We have the name - now we just need the dog
August 4, 2013 8:01 AM Subscribe
Mr. Kitty and I are going to get a puppy soon. We need help picking out the breed for our dog Beauregard (Bogie)
We are getting a puppy, there is much rejoicing. We even picked out the perfect name (Beauregard - after PGT Beauregard, a first rate second class man). Yes we have had dogs before, yes we want a puppy (better to integrate with our cats/future kids). But we have debates on the breed to get. Here are our criteria for Beauregard -
1.) Must be a large dog - large enough that I envision grounding small children for riding him like a pony large. (We have a yard and live near Fairmount Park so there is lots of running space)
2.) Must be a guard dog
3.) Must be intelligent/trainable
4.) Preferred not to be a drooler
5.) Decent energy - I am looking for a dog to take with me on morning jogs.
6.) Must be ok with small children and cats
I am leaning towards a German Shepard or a Bouvier - but Hivemind - surely you know some other breeds that may work with our needs. So please tell me what dog should I start considering!
(As a side note - we will not be going to breeders/puppy mills for our puppy - most likely we will work with rescue foundations to get our dog)
We are getting a puppy, there is much rejoicing. We even picked out the perfect name (Beauregard - after PGT Beauregard, a first rate second class man). Yes we have had dogs before, yes we want a puppy (better to integrate with our cats/future kids). But we have debates on the breed to get. Here are our criteria for Beauregard -
1.) Must be a large dog - large enough that I envision grounding small children for riding him like a pony large. (We have a yard and live near Fairmount Park so there is lots of running space)
2.) Must be a guard dog
3.) Must be intelligent/trainable
4.) Preferred not to be a drooler
5.) Decent energy - I am looking for a dog to take with me on morning jogs.
6.) Must be ok with small children and cats
I am leaning towards a German Shepard or a Bouvier - but Hivemind - surely you know some other breeds that may work with our needs. So please tell me what dog should I start considering!
(As a side note - we will not be going to breeders/puppy mills for our puppy - most likely we will work with rescue foundations to get our dog)
Standard poodle. Bonus, no shedding.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 8:31 AM on August 4, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 8:31 AM on August 4, 2013 [5 favorites]
My standard poodle meets every single one of your criteria.
posted by amelioration at 8:32 AM on August 4, 2013
posted by amelioration at 8:32 AM on August 4, 2013
I actually logged on to suggest a German Shepard, then noticed you'd already thought of them. While they might not be big enough to ride as such, they are big strong dogs that could handle playing with the kids and they cover pretty much every other aspect you are looking for, allowing for the fact that not all dogs are the same even within a breed. There are also a lot of really good rescues specializing in German Shepherds so you'd have a good range of pups to choose from.
If you want to go super large like a Great Dane or a Bernese mountain dog, be aware it's recommended you don't run with them for the first year or so as in large dog breeds joints are still developing and you can get all sorts of problems. As it is our vet recommend my BIL didn't jog with his boxer pup until it was 8 months or so and it's joints had finished growing. Oh that reminds me a Boxer would most likely be a good fit too, super loving natures. Not sure if they drool but the one US Boxer I know doesn't.
posted by wwax at 8:32 AM on August 4, 2013
If you want to go super large like a Great Dane or a Bernese mountain dog, be aware it's recommended you don't run with them for the first year or so as in large dog breeds joints are still developing and you can get all sorts of problems. As it is our vet recommend my BIL didn't jog with his boxer pup until it was 8 months or so and it's joints had finished growing. Oh that reminds me a Boxer would most likely be a good fit too, super loving natures. Not sure if they drool but the one US Boxer I know doesn't.
posted by wwax at 8:32 AM on August 4, 2013
Why not a pit bull? If you're getting a puppy, you can definitely train them to be good with kids/cats. Plus there are tons of pittie puppies. Plus, adorable!
posted by Ms Vegetable at 8:48 AM on August 4, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by Ms Vegetable at 8:48 AM on August 4, 2013 [3 favorites]
Great Danes are nervous, gentle, sweet and enormous.
