Your favorite breed of dog?

[Huskerguy]

I recently learned of a breed I have never heard of. The Small Munsterlander. Anyone have one or know anything about them?

The last dog I had was a Brittany many years ago. My wife told me once I was retired I could get a dog again since I would be home to take care of it.

So now I am trying to decide if I want a dog at this stage of life and then what kind. I like to hunt pheasants and quail although I can't hit a barn from 10 feet with a shotgun anymore.

 

[johngalt]

I haven't been around a very big variety of breeds, but if my folks golden retriever is a good representative, you couldn't ask for a better buddy. The downside is a rather high incidence of cancer.

 

[delcrossv]

Present dog (Fuzzy Puppy) is an Anatolian Shepherd. As one of the livestock guardian breeds, he has the doggie attributes we like: he loves us and is very suspicious of everyone else.

Not recommended for an inexperienced dog owner though- they're rather "willful".

 

[BC38]

Our dog Charlie is an Australian Cattle Dog mix and he is absolutely the BEST dog I have ever dealt with. We don't know what else he is mixed with, but he is smart, and extremely obedient - he doesn't want to do anything to displease you. He is protective, but very friendly. He gets along well with other dogs, and loves everyone - as long as they aren't acting in a threatening manner. He will wuff and growl to let you know anytime anything is going on outside the house. He lets you know when he needs to go out, but when he's done with his business he'll sit on the back porch and WUFF about once every couple of minutes to let you know he's there and ready to come in, and he uses one far back corner of the yard exclusively as his "latrine". He has never chewed up or destroyed anything belonging to any of us, though he did pull the stuffing out of his first dog bed right after we got him. He sheds, but that is about his only flaw I can think of. We got him from a shelter for the cost of shots and neutering when he was about a year old, but I wouldn't take a million bucks for him.

 

[Beemerguy53]

In my opinion, Golden Retrievers are just perfect companions...gentle, playful, smart, easy to train...you can't go wrong.

Whatever you get, Huskerguy, good luck to you and congratulations. I would love to have a dog right now, but at this stage in my life, it isn't possible.

 

[ancient-one]

Beagle. Mine was named Lulu Belle. They are small, smart, loving and gentle. Mine was not only a good rabbit dog but one trip squirrel hunting made her a dual threat.
She would not break off of chasing a rabbit if she saw a squirrel and if she had a squirrel treed I think that a rabbit could have run by her and she would not have left the tree.
I would have a small beagle now but I have no yard whatsoever and I really could not give one they care that they deserve. I would love to hear her yapping again on a rabbit trail or see her with her front feet on a tree trunk yapping at a squirrel.

 

[JDBoardman]

We have had Salukis for about 30 years. They have been show dogs, and we have finished 8 of them. We also have coursed them, where they chase a lure around a twisty track - not like Greyhounds on the3ir oval, We have also used them t5o hund desert jackrabbits. Success rate is about 1 in 3.

They also are not for the beginner as they are extremely willful, and you have to convince them that they want to do what you want. They are said not to be good watchdogs, but ours have been, and anyone they don't like, well there is a reason for their dislike.

 

[Marshwheeling]

Twenty years ago I had an aversion to small dogs. If a dog didn’t go over 35 lbs. I considered it a rodent. In recent years, I have changed my tune, mostly due to the influence of Gracie and Petunia, my mother/daughter pair of Toy Australian Shepherds. They go about 12-15 lbs, are quite smart and animated, and shed like crazy. I am partial to the breed, but I don’t know if I could call it a favoritr because I have had great dogs of many different types.

 

[ars1876]

Akitas are great dogs but can be very territorial . We have had 2 that lived to 14 + & 12 + . I'll be 76 in May And thinking of another one .

 

[UncleEd]

In discussing breeds of
dogs, please don't overlook
the Curbstone Setter or the
Heinz.

