What sort of dog WOULD you have?

Cortez said:
I'd just have more whippets.......and a podenco, and a pug (which is naughty because I know they are just wrong, but I love them...maybe a pug cross).
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a friend of mine has a podenco. It came over as a rescue from spain. she is a lovely dog, and from all accounts a fantastic farm dog. Spends her time on pest control and is very efficient.

Id love a JRT, bernese, GSD and a lab. Golden retrievers are my absolute favourite, but not sure i would have another as he/she would unfairly have too much to live up to.
 
Ignoring the fact it would be totally unsuitable, given as we are doing fantasy lists.
Afghan hound.
Beautiful dogs.

Also, a miniature poodle and a cairn terrier. The latter 2 possibly being a bit more realistic. One of my favourite dogs ever was a cairn, she had oodles of character, would disappear for days at a time hunting if the mood took her but the rest of the time would be found curled up on the sofa. Oh and she talked. What more could you want in a dog?!
And a black lab, beautiful dogs.
 
English Setter for me. But, they are so rare in this country.

I have found a rescue based in Spain that rehomes ex-hunting setters, but I do have reservations about adopting from abroad when there are so any dogs in the UK that need homes.

English Setters never come up in rescue and when I enquired at the Setter Rescue, they were really snotty and said they wouldn't consider me because I didn't have experience with Setters or 5 acres for it to run around in!
 
My dog of choice will always be a fluffy border collie. My last collie was just the best fun and the most handsome dog I have ever seen ;)
Being in NZ I also like the look of the australian shepherds and australian cattle dogs.

BUT other choices; ignoring a lot of issues that may come with them......

Swiss mountain dogs
Bernese mountain dogs
Leonbergers
I also quite like the odd Dalmation
When I am old....corgis
 
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I'm delighted to see some many people with Lappies(Finnish lapphund) on their lists considering they arent very common yet in the UK.
I now have a new goal of one in every colour! Actually might even be achievable.
If I owned my own home here I'd be tempted to work part time and throw myself into breeding healthy happy dogs to be honest.

I controversially would love a few of the oodle breeds- have a great breeder near me getting down a few generations in on the labradoodles breeds consistent coats sizes and hip scores eye tests all...and in a medium size. Any of her pups and older dogs I've met I've genuinely enjoyed.Good temperaments great pets non shedding. I can see the appeal.
If i had the time I would have so many breeds
So many I cant have because of the health guilt(vet work ruins breeds for me all the time) or because I just wouldn't be a suitable owner-

Bernese mountain dog
Irish Wolfhound
Rhodesian Ridgeback
long haired Dachshund
Cavalier King charles-do now have a lead on some amazing lines of these in Oz that are testing pretty clear for heart etc so may see with that one in future
Golden Retriever
Australian Shepard
Wire Haired Viszla
Duck tolling Nova Scotia Retriever
Yakutian Laika
Pomeranian
Papillon
havanese
Whippet
border terrier
Im sure there is more -thats my short list lol

In reality I am just stick longterm with the Finnish Lapphunds, at least for now anyways. Almost 3 years in and I enjoy my girl more everyday. Almost enough to make me want a new puppy next year....then I recallthe horrors of raising puppies in that first year all over again.
 
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If money was no object, I think I’d clone my beautiful, ridiculous 9 year old Rough Collie X Jack Russell boy. He’s truly a one of a kind dog.
 
Most...
Malinois bitch
Some kind of big mastiff
working cocker
Irish water spaniel
Pharaoh hound
Scruffy lurcher
Whippet
Big Black lab dog
Working Goldie

and several more. I need to live 500 years :)
 
mini barnes said:
Great Dane.
they are my dream dog
Seems I have a thing for larger than usual animals and my OH fits that bill too ?
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We had a great dane when i was a kid - they are gorgeous huge hearted creatures. In a pack of dogs they are more like a gentle parent than ‘top dog’ mentality. They socialise well. We took him to many large country fairs and festivals and he was so well behaved, staying by us constantly, never running off. Ours would sleep by the fire surrounded by kittens and other dogs fitting around him for space. He was fab with small kiddies and new people.....truly heart-capturing breed...i would have one!

I’d love a pack of GSD’s too. I have one crossed with a husky and she’s soooo bright, loyal, gorgeous nature, playful and switches to ‘guard dog’ mode whenever something happens out of the ordinary, alerting us.

I quite like those large poodles, not sure of the breeding to be honest - they’re brown and as tall or taller than a GSD - they seem very playful.
 
My dream dog was always a Flatcoat, and I expect that is what I'll get once Bruno is no longer with me. I'd love another Irish Setter though - he has completely converted me to the breed.
Parents bred Welsh Springers for years, so they are also on the list
Pointer - either short or wire coated
 
I've always wanted a mini wire haired Dachshund since I was a child.
A couple of JRT's - one smooth coated and one rough coated.
An Italian Spinone
Deer hound
Irish Wolfhound.

I would need a much bigger house in order to have the final 2. I would also need a bigger bed as whatever I have tend to sleep on it.
 
I won’t have any more roughs when these two boys aren’t here anymore, which even at 7 and nearly 10 shouldn’t be for quite a while yet! I absolutely adore them, which is part of the reason behind it—but equally I don’t think we’ll have another young larger breed again. Or not at least for a while.

For my sins I’d probably have more Pembroke corgi’s. After madam, I’d be quite prepared for what to expect from a little gremlin pup next time....and do several things differently! I could see me having a legion of them eventually, their size makes them quite easy to warrant several but they are like ‘big dogs’ in every other way. If you can live with the bossiness, they are actually an incredibly easy dog to live with...and love, because they are such HUGE characters.

