Maybe having one live inside with you would be a new and positive experience. You have never known imo the greatest joy of having your dog be a part of your family. Yes it gets dog hair on teh floor and you have to vacuum more. You have to house train them, but you spend more time with them and the connection is incredible.
Hello, need help choosing a dog
- Thread starter ripsnorter
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A Rottweiler is not an outside dog at all. They CRAVE to be near their owner most of the time. They'd be miserable delegated to the outdoors when you're indoors. Dogs, in general, through domestication, are not designed to be away from their humans for long spells of time and definitely will do better by being part of the family. They are social animals to the extreme. Part of the family, meaning inside when you're inside, outside when you're outside....at least for the most part.
I can't think of a single breed that fits your criteria. I too, would recommend giving some serious thought to having your dog come in in the evening when you're through with your work in the shop, lying in front of the fireplace, coming to sit or lie next to you, resting his chin on your lap, looking up into your eyes and making that wonderful bond that comes from exceptional closeness. Of course, we all have to leave our dogs for a number of hours sometimes, but the more of your life you share with your dog, the happier you'll both be. If you don't want your dog in your bed, I have no objections. LOL. J/K. But a dog bed on the floor in your room is sharing 8 hours with you. You both get to hear each other snore and it's just a warm feeling to have your pal with you.
I agree that if a dog can't be trained to stay in his property, (very difficult) or supervised heavily, then a fence should be put up. No dog should wander off and bother neighbors.
The choices of type of dog widens significantly when you consider keeping him with you most of the time. A dog that won't mind a little chill and wetness. (I too am from W. Washington) A breed that tends to stick around, although as it was mentioned, it also depends on individual. The trouble with those breeds that stick close is that they also tend to be some of the working or companion breeds. My Doberman stuck like super glue to me. That's his job. But he would have been miserable on his own too much or left outdoors. He was definitely not an outside dog. And neither is a Rottie. Or most breeds.
The nordic breeds can take the cold and aren't as dependent, I don't think. However, they will tend to wander and I mean wander. (I know it doesn't get too cold in W. Wash, but it's cold and blustery enough for most breeds to stay outside at night in winter/fall) LOL.
So, do some more thinking. It is commendable that you are researching this thoroughly before making a decision. Good luck.
I can't think of a single breed that fits your criteria. I too, would recommend giving some serious thought to having your dog come in in the evening when you're through with your work in the shop, lying in front of the fireplace, coming to sit or lie next to you, resting his chin on your lap, looking up into your eyes and making that wonderful bond that comes from exceptional closeness. Of course, we all have to leave our dogs for a number of hours sometimes, but the more of your life you share with your dog, the happier you'll both be. If you don't want your dog in your bed, I have no objections. LOL. J/K. But a dog bed on the floor in your room is sharing 8 hours with you. You both get to hear each other snore and it's just a warm feeling to have your pal with you.
I agree that if a dog can't be trained to stay in his property, (very difficult) or supervised heavily, then a fence should be put up. No dog should wander off and bother neighbors.
The choices of type of dog widens significantly when you consider keeping him with you most of the time. A dog that won't mind a little chill and wetness. (I too am from W. Washington) A breed that tends to stick around, although as it was mentioned, it also depends on individual. The trouble with those breeds that stick close is that they also tend to be some of the working or companion breeds. My Doberman stuck like super glue to me. That's his job. But he would have been miserable on his own too much or left outdoors. He was definitely not an outside dog. And neither is a Rottie. Or most breeds.
The nordic breeds can take the cold and aren't as dependent, I don't think. However, they will tend to wander and I mean wander. (I know it doesn't get too cold in W. Wash, but it's cold and blustery enough for most breeds to stay outside at night in winter/fall) LOL.
So, do some more thinking. It is commendable that you are researching this thoroughly before making a decision. Good luck.
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I have no desire to have kids at all, (I'm going to get myself "fixed" soon) and I've missed my dog dearly since he died at 13. I've waited years though as I wasn't really ready for one.
Whatever dog I get will be my companion... Best buddy, child, partner, etc. He may sleep out in his shop, but other than that he'll be with me.
Thanks to a lot of posts here and elsewhere, I'm thinking now about getting a slightly older dog, 6 months to a couple years, that I can see what tendencies they have and match up with better.
I'm dearly going to miss the deep bond that comes from raising and training them from a puppy, but that can develop later too.
Whatever dog I get will be my companion... Best buddy, child, partner, etc. He may sleep out in his shop, but other than that he'll be with me.
