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Why did you choose the breed of your dog you have?

1448 Views 33 Replies 30 Participants Last post by  upendi'smommy
Most of my dogs were given to me. The last one was given to me by my brother who had too many dogs. I got Snowball because I've always wanted a Golden Retreiver.Even though she is half retrevier,and loves to fetch,she is also half Great Pyreness. I know many people who had Pit Bulls because of the attention they get.Most likely my next dog will be a dog from the local shelter.All of these dogs were given to me,so I'd like to pick out my own rescue dog. Anyway,I was just curious to see why you chose your dog's breed.
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Good question.
I didn't choose Blizzard. He's dad, a boerboel, was our dog so we got one of the pups.
All our dogs, exept one, was either given to us or we rescued it. Lucky, a lab we got from a breeder, was chosen coz my mom liked Labs and at that time I had little brothers and we wanted a breed that would get a long with little kids.
All three of my dogs are Yorkies. My grandma breeds Yorkies and Maltese. They're from her.
My mom and dad got our first aussie, Jack, when I was 7 years old. The same parents then baught me an aussie of my own when i was 14, Kechara. and then when I was 20 I told my mom I really wanted another dog nd I wasn't going to settle with a BYB one like our other two. so fter much searching and contacting breeders, I settled with a wonderful breeder who bred both working and show aussies in the same line. and since i wanted a high drive working dog with the potential to show I asked my mom if it could be my birthday present (since I simply didn't have the money) and she said sure, that one is Hawkeye.

I am staying with the breed because I love the size, they are big enough to wrestle with but small enough to haul multiple in a car easily.
They are great for protection, so I don't have to feel scared going for walks down wooded trails when I have them around.
They are beautiful.
They have drive but not so much that they can't turn it off.
and they will do anything for their owner if they respect them.
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I got shelties when I wanted a collie but my dad said no and told me I had to get something smaller. That was an easy choice, lol!

We got a papillon when I was in high school because my mom wanted a toy dog and had fallen in love with papillons a long time ago. We kept on in that breed because they're just amazing dogs. I will always have one- I love their intelligence, humor, loving temperament, athleticism... I could go on forever.

So when it was time for me to get my own first dog after moving out, I was living in an apartment that had a 20 lb weight limit. (Or else I would've gotten a border collie or aussie) So I stuck with the papillons for all the reasons above. I'm pretty sure they're the only small breed I'll have.
We previously had an aussie / whippet cross...smart, fun, active. Then it was time for smaller breeds, my duaghter's first dog of her own. She wanted smart, real dog mentality (no fragile purse protectors for her), endurance = papillon.
well I grew up with a yard full of APBT's (colby lines) my mom and aunt and a few other friends of the family breed them my whole childhood. I feel in love with the breed and will always own a APBT. They have a short coat which is what I like lets me see the muscles they have and I love the loyalty they have and the drive and willingness to please!
We chose a pug for several reasons:
1) THAT FACE!! They are just so darn cute. :D
2) They are a small dog, we had a lab mix, and wanted something small.
3) They are sturdy little dogs
4) Other than brushing for shedding, and wrinkle care, they have low maintanence grooming.

Now that we have been pugged we would probably get another because the personality is just plain fun. They are little clowns, and we enjoy the heck out of them.
The only one I picked was Cerb. My husband finally said we could get a dog, so we went to the shelter the next day and picked him. We had to wait 4-5 days to pick him up so they could neuter him, it was hell. We picked him bc we'd known a few ppl with ACDs or mixes of them, and they were really smart. We didn't know their activity levels, or how you have to stay ahead of them mentally. It worked out well, he's the best. We did everything wrong, and we still have a great dog.

The weiners were both handed to me, but I love them too. I wasn't a small dog person, but they've won me over. They're just tiny clowns, and they crack me up daily.

