Why could you not live with a breed?

Hard question.

I think I could live with any breed of dog if really necessary but I definitely won't seek out certain breeds or dogs with certain characteristics. If someone told me this dog would be shot unless I took it in, am i? Of course but I would rather not have it in my house if there's a better home out there.

1. Dogs that have continuously growing hair that need to be professionally groomed.
2. Dogs with curly hair, I can't' stand the texture
3. Dogs that are extremely independent, pay no attention to me at all
4. Loud dogs that bark 23 hours out of 24 hours in a day
5. Dogs that drool ropey mounds of drool. A little drool when they smell food or after they drink is fine but none that can open their mouths and have blobs of it just dropping out
6. Dogs that require an hour + of grooming a day otherwise get terrible mats.

Spitz/Nordic breeds are the family for me.

Guardian breeds I could do because I like the independent nature, the huge size is a little bit of a turnoff, but I could deal. If I ever get into sheep (I hope) I would consider a Kuvasz to guard the herd.

Sighthound breeds I don't think I could ever own. It seems to me like many/most can't tolerate cold climates, and I don't really like the look.

Scenthound breeds I could do if I was actually using them to do a job. I mean if I was using a bloodhound for SAR, then I could adapt, but as a regular pet I don't think so. I don't like the wandering nature with the lack of recall.

Herding group I could do, but I image they would be too clingy and too go, go, go. I want a dog who can give me space, and behave like a gentlemen in the home (but active outside).

Terrier group I don't think I could do because I have prey animals and want a dog to tolerate them. I also don't like little dogs.

Toy group I don't think I could do. Too small, too cuddly, not to mention that the average joe down the street wouldn't respect them like a bigger dog. I've heard horror stories of strangers picking up little dogs to say hi without asking. Um... no thank you. When there was a Dachshund at the shelter he was fearful and would freeze on walks. I used treats to distract him and keep him going, plus lots of praise. When I asked the trainer if there was anything more I could do a bunch of volunteers were like "why don't you just pick him up and carry him around?" To me that just seemed ridiculous. Sure it's a solution when you are in a crunch, but to always carry your dog around? He's a dog, he should learn that walks can be fun and rewarding, he shouldn't be so afraid that he has to be carried everywhere for the rest of the life. Too many people don't see little dogs as dogs.

Because herding dogs are so much easier.

Seriously.

I stick to herding types and some sporting types (I count papillons in with the sporting type since they're spaniels) I am a little picky with sporters and tend to go with the more reserved breeds like tollers. I like dogs that are into their people a lot and have a good amount of energy. I like a softer type of dog, not prone to DA, typically good off leash, intelligent and biddable, driven, athletic, small to medium in size, preferably aloof with strangers but always very handler oriented. That's just the ideal to me.

The whole terrier 'charm' is just... not charming to me at all. I like them okay but overall it's my least favorite group. I can't exactly pinpoint it other than saying that I clash with them horribly and that is magnified every time I am around a terrier long (especially living with one a few months). I don't think I'm loud enough for them or something. Ada was a good dog but living with her drove me crazy. Living with her was very difficult compared to any of my herders or paps or lab even. WAY too independent and WAY too 'doggy' if that makes any sense. Loud, destructive, in your face, clingy in some ways but was so much more prone to just flipping you the bird than any other dog I've had, I could go on. And she's still the same way completely although a little quieter... still in your face, obnoxiously boisterous and still independent. And then there's the fact that so many terriers have extensive grooming needs....

I like the bully terrier types best of the group but still just don't get on with them like I do other groups.

I also really don't see myself owning a hound ever or a husky/spitz type. I would definitely never own a breed that drools much and definitely NO 'hypoallergenic' or curly types of coats.

Now that I'm in less of a rush, here are things I really don't want in my dog:

1. Aloofness, like I said before I want dogs who love everyone. They don't have to love them as much as they love me, but they should always want to say hi and make friends.

2. Independent, I like dogs who want to be with me all the time, I like bathroom stalkers lol.

3. Hard to motivate, while I don't need a dog who's a genius, I'd like them to be easy to engage and keep engaged in training.

4. Facial hair, I really can't stand how nasty beards can get and I don't like when I can't see a dog's eyes.

5. Dogs who bark a lot, I'm just not a fan.

6. Lazy dogs/dogs who overheat easily. I like to do stuff with my dog, so they need to be physically able to keep up and need to enjoy the activities.

I don't like dogs that are so independent that they don't give a crap where you are or what you're doing, but I don't like really really clingy dogs either. I want to be able to get up to get a drink or go to the bathroom without it having to be a ruckus every. single. time. Somewhere in the middle is just peachy.

