[SunSiberians]

Forgive me - I know these threads pop up ALL the time! Think of it as a game and the winner will be rewared a good, hearty virtual pat on the back and the satisfaction that comes with winning.
Furthermore, forgive me for rambling on so much! It's a long thread - so for those of you who actually take the time to read it - then props to you!

Dogs - I want to have them for the rest of my life...so I have to prepare for the future! What dog is the best for me? I know I've discussed this before, but it was about a specific breed. Now I am open to ANY breed that you think would fit my requirements best.

What I need...
I am currently an Anthropology student - with the intentions of becoming an Archaeologist (this won't happen for several more years (two years left of undergraduate school and then off to grad school I go). Archaeology is a job that requires lots of travel to many different places and environments - so it is important that I have a dog that is very flexible, loves to travel, and can tolerate the heat and cold (even if that means a jacket is required for the extreme cold). Being around new people all the time means I need a dog that is friendly - not aloof, not aggressive and always content. A dog that is obedient and when I put the effort into training him, I'll know that where ever, when ever, he'll always listen. A dog that is perfectly content in not doing anything - but could run and run all day long - a dog with stamina and a love for the couch - does this exist? A dog that is quiet and does not bark at every little thing - it is important that they adapt and blend in with our surroundings. However, if the dog feels there is a threat - will defend itself and me - in other words, they do need to be friendly, but if my house is being robbed they will protect it rather then lick the robber. A dog that I can trust off leash. An independant nature is very important - a dog that can occupy himself - but is very loyal and affectionate to me. A dog that isn't hyperactive or overly playful (with the exception of puppy hood of course). A dog that I can bike with, swim with, hike with, camp with and work with. A dog that is fine as the only dog - but enjoys the company of other dogs - not dog aggressive.
I would like a dog that has a coat that is easy to clean and brush - a coat that doesn't tangle easily or attract too much debris since we'll be outside a lot. I'm open to most sizes of dogs and most types of dogs - however no toy or terrier breeds.
As long as the dog fits my needs - other "bad" or "undesirable" traits are fine. So if the dog has an afinity to dig - so be it.
The sad truth is, no matter how much I love the Siberian Husky - it just doesn't fit all my needs. I LOVE my two boys SO much and will never give them up. But when the time comes...hopefully very far away in the future, and I am dogless, I will need a new dog and I want to do my research well in advance, although I'm sure my "requirements" will change over the years.

So does this dog exist? Am I being way to unrealistic?

Thank you!
Alicia

[applesmom]

I've had many German Shorthaired Pointers over a 30 year span of time that would fit your description to a T.

However to get to the point that you describe as "the perfect dog", would take dedication and hard work beginning from puppyhood on.

Well bred shorthairs are socialized and handled from the day they're born, and introduced to many different situations and sounds. They are bred to work with the handler as a team and yet are capable of independent thinking when necessary. Their extreme trainability and eagerness to please enables them to exceed in field, obedience, tracking, agility, flyball etc as well as SAR, drug sniffing and other types of service work.

A well bred-well socialized shorthair is not dog aggressive as they're bred to work comfortably with other dogs in hunting situations.

The downside is that a bored shorthair can be extremely destructive in their early years if they aren't provided with enough mental and physical exercise.
They're not a dog that can be crated for 8 hours at a time on a regular basis, though they are excellent travelers when necessary.

If you'd like to look into the breed I can recommend some long time, well established breeders of some of the finest shorthairs in the country. Breeders that will be there for you every step of the way including before and after making an informed decision.

If you have any questions feel free to send me a pm.

[Ginny01OT]

Quick question: do you plan on travelling via air or car or both? If you plan on flying many places would you prefer the dog to fit under your seat in the plane or do you not have any reservations about placing the dog in the cargo area of the plane?

[sillylilykitty]

At first, I kept thinking a Brittany was the perfect breed....until I got to the part about protecting you in the case of a robbery...Im not sure about that. I like that German Shorthaired pointer idea but I always thought and was told that they require MUCH exercise and could not be a couch potato. Now all I can think of is a German Shepherd.

If you dont mind me asking, what is it about the Siberian Husky that you dont like?

