Feel like we could use a happy thread around here, anyway I am in a dorm so no dog currently :/
I grew up with a Fila Brasileiro/Great Dane cross, very good dog, a little very territorial, very family protective, kinda scary to non family members. It was weird though, her family was anyone she fully met before 9 months of age. That friend I had over once when she was little? Totally fine years later. Our neighbors when we moved? She wasn't a fan
I also had a Heeler, he was hell on wheels but very loving, loved hiking :) v good boy
I can't wait till I have space for a dog again :)
Tell me about dogs you have/had/grew up with/dog breeds you like
Much to my own annoyance I really like the bigger scarier looking dogs (Molossers). Hope I can find a breed without health issues, with a good temperament with strangers, and with the ability to hike good distances but rn after doing some research it looks like I'm SOL
ALL DOGS ARE GOOD
Personally I think that all dogs are good in their own special way. If I had to choose an absolute favorite, or at least one that I really like in theory anyway, a very big, very fluffy dog that wants to act like a lap dog. I was thinking Newfoundland but if I could get a 150 lb Shi Tzu that would also be fuckin great
greyhounds are great, I've got some friends with a rescue. They're very much sprinters, I've heard they're more than okay in apartments bc outside of a short fast walk they want to be on the couch all day
Ethically and genetically, mutts. I'll only ever go for a shelter dog and while there try to find the dog who needs me most. I don't go for breeds with a lot of common genetic dysfunctions like hip dysplasia or respiratory difficulty.
Personality-wise, either German shepherds, border collies, blue heelers, Australian shepherds, or huskies. Intelligent and athletic working breeds that are loyal and independent. I think dogs are a really sacred partnership and want a non-human human. My current dog is a husky/boxer rescue mutt and was born to hike. He can go 12+ miles without difficulty, keeps watch for wildlife, and handles mountain terrain and trail hazards well. His coat is good with both temperature and water. He's super animated and has an unending drive to communicate.
I like mutts, and accidental crosses. I think the whole breeding thing is difficult because for some healthy breeds with ethical breeders trying to keep the breed healthy it's great but you also have unhealthy breeds and breeding for aesthetics. Honestly I think they should start a new kennel club (it'd probably have to be a subset of like the AKC bc it sucks but they have influence) specifically for breeding new healthy breeds for specific lifestyles
There's a utilitarian need to preserve and expand dog genetics for the same reason there is heirloom tomato varieties, but I think that should be a highly regulated thing. I'm like John Brown for puppy mills otherwise. When dogs are bred as commodities and sold as ornaments it encourages the kind of degradation they'd face as fighting dogs. Allowing it to be a private industry with only the barest regulations results in a highly social, highly perceptive, highly emotionally intelligent animal being crammed into shelters where they hear nothing but screaming and smell nothing but piss and death until it's their turn. And stupid breeds that can't breathe.
Yup! If/when I ever get a dog from a breeder I'm doing a ton of research on the breeder itself. I honestly think sure we should preserve the current breeds but their is a strong need to create new, healthier breeds in a heavily regulated way. Dog geneticists and vets should be involved with the whole process
Grew up with cats and am a cat person but lived with three huskies a 14 year old half wolf, a seven year old and my partner at the time got a lil pupper. Huskies and malamutes are totally the type of dog is get if I had space and time for them. They're so sweet.
my dogs
they're very good
border collie and border collie / blue heeler mix
border collies will make you reevaluate the nature of consciousness
My dog's a mix, pug and beagle. Both breeds have pretty freakish features and pugs especially have bad health issues. She's got the best of both though.
I've always liked border collies and other long hair, big dogs. I just know I'll never have the space or the active lifestyle to accomidate those types of big, energetic dogs.
Pretty much all dogs.
I tend to prefer smaller ones because they live longer, eat less, take smaller dumps, take up less space in the bed, and don't make my legs fall asleep or give me heat stroke when they lay on me. My pup is about 30lbs and I don't think I will go bigger than that in the future, she ticks most of those boxes but my God is she a furnace at night, and also she's just big enough to lick food left on counters and tables when she thinks no one is looking.
I grew up with cats, and actually have a bit of a fear of them after I was attacked by one, but my uncle had a husky and he was one of the sweetest dogs I’ve ever met, I never felt unsafe around him.
I was attacked by a lab we adopted after a couple months who had some kind of deeper issues going on, I actually still have the scar around my eye. for the longest time I was afraid of dogs, until, kinda ironically imo, we got a much scarier dog breed. very loving but only with family members
(realizing this kinda might come across as me being a bit invalidating of your experiences just want to say that's not the case I just relate a bit to the husky thing I'm just not fantastic at communication)
We had a miniature weiner dog for over a decade (We got him when he was 3). He was temperamental if you were new, but hang around for an hour and he'd be sleeping next to you. He also loved barking/howling along to "Happy Birthday" despite no prior training to our knowledge lol, he was great. Sadly passed almost 5 and a half years ago now. Tho the pain isn't as fresh or intense as day one, there will always be a part of me that misses him and wishes we had gotten a few more years together.
We thankfully still have our other dog tho, had him since he was a pup, who's just the sweetest, gentlest dog in the world, wouldn't hurt a fly (Well, maybe a fly, pretty sure I've seen him trying to eat bugs before haha). I forgot what he is exactly atm (Part Australian shepard I believe?), but he's a fluffy-tailed, smol(ish) adorable boi who loves to play and I'm grateful for him.
I like bigger dogs now, fluffier is better but anything bigher than a lab is just great to me, but when I was young my grandmother had a cocker-spaniel/poodle mix that was just the best dog I've ever known.
She knew perfectly how to listen to commands in Greek and English (and my poorly accented Greek and my grandmother's poorly accented English), she was perfect about asking to go outside or to play or for anything she needed, she could always tell when someone wanted to be left alone or didn't want her nearby and didn't need to be told to leave, and she always knew when to come over to someone who wanted to give her attention without being called over.
Great dog as a puppy, great dog when she was mostly blind and deaf at 18. I prefer cats to dogs usually, but I would adopt a mix like her instantly.
poodles are fucking geniuses. Them and border collies are insanely smart, like next level. good at learning and doing commands too
Yeah like I'm genuinely convinced if I could have had her tutor me I would have passed my math course. That dog was crazy smart and my roommates dog is part collie and he's maliciously smart: he doesn't do anything good with it or listen better, it just empowers his destructiveness and makes sure his barking is as irritating as possible because he knows you dont want him to bark right then.
I think I remember learning at one point that poodles were initially hunting dogs. Their curly hair helps them dive through thorny bramble without getting cut up. I knew a guy who told me that his grandmother's pair of poodles managed to kill a young deer, and I have no reason to believe he was lying to me. They are extremely smart.
curly hair is good for burrs and also staying warm in water!
I think the prettiest dogs are basenji/shiba inu Mixes. Really though I like all dogs, but especially dogs that don't look like humans made them in a lab. I like healthy dog looking dogs. Mutts are great.
My best dog friend was a german shepherd called Tessa, i still miss her
