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Help Choosing a Dog Breed
August 12, 2008 5:19 PM   RSS feed for this thread Subscribe

Help me choose a new dog. I've been looking at different breeds and have come up empty. Here's my list of things to consider. Please ask if there is more that you think is relevant. We have kids from infant to 7. We have 1 middle-aged cat. We have a suitable yard that I don't want destroyed. I love the size and look of border collies. I love the look of irish setters. I love the look of bassets and beagles. Central Iowa, but dog would sleep indoors. Exercise is a daily walk. Simply trained; no complex tricks, just sit, stay, heel, fetch.
posted by kc0dxh to pets & animals (50 comments total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
I love my Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Athletic, but small enough to get some exercise around the house. Very loyal, very loving, great with kids. Total chick magnet, not that that matters.
posted by GamblingBlues at 5:22 PM on August 12, 2008


an American Shelter dog is a friend for life.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 5:26 PM on August 12, 2008 [12 favorites]


be very cautious about getting a dog based on their "look" - different types of dogs have different temperaments - finding the right one for you and your family will involve more than appearances. beagles are barky - don't get one if you want a quiet dog. border collies are incredibly motivated and energetic - don't get one if the extent of exercise will be one daily walk.

sounds like you are a very good candidate for a trained dog that is a couple years old. have you visited any local humane societies or shelters?
posted by gnutron at 5:29 PM on August 12, 2008 [5 favorites]


A border collie would most likely destroy your yard. They are extremely loving and intelligent, but are working dogs with endless energy, and want to run, run, run. Without tons of exercise, they'll run in circles or dig. Just huge amounts of energy.
posted by jeff-o-matic at 5:30 PM on August 12, 2008 [1 favorite]


Border collies are easily trained[1] and very smart. When I was a kid, we had a dog that was a cross of a border collie and a hound that we got at a shelter. We found that the border collie's ability to have a large vocabulary of things it understands (e.g. "Go to the kitchen" or "It's hot!") made it a great family dog. Anyone in the family could tell the dog what to do and it would do it.

[1]As far as training a dog goes, that is. Most people don't seem to be able to achieve the level of constistency required to do the job right, regardless of the dog. I went to the dog training classes with my Dad, and the first thing the guy said on the first day was, "There are 30 dogs in this class. I've been doing this for 25 years and I can tell you right now that no more than 5 dogs will graduate [that is: respond to commands to come, sit, stay, heel, lie down, and roll over on the final week]. And for the ones that don't, it's not the dog's fault."
posted by winston at 5:41 PM on August 12, 2008


Of the ones you list, I'd strike out border collie, Irish setter and beagle. The key factor, though, is your kids. Golden labs are the most common dogs and everyone thinks they're wonderful, but more children are bitten by labs than another breed.

Boxers and Viszlas are usually good with kids and cats, but more than anything else ... YMMV!
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 5:45 PM on August 12, 2008


Border collies are ADHD with boundless energy. Irish setters are as dumb as a sack of hammers. Beagles are barky, and a basset hound once bit me.

Therefore you cannot have a dog.

No, seriously. Get a mutt from a shelter.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 5:45 PM on August 12, 2008 [7 favorites]


Our dog is a shelter special; she is part border collie (by her looks) and part something really mellow (by her behavior). We got her when she was an adult dog - she'd been dropped off, apparently, because her owners went to an apartment that didn't take dogs. It may also have been because she sheds like crazy. But she came pretrained - she can sit, stay, lie down, and is housebroken. So my vote is to save a dog from the pound!
posted by dpx.mfx at 5:46 PM on August 12, 2008


I've lived with a few different dogs these past few years (different roomates) and I gotta say that the pitbulls i'm living with now are the best dogs I've ever been around. My roomate last year had a yellow lab that was just horribly trained and shit in the house everyday, ate the trash whenever we were gone, and shed all over the place. It was a nice dog, just had a bad owner. Both pitbulls I have now are owned by two different roomates and they weren't trained profesionally or anything but they just naturally seem to behave really well. They are very affectionate (one's almost too affectionate, she likes to sleep next to someone's face), they are great around strangers and other dogs, and they hardly shed at all. We live in an apt complex and they've gotten to the point where we don't use leashes for them anymore but it's not like we ever trained them or anything. I've never once heard either of them growl violently (they bark at squirrels though), I had never really been around pits before this year and after the whole Michael Vic thing I was kinda hesitant but now I just love em, I hope to get one of my own eventually. I've lived with labs, yorkies, a mini shnauser (sp?), a beegle mix, and chiauahas (don't get one of these, loud as hell) and these pitbulls are the best I've been with.
posted by BrnP84 at 5:46 PM on August 12, 2008


