Help us choose a dog

[WinterDeere]

Then there is drastic option
9 Best Hairless Dog Breeds

hah! You know, if it didn't get so cold here, I think some of those would be pretty fun to have in the family! I like the Jonangi.

 

[Tomtint]

Thanks for posting! I was worried all weimeriners were too high-energy, so this is good info.

They are full of energy until about 4 years old. .. Then they calm down.
I'll ry to make this a short story, But the Weim we have now was a rescue from Tennessee. We got him and he was about 9-10 months old.
I had asked the people if he was house trained and they said OHHH NO..hes an outdoor dog.. I said.., well he won't be once we get him.
He was driven up from TN to MA in a crate in the back of a suburban. He arrived, we introduced him to our 7 year old male doberman outside the house. After about 20 minutes we brought them both inside and he was sniffing around the place. .. He had never been in a house, never seen a TV, never seen stairs and didn't know how to go up or down them, Never seen his own reflection in a window or mirror.. Never seen a couch.. His previous world was a dog house and a pen.
During his sniffing around our Dobe growled at him and he peed a little on the floor. ( he was scared ) .. That was the one and only time he ever did it in the house.. Never ever peed or pooped again after that.. Always went to the door and poked it with his nose to go outside. .. And he has since made up for lost time on the couch.. Its his favourite place

 

[Cooper Estates]

We have only had Australian shepherds. An awesome dog breed for their intelligence and behavior. They tend to want to live outside except during cold nights and they aren’t indoor dogs.

Aussies can be either in or outside. We have had 3 of them. Our current boy loves the back yard and helping me around the property, but he also loves to come in every night, and sleeps on a bed in our hallway. They can have separation anxiety, but in my view, this is not their fault, but poor training at the beginning. It sounds like Winter Greene is open to any suggestion. An active medium size dog from the shelter sounds perfect.

 

[2515R Dude]

Quick facts:

1. Semi-rural/suburban family of four with a nice big yard. Kids are 10 and 14.
2. Our last two dogs lived 16 and 20 years, respectively. They were great dogs, but as cold as this sounds... I'm not looking for another 20 year dog. I want to be retired and traveling before then! Looking for a good ~12 year dog!
3. Looking for a nice mid-size dog that's not destructive. This can't be a dog that wants to claw through the front door every time a squirrel wanders by, or one with severe separation anxiety issues when we go out for an evening.
4. House full of allergy sufferers, who are also dog lovers. Labs are my favorite (I grew up with labs), but obviously not an option, due to massive shedding and dander. Likewise with shepherds, and oddly enough... poodles! Yeah, I know, poodles are supposed to by hypoallergenic, but there's an oil in their skin that makes my forearms break out in rash. Weird. We seem to all do well with short-haired dogs, which don't have an undercoat, as the undercoat (shepherds, labs, retrievers, huskies) is what usually carries all of the dander.

Would like to just go to ASPCA or other shelter and pick something, and may still try that, but fitting all these criteria is more challenging with that route. If buying a breed, looking mostly at short-haired mid-sized dogs. Vizsla in particular caught our eye, as hitting most or all of the marks, despite having been originally bread as a hunting dog.

Vizsla - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

A boxer would fit your bill. I have experience with them. My last one white was exceptionally good.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Friend of mine has a Labradoodle. Very nice dog, no odor, quiet and intelligent. Average lifespan 10-12 years.
Another has a border collie which is also quiet and extremely intelligent.
Growing up we had dachshunds, five over the years. Their personalities varied quite a bit. Our last dog stayed outside, we had a pen & heated doghouse. Golden Retreiver.
Now just a few cats.

 

[TIMMYDUCK]

Greyhound’s are an excellent choice for a 12 year dog. .

Here’s mine .

 

[QRTRHRS]

We too are boxer folks. Their hair has barbs and tends to clump. My wife has allergies but the boxer hair does not bother her too much. Life span is about ten years. Although our current old man is 15 maybe plus or minus. Not sure as our vet felt that he was two or three when we adopted him 13 years ago.

 

[WinterDeere]

Friend of mine has a Labradoodle. Very nice dog, no odor, quiet and intelligent. Average lifespan 10-12 years.
Another has a border collie which is also quiet and extremely intelligent.
Growing up we had dachshunds, five over the years. Their personalities varied quite a bit. Our last dog stayed outside, we had a pen & heated doghouse. Golden Retreiver.
Now just a few cats.

I should have said, Labradoodle is definitely on the short list, as is boxer! Uncle has a Labradoodle that comes with him to stay whenever he visits, and it's a great little dog. I also like Boxers and bulldogs, at least the few varieties I've met.

I think where this is headed is a trip to a shelter or local ASPCA, with a short list of "desired", "maybe" and "avoid" breeds, based on your suggestions and my own research. So, keep 'em coming!

 

[WinterDeere]

We too are boxer folks. Their hair has barbs and tends to clump. My wife has allergies but the boxer hair does not bother her too much. Life span is about ten years. Although our current old man is 15 maybe plus or minus. Not sure as our vet felt that he was two or three when we adopted him 13 years ago.

Yeah, I really like boxers, at least when I run into them in public. Never had any close friends or family who own one, but I do have one in the neighborhood that's very friendly.

