Can anyone recommend a good dog breed for me?

Question

Obviously finding a mongrel with the right temprament is hard so I leave it up to you to choose a breed:

I need something medium/ large size, preferably shorter furred as we live in a wet, muddy area of the country. It needs to be quiet but able to bark the house down when needs be. A good walker but mustn't pull the walker along with it.

I also need something that will be a good family dog in a smaller house but will also be willing to do 'guard' duty when I am away (my mother is infirm and a sentinel with a nice set of gnashers would help put her at ease).

Anything fit the bill? I'm looknig for something a little less docile that a Dobermann but more aggressive than a Shitzu!

Thanks!

PS, I realise that a lot of these traits are down to individual dogs but a generalisation would be nice! Also would gender matter in these circumstances?

Answer 1

The best dog is always a dead dog. No mess, no barking, no smell, no disease, no fleas, no hair, no pshit. I get the feeling you are another of those macho-thicko dog lovers that dont really care about anybody else?

Answer 2

I think you should get a BOXER they are the best dogs ever! I have two and I would never get another breed. My female is 21 kg and my male is 35 kg so there is a big size difference. They have the short fur that you want and are very easy maintainance. Both mine have been trained to the highest level of training in 12 months(very smart dogs) so they both walk on alose lead. They are sooo gentle with children no matter what the child does to them they will put up with it. Half the time they sleep so they don't need a big house as long as you walk them a couple times a week. if you razz them up they will play but if you want them to calm down they do. My two never bark just for the sake of barking they will only bark if someone pops their head over my fence and then they look quite scary to someone that doesn't know them but they are really big softies. Both if them like to sit on my lap for cuddles, they think they are lap dogs but that Ok cause thats the way I raised them. Hope this helps. Good luck!!!

Answer 3

First a word about guard dogs.

Guard dogs should not be owned or handled by anyone but professional handlers. Period. If you are interested in guard dogs, contact your local K-9 unit at your police force or military base. I am sure they will be glad to explain everything you need to know about training and handling guard dogs. Hint: They will agree with me about only professionals handling guard dogs.

If you are afraid of being broken into, buy one of those fancy alarm systems that automatically calls the police - they're better equipped to handle a dangerous situation than you are anyway.

Now let's get on to breed of dog. Actually, a smaller Doberman could be ideal. They're great family pets, loyal, friendly, playful, obedient, smart, and will bark if they feel the need.

Dobies range in size/weight from over 100 pounds to under 60 pounds - a smaller dog would probably be better for your needs.

Both male and females are excellent. I've had both. All have been wonderful pets.

Forget the myths about "puppies." Get an adult dog who is already spayed/neutered, shots up to date and isn't chewing things anymore. All my dobies have been adults when I got them. Angels! Truly Angels!

Your best place to find a nice dobie boy or girl who would love you forever is a Doberman rescue group. Here the link to one to get you started.

http://www.dogsaver.org/doberman/

Admittedly I adopted my first doberman for all the wrong reasons - my husband traveled and we lived in a shabby neighborhood. I wanted a steel-jawed deathtrap for protection. What I got - much to my surprise and delight - was a marshmallow in a fur suit. I have adored Dobies ever since.

Over the past 25 years, I have happily adopted 5 rescued dobermans and each one came from horrendous beginnings. Each one - to a one! turned out to be a marvelous companion.

But whatever breed you choose - you absolutely MUST promise to do this for the life of the dog:

1. Spay/Neuter
2. Obedience training - I can't stress this enough. If you are too busy to spend an hour a day training your dog, you shouldn't have one.
3. at least 2 hours of "house time" every day.

Answer 4

There is a great list of dogs to choose from so I won't add to the list. But I feel I must comment on what you want the dog to do and the Shi-tzu thing. Dogs do come with a certain amount of pre-disposition but much of their behavior will be directed by you. For example, I have taken tons of obedience classes and work with my dog on a regular basis because I have a rottweiler. He is the calmest, gentlest dog ever. In fact, he is a reading therapy dog. He will lay next to children and listen to them read. I have only seen hihs protective side twice. Once when someone lunged at him as a joke. He went crazy, growled, showed his teeth. I actually was scared. Then a second time when someone was walking towards me with a shovel on his shoulder, which looked very scary. Now on the flip side, the neighborhood shitzu. No training, is allowed to do everything because the owner will just pick him up when he does something bad. He picks on every dog every time. He barks and barks when someone walks in the door. While he can't do much as far as hurting someone, he will tell you when someone is there.