I can't abide dogs who are super busy in the house, always buzzing around. Drives me nutso. I guess that's a backwards way of saying I need a dog with an off switch. This is probably my most non-negotiable thing.

I strongly prefer no professional grooming, although it's not a deal-breaker.


Almost anything else is doable.

I could probably live with anything as long as I could trust the dog not to bite. I need to be able to trust my dog. But I sure might not enjoy it.

But overall in a dog I do NOT want:

Neve/Stability issues: I want a stable dog that if it startles recovers fast and I can take pretty much anywhere without worrying how they will handle it.

Lack of drive: I want a dog that chases as hard as they can what I throw. I want a dog that sees a tug and lights up. Not one that looks at me like I have three heads because I threw something and slowly ambles to get it. I want them to go till they drop.

Slowness: I like speed. A lot. I like agile dogs that react fast and are quick to jump, run and even fast to obey. I like the snappiness I get when I ask them to do something.

Seriousness: And I don't mean all the time, I like a dog that can settle down and work but I like humor and I like fun and I like my dogs to be like that.

Lack of ability: I want the dog able (physically and mentally) to do SOMETHING and do it decently. Be it hunting, coursing, herding, dog sports etc.

Low energy: I want a go go GO dog that is at a drop of a dime ready to be out and be run ragged and get right back up and do it again 10 minutes later. I want a tireless dog that is mentally and physically able to keep going.

No off switch: I also need a dog that has an off switch and can settle on day we can't get out. I don't except them to thrive on no exercise or training but I don't want to have to crate them or deal with pacing just because we aren't doing something or they haven't been worked that day.

Dog Aggression: I just don't want to deal with it. I like not having to really worry about how my dog is going to react to another. I can even deal with indifference as long as it's not flat out DA.

I guess I should say 'can not live with' to me means more of 'don't want to live with' or 'wouldn't seek out' rather than CAN'T live with. I could probably live with most dogs okay but I don't think I'd enjoy it as much as I would sticking with a certain personality type.

I picked up a little Shih Tzu that was wondering on the road once. I couldn't locate any owners, and the boyfriend at the time really liked him (go figure, he kept griping about having Bear, even though I'd come home from work and find them both laying on the bed eating nachos and watching TV together) and I was afraid I was going to be stuck with him. He wasn't an unpleasant little dog, nothing really wrong with him, but everything about that dog annoyed the crap out of me. He couldn't do anything for himself, didn't have a brain in his head, was scared of everything, expected to be carried, waited for someone to tell him everything to do . . . I was so relieved when the SO got tired of him -- about the time I found a spot for him with a foster home.

Never again -- I hope and pray. I don't have it in me to desert something like that, but I am truly not the right owner for most toy breeds.

Well, Mia's certainly far from a helpless little toy dog.

I couldn't live with most sighthounds, because safe, reliability off leash is a big deal to me. I love hiking off leash with my dogs, and honestly I just prefer not having to mess with leashes. I'm way lax about leashing my dogs.

This is also a bit less of a group/breed thing, more of an individual thing, but I could never own a dog that was goofy/barky/an airhead. To give examples, I've met some Vizlas and GSPs and some Weims like this that I could never own.

I'm also not a big fan of drooly dogs.

I could also not own a dog that was excessively shy with strangers. Friends of ours have a sheltie that I've known for over a year - the dog has come within 15 feet of me ONCE. One time we went to their place and she was loose and while we just called their BC and he came and we put him away, it took about 30-45 minutes to try and get her inside. Reserved and/or little interest in strangers is OK with me, but having a dog that freaked with new people would be a safety concern for me. Heaven forbid the dog ended up getting loose and lost - nobody would be able to pick it up to get it off the road, get a leash on it, etc. Friendly dogs can turn a bit wild if they're on their own too long, I can imagine it would be near impossible for someone to get a naturally extremely shy dog.

Herding breeds are definitely what I'm suited to and where my interests lie. I've only had one non-herder in my entire life (probably 12ish dogs, including rescues). I like dog that has drive and energy without being over the top spun or silly, is a medium size and athletic, that's intelligent and devoted to me. In a nutshell, LOL.

I want a dog who loves everyone. We have people in and out of the house all the time, take the dog with us to family events with zillions of strange relatives in new places, and have everyone from babies to old people over. If a dog was just "tolerant" of strangers, I'd be disappointed. I LOVE that Lucy loves everyone, but loves me the best (if there are people over to watch a game or something, she'll choose to jump up next to me on the couch over anyone else).

I also couldn't stand a DA or severely DR dog. I love visiting the dog park, enjoy fostering, dog sit for my inlaws and friends...the C&R thing is too much to deal with.

