If you could have any breed

[sweetleaf]

of dog of course, which would you have, and why? ;D

Secondly but no less importantly, which would you avoid like the

plague and why?

Ill start the ball rolling by saying my dream dog is a Border Collie, Ive owned two, both the best, most easily trained, obedient tolerant beautiful dogs who's paws ever graced the earth. I didn't want any other kind of dogs after them, and I cant afford to go back to Wales and buy a good puppy. My Dogs were bred by a second cousin, and weaned on Trout from a local lords stream (poached of course) My cousin has passed on and his family gave up dog breeding, but if I could get another pup like Rhyddi or Ben who were Mother and son I would probably flog a kidney.

Conversely, I would never buy a small terrier because whatever they are like when young, I have always found that every terrier becomes snappy as they mature, although I'm willing to believe there are exceptions.

[andy]

I adore the breed of dog i have now.....English Springer Spaniels. Full of fun and energy.

I was bought up with German Shepards as my father was a dog handler with Sussex police so i have a soft spot for them too/

I would avoid any dog which doesn't have any character....i'm not a lover of greyhounds, whippetts and sulukis etc and i don't like small dogs either such as Yorkies and Jack Russells

[JennyWrenn]

I have always loved Afghan Hounds

When a small child I dragged a ball of wool around on a lead making believe it was one

I have just got one girl dog (apparently cant say bitch )and she would be my fourth - she is on my avatar

They are not easy to look after - highly strung, wont obey commands as they have too strong a spirit and all that grooming

Chris Amoo from the group The Real Thing won Best of Show at Crufts one year with an Afghan - he still shows and still has Afghans and also I think Wolf Hounds

Not sure what I would avoid but think would be a bulldog

J W x

[MamIDdau]

Well, personal experience would say another westie or a golden retriever because the two I currently know are such gorgeous dogs with fantastic temperaments. But I doubt I'd see another dog with the same personality so think I'd be disappointed and wish I'd got something like a chocolate labrador or border collie.

I'd never have a bull terrier or the such like because I was bit by one when I was younger-just chased me without provocation and bit my thigh (was later put to sleep) and my mum was bit by one when she was younger too so really don't like the dogs.

I'd have any cat though, don't care what breed but preferably one with fur......

[madonplants]

I have the breed I like. Rough Collie. They are loyal, great with kids and so affectionate. Downside is they can be a nervous dog (like ours when the fireworks are going off) and obviously need a lot of brushing! I grew up next to a farm so border collies, would be my next choice, followed by red setter, golden retreiver and labrador.

Breeds I won't have. Pitball, Rottweiller and any tiny dog! By tiny dog, I mean the ones I see get picked up after a ten minute walk, as they can't cope any longer! I still would stroke one just not have one.

Before they got banned, I met a Japanese Fighting dog that was a real softie, as long as it's owner was around. It's owner was the local park/heath warden and knew how to look after it. The first time I went around, as I knew the warden's son, I was 14/15 at the time, to see if this dog existed. I thought it was my friend bragging! It was the size of a great dane and it jumped up on me and licked me all over. The warden told me, that the dog was a great guard dog and I could understand why, but while his family was around he was just like my dog, a big softie. Most bad dogs come from bad owners!

Keith

P. s. Jlottie, why can't we have more dogs. Cats just kill birds, poop in your flower beds and not always there when you need them. I have had cats and believe me, dogs are far better, sorry!

[Plocket]

I'm with JLottie - I prefer cats! I do like dogs though but couldn't choose a particular breed - it depends on their personality.

A friend of a friend, years ago, had a huge bull dog called Winston. I was terrified of it the first time I met it, but the guy said that Winston was a softie, particularly when it came to females. Anyway, he and some mates had to dash out of the pub one day because someone was trying to break into his van, so he left the dog with me: Winston sat his chin on my lap and gazed up into my eyes, and I decided he was gorgeous! I felt very safe with Winston, in what was a rather rough pub!

Bull dogs would never be my first choice, despite Winston - but it goes to show that the personality and temperament of a dog is very important.

[Deleted]

A Labrador bitch - they are just the right size, not too small not too big. They are easy to train and very loyal. Have a soft mouth. Don't have long hair, so don't need loads of grooming. Being used as guide dogs says a lot about their temperament too.

I would never have any of the breeds bred for guarding or fighting for obvious reasons.

Wouldn't have - a hound as most hounds smell; terriers are vicious; dachshunds are prone to back problems; boxers have a lethal bite; border collies need loads of exercise and are really working dogs not pets.

[sweetleaf]

I know Border collies are working dogs... but they really do train beautifully and make great pets, for instance my Ben used to gently round up my son, in the park when he thought hed gone far enough.
He would always come back to me even when other owners had lost control because of a female on heat, and he was the only dog our headmaster allowed on the playground ! Heused to look after our elderly cat too and guide her to her litterbox when her sight failed, his mother had done the exact same thing for our 13 yr old westie when he got so old and blind that he couldnt find his way across a room.

[Deleted]

There are exceptions to every rule I know - I was generalising

I also like to be able to walk a dog in confidence knowing that it won't attack another dog. I've had two dogs attacked by boxers for no reason at all.

[Cheerypeabrain]

My favourite dogs have all been mongrels.. ;D

[paul r82]

I have a black lab and a border collie, they are so different from each other but are great in their own ways. They are both boys and get on so well.

I've had a golden lab and a golden retriever in the past and they were both great dogs too.

I would love a flat coated retriever or another golden retriever. My boss has 2 italian spinones and they are lovely dogs too.

if i had the room i would have loads of dogs. ;D

Not really into small yappy dogs, if you want something to sit on your knee for you to stroke get a cat.

[JennyWrenn]

Thought would just add Rita that as an owner of a Hound (Afghan) this particular breed dont actually "smell"

Their coat is a type of wool and if you collect it you can spin it and make sweaters and they hardly ever moult and leave hair on furniture etc

They also have a "perfume" gland around their head area and sometimes it is very strong - like a baby powder smell

But if they get wet - then that is when they do smell - can you imagine a woollen sweater getting wet - but dont know about other hounds have to say

J w xx

[Deleted]

jennywrenn said:

They also have a "perfume" gland around their head area and sometimes it is very strong - like a baby powder smell

J w xx

Ooo - I love the smell of baby powder - especially Johnson's ;D

I think most dogs smell like wet wool when they are wet

[Chuckles]

I don't really have a favourite breed or a breed that I wouldn't have. As a child we always had x breeds/mongrels small to medium sizes they all had lovely personalities and made wonderful friendly loving pets.

Since leaving home have had 2 JR terriers, despite what people say about them my two were the softest pair ever, not an ounce of snappiness in them. A black lab again a real big softy, we had a few moments with her and the terriers for the first few weeks but they soon got on with one another. Our first ESP was lovely and friendly but had a few phsycological problems, he was 12 months old when we took him on and fretted himself silly when left alone, unfortunately we were only able to keep him for about 6 months, very sad. We currently have another Springer she is now 12yrs old and a daft as a brush.

All our dogs have been both working dogs and pets, wonderful with children and well trained. We could even take there food away from them or a bone from them with no problems.

I tend to agree with madonplants that most bad dogs come from bad owners!. I also don't believe in paying a fortune for a particular breed.