[SunSiberians]

Originally Posted by sillylilykitty

At first, I kept thinking a Brittany was the perfect breed....until I got to the part about protecting you in the case of a robbery...Im not sure about that. I like that German Shorthaired pointer idea but I always thought and was told that they require MUCH exercise and could not be a couch potato. Now all I can think of is a German Shepherd.

If you dont mind me asking, what is it about the Siberian Husky that you dont like?

I love my Siberian Huskies - SO much. But I feel miserable when they're miserable because of the heat - anything above 70ºF and they don't want to do anything. I would like a more heat tolorant dog - if that's truly possible - so I'm considering a short haired dog that wasn't breed for arctic conditions. I know every dog can over heat - but some dogs still can be healthy and active in 70, 80 degree weather.

Originally Posted by Ginny01OT

Quick question: do you plan on travelling via air or car or both? If you plan on flying many places would you prefer the dog to fit under your seat in the plane or do you not have any reservations about placing the dog in the cargo area of the plane?

I would prefer to drive most definately. But if I absolutely have to, I'm fine having my dog in the cargo - as long as I'm on the plane too and we don't have any lay overs.

Originally Posted by applesmom

I've had many German Shorthaired Pointers over a 30 year span of time that would fit your description to a T.

However to get to the point that you describe as "the perfect dog", would take dedication and hard work beginning from puppyhood on.

Well bred shorthairs are socialized and handled from the day they're born, and introduced to many different situations and sounds. They are bred to work with the handler as a team and yet are capable of independent thinking when necessary. Their extreme trainability and eagerness to please enables them to exceed in field, obedience, tracking, agility, flyball etc as well as SAR, drug sniffing and other types of service work.

A well bred-well socialized shorthair is not dog aggressive as they're bred to work comfortably with other dogs in hunting situations.

The downside is that a bored shorthair can be extremely destructive in their early years if they aren't provided with enough mental and physical exercise.
They're not a dog that can be crated for 8 hours at a time on a regular basis, though they are excellent travelers when necessary.

If you'd like to look into the breed I can recommend some long time, well established breeders of some of the finest shorthairs in the country. Breeders that will be there for you every step of the way including before and after making an informed decision.

If you have any questions feel free to send me a pm.

Interesting you suggested them because I have started researching them! I would love to get into field trials and the nice thing about my work is I will have days of no work and days of lots of work - so I will have time off and its flexible. I completely understand the mental and physical exercise needs - I'm a very active person and want a dog that can keep up - or rather a dog that I am struggling to keep up with!
I would like to look at some of the breeders you suggest if you have the time to show me the links!


Thanks all!

[Shalva]

OK a few things to think about

1. when you are traveling where will you live?????
apts that allow dogs are difficult to find and most hotels do not allow unattended dogs in teh rooms..... problem number one.

2. you better do your research about flying a dog in cargo... there have been dogs killed or harmed in the cargo holds of planes and many airlines refuse to carry dogs any longer..... I personally know of 3 dogs in my breed that were killed at airlines....

3. with this fast paced career when do you think you will have time for a dog????

the other things you are talking about are mostly up to you with behavior.... the ready to go when you are and ready to relax when you are is also a breed thing.... but my concern is for the 3 above things.... because to be honest with the kind of lifestyle that you are talking about I dont think it is fair to a dog to be subjected to that kind of lifestyle with no routine....

I wouldn't give someone with that lifestyle a puppy and I don't know to many breeders that would....

While you may love dogs.... and I truly believe that you do, in loving dogs you also can't be selfish about having a dog.... you have to do what is best for the dog.... now is there a breed that might have the qualities that you are looking for .... yeah sure..... is it fair to the dog..... personally I don't think so.

My understanding is that most archeologists have at a minimum a masters but most have a PhD ..... my suggestion would be to get a lovely stuffed dog.... and when you are not galavanting around for work and have settled into a nice Professorship then get a dog.....

just my thoughts for now.....
s

[SunSiberians]

Originally Posted by Shalva

OK a few things to think about

1. when you are traveling where will you live?????
apts that allow dogs are difficult to find and most hotels do not allow unattended dogs in teh rooms..... problem number one.

2. you better do your research about flying a dog in cargo... there have been dogs killed or harmed in the cargo holds of planes and many airlines refuse to carry dogs any longer..... I personally know of 3 dogs in my breed that were killed at airlines....

