I've been reading about breeds since I was four years old, first book I ever read, but I have yet to master picking out a breed for someone who isn't me (because they ALWAYS seem to leave something out it seems) and in particular my boyfriend.
He is a hard sell on most dogs. I think he thinks I'm trying to trick him.
Anywho, we want a breed for the both of us. Most likely, we will end up adopting first, but I eventually do want a dog from a good breeder that I may be able to start things with (not breeding). But it's nice to have something to shoot for even in a rescue dog, even if we don't get it.
So, here's our specs, if you will:
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Right now we're in an apartment, but we are about 90% sure we're going to be going into a pretty large townhouse with a smaller yard soon. We're by parks that allow dogs both on and off leash, and they aren't really ever crowded (usually a dog or two at a time, if that). We're also right on the lake. At the moment, I don't work, and when it eventually is able to change (working on citizenship at the moment) I won't be working too much due to health reasons, so the house wouldn't be empty for long at all at any one time.
He's not had as many dogs as I have, and I grew up taking in a lot of rescues and having to learn how dominant dogs are worked with. He has no clue, and I would rather us both be able to train the dog. I don't mind stubbornness, but I think something a bit on the less-challenging side would be best. He is, in the nicest way possible, a complete pet pushover dork. I'll probably be training him as much as the dog.
We do own a cat, and we will be owning other animals, and most likely have another dog in the house for at least a little while while we have a roommate (no worries on her, she loves dogs and doesn't mind if we have one either as long as it doesn't pick up her small, Eskie sized Pom-mix as a snack!).
Shedding isn't an issue for any of us. Between ourselves, the cat, and our future roommates dog, we could make some pretty hideous sweaters, I'm sure. But, something that requires pretty simple grooming would be best.
I don't like a ton of barking. The roommates dog can be yappy, but I'm going to work with her and him. The boyfriend doesn't mind but said to me "isn't there a breed that doesn't bark?" so I showed him pictures of the Basenji. He loved it. I showed him videos of Basenjis singing and he said he'd rather listen to barking. :lol-sign:
I don't know how he'd feel about general hound howling, but I definitely don't rule any hound breeds out if they fit in with our little family.
As far as looks go, he likes bigger dogs, but he's not at all macho to the point that he will get embarrassed by walking a little puff of a dog down the road with a pink leash. Actually, he'd probably enjoy that.
So that's the jist of it. Most breeds I show him, he just nods and says "thats a nice dog". He's only showed real interest in larger breeds like Danes and even deerhounds. The dog he had living at home who he stills adores is a Beardie/Border mix they picked up from a farm who has the scruffiest of scruffy hair, so he is really a big fan of that look which is the biggest reason that certain breeds appeal to him off the bat without knowing anything.
So, he says to me "what about your forum? could they help" so I figured, why not!? It's worth a shot to see if we can be paired with a dog that fits us both. And any other suggestions as well such as what I can do, sportswise or whatever, with said breed. Any help is really appreciated.
opcorn:
He is a hard sell on most dogs. I think he thinks I'm trying to trick him.
Anywho, we want a breed for the both of us. Most likely, we will end up adopting first, but I eventually do want a dog from a good breeder that I may be able to start things with (not breeding). But it's nice to have something to shoot for even in a rescue dog, even if we don't get it.
So, here's our specs, if you will:
__________________________
Right now we're in an apartment, but we are about 90% sure we're going to be going into a pretty large townhouse with a smaller yard soon. We're by parks that allow dogs both on and off leash, and they aren't really ever crowded (usually a dog or two at a time, if that). We're also right on the lake. At the moment, I don't work, and when it eventually is able to change (working on citizenship at the moment) I won't be working too much due to health reasons, so the house wouldn't be empty for long at all at any one time.
He's not had as many dogs as I have, and I grew up taking in a lot of rescues and having to learn how dominant dogs are worked with. He has no clue, and I would rather us both be able to train the dog. I don't mind stubbornness, but I think something a bit on the less-challenging side would be best. He is, in the nicest way possible, a complete pet pushover dork. I'll probably be training him as much as the dog.
We do own a cat, and we will be owning other animals, and most likely have another dog in the house for at least a little while while we have a roommate (no worries on her, she loves dogs and doesn't mind if we have one either as long as it doesn't pick up her small, Eskie sized Pom-mix as a snack!).
Shedding isn't an issue for any of us. Between ourselves, the cat, and our future roommates dog, we could make some pretty hideous sweaters, I'm sure. But, something that requires pretty simple grooming would be best.
I don't like a ton of barking. The roommates dog can be yappy, but I'm going to work with her and him. The boyfriend doesn't mind but said to me "isn't there a breed that doesn't bark?" so I showed him pictures of the Basenji. He loved it. I showed him videos of Basenjis singing and he said he'd rather listen to barking. :lol-sign:
I don't know how he'd feel about general hound howling, but I definitely don't rule any hound breeds out if they fit in with our little family.
As far as looks go, he likes bigger dogs, but he's not at all macho to the point that he will get embarrassed by walking a little puff of a dog down the road with a pink leash. Actually, he'd probably enjoy that.
So that's the jist of it. Most breeds I show him, he just nods and says "thats a nice dog". He's only showed real interest in larger breeds like Danes and even deerhounds. The dog he had living at home who he stills adores is a Beardie/Border mix they picked up from a farm who has the scruffiest of scruffy hair, so he is really a big fan of that look which is the biggest reason that certain breeds appeal to him off the bat without knowing anything.
So, he says to me "what about your forum? could they help" so I figured, why not!? It's worth a shot to see if we can be paired with a dog that fits us both. And any other suggestions as well such as what I can do, sportswise or whatever, with said breed. Any help is really appreciated.
opcorn: