Looking for a puppy.

[bubba52782]

Goldendoodle or labradoodle. Very Smart, friendly, listens, loves kids, can train, no shedding.
Grew up with golden retrievers but the wife did not deal with hair, perfect compromise. Have a 5 and 7 year old and is perfect with then. My dog is 2.

We have a Bernedoodle. Same concept as a goldendoodle or labradoodle. Just with a poodle and bernese mountain dog for parents. She's absolutely awesome. Almost 2 years old. Best temperament for our three kids and loves people in general. Also the no shedding is an absolute game changer. I grew up with dogs and always dealt with shedding and wasn't really phased by it. Ours doesn't shed AT ALL and you completely forget about it until I go to my brother-in-laws and am around his German shepherd. Holy dog hair batman.

 

[Jack Brickman]

Ours doesn't shed AT ALL and you completely forget about it until I go to my brother-in-laws and am around his German shepherd. Holy dog hair batman.

Welcome to my nightmare. Mine is blowing his coat right now too so I have to vacuum about every other day just to keep things manageable in my place. I twisted my ankle late last week and didn't do any cleaning for about five days because walking around hurt and right now my apartment is a dog hair disaster. Thankfully the ankle appeared to be mostly healed when I woke up this morning so I guess today is cleaning day.

 

[Derek]

There would be no dogs without breeding. The reason we have dogs to begin with is because we took the wolf and over thousands of years bred it for desirable traits. Dogs didn't just exist. We took nature and bent it to our will. Dogs remain to this day the only large predator we've ever managed to domesticate.

Breeders, at least the good ones who only have a handful of litters a year and make buyers sign spay and neuter contracts, are not the problem. The problem is irresponsible owners who don't get their dogs fixed, and then dump a litter of puppies at a shelter. The problem is puppy mills that breed hundreds of litters a year with no regard for their health or well-being. The problem is people who get a dog and then find they can't handle it, so they dump it off on a pound or shelter.

Both of my current dogs required a contract to be signed. That contract dictated that I had to spay/neuter the dog by a certain point in its life. For the Shepherd it was by a year of age (the breeder recommended I wait at least eight months for proper development). I don't recall what it was for the Boxer, but she got done around the same age. The contracts also stated that, in the event that I find myself unable or unwilling to continue caring for the dog, I am to return it to them so that they can either keep it or place it in a new home. That, to me, is pretty responsible breeding.



It's not about certain breeds being superior or inferior. Different breeds absolutely have very different personalities. My German Shepherd acts nothing like my Boxer, even though I raised them the same. One is cuddly and affectionate. The other wants a job to do and likes a little personal space. When I buy a Boxer, I know exactly what I am getting. I value that, because I already know I like Boxers and that they fit how I like to live my life, very active at times but content to chill on the couch all afternoon on a 100 degree summer day.

There are certainly health issues with pure bred dogs, and likely always will be. But if you buy from reputable breeders, you nullify those risks to the greatest extent possible. My first Boxer lived to ten and a half, which is just over the average life span of the breed (which is 8 to 10 years). My Shepherd is going on 9 without ever having to go to the vet for anything other than his yearly checkup and vaccinations his entire life so far. The current Boxer isn't quite 3 yet and has thus far been healthy other than allergies, which are fairly common for the breed.

At any rate, the appeal of a pure bred dog to me is, as I mentioned, knowing what you're going to get. There are plenty of mutts that may act like Boxers, but I know a Boxer is going to act like a Boxer.

All breeders are a problem IMO

There is an overpopulation problem, and I'll never support a breeder of any kind until that issue is rectified. I'm not going to shun or scold, but I will continue to advocate for rescues over breeders 11 times out of 10.

 

[Cavsfan1985]

We have a Bernedoodle. Same concept as a goldendoodle or labradoodle. Just with a poodle and bernese mountain dog for parents. She's absolutely awesome. Almost 2 years old. Best temperament for our three kids and loves people in general. Also the no shedding is an absolute game changer. I grew up with dogs and always dealt with shedding and wasn't really phased by it. Ours doesn't shed AT ALL and you completely forget about it until I go to my brother-in-laws and am around his German shepherd. Holy dog hair batman.

I agree the no shedding is amazing. The other thing I love about the poodle mixes is that you can train them and are very loyal dogs. I love being able to take him for walks or be in the front yard and have him stay by my side or listen if I call him. We also have a beagle and while she is adorable, once she catches a scent she does not listen at all.

 

[Jack Brickman]

All breeders are a problem IMO

There is an overpopulation problem, and I'll never support a breeder of any kind until that issue is rectified. I'm not going to shun or scold, but I will continue to advocate for rescues over breeders 11 times out of 10.

Breeders exist to maintain breed standards, and considering that many dog breeds are utilized in specific jobs or roles, that's important. Yeah, Boxers are basically worthless as anything other than pets these days, but dogs like German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois are utilized by law enforcement and militaries across the world. Dozens of breeds are bred specifically for their hunting instincts, like my buddy who bought his German Wire-haired Pointer to take with him bird hunting. Others are used to herd animals, or to protect property or people, or to sniff out drugs or bombs, and the list goes on and on and on.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

There would be no dogs without breeding. The reason we have dogs to begin with is because we took the wolf and over thousands of years bred it for desirable traits. Dogs didn't just exist. We took nature and bent it to our will. Dogs remain to this day the only large predator we've ever managed to domesticate.

Yes...but what were the qualities for which dogs were bred then, versus the qualities for which they are bred now? Loyalty, obedience, intelligence, affection, etc. were the things early man would have been trying to achieve. All objectively positive qualities.

Now, it is generally purely physical characteristics desireable for aesthetic reasons. So, we've bred bulldogs, pugs, etc., to have those cute little pushed in noses/faces...with the result being lifelong breathing issues. We've got breeds that are predisposed to kidney problems -- my stepdaughter just lost her "well-bred" German Shepherd to kidney disease at the ripe old age of 2. Other breeds are predisposed to hip dysplasia, heart conditions, etc..

It's like we're deliberately creating a bunch of canine Hapsburgs.

Both of my current dogs required a contract to be signed. That contract dictated that I had to spay/neuter the dog by a certain point in its life.

And how would the breeder know if you, or any other buyer, did that or not? As opposed to you buying the dog and then breeding it yourself?

At any rate, the appeal of a pure bred dog to me is, as I mentioned, knowing what you're going to get. There are plenty of mutts that may act like Boxers, but I know a Boxer is going to act like a Boxer.

That is true only if you have ironclad knowledge of the breeder, the history/personality of it's parents, etc.. My stepdaughter thought she had a reputable breeder, but how the hell are most people really supposed to be sure of that?

Anyway, I understand it is personal choice. I personally love the idea of walking into a shelter, finding a friendly dog or puppy, and giving it a much better life than it would otherwise have.

 

[Jack Brickman]

Now, it is generally purely physical characteristics desireable for aesthetic reasons. So, we've bred bulldogs, pugs, etc., to have those cute little pushed in noses/faces...with the result being lifelong breathing issues. We've got breeds that are predisposed to kidney problems -- my stepdaughter just lost her "well-bred" German Shepherd to kidney disease at the ripe old age of 2. Other breeds are predisposed to hip dysplasia, heart conditions, etc..

And how would the breeder know if you, or any other buyer, did that or not? As opposed to you buying the dog and then breeding it yourself?

The thing with your stepdaughter seems purely anecdotal. Literally any dog can get sick and die young the same way a person can. Every life is a dice roll. Some of us are lucky and live to old age. Others get cancer as children and die. The same is true of dogs. You can mitigate the risks by buying from a good breeder, but at the end of the day there are no guarantees with any life and sometimes you draw the short stick. I've been lucky. Not everyone is.

As far as pugs go, that is perhaps not a good example given that they are one of the older dog breeds. They have been around for 2000 years and were basically bred to be useless, as they were pets of the ruling class. They were never designed to have any purpose other than as companions, which is unlike most other breeds that have their origins as working dogs.

Also, Bulldogs were bred originally because of their smushed face and underbite, as it made them ideally suited for biting and holding on to game. Boxers were bred that way for the same reason, and the two breeds share common ancestry. I do agree that the bulldog breed has been pretty bastardized since, as they used to be more comparable in body type to the American Bulldog.

And I had to send in proof of spay/neuter by the age dictated in the contract or the breeder had the right to retake possession of the dog.

 

[Chris]

I’ve always wanted a Husky, but living in an apartment and other factors of my current lifestyle just would make it irresponsible to get one right now. That, and I haven’t owned a dog in a decade, when my Sheltie passed away. So while not a first time dog owner, it may be better to start with a different breed.

Meanwhile the woman wants a tiny dog like she grew up with, whereas I’m into something bigger. When we get a house and settle down in Ohio (hopefully next year) maybe we’ll approach this subject again and find some compromise. Someday I’d like to get a Husky, but am willing to wait.

Enjoy reading some of the folks in here with clearly a lot of insight into dog ownership.

 

[Jack Brickman]

I’ve always wanted a Husky, but living in an apartment and other factors of my current lifestyle just would make it irresponsible to get one right now. That, and I haven’t owned a dog in a decade, when my Sheltie passed away. So while not a first time dog owner, it may be better to start with a different breed.

Meanwhile the woman wants a tiny dog like she grew up with, whereas I’m into something bigger. When we get a house and settle down in Ohio (hopefully next year) maybe we’ll approach this subject again and find some compromise. Someday I’d like to get a Husky, but am willing to wait.

Enjoy reading some of the folks in here with clearly a lot of insight into dog ownership.