3. with this fast paced career when do you think you will have time for a dog????

the other things you are talking about are mostly up to you with behavior.... the ready to go when you are and ready to relax when you are is also a breed thing.... but my concern is for the 3 above things.... because to be honest with the kind of lifestyle that you are talking about I dont think it is fair to a dog to be subjected to that kind of lifestyle with no routine....

I wouldn't give someone with that lifestyle a puppy and I don't know to many breeders that would....

While you may love dogs.... and I truly believe that you do, in loving dogs you also can't be selfish about having a dog.... you have to do what is best for the dog.... now is there a breed that might have the qualities that you are looking for .... yeah sure..... is it fair to the dog..... personally I don't think so.

My understanding is that most archeologists have at a minimum a masters but most have a PhD ..... my suggestion would be to get a lovely stuffed dog.... and when you are not galavanting around for work and have settled into a nice Professorship then get a dog.....

just my thoughts for now.....
s

My dogs always come first and foremost. I understand that I may sound naive in thinking that I can always do this - but I have a unique, personal situation that will allow me to do this. I know a couple of Archaeologists that always bring their dogs with them to the excavations - most of the time they are working in state - their area of their expertise. I would be staying in a camper or tent when I'm out in the field - or staying home depending on the location. There are tons of sites within a 50 mile radius of my home here in Tucson alone - although I do not plan on staying here. I go to school 5 days a week, but am only gone for 4 hours tops and I don't work - so that leaves ample dog time. In the summer I actually take my dogs up to the mountain about 3 times per week - just to escape the heat and my luckily my lifestyle permits that. Archaeology is a suprisingly flexible field and is not a "full time" job in the sense that I will be gone a lot. A large part of Archaeology is paper work, research and lab work - so I'll only be traveling when an excavation is initiated - and I'm hired - I don't always have to sign up.
But I will consider what is best for the dog and if I am really that busy - then no dogs for me. But in a job I'll probably be working 3-4 days a week 6-8 hours a day...at least that is what I've been told by other archs.
And let me add one more thing - I'm looking at breeds now, yes - but I'm not getting another dog for at least another 10+ years! Who knows where my life will be - I may not even want dogs then! Although I highly doubt it.

[SunSiberians]

One more thing Shalva...
As I said earlier, my dogs are the center of my life. I rarely go out with anyone because I feel my dogs need me more. They probably get more exercise then most dogs get in their entire lives. My entire schedule revolves around them! I wake up at 4:30am now (to beat the heat) just so I can take them out for a bike ride. They receive ample excercise (bikjoring, walking and swimming). They go for hikes in the mountain every week, we go backpacking and hiking, Lakota is in obedience training and Kapu will soon be signed up for agility class. If I go to the pet store, they go too, if I go to home depot, they go too, if I go out to eat - I take them with me to a dog friendly resteraunt and eat out on the patio with them. Forgive me if I sound a little defensive, but I am - I never, ever want any one assuming my dog's have an unstable and unactive life that is absent of my presence.
(It's 2:30am here...yes I did loose sleep over this. >.<)

[SunSiberians]

[SunSiberians]

[borzoimom]

Uh a Borzoi?? And although the coat is long, it doesnt attract debre and easy to brush..

[Shalva]

Sun please don't be defensive.... the reason I said what I said is because I know that your pups are very very important to you and there was no doubt at all in my mind that you would do what you needed to and make the right decision for the dog.... I was just throwing out some things that concerned me... and sometimes in our love for dogs (me included) we don't want to see what are real constraints on our ability to love them and care for them. I really am including myself in that.... sometimes when it comes to the dogs I want to see what I want to see. So there was no questioning on my part your commitment or your love. You know way more about this than I do.... but those are the questions that I would ask..... you answered them well.... you know the confines of the job.... I think I would change my mind.... I just don't want you to think that I was questioning your commitment, love for dogs or ability to care for a dog in any way. I was not.
S

[Jen D]

Shalva, Any updates on thoes pups or pics?

[SammyDog]

Greater swiss mountain Dog

[Ginny01OT]

Newfoundland for a large dog or a shiba enu for a small dog