Giant schnauzer. No shedding, no ADHD collie/retriever traits, loyal, no hip problems, great with kids, smarter than humans, and just doggone great to look at. A Giant is NOT a mini-schauzer; different breed altogether (working v. terrier). Not a yip-yapper by any means.

I grew up with bassets, collies, shepherds, etc... and the Giant is the one breed that I will always, always have with me.

P.S. We're in central Iowa, too, and my Giant absolutely loves the snow and wintery weather.
posted by webhund at 6:00 PM on August 12, 2008


I'm aware that border collies are not the right fit for my household due to their need for activity and instruction. I only listed them to show what I like for size.

Thanks for the replies so far. Keep them coming!
posted by kc0dxh at 6:20 PM on August 12, 2008


Sounds like you're looking for a Miniature Dachshund. They're good with kids, (usually) get along with cats, aren't exceptionally noisy like Beagles, aren't notably energetic (well, ours can run pretty fast...may try out for a Land Speed Record at Bonneville next year), and can do pretty well with a walk or two a day. Plus so far ours hasn't dug up the yard like our previous dogs have. On the down side, he eats anything he can, and begs pitifully if anyone in the house is eating anything. And he was kind of tricky to housebreak, but he's pretty consistent about going outside now. He is the most "hands on" dog I've ever had, in that he wants to always be on or near one of us regardless of what we're doing...this is where having the cat comes in handy, as "dachshund distraction", plus they play together if there's nothing else to do or if no one is around to sponge food from.
posted by motown missile at 6:34 PM on August 12, 2008


What BitterOldPunk said.
posted by snowjoe at 6:34 PM on August 12, 2008


Almost everyone I know with a dog got it from a shelter or a rescue society, and they are uniformly wonderful dogs with no behavior problems. In some areas, probably with no-kill shelters and good sterilization programs, maybe a lot of shelter dogs come with serious problems, I don't know. But in most places shelter dogs are severely selected for good behavior — the biters and the snarlers get euthanized to make room for the adoptable, friendly dogs.

Some are mutts, some are purebred, and they are of all sizes. You know what size of dog you want, and you probably know what activity level, independence, and other characteristics you want; an adult dog that has already lived with kids and a cat will be a much smoother fit than a high-octane puppy. A few hours visiting shelters will probably give you a number of candidates that could work well for your household. A good shelter, and most rescue groups, will help evaluate the fit between the dog and your household.

I think my point (aside from that my heart melts every time I meet a sweet doggy that was adopted from a shelter) is that the individual dog matters a lot more than the breed in terms of behavior, and your training and consistency (or lack thereof) will trump both the breed and the individual dog in terms of what sorts of outcomes you get.
posted by Forktine at 6:44 PM on August 12, 2008 [4 favorites]


re: Bassets? And liking the look of them?

We have had one for over a year now, chosen after much research and many emails back and forth from a family who gave her up at two years old, already trained and raised with kids; supposedly given up because she had too much energy for them; we figure it's more likely because she has an expensive eye condition and we were duped. In many ways, she's lovely -- she's great with our four-year-old daughter, she's got the right amount of energy for us and she's a great size for our city home. She's sweet, friendly, fine with the cat after they sorted themselves out, not too barky and does have a great temperament. Many websites will say they're the best with kids, and that really swayed me. BUT, as I've found and further research has proven that I'm in good company - she's very very very very drooly, sheds a lot, needs her nails cut practically weekly, really needs a big long sniffy walk daily as well as yard time, and would prefer never to sleep on the floor, ever; as well as being stubborn in fifty other different ways. As well, we need to be careful of her back and legs, she needs a winter coat as her belly is near hairless and the snow is deep and salt is irritating in Toronto, and she has that "hound smell", and like many hounds will bolt after squirrels, other cats, raccoons and dogs in the park across the street if she gets out accidentally. She will get into the garbage if its smelly and will steal food from our daughter no matter how hard I've tried to dissuade her and how many techniques I've adopted. She has one hole in the back yard that she's dug, though the rest of it is just fine, and we have dubbed it her "wallow" because one of her nicknames is FurPig. Like other Bassets, she's food, not praise-motivated and not keen on fetch so much as "go sniff it then bark at it."

