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

Should add also an excellent guard dog! No one gets to the door without us being told about it. And of course gorgeous too

Shetland Sheepdogs- researched and wanted a dig that was excellent with children,cats,chickens etc- they absolutely dote on my grandchildren - have great characters- look gorgeous and agile and incredibly intelligent and quick to train!

Brother had the perfect dog so that breed was the only one for me and after careful research my girl has turned out to be the most wonderful dog and pal - Springer spaniel, was a little bonkers in the first year but then she grew up.

Mini schnauzer puppy being collected from breeder this weekend! I'm sure he will be the absolute love of my life.

Salukis. They are stunningly beautiful, somewhat violent and prefer to be close to throes chosen humans. I fell in love with the breed over 30 years ago.

We picked up an 8 week old working cocker spaniel yesterday :-)
Wanted a dog with a fun personality, good with children, gentle and caring, able to go on runs with DH and a good medium size dog that doesn’t overtake the house (although 24 hours in she has absolutely taken over the house 🤣 and my sleep ...!)

Sproker. Less bonkers than a Cocker and slightly less hi-energy than a Springer. Affectionate, loyal, super-trainable, brilliant recall, funny and so loving - she comes and licks your tears away if you are sad.

We knew we could walk her enough but honestly, even if I don't get out till late afternoon (occasionally) and her walk is a bit rubbish, she doesn't complain. She is super chilled and amazing with kids. No moulting and not barky.

But Fuck Me does she make a racket when someone posts something through the door. And she doesn't like men with beards - no siree!

We have a Newfie because of their sweet temperament, cuddliness (though our girl doesn't like to snuggle for long) and because I wanted a companion dog. And I love Newfs, they're so beautiful.

She's a lot of work, there's always hair everywhere, but she's wonderful and beautiful and just loves people so much. Which is a bit of a pain on walks.

We have leonberger mainly because of the friendly happy temperament and relatively low exercise requirement.
They are happy to walk for an hour or two if I want but are equally happy to have quick run on the field and then sleep the day away until the next run.
They love cuddling, all day if we allow it.
Brilliant with children.
They just love everything, really glass half full personalities. People, dogs, animals no problem. Mine are gentle with cats and even a tiny bird they found in the garden yesterday, no prey drive at all.
Never ever bark or have shown any aggression.
Easy to train and deal with. Mine compete in obedience although they are harder to motivate than say a collie.
I also love the fluff just not hoovering it up.

They are people magnets. Not sure if this is a good or bad point.

We also have a rescue GSD but she does not suit our lifestyle as much as we love her and we won’t be having another when she goes.

Mix breed here. Mini Schnauzer x Jack Russell Terrier (Schnack). She is sooo loving and also quite talkative. We have always had German Shepherds and lost our last one to Canine Epilepsy a few years ago. The Schnack learned all her doggy manners from him. Pics attached

Just making me want to get some more puppies! I would love a whippet, we fostered a lovely one once and I'd have kept him but he found his forever home. I love big slobery dogs too. It's boring if they sit on your knee and dont give you a dead leg.
I do feel safer with a strong dog. Shes definitely a protector. She's very aware of people doing things they shouldn't, she's scared people off casing a neighbours house, I only noticed them when they ran off, it was like she could smell their badness. She watches loiterers like a hawk. And if you step foot on our drive she makes her presence known. And once DH came in from a night out, obviously smelled different and it was dark, I woke up to her barking and pounding on the top of the stairs at him (like a polar bear hunting) and him going "puppy it's me, its daddy"

@Littlewhitedove aw that floof is a stunner!

@JayAlfredPrufrock

Springer. Joy bringer.

Same here. My Springer is a rescue. The most affectionate dog I’ve ever known. Luckily we’re an outdoorsy family because he has unbelievable stamina!

Springers, always 2 at a time. We wanted lively dogs that could come to the yard, which ruled out the idea of a Keeshond, my childhood dog-imagine the grooming-and that would be happy running round for hours in muddy woods. We also wanted friendly dogs. They adore everyone, but the one being held hates all other dogs, which makes for stressful walks. He is kept occupied with a ball in his gob at all times but we don’t do woods walks, way too dodgy. It’s limited our walks, but I adore him, so we work around his needs.

Yorkie. Don’t shed, intelligent, tons of empathy and snuggles anyone who’s sad. Loves people and is very waggy - will stare adoringly into your eyes.

They need to be trained as they are not little handbag dogs, despite looking dead cute.

@Littlewhitedove your Schnack is adorable!

I didn't choose our dog breed; I married a man addicted to dachshunds. His family had a neighbour who was a breeder so that was his boyhood dog.
We're on our second, can't really imagine having a different type. Standard shorthaired, so low mess, low smell. Excellent walkers - ie will happily climb mountains but CBA in bad weather.

@Guineapigbridge

Mini schnauzer puppy being collected from breeder this weekend! I'm sure he will be the absolute love of my life.

OMG! How can something simultaneously be such a cute puppy and a little old man?

@Jokie gorgeous dogs wow

@Mollymalone123 they are a cracking pair just lovely

@GrouchyKiwi just beautiful

Picardy Spaniels and Miniature schnauzers for us

The Picardies are high energy, intelligent, cuddle monsters who make me laugh every day.

The mini schnau is intelligent, stroppy and wilful and I love him for keeping the spaniels in check! He is the boss dog!

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. We wanted a dog that was bombproof with the kids but still a guarding breed. We wanted big but not huge (so we went with a female). We wanted something that could go for a long hike but didn't need heaps of exercise. She's absolutely perfect for us.

We have a patterdale terrier. Our last dog was a lurcher crossed with something. He was like a lurcher on steroids but was the most loving, friend you could wish for. Sadly he passed away last year when he was 10 and I swore I would never have another dog.
Three months later I broke, our house didn't feel like a home anymore so I broached the idea of another dog. We all agreed we wanted them to be completely different and started researching breeds. I loved the idea of a king charles cavalier, but ds1(vetmed student) said that almost every lecture they had about health problems would reference this breed so we had a rethink.
Our girl fits in beautifully but is completely nuts and suffers from separation anxiety. Both of our companions were rescues.