Are there breeds you love and breeds you don’t get the appeal of? I think we all do – though I would be the first to admit that there are always exceptions to any rule. I love Border Collies – but I’ve met individual ones that aggravated me. And I am generally not a fan of German Shorthair Pointers (or Wirehaired Pointers, for that matter), but one of the sweetest, funniest GSPs is in my extended family and I adore her.
In my opinion, hunting dogs in general are some of the prettiest dogs there are. But if they come from a long line of hunters, I tend to find it annoying to walk with them. I enjoy walking with my dogs, interacting with them, racing and playing with them, and watching them scan and joyfully take in their environment. I do not enjoy feeling like I have to prevent the dog I am walking with from scanning the environment for small creatures that they might be able to kill. As such, I love hounds – but only the ones who aren’t into hunting!
I was raised around dogs who were bred to herd cattle – Kelpies and Australian Cattle Dogs and various mixes of these – but I tend not to enjoy the intensity, grit, and independence that these dogs are known for. However, I have lots of friends who enjoy them for those traits alone; some people prefer having somewhat aloof dogs who can take care of themselves without a lot of fuss.
I was an adult before I was introduced to the typically softer, more responsive Border Collie – still a herding breed, but one that tends to be more attuned to humans, more solicitous of our affection and approval than the tougher dogs bred to take the hard knocks of cattle herding. My BC Rupert, a “pet quality” pup who was practically given away (in contrast to his high-cost, sheep-herding prospect littermates), opened my heart forever to these sensitive and quirky dogs.
But as much as I admire purpose-bred dogs, I don’t want one for myself. I’m afraid I’m always going to be a mutt lover. I love big mutts and I cannot lie! I get such a kick out of trying to guess what mixed-breed puppies will look like– how big they will be! – when they mature. And I love trying to identify what breed their personality traits and tendencies may be attributable to – if any! My two most muttliest mutts – the two dogs that show the most breeds in their mixed-breed DNA tests – don’t show any particular traits that align with any breeds at all!
Are there breeds you’d never own? Do you always get dogs of the same breed? Or do you select dogs without regard to their breed?
I love dogs- all dogs, but know that not all breeds are suitable for my lifestyle. I am attracted to coated breeds, and appreciate a stunning coat. So I have one smooth coat mixed breed (AmStaffxGSDxRottie) who is certain that she is a 75# lap dog and sleeps curled up in a ball at my feet. I also have three Keeshonds. They have the gorgeous coats that I love (and don’t mind grooming), they are playful and cuddly and generally pretty calm once past the puppy stage (one of my current gang is a teenage brain nut case who has “forgotten” his training while exploring his independence). He is lucky he is so cute.
I’m a sighthound girl all the way!
In 1988, my small-town newspaper’s editor sent me to do a story on a local greyhound rescue. Naturally, I came home with a lovely young male (my contact was running late and I spent the time choosing ‘my’ dog). He was a silly, sweet, grateful and gentle soul…no one ever told me that I couldn’t let him run off leash, and in all our walks through all our years together he was perfect, on leash and off.
The same editor assigned another story on a local whippet breeder who also owned a business in the community. Well, what started out looking like skinny stunted greyhounds looked, perfectly normal a few hours later! That breeder and I were friends for many years, and I was lucky to have my first three whippets from her. I bred my next 7, and enjoyed sharing my life with them from 1990 to last year, when I put my last old girl down.
In 2017, I brought home my first windsprite pup. I’d admired these whippet cousins and their apparently universally friendly demeanor. (Pups from my first litter taught me much about living with sibling rivalry; my last three whippets were reactive to varying degrees. I felt I deserved a ‘perfect dog’ and thought a windsprite might be it. Turns out I was right.) These dogs possess much of what I love most about the whippets, but with hair and a more social attitude when in a group. Our gatherings are sheer joy on many levels, not the least of which is that all the dogs seem to get along and greet each other as long-lost cousins.
In addition to the social attributes, they’re beautiful, smart, athletic, a dream to train (this isn’t a universal truth since some are decidedly whippetty in the “But I did that last Tuesday” department) snuggly without being obnoxious and they keep the squirrels away from my bird feeders.
Along the way I had a fabulous miniature poodle — the best whippet a poodle could be — and occasionally think I’d like to have another small dog. Maybe a Norfolk terrier, or a pondengo pequeno…but in the meantime I’m planning another litter for this winter so that will keep me plenty busy for the next year!
By the way, I have a background as a vet tech, had a home-based boarding and day-care business that often resulted in 20-25 dogs under my roof, and I’ve been a professional trainer for over 20 years. I’ve known, cared for and loved a lot of other people’s dogs over the years. But never have I ever questioned that sighthounds are for me~
I could love many different breeds but, I have had Bouvier des Flanders for many years. I like a protective dog that is smart enough to know when I need protection. They are also very calm and quiet in the house. That I like. What I don’t like are people who look down on part bred dogs. The people in my kennel club get really upset that l bought a labradoodle to use as a therapy dog and she is a darn good too!