Good dogs

[Sekah]

A comment in the dog musing/vent thread got me thinking...

How many of us have naturally good dogs? You know the type: they listen well, they're not destructive, they're unobtrusive, they're the perfect dogs that go along with the 2.5 kids, white picket fence lifestyle.

And how many of us had to put in a bit of work to get a perfect dog? What defines perfection in your mind? Are you there yet?

 

[Linds]

I think about this sometimes, it's an interesting question.

Hannah was pretty close to a 'good dog' in the sense that she didn't raid the garbage, jump on counters, eat any food sitting out. She didn't bark excessively inside, she was happy to sleep away the day and was very good off leash.

Very little/any work was put into making her this way.

But, on the other hand she was very dog selective and I didn't trust her around strange dogs often. She would charge at the end of the leash if she saw one and bark up a storm.

But, because most of her time was spent being a house dog and going for car rides it didn't come into play often enough to be an issue so she just kept on being the 'good' dog.

Kaylee was a terror of a dog when she was young. Got into everything, was scared of lots of things, was able to hunt out food no matter where it was, took off without even a "see you later!". But, a little before she got bone cancer she was really starting to settle into 'good dog' territory. She had finally grown up. So I think it's easy to have an older dog and "forget" about the puppy nightmare that it was.

Traveler and Didgie? HA!

When I think of a 'good dog' I tend to think what the average family wants in a dog. A dog to take for a walk a couple times a week maybe, play fetch in the backyard when they want to, doesn't get into things around the house, happy to sleep on their dog bed or couch most days.

I personally don't really want a dog like that, or at least I don't want my only dogs to be like that. I like more 'up' dogs. Or maybe I just really like the naughty dogs.

 

[Laurelin]

I have what I'd call one of both.

Summer is good. Very good. She is one of those dogs that seems to know what you want before you ask. She never gets in anything ever. She's just always good and sweet. Never demands anything and never has (though I missed her first four years). I'm pretty sure you could never walk her and as long as she got hugs and snuggles and food, she'd be happy.

That said, she's still a very excitable dog who can have a lot of energy to blow off. Even at 10 years she impresses the agility folk with her energy level. In most her classes, she's one of the most/the most frantic dog. She is kind of demanding in a way- she's not a dog you could ignore very well. She is very social and needs a lot of social interaction. But she's not complicated. She likes people and food and to run. She's confident out and about. Never a worry there. She did get in the trash once recently and it shocked me! This last tricks class she also stole a big chunk of ham from the training bag! She can also be a dog you need to wrangle on a leash a bit more just because she is so outgoing and over the top at times... Like at petsmart, her natural inclination is to climb the shelves and jump on the checkout counter.

Mia is the dog you need to watch to make sure she doesn't get into things. It used to be constant but she's better now to a big extent. But like... trash? food in pockets? Food locked in crate in bag in back of your car? Mia will get it. She is very determined and if she wants something, she will get it. She ends up on tables and on counters all the time. SHe's a problem solver and has a high food drive so that has management issues going on.

Mia unlocks crates, has chewed up a LOT though that was when she was younger, she overstimulates easily and tends to go a lot sharper than Summer. Redirection on things and other dogs is an issue... I've never had a dog that attacked trees when you let them out to pee prior to her. Mia needs a lot more interaction, she's more demanding, not as even, more determined, etc. Mia's life has a lot more direction coming from me because she needs it. Impulse control exercises, me giving her a thing to do so she doesn't try to bite down the tree, etc. In public ironically Mia comes across as very low key and better behaved because she's so aloof with strangers. She is superb on a leash in any instance.

Both of mine are dog selective. Mia is worse. Both of mine have been fabulous off leash dogs from day 1. In that way they're easy as can be.

 

[krissy]

Summit. Walked into the house like he'd been there all his life. Has never destroyed anything, crates well if he has to (which is really just at events), doesn't bark, doesn't have any needy behaviours... just sleeps all day every day. Only accidents in the house were once when he had diarrhea and another time when I let him out but didn't watch him in the crappy weather and I think he just turned around and came back to the door. lol.

Kili on the other hand.... :rofl1:

 

[Laurelin]

Oh yes, there is where Summer is not easy. The whole crating well thing... She does not contain excitement well.

 

[Paige]

Bandit was not good till he was a single dog. Him and his brother dug up the yard, destroyed everything inside, took forever to house break and were terrors on leashes. Oh they took off when off leash too. Since the day my family rehomed spanky he's been a dream dog.

 

[casey82]

Hunter is a good dog. He's never been a dog to chew things up. Even as a little puppy he wasn't a huge chewer. He's unobtrusive, super easy to live with. Which right now as I'm in an apartment, I appreciate. I actually hope my next puppy will give me a bit more run for my money. The only thing that's hard about Hunter is that he can be reactive to certian people sometimes. Overall he really is a perfect dog. He's happy, has insane food and toy drive and loves to learn. He's good with other dogs though can be a bit bossy. He's super respectful of corrections and good about not pushing too much. Overall he's a super easy dog that would fit in just about anywhere.

