a big dog would be ideal and one preferably that comes from a reliable breeder so as not to take the risk of getting a dog with health/temperament problems. Aside from the obvious choices of a "Labrador Retriever" or a "Golden Retriever" we are more interested in dogs that resemble those characteristics but are a little more original. Some examples that we have been thinking about are "Great Danes" or "St. Bernard's." (The kind of big friendly giant dogs). Anyway, what are your thoughts?

 

[colliewog]

I would say an adult dog, with no protection/guard inclinations whatsoever, because of the number of people coming and going, which I'm sure will include more people when you add friends/girlfriends as well. Maybe a retired racing greyhound?

 

[bubbatd]

Who will be the number one " manager " of the dog ??? Decide among you about crating etc . Since your parents would take this dog in a few years .... I think that they should decide .

 

[Dekka]

Who is going to take the dog home when you are all done school? Is that going to be you? If so then what do plan on doing when you are done? Are you going to then have to live in an apt while you start a career etc etc.

LOL I need more info before I can give suggestions. (other than to agree get an adult)

 

[Romy]

Does your yard have a fence? Are you guys planning on taking the dog on outings all the time? Walks? Biking? or will most of it's exercise come from being in the yard?

Also, since it is a possibility your parents may end up with the dog, some information about them would be helpful too. I mean, if they live in an apartment or don't like going out then that will limit the types of dogs that would be suitable.

The main thing that concerns me about having so many people in the house, is consistency in training. I suggest all of you sit down for a meeting, and decide on some rules for how certain situations will be handled, for the dog's sake. Also, hashing out who is going to pay for the vet bills and food would be a good thing to do beforehand.

For example, if the dog has an accident, one person may think the best thing to do is rub it's nose in the mess or whomp it with rolled up newspaper, while other people may think that it's best the quietly take the dog out and praise it for doing it's business outside. This is really important to work out before you get a dog, because if everybody is training it with really different methods, you will have a confused unhappy dog that will never quite get things right. My husband and I struggled with being consistent with each other for a long time, and we are only two people.

I don't think Alaska would be a very good climate for a greyhound. If you want a sighthound a borzoi may work if your yard is fenced. Also, depending on how rowdy your home is, a sighthound might not like it. Though there are some individuals who don't mind noise.

Other breeds that come to mind are possibly newfoundland, norwegian elkhound, maybe a husky, a lot of this depends on how much exercise and mental stimulation you are able/plan on devoting to the dog.

An adult dog is a good idea, and probably ideal for you. Good breeders will take back any dog they have bred, so it's not unusual for them to have great dogs of various ages available because of their puppy buyers falling on hard times, or deciding they didn't want a dog after all.

 

[mrose_s]

I'd go for an adult aswell, something with no guard instinct because fo the amount of people and a dog that is very confident asn friendly with people.

How much time for training/excercise would be given?

 

[BaconShep]

Really and truly I appreciate everyone's comments and concerns so far, however I would like to see a little more information in terms of dogs that encompass the big friendly giant characteristics that I discussed. Regardless of whether the dog stays with us or stays with my parents, the bottom line is that the dog will be paid for (yes my parents agreed to paying for vet costs) and LOVED! The dog will be loved and cared for for its entire life which is more than what most dogs can hope for. What would be most helpful at this point is for people to simply list off different large dog breeds of different personalities in which case I will do my own personal research on the breeds that seem most suitable so that I can make the best decision for the dog and my roommates.

examples:
St. Bernard
Great Dane
Blood Hound
German Shepherd
Border Collie
Austrailian Shepherd
Newfoundland
etc.

 

[MafiaPrincess]

Some off your list would probably be unsuitable unless a much older adult, or unless it's getting an awful lot more exercise than many people would want to do, though if 20 of you share the excercise requirements...

 

[Maxy24]

How much exercise will he be getting? Do you want a dog who likes to play or a big cuddler? One who is really "into" you (pays a lot of attention to what you are doing, follows you, asks for attention frequently) or one who is more happy to entertain himself and does not seem to be really into petting, he sits there and is fine with it but is not the type to shove his head back under your hand for more? Do you want a dog that already has manners or are you confident that you all can train a dog to be polite (WITHOUT being big bullies, no hitting, screaming at etc.). Do you want a dog who is good with other dogs? Do you want a dog who is good with children or cats?
I think a rescue/shelter dog would be best actually, a puppy is not what I would imagine for a house of 20 college kids, I have a hunch things might be too inconsistent and communication might not be best ("yeah, did anyone take the dog out? you were supposed to be watching him he just ate my head phones etc.) puppies are a lot to keep track of, they need constant supervision and need to be let out every two or so hours, they need consistent rules (one person can't let him on the couch and the other say no he can't come on, or the same thing with jumping, mouthing etc.
Rescues are good at evaluating their dog's temperaments and can show you which dogs will fit your lifestyle. Plus an adult dog already has a set temperament so what you see is what you get, there is no chance of him growing up to be a different dog than the one your originally met.

