Time for a new dog

[GregbkH]

We got a BMC by accident from a shelter. They said it was a mastiff/ shepherd mix. We eventually found out it was a BMC. This is the best dog I've ever had. Very intelligent and super loyal. I hope you have enough "work" for one to do because these are super energetic dogs. No people or animals will enter his domain without him OKing it. Very good at protecting and patrolling. Will hunt anything also. Here's ours... MF Jones.

 

[GLyford]

Nice looking dogs, I see you have met some and know what they are like, that is an excellent start. Just keep in mind any individual dog's temperament can trump breed characteristics.

Some rescues want you to agree to adopt a dog without meeting it first, but I just can't operate that way. So my advice is always meet the dog, and trust your own judgement. If the chemistry isn't working, keep going.

I've had two rescues, an Akita and my current Lab. I was working with a Lab rescue organization meeting their dogs, none of which quite "clicked" with us (their requirement too, great group) when a chance remark from my cousin led us to the guy looking to rehome her, and at the meeting it just felt right for all involved.

My wife has had two heelers and an Aussie from breeders. One of the heelers was from working lines and could be cold to strangers (good for salesmen, not so much for guests). So she researched extensively and was sure to meet the dogs first when she got the Aussie. She went with the one who was most people oriented and came up to her first, and pretty much got exactly what she wanted in both breed and individual.

So my advice is keep looking, and keep letting people know you are looking, and keep meeting dogs. The right one will be out there.

 

[CountryB]

Some rescues want you to agree to adopt a dog without meeting it first, but I just can't operate that way. So my advice is always meet the dog, and trust your own judgement. If the chemistry isn't working, keep going.

So my advice is keep looking, and keep letting people know you are looking, and keep meeting dogs. The right one will be out there.

I have a couple of Dobbies now, the last one was from a rescue. He has a little bit of attitude. All the others (all Dobies)I've had over the past 30 years, I got from breeders and was able to train and socialize them properly. In hindsight, I wouldn't recommend a Rescue dog if it's a big dog.

Little one is not mine - but looks like he has some attitude too. The other is mine.

 

[coldsteelva]

I have a 15 year old senior Corgi (acquired at 3 mos), an 11 year old rescued Border Collie-Corgi (acquired at 6 mos), and a recently rescued, 11-ish year old Redbone Coonhound; they are all senior-senior as their breeds go, but I cannot advocate more strongly for a rescue/shelter dog regardless of breed size.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I really dread the day we have to part with our German Shepherd. He is the first large dog the wife and I have had and I couldn't ask for a better dog even if he does cater to the wife. He does not ever meet a stranger even though he will bark like crazy if someone is approaching the house (even starting when they approach the fenceline). He wakes me every morning at or close to 6 am. I don't know where he got that from but he starts nuzzling me at approximately 6 am every day. When I get up, he leave the bedroom and goes back to his sleeping area but he wont leave till I get out of bed. He has never been aggressive with any other dog even if that dog get aggressive with him. He is a huge 125# dog but he is super gentle. I don't know what we will do when he passes which hopefully will be many years from now (he if 4 1/2 now).

 

[dickfoster]

Nice looking dogs, I see you have met some and know what they are like, that is an excellent start. Just keep in mind any individual dog's temperament can trump breed characteristics.

Some rescues want you to agree to adopt a dog without meeting it first, but I just can't operate that way. So my advice is always meet the dog, and trust your own judgement. If the chemistry isn't working, keep going.

I've had two rescues, an Akita and my current Lab. I was working with a Lab rescue organization meeting their dogs, none of which quite "clicked" with us (their requirement too, great group) when a chance remark from my cousin led us to the guy looking to rehome her, and at the meeting it just felt right for all involved.

My wife has had two heelers and an Aussie from breeders. One of the heelers was from working lines and could be cold to strangers (good for salesmen, not so much for guests). So she researched extensively and was sure to meet the dogs first when she got the Aussie. She went with the one who was most people oriented and came up to her first, and pretty much got exactly what she wanted in both breed and individual.

So my advice is keep looking, and keep letting people know you are looking, and keep meeting dogs. The right one will be out there.

At least that hasn't been my experence. The rescue groups I've dealt with what you and the dog to get together first and get on well before you commit. Mine was a pup so much of his personality had yet to develop but he showed the right traits and has worked out just great. I would never take a dog sight unseen unless maybe it was a puppy even then I'd rather have some contact with it. Many breeders I've seen are just the opposite, selling you the puppy before you can take it home so you're almost getting a pig in a poke and for much more money. My pup was a 100% pure breed so I had to pay double but that was still much less than the breeders who charged about a grand for a pup and that included nothing while mine came with all the shots, all the vet work, chipping etc. I paid 400 for a pure breed while the normal muts went for 200.

 

[KubotainNH]

We had to put our beagle/GS mix dog of 11 years down in the spring too. It's very tough thing to do and she was a great watch dog. Our 3 year old yellow lab was mopy after the older dog was gone, she's never had a day without her. Our lab is the sweetest dog you could ever have but she's not a guard dog. I wouldn't trade her demeanor for anything though. It just meant we needed another dog for her to play with and to hopefully take up guard duty. We wanted a puppy to make sure it would gel well with the lab, our son's rescue dog does not so it was a concern. We really wanted a lab/GS mix (Sheprador) rescue puppy but kept having issues finding one young enough and they seem to be all from the South. We eventually settled on a purebred GS, she has been great so far and the 2 dogs play very well together. She's coming up on 4 months old, very smart dog. Good luck with whatever you do.

 

[95XL883]

Gregbkh, beautiful dog. Certainly looks intelligent and loyal, and a hunter to boot. Congrats.

As far as large rescue dogs, I suspect any dog, large or small, needs a firm, loving, consistent master as well as lots of socialization. We've had our GSD 14 months (she's a rescue). We routinely get comments on how well behaved and trained she is. Luckily we had very good instruction from the rescuer. For the life of me, I can't understand why somebody gave her up. She just wants to make her owners happy.

To the OP, good luck with finding a BMC. They certainly look like a great dog.

 

[QRTRHRS]

This is one of our rescues that supposedly has BMC in him. Obviously, his tail looks docked but it actually looks natural. He is a great companion for my wife and I but for our other dogs, not so much. We don't know if it's in his history but he will attack our other dogs if given a chance.

 

[gsganzer]

Well, I found a 5mo BMC pup the other week. He didn't come from a breeder, just a cowboy that bred his working dog with another, so there's no established lineage. He already thinks he's one of the kids and he's a goofy little guy. He seems pretty smart and I see him leading with his nose wherever he goes. He's been a little on the timid side, but I think that's just because of all the new things. He's definitely partnered up with our oldest daughter.

The BMC's an interesting breed and you can see the various working dog qualities that were bred into them. He has the webbed feet of a lab, long toes of a running dog, short coat of a mastiff, muzzle and jowls of a hound and a long whippy tail like a greyhound.

We named him Mason. The dog Ol' yeller was a BMC from Mason Texas. I also have a deer lease in Mason, so we felt the name was fitting.

Here's the little buffoon being loved on.