Can I please suggest that while they're lovely, they're not the breed for your family? Aside from not being very simply trained - they're a lot of work on a daily clean-up basis. And it's a long commitment. Not that we're counting on our fingers, but one of the bright sides is that well, we're three years into a breed with an expected lifespan that's on the lower end of the scale for dogs. After that, we're going to get another Rottie - the one we had for ten years before our current beast was the best dog I've had in my lifetime of dogs, and it was in part due to her breed characteristics and the time I was able to put into her.

To be more helpful, I'd suggest finding a local agency that shelters/rehomes dogs, perhaps through Petfinder; one that will "screen" not just the dog for your family - but your family for the dog? With kids, it's so hard to spare the time and energy. It's nice to have that step ahead. While puppies are cute and all, and smell like pee and cedar chips and are made out of rubber with needles for teeth and I love them - they eventually become dogs. And there are too many good dogs that already need homes - I'm sure there's a good one out there for your family. Good luck!
posted by peagood at 6:45 PM on August 12, 2008


Rhodesian Ridgeback. Mild-tempered and sweet.

Although I do second Fortine's opinion. Our family has always had mutts from the pound, and they are sweet, easily trained with hearts of gold.
posted by cachondeo45 at 6:45 PM on August 12, 2008


Don't worry too much about a specific breed. Definitely check out the Humane Society dogs, ask volunteers if they know anything about the dog's personality, and especially consider one that is at least 1.5 years old. Hopefully that will be mostly past a puppy "must destroy!" phase. Of course, spend time training the dog and get your family on the same page about commands, limits, etc. Ask the Humane Society if you can take some time interacting with the dog if you find one you really like, and be sure to take your time choosing a dog. Petfinder.com is a good place to check out local dogs, and will show dogs who were rescued by local rescue groups.

On the other hand, I got my first dog (an Irish Water Spaniel - best dogs ever) from a wonderful breeder. She did not breed her dogs unless she had homes lined up. If you want to get a dog from a breeder, check out the AKC's Breeder Directory links. Do not go far from this list! The breed web pages will point you to responsible breeders.
posted by belau at 6:51 PM on August 12, 2008 [1 favorite]


I agree that it's best to adopt a dog, rather than buy one from a breeder or pet store. Hundreds of dogs and cats are euthenized everyday because shelters are overcrowded. Pet stores, internet "mail-order" breeders, and many backyard breeders are very bad sources. Believe me... you don't want your money going into the pockets of puppy mills. If you want a purebred dog from a breeder, contact your regional AKC Kennel Club and ask who are the reputable breeders.
A truly reputable breeder will tell you whether or not the breed is right for your family. If their breed isn't right, they can refer you to a more appropriate breed.

You can adopt a purebred adult dog or puppy through a breed rescue organization. Breed rescues are grass-roots organizations. They have a passion for their breeds and will give you lots of info. Many breed rescues have their dogs in foster homes. You can visit and see the dog in a home environment and ask questions about how it behaves with children, other dogs, etc.

You can find breed rescues, local shelters, and other rescue groups on Petfinder.com. Or use the AKC breed rescue search.

Mutts are great, too. I have a wonderful shepherd mix from a shelter. Try to find a shelter or rescue organization that has staff trained in helping people choose the right dog. Ask if the dogs are temperament tested. Temperament is very important -- for mutts and purebreds alike. Don't assume that a purebred will have the ideal temperament. They really vary.

About your yard... if you are concerned about the dog destroying the yard, consider fencing a separate section for the dog.

Have fun! Dogs are a joy.
posted by valannc at 6:52 PM on August 12, 2008


Cool Papa Bell: Did you perhaps mean Golden Retriever or yellow Lab? There is no such thing as a Golden Lab. As for biting, in general the more common a breed is, the more bites you're going to see from that breed, because of their high frequency combined with their irresponsible overbreeding. e.g. Cocker Spaniels. Check the CDC bite stats.

kc0dxh: It sounds like you have a realistic view of what kind of time you can devote to a dog, and also of what you want from the dog. You're an excellent candidate for breed rescue. These groups usually work with only one breed, e.g. Labs, and they vet all dogs and learn about their personalities before matching them to their new homes.