Separation anxiety is a no-no. We've had fosters with it, and I never want to deal with it again, if possible. There's just nothing you can do in some cases. One of our former fosters now lives full time at a doggy day care, because he just can't be left alone or he's a danger to himself and destroys everything. Never again!

I don't know that I could handle extremely large dogs. I live in an urban environment. I don't have acres or land or a huge house for a big dog. I need a dog that fits comfortably in a tiny car, since that's what I have. They need to be able to be left with a friend and not take up their whole apartment. Their crate needs to fit in my bedroom and/or living room and not take up the whole place.

Finally (and this one's trivial), they need to be soft. Like, physically tangibly soft. I want to want to stick my face in their fur and use them as a pillow and be relaxed curling my fingers in their fur. I don't like wirey fur or super short fur or curly fur as much as a soft mid-length coat.

I am not big on a lot of hair obviously. It was a big point in Pepper's favor that she had the same flat coat. I am not fond of barkers with loud voices so not really a beagle fan.

I was shocked the time I found that Akita and our air was out so I put a fan on the floor to help keep him cool. THe hair was everywhere, in my closet, drifted up on the walls. No thank you for that for me. SAncho the cat has more than enough of that here.

Mary was my separation anxie girl. IT took having a sitter. I could deal with that. And we were able to work hard and get a couple hours with no stress.

I don't know if I have a real GROUP of dogs I can't live with... but ones that require hardcore exercise every single day would not fit into my lifestyle - I just never seem to know when I will be home or when I will have a busy day and the dogs will have to be crated with just intermittent pee breaks.

Ergo, I think most bird dogs - GSPs, Vizslas, Weims - would not suit me. Similarly, I am not fond of the coats on Labs, GSDs, or Rotts, and simply wouldn't choose to live with one.

I haven't found many Aussies or ACDs or BCs I could live with... although I've met quite a few BCs I really adore.

In the end, it comes down to the individual dog.

I want a dog that is very good with people, but can be watchful when needed. I take my dog to lots of different places with lots of different people. I Need a dog that will be trustworthy with anyone. I feel very safe taking Riley on a hike by myself, or camping alone, or at home at night though. He has proven to me that he knows the difference.

I want a moderatly active dog too. I love to play fetch, and I want a dog that will fetch anything until they drop. Fondness of water would be great too. The same dog must have an indoor off switch though. I want to bike, rollerblade, hike, etc with a dog that can handle it.
I want a dog that is not DA. Riley doesnt like it when dogs get in his face, and I think that is perfectly ok. He is very trustworthly around dogs though.

I also want a dog that is into me. I like that I am the center of the dogs world. Isnt that the whole point of having a dog? Obviously grooming doesnt bother me. I cant tell you how much I love not having hair everywhere!! I want a smart dog that enjoys working with me and has good drive too.

What I cant live with is HA/DA, drool, massive shedding, barky dogs, snappy dogs, fearful dogs, SA dogs. There are plently of dogs that would fit me that dont have those qualities that I choose to not deal with.

Japanese Spitz. I work with several and I can't imagine myself living with them. I do like Chows though.

No, she's not, lol. I could live with Papillons.

It's funny to hear (see?) you say you couldn't live with Terriers, because your descriptions of Mia are incredibly Terrier-like . . . . only WORSE, lol!

Drool...grew up with a saint, and I don't miss that one bit.

I like a little bit of everything when it comes to dogs, but I would have to be realistic and objective when it comes to what I would want in my home.

I don't want anything too drivey/active. I like a dog with drive, but not over the top. They need to have a definite off switch. lol

Hair is also a factor. I can deal with shedding, but I don't want tumble weeds in my house, so the heavy, double coated breeds are pretty much out.

I also looove the look of sighthounds, but I'm so used to my super snuggly bullies that I don't think the more independent types are for me.

Bounce is fantastic off leash In fact I know quite a few off leash whippet types. Her recall is fantastic (and its mostly her, I didn't work terribly hard on it) And for the person who likes snuggly dogs, both her and Dash are lap dogs, and lap dogs for who ever will let them up there.


Reading this thread I think even breeds are too big a catagory let alone groups. Mia sounds more indepenant and 'trouble' than Dekka. She sounds a lot like Kat (though Kat has settled down a lot)

Anyone who has been to my house and met my dogs knows they are very 'into' people, obedient, and have great focus. They are not prone to flipping me 'the bird' lol. Nor (with the exception of Kat) are they loud, nor as a rule do they destroy things (dekka will destroy toys with squeekers)

I think its the same with most breeds, I never ever thought I would want an Aussie, till I met one I totally fell in love with. I never would have thought I would like cockers till Smudge came to visit. (still don't want the grooming... but the dog is fantastic) Then again I had generally only met not so greatly bred cockers. While I would never look for a cocker, I could totally live with one.