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 am on my 4th set of German Shorthaired Pointers! LOVE the breed. Our last one we had with a weimaraner. Love BOTH breeds <3 I may have a vizla in my distant future, who knows. But they are all such loves, and I can't imagine life without these breeds!
I have Shelties. I love that they are super intelligent, responsive and energetic. I like that they are big enough to be DOGS but small enough for me to easily pick them up if I need to. They also bark a bit too much but you can’t have everything…
I compete in Obedience and Rally and I also teach classes. I must admit that I’m happy to see other Shelties, Aussies and Border Collies in class and I DREAD seeing any kind of bulldog type. I absolutely can’t figure those dogs out. I like poodles, cringe at doodles and do not want to see a Cane Corso (is that the correct spelling? ). Pit Bull types are a mixed bag; I have known some good ones but have had some really sullen types in class. GSDs are generally easy to train as are the various Belgian Shepherd breeds. Terriers are, well, terriers.
Huskies are beautiful but generally have WAY too much energy and too little focus for the people who get them…
Love your comment,”terriers are, well terriers!” We are terrier people, so I know what you mean! We’ve have had as many as six JRT’S at a time along with a Westie and an Irish Setter. The Jack’s taught the Irish to be a terrier. Over my lifetime I have had many breeds of dogs: GSD, GSD/collie, pit/lab, Springer spaniel, min schnauzer, JRT, Westie, Irish setter, boxer/whatever, and a Cavi/ Chihuahua/min pin/etc mix. I absolutely adore Irish setters! They are so goofy and outgoing. Our second one, Darby, lived thru all our grandchildren’s babyhoods, and she let them crawl all over her. Best family dog ever. But we tend to like the terriers best, especially Jack’s and Westies.
Right now we have a Westie puppy (our second Westie), and the above mentioned Cavi-mix (a rescue.) While the Westie is very outgoing and loves everyone and every dog we meet, the Cavi-mix hates everyone but me and the Westie puppy. He even doesn’t like my husband, which is a different issue. I could find a place in my heart and house for any dog, well a Chihuahua would be a stretch…
I have had so many breeds as a child and thru my adult years. Each of them hold a special place in my heart. Some long hair, some short hair. Mostly mutts. All rescues. My newest baby is a Pit Bull (87.5% Staffy) who ‘told’ me he wanted to be a therapy dog. He had a tendency at 8 months old to lead me to wheelchairs, crutches, strollers and walkers. It’s as if he senses that person ‘needs’ him. He was right. He is a wonderful therapy dog. He absolutely loves people! And they love him. Even the people who are startled to learn he is a Pit Bull. Yep, I’ve had and loved many breeds, but I will only have Pitties from here on.
I had to smile at your description of border collies and Australian cattle dogs. So right on! Our dog Henry is a cross between a border collie and a cattle dog (mom a cattle dog and dad a border collie). He is the perfect blend of both – not too much like one or the other but with double the smarts. Even though both his parents were working herders, he did not get the herding gene. He’s just the best dog. Am I biased??? Probably.
All my life I’ve had dogs, mutts, am cockers, German shepherds, Dobermans, lab mixes, and three border collie mixes, also a Catahoula mix. Every one was loving and seriously affectionate. At this stage in my life after my current two have passed I am leaning toward a Border Collie. I would like a slightly lower key dog, more for companion who will be happy with obedience and agility. I like there size and ease of training, and their intelligence is phenomenal. Never been a fan of small yappy dogs, mostly because the few I have met were nasty little buggers. But I guess if circumstances warranted I could love any canine!
I’m a one breed gal…it’s German Shepherds for me. Their faithfulness, loyalty devotion, intelligence and protective nature can’t be beat….but I am indeed biased.
Although I am a Sheltie person I always enjoy working with German Shepherds. The ones I have known have been sensitive, responsive dogs.
We took in an abandoned long coated sable GSD. He was skinny, matted and filthy, about 2 years old (per the vet) and totally untrained. He was smart as a whip and the sweetest dog. Exactly eight years to the day after we took him in, he got out and was hit by a car. That was one of the saddest days of my life. RIP Nacho!
As a child I fell in love with Lady and the Tramp (my stuffed Lady still adorns my bed more than half a century later) and always loved — and love — Spaniels. I’ve had splendid “mutts” who were wonderful, but my Heart Dog was my English Cocker Spaniel who I had from 7 weeks to 16. Just my dream. I currently have an ECS-Springer cross who is a rescue and also a dear, dear lovable companion. Also shared my home with a Rottie (a love bear), a standard Poodle (the Happiest girl ever), and a rescue greyhound (a gentle giant). But I will always have an ECS.
My heart dog was Scooterpie Pinkpads, a Bull Terrier/ Basset mix. As she a pup she looked like she had a bull terrier head plopped on a basset body. But as she aged, when I would walk her in public, people would ask me if I had a giant corgi! She was a stray I rescued and the best dog ever!
Whippets since 1977!! We moved to Alaska without a dog and life without a dog just doesn’t work! Went to the pound and saw what I believed to be the most beautiful dog I’d ever seen. He was on his side not really moving much. Unfortunately they had him in a kennel with a husky puppy who was jumping all over him. I took a quick look around and decided he was the one. When I went to pay the fee the woman said, “Why do you want that dog? He’s just going to die.” Took him home, gave him a bath (he bit me) and it was family love after that! I’ve had whippets ever since. Affectionate, some can be weird but a good weird, and definitely fast. Great to have a large yard, fenced, so they can enjoy their speed and play races!
Thanks for sharing! The “he bit me” comment has had me laughing for five minutes. Tito the Chihuahua used to bite us on a regular basis – which always made us jump and yelp, but NEVER hurt. He had exquisite bite-inhibition but was crystal clear in his communication: He brooked no bullshit about people petting him or picking him up without permission. The first week we had him, I kept thinking, “What a little a-hole!” but by the time we had him for a month, I was his biggest fan.
Your comment “what a little a**hole” is cracking me up bcuz I totally understand! We have 6 long coat chi’s & 5 of them are everything u would never believe a chi could be… calm, level, friendly, & outgoing. Any of the 5 could change anyones opinion of chi’s… then, we have 1 who’s literally everything u’ve ever heard abt a chi in a single 3.5 lb pkg! Lol. She even bites me when I annoy her! But she’s also the sweetest, most loving, clingiest, neediest, Velcro pup (she’s 6 yrs old) on the planet & I adore her w/ everything in me! She attached to me 24/7 & I wouldn’t change her for the world.
I have mutts now and LOVE them. Had Dobermans (my velcro dogs) and sighthounds also. Loved, loved, loved them. All our dogs except for my first dog were/are rescues. Would not buy a dog when so many are languishing in shelters, but that is a topic for another day! Adore pits and pit mixes and tons of other breeds. So many I wish I could have. I am however, NOT a fan of Goldens. Actually, dislike them quite a bit. Find them unattractive and really annoying lol. Would have to say I would be dog-less before owning one. And that is saying a lot since, I can’t imagine not having dogs! Also, do not like Yorkies, Westies, and a quite a few other small breeds. I feel kind of bad saying that since I consider myself to be a dog person. But, I don’t like all people I meet, so I guess it is like that with dogs also, at least for me.