I do apologize if I was irritating, but I feel so strongly that much of dog ownership is the training and not the breed. Good luck and your mother will benefit greatly from whatever you chose! Dogs are great companions and protectors!

Answer 5

A well-trained dog makes everyone happy, including his owner. Take a little time training him, and you'll never regret it; you'll always have an obedient dog by your side. Find more https://tr.im/r0EO5

By their nature, dogs are pack animals with a well-defined social order. Through basic training, you need to consistently make sure your puppy understands that you are the leader, not him. So in teaching him the basic rules, you take on the role of pack leader.

To fit into the family circle, your dog must be taught to recognize his name and such commands as come, heel, lie down and sit.

Answer 6

If you get yourself a Lab (and there are smaller ones and larger ones) you'll never be happier. They're loyal, smart, their coats shed water and they can bark like crazy.
Best of all, there's lots of Lab mixes at the shelter..and they have a hard time finding them homes because bigger black dogs are usually the last ones to go.
And as for gender, once they're fixed, that part doesn't matter.
I have a chocolate Lab mix, about 125 pounds, and a black lab/collie mix, about 60 pounds. The choc. is a male and the black is a female..and they have their own characteristics. I wouldn't recommend two males or two females, though, because they tend to fight.

Answer 7

Border collies are great dogs they love their walks and are very loving mine have always barked when people have walked passed or knocked (though I do always wonder if they would do anything) My parents used to rescue collies so I have had them for years and I really do find them great dogs. They do need alot of time and something to do, being bred for working their mind is always going.
GSD's are also another great guard dog though you really do have to be careful how you bring your dog up its behavior is down to you.
As for the walking nice on a lead thats your job there are puppy parties and dog training that you can go to to help train your dog if you are unsure how to do this.
A good website for dogs and pups is www.epupz.co.uk
please when you find a breed try and find as much info on them as you can to make sure they are right for you and you are giving them a forever home.
Also if you think about rescuing you can explain what you are looking for and they will find the perfect dog for you.
Good luck I hope I have helped and not gone on too much
Best wishes
Kerry xXx

Answer 8

I would definatley say BOXER, they are very playful, loyal, loving dogs, they are a medium sized dog and you hardly even notice the hairs. They have a very fierce bark and will look after you but they are the softest dogs ever. My 3 year old son rags our dog all over the place, and the dog nibbles his ears it is so funny. The most important part is they are the cutest puppies ever...

Answer 9

Australian Cattle Dog - also known as a Blue Heeler or Queensland Heeler. They are medium sized, with a short coat: extremely loyal and devoted to their master or family, but very cool to strangers. I have found them to be easy to train and very intelligent. They so love their property that they tend not to roam, and mine always stay very close to me when walking. They are excellent watch dogs. Most do not aimlessly bark at nothing, but they will throw up a huge ruckus when strangers come around. Go to any of the websites about them to do further reading. Good luck on your dog hunt. Mine once bit a stranger that came in our garage, but has never tried to bother anyone off of the property or house.

Answer 10

I have had several Staffordshire Terriors.
Medium to large Female around 40 to 50 pounds. Male a little larger.
Great loyalty, would fight to the death for you.
Great companion, they like to lay at your feet.
Very smart and learn quickly.
Short fur, doesn't shed much.
Loves kids and is great family dog.

Answer 11

i'd have to say a staffordshire bull terrier..
easy to train loyal, protective, friendly, very loving & funny.
short hair, not too large loves excercise & playing. good with kids. best breed there is. everything in that little package.
what ever breed you pick first look up on breed sites
for temperament etc so that you can make an informed choice.. good luck!

p.s the shitzu they are quite aggressive..staffy temperament
average at 85%.. higher than collies, retrivers, spanials..
the staffy will protect you with their life..