I really like Tibetan spaniels too, and they are on the ‘yes’ list not the hypothetical ones.

If I had the space I’d have a Rhodesian Ridgeback or German Shorthaired pointer.

I also really like Dandie Dinmont Terriers, whippets and Smooth Fox Terriers—but I don’t think I’ll have any high prey drive dogs again.
And i’m very fond of miniature poodles but only in dark red or Black and Tan phantom!

It is funny, there’s lots of breeds I like but very few I’d live with.
 
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MurphysMinder said:
I think I must be the exception here, whilst I like and admire many other breeds I am really happy with what I have, GSD and Lancashire heeler. I also wouldn't want too many even though I have the space. I have been in the position of having quite a lot more dogs than I have now and with absolutely the best will in the world I don't think I could give a lot of dogs the same attention as mine have now. eg all sitting with me in the evening , chucking them in the car to go for a swim etc. I am tentatively on waiting lists for another heeler pup but even adding one little dog into the mix I keep wondering if I am doing the right thing.
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What are heelers like to live with? My OH who is a lover of all dogs Black and Tan, has taken a shine too them.
 
LaurenBay said:
I'd love a Pomeranian
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They are ace little dogs.

I had two before the roughs. Both from the same breeder (who has recently been rather publicly ousted online by a rescue as keeping dogs in less than ideal circumstances....despite being big within the breed). I lost the bitch as a young pup, only a few months old, due to neurological issues. I then lost the dog who I had first (and adored so much I went back for another pup a year later!) as after a couple of weeks of being ‘out of sorts’ but the vet couldn’t pinpoint it, he attacked my then OH’s child quite badly. Had he been a bigger dog the damage would have been huge. Vet couldn’t find concrete evidence but felt same neurological issue or similar as bitch pup. He was PTS. I still miss him, he was ace and I can’t even look at them as a breed as I still find myself getting upset about him now. I could never have another; as I’d compare them all to him. He was just that sort of little chap.

The situation then wasn’t helped by being ripped apart on a forum I then frequented about the whole issue.

They are great little dogs though, but have huge huge issues in general in terms of really poor breeding practises exploiting their popularity and the prices they afford.
 
I had 5 Bernese as they were my perfect dog but husband had always wanted a Flattie. Cue flatcoat No 1 arriving then the unfortunate loss of the Bernese and a half brother of the flattie came up as had been returned to the breeder so kind of rescued him.

I adore the flatties (as long as they are getting a good 2 hours a day exercise minimum if not they are annoying as hell) but my heart is still in Bernerland. I think next dog will be a compromise as we're both getting on and should get something smaller/less energetic but we can't agree as OH is 6'4" and feels a small dog is too far down for him.

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MurphysMinder said:
I think I must be the exception here, whilst I like and admire many other breeds I am really happy with what I have, GSD and Lancashire heeler. I also wouldn't want too many even though I have the space. I have been in the position of having quite a lot more dogs than I have now and with absolutely the best will in the world I don't think I could give a lot of dogs the same attention as mine have now. eg all sitting with me in the evening , chucking them in the car to go for a swim etc. I am tentatively on waiting lists for another heeler pup but even adding one little dog into the mix I keep wondering if I am doing the right thing.
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I'm on my 4th & 5th GSD's they are 14 and 11 and the older one is now very wobbly in the house, but fine in the field.... we've had to put carpet off cuts on the tiled floors so he can grip. I've also had a border colie, old english sheep dog and a great dane... he was amazing so i'd definetly have another one of those, along with GSD's which i'll always have (just struggling to find 'decent' ones in my area!)
 
I'm really taken with the grand basset griffon vendeen, I saw one working in obedience and got chatting to the owner, who also breeds them.
She said they are a hound with hound traits, I replied I've got a beagle!!
I think a GBGV and a beagle would go very well together ?
 
Nicnac said:
I think next dog will be a compromise as we're both getting on and should get something smaller/less energetic but we can't agree as OH is 6'4" and feels a small dog is too far down for him.
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How about a Welsh Springer - they're a bit less frenetic than most of the other spaniel breeds, and quite stocky, so still count as proper dogs!
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luke_H said:
What are heelers like to live with? My OH who is a lover of all dogs Black and Tan, has taken a shine too them.
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They're great in my view, they are active but very happy to switch off and be lap dogs. Ours does agility and used to do flyball , he is generally easy to train though does tend to get distracted by interesting smells, and will chase rabbits etc. He is a good guard, as in will bark if anyone comes to the house and will guard the car, but is very friendly once he has met people. Dobiegirl on here has one too.
 
My partner is adamant that our next dog will be a Golden Retriever, having grown up with his parent’s golden, but I have always wanted a Cavalier King Charles.

Not sure what agreement we’ll reach - cavaliers are notorious for health issues, and the only goldens I’ve met have been selectively deaf, and with a tendency towards unpredictable aggression.

Anyone want to share their knowledge of the 2?
 
fiwen30 said:
My partner is adamant that our next dog will be a Golden Retriever, having grown up with his parent’s golden, but I have always wanted a Cavalier King Charles.

Not sure what agreement we’ll reach - cavaliers are notorious for health issues, and the only goldens I’ve met have been selectively deaf, and with a tendency towards unpredictable aggression.

Anyone want to share their knowledge of the 2?
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Working goldies are lovely, not for me but they seem more trainable than the show ones and I've never met a bad tempered one. Oh the mud though!
 
I would struggle now with anything not trainable as I am so spoiled. I would love another Kelpie (had one in the past). Also like short haired Border collies, but I would want to be vain and get a whizzy colour.
Maybe if I was retired and could afford daily lessons from 8 weeks old I would try a spaniel again.
 
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