Why your breed appealed to you?

CinnamonChristmasCookie

CinnamonChristmasCookie

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Idle thoughts. Why did you choose your breed (if you did)? Was it due to the stereotypical breed traits or ability to do something or the breed’s ’job’? Or was it a happy coincidence?

We’re on our 3rd lot of springers, it’s my OH’s childhood breed. Whilst I’d love mine, a Keeshond, I don’t think I’d love the grooming.
 
I have had Border Collies, Dobermans, Golden Retriever, rescue cross, but my breed now is Great Swiss Mountain dog. I chose this breed because I like big dogs, I wanted something that would be a “ watchdog “ rather than a full on “ guard dog”, friendly when they know I am comfortable with someone, loyal, good around the horses etc. Swissies are that and much more, I have had 3, currently have 2, and cannot imagine life without them. ❤️
 
Beagles are easy going and good with children and at the time my partner had young children. They tend to be very loyal affectionate and easy going with even temperament.

When my partner divorced his previous partner and moved into tied accomodation with his job his friend worked as kennelman at a footpack and knew he was lonely. He had a runt who was too small to run with the pack so was going to be destroyed so he had suggested her visit and see if he wanted her. Of course he did!

I first met her after my partner had her a few weeks at the point we met each other and we had 14 glorious years together with her.

When she passed is 2014 we rescued a dog from Beagle Welfare in June 2015 who we have now and who has just turned 12: Summer.

Photos: Candy and Summer.
 

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I've only ever chosen one of my dogs and that was a Border Collie. I wouldn't make that mistake again! 😂.

My dogs have always found me, but if I were choosing one now, I'd be torn between a Spaniel or a JRT (currently sitting on on my hands because there's a litter of Cocker x JRT just up the road. They could be perfect or could be a nightmare!)
 
I chose a whippet because they are good with kids and other dogs, low maintenance, barely shed, don’t need hours of exercise, very relaxed in the home, affectionate and a generally healthy breed.

Downsides is they can be difficult to re call train and they are shameless thieves!
 
Temporary insanity?

I loved all the GSDs I knew when growing up, so when I was finally in a position to get a dog of my own, they were my first choice. Off I wandered to the gsd rescue, to be matched with 'the ideal first dog'. What a learning curve she was! 18 month old gsd x rottie. She turned out to be fabulous, but reduced me to tears a few times on the way.
Clearly I didn't learn that much, as the second one also came from a rescue. She's proving even more of a learning curve, but I love her to bits.

Next dog might be something different though :)
 
I seem to like pastoral breeds.

I got Bandit because I didn't want a full Border Collie. I'd just lost Mika and Flyn and thought I would always be comparing the new dog to them and it wouldn't be fair. I then decided that I really liked the look of Kelpies and they were sufficiently different to be a dog in his own right without constantly getting compared to Mika and Flyn. I saw Bandit who is a Kelpie x Collie advertised and feel like I've won the jackpot.
 
Before I did commercial picking up I just had whatever was available. First dog was a kelpie x heeler, then a kelpie x dobe. Then a EBT X heeler (all those in Oz). I like athletic, trainable dogs who want to do stuff with you. I got a lurcher from the pound back in the UK and loved her dearly, although she was as selfish as a cat she was great fun.
I was bought up with setters and Labradors.
When I stopped riding and we set up a shoot a lab seemed the way to go. It’s sort of grown from there.
 
Indy said:
I seem to like pastoral breeds.

I got Bandit because I didn't want a full Border Collie. I'd just lost Mika and Flyn and thought I would always be comparing the new dog to them and it wouldn't be fair. I then decided that I really liked the look of Kelpies and they were sufficiently different to be a dog in his own right without constantly getting compared to Mika and Flyn. I saw Bandit who is a Kelpie x Collie advertised and feel like I've won the jackpot.
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I adored my kelpie crosses.
 
meleeka said:
I've only ever chosen one of my dogs and that was a Border Collie. I wouldn't make that mistake again! 😂.

My dogs have always found me, but if I were choosing one now, I'd be torn between a Spaniel or a JRT (currently sitting on on my hands because there's a litter of Cocker x JRT just up the road. They could be perfect or could be a nightmare!)
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I have one!
He was a typical farm accident of a yard owner of mine at the time, and thoroughly unwanted, living in a stable on his own.
I wanted nothing to do with him either!
I was looking for a greyhound at the time 🙈
I knew both parents and thought if it had the attitude of his jrt dad (little sod!) and the energy levels of working cocker mum, he would just be a relentless PITA

I ended up taking him home after refusing point blank for 6 weeks because I'm a useless bleeding heart....

