What's special about your breed of dog?

[ashesoffire]

I have 4 dogs. St Bernard's anybody? Any experience? Or any other suggestions. Sell your dog breed to me! Crosses welcome as are photos.

Here he is!

Is there Bless? How much would I need to pay?

Not sure Ashes - about £50 maybe? Just saw them on the website.

We have a 15 week old KCC and so far apart from the most appalling farts, we have no downsides - although we're very aware of potential health problems with the breed - we've waited a long time for him, though, and he's so worth it.

A total cuddle monkey, loves to be with people, dogs and cats (although our cats are still giving him the side eye when he bounces up to them) and, fingers crossed, relatively obedient so far (very early days, though! ) I'd like to post a photo but I'm not sure the app will let me...

I have a mongrel springer spaniel cross labradoodle cross poodle who is a delight. Chose her because mum was such a lovely dog. Also have had a pedigree lab, great and a Lancashire Heeler who was a revelation after a gundog, so neat, discerning and best of all never rolled in fox poo. Unfortunately he had lens luxation and ended up blind for the last six years of his life but got to 14 and still walking off lead in places he knew well. Back now to gun dog genes and rolling again, also very hairy and needs a lot of grooming and very bright so lots of training. But children have left home so I have time and am finding kings and interactive toys a godsend!

Kongs even

Another Cavalier owner here! @CrazyCavalierLady and @BlessThisMess yours are lovely.

My little chap is super-friendly and gentle towards other animals and 'knows his place' as far as our cats are concerned . He's very flexible in regard to exercise requirements - will trot along with us all day if we're out; will be happy with a couple of short walks if the weather is poor. Though small, he has a proper doggy bark, not a yap.

Downsides with this breed - they are very prone to genetic health problems; long hair needs grooming and sheds everywhere, feathers on legs, tail and tummy bring in the dirt like nothing else.

We have a black working Lab bitch, 5 months today. I wouldn't say there's anything particularly notable about her except that I think she's fantastic and I wonder why we never got a dog years ago.

Greedy as fuck, though. You can bribe her to nothing via treats.

Bribe her to do anything I mean.

Whippet here:

Pros: No smell, little shedding, doesn't bark much, very calm and lazy but up for a bit of playful fun too. We can take him anywhere - train, car, restaurants, pub, hotels...he will curl up underneath my chair - we always carry a mat for him as he doesn't like to lie on the ground.

Cons: Not very biddable - think training a cat.....doable but you need to be persistent and teaching recall can be challenging. Affectionate but only when he feels like it. Needs a coat most of the year. Skin can tear easily.

@TrustySnail how beautiful!

From my research it does appear that you have a lot more of a problem with genetic disorders in your UK breeding stock than we do here in Australia. We still have the same issues but they appear less common and, it seems as though our heart murmurs generally manifest later in life.

Also with our weather a lot of owners of pets (not show dogs obviously) clip our Cavs in Summer for comfort with the added bonus of no hairballs tumbling around the house 🐶

@CrazyCavalierLady

Yes, indeed, my understanding is that the Cavalier gene pool in the UK is extremely small; you have to be very careful in selecting a responsible breeder who heart-tests dogs, and unfortunately Cavaliers are one of the most commonly puppy-farmed breeds over here, which doesn't help at all.

Mine developed a heart-murmur at 6, which is relatively good going - fortunately it doesn't seem to affect him on a day-to-day basis as yet.

I hope this is something that breeders might be able to be address through crossing with overseas stock in the longer term (it's heartening to know you have lots of sound dogs in Australia!), or even some form of outcrossing - they are such beautiful dogs, especially in temperament - it would be terrible if the health of the breed deteriorated to the extent it became no longer viable to breed them at all.

I have Pugs, I have 3 Pugs, they are funny, cute, bloody annoying and beautiful, the last one I got was a rescue, it was obvious she had been used for breeding and then discarded.

She had never been in a house, never walked on carpet, never slept in a bed, she has serious health issues, but after a week she got up on the sofa next to me out her head in my lap and slept, I sat there for 4 hours just watching her sleep tears running down my face at the sight of a little Pug learning what it is like to be loved and safe for the first time in her life.

They all snore like drunken sailors, their farts could clear a room and there is not ONE Christmas toy left with all limbs, head, eyes still intact and I cant go anywhere without people stopping me to pet them especially when the two of them were wearing their reindeer outfits with antlers

We have no idea what he is. The spca said poodle x chihuahua, DNA testing said poodle x French bulldog x chihuahua but he's clearly got some terrier (schnauzer, border terrier etc). He loves people, sits on a stool next to me looking out the front window as I work from home all day, has the most ridiculous bark and the longest eyelashes ever. His name is diggory....

Yellow lab:

Cons:
Big
Dopey
Gets in the way all the fucking time
Lots of yellow hair where
Stinks
Huge vet bills for his allergies
Eats everything
For a retriever, he doesn't retrieve anything (running for the ball would mean further away from me, therefore won't do it)
Can't walk far due to knackered hips
Wants to talk to everyone - dog or human - to say hello on every walk

Pros:
He's my big old boy and hes awesome. Cuddly, loving, happiest dog ever.

Would post about my Dalmatians, but across the multiple we've had, they have all been so different in all but a couple of things - they will run forever and they are loyal. They've all picked their human and will do anything for them.

2 out of 3 have been highly intelligent. 1 is as thick as my lab but she's all the more lovely for it

1 out of 3 is highly anxious but that's more her history than the breed

2 out of 3 have ongoing stomach issues which the vet has found no reason for and thinks its stress-belly

@Oldsu and @MardSnails post pics! My smallest dog is also a pug called Ivy.

Working Cocker Spaniel owner

Pros: He is bloody gorgeous, beautiful hazel eyes, soft fur, and all round charismatic
Intelligent (see pros below)
Sheer delight in life - he saved me from depression and anxiety with his live in the moment attitude
When a wcs loves you, it is total, complete, and you will never pee alone again!
He comes to work with me, and is an invaluable calming influence on stressed undergraduates

Cons:
Intelligent, he has me well trained. If he fancies a snack he looks around for the highest value 'swap' he can find - usually my reading glasses, a phone or DHs wallet
Have you ever seen a dog stick a middle finger up at you? WCSs will if they get the red mist and the scent of a pheasant
Despite being a small/medium dog (13.6kg), he is fiendishly strong and WILL NOT walk nicely on a lead

This is him working the light on Boxing day - and hiding that he has been such a pickle, he's not allowed off the training lead at the moment.