 

[Paige]

Arya is naturally a pretty good puppy. She's had a handful of accidents due to us not paying attention 100% and she has a shoe fetish. Other than that it's been great.

 

[*blackrose]

Cynder is a naturally good dog.

She was raised outdoors with little socialization. No training. Was yelled at every time she tried to engage her owner's kids in play. Recipe for an awesome dog, right? I think Michael got her when she was going on one or two...I can't remember.

She's non destructive. She's non aggressive. Nothing phases her. She's never had an accident in the house that wasn't due to being ill. She gets along with all animals (she has preydrive and tries to eat small things that are outdoors, but she's good with pets). She gets along with all people. She's nervous around children, but again, completely non-aggressive. She doesn't misbehave. She's reliable off leash. She's good in a crate, even though she doesn't need to be crated (and I only started crating her when she became ill). She doesn't pull when she's on a leash. She does what you want her to do when you tell her to do it.

The only thing she's ever done "bad" has to do with some mild separation anxiety issues: aka, she'll get into the trash if you leave her alone in the house. That's it. She'll also cry if you leave her completely alone, but having another dog buddy prevents that.

 

[StompinT]

Chloe (11 year old shih tzu) is a great dog, but it took a lot of work to get here. She is extremely quiet, obedient, and has very few bad habits. We get compliments on her all the time, and people offering to babysit her if we ever need it.

She gets along with every dog and person she's ever met (though in her old age she find exuberant puppies a bit annoying), and is happy and friendly and overall just a joy.

As a puppy, however, she took FOREVER to housetrain. She did a little bit of naughty chewing, but nothing too severe. She loved obedience work, and we did formal classes for a year.

Her only two negatives at this point are - overly excited greetings of new people at the door (we are working on this with some success), and she does not tolerate being groomed very well.

Other than that - perfect dog for our suburban family with 3 young kids and a lot of neighbourhood action.

 

[k9krazee]

I think Crossbone is an inherently good dog for the most part. And for us he's PERFECT.
ETA: Unless you want a dog who loves all people all the time -- that's not him

Most people's complaints when he stays with them for a long time is
1) Pacing/Playing/Inability to settle
2) He won't cuddle or sleep with/on you when you want, even if you beg & bribe
2) Wanting to sleep on your head when you don't want him to
3) Always climbing on top of people (or rebounding off your face if you are on the couch)
4) Shaking his toys (pig) violently next to or on your face
5) Stealing popcorn out of the bowl on your lap when you let your guard down for one millisecond

Besides his personal space issues he's a GREAT dog!! Doesn't bark, doesn't pee in the house, walks great on a leash, doesn't make a peep in his crate, doesn't touch anything that's not his (except blankets-- he loves to drag blankets around), won't get in the trash, etc.

 

[Ozfozz]

Cobain's fault lies in being overly obtrusive at night. However, that is by in large my father's fault. He conditioned Cobain that at night when he is watching tv, is also when he will throw the ball. Which has now resulted in whining and "woofing" when he's ignored at that time. After a sharp "go lie down" command he'll usually sulk off.
But even at 8 years old I don't see him fitting in with the whole white-picket fence family dog. But then again, I don't see myself fitting into that lifestyle just yet either so I guess it's a good thing? lol

Really. As flawed and ridiculous as she is...Rigby is probably the closest to the description, especially considering what's known of her background.
She walked into my house as if she lived here her entire life. Never touched food on the counter/table, never chewed an inappropriate object, excellent in a crate, and is totally fine to be left alone in the house. She just sort of "is" when she's at home.

Excellent on and off leash for walks.

No time for a walk? That's cool, she'll just chill until you're ready. Or if she does get a burst of energy, she takes it out on a toy by tossing it around and catching it - not by destuffing it.

Her accidents have almost exclusively been the result of her bladder issues, and not a conscious effort. She is the only dog in my house that will wake me up in the middle of the night to go outside if it's an emergency. (I've woken up to silent explosions from a certain other dog....)

If she's hurt she will let me clean and handle the area with no problems. Nail cutting is easy as well.

She's very cuddly with people she likes. But not so much so that it's clingy and annoying...okay wait yeah sometimes she does like to mash her face into mine, might be a suffocation attempt - best not to have her around small children lol.

And typically fine with kids, and animals.


But she's aggressive with other dogs around food, and she's incredibly fearful of strangers. Which creates a massive set back in the whole "family" thing. It's difficult to determine why she is that way, if she was born a chill dog and had events that caused her to be different, or if there's a high genetic predisposition. *shrugs*

 

[SpringerLover]

Gabby is the epitome of good dog. The only bad thing she does is eat my underwear if I leave them on the ground... opcorn: Oh, and I can't leave her alone in a new place.

Not that I haven't put (a lot) of work into training her, but she's inherently great in the house, great in the car, great with other dogs, and great with people. She naturally wants to stick close.

