my family is getting a puppy. what breed should we get?

Question

we have a 12 year old female cocker spaniel who doesn't get along well with strangers. but we got a shih tzu a few years back and after a while they quickly became best friends. but the shih tzu was very outgoing so maybe thats why (but shes no longer with us). anyways we're open to any breed but have to keep in mind we have only a medium size fenced yard and live in a humid area (louisiana). there aren't any children in the family. there will always be at least one person home with the dog. and yes we can afford a puppy now. i'd like a dog thats known to be easy to train and that is affectionate. not necessarily a lap dog. i'd really like a large dog but that wouldn't be fair to keep it in a kinda small yard. i want a walking companion but one that can live indoors and not be bored. so based on all of that what should i get?

Answer 1

if there is always someone home, a good dog(s) are, Border Collie, Austrillian Sheperd, Catahoula Lepord Dog, Austrillian Cattle Dog, they are all SMART dogs. Border Collies are the second smartest dog in the world. My Border Collie is SO GOOD! I have taught her so many things! Sit Stay Down, Shake, roll over, we do agility, Go get the newspaper, & so much more!! We also Show at all the local shows. Any of those breeds are perfect for kids or no kids!

Answer 2

Maybe a Brittany. Britts are hunting dogs-used to be called Brittany Spaniel but the Spaniel was dropped by the AKC as the breed hunts like a pointer. They are about 30-40 pounds and around 21 inches at the shoulder.

Britts are very smart little dogs-eager to please and quick to learn. Our Britt is very loving, but they can form a strong bond with one family member over any other and that will be thier person. They should go to a groomer maybe 3-4 times a year, but coat care is fairly easy and they don't shed huge amounts. Grooming entails a trim of the feathers and ears, cleaning up the feet-not at all like the work on a Cocker. They like to be with their people-but I wouldn't say lap dog by any stretch. Our Britt is good with a nice daily walk or time in the yard to run. I will go out with her and toss the ball or just play tag (she zooms around the yard and comes by to tag my hand with her nose). At night she will get on the couch and sleep from about 8 pm till the next morning. She is a rocket outside but pretty calm in the house. They are smart and can get into mischief, but training can help with that. Britts are great little dogs but I would say that they are best kept as a house dog who ventures out-they aren't suited to being an outside pet.

I would encourage you to check the AKC website for breed info and links to breed clubs and rescue. Good Luck!

Answer 3

Most answers you get will just be uneducated guesses from children telling you their favourite dog - dogs that will probably be a terrible match for you.

The best thing you can do is visit a shelter or rescue group and see if a dog fits your needs. http://www.petfinder.com The next best thing is to watch a dog show - they are constantly on Animal Planet and USA and write down maybe 10 breeds that appeal to you. From there, visit http://www.akc.org and go to the "breed" area. On the left will be a link to the breed flyer, breed club, and breed rescue group. Click on each one and learn as much about the breed as possible.

From there if you decide you want a purebred puppy, read sites like

http://dogplay.com/GettingDog/index.html
and
http://www.geocities.com/bluegracepwd/wheretobuy.html

to help you find a reputable breeder.

Good luck to you.

Answer 4

I personally have a Boxer,and have had no trouble at all with her. I too live in the south,in fact,I got her when I lived in Georgia,but now live in Texas. Boxers are good family dogs,they are VERY protective also,NOT mean,just protective. They love to go for walks,can live indoors,all the ones I have had were VERY easy to housebreak. They are playful too. I have NEVER had trouble training one to be very well behaved,not as I have seen some on here complain about the breed. Mine is a protector,family pet,and takes commands very well. I would vote for the Boxer if it was my choice. I do NOT think you would be disappointed at all. Good luck

Answer 5

try a Yorkshire Terrior. They might be good breeds of dogs to have. I never had a dog but i know a lot about them. A Labodore Retriever might be a good one too. My neighbor has one and the dogs really friendly. I would try geting a lobodore. Golden Retrievers are nice too but they are kindof a problem. You have to pay a lot for them when they get sick. And my neighbor used to have one and it wasnt friendly. So dont go with a golden. But the dog i might get is a German Shepard. Most German Shepards are extremely nice and very protective. They will protect you and give you love and care.. as long as u do the same to it! a mini dog also known as Dashound (I think i spelled it wrong) are small. They might bark a lot though. Oh and these are one of my favorite dogs. You might want to get it. It's called a Shiba Inu. They are very cute and very freindly. Good luck with picking out a new dog! I hope my advice helped!

Answer 6

i would reccomend a vizsla. they have all the characteristics that u r looking for

i know you have a small yard but the one thing that you have to keep in mind is that vizslas love to run. so instead of having the dog have the run of the yard i would play catch with it every now and then. most vizslas love to do that if taught at puppyhood.

as an adult the dog is a medium size

female - 45-55 lbs
male - 50-65 lbs

their color is a brownish red and they are short haired.

Hope i have helped you.

u pronounce vizsla (vish-la). it is kind of a hard name to pronounce.

go on yahoo images and look up what they look like

Answer 7

Adopt a retired racing greyhound. They are not hyper, they must be inside dogs, they are not destructive and get along with other breeds. They do not need a HUGE backyard and they LOVE to go for walks. They make the best pet.

Answer 8

There are a few real keys to dog training, whether you are trying to train your dog to come when called, sit, stop barking or any other behavior. Understanding their importance is critical to achieving rapid results that are long lasting and help develop the bond between you and your dog. Learn more http://OnlineDogTraining.enle.info/?G1Se

The first is simple; you must win your dogs mind. If you don’t achieve this first then you will be struggling the all the way. When I talk about winning your dogs mind what I really mean is that your dog looks to you for all the decisions. Before you do anything else watch one of the amazing video sites that show you the 5 Golden rules to establishing yourself as the pack leader. If you aren’t putting these in place then you are setting yourself up to fail. Just at the crucial point where you really want your dog to listen they will go and do their own thing. For sure your dog may play ball occasionally or even most of the time, you may even have a dog that is obedient 99% of the time, however if you want a dog who always listens to you and does as you ask then you need to win your dogs mind.

The second key to success is to motivate your dog. It is really important that you discover what it is that your dog enjoys both in terms of exercise and play but also in terms of a reward. If you can make the experience enjoyable then you will both achieve more and look forward to training.

Some dogs love to fetch, others love agility, and other dogs simply love obedience training, or swimming out into water and retrieve. At least to start with find out what your dogs love is and help them develop this, what I am saying is work with your dog. The other point to recognize is to make training enjoyable reward your dog.

Answer 9

I would tell you to get a Labrador. They obviously are family dogs and do not fight with other dogs even when provoked. They just turn away and try again later. I raise labs, field gun dogs/hunting, to be exact. They are the best dogs I have ever dealt with. I also have a pitbull/dalmation who picks fights with my male labs, whom I might add are still intact, and my labs have never shown any aggression when he picks on them. I think the pit feels like he owns the territory but the fights are minor and he gets over his mad spot. Any other questions about labs please email me at [e-mail] thanks!

Answer 10

an affectionate, easily trained dog might be a golden retriever, a lab, or a german shepard-lab mix. however these dogs need a lot of exercise but given ur conditions i dont think that should be a problem.

good luck!