Dog question...

[Danimal]

Jumping on this a little late. Not sure if this was said, but when picking a dog temperament has just as much to do with how well he/she behaves as breed does. Generally speaking stay away from high energy dogs. If you don't run the energy out of them, they run out of energy destroying / digging everything in their path. Pick a dog that has a mild yet confident temperament and get training classes in the beginning. It helps bond the dog to you and creates a strong base for the dog listening to you and trusting you. I have a half husky/half lab mix. Great dog, but sheds about (not kidding) two full trashbags of hair every spring. Also has separation anxiety and can / will chew through anything when he gets upset. My back yard always looks like a bomb went off out there. Do the research and pick a breed then pick the dog based on temperament. Rescue dogs are the best and generally the humane society does obedience training on dogs they bring in making your life a little easier skipping the whole stupid puppy shit on everything phase.

[Zundfolge]

I'm going to go against the grain here a little bit and say I don't prefer shelter dogs.

When it comes to health, size, temperament, longevity, intelligence ... its all a crap shoot. Sure you could get the best dog ever or you could get a dumb, hard to train, sickly dog with bad knees (TPLO surgeries are expensive) and/or hips that will drain your finances and leave you heartbroken and probably never wanting a dog again.

The problem with pure breed dogs is that unless you know exactly what you want you're also in for some experimentation. That and there are bad breeders out there so you end up with the same downsides as pound dogs (so educate yourself on the breed you like).

I'll probably never own anything but English Shepherds from here on out (we're on our second one and they're about the perfect dog, at least for us).

Here we are on top of Pike's Peak.



So if you really want to "rescue" a dog (I hate that term as I think its more about self aggrandizement than the damn dog ... like driving a Prius) you might look at breed specific rescues. For example there is an English Shepherd rescue.

If you don't know what you want, I'm still of the opinion that in general herding dogs are the best. They're smarter, more trainable (especially house breaking) and most are healthy/hearty breeds (Aussies probably the least healthy being prone to cancer and epilepsy, but they're still pretty healthy dogs).

Now one advantage to shelter dogs is if you KNOW what breed the parents are, you can take advantage of something called "Hybrid Vigor" ... the mating of two pure breed dogs tends to make for pups that are healthier than the parents, and if you know what the parents are you have a better idea of what to expect.

[reno316]

If you don't know what you want, I'm still of the opinion that in general herding dogs are the best. They're smarter, more trainable (especially house breaking) and most are healthy/hearty breeds (Aussies probably the least healthy being prone to cancer and epilepsy, but they're still pretty healthy dogs)

There's an old saying:
You teach a pointer HOW to hunt.
You teach a hound WHEN to hunt.
You teach a retriever HOW and WHEN to hunt.
Herding dogs? You don't teach them much of anything. Basically, they teach you instead.

I have an Australian Kelpie: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Kelpie and once you get past the first year, it's a cake walk. SUPER smart, SUPER easy to train, LOVES to work, even temperament, likes to play and learn, not aggressive, medium sized, generally good health...

[Zundfolge]

There's an old saying:
You teach a pointer HOW to hunt.
You teach a hound WHEN to hunt.
You teach a retriever HOW and WHEN to hunt.
Herding dogs? You don't teach them much of anything. Basically, they teach you instead.

No doubt. There's a cool story on the English Shepherd Rescue page about a dog named Abby that was basically a city dog that got put up for adoption and was taken in by a lady in the country that had goats and how it saved the goats one day Read it here

Our English Shepherds have never really required any training, they just follow you around, watch what you do and figure out how best they can help out.


As for Ronin and a Pitbull, I've known many Pits over the years and I've NEVER known a mean one (I've seen mean ones guarding property, but never actually known those dogs). I have known several GSDs, Labs and Rotties that were just downright mean dogs (I'm sure it was due to a hard life). I've also known Pits that were the most loveable, goofy and friendly dogs you'd meet.

Only things to be concerned about with a Pit is that there are a few areas in the Denver Metro Area where they're illegal ... and they might also be against the rules of your HOA (assuming you have one) and your homeowner's insurance policy might not cover them.