 

[CaliTerp07]

I think a rescue dog is a great idea too. You can go to a shelter or rescue, list of the characteristics that you want, and they'll match you up with a great animal. You'll know exactly what you're getting.

Everyone's asking the same questions, which are the questions a rescue is going to ask you as well.

How much/what kind of exercise is the dog going to get daily? (Running in the yard only? Long walks? Runs with a bike?)
Will the dog be around other dogs/cats/kids?
Do you want a dog who comes trained, or do you think you can handle that? (Like others said, this will require a LOT of communication amongst your house mates!)

I know you want the name of a breed, but the problem is every dog is going to be different. For your situation, you'll be best to pick a specific DOG, not a BREED.

 

[PoodleMommy]

I dont think you want a dog with too much of a "guarding" instinct like the german shepard because I am sure you will have lots of friends in and out.

I like the idea of the retired greyhound that someone else mentioned otherwise your idea of a great dane sounds good. Im sure with twenty guys the dog will get plenty of exercise so size isnt really an issue.

Are you looking to go to a breeder or a shelter? If your looking into going to a shelter you might not want to spend too much time thinking about breed and just go and see if a dog feels right.

I know you will find the people who say not to get a pet in school but I have always had animals while in school and I dont see anything wrong with it. No one knows what there life is going to be like in the future. The only problem I see with your situation is that there wont be enough dog to go around. Maybe you should get two

Keep us updated on your choice!

 

[Lizmo]

Really and truly I appreciate everyone's comments and concerns so far, however I would like to see a little more information in terms of dogs that encompass the big friendly giant characteristics that I discussed. Regardless of whether the dog stays with us or stays with my parents, the bottom line is that the dog will be paid for (yes my parents agreed to paying for vet costs) and LOVED! The dog will be loved and cared for for its entire life which is more than what most dogs can hope for. What would be most helpful at this point is for people to simply list off different large dog breeds of different personalities in which case I will do my own personal research on the breeds that seem most suitable so that I can make the best decision for the dog and my roommates.

examples:
St. Bernard
Great Dane
Blood Hound
German Shepherd
Border Collie
Austrailian Shepherd
Newfoundland
etc.

Hmm. I'm going to strongly suggest you stay away from a Border Collie and Aussie. Those breeds REQUIRE a good amount of exercise and training each day to live happily. Not to mention not driving you crazy. They also are more of a "one person" type dog. They get alot well with other people, but they do better with one person being in charge of them. Not getting a bunch of people confusing the dog since I assume everyone will be caring for the dog.

I keep thinking maybe a good, well bred Golden. Or maybe even an older -say 3-5 YO- rescue Golden?

 

[BostonBanker]

I'd say go to a private, all-breed rescue and explain what your situation. Although some will probably shun the idea of a group of college guys getting a dog like that, I can say that the rescue I work with has on two occasions sat there with dogs, discussing the type of placement they needed, and wound up saying "This dog would be perfect for a frat house"! One of the dogs actually did get placed in a similar situation as yours, and is doing great.

If you are stuck on the idea of a purebred puppy, you need to think a few more things through (or at least post them here, because I didn't see the answers).

Grooming - some of those breeds need a lot! Lots of shedding, some matting, some drool. Do you want to deal with those things, or would you prefer a more wash-and-wear dog?

Fencing - Do you have it? Do you have access to a large fenced in area (like a dog park) if not? Many of the hounds need a lot of exercise, but generally can NOT be trusted off-leash.

Guarding - I absolutely agree with the others who said to stay away from ANY guarding instinct. There are probably way too many strangers coming and going in a house with that many people. All three of the herding dogs you listed (GSD, Aussie, and Border Collie) can have issues with that.

How reliable is EVERYONE in the house? If you have a bloodhound, or any of the hounds, and someone leaves the door open one day, you could have a missing dog very quickly. True of all breeds, of course, but the hounds are especially prone.

These are all things to discuss with everyone. Once you have the answers, I stick by my original suggestion of finding a good rescue and looking for a young adult dog (18 months or more).

 

[adojrts]

(Before I Begin.....)
I'm a college student from Atlanta and going to school in Atlanta as well. I am currently living in a large house of about 20 guys who all have agreed to get a house dog. Before you begin saying, "don't get a dog while in college, blah blah blah, its a bad idea, blah blah blah, it will be neglected after you leave, etc." let me be very clear on two things. First off, if for whatever reason after we leave college none of the 20 guys can take care of it (which is obviously not going to be the case since right now everyone is fighting over who will take it once we leave) my parents have agreed that they will look after the dog if we are unable to. So dont worry about that because the dog will always have a home. Secondly, we are getting a dog no matter what anyone says on this forum so if you reply and try to convince me NOT to get a dog, i promise you that I won't even read your response. So rather than waste your time doing that, why not be constructive in trying to find a dog that will be happy with all of us.

