Why did you chose the breed of dog you did?

[Nottherealslimshady]

So this is coming mainly from the many threads about certain breeds being dangerous and I'm sure people often think "people only get those dogs to look big and hard" so I thought we could all share our dogs and why we chose the breed we did.

I'll start...

My girl is a rottweiller, bred as cattle herders and meat wagon pullers, also used for bear baiting unfortunately.
I chose a rottie because they're intelligent, eager to learn, loyal to their owners but not much that they're a problem with strangers, and they're well known to be good with children. We chose a female because they're smarter, less territorial and less likely to wanna have sex with things. They're also bloody beautiful. Pic attached for evidence

We have a mongrel, it’s actually impossible to tell by looking what breeds are in her DNA. We wanted a female, medium size, short hair and friendly, and didn’t care about aesthetics! We got lucky and she is the happiest easiest dog we’ve ever had.

Wire haired fox terrier. We’d always been cat people then about 10 years ago we were watching crufts and we started talking about “proper dogs”. Ones we remembered from our childhood and the most adorable foxy came on. That was it.We waited (until elderly cats passed) did our research, hung on then got this gorgeous girl two years ago. Solid, few health conditions, not overly fussy, stubborn, wilful and adorable. And yes another cat.

@m0therofdragons when I pull the sofa out there is tumbleweed but it’s hardly anything compared to our old fluffy springers. I do give her a bi-annual strip and groom which helps

A Shiba Inu, I wanted something small but not tiny so it would be easy to carry up and down the stairs. An active and energetic breed who tolerates being alone sometimes (couple of hours) and isn’t hugely people focused so copes with day care/being babysat by other people. They’re also very playful and always up for some fun/stimulating training.

I was going to get another Pug I have 3 (all healthy no breathing problems or eye problems) the someone I know told me about a British Bulldog that needed rehoming so I got her she is funny and as lazy as anything and my Pugs adore her I think they think she is just a larger Pug but omg the farting she is worse than my 3 Pugs put together

Rottweilers for me.
I had a list of breeds I liked the look of but they also had to fulfill the following criteria:

• big and cuddly
• active, but not so much so that if I was ill and unable to walk it for a day or so they wouldn't be going out of their mind
• trainable and eager to please, but not easily bored. I like a dog that will chill out without having to do mensa style training with it!
• a dog that I felt I could walk anywhere and feel safe, but at the same time not "aloof with strangers", ie a bloody liability. They look the part but are sociable.
• not yappy
• shortish coat. I like brushing dogs but didn't want to spend hours doing it. Nor did I want to have to rely on groomers.

working Sprocker, all the best bits of springer and cocker together. Snuggly, loves kids, can go all day but also can sleep all day, only nuts outside, amazing trainability and recall. Only downside is the damn hair!

We got ours because we liked spaniels but everyone said they were all as mad as a box of frogs, so we researched for any non-mad spaniel breeds and found the Kooikerhondje. Although they definitely have their quirks, they don't require infinite hours of walking and constant stimulation! DD says our dog is more like a cat.

@CuriousaboutSamphire so lovely. I have a soft spot for EBT.

I chose a yorkie. I’ve grown up with them, but initially was looking for something different. I ruled out spaniels due to health issues, and poodles due to coat maintenance. I really wanted a whippet or greyhound but I have cats and like pottering off lead so they were out. Looked at papillons but read they can be quite fragile.

Kept coming back to yorkies. Can cope with minimal walking, but happy to potter all day if you do go out. Very trainable - most owners just don’t bother. Proper terrier behaviour, good alarm system but not yappy, likes to go hunting with the cat, generally just a content wee thing that follows us around and keeps us company. With the bonus of no hair shedding or allergy triggering.

Mine because they are great family dogs, fun and lovable and healthy! The size of dog also fits with training and lifestyle.

A cocker spaniel - the best dog in the world

A Dogue de Bordeaux because I enjoy cleaning slime off the walls/ceiling/clothes daily.
She's amazing so calm, loyal, ignores other dogs completely and has no clue she weighs 10 stone and can't sit on your knee anymore.

Cavachon. Size was the biggest issue as I have a smallish garden. The dog is low shed, which was also a factor, and shes just an all round good temperament breed. I know some people have concerns about the separation anxiety in the breed, but was not too concerned as I am always home bar the odd supermarket run, or with family who love her coming with me (so they say!). As it happens, she gives no shits if I leave her, she is very confident.