If left to my own devices, I think I'd choose a sighthound, a purebred ACD, or a pit bull or bull terrier for my next dog.
...I was just curious to see why you chose your dog's breed.
By process of elimination, it's fairly easy.
Make your own list of priorities.
For us, our parameters were:

1, 2 & 3) Health, Temperament, Shedding (in no particular order - all of primary importance to us)

4) External Energy (we wanted a dog who jwould be calm, relaxed low energy in the house)

5) Internal Energy (we wanted a self-confident, assertive dog who would not be too soft or shy)

6) Trainability (often, this has little to do with intelligence)

7) Intelligence (often, has little to do with trainability)

8) Protectiveness (to, at least, a reasonable degree)

9) Size (not too important, but we preferred a medium or large size)

10) Appearance (again, not too important)

There are a number of sites which "help you" select a breed based on pre-determined parameters. I personally think it's best to make your own list; the longer, more extensive your list of priorities, the fewer breeds you will have from which to choose.

I hope this is of some help.
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I liked Cotons after reading about their intelligence and general temperament.

Granted Wally doesn't have the temperament (or perhaps what was said was overstated, it's HARD to find info about Cotons - one source says one thing, one says another)

But I would get another Coton in a minute. I like how they aren't overly needy, can be calm or playful depending on the situation, are kinda small, but not super tiny, and have good endurance and aren't fragile.

I like the big eyes they have too - and being all white is a plus (not too many all/mostly white dogs) and I like the long hair, even if it is a little more trouble to groom, but not much.
right now we have 2 dogs.
Our Shep mix came from the shelter. We got him 9 years ago and at that time I was pregnant with #3 and I just wanted a dog (our Border Collie had just been put to sleep due to being sick and old age 14) I knew I would want to show again someday, but at that time I just wanted a dog. He was a puppy when we got him. Picked him because he was the only litter of pups we came across. At the time we saw older puppies but my kids really wanted a *baby.*

Fast forward years later my middle daughter starts taking him to 4-H dog shows and loves showing. She wanted to get into AKC shows so I told her to research the breeds she wanted. After she did her research I told her I'd sit with her to see if the breeds she picked would be good for our family. my only rule was it had to be a dog she could groom herself. If she was going to show it, she had better be able to do the grooming.
She picked the smooth collie and I have to say it has been a GREAT choice!!

I can't wait to get another one someday!!
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We got a papillon when I was in high school because my mom wanted a toy dog and had fallen in love with papillons a long time ago. We kept on in that breed because they're just amazing dogs. I will always have one- I love their intelligence, humor, loving temperament, athleticism... I could go on forever.
I think Papillions are awesome. I love those ears and everything I've ever read about them makes them sound like a ton of fun, highly alert, and really smart.

Shelties, Paps, and Border Collies are three of the breeds I'd like to experience, and you mentioned two in your post.
I chose greyhounds because they are the perfect companion for my lifestyle: low maintenance, low/medium energy. Loving, devoted but not "in your face." I love how they look. Beauty, grace, power...they are athletic in ways I'm not and lazy in ways that I am LOLOL
I think Papillions are awesome. I love those ears and everything I've ever read about them makes them sound like a ton of fun, highly alert, and really smart.

Shelties, Paps, and Border Collies are three of the breeds I'd like to experience, and you mentioned two in your post.
Lol, love all those breeds. I've had shelties, and then papillons next for me is border collies.
We actually choose the Bunny breed. We had a cat and 3 birds but my 15 yr old daughter at the time, wanted her very own pet. She chose a bunny.

I'm a nervous caged pet owner. I always worry about any caged pet because they can't get out and ask for food and water when they need it. Should anyone in the house forget them, they are doomed.

I was not a dog person as I felt they were too much work. Having raised 5 kids, I didn't want more work than I needed. My husband always wanted a Golden ever since he had met one in his early adult years. No way were we getting messy, needy dogs! Uh uh! Never! But here I was with another dilemma of a caged animal.

