Pondering a breed for me

[C0W0rld]

Hello everyone. I'd love your opinions on what breed you think would fit me. I'll say this wouldn't actually be a reality for a little while… but again I'd still love your opinions. I've had one dog in my life(GSD mix) and this "new" dog would be the first on my own. I like medium-large dogs and the breeds I've spent the most time reading/thinking about are: GSD, Cane Corso, and Bullmastiff.

I'd like to be able to take my dog almost everywhere(city parks, downtown, stores, etc.) while still being calm, obedient, friendly, not phased by anything, good off leash. I know this will take a lot of work and socialization on my end. I'm a somewhat active person, but don't do a lot of hiking, jogging, etc.

FWIW the last few years I've done a lot of research on schutzhund and think its great, unfortunately I don't see myself having enough time to really dedicate to it. I'd rather focus on obedience and having a stable/well trained dog.

Exercise would include walks, going places with me, and off leash play/fetch in a large open area.

Even though the breeds I listed are large and protective, I'm very open to other suggestions you all have.

 

[Alpha1]

My favorite breeds are GSDs and terriers. Both are good but in your case I would suggest GSD since that is where you are leaning.

 

[C0W0rld]

Thanks. Not much of a terrier guy but I like schnauzers.

 

[milos_mommy]

Your requirements are kind of vague - and a little contradictory. The type of dog that participates in schutzhund typically isn't the kind of dog that you can easily take anywhere and likes other dogs, etc.

How protective do you want the dog to be of your home/property/you?
Are you only considering large or giant breeds, or would something smaller be ok?
How much time (or money paying someone else to do it) are you willing to spend grooming?
Will the exercise in the large open area be fenced?
How often will this dog be around other animals (dogs, or smaller animals) off leash?

A cane corso isn't very easily going to be a dog you can take anywhere and isn't phased by stuff, you can find that in a GSD, or bullmastiff, but they're definitely not the first breeds I'd be looking at.

Depending on your size interests and how much protectiveness you want, I'd be looking at sporting breeds like retrievers, pointers, etc, maybe something like a Bernese mountain dog or greater Swiss mountain dog, boxer, some terriers (giant schnauzer?) or rottie.

 

[*blackrose]

Your requirements are kind of vague - and a little contradictory. The type of dog that participates in schutzhund typically isn't the kind of dog that you can easily take anywhere and likes other dogs, etc.

How protective do you want the dog to be of your home/property/you?
Are you only considering large or giant breeds, or would something smaller be ok?
How much time (or money paying someone else to do it) are you willing to spend grooming?
Will the exercise in the large open area be fenced?
How often will this dog be around other animals (dogs, or smaller animals) off leash?

A cane corso isn't very easily going to be a dog you can take anywhere and isn't phased by stuff, you can find that in a GSD, or bullmastiff, but they're definitely not the first breeds I'd be looking at.

Depending on your size interests and how much protectiveness you want, I'd be looking at sporting breeds like retrievers, pointers, etc, maybe something like a Bernese mountain dog or greater Swiss mountain dog, boxer, some terriers (giant schnauzer?) or rottie.

^ This. Also, thinking practically, if you are planning to take your dog everywhere with you, a more portable dog with less "presence" may be a better option than a giant dog, unless you have the means to tote that large of a dog around and still have room in your vechicle for other necessities.

From the three breeds you listed, I think the right GSD could be a good fit, but Cane Corso and Bull mastiffs do not immediately spring to mind with your list of requirements.

 

[milos_mommy]

I was thinking the same about portability, but not necessarily because of vehicles.

Depending on your area and what type of businesses/stores/villages you plan on bringing the dog to, the owners may not allow or may not be happy about giant, possibly drooly, potentially intimidating dogs in or outside of their stores. My area is extremely dog friendly, but business owners will almost always ask an owner not to hang outside or tie up their large or bully breed for fear they're frightening away customers, and are much less likely to turn a blind eye about giant/large or bully breeds. For example, places such as pharmacies legally are no dogs allowed, but lots of people bring their dogs and the owners do not mind. I have, however, seen them ask people with very large dogs to leave.

Big dogs also require a lot more room and can be kind of...clumsy. In public, they can knock things off shelves, step back onto people, knock over kids accidentally. If you're eating at an outdoor cafe, an average/smaller GSD can probably fit under the table, a mastiff will probably not.

It all depends what kind of places you want to be bringing your dog and what the laws and perception of them in public is in your area.

 

[C0W0rld]

Thanks for the replies. The reason I mention schutzhund is because of the obedience aspect of it. Maybe I'm wrong but I see what distractions the dogs have to deal with in the obedience portion of schutzhund and how focused they are on the owner, I figured they'd do well in public.

I do prefer protective dogs, but being able to safely go out in public and being friendly/calm overrides that for me.
I'm open to any size dog except toy breeds.
Prefer less grooming, but have no problem bathing and brushing occasionally.
The large open area where we'd exercise would not be fenced, and I'd like the dog to have a great recall.
Not sure how often the dog will be around other dogs and animals off leash, but either way I'd want him/her to be calm, cool, and collected.

You both make great points about large breeds being intimidating/too large and possibly not even allowed in a lot of places, being clumsy, knocking into kids, I honestly didn't even think about that. I guess if the dog was well behaved enough, I just hope we'd be allowed in most places.

GSD is in the lead for me but what do you think of these breeds? German Wire or Shorthaired Pointer, Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Standard or Giant Schnauzer, Brittany. All are just thoughts.
Thanks again

 

[C0W0rld]

Thanks for the replies. The reason I mention schutzhund is because of the obedience aspect of it. Maybe I'm wrong but I see what distractions the dogs have to deal with in the obedience portion of schutzhund and how focused they are on the owner, I figured they'd do well in public.

I do prefer protective dogs, but being able to safely go out in public and being friendly/calm overrides that for me.
I'm open to any size dog except toy breeds.
Prefer less grooming, but have no problem bathing and brushing occasionally.
The large open area where we'd exercise would not be fenced, and I'd like the dog to have a great recall.
Not sure how often the dog will be around other dogs and animals off leash, but either way I'd want him/her to be calm, cool, and collected.

You both make great points about large breeds being intimidating/too large and possibly not even allowed in a lot of places, being clumsy, knocking into kids, I honestly didn't even think about that. I guess if the dog was well behaved enough, I just hope we'd be allowed in most places.

GSD is in the lead for me but what do you think of these breeds? German Wire or Shorthaired Pointer, Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Standard or Giant Schnauzer, Brittany. All are just thoughts.
Thanks again

 

[milos_mommy]

GSD are great, and fit your requirements fairly well. There's a lot of variation in the breed, so I'd suggest contacting a few breeders or maybe going to a breed show to meet some dogs. They can have issues with being aggressive with other dogs, particularly same sex aggression, and can sometimes have reactive tendencies.

I think GSP or German wirehaired pointer would be the best fit for your needs out of your list! A Brittany would also be a good choice. I think for what you're looking for, the sporting group would be best. It's a lot of training and socialization to have a dog you can take anywhere, but IMO these breeds are more naturally inclined to enjoy being out and about and serious issues are less likely.

A schnauzer might work, but they do tend to be more reactive and less (if at all) "calm cool and collected" than the other breeds you've listed.