Eventually I'm going to be ready to get a dog of my own (several years down the road) and I want thinking about what I'd like. Though I'll probably end up with a shelter mutt like it seems that I always do, I do enjoy pondering about which purebred dogs would fit my bill. Can you help me out?
I've listed the traits below in order of importance that they fit what I like (ie. temperament is crucial, looks not so much)
Temperament
-Human oriented (Doesn’t need to be the next Lassie, but I don’t want a dog that doesn’t even come to say ‘hi’ when I walk in the door or one that turns a blind eye every time I ask it to ‘come’ or ‘sit.’)
-Not prone to being shy or aggressive towards strangers inside and outside of the home (doesn’t need to be everybody’s best friend, but must at least ignore/tolerate other people)
-Good with other dogs and other small animals (inside at least)
-Good with kids, though it won't be living with them (at least while it's young).
Energy
-I want a weekend warrior; the kind of dog that will be ready to go when I want to go for hikes, long walks, or trips into town, but won’t be wired inside. My hikes aren’t terribly long (usually 3-5 miles) and I go when I can. I want a dog that will be excited (and able) to do things like that with me, but a dog that is also happy to lie by my feet while I’m watching TV or working.
-I also like to train tricks, but don’t want to be committed to a rigorous training schedule.
- I want a dog that takes everything in stride.
-I will let the dog out and walk it on a regular day and am happy to provide kong toys, bones, and training sessions, but that’s it.
Think of a middle aged sporting dog (5-8 years old)… the dog that sleeps during the day by your side until you tell it that something exciting is about to happen at which point it’s up and ready to go. That’s what I like. Medium energy is probably the best way to put it.
-I’m also not sure what my living circumstances will be, so I’d prefer a dog that is adaptable to apartment living and isn’t on most banned breed lists.
Noise
I don’t like barking. I can deal with a dog that barks when it sees another dog out the window or a stranger walking up the drive, but I absolutely do not want a dog that barks for the sheer joy of barking. To be honest, I’d rather have a dog that would let a robber into the house without a peep than a dog that barks at every Jane and John it sees.
Trainability
I don’t want a dog that thinks “what’s in it for me†every time I ask it to do something. On the other hand, I don’t necessarily need a dog that is constantly trying to figure out what it can do for me (woudn’t mind it, but not necessary). I want a relatively biddable dog, provided that I use the appropriate reinforcement.
-Prefer medium-soft dogs, but as long as I don't feel like I'm trying to train a pet-rock, I think I'll be okay.
Grooming
-I don’t mind grooming or shedding
-Don’t want anything too challenging, but I’m quite fine with a brush and a pair of scissors.
Size
-I prefer bigger sized dogs, but it’s just a preference
Looks
-I like long hair (but not Lhasa apso touch the floor long), prick ears and a sturdy build. But this is absolutely trivial when put next to all of the above comments.
My current list:
Newfoundland
Bernese Mountain Dog
Spinone Italiano
Greyhound
Shiloh Shepherd
I'd also love anecdotal stuff that you can tell me about the breeds that I mentioned above.
I've listed the traits below in order of importance that they fit what I like (ie. temperament is crucial, looks not so much)
Temperament
-Human oriented (Doesn’t need to be the next Lassie, but I don’t want a dog that doesn’t even come to say ‘hi’ when I walk in the door or one that turns a blind eye every time I ask it to ‘come’ or ‘sit.’)
-Not prone to being shy or aggressive towards strangers inside and outside of the home (doesn’t need to be everybody’s best friend, but must at least ignore/tolerate other people)
-Good with other dogs and other small animals (inside at least)
-Good with kids, though it won't be living with them (at least while it's young).
Energy
-I want a weekend warrior; the kind of dog that will be ready to go when I want to go for hikes, long walks, or trips into town, but won’t be wired inside. My hikes aren’t terribly long (usually 3-5 miles) and I go when I can. I want a dog that will be excited (and able) to do things like that with me, but a dog that is also happy to lie by my feet while I’m watching TV or working.
-I also like to train tricks, but don’t want to be committed to a rigorous training schedule.
- I want a dog that takes everything in stride.
-I will let the dog out and walk it on a regular day and am happy to provide kong toys, bones, and training sessions, but that’s it.
Think of a middle aged sporting dog (5-8 years old)… the dog that sleeps during the day by your side until you tell it that something exciting is about to happen at which point it’s up and ready to go. That’s what I like. Medium energy is probably the best way to put it.
-I’m also not sure what my living circumstances will be, so I’d prefer a dog that is adaptable to apartment living and isn’t on most banned breed lists.
Noise
I don’t like barking. I can deal with a dog that barks when it sees another dog out the window or a stranger walking up the drive, but I absolutely do not want a dog that barks for the sheer joy of barking. To be honest, I’d rather have a dog that would let a robber into the house without a peep than a dog that barks at every Jane and John it sees.
Trainability
I don’t want a dog that thinks “what’s in it for me†every time I ask it to do something. On the other hand, I don’t necessarily need a dog that is constantly trying to figure out what it can do for me (woudn’t mind it, but not necessary). I want a relatively biddable dog, provided that I use the appropriate reinforcement.
-Prefer medium-soft dogs, but as long as I don't feel like I'm trying to train a pet-rock, I think I'll be okay.
Grooming
-I don’t mind grooming or shedding
-Don’t want anything too challenging, but I’m quite fine with a brush and a pair of scissors.
Size
-I prefer bigger sized dogs, but it’s just a preference
Looks
-I like long hair (but not Lhasa apso touch the floor long), prick ears and a sturdy build. But this is absolutely trivial when put next to all of the above comments.
My current list:
Newfoundland
Bernese Mountain Dog
Spinone Italiano
Greyhound
Shiloh Shepherd
I'd also love anecdotal stuff that you can tell me about the breeds that I mentioned above.