Why do you have the breed of dog that you have?

[cheeseisthebest]

Just interested!
We've had our shih tzu three weeks now. I love the fact he's chilled out, doesn't yap, chew or moult. He loves to be with people.
But apart from the moulting that might just be his personality!
What breed do you have any why?

Basset Hound, but she’s more of a working line one. I love hounds and after research learned they are great family dogs and have unique characters.

You never really own a Basset, they own you and are perfectly trainable (contrary to belief) but need a different mind set when training.

Completely sold on bassets now, wonderful characters and extremely laid back with children. Stubborn and prone to ‘flat basset’ but that’s just part of their charm!

I love being a bit of a celebrity due to their rareness, as everyone loves her (she loves the attention) and the Columbo references.

Forgot to post this - my jackapoo. She has a really mischievous side, but it is all bright and cheeky rather than nasty - but the poodle bit of her also makes her easy to train. She is such a cuddly love. And besties with the cat.

@Reallyreallyborednow, I had Yorkies in mind when I posted. I think they are the only ones smaller.
To illustrate, my wee one had an operation today and they didn't behave a post-ok body suit small enough for dogs. She's wearing a cat one! The shame!!!!!

*Post -op

ruralwanderer Huntaways are such brilliant, lovely, clever dogs. I'd have one if I lived that kind of life.

I’ve got two labs, I’ve always had labradors as long as I’ve lived so guess I know them well, and they’re such lovely, affectionate, funny dogs. Completely food orientated so easy to train. Love ours to bits.

Asked the rescue what dog they had that could live with cats and got a Fox hound. He is huge, lovely with the cats, likes routine and basically like most hounds bone idle. I would have another one in a heartbeat if I could find one

@minsmum

Asked the rescue what dog they had that could live with cats and got a Fox hound. He is huge, lovely with the cats, likes routine and basically like most hounds bone idle. I would have another one in a heartbeat if I could find one

I'd love a Foxhound

Our neighbour has one and he always seems so placid and chilled out compared to our beagle

We have a miniature labradoodle, she's great with the kids, very social, ball obsessed and just generally been a fantastic dog for us. Loads of energy but loves a soda cuddle. Love her loads!

We have a 5 month old black working lab. We chose him because DH wanted a “proper dog” who can keep up with our active lifestyle. We didn’t expect him to be quite so gorgeous, quite so clever, quite so hard work and for us to love him quite so much!

@LadyCatStark

We have a 5 month old black working lab. We chose him because DH wanted a “proper dog” who can keep up with our active lifestyle. We didn’t expect him to be quite so gorgeous, quite so clever, quite so hard work and for us to love him quite so much!

Your garden is equally gorgeous!

LadyCatStark - what a handsome boy. I didn't expect our working line black lab to be so gorgeous either or for just how many buttons labs push for so many people (men it seems in particular) who have such lovely memories of black labs as family dogs growing up.

I have a show line lab. (She thinks she is a working lab though). She is fabulous. Funny, naughty, a bit dim but the most loveable girl ever. She is getting on now (11.5) but still loves her looonnnggg walks every day.
I am at home all day so she isn’t ever left. If we go out, we monitor our time closely.
She is the happiest girl who is currently snoring so loud I’m expecting my decibel alarm to go off on my watch!

I really want a border collie. Any tips for choosing one that is likely to be more laid back and not neurotic? Are failed sheepdogs a good bet?

Romanian rescue. I fell in love with her photo on the shelter's website. She's lab sized but a mongrel, one quarter German Shepherd according to a dna test. Super intelligent and has been very easy to train. She hates visitors, indoor stairs, smokers and other dogs. Apart from that, she's golden.

Here she is... couldn't work out how to add photos from phone

Otterhound. We've always had hounds of various varieties - all of them sweet-natured, food bribe-able, goofy, love walks and people - and wanted to support the Vulnerable Native Breed programme. After a thorough grilling from the breeder, plus high fence inspection, our shaggy sofahound came to live with us and now we can't imagine having any other kind of slightly medieval-looking canine companion. Or a day without the sound of the Eufy working wearily around the kitchen

German shepherd, because my husband wanted one. I don't like being a dog owner at all. She is three now and I am honestly never ever owning another dog in my life. Hair everywhere, no food ever safe, things chewed despite having lots of exercise and own toys and hundreds of pounds spent on training. I really loathe it. I wanted a small dog that didn't shed so much for my first dog. We got this one as DH grew up with them. Everyone said "once you have a GSD you'll never want any other kind of dog." They're right. I don't. Neither do I want another GSD.

@MayContainNits

Otterhound. We've always had hounds of various varieties - all of them sweet-natured, food bribe-able, goofy, love walks and people - and wanted to support the Vulnerable Native Breed programme. After a thorough grilling from the breeder, plus high fence inspection, our shaggy sofahound came to live with us and now we can't imagine having any other kind of slightly medieval-looking canine companion. Or a day without the sound of the Eufy working wearily around the kitchen

I would love an Otterhound. Please will you share a photo of your lovely beast?

a chihuahua because DH and DD wanted a beagle or a lab and I knew muggins would be the poo picker and walker haha

she is absolutely ridiculous and thinks she is a normal sized dog.

Bloody love her and her bestie who yes, share a pram on big days out

@SwimmingUnderwater

I really want a border collie. Any tips for choosing one that is likely to be more laid back and not neurotic? Are failed sheepdogs a good bet?

Speak to @PollyRoulson about border collies - she has several of them!

We have three:

Retriever cross - rescue dog, belonged to my parents but dad has since died and dog has lived with us for the past two years. They were looking for a rescue dog, he was looking for a home and he and dad were smitten the moment they met. He is bouncy and noisy but also extremely affectionate and loves cuddles.

Husky - we had space for a dog and DH announced one day that he would love a husky. I found a 6 month old dog looking for a home after a relationship breakdown and home he came. He has all the goofiness of a husky with an almost labrador like tendency to sprawl over the sofa and relax.

Jack Russell - my favourite breed since childhood. The one I have now is 11 months old. He joined our family in November, two weeks after my previous dog died. We spent an hour watching the pups play together and chose him because he was playful without being pushy and his cocky character shone through even at 7 weeks when he marched across the garden with a leaf in his mouth. I love JR's - they have such character in tiny bodies.

MayContainNits please could we have a photo of you Otterhound? We have one in our village and she’s a real character, a bit of a celebrity and my kids adore her!

We have a working line Labrador. I have often grumbled about families who buy a working Lab expecting an idle teddy bear and end up getting a shock. But a local gamekeeper had a litter and somehow we popped along ‘just to take a look’. And soon discovered no family takes a look at Labrador puppies without falling in love with one!

He’s eleven months old, everything I knew would be hard work in a working Lab. He is full of energy, testosterone and dog brain! Gundog training has helped a lot as we understand his breed traits better. He’s also beginning pre-agility which is keeping me fit!

On the other hand, he is beautiful and impossible not to worship. We couldn’t wish for a better dog for our family. As my kids tell me, he’s a furry wobbler and friendly as toast

minsmum please post a photo of your foxhound. We live near to sixty and are very fond of them ( even when they sing at four am!). The puppies are awesome.

Our Labrador had an across the tracks friendship this spring with one of the lady hounds who had just had pups and was raising them in the paddock next to us. We’d often find her sitting in our driveway, having a chat, before trotting back to the field!

@Couchpotato3

Here she is... couldn't work out how to add photos from phone

She is gorgeous!