posted by windykites at 9:01 AM on August 4, 2013
posted by windykites at 9:01 AM on August 4, 2013
Great Danes, the various Mastiffs and livestock guardian dogs (Pyrenees, Maremma, Anatolian, Akbash...) are all good guard dogs but with low prey instinct (won't eat cats if raised with them). Please don't let kids ride dogs, any dog large enough for this to seem possible will almost certainly have joints that can barely support their own weight. Since you are looking for a rescue, you might consider a livestock guardian/herding dog cross. These crosses happen by accident due to the fact that these two types of working dogs are in close proximity, but the cross is not usable as a working dog - hence the puppies ending up in rescues. But since you are not herding sheep, the extra energy of a Australian Shepard mixed with the guarding instinct of a Pyrenees might be ideal.
posted by 445supermag at 9:13 AM on August 4, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by 445supermag at 9:13 AM on August 4, 2013 [3 favorites]
I sometimes live with a Great Pyr and she hits most of your list: enormous, herder, actually not a drooler, good with kids. But she is 120 pounds of beloved and lazy fur, and the opposite of a good walking/running partner especially when the temperature is above 70. A cross might work, but be prepared to pick fur from your outfits for forever.
posted by jetlagaddict at 9:30 AM on August 4, 2013
posted by jetlagaddict at 9:30 AM on August 4, 2013
Australian cattledogs (aka heelers) are loyal, energetic, intelligent, protective of their people, and handsome to boot.
We rescued ours 12 years ago and all the grandkids adore him. From the time they were babies, he's been gentle and sweet with them, while also keeping a close eye when we're out and about. Some can be heel nippers, so the rescue agency should help you find one who doesn't do that. Ours never has. We can't imagine ever having another breed.
posted by Gusaroo at 9:31 AM on August 4, 2013
We rescued ours 12 years ago and all the grandkids adore him. From the time they were babies, he's been gentle and sweet with them, while also keeping a close eye when we're out and about. Some can be heel nippers, so the rescue agency should help you find one who doesn't do that. Ours never has. We can't imagine ever having another breed.
posted by Gusaroo at 9:31 AM on August 4, 2013
We have a tibetan mastiff mixed with aussie shepherd and/or bonus terrier. It made for an incredibly mellow, guardy, medium-energy non drooly dog that loves to ski and hike and play.
Ours happened to get a lot of the "35 pound" genes and not so much of the "85-120 pound" genes, but some kind of tibetan mix should be on your list of possibles.
posted by Pantengliopoli at 9:34 AM on August 4, 2013
Ours happened to get a lot of the "35 pound" genes and not so much of the "85-120 pound" genes, but some kind of tibetan mix should be on your list of possibles.
posted by Pantengliopoli at 9:34 AM on August 4, 2013
Best answer: Seconding Boxer - big(ish), healthy joints for running, not too messy (low maintenance), very intelligent, gentle but protective. As for kids and cats, this depends on the specific dog and the dog's training. The boxers I know are very friendly with their human baby siblings. If training the dog to be a true "guard dog" please be aware of the legal and administrative burdens that may come along with this (if just looking for a dog that looks scary and barks menacingly, then carry on). Also, there may be (misguided) breed restrictions in your locality.
If you can make a trip into NYC, maybe check out Meet the Breeds next month.
posted by melissasaurus at 9:38 AM on August 4, 2013
If you can make a trip into NYC, maybe check out Meet the Breeds next month.
posted by melissasaurus at 9:38 AM on August 4, 2013
A Doberman. Absolutely beautiful and highly trainable, loyal creatures.
posted by Dragonness at 9:46 AM on August 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Dragonness at 9:46 AM on August 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
Great Pyrenees are awesome with kids and can be protective/intimidating by presenting themselves as an immovable force. I think you're also right on with German shepherds, and luckily, rescues/shelters are full of well-tempered shepherd mixes in all sizes.
