Best type of dog

[samtmc]

Hi all
My family and I are looking for a new dog and are looking for some suggestions.
our lab/shepard (of 16 yrs) just died as well as our cockapoo (of 11 years)
they both died in the last year and our sons (2 yrs and 5 yrs)are very patiantly awaiting there replacement. We have 3 heavily wooded acres and would like a dog that will stick close to us. I am not looking for a dog that needs to be leashed all the time and do not want a runner. we would be leaving it alone at home (indoors) for about 9 hrs a day. we were thinking in the 30-50lb range. any suggestions?

 

[stravis]

My first response is always lab (see my avatar). They would qualify for all the requirements except the 30-50# range. They would outgrow that by 18 months. The lab in my avatar is 80#.

If I was looking for one that fits your description, I'd look at the Boykin Spaniel. I've always loved those and they are good hunting dogs. I don't know much about non-hunting or house dog breeds, though.

Good luck, and sorry to hear about your losses. My wife and I lost our lab mix of 11 years in 2008 and are still struggling with it.

 

[ihuntbear]

I have a golden retriever.Best dog i ever had.very smart.Show him once and he's got it:thumbsup:

 

[oldnslo]

On the farm we always had the best success with mutts. They seemed the least likely to roam. Almost always the most even tempered and nice around kids. What you don't want are beagles like I have now. There motto is" Nose down, Tail Up, and Brain Off". Extremely friendly but would be gone in the woods in a heart beat and probably never find their way home again.

best of luck on your choice

Roy

 

[mustangsallysdad]

Hi all
My family and I are looking for a new dog and are looking for some suggestions.
our lab/shepard (of 16 yrs) just died as well as our cockapoo (of 11 years)
they both died in the last year and our sons (2 yrs and 5 yrs)are very patiantly awaiting there replacement. We have 3 heavily wooded acres and would like a dog that will stick close to us. I am not looking for a dog that needs to be leashed all the time and do not want a runner. we would be leaving it alone at home (indoors) for about 9 hrs a day. we were thinking in the 30-50lb range. any suggestions?

Put me in the Golden Retriever camp...I've got 4 of them...one thing, check the lineage for an approximate size as they can cover a broad spectrum of sizes...my smallest is 47 lb.'s and the largest is 93 lb.'s...all females. Males tend to run slightly larger in this breed.

 

[RTII]

Sorry to hear of your losses. I am a lab fan and owner as well. Smart, friendly, loyal and playful. Great inside and outside dogs. Will follow you everywhere. Fom room to room or across the county. As stated, bigger than your 30-50 lb wishes. I've had mutts as well and have had good ones and ones hard to deal with but that would probably come with any breed. Good luck with your search and let us know what your eventual choice is.

 

[Pilot]

My first choice is a golden retriever and a lab is #2. Pretty similar, goldens can be wimps while labs are a little more aggressive (not in a bad way, but more of a "go for it!" kind of way. Read "Marly and M" first, as there seem to be 2 lines of labs--one almost uncontrollable and the other much more civilized. Or see the movie.

Goldens are just waiting to understand what you want so they can do it to please you. That make s them easy to train. The local organization, "Guide Dogs for the Blind" uses a lot of goldens--about 50% of their dogs are goldens.

I used to take my golden out to the woods where I worked. She was never trained for hunting. One day while I was sitting in the pickup eating lunch and she was sniffing around discovering all the wonderful smells in the world, she came across a dead bird. Picked it up, brought it to the pickup and dropped it by my open door, then went back to sniffing around.

Objectives matter--labs are better hunting dogs, goldens are better pets, but both are good for either objective. And neither are likely to attack anyone.

On that last note, if you consider an aggressive breed such as a pit bull, rottweiler, etc., check your insurance policy first. Many companies won't give you coverage if you have one of those breeds and it hurts someone.

 

[bdeboer]

We've had Australian Shepherds for several years. Down to one 5 year old male now. They have been loyal and seem to adapt well with our kids. The one we have now is around 50 pounds. He is the only one of the four we have had, that has had issues with staying home. We have a neighbor who thought it was cute to feed him when we training him to stay home as a pup.

 

[RobertN]

My preferencesfrom expierience would be:
- Golden Retriever
- German Shepherd
- Aussie Shepherd

Our Golden was a great dog; lost her to cancer. My Aussie was from the pound. Got her at 9 months, had her till passing at 17. AWESOME dog. Had German Shepherds when I was a kid, and have one now, and one dog pound Shepherd mix. Nice dogs.

Lots of dogs in the rescues and shelters. Lots...

 

[ultrarunner]

Owned several breeds over the years and Australian Shepherds are my favorite... very attentive to family and great with children.

A few years ago, had some very young chicks get of the coop... our 42lb Australian Shepard protected them like they were her own...

Also, my experience is they are not barkers unless there is extreme need.