Did the type of dog your family had when you were a child influence the type of dog you have today?

Question

By "type of dog", I mean size, breed, color, personality, looks etc. Please feel free to elaborate.

TDCWH - Thats what I call polar opposites :)

Answer 1

No not really, we had a medium sized cross breed dog when I was growing up, but I had always wanted a Labrador from being small. Labs were expensive and my parents couldn't afford one, but I had Dino and was happy with him he was a lovely dog.
Once I was old enough and in a position to own and care for a dog I got the much longed for Labrador. I have now had four altogether, two girls Milly and Amy still with me, I will always choose Labs in the future they are just such loyal and affection dogs.

Answer 2

Kind of, but then again, not. My family's very first dog was a Chocolate Lab that my dad rescued at his work (it was running around without any tags and nobody claimed him). We didn't have a dog for a long time, but then my mom got a Dachshund and that's when I fell in love with the breed. Now I have two Dachshunds. So I didn't go the Chocolate Lab route, instead I took Dachshunds! I really would take any breed or mixed breed though. I'm open to having any of them.

Answer 3

I would say no as far as the size and breeds go. I was raised always having small dogs .We had a Cocker Spaniel, Mini Schnauzer and Mini Poodles. Mostly because thats what my mom likes and felt comfortable with around us kids. Now myself, out on my own I have An American Bulldog and a Pitbull. They are just as, if not more sweet than my childhood dogs, but intire different breeds. These are the kinds of dogs I favor , they are like big dumb adorable jocks. lol

Answer 4

Well that's a good question. I now have German Shepherds and have always loved them. We had a collie, a Chiuaua(sp), a rat terrier and a mutt (not all at once), so I am thinking not really. I begged for a Shepherd and finally got 1 when I was 15 years old. And I am 40 something now and have owned shepherds for 24 years straight now. Maybe the size influenced me, good and bad cause I found the smaller dogs are not my type.

Answer 5

Not in the least bit.
My first dog was when I was 14 and it was a german shep. Since then I've had other sheps, countless pits, rat terriers, large, small and in between sizes in a variety of shapes and colors.

Funny thing is I never thought I'd consider a small dog until a friend introduced me to rat terriers. She had one that was about 7 lbs and even at his ripe old age of 13 he would take on the biggest of dogs in the dog park. He had so much spunk and personality, I figured I had to have one of my own.

Best decision I ever made. My two little guys are the best!

Answer 6

My family always had small dogs when I was younger and I ALWAYS wanted the big dogs. I now have all big dogs. I never took to the small dogs I always thought the bigger dos were way better so I guess it did influence me now. In the opposite way, I would never have a small dog without the bigger dog. As I got older into my teen years my family got big dogs because of the horses. They were always in the barns and not allowed in the house. So now all my dogs sleep inside in bed with me just as I wanted them to do a long time age.

Answer 7

Gosh I don't know what happened. I had a toy poodle growing up along with a large dog kept outside in our yard. We lived in the country and I don't think we ever rescued a dog. I loved them all, especially my Poodle. We bred one of our labs too and sold the puppies.

Today I have a shepherd/collie mix who will be a larger dog. I rescued her from the animal shelter. I've always liked small dogs, but this girl stole my heart. Now I would never dream of getting a dog anywhere but the animal shelter. I wouldn't dream of leaving a dog outside and I wouldn't dream of breeding a dog.

Answer 8

I grew up with Black Labs. My first dog when I moved out was a rescue Lab/Shepherd mix. I think that was mainly because I was familiar with a larger breed. So, yes, that influenced my decision. After he passed, I had Italian Greyhounds and I researched for a year before I found a breeder.

I now own one dog and she is a 10 pound mutt.

Answer 9

Alex N.,
When I was a child our family had a Great Dane. I always said I would never get a dog that large. When I grew up I got a chihuahua and I love every inch of him. They make such wonderful pets. By the way they don't know they are small, they still have the pizzazz of a big dog.
TDCWH

Answer 10

Not at all. The dog my family had when I was a child was a Cesky Terrier.

I now have a Border Collie.

Two completely different dogs.