I think it would actually be easier to browse through/talk with rescues for dogs that meet your requirements than settling on a specific breed. Many of the better rescues in my area foster their animals and provide detailed information about the dog's personality and physical traits/requirements (and pics of course) so you can run down most of your list just by browsing online.
posted by rawralphadawg at 9:49 AM on August 4, 2013 [2 favorites]
I think it would actually be easier to browse through/talk with rescues for dogs that meet your requirements than settling on a specific breed. Many of the better rescues in my area foster their animals and provide detailed information about the dog's personality and physical traits/requirements (and pics of course) so you can run down most of your list just by browsing online.
posted by rawralphadawg at 9:49 AM on August 4, 2013 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Came in to say Rhodesian Ridgeback, not disappointed :]
They are big -- especially the males, super sweet, very good with children and (ours always were) cats. Not a drooler, very light shedding, very trainable, and just not a mean bone in their body. I will say that they tend to be a little dumb*, but I love that in a dog. Smart dogs are far more work! They are not generally barkers, but they WILL bark a deep and scary-sounding bark if someone is poking around the outside of the house. Ours were always couch potatoes, but they have good running endurance.
*Mine growing up would sometimes get his two front feet over a low landscaping wall and then forget that he had to also get his hind feet over it. He also occasionally walked into walls. But he was absolutely the most sweet and tolerant dog with kids and cats, both of whom would use him as a pillow.
posted by fiercecupcake at 10:11 AM on August 4, 2013
They are big -- especially the males, super sweet, very good with children and (ours always were) cats. Not a drooler, very light shedding, very trainable, and just not a mean bone in their body. I will say that they tend to be a little dumb*, but I love that in a dog. Smart dogs are far more work! They are not generally barkers, but they WILL bark a deep and scary-sounding bark if someone is poking around the outside of the house. Ours were always couch potatoes, but they have good running endurance.
*Mine growing up would sometimes get his two front feet over a low landscaping wall and then forget that he had to also get his hind feet over it. He also occasionally walked into walls. But he was absolutely the most sweet and tolerant dog with kids and cats, both of whom would use him as a pillow.
posted by fiercecupcake at 10:11 AM on August 4, 2013
Okay, I'll be that guy. Why do you 'need' a guard dog? If it's to actually defend or protect your family, this is a misplaced need. Very few dogs will actually defend their people beyond biting once and running. If you watch enough COPS, you'll see plenty of instances of trained police dogs letting go and getting the hell iut of Dodge the moment someone hits them with intent to harm.
Unless you're willing to spend a vast amount of time doing schutzhund training, or willing to get a trained guard dog and hire a professional handler, it's extremely unlikely that you need or really want a guardian dog. Most people saying this just want a deterrent. At home, pretty much any dog is a deterrent. On walks, anything not small.
If you rwally want a guard dog, fuck it... just get a black russian terrier. Horrifying things bred by the kgb to eat dissidents.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:41 AM on August 4, 2013 [6 favorites]
Unless you're willing to spend a vast amount of time doing schutzhund training, or willing to get a trained guard dog and hire a professional handler, it's extremely unlikely that you need or really want a guardian dog. Most people saying this just want a deterrent. At home, pretty much any dog is a deterrent. On walks, anything not small.
If you rwally want a guard dog, fuck it... just get a black russian terrier. Horrifying things bred by the kgb to eat dissidents.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:41 AM on August 4, 2013 [6 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks for the warning about joints in young dogs! I will definitely keep that in mind - also - to assuage any fears - the "riding the dog like a pony" was more For illustration of desired size than actual plans. Keep the recommendations coming!
posted by Suffocating Kitty at 10:41 AM on August 4, 2013
posted by Suffocating Kitty at 10:41 AM on August 4, 2013
You want a pittie. Really, you do. Pitties raised with proper training are big lovable babies who will adore and protect your own babies.
In my dog rescue world, I transport litters of pittie or pittie-cross pups EVERY WEEK. They are one of the most common dogs out there. You will have your pick of litters, if you tell a rescue you're willing to take a pit.
Seriously, you want a pit!
Also use the search terms "bull terrier", "bully breed", "AmStaff', "Staffy" and "Staffordshire" when looking. Pit bull is technically a misnomer.
Good luck and thanks for rescuing!
posted by SuperSquirrel at 10:45 AM on August 4, 2013 [3 favorites]
In my dog rescue world, I transport litters of pittie or pittie-cross pups EVERY WEEK. They are one of the most common dogs out there. You will have your pick of litters, if you tell a rescue you're willing to take a pit.
