Recommend A Breed

[milos_mommy]

The weims I know are pretty perpetually "goofy". And they're pretty much going to befriend anyone with food, too.

What about a chesapeake bay retriever?

[Taqroy]

Originally Posted by Aleron

One breed I have really been surprised by is the Entlebucher Mountain Dog. I have seen a couple in agility and quite a few Youtube videos, as well as meeting them at conformation shows. They are really good performance dogs! Looking at them, I never expected they'd be such good performance dogs (they look like a smaller Swissy). Supposed to be great companions too.

FAQ

YouTube - Finn AKC JWW.MPG

Gorgeous dogs! And their temperament sounds perfect. I'm tempted to go meet that breeder in Colorado....good thing they're a good way away from me! Lol.

[Equinox]

Australian Cattle Dogs are a dog I forgot to add to the list - I've known a few and they are incredible, hardy dogs. I think I would love a working bred ACD.

Chessies are dogs that I like but I was recently told how stubborn they can be, with little willingness to please, although they will do anything for a toy. I have met several and can say that I found them a better fit for me than most retrievers. I've never really interacted much with Weims and Ridgebacks, though. With gun dogs especially I really would like to meet many examples of the breed, as often they sound just perfect on paper but in person they don't really feel "right", if that makes any sense.

Originally Posted by Sit Stay

English Shepherds, but we've already talked about this, LOL. Quinn definitely suits your list!

You and Quinn really have me in love with these dogs. I met my first English Shepherd a few weeks ago, actually! Didn't get to stop and chat for too long, but I just loved the dog, his markings were very similar to Quinn's. I will have to make a trip up to the breeder you mentioned this summer!

Originally Posted by nikkiluvsu15

A Lab, definitely. They NEVER want to be friend with anyone that might or might not have treats. And they are always 100% serious. LOL (just kidding, of course).

Though I haven't read much on them at all, English Shepherd was the first thing that popped into my mind.

LOL Actually, I had several people recommend Labradors to me! They are great dogs, and actually, my favorite dogs in the neighborhood are Lab mixes and a hunting Lab. Great dog with great work ethic and a bit on the serious side to boot. Unfortunately, still a bit too bouncy and goofy for me to want to live and work with. Love them, though!

Originally Posted by monkeys23

I think the Dobe might be a good fit. You'll have to research breeders carefully of course, but I think you could get the perfect fit from the right breeder.
They are really nice dogs, have you ever interacted with one?

I have interacted with many Doberman Pinschers. Of all the breeds listed, with the exception of GSDs, they are the ones I have had the most experience with. I worked with them briefly during obedience class when we switch off dogs and have friends who own them. These dogs were show bred (Foxfire and Wingate) and very nice dogs.

Unfortunately my dilema with Doberman Pinschers is that I strongly prefer the look of the American dog (thanks to Sizzledog!) and am not a fan of many European line dogs. I was recommended Landgraf by a friend, though, which I like from what little I have seen online. If I do get a Doberman I would like one I could work in SchH with.

Originally Posted by monkeys23

Beaucerons are pretty awesome. They are double coated and shed like any other double coated breed. And they slobber like none other. Big nasty strings of it during Schutzhund training. And all the ones I've met were super friendly to everyone.

I love Beaucerons, met two at a show and have wanted one ever since. They sound perfect on paper, and even better in person. One is an AKC GR CH that also works in SAR and herding, the other is a working service dog. Neither greeted people like they were best buddies although the former Beauceron was quite exuberant. The service dog was very reserved, but I think I could be happy with both as far as friendliness goes. But then again I have only met two, so I will definitely make an effort to meet more and speak to breeders.

Originally Posted by monkeys23

The least stranger friendly dogs I've met have been working BC's (they usually are just oblivious to people besides THEIR people... my parent's current dog is only really affectionate to family, close friends, and children) and my trainer's Malinois. Both breeds really need a full time job though. I've met some BC's that could chill nicely inside and some that that was just no way jose.

That's been my take on the two breeds as well, even nonworking BCs (although they were not show bred either) have an incredible focus I cannot help but admire. Though again, I worry about them being too soft in temperament although otherwise the breed really appeals to me.

Malinois, on the other hand, are a bit too much for me. I don't need a dog that is always GO GO GO. Maybe someday!! For now I'll just admire from a distance.

Originally Posted by Aleron

I have been intrigued by Mudik (and Pumik) for awhile now. I like them in theory but everything I read says they bark. A LOT. And most agility videos I have seen of them seems to support that. This is a pretty good article:
About CS and the Mudi Polona's

Oooh, is it Mudik/Pumik for plural? Thanks for the correction.

I'm actually a part of a Mudi message list and have spoken to breeders and owners/handlers. Several of them have also owned and worked with German Shepherds and Belgians and have told me that their dogs are no where on par with the barking of a Sheltie and their propensity for barking would be more similar to a GSD or Mal's. I watched a few videos online and thought it was okay. I've known many dogs to be much more vocal while performing and working than they are in the house when they are supposed to be settled. I will have opportunities to meet up with breeders this summer - Oregon is actually a good place to be if you're interested in these dogs, a lot of great breeders, actually! I was pleasantly surprised when I found out.