Bailey is a super easy dog if she's an only dog. I could have a million Bailey's, one at a time, and be happy enough. She's never been a counter surfer, never bothers people for food.

Buzz, oh Buzz, he's the anti-good dog. Counter surfing, running away, just being terrible in general! Now his mobility limits his bad-ness, haha.

 

[DenoLo]

I think Lola's a naturally good dog in that she gets along with every person or dog she meets. I never ever have to worry about her out in public.

At home, she's inclined towards trouble but she's very small and not all that bright so she's easily thwarted. If she suspects food or toys of being somewhere, (pockets, purses tote bags etc) she WILL do anything in her power to get to them. She's very very good during the day, but she goes wild from about 10 PM- midnight.

 

[Moth]

Watson being a basenji he is only a good dog when it suits him. That active mind and high energy personality is made for finding trouble.

He is leash reactive to strange dogs, but only in certain instances.

He wont think twice about taking some item in his reach and walking off with it. He once stole tools from a guy that was in to fix our bathroom.

He can be guardy with resources...We do a lot of object exchanges and he is getting much better about this.

Menchi is sweet...but she is also stubborne. If she does not want to do something nothing can move her to it.

She can be a wild child when she gets a burst of energy and she likes to jump up on people.

I have only ever had one dog I would consider and inherently good dog with no issues or problem areas and that was my collie Maeve. She was the worlds sweetest and most polite dog ever.

All my spaniels in the past have been naughty in some way or another

 

[Ozfozz]

Just for good measure.
Oz and Ruby are the exact opposite of "good dogs"

:rofl1:

 

[Slick]

Leo is a good dog.

- He loves all people that want to pet him, but won't go out of his way to meet new people (which makes people who are scared of dogs very happy).

- He gets along with pretty much all dogs.

- He does not bark (once in a blue moon he will frustration bark at another dog while on a walk because he wants to say hi. But he never barks in the house or while training, playing or hanging out in his crate.

- He does not destroy furniture (I don't let him loose when I leave, but only because he likes to shred paper)

Literally, his only downfalls are that he pulls on leash, is a tiny bit leash reactive (because he wants to say hi, not because he is afraid), and is nervous around toddlers (they move weird). All of them are things an awesome trainer could easily train away, and that I could as well if I spent more time on it. When I plan to start a family, I will obviously be working a lot on the nervousness around children, and I think it will go away very easily because he really only is slightly nervous, not reactive.

 

[teacuptiger]

Roxie is a great dog... With me. Anybody else, and she does whatever they let her get away with. I worked really hard to get Roxie to where she is, especially when it comes to her SA.

As for people, she LOVES everyone. Can't hold her licker. She's scared of loose dogs, gets a bit stiff when she sees other dogs and won't walk till they're far away from her, but she gets on well if properly introduced.

I really won the lottery with Roxie, but then again, there is a reason she was returned 7 times.

 

[VodaWolph]

My dog Bernie is just perfect in every way

 

[Dogs6]

Taz is without a question the best, easiest most family friendly dog we have.

He is super laid back in the house. You're in bed? He's in bed. You're watching tv on the couch then so is he. He never ever asks for exercise he just gets slightly clingier if he hasn't had any exercise in a week or so. However you can never exercise him too much. You can take him for 10+ miles walks and he comes back bouncing.

He can go to any event you want to go to and be completely unphased by anything.

He never has to be on a leash ever. You could take him anywhere without a leash and he will be fine. (Unless there are young children. Taz loooooves them and wants them to love him too and will quite happily abandon you to go see them if they show interest in him) I have even taken him with me when I ride the horse and we mostly ride on roads without foot paths for him or through the muddle of villages. Taz isn't phased by it.

He is friendly but slightly aloof with all dogs ever. He'll say hi if he's allowed and then usually he's done with them and just goes about his own business again.

He has never stolen food, raided the trash or chewed anything other than his toys /bones. He was house trained with in a month. He is safe with all other creatures from rats to sheep to horses. Not so safe with birds but only to the point where I wouldn't leave them loose together. A bird in a cage does not exist in Taz world.

No RG issues with humans but slightly with other dogs. None of pur dogs push after the first growl though so not sure how severe it is but it's only when he's getting petted or eating from his bowl. Treats and toys don't trigger it.

He is the sort of dog that loves playing with you but doesn't bug you about it. He is also gentle enough to play fetch with a toddler despite the fact that tennis balls are his favourite things ever.

He has barked exactly 5 times in his life and only one bark each time haha.

His only "faults" is that he adores swimming and the muddier and colder the water the better and he gets really excited about going outside and will bounce off the door and spin in circles but I think it's cute and have made no effort to stop it either.

Not bad for a field bred Springer spaniel who people prophesied would destroy our house and eat our furniture. Now I'm going to take him for a walk and appreciate him becAuse I really don't do that often enough becAuse he's the "easy dog"