Seriously, you want a pit!
Also use the search terms "bull terrier", "bully breed", "AmStaff', "Staffy" and "Staffordshire" when looking. Pit bull is technically a misnomer.
Good luck and thanks for rescuing!
posted by SuperSquirrel at 10:45 AM on August 4, 2013 [3 favorites]
I had a Bouvier. He fit all of your requirements. Even-tempered. High energy out of doors. Low energy indoors. Did not drool. Two-year-old tried to ride him. Smart. Barked when strangers came to the house. Stopped barking quickly. No burglar would have wanted to face him. Did not shed -- though he had to be groomed or shaved.
Gosh, I miss him.
posted by Native in Exile at 11:04 AM on August 4, 2013
Gosh, I miss him.
posted by Native in Exile at 11:04 AM on August 4, 2013
Thirding heelers, Australian Cattle Dogs. They are highly intelligent, fiercely loyal, good with children and frankly, the best dogs ever. If you have the space for it to run around then I can't think of a better breed that meets all your criteria. They are also beautiful looking dogs - I'm partial to the Queensland reds myself, with the stocky legs, but they are all lovely.
posted by goo at 11:14 AM on August 4, 2013
posted by goo at 11:14 AM on August 4, 2013
I once knew a German Shepherd/Rottweiler mix who was the sweetest dog ever and totally smart--maybe a dog along those lines? Bernese Mountain Dogs also seem great though I have never known one well.
posted by mlle valentine at 11:15 AM on August 4, 2013
posted by mlle valentine at 11:15 AM on August 4, 2013
Best answer: Re: Ridgebacks - A neighbor just got a puppy, very high energy and extreme prey instinct: really goes after birds in the yard. They have cats, so I think its ok since it was a puppy. I've heard that Ridgeback puppies that are born without the ridge used to be euthanized, but public outcry has changed things so that they can be neutered and adopted - this might be a way to get a rescue puppy.
posted by 445supermag at 11:19 AM on August 4, 2013
posted by 445supermag at 11:19 AM on August 4, 2013
If you live in a city and in a place it's warm more than cold get a dog that can deal with that. Some breeds are not the kind of dog that you can take to the coffee shop and tie up outside or that will tolerate a lot of strangers and goings on. Some wander. Shorter haired dogs make much better running companions (I can barely run with my husky if it's over 65) which seems to be your standard daily exercise. Similarly some dogs are built to run and some are not. I don't see a pitbull or a great Pyrenees holding up to 10 years of daily runs. Finally consider dog parks, city dog parks specifically. Is this part of your doggy quality of life plan? Get a dog that actually likes the idea. Mine hates small dog parks and playing with strange dogs so they are a total bust for us.
I have to say a ridgeback sounds perfect for you from what you've described.
posted by fshgrl at 11:29 AM on August 4, 2013
I have to say a ridgeback sounds perfect for you from what you've described.
posted by fshgrl at 11:29 AM on August 4, 2013
Do yourself a favor - get a mutt.
posted by yoyo_nyc at 12:35 PM on August 4, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by yoyo_nyc at 12:35 PM on August 4, 2013 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Just to clarify the guard dog requirement - we are looking for a dog that barks loudly and is suspicious of strangers. We are not looking for an "attack" dog that will be for defense of people/property. We want more of a deterrent than enforcer, if that makes sense.
posted by Suffocating Kitty at 12:52 PM on August 4, 2013
posted by Suffocating Kitty at 12:52 PM on August 4, 2013
I'll be a bad person and pro-dog. You don't really need a guard dog, do you? If you do, then I have to question having a dog or kids, and really advise against having both together. You do not want a pitbull type -- please read this article by behaviorist Gary Wilkes --unless it's an exceptional individual or you want your future child to witness something like this. You do not want any breed bred for or known for dog-on-dog aggression, no matter how well it behaves with people. And if the breed behaves well with people, that right there rules out guard dogs. You also don't want herding dogs unless you're okay with your child getting nipped; again, an individual dog might be an exception to a type. You also don't actually want an incessantly barky dog if you have neighbors in earshot -- having a mid-sized to large dog is plenty of deterrence all by itself. Seriously, get a black dog if you need that extra level -- it's good karma, too, since they are harder to adopt out since they look "scary".