While camping one day, still thinking about that poor bunny that I would have to worry about all the time, I told hubster that I'd prefer a dog to a bunny. His eyes lit up and a big smile came on his face. We were to get a SMALL dog. A dog that would not destroy our wood floors with their claws. We called DD and announced my decision. She was beside herself, screaming and whoopin' on the other end of the line.

I wanted a mini poodle or something small like that. Something that would snuggle and be a lap dog. Nobody wanted one of those... they wanted a boy dog. What the heck is a boy dog?? With 5 males in the house, nobody wanted a small fluffy dog! So we decided on a Shiba Inu. Those are "masculine" yet they're small enough that they wouldn't wreck my floors right?

We went to see a litter and this person had a great kennel. She had her dogs in shows and in agility, health checks etc. When we got into the house she had 8 dogs in the kitchen, and 2 litters available. We know that these dogs were well cared for and lived in the house with the owners due to all the hair! They were happy dogs but we felt that she had too many litters at once.

The funny thing is, we decided to go check out a golden breeder that same evening. The puppies weren't available yet as the mom was still pregnant. This was just for fun and just because hubster and daughter wanted to check them out. I surely didn't want a large-ish dog with tons of hair and huge claws!

When we got there, there was a joyful pregnant Golden to greet us at the door. We found out that our breeder only breeds once or twice a year, shows her dogs, and is also a show judge.

Seeing as we had a cat and birds, and Shiba Inus have a huge prey drive, we had alot of thinking to do. We also knew that Shibas can be stubborn and our cat would have to be alpha animal since she had never had dogs in her life... she could not be made to hide the rest of her life.

As soon as we got out of there, our decision was made. That golden retriever had convinced us that her breed would be the best for our family. She lived with 2 cats, loved people, was gentle and joyful, even in her pregnant condition.

We have had Sophie for almost 4 months now, and now I know that I'll never be without a Golden Retriever again. She's proven to be everything that a well bred golden is supposed to be. We still call her our "bunny" because when she finds something she knows she's not supposed to have, she hops around the yard and house just like a bunny. When she's playing out in the yard with hubster, she does the same thing.... she's our Golden Bunny.
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I needed a dog that would be less likely to cause allergic reactions, since I'm allergic to heavy-shedding dogs. My rescued Lhasa Apso/min poodle has been the right one for me.
All the breed encyclopedias I checked out of the library described them as "pleasant, good-natured and calm dogs that make the ideal family pet."

Yeah... maybe after three solid hours of exercise...

In other words, I was completely fooled.

But in other news, I am head over heels in love.
I chose Rottweilers because they are the PERFECT BREED of dog.For me. Actually, my very first Rottweiler was given to us from family friends when I was a very young child. I grew up with that dog. That dog tolerated all the crap I dished out (before I knew better) and loved me anyway. I got into rescue and took in many different Rottweiler's from all different types of situations. Everyone of them has been an amazing dog in it's own right. All of my Rottweilers have had very tolerant personalities. They are forgiving, honest, loving dogs with great sense of humor. Most of them have a great work ethic and like to have a job or three. They have proved to be incredible dogs for Therapy work which I also enjoy doing. Great with kids, other animals, people of all shapes, sexes and sizes. All of this is dependent on only one thing.... You MUST be 100% committed to training and socializing this breed for the entire lifetime of the dog.
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My mom and her two sisters had always loved Pembroke Welsh Corgis because of Tasha Tudor:rolleyes: A lady my mom worked with had had a litter of pembrokes and there were two left. One was black, and one was the runt. She gave us the black one and my aunt and uncle got the runt. We fell in love with the breed and when Roscoe passed when I was 16, my mom and aunt took me to pick out a puppy from a breeder my aunt knew about for my birthday. We were only going to "pick one out" but they surprised me and we brought Bailey home that day!
I love the corgis humor, affection, drive, intelligence, loyalty, versatility, I could go on and on...I would never be without one!
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