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Author Topic: Which breed would be best? Elite Member Member # 774 Member Rated: posted June 27, 2004 05:55 PM                Well, if I do get a playmate for Molly, I will certainly have to do a lot of research first So, here's what the new dog would get/need to deal with: 1. Molly, lol. She's a rott/pit/lab, so she's going to be rather large, although her growth was stunted in the pound. I'm gueesing she'll be 60-70 lbs full grown. So, I need a dog that can handle her. 2. Well, I do NOT have a fenced yard. I have a relitvely large house, though. It has quite a large amount of stairs, and that might be bad for some dogs' hips and backs, so I need to consider htat. 3. Needs to be quite trainable, because I'd like to have the dog offleash most of the time when outside (will have outside time on a long leash in the front og the house, as well). I am willing to take quite a lot of time to train the dog, but I need it to respond, at least most of the time. 4. Needs to be a relitively popular dog, as I won't go anywhere but a shelter or rescue. 5. Can be fairly active, as we spend a lot of time outside with Molly, take her for a few walks a day (at least 2, normally several more), and there is a dog walker that comes when we work (my mother only works until 3), and we don't work during the summer, so that means even MORE dog time. 6. Needs to get slong well with the kitten. 7. Needs to be good in the car (although I don't think that really depends on the breed). Okay, so, the ideas I've had so far are corgis, great danes, basset hounds, and rat terriers. I don't think any of them are really fast learners, and am unsure that they could deal with the stairs/lack of yard. I'm also a little worried that when Molly reaches full size, she could hurt a much smaller dog, such as the rat terrier. I'm open to any mixes of these dogs, of course. Does anyone have any other ideas for breeds? I still may not end up getting a friend for her, but I might, so I need all the information I can get with the PERFECT match for my situation -------------------- ~*Elite*~ "You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'My God, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'" --Dave Barry Posts: 164 | From: Colorado | Registered: Mar 2004 lou3 Member Member # 343 Member Rated: posted June 27, 2004 06:11 PM                all the dogs you mention are relatively uncommon and unlikely to be found in a shelter. I would suggest that pointers and labradors fit your criteria best although i would just go along to the shelter and find a dog that you like. If it gets along with your pup and is of an appropriate size (i would suggest trying to find a similar match although it isnt essential) A lurcher might be a good match, thats a cross between a collie and a "long dog" usually a sight hound such as a greyhound. Lou Posts: 461 | From: uk | Registered: Nov 2003 weimlover0816 Member Member # 873 Member Rated: posted June 27, 2004 06:25 PM                Congrats Elite, on your future addition I'm surprised we didn't scare you away wiht our responses to beaucios' question about a good large dog anyway, i agree with lou that a lab/lab mix will be a good companion for molly..... they are quick learners, popular so there wil be many in the shelters, and will certainly keep up with Molly!!! But, the dogs you mentioned were relatively small.... are you looking for a smaller dog? Anyway, good luck!! And your dog portraits were absolutely wonderful by the way!! Lou- I think that greyhounds/greyhound mixes probably wouldn't be the the best idea for her, as the yard is not fenced and she wants the dog to be off leash a lot. greyhounds, I have heard, really need to be leashed all the time... they have a higher prey dirve than most dogs, IMO... not a bad thing, certainly, as it is their job, but, for off leash, prob. not the best.... anyway..... -------------------- "My Weimaraner is smarter than your honors student!" Posts: 221 | From: USA-Maine | Registered: Apr 2004 Elite Member Member # 774 Member Rated: posted June 27, 2004 06:44 PM                Well, those were the only dogs I mentioned that I liked because I AM able to findthem in the shelters. Well, not great danes, and generally not bassets (although there might be soon, considering there are two in the lost dogs section, and they can only stay there for a week). There are two great dane resces in my state, though, and one of their dog's profiles looked like it could do well in our life. There is a corgi/lab mix at my closest shelter right now, which got the idea started on the corgis I generally don't like small dogs (and I don't consider bassets small, lol), however most of the breeds I truly enjoy would probably not be right for our life. I enjoy rotts, any dog with "bull" in the name (possibly too active), most gun dogs (for the most part, I like the ones that are too active), cattle dogs, Akitas (wouldn't be good with the nearbye children), and german shepherds (can't risk their hips). Another small dog I like is the shih-tzu, but that would be a bad choice as a playmate for molly. Not to mention my mom prefers dogs without reputations (the fact that we got Molly is amazing...my mom would have never adopted her if she had known what she was). Another idea is Springer Spaniels, I love those, and htere might be a couple in my area. However, for the most part rescues will not adopt dos out to people who do not have fences. The great dane rescue is a rare exception. The usually require it, but if you can prove other ways of excersizing your dog, they will consider it. I will certainly consider labs/lab mixes...there are plenty around here! Almost as many as there are cattle dogs! -------------------- ~*Elite*~ "You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'My God, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'" --Dave Barry Posts: 164 | From: Colorado | Registered: Mar 2004 DaxAriel's toy Member Member # 740 Member Rated: posted June 27, 2004 07:07 PM                A smaller shepard cross would be fine. Just avoid the 110 - 150 bruts as they are the ones more prone to hip/elbow problems. They are popular so your ASPCA should have several. How about going online to your shelter and picking some that you like and let us see them. Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004 lou3 Member Member # 343 Member Rated: posted June 27, 2004 07:28 PM                lurchers dont have to be greyhound, and remember their other half is the oh-so-willing-to-take orders border collie. Lurchers that are borzoi cross collie are becoming very popular over here. Its a beautiful mix and produces an excellent dog. Lurchers are primarily used as "flushing" gun dogs here. Lou Posts: 461 | From: uk | Registered: Nov 2003 weimlover0816 Member Member # 873 Member Rated: posted June 27, 2004 08:33 PM                Elite, don't compltetly discount the shih-tzu, my in-laws have one and he looooves to play with Roslynd. He actuallly wears her out sometimes!! And, his other best friend is the 90 lb. black lab that lives across the street!! LOL But, you may have a hard time finding on in a shelter..... rescue maybe. A pure bred shih-tzu in this area goes for about $600.... yikes!! (my in laws got theirs for free.... lucky ducks!!) Yeah, pick some out, post pics, and we'll help you choose!! you know we never fail to give our full opinions!!! LOL -------------------- "My Weimaraner is smarter than your honors student!" Posts: 221 | From: USA-Maine | Registered: Apr 2004 Elite Member Member # 774 Member Rated: posted June 28, 2004 01:39 PM                Alright...I can post a few dogs that interest me There are sars next to the ones I particularly like, maybe just a tad more than others, although I do really like them all * http://www.boulderhumane.org//adopt/animals/A116065.html *http://www.boulderhumane.org//adopt/animals/A116206.html **http://www.boulderhumane.org//adopt/animals/A116491.html **http://www.boulderhumane.org//adopt/animals/A107942.html *http://www.boulderhumane.org//adopt/animals/A116002.html http://www.boulderhumane.org//adopt/animals/A116364.html *male 1 year old terrier mix- http://www.petharbor.com/get_image.asp?RES=Detail&ID=A334382&LOCATION=DDFL male 7 month old german shepherd mix- http://www.petharbor.com/get_image.asp?RES=Detail&ID=A335274&LOCATION=DDFL **Male 1 y/o terrier mix- http://www.petharbor.com/get_image.asp?RES=Detail&ID=A336006&LOCATION=DDFL *Male 9 m/o boxer/german shepherd http://www.petharbor.com/get_image.asp?RES=Detail&ID=A319805&LOCATION=DDFL Male 3 y/o cattle dog purebred- http://www.petharbor.com/get_image.asp?RES=Detail&ID=A319805&LOCATION=DDFL Female 3 y/o chow mix- http://www.petharbor.com/get_image.asp?RES=Detail&ID=A332275&LOCATION=DDFL1 *Male adult Basset mix- http://www.coloradohumane.org/MVC-493S.JPG Male 8 m/o chocolate lab- http://www.coloradohumane.org/MVC-893S.JPG Male 2.5 year old shiba x http://www.coloradohumane.org/MVC-514S.JPG Male adult shepherd x http://www.coloradohumane.org/MVC-591S.JPG Male adult mastiff x- http://www.coloradohumane.org/MVC-586S.JPG *Male 2 y/o skye terrier- http://www.coloradohumane.org/MVC-508S.JPG **Male 15 months Great Dane http://www.rmgreatdane.org/Photos/Apollo035.jpg Male 2 y/o chessie/lab mix (no picture) Yeah...I like quite a few So if you actually had the patience to look through this many, thank you, and I'd love to hear your opinions [ June 28, 2004, 01:47 PM: Message edited by: Elite ] -------------------- ~*Elite*~ "You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'My God, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'" --Dave Barry Posts: 164 | From: Colorado | Registered: Mar 2004 DaxAriel's toy Member Member # 740 Member Rated: posted June 28, 2004 03:47 PM                I like the boxer - Max. Good looking fellow - looks pure. NICE STRONG lines Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004 Elite Member Member # 774 Member Rated: posted June 28, 2004 03:52 PM                He is a