Your requirements honestly don't come together in a cohesive way for me, and I disagree with some of the specific breed recommendations above. I'd let go of the guard dog/watchdog aspect right off. I'd get an adult black-coated retriever mix with a gentle mouth and good attitude and train the heck out of it. If I whistle? You bark. My own dogs have been trained to do this, and they are as far from a protection breed as you can get.
Do more research, read Childproofing Your Dog and other resources, meet individual dogs at shelters and rescues. There will be the right dog, and I sincerely hope it takes just one try and you're able to commit for the dog's entire life. Too many dogs are brought to rescues because the family had a child, or the child has just started crawling, or the child is tugging on the dog and the parents aren't setting limits to ensure the dog's comfort and safety.
posted by vers at 1:14 PM on August 4, 2013 [2 favorites]
Your requirements honestly don't come together in a cohesive way for me, and I disagree with some of the specific breed recommendations above. I'd let go of the guard dog/watchdog aspect right off. I'd get an adult black-coated retriever mix with a gentle mouth and good attitude and train the heck out of it. If I whistle? You bark. My own dogs have been trained to do this, and they are as far from a protection breed as you can get.
Do more research, read Childproofing Your Dog and other resources, meet individual dogs at shelters and rescues. There will be the right dog, and I sincerely hope it takes just one try and you're able to commit for the dog's entire life. Too many dogs are brought to rescues because the family had a child, or the child has just started crawling, or the child is tugging on the dog and the parents aren't setting limits to ensure the dog's comfort and safety.
posted by vers at 1:14 PM on August 4, 2013 [2 favorites]
I have a Pyr-Golden mix. He came to us as an adult and a few months later his guarding tendency came out. He's great with kids, adults (especially the elderly), and other dogs. Unless they try to come in our house. Everyone but us that tries to cross the threshold gets barked at and then nipped. Having a dog known for guarding takes a lot of advanced planning, time, and money we did not anticipate. Such as putting him at a kennel if we have weekend guests. Or making friends stand outside the front door while we manage his behavior.
I love my eccentric rescue dog. But I would never knowingly get a breed known for "guarding." (We didn't know.) It's a huge pain. And even though I feel sure he'd be great with our kids if we had any, I wouldn't want to have a dog biting people in the same house as my kids.
I recommend against a livestock guardian breed. Unless you 1) have experience with them or 2) live on some land and have an actual guarding job for it.
Any dog upwards of about 40 pounds is enough deterrent to keep burglars/evildoers from entering your house. And if someone went ahead and broke in despite the presence of your lab or boxer or whatever, they were going to do that even if you had a shepherd (which are not guard dogs btw) or a livestock guardian breed.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 1:41 PM on August 4, 2013
I love my eccentric rescue dog. But I would never knowingly get a breed known for "guarding." (We didn't know.) It's a huge pain. And even though I feel sure he'd be great with our kids if we had any, I wouldn't want to have a dog biting people in the same house as my kids.
I recommend against a livestock guardian breed. Unless you 1) have experience with them or 2) live on some land and have an actual guarding job for it.
Any dog upwards of about 40 pounds is enough deterrent to keep burglars/evildoers from entering your house. And if someone went ahead and broke in despite the presence of your lab or boxer or whatever, they were going to do that even if you had a shepherd (which are not guard dogs btw) or a livestock guardian breed.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 1:41 PM on August 4, 2013
Lots of non-guardy dogs will be enough of a deterrent, including lots of different farm dogs. Fwiw, if you're talking sbout this with dog people what you want is an alert dog.
Sorry to get stroppy. Didnt mean to but using the stoopid phobe kwyboard makes stroppies.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 1:56 PM on August 4, 2013
Sorry to get stroppy. Didnt mean to but using the stoopid phobe kwyboard makes stroppies.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 1:56 PM on August 4, 2013
Just to clarify the guard dog requirement - we are looking for a dog that barks loudly and is suspicious of strangers.