Thanks to a lot of posts here and elsewhere, I'm thinking now about getting a slightly older dog, 6 months to a couple years, that I can see what tendencies they have and match up with better.
I'm dearly going to miss the deep bond that comes from raising and training them from a puppy, but that can develop later too.
I would not consider a rottie unless you have lots of time to spend on him or her. They require even more training than the average dog, although they are highly intelligent, they need more training as pups so they don't have any aggression problems. A rottweiler has the most powerful dog bite and that is why any nipping problems need to be discouraged straight on from a pup or it will not go your way. All in all, I do not think a rottweiler would be right for you, since they do not like being kenneled for more than 4 hours tops. Perhaps a lower maintenance dog would suit your lifestyle more.
I have two dogs, one I've had since she was 8 weeks old, and the other we rescued from a shelter when he was 1 1/2 years old. I have a strong bond with both of them, but it is my rescue dog who is laying just a couple feet away from me right now. If I am home, he wants to be with me. You can definitely develop that bond with an older dog.
Cattle dogs can be be fantastic dogs, I adore them but they can be absolute disasters in teh wrong hands.
My mum always had working ACD's growing up and vowed never again. They require a lot of training, stimulation and socialisation to be well rounded dogs. Its also vitally important to get them from a good breeder.
We have 2 mixes, Buster's blue but really doesn't have any ACD personality, so when my mum bought home her boy she had been kinda lulled into a false sense of security by living with Buster for so long.
Harry is a brilliant dog, he's half BC but it doesn't really show that much. He came from a very bad start and its stuck with him for life. I still think we raised him right, he had boundaries, firm but kind leadership, training, socialisation, positive experiences etc and he's still the most difficult dog I've ever had anything to do with.
He doesn't like people, children or other dogs. He's great with horses, good around livestock and controllable in all situations but can never be trusted.
That said, I adore the breed and would like to own more in future. They are hopelessly devoted to their people, Harry I have no doubt would give his life for us. He's very protective and wary of every single person he meets, noone is trusted as far as he's concerned.
Also they're prey drive is very high, and if your neighbours have livestock they might not be a great suit just because they are such a "hard" breed.
They are great dogs but its what makes them an ACD that can make them unsuitable for so many people, if they are a good match though you have yourself one of the most loyal breeds in existence.
My mum always had working ACD's growing up and vowed never again. They require a lot of training, stimulation and socialisation to be well rounded dogs. Its also vitally important to get them from a good breeder.
We have 2 mixes, Buster's blue but really doesn't have any ACD personality, so when my mum bought home her boy she had been kinda lulled into a false sense of security by living with Buster for so long.
Harry is a brilliant dog, he's half BC but it doesn't really show that much. He came from a very bad start and its stuck with him for life. I still think we raised him right, he had boundaries, firm but kind leadership, training, socialisation, positive experiences etc and he's still the most difficult dog I've ever had anything to do with.
He doesn't like people, children or other dogs. He's great with horses, good around livestock and controllable in all situations but can never be trusted.
That said, I adore the breed and would like to own more in future. They are hopelessly devoted to their people, Harry I have no doubt would give his life for us. He's very protective and wary of every single person he meets, noone is trusted as far as he's concerned.
Also they're prey drive is very high, and if your neighbours have livestock they might not be a great suit just because they are such a "hard" breed.
They are great dogs but its what makes them an ACD that can make them unsuitable for so many people, if they are a good match though you have yourself one of the most loyal breeds in existence.
"age ain't nothing but a number"
I have a coonhound and a basset who were both about 4 1/2 when I got them (now 9 and 6) and they are SO bonded and SO well-trained I can allow them off-leash to potty and wander down to my parking lot and creek without running off - and we live in town. Neither were trained to anything, really, before I got them. So throw out ALL your pre-conceived notions about not bonding with anything over 8 weeks
If you train fairly, your dogs will respect and love you.
Also, I have a great bond (though not as great as he has with his owner!) with a male dog I show for my hunting buddy - dog has never lived inside, always in a kennel or on a chain, and not only does he have PERFECT manners, listen like a lab and handle like a dream, I don't think he's lost anything for living outside. I've tried bringing him in my apartment when we travel and/or letting him sit on my couch... he always ends up lying in front of the door again.
Just my .02. (PS I second what Pops2 said - look into an older mountain or treeing cur... from what I hear they're geniuses and can adapt to life just about anywhere. I have a treeing feist but I hear they can be pretty high-strung...)
