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
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