You might be looking less for 'guard dog' than for 'not overly friendly' dog. If you want someone who'll just alert you when there are trespassers, most dogs will do that. Mine will do that. I think you kind of want to start at breeds of dogs not to get. Beagles bark like bugles but fail on your 'must be ginormous' aspect. I have known several large bloodhound mixes that were so unconcerned with the comings and goings of strangers that they'd saunter up to your car in the driveway just to say 'yo'. Same with labs. So many have an attitude of 'You know what's great? People."
Also, conventional wisdom is large dogs age faster. I don't know the degree to which that's true, but it's something to consider depending on how tough a person you are (I'm a wimp so I couldn't handle it.)
Lastly, I know you mean you're just leaning toward a dog 'likely' to be good with kids but it's hard to predict and the best defense against any dog/kid weirdness is good training and making sure the dog learns to feel secure in the world early on (i.e., not skittish or any behavior due to inconsistent rewards or feedback. "Do it once, then do it a thousand times" is what helped our uptight, skittish little dog become the kind of balefully mellow dog who put up with our daughter's toddlerhood and came out with her dignity intact.
You have a tough set if standards in that you're both looking for a defensiveness/territoriality but also an extremely good nature. If you ever were willing to go smaller, much smaller, you might look at a lovely Schipperke.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 3:08 PM on August 4, 2013
You might be looking less for 'guard dog' than for 'not overly friendly' dog. If you want someone who'll just alert you when there are trespassers, most dogs will do that. Mine will do that. I think you kind of want to start at breeds of dogs not to get. Beagles bark like bugles but fail on your 'must be ginormous' aspect. I have known several large bloodhound mixes that were so unconcerned with the comings and goings of strangers that they'd saunter up to your car in the driveway just to say 'yo'. Same with labs. So many have an attitude of 'You know what's great? People."
Also, conventional wisdom is large dogs age faster. I don't know the degree to which that's true, but it's something to consider depending on how tough a person you are (I'm a wimp so I couldn't handle it.)
Lastly, I know you mean you're just leaning toward a dog 'likely' to be good with kids but it's hard to predict and the best defense against any dog/kid weirdness is good training and making sure the dog learns to feel secure in the world early on (i.e., not skittish or any behavior due to inconsistent rewards or feedback. "Do it once, then do it a thousand times" is what helped our uptight, skittish little dog become the kind of balefully mellow dog who put up with our daughter's toddlerhood and came out with her dignity intact.
You have a tough set if standards in that you're both looking for a defensiveness/territoriality but also an extremely good nature. If you ever were willing to go smaller, much smaller, you might look at a lovely Schipperke.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 3:08 PM on August 4, 2013
For what it's worth, pitbulls and bully breeds used to be called "nanny dogs". They were highly regarded as great family guard dogs, as they are fiercely loyal, good with children, and intelligent. The pits I've worked with were fantastic dogs, very trainable and extremely loyal from Day 1.
Purebred working dogs and herding dogs, like Australian cattle dogs, should be approached with extreme caution. Extremely intelligent dogs sound like a great idea, but are a lot of work. They require consistent stimulation and you should be prepared to spend daily time giving them tasks, whether through agility training or some other form of challenging training. If you don't do this they will amuse themselves by learning to open cabinets and tear into everything inside of them.
The bit about large dogs aging fast is indeed true. The average age of a Great Dane is 6-8 years. Something to keep in mind when looking for a horse-dog.
posted by Anonymous at 3:56 PM on August 4, 2013
Purebred working dogs and herding dogs, like Australian cattle dogs, should be approached with extreme caution. Extremely intelligent dogs sound like a great idea, but are a lot of work. They require consistent stimulation and you should be prepared to spend daily time giving them tasks, whether through agility training or some other form of challenging training. If you don't do this they will amuse themselves by learning to open cabinets and tear into everything inside of them.