So let's say you choose a Lab as your breed. You'd Google "Lab rescue [your town/region]" and find the rescue groups near you. You'd look at their available dogs and email or phone the group. These groups are serious about rehoming dogs into their forever homes. And don't let the word "rescue" fool you. Most of these dogs aren't abused; they're usually given up for the ubiquitous/lazy reasons such as allergies, new baby, or "don't have time." Some also are given up by deployed military members or elderly owners who've passed away.

Rescue groups are diligent researchers; they're like social workers for dogs. They will work with you to determine which dog in their available pool would fit best with your family's needs and limitations. If they have no available dogs that would suit you, they'll usually keep you on a list.

I think you know that a Border Collie is simply not right for your lifestyle. A young Irish Setter or Beagle would likely be bored and destructive at your house, but older ones (3-5, say) might be ok with just a daily walk, as long as the dog is not left alone for long hours every day. But a Basset Hound sounds perfect for you! Why not Google Basset Hound rescue for your area and start a conversation about specific dogs that are available right now?
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 6:52 PM on August 12, 2008


Labrador or Golden Retriever

Good temperament, safe with kids, awesome amount of love, not great with the garden (Lab better than the retriever)

But yeah, anything apart from obvious fighting breeds. Get one from the pound, make a dog's day.
posted by mattoxic at 6:52 PM on August 12, 2008


Forgot to add: PetFinder lets you search shelters and rescue groups by breed, location, sex, age. Beware! You'll fall in love very easily.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 6:53 PM on August 12, 2008


Rhodesian Ridgeback. Mild-tempered and sweet.

You're kidding, right? Or where the ones that I met that tried to climb in through the car window to eat everyone inside unusually hostile?
posted by Forktine at 6:54 PM on August 12, 2008



About a year ago, while jogging, I ended up finding and (temporarily) taking home a lost, adolescent male Springer spaniel. God, he was a great dog. We only had him overnight, but I still think of him often. He was gentle, affectionate, well-behaved yet eager to play, and (most touching of all) he immediately flopped down on his back and submitted to our irritable, blind corgi-heeler mix (who, it must be admitted, wasn't all that impressed). I'd never paid much attention to spaniels before, but he converted me. And it sounds like a dog like him'd be a great fit for your household.

(Our blind corgi-heeler mix is also a superior beast-- but I get the sense that a short, odd, and in-need-of-human-service-animals isn't quite what you're looking for right now.)
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 6:57 PM on August 12, 2008


I would recommend a book like Paws to Consider - it may help turn up some factors you hadn't been considering.
posted by Jeanne at 7:07 PM on August 12, 2008


Everyone who said you should adopt from a shelter is on the right track. Go to several shelters, have your kids interact with several dogs. Get one that's out of the puppy stage. You might luck out and even be able to get one that's already house trained--our family lucked out and got three house trained shelter dogs in a row. Pay careful attention to what the shelter people say about the dog's disposition. They'll know the animal best. Pay less attention to things like breed--my mother has a pit/greyhound mix that is well behaved, obedient, great with children (or, at least, ignores them), not a digger, etc. etc. She'd been looked over several times because of her breed. Really, visit shelters, see what's out there.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 7:12 PM on August 12, 2008 [1 favorite]


>>Rhodesian Ridgeback. Mild-tempered and sweet.

You're kidding, right? Or where the ones that I met that tried to climb in through the car window to eat everyone inside unusually hostile?

My sister's dog is a mix of Rhodesian Ridgeback and American Staffordshire Terrier (aka "pit bull") and loves being cuddled and carries a little pink pig toy around. Absolutely the sweetest dog I've ever known.

Definitely don't judge a dog's future behavior by breed alone. A lot of it will be in how you train it and the way it is treated in your house.
posted by stefnet at 7:13 PM on August 12, 2008


I highly recommend the Irish Jack Russell Terrior. There temperment is not what you expect.

They're very smart. Very good with kids and cats. Very good at getting rid of moles. You exercise them by throwing a ball (and taking them for walks).