(Now on to the fun stuff...)
Like I said, we are living in a huge spacious house with about 20 great guys who are eager to get a dog. There is a ton of yard space and local parks outside. I think everyone agrees that a big dog would be ideal and one preferably that comes from a reliable breeder so as not to take the risk of getting a dog with health/temperament problems. Aside from the obvious choices of a "Labrador Retriever" or a "Golden Retriever" we are more interested in dogs that resemble those characteristics but are a little more original. Some examples that we have been thinking about are "Great Danes" or "St. Bernard's." (The kind of big friendly giant dogs). Anyway, what are your thoughts?

Ok, fair enough. I too would have great concerns that others have listed, (great advice btw).
Anytime type of herding breed maybe to much dog and be high over stimulated.
Protection type dogs may also be a big concern as others have stated.
Large breeds tend to have A LOT of health issues, you need to go to each Breed Club for the breeds you listed and read the health issues and genetic testing that should be done by the breeder on the parents, grandparents etc, and demand proof. Also keep in mind that the giant often 'can' have limited athletic ability, therefore throwing a disc for them 'may not' be advisable.
Absolutely agree that a hound could be a problem as well, often more challenging to train and they do like to put miles between home and where their nose takes them...........
Keep in mind that you can approach breeders, they often have older retired dogs or an older puppy, young adult that isn't going to make it in the showring.

Agreed, that everyone needs to be on the same page concerning training.
Nothing worse than have multiple people having different expectations and methods on just daily happenings around the house.
You need to agree on issues like : Is it ok for the dog to jump and greet people? Some people love it, others hate it or get really pissed if their cleaned up to go out and have to now change. Not fair to the dog. And that is just one example.

Good luck

 

[Romy]

Some kind of hound may be exactly what you are looking for. Some can be pretty large, and social with large groups of people. Hounds typically aren't the type to guard property, though if someone was to threaten a person they might step up and help. I wouldn't count on it though.

Treeing walker coonhound
Redbone coonhound
Black and tan coonhound
Blue tick
Plott hound
Bloodhound

Other larger breeds that might work well:

Bernese mountain dog
Newfoundland
Borzoi (NEEDS a fenced yard)
Great Dane
Collie
Malamute (big maybe, a lot depends on exercise for them)

Going through a rescue to get an adult dog would be a good way to go, if there aren't any breeders with dogs available. Like other folks mentioned, they can tell you what kind of training the dog has, and what its temperament is like too.

 

[lizzybeth727]

I'd also add labs to the list. Sounds like a good choice and they're pretty common in shelters/rescues.

 

[Hayley]

Hi
Firstly you must make sure there is ONE master with every breed, so you and the 20 other boys need to pick a straw or something, or the person with the best knowledge of dogs and become the master this is important for the wellbeing, temperment and soundness of the dog.

breed wise
Stay away from GSD's one of the best breeds out there but a high guarding instinct and this is not ideal in this situation
Aussies and Collies, no way they need a massive exercise need and this is not ideal for one master type breed such as these dogs.
I used to own a Saint bernard, amazing dogs however powerful, intelligent and wonderful dogs

I think the best breed on the list is a Great Dance however their life expectency is not large and YOU must if you buy look in to all the health tests and only buy from a good breeder.

Good luck in what ever you guys decide, what a fun life the dog will have with 21 boys!
Do you want a bitch or a male?

 

[shadowfacedanes]

I'd say no on the Great Dane.

Reasons being:

*They can be protective and snarky to strangers

*They stress easily - they prefer a low key environment

*They're EXTREMELY expensive to care for and are prone to tons of problems

*They tend to bond to one or two people.

*They're clingy, needy, bossy and borderline neurotic and I just don't think a house with that many people is a good match.

*They have specialized dietary / health needs / exercise, especially during their growth stage which lasts up to 3 years.

 

[Renee750il]

Gotta say I have been VERY impressed with the temperaments of the American Bulldogs I've met at the weight pulls. You might ask SisMorphine about the Alapaha Blues, too.

 

[Hayley]

Gotta say I have been VERY impressed with the temperaments of the American Bulldogs I've met at the weight pulls. You might ask SisMorphine about the Alapaha Blues, too.

Amazing dogs, but best to have one firm master, as for an alapaha blue, your average first time owner should not even try, again amazing dogs in the right hands!

American Bulldogs and alike should and only be owned by experienced owners!