The bit about large dogs aging fast is indeed true. The average age of a Great Dane is 6-8 years. Something to keep in mind when looking for a horse-dog.
posted by Anonymous at 3:56 PM on August 4, 2013
I have an Akita that will hit many of the things on your list. At 75 Lbs and 24" at the shoulder, she is small for a female. Her sire about 120 Lbs. As long as we welcome people into the house (or greet them at the door in the case of the pizza guy), she doesn't have a problem with them but she'll bark at anyone she doesn't know that tries to come in without us letting them in. When we're out and about, she is totally okay with meeting new people but she'll quietly put herself between us (especially my wife) and strangers, especially men. But I haven't really seen her use her "hey everyone, I'm dangerous" growl. She LOVES children and other dogs. Supposedly, mothers in Ancient Japan used to let them babysit their infants. She is curious about cats but cats don't seem to like her. If we had a cat when she was a puppy, I think they'd have been fine together.
She is really smart and VERY food motivated so she picks up on things fast but she can be kind of stubborn if she doesn't see the point of something. "Sit" so that I'll open the door and let her out works great, "sit" just because I say so, doesn't get the same response but I also don't put in all that much time with her training.
She loves the cold and does just okay when it's hot out. Her coat is thick so she can take the cold air inside out with her for a little bit. After 5 minutes outside, the surface of her fur will be warm but it's still cool next to her skin. After 20 minutes, she starts getting hot. I think early morning runs would be okay though. She loves nice long walks but I'm not a runner so I don't know if she would make a good jogging partner. They were large game hunting dogs in the mountainous areas of Japan (Elk and Bear) but the American Akita is bigger and more muscular than their Japanese counterparts so I don't know if they'll make good long-distance runners.
Beyond just not taking the dog running until their joints are developed you'll also want to work up to them going to full distance. Just like people, most dogs aren't going to be long distance runners from the start. You'll probably want to start with shorter distances, drop the dog at home, and continue with your run gradually lengthening the distance before the drop-off. The dog will need to learn to run with you and train up to that distance just like a new human runner would. The big problem with training a dog to run is that they won't complain so you don't really know when they're out of gas. If you take them running when it's warm, you'll want to make frequent stops for water too. Since dogs don't sweat, they pant and they can dry themselves out really fast that way.
An Alaskan Malamute would be similar to the Akita (see, I'm not completely biased) but, as sled dog, should be a better distance runner.
A Belgian Malinois will be VERY similar to a German Shepherd but tend to be a little slimmer and faster and have a few slight temperament differences.
posted by VTX at 4:09 PM on August 4, 2013
She is really smart and VERY food motivated so she picks up on things fast but she can be kind of stubborn if she doesn't see the point of something. "Sit" so that I'll open the door and let her out works great, "sit" just because I say so, doesn't get the same response but I also don't put in all that much time with her training.
She loves the cold and does just okay when it's hot out. Her coat is thick so she can take the cold air inside out with her for a little bit. After 5 minutes outside, the surface of her fur will be warm but it's still cool next to her skin. After 20 minutes, she starts getting hot. I think early morning runs would be okay though. She loves nice long walks but I'm not a runner so I don't know if she would make a good jogging partner. They were large game hunting dogs in the mountainous areas of Japan (Elk and Bear) but the American Akita is bigger and more muscular than their Japanese counterparts so I don't know if they'll make good long-distance runners.
Beyond just not taking the dog running until their joints are developed you'll also want to work up to them going to full distance. Just like people, most dogs aren't going to be long distance runners from the start. You'll probably want to start with shorter distances, drop the dog at home, and continue with your run gradually lengthening the distance before the drop-off. The dog will need to learn to run with you and train up to that distance just like a new human runner would. The big problem with training a dog to run is that they won't complain so you don't really know when they're out of gas. If you take them running when it's warm, you'll want to make frequent stops for water too. Since dogs don't sweat, they pant and they can dry themselves out really fast that way.
An Alaskan Malamute would be similar to the Akita (see, I'm not completely biased) but, as sled dog, should be a better distance runner.