The only down side is they are a bit small (ours is 18 - 20lbs) based on what you said you were looking for.

But they're very cute too. (Scroll down.)
posted by jeffamaphone at 7:13 PM on August 12, 2008


For every post you get from someone saying "Yes! [Breed] is the dog for you!", there will also be a post saying "No! I had a horrible experience with [Breed]!", which is why people are generally advised to choose the dog, not the breed.

Someone above recommended the Giant Schnauzer, but just today I was knocked over at the dog park by an overenthusiastic Giant Schnauzer. Someone above recommended a Jack; my Jack is not great with kids, though we're working on it. I've met German Shepherds that are super sweet with kids and I've met somewhat vicious German Shepherds.

Go meet a bunch of dogs at the local dog park. Talk to their owners about what they like and dislike about their dogs. Then go to the SPCA and meet a bunch of dogs who need homes and families. Your dog will find you.
posted by judith at 8:19 PM on August 12, 2008 [2 favorites]


I would recommend an older (at least 3 years old) black labrador. For some reason, black dogs don't have a high adoption rate from shelters. However, labs are a very gentle, very family-oriented breed.

They will fetch for hours, which is a great way to give them plenty of exercise. They don't like being left outside alone - they are very much people dogs. For this reason, a lab is unlikely to destroy your yard if he has the choice of being near his people instead. My lab goes outside to do his business and then he wants right back in. He does enjoy walks, because he's with us, then. He also enjoys camping as long as we fix him an extra bratwurst on the grill.

The drawbacks - they do need lots of exercise. If you can throw a ball and take it for walks, it should be fine. They do shed ALOT. Regular brushing helps with that, but still - you're going to have to deal with lots of hair. I think it's worth it, though. A lab takes a long time to mature - if you get a puppy, you have at least 2 years of puppy behavior. My lab was really adept at ripping things up when he was a pup - we called it "labfetti." However, getting an older dog would eliminate this problem.

Also, if you put a pool outside for your kids in the summer, the lab will probably want to enjoy it, too. They love water.

But they are all around great dogs!
posted by Ostara at 8:21 PM on August 12, 2008


Best dogs ever:
Border Collie & Mutt mix - had from a pup, and he was smart, fun, affectionate, cute, calm.
Golden Retriever & Collie mix - adopted at @ 6 from a shelter, smart, sweet, affectionate, not entirely housebroken, calm, pretty, shed like crazy

Current dog: purebred Walker Hound, from shelter: high-strung, lots of health issues - some due to poor breeding, sweet, handsome, high maintenance, no brains at all.

Consider a poodle or poodle mix; they're smart and don't shed much.
posted by theora55 at 8:52 PM on August 12, 2008


I love my Border Collie, but if I didn't love her, I'd kill her for her ADHD tendencies and general highstrung behaviour. Nthing the mutt from the pound.
posted by liquado at 9:00 PM on August 12, 2008


I've had 3 English Springer Spaniels, the first was smart, loyal and was very self assured, best dog I ever had but she didn't live long do to a car accident. We had her less than 2 years.

The second was smart but had some behavior problems because she didn't get to hunt enough, she went to a nice family that lived in the country and she recovered well. We only had her about 4 years but she lived a full life.

The 3rd was somewhat retarded (she was sick as a pup and we think she had some brain damage), completely gun shy and annoyingly clingy but she was SUPER friendly. She lived 15 damn years. I loved that moron.

Then we had a Golden Retriever who was rescued from a Breeder. Goldens have the most wonderful temperaments and she was no exception. I have never met a Golden who wasn't friendly they are the Zen hippies of dog. We had her about 8 years. They love the water if that's a factor for you.

Finally a couple of months ago we rescued a mutt. She was pretty traumatized by the first six months of her life so she is afraid of new people but NOTHING else. Seriously, loud noises, vacuum cleaners, black bears, nothing phases her. She's like Daredevildog: The Mutt with no Fear. Also, she's getting a little better every day with her fear of people so we have high hopes. No-kill rescue dogs can be a challenge so be aware, but this one has been worth the trouble.
posted by Bonzai at 9:39 PM on August 12, 2008


Absolutely, adopt a dog from a shelter.
posted by lois1950 at 9:58 PM on August 12, 2008


Six years ago after deciding I was ready for a dog I found a test online, similar to this one with questions regarding your lifestyle, your resources and what kind of dog you would like to have. (It may not have been the same test but it was very similar.)