Best dog ever!
The trainability and loyalty of the spaniel with the off switch of the JRT
He looks more like a lab x sausage dog with spaniel body on stumpy jack legs but he's just the happiest most wonderful boy. Loves everyone, everyone loves him. Screenshot_20250820_125938_Gallery.jpgScreenshot_20250820_130146_Gallery.jpgScreenshot_20231114_210458_Gallery.jpg
 
My breed is the Great Dane. As a family we have always had the, back to my great grandparents, but we have always had other dogs as well, collies, spaniels and JRT. When I met my husband he had a Dogue de Bordeaux x Rottie. But Great Danes are my soul dog! They have such a human personality! I wish they weren't because their shear size makes them quite impractical and sometimes I would love something smaller that isn't a mammoth mission to take somewhere/ get a dog sitter for, and their life expectancy is pretty short so they break your heart.

But there is just no other dog with the personality for me... although I am tempted by a staffy
 
We have had 4 Parson Russell terriers, still have 1. When this lad goes (he's 10yrs) we may change and get something different
OH chose the first when we moved to this house and the others followed, I wanted a spaniel but was unsure i could do the exercise to keep it sane.
 
Clodagh said:
I like athletic, trainable dogs who want to do stuff with you.
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This is it in a nutshell for me, with the addition of also preferring a pointy ear. I've had Siberian huskies, a schipperke and a GSD. I like being competitive in agility but do not gel at all with border collies and take a bit of pride in doing it with more unusual breeds.
 
I've previously had sight and scent hounds which I adored and as a child, gun dogs (spaniels) but I happened to see an Irish terrier and was intrigued. I found out a bit more about the breed and met several of them - honestly, I just sort of loved all of them, their history and the owners I met were passionate supporters of the breed. I'm so glad I chose the breed; my Irish is the best dog I've ever had and I loved all of those before this one greatly. Handy size, energetic but not insane, devoted and fun. I've found mine very straightforward temperamentally, albeit quite terriery and I have no need or desire for a dog that enjoys high levels of direction 🤣. I hope I always have an Irish by my side.
 
I’ve always loved sighthounds. My first lurcher was actually an over height whippet, and he was nearly 14 when he died. I swore I’d not have another dog (OH still had his gun dogs), but then OH’s cousin had a litter, and I got Rew. He looks like a whippet but has a little bit of Bedlington and greyhound in him.

I’m currently waiting for my next sighthound puppy to be born in September!

I do agility with Rew. As @blackcob says there is a certain amount of pride in doing (or at least trying) to train and compete in this sport against border collies and cockers. E stands for elimination…IMG_4232.jpeg
 
As a child I was drawn to ponies with spark, I was obsessed with the wildness of Jinny Manders Shantih (by Patricia Leitch). It was the same with dogs, and I loved the free spirits of sighthounds. But I grew up with HPR breeds. On reflection they were brilliant breeds for me to grow up with. They had superb temperaments, good work ethics and were excellent loving loyal obedient family dogs, but I found them lacking the “extra” edge that I day dreamed of at the time.

So when I was ready for my first dog as an adult, I chose a whippet. 30 years later and numerous sighthounds, I still have whippets. That complete disregard for authority is something I still love about them 😂
 
meleeka said:
I've only ever chosen one of my dogs and that was a Border Collie. I wouldn't make that mistake again! 😂.

My dogs have always found me, but if I were choosing one now, I'd be torn between a Spaniel or a JRT (currently sitting on on my hands because there's a litter of Cocker x JRT just up the road. They could be perfect or could be a nightmare!)
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Well, you could look……..
 
Having spent so much time with eventers, my own dog was always going to be either a terrier or a lurcher. My fathers Jack Russell put me off so I decided a needy, self harming, speed obsessed, pointy dog would be better. He's never stolen food, has reliable recall and happy to walk for miles.
He did get called 'Puppy Thicky' in his early life, and the never-ending vet mending wears a little thin (much like my bank account), but Bestest Dog, and all round Good Boy.
 
I've always been taken by retrievers for their trainability and friendly temperaments. I was set on a flat coat but partner has always had collies and wanted another. Although we're very active, dog needed to come to work with me and settle in an office, so that ruled out a collie. Partner wasn't sold on a flat coat, I think because he'd never known one, but my uncle was having a litter from his golden, and having spent plenty of time with her, we knew a golden would suit our lifestyle. Can't imagine having any other breed now!
 
My family have always had Welsh Springers, so it was an easy decision to make. Generally they're laid back, easygoing and not "on" al the time, which was ideal for me.
Then Idris came along and ticked "Nope" to all the characteristics I thought I was getting! Luckily, I absolutely love him to bits, even though he's a rotter!

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I love a scruffy bearded dog. Hence Border Terrier, I’d love an Irish Wolfhound. Although I (mostly) love the independence of a terrier, I might change breed after this one, we lost our elderly one last month and nothing could ever top him.

Next dog I’d quite like to skip the puppy years, I imagine kids will be high school age by then so I might look at (UK) rescues.
 
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