 

[ponytug]

Quick facts:

1. Semi-rural/suburban family of four with a nice big yard. Kids are 10 and 14.
2. Our last two dogs lived 16 and 20 years, respectively. They were great dogs, but as cold as this sounds... I'm not looking for another 20 year dog. I want to be retired and traveling before then! Looking for a good ~12 year dog!
3. Looking for a nice mid-size dog that's not destructive. This can't be a dog that wants to claw through the front door every time a squirrel wanders by, or one with severe separation anxiety issues when we go out for an evening.
4. House full of allergy sufferers, who are also dog lovers. Labs are my favorite (I grew up with labs), but obviously not an option, due to massive shedding and dander. Likewise with shepherds, and oddly enough... poodles! Yeah, I know, poodles are supposed to by hypoallergenic, but there's an oil in their skin that makes my forearms break out in rash. Weird. We seem to all do well with short-haired dogs, which don't have an undercoat, as the undercoat (shepherds, labs, retrievers, huskies) is what usually carries all of the dander.

Would like to just go to ASPCA or other shelter and pick something, and may still try that, but fitting all these criteria is more challenging with that route. If buying a breed, looking mostly at short-haired mid-sized dogs. Vizsla in particular caught our eye, as hitting most or all of the marks, despite having been originally bread as a hunting dog.

Vizsla - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

OMG. Vishlas are amazing dogs, BUT they have to be in the midst of everything watching, and need to be run (miles) every day. I remember a line from an owners guide that recommended building a platform for them to jump onto to watch cooking and dining. Strong Drive, with capital letters.

I love them, but they are my definition of a high energy dog. Right up there with huskies. Talk to a few vishla owners before you get one so you know what you are getting into. All the owners that I know both run with their dogs and compete in canine agility competitions.

A relative adopted a very very short haired (1/8"?) boxer cross from the pound. Still loves going for walks and being snuggled up on the couch, but does not have the high energy of a Vishla.

Good luck in the search. Short coats also enable you to wash the dogs frequently which will keep dander (and oils) to a minimum. I have had poodle friends that kept them buzz cut to minimize hair/dander.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Snobdds]

I have allergies too...but I like aussies. They're smart and they love to get out and do things. He loves getting out on the ranch.

 

[scootr]

Wife brought home a Labradooddle - Hypoallergenic and one big goofy doo. lol
Could be fun if it wasn't number 6

 

[Jstpssng]

I think you touched base on this briefly, but rather than getting a puppy of a breed which doesn't live long, consider a slightly older dog. I haven't spent much time looking at shelters but it seems like you can be choosy and not take the first doh which comes along.

Of course for me the only breed of dog is a lab, and 12-14 years is all that they are apt to live. The way they shed, vacuum cleaners don't live that long.

 

[Jstpssng]

A boxer would fit your bill. I have experience with them. My last one white was exceptionally good.

They are the most popular dog in the US today, surpassing Labs. Among other things, I suspect people have realized how energetic the latter breed is.

 

[2manyrocks]

If you go to a shelter, all the good planning and ideas may just fade into insignificance if you happen across the right dog.

 

[Yander]

I love dogs but not being tied down by a dog is the #2 reason I don't have one. #1 reason is that my wife is not a dog lover and has a dog hair phobia. Not worth the trouble it would cause to the marriage. I envy those of you who have them.

I always liked the schnauzer breeds and they are hypoallergenic I believe. You might look into a rescue for them as they are a relatively active breed that get rescued I believe. IF, I decide to chance it, that is the dog breed I'm interested in.

 

[Dftodd]

Yeah, I really like boxers, at least when I run into them in public. Never had any close friends or family who own one, but I do have one in the neighborhood that's very friendly.

My son has two boxers. They are absolute knuckle heads. Of course grandpa might be encouraging some of the antics

 

[ponytug]

One comment on Rhodesian ridgebacks. They were bred to attack and hold on to lions. They do not naturally back down from anything. I think that they can be great until they aren't. They are a whole other level of dog ownership and responsibilities from most other breeds.

I have known a couple they can be sweet and good natured. We had a ridgeback/Dalmatian cross (dumbest dog on record, but that was him. Very sweet.). However, I would never, ever, describe them as safe. I would hesitate to see them around kids or strangers, and I would not leave them loose in a yard. An invisible fence is not going to be a barrier. I would not own one personally. A friend of a friend had one turn on his kids one evening out of the blue and he had to fight it off with a large chair. The dog had the owner pinned in a corner and had eaten off the legs by the time the police arrived.

I would Google "Rhodesian ridgeback attack" before you adopt one.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Dftodd]

Wife brought home a Labradooddle - Hypoallergenic and one big goofy doo. lol
Could be fun if it wasn't number 6

My daughter has a labradoodle. That thing is a spaz!!!! It's like someone took a dog with ADHD, fed it a bag of coffee beans, and then mainlined the thing with a case of redbull

To give you an idea how this dog is. Think back to the childhood toy we used to get with the paddle, elastic cord with the little red ball hooked to it. This dog is the little red ball Just a constant hop hop hop in your face.

I can't handle it.

My advice for someone getting a labradoodle. Plenty of space for it to run. Keep it super busy and active, and for God sakes give it a bloody job.

If not, the high energy will be a huge negative.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

We have a really good no kill animal shelter. They'll let you foster a pet and that way you see the most suitable one before adoption.