The test returned two results: Italian greyhound and Boston terrier. I had seen a Boston terrier puppy a few years back and thought it was the most uglydorable thing on earth and so that's what I ended up with, and six years later now I still have never regretted that decision. My dog matches my lifestyle and personality so perfectly I am now fanatical about the breed.

So, if you are hell-bent on a full breed, take the test, then read up on the characteristics of the results it gives you. If you are into rescue, you can try a breed-specific rescue, or look for a mixed-breed pup with some heritage in the breed you want.

My husband has often commented that potential dog owners might find hanging out at the dog park for a few days and observing the behaviors of various breeds as good research.
posted by Brittanie at 10:24 PM on August 12, 2008


Nthing the shelter suggestion. All three of our dogs are shelter dogs and turned out to be great dogs. I won't lie and say they don't come with a few initial problems. But once they've settled in and realize that they're home to stay, you will not find a more grateful and loyal creature.

Definitely take your time with this. My method with our last one was that I'd scour the web sites of the various shelters and rescues every other day or so to see if there was a dog that fit my criteria. When I found some that I liked, I'd head over and visit with them. It took a while, but I found our Odie this way.

Good luck finding your dog!
posted by arishaun at 10:27 PM on August 12, 2008


Whoops...the code came in wrong...here's Odie
posted by arishaun at 10:28 PM on August 12, 2008


Shelties. Smart, personality, not too big, not too small, love kids, moderate exercise, not known for destructive tendencies. Oh, and they're damned cute.
posted by davidmsc at 11:13 PM on August 12, 2008


We got our dog from a rescue group, and she couldn't be more perfect for us. The characteristics that we needed in order to have a dog at all were:
The information that we had from the rescue group indicated that she fit all these criteria, and I also fell in love with her photo online. And they were right! We tell each other every day that there couldn't be a more perfect little doggy in the whole world for us. :)

The thing is that a good shelter or rescue group really, really doesn't want someone returning a pet, which is very hard on the animal - so they will try very hard to match you up with a dog that fits into your life, your space, your activities and your personality.

As a general data point, our dog is an unknown mixed breed, but our Vet thinks she is part terrier, part Siberian Husky. Maybe someday we'll do the doggy dna test.
posted by taz at 2:31 AM on August 13, 2008


I meant to add that she's around 2 or 3 years old. Also, here's a pic of our Sky, because I can't resist, and it's funny. Total people magnet, this dog; we've never had so many total strangers talk to us, and within a month of getting her, we became well-known figures to everyone in the neighborhood. The local grocery store clerks, store owners, and waiters and patrons at the sidewalk cafe all greet her by name. :)
posted by taz at 2:52 AM on August 13, 2008 [1 favorite]


Beware that there's about as much variation between individual dogs of the same breed as in the averages for particular breeds.

Also, consider getting a mutt from the pound. There are lots and lots of great dogs that need families. Mutts have fewer congenital problems also -- the gene pool is deeper.

Really, it's hard to go wrong with this advice: Go to the pound/SPCA, and they'll be thrilled to help you. Meet a dog and spend 30 minutes with it outside before deciding; you wouldn't be yourself when you're locked in a cage, either. Don't pick the first dog at least until you meet a few more.
posted by cmiller at 6:38 AM on August 13, 2008


Mutt. All the way. They really are the very best dogs in the world.
posted by hecho de la basura at 7:20 AM on August 13, 2008


I'm going to nth and nth and nth again the mutt suggestion. I've had mutts and purebreds and overall the mutts win, hands down. They're smarter, healthier and, IMHO, just all around better dogs. The best dog I ever had, the dog who helped me raise my children and with whom I shared 14 happy years of my life, was a German shepherd mix from a shelter in the Baltimore suburbs.

