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good dogs and bad dogs for first time owners...

5K views 41 replies 25 participants last post by  Westhighlander 
#1 ·
Why doent we compile a list?


what do you all say...what are the good first time owner breeds and what are the bad ones and why?
 
#30 ·
What breed is she? Sounds like a little terrier type dog. That is more my type of small dog. I will take a small terrier, send me a Patterdale and I'd be one very happy small dog owner. Terriers have a nice courageous temperament and are very hardy small dogs. But people said most terriers are not good for first time owners. Some say pug, shih tzu, small spaniels. I think they call them companion breeds that were not bred for a job or something like that.

I know many terriers can do most of those things mentioned although some can sometimes be stubborn on the silly trick training (some won't be) that wouldn't bother me. Just take up more time...lol Some of my current dogs go too quick and I run out of things to teach them having to think up more.

I'd even take a Parson Russel Terrier, Toy Manchester, Rat Terrier I could live with too, fostered a couple and they were awesome, didn't want to give them up. I also really like Schipperke's although they are small and kinda hairy too.

I'm fine with smaller dogs like 25-35lbs, thats the size I really like (although I like large breeds too) and I'm fine with even smaller who are terriers maybe 10-20lbs, under 10lbs I start to worry if I will break or lose them. I'm not fond of most toy breeds like Pug, Japanese Chin or Shih Tzu or small Tibetan Spaniel breed.
 
#42 ·
Terriers can work for a first timer depending on the owner. If you are a "nice" disciplinarian then it will work, otherwise you will have an out of control dog. It's a battle of your will vs theirs. Once you win then it's a piece of cake. I don't find my girl too rowdy, I think they adapt well to your lifestyle. Of course at minimum they do need a few walks a day.
 
#31 ·
You guys make excellent, valid points. It really does depend on the person. Are they willing to go to training? What do they know about dogs in general? Have they ever been around dogs for any amount of time? Etc., etc., etc.

I researched a lot before getting my sheltie (first one) and he was a wonderful fit for our family at the time. After he passed away, I wanted a small dog for a change with less hair so did a ton of research again. I found the min pin - small, hardy dogs, healthy, very rambunctious, not "soft" in temperament (which is important to me as it could be loud around here at times and I didn't want them to be afraid), etc., etc. I got my first min pin and she was great. Just what I expected.

I'd longed for another sheltie for quite awhile, though. I missed my "winter dog" so now we have another sheltie. If I were to get another breed, I'd research it to death before getting it to be sure it didn't have anything typical to its breed that would drive me bananas.

If you're willing to do the research AND go to classes or work with someone very knowledgeable to train your very first dog, almost any dog will do. Most don't honestly realize what a huge commitment a dog is - it's almost as much as a child. You have to care for it, exercise it, train it and love it - usually for at least 10 years if not longer.

And someone above made another really valid point - you have to love the dog you get. You can't get the breed that best suits you if you don't really like that breed.

Most problems I've seen with dogs occurs because the person didn't do their research and/or they just didn't have the commitment or time necessary to do a good job with the dog.
 
#34 ·
Pepper is a schnauzer :p

I am also not fond of those little, fluffy toy dogs, I'm always just thinking im going to break them. And I need a dog that can keep up with me, not me having to slow my pace to keep up with them, haha.

There are really no breeds that wouldn't enjoy a nice walk, or gain socialization from it. They may tire quickly, but it's still a walk.
 
#37 ·
I believe it has more to do with the prospective owner of the dog than it does the actual breed of the first dog. I think any first time dog owner should do their homework before bringing a puppy or adult dog into their lives. If they have chosen a breed they should read up all they can about the breed and speak to as many COE breeders as necessary to get an understanding of the breed in general that they have chosen and if their not adopting they need to also learn the difference between a BYB and a COE breeder because it does make a huge difference.

10 years ago I brought home my first rotti and I've been hooked ever since, but I read books, spoke to breeders, interacted with the breeders rotti's, etc before bringing home my first rotti pup and it was a lot of work, as is owning any dog and training is a must.

I guess it comes down to how responsible the first time dog owner is and how much time and energy they will spend raising, loving, and training their new canine companion.
 
#38 ·
I think a Shar pei is a great first!

Chloe was my first, and she was housetrained as soon as I got her (10 weeks old .. as they are very clean dogs), they're very smart, she doesn't bark - I've only heard her bark maybe 10-12 times in the past 10 months I've had her (and most of those were when she plays with other dogs), they're not big dogs, and can be couch potatoes!

She also never chewed anything except her own toys/bones, and I never had any "puppy problems" most everyone else had.
She was pretty much perfect !

Of course vet bills can be high with some, but nothing that pet insurance can't help with.
 
#39 ·
I think it should be more good owners & bad owners for the first time dog.

I've dealt with terriers since I was a kid, having uncles who had everything from Yorkies to Airedales. I guess I was brought up thinking all dogs have a somewhat independent thought process.

My first dog as an adult, a Yorkie, was raised with not even so much as a book. I sure had phone numbers though, uncles, the breeder, plenty of resources. After my Yorkie was a Westie, Cairn, and now a pair of Aussie Terriers.

These two are my first Internet pups, and actually the first dogs I bought training books for. It's interesting learning why the things that have worked for so long work.

First time owners shouldn't worry so much about the breed as training resources. Stock up big time, online sources, books, individuals, you can never have too much. From this you can determine how much time & energy you want to spend, and come closer to finding a breed that matches your lifestyle.
 
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