[bostonmom]

Hi everyone! Long time lurker first time poster (by long time I mean years lol, I know shame on me)

I know this may be lengthy but I could really use some help.

For the past 10 years I have always had Boston Terriers. Whether that be from puppyhood or adulthood. They were the first breed I fell in love with and I'm pretty sure my home will always have one. We currently have one female who turns 4 in December. Her breeder reached out to me a few months ago stating she would have a December litter if we were interested in another. Although I would love to have another, and her litters are rare, it just isn't the right time for a few reasons.

1: We have small children, and our next dog will not be for 2-3 years until they are 3 and 6. It would be too much to add another dog into our lives right now. But this gives us PLENTY of time to do all of our homework

2: We are re doing our back yard right now (new fence etc) and we'd like to have that done before adding another furbaby.

3: My husband always had big dogs. He LOVES our Boston, but he's a big dog lover. I get that the love for big dogs never truly goes away. And he has voiced that if we add a second dog, he'd like it to be a larger breed.

So here I am. There are breeds I KNOW I would want but I also know would not be for me. Example, Dalmatian, my childhood self wants one, but I know that breed is not a right fit for us. Same thing for Malamutes and Huskies. There are just certain things I know I cannot give a certain breed.

But, every Golden, and every Boxer that I have met has been lovely. I know these breeds are both very different, and my husband and I have agreed that either one would be a good fit for our household, personalities, and over all life.

Now, I have a solid 2 or 3 years to talk to a breeder (find one i trust and am happy with) so I am in no rush. Like my Bostons, I just want to make sure I have all of my research together, and a solid breeder picked out. But first I need help on deciding between the two breeds... Can you help me? If you have or have had one of these breeds could you offer some opinions or thoughts on what you think? Why you think one would or would not be a good choice?

We live in South West Florida so it does get very warm, we have a fairly large back yard, and we are an active family. Our current dog is a dream and she adores other dogs and people, and I think adding another when she is 6 or 7 would be a good time to do so.

I would really prefer to go with a breeder, I absolutely ADORE the puppy stage. The training, overcoming the challenges, and watching them 'discover' new things. I know there are so many wonderful dogs in rescues, but coming across a puppy is rare, and again, I know some people hate the puppy stage and potty training etc, but I've always enjoyed it So any wonderful breeder recommendations in my state (Florida) would be greatly appreciated. Especially if it is one that you have used or have a personal experience with.

I trust the opinion of many of you on here, and I know you can hopefully help me out.

 

[Knute]

As an alternative.....you may think about a Standard Schnauzer. Not quite as large as a Boxer or Golden, but highly intelligent, trainable, good with kids.......

 

[Jen2010]

Before recommending anything we need to know more about your lifestyle. How active are you? How much exercise would the dog get? How much time (if any) are you willing to spend on grooming? What kind of temperament are you looking for? (The breeds are pretty opposite on this point.) How big is your yard? Is someone home all day to stay with the dog or will he/she be left alone for long periods? How does your Boston get along with other dogs? Etc.

 

[Knute]

Jen20102, Agreed.

Any schnauzer breed will require frequent grooming, brain and body exercise, firm and kind hand in training. They are a high intelligence dog. Originally bred to work on farms. So, they are not couch potatoes.

don't misinterpret.....I'm not say Goldens or Boxers are dumb couch potatoes......just saying Schnauzers are at a different level.

 

[parus]

IMO there's a reason Goldens are the classic family dog. It'd really hard to go wrong with a decently bred Golden as a household pet, in terms of being amiable, trainable, and tolerant. But you really want to find a breeder who's actively working to lower the instances of cancer, and to increase longevity, in their lines using good data tracking and good science. I actually like Boxers better (I like a bold dog), but if I had kids and other dogs and a busy life I'd choose a Golden.

Knute, I'm a little confused. What makes you think a Standard Schnauzer would be a better match here? Do you have much experience with Standards?

 

[Knute]

No direct experience with Standard Schnauzers. I do know they have a similar temperament as the Mini. I have a good friend who has a Giant. They all seem to be cut from the same cloth.

The only downside I can see is the grooming. Yes, any schnauzer will need regular brushing and haircuts about every 4-6 weeks.......unless you want to do a stripped coat (very labor intensive, typically used for Confirmation).

Anyhow, schnauzers can be very hardy and tolerant of weather conditions. They are not indoor dogs and love to be with the family. As with all dogs, socialization is important. This is the time to introduce the dog to kids, other pets, environment.......basically life.

The Standard isn't considered a large dog, but they can be similar in size to Boxer or Goldens. So, it may fit into the slot for both hubby and wife.

These are highly intelligent dogs. I have seen my Mini work through several problems that I didn't think he would solve.
They do come to understand many phrases beyond commands. I have witnessed my Mini execute combined commands into a single command. I saw this when I began teaching the "Home" command. In my situation, this involves multiple elevators, waiting for people to exit the lift, wait for me to enter the lift, he knows when we reach the proper floor (he does not attempt to exit the lift at multiple stops), exits the lift with me and goes to the proper door without stopping at other homes. This is off leash.

Now, on the other hand.....the little twerp still won't execute the "Down" command. I know he understands......just blockheaded. I can say "Down" and he looks at me. If I pat the surface with my hand, he will lay down. Go figure......

Oh....to be clear. I'm not saying a Standard Schnauzer would be a better match. Just an alternate choice for a good family dog who is hardy, intelligent, active, family oriented......

 

[hanksimon]

A Golden is an easy dog, bred in the 1800s to be a friendly, intelligent, trainable family dog. They love water, and they can be lightly cut [not sheared! ] to trim excess feathers to handle water and summer weather. We have lots of families with Goldens on the beaches in Charleston. The English Cream Golden is popular today, so they are overly expensive with no extra value except for the lighter color. I recommend a standard Golden from a good breeder - I have no breeders to suggest.

A Boxer is a high energy dog that is good with kids. They are also a friendly, intelligent family pet ... known for being young at heart clowns for most of their lives. The short nose can make them a little less resistant to heat.

A Labrador retriever is also a friendly, intelligent, trainable family dog. For most people, a Lab is similar to a Golden, but with a shorter coat. A Lab is a very adaptable dog that is easy to train AND requires training to keep them out of trouble. My personal opinion is that a well-trained 5yo Lab is a better family pet than a well-trained 5yo Golden. However... a Lab puppy is not for beginners, b/c they are the spawn of the devil, well-known to be needle-toothed fluffy piranhas! ;-) Most puppies nip, but I think Lab pups nip harder and for longer than other breeds, even with training. They are also intelligent, destructive, and heavy chewers. ... Mostly my opinion. You can find terrific Labs from good breeders... And, for what it's worth, my favorite dogs for more than 40 years have been Lab mixes .. But, I'd still recommend a Golden for you.

A Pitbull can be a great family pet. With the right training, they can be energetic, sweet, and gentle. They are very sensitive and need to be with people as much as they can.