Originally Posted by Aleron

One breed I have really been surprised by is the Entlebucher Mountain Dog. I have seen a couple in agility and quite a few Youtube videos, as well as meeting them at conformation shows. They are really good performance dogs! Looking at them, I never expected they'd be such good performance dogs (they look like a smaller Swissy). Supposed to be great companions too.

FAQ

YouTube - Finn AKC JWW.MPG

I actually had a friend recommend these dogs to me on another forum!! She is a GSD person as well and these dogs really appealed to her. They sound like a great breed, and I'd really like to meet these dogs.

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions! Please keep them coming

[milos_mommy]

Go meet some ridgebacks, ASAP. Also, there's a lot of info in the ridgeback thread a handful below this one, if you want to read more.

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

I thought about husky, except for the whole good with cats, and being biddable thing.

I like your standards though, they're very similar to mine! Instantly I thought of GSD, but of course you want something different. However, it makes me really want a GSD again! XD Crash was the worst puppy of all time (yes, worse than Violet, which seems impossible XD) but was such a great adult dog. I really took for granted how great he was with our little dogs and cats, and how owner oriented he was. Violet's the complete opposite.

[Equinox]

Huskies are great, but I feel that most Northern type breeds aren't going to be too compatible with me. Beautiful dogs, though, I wanted one for a long time before I came to terms with the fact that I'm not a good match for one.

It's actually not that I want something different from a German Shepherd, because dog number three may probably be a German Shepherd if I don't find another breed. They really are my favorite breed, and great for what I want. I just wanted to be open to other breeds as well, because there are many others that sound great as well, and I would love to work with breeds outside of GSDs.

[Aleron]

I've also been looking at different breeds for the past couple years, as I'd like a non-Belgian I would love to have another GSD, as they really are my favorite breed but their tendency towards same sex aggression just doesn't fit into my needs any more The breeds I have been probably looking at the most are Mudi, Pumi, PyrSheps and Entlebuchers and I think we like a lot of the same things in dogs

Originally Posted by Equinox

Oooh, is it Mudik/Pumik for plural? Thanks for the correction.

I'm actually a part of a Mudi message list and have spoken to breeders and owners/handlers. Several of them have also owned and worked with German Shepherds and Belgians and have told me that their dogs are no where on par with the barking of a Sheltie and their propensity for barking would be more similar to a GSD or Mal's. I watched a few videos online and thought it was okay. I've known many dogs to be much more vocal while performing and working than they are in the house when they are supposed to be settled. I will have opportunities to meet up with breeders this summer - Oregon is actually a good place to be if you're interested in these dogs, a lot of great breeders, actually! I was pleasantly surprised when I found out.

I have met several of them but couldn't get much feel for what they were like. The Mudi people have been set up at the Detroit Kennel Club's FSS display for the past couple years. Definitely very aloof with strangers, much like a good GSD. I got a chance to talk with one of the main breeders of them in the US (well she's an American who lives in Hungary and brings Mudi puppies to the US a couple times a year, probably one of the bigger name breeders of them though) and it was pretty interesting. She said the vast majority of them pass the herding instinct test, which requires not only instinct but the presence of breed-specific herding traits, barking being one of them. She is very concerned that they will lose what makes them unique as more people get interested in them as conformation dogs and said there is already a split forming in the breed. She said they are a very capable dog for anything you might want to do with them - herding, obedience, performance, some have even done protection sports. All of the dogs there were from her breeding program and several were accomplished Flyball dogs. Overall they seem like really cool dogs with funny hair

Originally Posted by Equinox

I actually had a friend recommend these dogs to me on another forum!! She is a GSD person as well and these dogs really appealed to her. They sound like a great breed, and I'd really like to meet these dogs.

I can definitely see how they appeal to other GSD people, as they seem to have a lot of the good GSD traits. I have met some shy/weird ones but they were all from one breeder and all related. The rest have a GSD-like aloofness, they were fine with being petted but weren't really interested in interaction with anyone other than their people. They are surprisingly high drive for being in the Swiss mountain dog family - not at all like Berners or Swissies. Definitely herding type dogs

[Aleron]

AKC Gazette Article about Entlebuchers:Jan 2011 AKC Gazette.pdf

[Psyfalcon]

People are reporting, (this is 1000% fourth hand knowledge) that the whole hard to train thing with Chesapeakes isn't that bad. The problem is that you can not train one like Lab. They are tough dogs and really don't give a poop about your shock collar, but if you have a ball or clicker train them, you can get a very responsive dog.

Figures, breed for a dog incredibly tolerant of pain and discomfort, then wonder why choke chains and shock collars don't work like they do on labs.

[Brattina88]

How cool would it be to have a German Shepherd and an English Shepherd? lol!

I was going to suggest Collie, but I see that it was already mentioned