Best type of dog

[roamerr]

samtmc -- Great Looking Dog! That pic makes the dog look really happy!!

 

[Ken45101]

Just thought of this...Whatever breed you decide on, get it at the SPCA or get a rescue dog.

Agree! Our #1 dog (german shepherd mix) came from the pound. Wonderful dog! He is only 50#. Our other dog just showed up at the farm looking scared and hungry (as have several others).

The best dog I ever had with children was a Newfoundland.

Wonderful dogs, (as long as you don't mind slobber on the ceiling!) but they are a little over the OP's weight limit....by about 60#s! Sweet, wonderful dogs!

Another great rescue breed if you have a fenced yard! are retired greyhounds! Tens of thousands of retired racers are put down every year. Very sweet dogs. They are also very quiet dogs. Our girl would bark about once a month and then look around like "what was that noise?" LOL.

Ken

 

[SARG]

We've always had the terriers.... Giant Schnauzers, Airedales and now a Black Russian terrier ....... all because of the lack of shedding ... but ours have always been in the 100-120 lb. range (except the Airedales )

I have noted recently some Golden-Doodles around the area and they appear to be wonderful dogs. Pleasant personality of the retriever and no shedding of the poodle. Cute as heck too. I'm thinking we may get one of those next to keep our dominant BRT company.

 

[LostInTheWoods]

There's a reason why there is so many Lab fans. When is the last time you heard of anyone or thing being attacked by a pure Lab? It just does not happen -- the breed does not have it in them.

There are exceptions to every rule, of course. We lived in a neighborhood at one time that had a lab three doors down. He was a little on the mean side. Never bit anyone, but would often run through his invisible fence and chase down other animals and bark (menacingly, not the "hi, how ya doin'" bark) at people. Never attacked anyone that I know of, but sure acted like he might.

Owner said was pureblood. Looked a little big to me, and the face looked like it had a little more mastiff in it, but just my thoughts.

To the OP, sorry about your loss. We lost our lab about three years ago. Wasn't pretty. Like a scene from Old Yeller.

Sounds like you just lost the best possible dog....half lab, half German Shepherd. Two. Best. Dogs. Ever.

We have a German Shepherd now, as we wanted something with a little more "intimidation factor" now that we live way out in the country, yet is known to be very good with children, easy to train, etc.

As for your needs, wanting a smaller dog, have you looked into Belgian Malinois? I have no personal knowledge of the breed, but used to work with a person that had also trained working animals. He described them as very similar to German Shepherds, just a bit smaller.

 

[czechsonofagun]

We've always had the terriers.... Giant Schnauzers, Airedales and now a Black Russian terrier ....... all because of the lack of shedding ... but ours have always been in the 100-120 lb. range (except the Airedales )

Montmorency is well over 90 pounds and Clementine is almost 80 - and still i met somebody who asked why is the airedale so small

 

[marimus]

Just remember that Labs, Goldens, Shepherds, and other very popular dogs have a LOT of health problems due to over-breeding. Hip displasia is very common, but there are a number of other ailments they are prone to. It can be very expensive, and heartbreaking to struggle with these problems.

If you do get a Lab, go for a black or chocolate in preference to the yellow.
They have more genetic diversity, and as such are less prone to many diseases than the yellow. This was told to me by several small Lab breeders.

That said I had a yellow lab that lived to 16 and wasn't sick a day in his life. My mom on the other hand had a yellow lab that was allergic to **** near everything.

We have two Lab girls at the moment, one black and one chocolate. They are very protective of our family, but of course all bark no bite. They are very active, love hunting, and let us know if there is anyone around acting suspicious.

Don't ask me how they know, they just do.

 

[wushaw]

I bird hunt so it's been Brittanys for me, they do need exercise though.

 

[aburnell]

We love our Pugs, they are great lap dogs but probably not the best for hunting!

 

[VTFireftr]

I have to add another mark to the Lab tally. I grew up with Labs and have had 3. When I met my wife she came with a Lab, and a Jack Russell. I love them all dearly, (wife included) but favor the Lab over the JR. (The wife knows this.)

My last Lab was also a rescue dog. I never knew how old she was or anything about her past before I got her. She was AMAZING! Very calm, people friendly and never ran away. I could be working in the garage, and she would take a stroll in the woods where I live, but would come back as soon as I called her. When I would take her in the truck, she would just lay dwen on the back seat and sleep. If another dog was barking she wouldn't even aknowledge the other dog. She did have a couple of health issues, but that comes with age in any dog.

I have to stop writing about her now, before I break down.

As others have written, check you local animal shelter or do a search on the web for rescue organizations about the breed you are most interested in. They are out there and very friendly people.

Whatever dog you choose, remember as someone has already written, they are not pets, but members of your family.

Good Luck,

marc

 

[marimus]

I bird hunt so it's been Brittanys for me, they do need exercise though.

Do you use the Brittanys for pointing or flushing birds? Just curious as my two labs love bird hunting with me They are excellent at flushing, and have a ball.

There are breeders specialising in pointing labs though now as well.