Which breed of dog should I get?

Jack Russels are great but can hyper, bored and destructive.

Get a cigarette dog. They have no legs, so they aren't destructive. Low maintenance, just take 'em out once a day for a drag.

whatever you do, dont get a breed known for its intelligence (like border collies) If you dont give them attention, they will get into the stuff that they know pisses you off the most. They learn hopw to do all kinds of annoying things like learn to open cabinets and crawl around inside and puncture boxes of macaroni and they will take moutfulls of them into the living room amd sit there and crunch them till they know that youve "got it" then they will act all , like , hurt that you are screaming at them. Yep dont want a border collie in an apartment or small lot. Alswo dont let em see your passwords or youll have doggie porn on your machine.

a little doggie style porn is okay occasionally however

And smart dogs aren't always the trainable dogs. HUNGRY dogs are trainable dogs. Labs are pretty dim bulbs, but you watch them respond in field trials and you'd swear they were brilliant. Not that I'm recommending a lab. Too little exercise and treat-motivated training will give you one fat, unhealthy lab.

I'm always a fan of going down to the local shelter and seeing who chooses you. There are plenty of good-tempered, medium-sized mutts out there. Maybe even more than there are of purebreds. A lab is a lab and a pug is a pug, but I can honestly say that my two mutts are unlike any other dogs I've ever met. (Give or take. They're more individual than your average human, at any rate.)

I should NEVER read these threads.

cuz now I really wanna go pick this boy up

Toby

Just what I need. A third spitz.

I cannot figure out, beth, your preferences for large hairy men and tiny hairy dogs. Though I guess, from the consistency there, that you could be swept away by...



Captain Caveman...

So maybe a greyhound then?
I was also thinking maybe a Keeshond, and they are supposed to be okay being left alone for a while, are quite nice and cool, and also don't need that much excersise, but can go jogging with you. .

A female (one hopes) that:

a) Loves Greyhounds.

b) Loves ME!


Now.....if you happen to be rather well off in the money and assets department, can keep me in the manner to which I would like to become accustomed and have a thing about men wearing welding goggles in bed, I think we could be the perfect match!

hmm, i was a swimmer so goggles in bed might be a good thing...well, money and assets-maybe in the future-i am just a young one in the financial world but potential is there...

you just have to learn to live with the fact that the dogs are going to sleep in the bed, i do not snuggle, and those chains are for when you get unruly.

oh yes, and i am female, for now at least...

I would think a Pomeranian would be ideal.

bendragon, what type of climate do you live in? that has a lot to do with type of dog. so if you live in say florida, getting an akita might not be the best idea. most dogs though do alright anywhere unless they are left outdoors. just remember if you live somewhere hot and get a really hairy dog, that might not mix well.

keeshonds are known for their love and affection especially towards children. although they might not be ideal if you want to take them running because they are a little smaller but very cute.

I've heard it said that dogs have a tendency to look like their owners.

Sure is true in my case.....

Climate
Oh. I'm English! I must say that you American people are all pretty awesome!!!! So it never going to be overly hot, but never freezing either. (Hey, with this global warming thing, you never know!?)

As for taking a Keeshond running with me, I'm not a great distance runner. I just tend to go jogging for about 30 minutes a day.

well, i am not overly familiar with that breed, so i can't really comment. i guess my point was something like a shiztzu wouldn't be a good running companion even for 30 minutes a day (unless of course you are like my brother who has a backpack (much like the carrying apparatus for a child) for his shiztzu so the had and his wife can go hiking and take the dog.)

Pomeranians can't run for 30 minutes! Like dragon49 says, they'll go with you if you carry them! Those, and shihtsus, are also toys, and you said no to that already...

Greyhounds aren't distance runners either, really. I had a runner friend who adopted one, expecting to have a running companion. Nix to that -- he loves his dog but it's definately a wind-sprint partner, not a long-distance companion... Also, they're sight hounds; they don't track by smell. That means they'll chase anything that moves -- my friend says he can't EVER let the dog of the leash; it will take off after flying birds!

I'm leaning toward the Keeshond you mentioned. Purina has a good site for breed-choosing. You answer some questions about your lifestyle and the site suggests some breeds to consider. And patiodog has good points about mutts and shelters, too!

Thank you for all your help everyone! Keep reccomending!

Oh Gus! A Neopolitan Mastiff! I love Mastiffs..in fact, just as soon as we buy a house, my home will be overrun by a great big lovable English Mastiff.


If you are not looking for an active dog, stay away from Retrievers, Labs, Boxers and most terriers. The need lots of exercise and may become distructive if ignored.

Mastiffs, while huge, are very inactive dogs. If you don't mind 200 lbs of animal, I'd suggest one. They are great with kids, rarely attack (even intruders) and are like giant feet warmers.

30 minutes a day is fine for a Greyhound. By the time you get back, it will have tidied up, made you a cup of tea and be asleep on the bed.

What part of England, Ben?

Me.......Norf London mate.

Seriously Ben, a Greyhound is not very good at staying by your side for what you would consider a jog.
To them, you are a tortoise and they would be gone.

I'm very fortunate in that I live right next to a big woodland area. My one is very lazy, and will only run if it has to. She is happy snuffling around.

Wy is correct in that they are sight hounds. A rabbit can be fifty yards away, and my dog won't see it. But when the rabbit moves.......jeez.

A racing greyhound is faster than a Ferrari from 0 - 30 mph.

A good, loving young Mongrel (or Mutt, as the Americans would say) will be the best choice.

Try the Blue Cross Shelters, as they are brilliant. Why spend inordinate amounts of money on a pedigree, when you can get a unique looking dog for very little cost, and give it a good home.

"Mutts" tend to have less in the way of medical problems (no risk of inbreeding) and tend to live a bit longer, dependant on their size, of course. My last one lived to seventeen, and was fine, right up until about two weeks before he conked out.