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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsDU Dog Lovers. Define what a "dog" is to you in terms of breed, temperament, etc.
I bring this up because my girlfriend has a Chihuahua / Jack Russell Terrier mix. She is energetic and loving and faithful but to me is not really a "dog," because a "dog" to me is a Golden Retriever of maybe a Lab or a German Shepherd.
A Golden Retriever would be my first choice, but the only way to find on where I live in South Carolina is to go to a breeder. The local animal shelters are almost exclusively stocked with pit bulls, pit bull mixes, and small dogs (maybe 75% are pit bills).
So if you HAVE a dog, HAD one in the past, or WANT one in the future, please describe your ideal dog.
tazkcmo
(7,287 posts)A turkey and it's still barking while in the oven, it's not a dog.
hlthe2b
(101,730 posts)and personality. It is really true that dogs adapt to your own personality and habits if you allow yourself to develop a close bond.
The bigger ones are so huggable it is hard for me not to be drawn to them. The little guys can become too "babied" easily, so you have to work to let them be a "dog" too.
All of my dogs have been rescues of one type or another. Most of my dogs have been mixed breeds and a lovely blend of their "component" types. I've had yellow lab mixes, Aussie lab mixes, currently an Aussie-Border Collie mix. I've had a hard luck story Brittany Spaniel (lovely dog), a rescue tiny Yorkie, a sweet little wire haired terrier mix (likely had some Jack Russell in him too)
I love them all. Dog lovers are, on the whole, (IMHO) more compassionate, empathetic people. Those that resent the time effort and priority people make towards animal rescue should really consider this. Dog lovers/animal lovers don't do so at the expense of efforts to help people, in my experience, but in fact more likely to do both.
get the red out
(13,459 posts)I would add all dogs are dogs, but with different humans that fit with them.
I have a Border Collie and a Border Collie mix. The smartest creatures to ever eat cat poop.
mnhtnbb
(31,320 posts)as mixes from the animal shelter or rescues.
They just have the best temperament. Friendly, playful, easy-going, not barkers (I would never have a little dog because they are almost
always non-stop yappers).
My current dog is a sweet Golden Retriever and American Eskimo mix who was rescued out of a high kill shelter in Georgia by a South Carolina rescue group.
She is probably 12 now and I've had her for almost 9 years.
I found her on https://www.petfinder.com/
The South Carolina rescue group foster mom met me with Snowy at a rest stop in North Carolina and Snowy jumped right in the car to go home with me. Of course I had brought treats, so she was willing to follow me anywhere.
You may also want to google Golden Retriever rescue groups in South Carolina and try getting in touch with them.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)I also love Labs and almost all other big dogs, but my sister and her family got a Swiss Mountain Dog about a year ago and she is just the most beautiful, sweetest, great tempered dog ever. She has just wormed her way into my heart and it's neck and neck between Swissies and Goldens for me. I just love how cuddly big dogs are. They also used to have a Rottweiler and I adored that dog as well. She was so smart and very affectionate, but she had her favorites and if she didn't like someone she could be a little intimidating.
Soxfan58
(3,479 posts)Than most people I've met in my life.
Freddie
(9,232 posts)Around here (PA) they are also almost all pit bulls or part-pit mixes. I know people say they can be nice dogs but I just wouldn't trust one around my young grandchildren. That's why my daughter and husband got their Lab from a breeder, and she's great with the kids.
Miles Archer
(18,837 posts)That's a big concern. My girlfriend's dog is "one of the gang," fits right in. That's a "non-negotiable." Any new dog in the household would have to get along with the other critters. When I look at the picture and see the empty spot, I see it filled by a Golden Retriever.
Polly Hennessey
(6,747 posts)I would rather be with my dogs than most humans. I have had many dogs - Poodles, German Shepherds, Yellow/Black Labs, Cocker Spaniels, Lab/Red Heeler/Dingo mix (Amber was the smartest dog I have ever had), etc. I have always had more than one dog at a time. Right now, I have a Corgi (Buck) and a Golden Retriever (Caleigh). I have had several Goldens and by far they are the perfect dog. Caleigh is the sweetest, most loving, most obedient dog. She is a rescue. We adopted her when she was five years old. Final thoughts all dogs are perfect; only the humans who are privileged to own them are imperfect. We also have cats. Have never had a cat-dog problem. A Golden will adjust easily to your cats.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)I grew up w/ big dogs (Labs and Goldens) but Corgis just have the most soulful little faces. I also love mutts. Dogs just make me so happy. I can't be sad or upset when I am around a dog.
ProfessorGAC
(64,427 posts)In my past, i've had a beagle/schnauser mutt (we called her a schnaugle) and a schnauser.
Then my last two dogs were labs.
Since we have cats i went toward the bigger dog because the littler pets are the kitties.
But, we're anticipating downsizing when Walter gets old and is gone. 95 pound dogs are a lot to handle as one gets old.
So, while the labs have been my faves of the dogs we have, i can easily see us going for the 30 or 35 pound doggie in the future.
Runningdawg
(4,496 posts)but if I had to pick favorites - anything you might call a bulldog. At the current time, we have 2 rescue pits. Both are fabulous dogs, the postman recently called them "his sweethearts" and at 3 pm every day they sit at the fence waiting to get attention from all the kids getting off the bus.
I have rescued quite a few dogs in my day. They are all grateful, but I got to tell you, pits will show you they are the most grateful of all.
MicaelS
(8,747 posts)Yorkshire Terrier or Shih Tzu top my list if I ever get one.
The Polack MSgt
(13,159 posts)From the pound - German Sheppard mix way back in the mid 80s
Then 2 Rottweilers in a row but after the second one passed, we couldn't find any rescue Rotts. They were seriously overbred for years, but I guess they are out of fashion now.
I'm glad these dogs are not being pumped out and abandoned or abused as they were in the 90s and 00s but we love the breed and wanted another.
We picked up a Pibble mix from the pound 3 years ago, and she has us trained now.
We had never had a terrier type dog before so there was a learning curve for me and my wife but she is a sweet charming animal - about as dumb as the day is long, but maybe my perception is skewed by decades of having Rotts and German Sheppard Dogs.
She is the smallest dog we've ever had at 60 pounds so we finally have a lapdog for our advancing years
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,280 posts)it would probably be a "retired" greyhound. I really like them.
KG
(28,749 posts)Response to Miles Archer (Original post)
elleng This message was self-deleted by its author.