If you want more breed anecdotes, though, I have a collie mix and a purebred English Springer Spaniel and I wouldn't recommend either of them for a family with kids. My collie mix is too OCD and controlling and kind of needily neurotic and my Springer (we found him on the side of the road) while the sweetest dog in the whole world, is, uh, permanently earmarked for the short bus, given his astounding mental capacities. This is a dog who takes at least eight tries to figure out how to get a stick through the door. Each time. Also, he ate all my shoes, a couch, three chairs, part of the house siding, half my clothes and most of the CDs in the house before he started calming down around age 2. He makes up for all that with his total, absolute, complete and utter cheerful and loving temperament, but still. I used to have a real couch.
posted by mygothlaundry at 7:52 AM on August 13, 2008 [1 favorite]


Even though I love my Jack, the people suggesting mutts have a great point. When I was a kid we would get our dogs by going to the pound and whichever dog came over to you was the one you usually took home.
posted by jeffamaphone at 7:58 AM on August 13, 2008


Mutts often have the best temperaments, and the tend to make great "buddy" dogs. Also, they're usually a lot more resistant to diseases and breed disorders, since they usually get the better genes. Go stalk your local shelter and see if a friendly mutt doesn't adopt you. (It really is that way; you don't adopt the pet so much as they adopt you.)
posted by azpenguin at 8:02 AM on August 13, 2008


A Sheltie (Shetland Sheepdog) might be a good option. Ours looks like a collie, but is content to lay around and be calm. Smart little bugger, too. Good with cats and kids. Likes to play, but never gets rough.

Anyway, you're better off with a good shelter dog. We only got our sheltie because it was going to end up at a shelter anyway.
posted by krisak at 8:41 AM on August 13, 2008


Boxers are great pets, but they need lots of exercise when they're young. Otherwise, they are great with kids and cats, very loyal and goofy. Mid-west boxer rescues disclaimer: I'm involved with boxer rescue here, so hence my bias :)

Aside from the local humane society, there are usually rescues for most breeds, so they can help you determine if the breed is suitable to your lifestyle.
posted by glip at 9:19 AM on August 13, 2008


I also recommend shelter dogs, but if you want a purebred, Cardigan Welsh Corgis are awesome. My sister's Cardigan Welsh Corgi is the best dog ever. Great with kids, cats, not destructive, and just wants to hang out with his people. Also amazingly cute; I have actually had people pull over their cars and stop by the side of the road in order to get out and meet him.

But shelter dogs are very well screened these days and I'd also say you ought to go there first.
posted by OolooKitty at 10:14 AM on August 13, 2008


I've got two wonderful Shelties, but based on your description of what you're looking for, I would discourage you from getting one. Shelties are one of the smartest breeds--they thrive on training and dog sports like agility, not just sit, stay, heel, and fetch. Many of them are very high energy and need more than a daily walk--mine walk to work and back with me every day, then go on a long walk/run with my husband, then chase each other around the back yard. They are notorious barkers. If you get a barker, it can be managed, but only if you are a person who takes an interest in dog training and behavior modification. It can be a challenge even for those who are really into training. Sheltie rescues are full of dogs relinquished for nuisance barking. One of my employees was recently threatened with eviction because of her Sheltie's barking.

If you do decide you want one, you should look first to rescue, because that way you can be sure you're getting one that is a good fit for your family. With a puppy, you never know what it will be like when it grows up.
posted by HotToddy at 10:17 AM on August 13, 2008


You are looking for an American Eskimo! I love love loved my little part Eskie, who lived to be 17.

Support your local dog sanctuary! There is a national Eskie rescue organization called Heart Bandits, which has a chapter in Iowa - the local website can be found here.

I hope you decide to adopt an American Eskimo dog, but even if you don't I do hope you rescue a dog from a shelter or sanctuary.
posted by triggerfinger at 11:21 AM on August 13, 2008


I'm a bit late to the party, but I'm going to jump in here anyway....

You should consider this book: Why We Love the Dogs We Do: How to Find the Dog That Matches Your Personality, by Stanley Coren (Free Press, 9780 684 85502 8).Coren is a psychology professor who categorizes the hundred-fifty or so standard breeds into seven new groups based on their personality---"Friendly", "Protective", "Independent", "Self-Assured", "Consistent", "Steady", and "Clever"---rather than the purpose-based groups of the AKC, and uses a set of personality tests (derived from the Interpersonal Adjective Scales) that will help you and your family determine what kinds of dogs will actually be good for you---and, perhaps at least as importantly, what dogs you will be good for.Other books useful and good:
posted by FlyingMonkey at 10:26 AM on August 23, 2008 [1 favorite]


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