Looking for New Doggie!

[JAK]

Well, against my better judgement, I have decided that I am simply not destined to be 'Volvo woman' & am now looking for a replacement Impreza STi (mine was nicked if you recall!) & I need another 'big dawg' to help it stay put! (Collies are useless, probably licked the thieving gits that pinched it!)

Tempted to get another GSD, as I don't have time for a Malinois & want something a bit calmer nowadays! LOL
Don't want anything with too much coat, nothing that drools excessively or that is too 'sharp', as want to take it to yard with me & lots of kids there etc.

Only like pastoral/working breeds, definitely don't have the temperament or patience to cope with a hound or a terrier!
Hhmm, not that many choices really then! LOL

 

[GinaB]

How about a Rottweiler? People are just scared looking at them but really they're very friendly, very loyal easily trainable and good with kids (as long as they are socialised witht hem froma young age)

 

[holly_and_ria]

MAYBE, an alsation!! I used to have one that was FANTASTIC, everytime he heard something on the front he would bark and bark until you said, 'BUSTER ITS US!' he would recognise your voice and stop!!! Bless him!!! He was geourgeous!! He had to be PTS, R.I.P. Buster!! You are much missed!!

 

[druid]

Great Dane for me (They are working if I remember rightly...no one will touch your new Scooby either!)

 

[JAK]

Yeah, a Rottie is actually on the short list - would have to be a bitch though, as there are a number of male dogs at the yard already!
It was a toss-up between a Rottie & a Shepherd when we had our last GSD but the girls fell in love with a puppy from one of the first GSD litters we saw, so.......!

Would have to be sure I definitely didn't want to do any more agility if I had a Rottie though, as they're just not quick enough for top-flight competition but I'm 99.9% certain I have neither the time nor the inclination to compete seriously again, as the girls want to go to shows with their ponies now & you can't do everything, can you?

 

[GinaB]

I love Great Danes!

 

[vicster]

My Auntie had a Doberman they don't drool and are great guard dogs hehe

 

[Sooty]

If you don't want too much coat stay clear of GSD's! What about a mastiff of some sort?

 

[GinaB]

I think you're best either going for Rottie or GSD, as you've had GSDs before and know exactly what they are like!
Well bitches are easier to train than dogs, but yes Rotties are def not exactly built for speed! Hefty dogs that they are! I love both maybe you should get one of each?! Lol
People just give both Rotties and GSDs bad names when they don't deserve it!

 

[JAK]

[ QUOTE ]
...no one will touch your new Scooby either!

[/ QUOTE ]
A Scooby Doo to guard the scooby, eh?

Do they make decent guard dogs then? I always thought they were a bit dense tbh, with not enough brain power to guard their own water bowl? I'm not over-keen on 'thick' dogs!

Have you got Danes then? I've never paid them that much attention at shows etc. tbh, so don't know that much about them really!
I like the look of them but they have a lot of health problems, don't they & aren't very long-lived? (Friends' Danes seldom seem to make it much past 7 or 8!)

I want a 'loyal' dog definitely, with a strong sense of belonging but I don't want anything too instrusive! I like my dogs to be 'there or thereabouts', I don't want something you're practically wearing as a hat all the time! LOL

 

[GinaB]

Danes tend to have short lives (I think it's something to do with size etc, the same runs true for Irish Wolfhounds)
The riding school I go to owns 2 and they're lovely dogs but when they bark it can sound intimidating as it's so low.

 

[JAK]

[ QUOTE ]
If you don't want too much coat stay clear of GSD's!

[/ QUOTE ]
Oh gawd, you are so right & this is one of the things that makes me hesitate slightly! I definitely don't miss the clouds of apparently permanently moulting hair & the bloomin' shortcoats (which I prefer!) are 10 times worse than the longcoats for this!

I like some of the Mastiff breeds - I've always fancied a Karabash but don't have the fencing here to keep one & wouldn't be able to take it to the yard with me!

 

[GinaB]

My boss owns a bull mastiff and it's just lovely. Although very very slobbery and too much of a softie to act as a guard dog!!

Guy across the road used to own a short coated GSD and he brushed it ouside and there was always fluff floating about r street for weeks after! What about Belgian Shepards? Or do they cast in pretty much the same manner?

 

[JAK]

Belgian Shepherds, ha ha, I've owned Tervueren since the 70's but they're a bit of a pain in the ar$e tbh, incredibly demanding, quite 'complicated' & can be very destructive! (I want something a bit calmer these days & OH definitely prefers Rotties & Shepherds! LOL)
Coat is pretty easy to care for actually, much less hair loss than a GSD!

 

[druid]

They're damn good gaurd dogs! I don't have them personally but my neighbour breeds them - lovely dogs. Health issues..no worse than any other pedigree breed, you know how it is. Pick the right lines and you're ok mostly. They're definitely not dense thoufh...we've done low level agility with hers in an entertaining "regal" fahsion before!

My next one will be a dane or another setter...