Whippet / lurcher

Fun on long walks
Quirky
Silly and sensitive
Quiet
Smart
Doesn't malt much

Oh and whippets are generally excellent with children

Giant Schnauzer - we wanted a large-giant dog who had personality needed a lot of exercise and good with children also not a dog you see often. My parents had a mini and the giant looked lovely. He has turned out to be a dream. Wilful yes like a roti so you will understand op. But fantastic lovable crazy 42kg furry beast.

CuriousaboutSamphire

What breed is he?

We have two cavapoochons, they are the most gorgeous little bundles of love, fun and joy.They are content to cuddle on the sofa or go for long walks, they love adventure, jumping over things, children and other dogs. They are actually the perfect dog, they are extremely low shedding (I never find fur anywhere), they don't smell at all, they are clever and super affectionate, but they are happy to do their own thing too. They don't have separation anxiety, don't wreck stuff when we go out and have one setting - VERY HAPPY!

They are also uber cute to look at so don't get one if you are an introvert as sometimes the constant attention they garner can get a bit much

I wanted a rescue, prefered larger dogs , went after a greyhound cross great dane and ended up with a GSP , dog of little brain but he was lovely to look at and the best nature ever, which is really the most important thing.

Now looking for another rescue, really like little squidgy bum staffies and also long leggedey pointy nosed greyounds and lurchers. Would love another GSP but not sure our situation now would suit one , an older one maybe. Just want a dog that loves people and doesn't need hours and hours of exercise

my story is much simpler, as a child I was given a pooch, and after she gave birth to the same one . this dog is with parents now. she is so affectionate, light in color, medium size and a little curly, looks plump. I adore her for her kindness and protection of the family, she does not tolerate strangers for scent

German shepherd- they're so trainable and clever, I often thought my old girl was more emotionally intelligent than some humans. They're high energy and for that reason not for everyone but with lots of simulation and firm boundaries they will be your best friend.

I also have a rescue shih tzu (miniature too!) she had a litter of puppies before she was even a year old, she'd had no socialisation and hadn't lived in a house before. She started out so quiet and I thought she would be a nervous character forever but she bounced back within days, she is the sweetest little girl but so crazy too, like @GeorgiaGirl52 says, her sense of humour knows no bounds! I didn't choose her but I would choose her 100 times over now.

Also I love this thread, I love dogs!

frumpety I have had three staffies in the past and would love another. They are the best dogs, so loving and friendly - they really do get a bad rep for no reason.

Eskies (essentially all-white German Spitz).

My grandmother had a couple of them at different times when I was growing up. They're beautiful dogs, which was what originally drew me to them. Also a convenient size (small-medium). They do shed a crazy amount of fur and can be barky (great watchdogs), but where I live the occasional noise isn't as much of a concern (no neighbours close by). They're playful and intelligent-- just such fun dogs to have in your life!

I like that they look like they must take hours of grooming, yet their fur is actually low-maintenance compared to many long-haired breeds. (I will never own another spaniel, for instance, because the grooming demands were too high for us.)

Springer due to how happy they always are. I've never seen waggier tails on any other breed. My boy is mad as a box of frogs but I absolutely love this .

Golden Retriever- they're so gentle, care about their people and are good with everyone, are good with other dogs, are loving, ours is very intelligent (but our previous goldie wasn't but that was just endearing!).

We also previously had German Shepherds, they were great- highly intelligent, sweet dogs but people were always weary of them and one of them would react to other dogs after being attacked by a dog as a puppy.

Cockapoo

✅ doesn’t shed - important as I am very house proud
✅ medium energy - only needs a one hour walk a day which suits my own exercise habits
✅ intelligent - so easy to train and picks up commands in minutes
✅ loving and great with children - always up for cuddles and will lie at my feet while I’m working
✅ medium size - didn’t want a little lap dog nor a big dog and medium means he has lots of space in the back garden and also doesn’t take over the house when he is inside.
✅ good with other dogs - noticed this so much more when he’s being snarled at by various little dogs who all seem to have a serious attitude problem!
✅ a dream to walk on the lead - could use one finger! He’s happy to just walk along side me.

However does have the much dreaded separation anxiety and is a fussy eater with allergies. Luckily we have the money to get him expensive foods and pay for a fancy day care so he’s not stuck in a kennel yard when we do have to leave him.