Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

Why choose the breed you own?

99 replies

mustbemad17 · 23/12/2017 20:29

A few dog threads recently got me thinking about what people look for when they look for a dog. Did you have a specific breed in mind, or did you come across yours by chance?

I'm a big dog person, always have been. But I fell into my love of bull breeds after being begged by a friend (avid EBT owner) to help an EBT x who needed a foster. It was the start of what she calls an addiction & 98% of my fosters since have been bull crosses. I love everything about them okay maybe not their smelly arses and for me they are the only breed I would consider. Unless i won the lottery & had more space 🤔

So why did you choose your breed?

OP posts:

Thread gallery

Tatie3 · 23/12/2017 20:34

I chose my retired racing greyhound because of how expendable they seem to be in racing, I really wanted to give a home to a dog who had been given no chances in life but had so much to give. As a breed, greyhounds tend to be gentle, quiet and lazy and excellent with children which is exactly what we wanted. I'm hoping I can persuade DH to let us adopt another when we move to a bigger house.

Original poster

mustbemad17 · 23/12/2017 20:37

Love greys 😍 We took one on home trial (got my arm twisted - i'm a sucker) but sadly he had SA so needed another dog. They have such a bad time, we have a greyhound rescue near us that is always rammed.

Fingers crossed for a second!!

OP posts:

Tatie3 · 23/12/2017 20:38

They are so elegant but daft at the same time! We haven't had ours long but he's settled right in and is such a gentle giant.

Joskar · 23/12/2017 20:44

I looked after a friend's mini schnauzer when he went away on holiday. His ILs bred them and I got one from one of their litters. I love him and I love the breed. Doubtful I'd ever be able to afford another though because they are so expensive.

LaurieFairyCake · 23/12/2017 20:59

I needed a small dog suitable for London when I moved. One I could pick up on the escalators I can JUST do that as shes a sturdy fucker at 20 pounds!

All dogs I've had before have been big dogs, last dog was a really big springer.

So I read everything and settled on a dog my favourite aunt and uncle had when I was a child - one that's not over bred and no genetic issues.

Has been the best decision ever, love her to bits - a ridiculous amount.

minsmum · 23/12/2017 21:06

We got the fox hound from a small rescue that we trust because he had the potential to be good with cats. That was my most important criteria

Juststopit · 23/12/2017 21:08

Lurcher lovers here. Just got our second one from a rescue. Love their soppy nature and sofa hogging.

Wolfiefan · 23/12/2017 21:09

Wolfhound. I fell in love with the breed many many years ago. They make my heart sing. Goofy and affectionate and soppy great laphound.

Oops4 · 23/12/2017 21:10

I like big dogs but other people's big dogs. I didn't want the practicalities of a big dog so have always opted for big dogs in small bodies. I like hardy, healthy, robust, energetic, characterful dogs, that don't require a lot of grooming and preening. Dogs that can go wherever and for as long as you ask. Good with kids and up for a cuddle. We have border terriers and they are awesome.

MaitlandGirl · 23/12/2017 21:10

I’ve always loved papillons, I knew someone who did agility with them in the UK and fell in love with their character and personality.

I now have 3 of the little beasts and don’t ever see a time when I don’t have at least 2 in the house.

I love the fact they are so robust and easy to groom, despite their long coats.

We’re looking for a proper sized dog next (so I don’t have to keep bending down so far) and can’t decide. It’ll probably be an Italian Spinone next as the papillon breeder we got our last 2 from also breeds them. It won’t be for a while though as I need to emotionally build up to having 4 dogs in the house!

Hoppinggreen · 23/12/2017 21:15

I got my first one aged 8, had 2 more and then a 15 year gap due to working/small children.
Got number 4 last year, DH wanted something smaller and less hairy so I researched other breeds but every time I thought I had found an alternative I would happen to see one of “my” breed and was back to square one.
Eventually I told DH that I didn’t want “a dog” I only wanted a Golden Retriever. Ddog is hairy and muddy and large but I couldn’t contemplate anything else

missyB1 · 23/12/2017 21:15

Ok this is a bit embarrassing. We love the kipper the dog books (by Mick Inkpen) in our house. In the books Kipper’s friend is called Tiger he is our favourite, we researched what breed he is supposed to be and the consensus seemed to be a miniature schnauzer, so that’s what we got!