A Belgian Malinois will be VERY similar to a German Shepherd but tend to be a little slimmer and faster and have a few slight temperament differences.
posted by VTX at 4:09 PM on August 4, 2013
I suggest the pit bulls despite those linked articles about them because stories of dangerouspit bulls all involve owners who are shitty dog owners, period. If you're a shitty dog owner, you will have a shitty dog no matter the dog breed. See: people who treat their tiny dogs like toys, and end up with dogs that are yappy and bitey as a result. These dogs aren't seen as "dangerous" by the general population because they're small enough that nobody ends up being seriously hurt by them.
German Shepards used to be considered dangerous, out-of-control dogs because they had their moment where unsavory characters liked them as "tough" dogs. Now they're seen as great family dogs. So consider the history of a breed, not just what the asshole down the street likes to own. If you are going for a purebred then I assume you'll be doing careful research on your dog's history anyway and will be able to talk to the breeder about the traits they've been selecting for.
posted by Anonymous at 4:12 PM on August 4, 2013
German Shepards used to be considered dangerous, out-of-control dogs because they had their moment where unsavory characters liked them as "tough" dogs. Now they're seen as great family dogs. So consider the history of a breed, not just what the asshole down the street likes to own. If you are going for a purebred then I assume you'll be doing careful research on your dog's history anyway and will be able to talk to the breeder about the traits they've been selecting for.
posted by Anonymous at 4:12 PM on August 4, 2013
Lots of recommendations for pit bulls above, which is probably not going to meet your large-to-giant desire--they're often only 30-40 lbs. However, American bulldogs have a similar temperament profile and are usually considerably larger--up to 120 lbs for males. Because of the bully breed prejudice, they can be a bit harder to adopt.
I'm not sure how successful one might be in finding any sort of purebred puppy through a rescue organization, to be honest, and a rare breed such as a bouvier even doubly so. I guess you can cross that bridge when you come to it, but it may be a good reason to think some kind of GSD or bully breed mix.
posted by drlith at 4:42 PM on August 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'm not sure how successful one might be in finding any sort of purebred puppy through a rescue organization, to be honest, and a rare breed such as a bouvier even doubly so. I guess you can cross that bridge when you come to it, but it may be a good reason to think some kind of GSD or bully breed mix.
posted by drlith at 4:42 PM on August 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
stories of dangerous pit bulls all involve owners who are shitty dog owners, period.
I strongly and with firsthand knowledge disagree.
posted by vers at 6:03 PM on August 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
I strongly and with firsthand knowledge disagree.
posted by vers at 6:03 PM on August 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
Wow. I would venture to guess that all the answers in this thread may have confused things more than clarified them for you. Don't worry. Its great that you are researching and asking questions, it will help in the long run, but don't stress over picking the perfect dog . I have heard it said, and believe it to be true, that you set out to get the dog you want and then wind up with the dog you need. Just like children, all dogs are individuals and no single dog will be perfect, but if you go in with the idea that they are a member of the family they will be perfect in your eyes. All dogs desire to please their people. If you need help showing your dog what you want them to do, be sure to find a good trainer. There are plenty of excellent resources out there.
Finally, whatever breed you choose, please plan to take DAILY walks of at least 30 mins with your dog (more if the dog is high energy). Walks together are SO important for bonding with your dog and they cure so many bad behaviors that stem from boredom and pent up energy. A yard, no matter how large, is not an acceptable substitute for daily walks.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 6:54 PM on August 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
Finally, whatever breed you choose, please plan to take DAILY walks of at least 30 mins with your dog (more if the dog is high energy). Walks together are SO important for bonding with your dog and they cure so many bad behaviors that stem from boredom and pent up energy. A yard, no matter how large, is not an acceptable substitute for daily walks.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 6:54 PM on August 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: You might want to reconsider your high-energy running-partner requirement, if the "future children" are in the *near* future. In all likelihood, the running routine will be out the window when parenthood upends your life, and then you'll have a dog with too much energy to be inside and mostly ignored for at least the year it takes you to get your basic equilibrium back...
posted by acm at 9:03 PM on August 4, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by acm at 9:03 PM on August 4, 2013 [3 favorites]
With a name like that, you need a Dogue de Bordeaux.
posted by brand-gnu at 11:08 AM on August 9, 2013
posted by brand-gnu at 11:08 AM on August 9, 2013
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