 

[BigBoy99]

Agree with BC38. We had Australian Cattle Dogs which we brought from Australia. Really great breed. Our last one was put to sleep one week shy of her 22nd. birthday. She was still fit and ready to go and probably would have gone a few more years but she suffered a stroke and was paralyzed on the left side.

 

[Ziggy2525]

...
So now I am trying to decide if I want a dog at this stage of life and then what kind. I like to hunt pheasants and quail although I can't hit a barn from 10 feet with a shotgun anymore.

Pound Rescue. May not actually go pheasant/quail hunting with you, but give it a good home and treat it right, and it will be a fantastic companion. Won’t be bothered in the least by your bad shooting.

 

[s&wchad]

I never met a friendly dog I didn’t like!

My wife and I have had two chocolate lab females. The first one (Katie) live to be 14-1/2 and was a good hunter (upland and waterfowl) and a well behaved house pet. Our current dog (Belle) is 10 yrs old and blind, but she’s a lover and gets around the house just fine. We considered cataract surgery, but the breed doesn’t have a high success rate.

Here's an older photo of Belle in her favorite spot!

The only problem with dogs is they don’t live long enough and it’s heartbreaking to lose them.

 

[Wrangler Rich]

It has been German Shorthaired Pointers for me since 1971. I got back from Vietnam and wanted a hunting dog and companion. I can't imagine life without a GSP sitting beside me.

WR

 

[ACORN]

My current favorite is our Shih Tzu, Ellie. Kind of difficult to house break but not overly so. She meets me at the door at night, all excited to see me, while the wife barely acknowledges my existence. Doesn’t require a lot of activity, but she likes her morning walks to visit her friends. A perfect old timers dog.

 

[Ranger17]

We had a Golden Retriever we rescued years ago ( poor thing was used as a backyard breeder) that made it past 15yrs old. She wasnt really golden, didnt care to retrieve lol, but was the gentlest sweetest family companion. First night in our home, slept with our daughter and from that moment on was a perfect dog.
Once she was gone, I said never again as it broke our hearts.......
then some months later started looking at rescues (the only dogs we would ever consider) and found a young shy Australian Sheppard that was a stray and needed a home. She has been our companion for over a decade now. Totally different personalities from our Golden but shares one major trait— being a sweet loving faithful companion. As she’s over 12 we see her slowing down and know to enjoy the time we have.
If asked today if I would ever get another dog I’d probably say no...... but as we are empty nesters, the benefits of having a furry family member outweigh not having one. So one of these 2 breeds would always be top of our lists.

 

[OLDSTER]

Chesapeake ; raised and hunted with them for many years. My last one ( Brandy) had to be put down in 2014 at age 12, an old gal for a Chessie.

 

[steelslaver]

The Ethiopian cow dog.

My late wife drug home this hyper little thing that was part Chihuahua and a couple out things. He even climbed chain link fences. When people asked what he was I always said he was an Ethiopian cow dog and most people seemed to believe me.

The very best dog I ever had was a wolf Shepard doberman mix. Smartest dog I ever had by far. Picked him from a litter of a half Shepard wolf.

 

[Mercury]

We've had mutts, Rottweilers, Cairn terriers, Dachshunds. But our favorite is definitely the Newfoundlands that we had.
They had the best dispositions and were gentle giants. The first one was 180 lbs and his half brother was 120, both were sweeties. They were great with the kids, smart and no incessant barking. They required frequent grooming, but were well worth it. In the summer, we had to keep the house cool for them. They both lived to be over 11 years old, which for a large dog, anything over 8 is a gift.

 

[WardenRoss]

The Australian Shepherd

Two Guardian Angels and their entourage were traveling across the Spanish countryside. Tired, hungry and needing rest, they detected the aroma of a roasting lamb.

Following the aroma they came upon a shepherd tending the fire. "Kind shepherd, we are famished, may we barter for your roasted lamb?"

The shepherd surveyed the Angel's assembly. "I'll take that dog!"