Get a Frenchie. Small but they act like big dogs.

Expensive as fuck though.

 

[Derek]

Breeders exist to maintain breed standards, and considering that many dog breeds are utilized in specific jobs or roles, that's important. Yeah, Boxers are basically worthless as anything other than pets these days, but dogs like German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois are utilized by law enforcement and militaries across the world. Dozens of breeds are bred specifically for their hunting instincts, like my buddy who bought his German Wire-haired Pointer to take with him bird hunting. Others are used to herd animals, or to protect property or people, or to sniff out drugs or bombs, and the list goes on and on and on.

And I don't agree with those kinds of breeding either.

 

[Jack Brickman]

And I don't agree with those kinds of breeding either.

So you don't agree with the concept of a working dog? Because from a practical perspective you can't just take a mutt from a pound and put it to work. Different breeds have specific instincts that are vital for the work they are chosen for, and a mixed dog may not have those traits and there'd be no way of knowing until it was too late and you found out the dog you chose was worthless for the line of work it was chosen for. Then it's right back to the pound.

 

[Derek]

So you don't agree with the concept of a working dog? Because from a practical perspective you can't just take a mutt from a pound and put it to work. Different breeds have specific instincts that are vital for the work they are chosen for, and a mixed dog may not have those traits and there'd be no way of knowing until it was too late and you found out the dog you chose was worthless for the line of work it was chosen for. Then it's right back to the pound.

Plenty of mutts work as service dogs. I think you are drastically underestimating how trainable dogs are with the proper owners.

I'm sorry you don't agree with me, but I'm not ignorant on the topic. This is something I've felt strongly about for a long time. Whatever positives you think come from "good breeding" is far outweighed in my mind by the approximately 670,000 dogs that die in shelters each year.

 

[CleveRocks]

We got a lab from a Mill. We were 18/19 at the time and weren’t aware.
Poor boy died after 5 years. Our Dachshund is getting old and got it from a Breeder. We just can’t seem to find anyone around here in WV.

we got our lab from a mill, and she was the best dog ever (may she rest in peace). I don't like mills either, just saying that's where we got our girl.

Boxers are happy dogs and boisterous, but they need a lot of exercise. Labs need space. Depends on your circumstances. Hounds are good with kids, so small dog like a beagle are easy. They make noise and like to run but are very trainable. I also like the Bijon. they are tough little dogs, not high maintenance and fun.

Pits and rotties can be very sweet if well trained. But things can go sideways if you are not skilled at that. I had a friend whose absolutely angelic pup was attacked by another larger pit, and she became defensive and wary of every dog. Was not her fault and the guy with the other pit was an ass for not controlling his dog.

You can also find great pets at the rescue, but take a minute to understand the breed or breed mix before you adopt. My son got a rescue Podengo, which is a really sweet dog, but difficult to train if you don't understand the breed.

 

[Cavatt]

Pure bred dogs are blue blood royalty of dogs. Total genetic inbred messes in other words

 

[Jack Brickman]

Plenty of mutts work as service dogs. I think you are drastically underestimating how trainable dogs are with the proper owners.

I'm sorry you don't agree with me, but I'm not ignorant on the topic. This is something I've felt strongly about for a long time. Whatever positives you think come from "good breeding" is far outweighed in my mind by the approximately 670,000 dogs that die in shelters each year.

First off, I think we need to differentiate between a service dog, meaning a dog trained to assist a human with a disability, and a specialized working dog, meaning a dog that is meant to perform a highly specific task or set of tasks. The former can be many dog breeds, because instinct is less important than general intelligence and trainability. The latter often requires specific bred in instincts to properly perform its task.

Service dogs, as mentioned, really do not require a specific instinct, and I would argue that a general lack of specific dog instincts is preferable. For example, my buddy's Pointer would make a uniquely terrible service dog, because the second he sees a bird that is all he can focus on.

To keep focused on that Pointer, his instinct for tracking birds makes him an ideal working dog, because he naturally has a desire to chase down birds and has the requisite size to carry large ones back to his owner. Could you train a dog without that instinct to do his job? I mean, maybe, but there's a reason that humans have spent thousands of years developing breeds for specific tasks. Because it works.

Similarly, there's a reason why almost all police and military dogs are either German Shepherds or Belgian Malinois. These dogs require impeccable breeding due to the inherently dangerous nature of what they do, and these breeds also have the size, strength, intelligence, and inbred loyalty necessary to perform their work. A poorly bred dog trained to attack and subdue could turn on its owner.

And I think blaming all breeder for the negligent actions of some breeders, along with the dog owners who don't properly care for or fix their dogs, is silly. If you do your part and don't buy from puppy mills or breeders who produce dozens of litters a year (I always look for ones who only produce a handful of litters a year, and who don't force single dogs to have multiple litters over short periods of time), and if you spay/neuter your dogs, you're part of the solution, not the problem.