lovely dog, isn't he? Right age, gender, and size as well And he is possibly the least "tough" looking boxer I've ever seen. And I love his "Navy" collar..he seems perfect for it I wouldn't be suprised if he was yet anohter one of those dogs whose owners were sent off to Iraq...ugh. Somebody PLEASE stop this dumb president before even more dogs have to go homeless -------------------- ~*Elite*~ "You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'My God, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'" --Dave Barry Posts: 164 | From: Colorado | Registered: Mar 2004 Elite Member Member # 774 Member Rated: posted June 28, 2004 04:10 PM                OMG, this little beauty showed up sinced I last looked at the page, now THAT is the kind of looks I like best, lol! Probably not right for us, but maybe http://www.boulderhumane.org//adopt/animals/A116452.html -------------------- ~*Elite*~ "You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'My God, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'" --Dave Barry Posts: 164 | From: Colorado | Registered: Mar 2004 DaxAriel's toy Member Member # 740 Member Rated: posted June 28, 2004 04:27 PM                This looks like a great dog. Why don't you think it's for you? Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004 ayl715 Member Member # 417 Member Rated: posted June 28, 2004 07:57 PM                What about this one ?! Male 8 m/o chocolate lab- Posts: 34 | Registered: Dec 2003 Elite Member Member # 774 Member Rated: posted June 28, 2004 10:28 PM                Well, I think she may not be right because she's got to be HUGE. I love huge dogs of course, I mean, I listed a great dane and a mastiff x, but being a shpherd and already having those hips, and then mix it in with an even largerdog :-/ I guess that just kind of worries me. She's also female, which I don't mind to much, but I thought a male/female pair would be better. Otherwise she seems like a nice fit Beautiful dog, too...I may just have to bring Molly over to that humane society and let her have her pick of the dogs that could fit...although those terrier xsfrom the DDFL or sooo cute, lol. And the lab, definently an option. Chocolates are my favorite ones, too. And he's the right age, size, and gender. He'd be a perfect playmate for molly. Just worried another dog of that age might get to the old dogs in the neighboorhood...two puppies might be a little much for the "hood". Course, the boxer would pretty much still be apuppy as well...I hear they don't "mature" for quite some time :-/ So, boxer, lab, and shepherd x. Cool -------------------- ~*Elite*~ "You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'My God, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'" --Dave Barry Posts: 164 | From: Colorado | Registered: Mar 2004 Elite Member Member # 774 Member Rated: posted June 28, 2004 10:31 PM                Looks like the boxersbeen adopted...*sigh*. He must have been a greatdog, they only had him out for a few days. -------------------- ~*Elite*~ "You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'My God, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'" --Dave Barry Posts: 164 | From: Colorado | Registered: Mar 2004 Elite Member Member # 774 Member Rated: posted June 28, 2004 10:56 PM                I was looking through more dogs needing homes, and I found this dog, a 5 month old female ameican bulldog... And she looks exactly like a white version of my puppy! It's absoloutley incredible...I thoughtmy little girl Molly was just a pit/lab/rott, and she ends up looking just like an american bulldog! Of course, she still could be, she stil has faint rotti marks and definently has something else mixed in (she has a very odd coat), but it's amazing. Everything but the coat is the same. I might just have to start being interested in THIS dog based on that fact...well...and she's a gorgeous dog. But I'd only be interested if she's housetrained...another puppy to housetrain would be killer, lol! Too bad she's probably about an hour away, if I'm lucky :-P Okay, she's 45 minutes away, and I've been looking at pics of A bulldogs, and she seems to be a mix, as well. *sigh*...so confusing [ June 28, 2004, 11:14 PM: Message edited by: Elite ] -------------------- ~*Elite*~ "You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'My God, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'" --Dave Barry Posts: 164 | From: Colorado | Registered: Mar 2004 Elite Member Member # 774 Member Rated: posted June 29, 2004 10:09 PM                wow, most of the dogs I listed have been adopted, including that new german shepherd/mountain dog. I might justhave to go and WORK at the humane society so I can keep better track of the dogs there :-P -------------------- ~*Elite*~ "You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'My God, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'" --Dave Barry Posts: 164 | From: Colorado | Registered: Mar 2004

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