I have a coonhound and a basset who were both about 4 1/2 when I got them (now 9 and 6) and they are SO bonded and SO well-trained I can allow them off-leash to potty and wander down to my parking lot and creek without running off - and we live in town. Neither were trained to anything, really, before I got them. So throw out ALL your pre-conceived notions about not bonding with anything over 8 weeks
If you train fairly, your dogs will respect and love you.Also, I have a great bond (though not as great as he has with his owner!) with a male dog I show for my hunting buddy - dog has never lived inside, always in a kennel or on a chain, and not only does he have PERFECT manners, listen like a lab and handle like a dream, I don't think he's lost anything for living outside. I've tried bringing him in my apartment when we travel and/or letting him sit on my couch... he always ends up lying in front of the door again.
Just my .02. (PS I second what Pops2 said - look into an older mountain or treeing cur... from what I hear they're geniuses and can adapt to life just about anywhere. I have a treeing feist but I hear they can be pretty high-strung...)
an LSG may work, but since youd be its "livestock" dont expect it to sleep outside away from you lol.
either give it something to guard (goats would work) in which case while the dog would bond to you as well, the animals it guards would always come first...
or youll be its "live stock" in which case dont ever expect to have it sleep outside, it would fret without you.
any of the shepards may work, look into dogs from working homes, a breeder that uses their dogs on the farm...most of them are happy as long as they get most of the day with you and have someplace warm to curl up.
as a side note
dogs are PACK animals, having a dog sleep away form its "pack" (you) is very strange to a dog, they dont understand...
add to that the fact a dog kenneled outside of the hosue is USLELES if an intruder breaks in ect.
personally i like to know that i have my little alarm system right there in an emergency...
and the same will go when i have my big dog.
perhaps not sharing your bed...but at the very least a blanket in the house...
my suggestion would be, if your dead set on the dog sleeping outside...it can be done...
BUT when your not home, put the dog in the shop/run (which you say is attatched to the shop?), make sure the run is secure (cant be dug out) which is very simply done by attatching some of the wire fencing to the bottom of the run, turning one intowards the run at an angle and burrying it, and another peice out towards the outside and burying that, giving you a burried safety net that if the dog was to try and dig out (or the coyotes try and dig in which is not unheard of) they will dig, hit wire and cant get out...
the dog wont be able to wander off when your not home to supervise, reducing the risk of the dog getting shot...
and while you may live in a safe place/middle of nowhere, its added peice of mind to know your dogs "confined" with all the expensive stuff in your shop should someone try and get in...
in terms of breeds and wandering...
of my cresties: ruby wont get more than a few feet form me, jasper would be happy to meander off...
of the wowies, 2 are home bodies and 1 would love to go explore...
so its absolutly an individual dog, not a breed in its tendency to wander...
either give it something to guard (goats would work) in which case while the dog would bond to you as well, the animals it guards would always come first...
or youll be its "live stock" in which case dont ever expect to have it sleep outside, it would fret without you.
any of the shepards may work, look into dogs from working homes, a breeder that uses their dogs on the farm...most of them are happy as long as they get most of the day with you and have someplace warm to curl up.
as a side note
dogs are PACK animals, having a dog sleep away form its "pack" (you) is very strange to a dog, they dont understand...
add to that the fact a dog kenneled outside of the hosue is USLELES if an intruder breaks in ect.
personally i like to know that i have my little alarm system right there in an emergency...
and the same will go when i have my big dog.
perhaps not sharing your bed...but at the very least a blanket in the house...
my suggestion would be, if your dead set on the dog sleeping outside...it can be done...
BUT when your not home, put the dog in the shop/run (which you say is attatched to the shop?), make sure the run is secure (cant be dug out) which is very simply done by attatching some of the wire fencing to the bottom of the run, turning one intowards the run at an angle and burrying it, and another peice out towards the outside and burying that, giving you a burried safety net that if the dog was to try and dig out (or the coyotes try and dig in which is not unheard of) they will dig, hit wire and cant get out...
the dog wont be able to wander off when your not home to supervise, reducing the risk of the dog getting shot...
and while you may live in a safe place/middle of nowhere, its added peice of mind to know your dogs "confined" with all the expensive stuff in your shop should someone try and get in...
in terms of breeds and wandering...
of my cresties: ruby wont get more than a few feet form me, jasper would be happy to meander off...
of the wowies, 2 are home bodies and 1 would love to go explore...
so its absolutly an individual dog, not a breed in its tendency to wander...
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