SheSparkles · 23/12/2017 21:15

We have a shihtzu x bichon frise. The main thing with any dog for us was that it had to be pretty much hypoallergenic as ds has mild asthma and was allergic to his own guinea pig. We’ve had him over 5 years now and he’s been the best thing we’ve ever done for the family

LaurieFairyCake · 23/12/2017 21:16

Oops - my dog is also a big dog in a small body (Scottish Terrier) - huge personality and voice and energy

Original poster

mustbemad17 · 23/12/2017 21:19

I'm loving reading these ☺️

OP posts:

Maladicta · 23/12/2017 21:23

Our rescue boy is a puli/pumi mix. Lovely temperament, very gentle, poodle-like coat with vvv minimal shedding. He likes to know we're all home as they're both shepherding breeds but hardly ever barks.

He ended up with us by chance but I'd definitely look for these breeds again in a rescue.

MothershipG · 23/12/2017 21:23

We needed a dog suitable for a small home, young kids and novice owners so we got a Mini Schnauzer. Love her to bits but she is manic and would never get another.

When looking for the next dog I wanted something small but sturdy so got my first Affenpinscher, can't imagine ever being without one now.

stressedoutfred · 23/12/2017 21:24

We chose a mini poodle/ mini schnauzer cross due to the risk of allergies.

We would have liked to adopt but the chances of us getting a breed that didn’t provoke allergies was so remote we gave up looking

MyPuppyIsADick · 23/12/2017 21:26

Always had GSDs growing up. Gorgeous dogs. DH and I have two Staffies - they’re mad but I couldn’t imagine not having a staffy now! Ddog2 is the most attention seeking dog I’ve ever met they’re so loving, have lots of character and gorgeous boot ❤️

MyPuppyIsADick · 23/12/2017 21:26

*to boot

SignoraStronza · 23/12/2017 21:27

DH led on the choice as he's had GSDs as family pets before and has known a few of the serving police dog versions. I wanted a 'proper' dog (well, bitch) with a decent enough bark and that is intelligent, loyal and also a complete softy. We've got a fluffy straight backed gsd and she's absolutely beautiful. The children adore her and vice versa and she's ridiculously cuddly and gentle. Would never have another breed to be honest.

Ylvamoon · 23/12/2017 21:29

I was looking for a good family dog that didn't shed too much, is medium sized and easyish to train. I wanted a proper breed dog from pup after a string of rescue x.
When I came across Tibetan Terrier their personality was described as "... with a sense of humour / class clown. " I knew I had to have one of these little characters. I have currently 4 - they are very addictive.

tabulahrasa · 23/12/2017 21:30

I like big dogs, I like dogs you can do stuff with all day as in they don't just sleep between walks, I want to have an actual companion, I like energetic but not completely wired to the moon dogs and I like training tricks and activities...also I hate grooming.

So, Rottweiler

Other breeds also fit that, but this time I wax working with DP's preferences - which are much less practical

BlessYourCottonSocks · 23/12/2017 21:31

I desperately wanted a dog as a child, by my mother didn't like dogs and it was never going to happen. They had childless friends who came to stay, however, 3 or 4 times a year who had a golden Cocker Spaniel that I adored. I used to love taking him for a walk whenever we saw them. I always swore that when I grew up I would have a golden Cocker Spaniel.

I've had 4 Cockers now - and this is the first golden one! 2 Black ones and a chocolate brown one before this. I still love Spaniels.

Eryri1981 · 23/12/2017 21:33

I love my parents dog to bits, he is a dogs trust special, who was rehomed as Collie X. We speculated for years about what he was crossed with.

I decided he is such a wonderful dog that I would get a Collie X too, and as I am slightly allergic to fur that I would try and find a puppy that had a low shredding/ hypoallergenic coat (but was never a big fan of poodles) so was think a Collie x bedlington lurcher of some sort.

Anyway, not long before I was ready to get my own puppy, I had my parents dog DNA profiled as their Christmas present (last year). Turns out he had absolutely no Collie in him and was half Springer X Jack Russell and half total mixed breed (with just about anything and everything including a bit more spaniel and a bit more terrier).

So change of plan, and I started looking for a spaniel X terrier, and ended up with a working cocker X bedlington terrier (low shedder) and he is just perfect, and snuggled up between me and DH on the sofa right now.

He gets on amazingly with my parents dog despite more than a 12 year age gap, and they just play until they drop.

Flip

1 2 3 4