 

[PapaFrita]

I'd go for a Dobe (unsurprising perhaps!) Ulla spends lots of time in the car when I'm at the yard and doesn't chew AND she's very protective of it and barks when anyone comes close.
GSDs are great too, but the hair!!!! I think they can get a bit anxious if left alone for a while and chew cars up (my mum's experience with my uncle's gorgeous, bearlike GSD)

 

[sojeph]

What about a vizla. My neighbour has one - very obedient dog. Ain't no-one going near their property when they're not there. Great with their 4 kids and no probs with my nags and rather irritating JRT's!!

 

[holly_and_ria]

I was bitten on the head by a doberman when i was 2, I still have the dent in my head!!

I was near its food so i guess they do make great guard dog!! xx

 

[PapaFrita]

Ours would most likely lick you to death!! But I've known 1 or 2 that turned out a bit unpredictable due to (very) poor handling and deliberate provocation (to make them 'mean'!!)

 

[Evadiva1514]

Have you thought about a weimaraner?? They are very intelligent, have a lovely low maintenance short coat and if you give them enough mental stimulation, they make lovely pets, and Im sure they make good guard dogs too..

 

[Onyxia]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
...no one will touch your new Scooby either!

[/ QUOTE ]
A Scooby Doo to guard the scooby, eh?

Do they make decent guard dogs then? I always thought they were a bit dense tbh, with not enough brain power to guard their own water bowl? I'm not over-keen on 'thick' dogs!

Have you got Danes then? I've never paid them that much attention at shows etc. tbh, so don't know that much about them really!
I like the look of them but they have a lot of health problems, don't they & aren't very long-lived? (Friends' Danes seldom seem to make it much past 7 or 8!)

I want a 'loyal' dog definitely, with a strong sense of belonging but I don't want anything too instrusive! I like my dogs to be 'there or thereabouts', I don't want something you're practically wearing as a hat all the time! LOL

[/ QUOTE ]
*slaps JAK* Heathen woman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Danes are anything but stupid, there is a brain working in there, they just dont always let you know it!
They are people dogs and want you around but not clingy, just like to know you are around.They do have a short life expectency but the two my Aunt has ATM (dad and daughter) are from a line with great longevity( most dogs in line making it into mid teens).
Stupidly loyal, once they decide they own you they will do anything for you.Very good guard dogs in their own way( normally looming out of shaows looking mean leaving robbers with very wet pants to run away in )when my Aunts house was broken into I was woken by HIS screaming- one dane either side of him, guy was too frightend to put the TV down and run( needless to say left him like that untill police arived

).

All in all, they fit the bill ALMOST perfectly. But boy can they drool!
Found slobber on the celing at Aunts house,lol!

 

[Tia]

I've also been looking into getting another dog in the next year or so (actually probably not before Poppy (the old collie) pegs it). I would have another Malinois in a heartbeat.....if it was as great as Daisy-dog is. She has turned into a super dog, however I would not say she is a particularly brave dog. Perhaps she is very intelligent as the minute she sees or smells the wolf; she runs home!

I love my collies and if in England then there would be no question as to what the next dog would be....however collies are too small to deal with our wildlife over here. So the breed I am looking into - never owned one but known a lot of friends who have had them - Rhodesian Ridgebacks. I am not really into hounds either....pastoral breeds have always been my type, however it seems that they are quite competent at dealing with wolves, coyotes etc!! I have been in touch with a very reputable breeder of RR's in Ontario and they believe that the dog would be absolutely perfect for our kind of lifestyle. The only problem appears to be (apart from the fact that Poppsie isn't dead yet and may be around for another couple of years) that I could buy a pretty well bred Quarter Horse for the same price!!!

PS. Received gun licences today and went out and bought a 12 gauge Remington pump action with interchangeable barrels. Met Mr Wolf this morning when out on trail ride - he just stopped and watched us and then trailed us for the whole ride! Cocky git - he's going to be toast hopefully by the end of the week. All his mates were shot by my neighbour but he is darned illusive.......BUT I know where he hides though!!!!!! God I sound mercenary

.

 

[Sooty]

Oh I would love to see you in action with your pump action shotgun! Oooh does that sound odd? It is just not something we deal with round here, having to cope with wolves, and it sounds rather exciting even though I am sure in reality it isn't. Sorry!

 

[EllieBeast]

Jak, you know you want one of these !!!!!

Sarah xXx

PS i would appreciate it if you called him/her 'Rita the 2nd'

 

[kbt2661]

Jak, you know you want one of these!!! You already picked out which one!!!

They grow up to look beautiful like this!!!! I know your not keen on whites but they sure do grow on you!!!

 

[Tempi]

ermmmmmmmmm - dont they shed loads of white hair everywhere tho?? no thanks!!!!!!!!!

if i had a big house id get a doberman, lovely dogs

 

[kbt2661]

No not loads and anyway it gives the kids something to do they love to brush the dog!!!!!

 

[Tempi]

ahhhhhh, i used to love brushing my mums dog when i was younger actually!

 

[kbt2661]

There you go see, it is very therapeutic. For kids anyway!!! As long as the dog behaves itself and doesn't try to take the kids hand off with every brush. LOL !!!

 

[niashadow]

Dobie, next to Collies a must.