Nobody bans herding dogs

[Ronin13]

No doubt. There's a cool story on the English Shepherd Rescue page about a dog named Abby that was basically a city dog that got put up for adoption and was taken in by a lady in the country that had goats and how it saved the goats one day Read it here

Our English Shepherds have never really required any training, they just follow you around, watch what you do and figure out how best they can help out.


As for Ronin and a Pitbull, I've known many Pits over the years and I've NEVER known a mean one (I've seen mean ones guarding property, but never actually known those dogs). I have known several GSDs, Labs and Rotties that were just downright mean dogs (I'm sure it was due to a hard life). I've also known Pits that were the most loveable, goofy and friendly dogs you'd meet.

Only things to be concerned about with a Pit is that there are a few areas in the Denver Metro Area where they're illegal ... and they might also be against the rules of your HOA (assuming you have one) and your homeowner's insurance policy might not cover them.

Nobody bans herding dogs

True Zund, and I like herding dogs, I have friends who have had many different kinds over the years and they're just damn smart dogs. As far as pits go, that idea is off the table, I love 'em to death, would love to have one, but as I said before, I spend a lot of time with my mom and our dog Bear, and she just has this thing against them ever since we brought one home years ago- she just doesn't trust them around Bear and she's stubborn like that, so I'd rather not make an attempt to persuade my mom by forcing something on her. I really like the idea of English Shepherds because A) they're good looking dogs, B) they're pretty low maintenance and easy to live with from the get go, and C) I have yet to meet one I didn't instantly fall in love with.

[reno316]

No doubt. There's a cool story on the English Shepherd Rescue page about a dog named Abby that was basically a city dog that got put up for adoption and was taken in by a lady in the country that had goats and how it saved the goats one day Read it here

Our English Shepherds have never really required any training, they just follow you around, watch what you do and figure out how best they can help out.)

Casey did that once in SE Utah... we were heading on a hike, and came upon a couple free-range cows. Casey picked 'em off, one at a time, lined 'em up along the fence. Straight row, would have passed a Drill Inspection. Then she looked at me as if to ask "OK, where you want 'em?"

Never taught her that... she just knew.

Damnedest thing I ever did see.

[El Caballo Loco]

I was on the fence about getting a shelter dog and to be honest I did a lot of second guessing when I got mine. There was some biting issues as well as a hard time asserting dominance. My original thread is here. http://www.ar-15.co/forums/showthread.php?t=48036 He's 9 and a lot of people, as you can see in that thread, said there was no hope for him and you can't teach an old dog new tricks, they've trained and had many dogs, bla bla bla, but obviously they can go suck one.

Asserting dominance was easy once I realized that it was best done under the right circumstances, which I definitely did not enjoy but it worked. Food aggression was easily taken care of as well as getting him used to other people.

Now, he goes everywhere with me. I take him where ever I can and he's been great. He doesn't know what a leash is anymore and I can call him off a rabbit mid chase. I don't go to work without him unless we're on the range or jumping. All the guys love him. He's still very protective though. Even after he stayed with my parents for a week, I came to pick him up and my dad gave me a hug and he was immediately between my father and I with teeth bared. There was food aggression at the beginning but now he doesn't touch his food without me giving him the word once he's sat down. I even left him at the house one day and came back 6 hours later to find him staring at a full bowl of food because some asshole left in a hurry without giving him the word.

He loves riding in the truck also. He stays in the cab and just sort of chills there.

There's a few on here who have met him and would definitely agree he's a great dog.

Don't go after a dog for a certain type of breed or any kind of status symbol. Don't be afraid of handling certain dogs like pits or rotts either.

Get a pooch that suits your personality. Don't get a husky because you like to go hiking once a month and don't get a bassett hound because you may sit down and veg on the couch for a few hours a month.

Every dog needs three things....love, exercise, and discipline. It just depends on the dog how much of each it needs and how willing and patient you are to provide those.

[Zundfolge]

Don't go after a dog for a certain type of breed or any kind of status symbol. Don't be afraid of handling certain dogs like pits or rotts either.

Get a pooch that suits your personality. Don't get a husky because you like to go hiking once a month and don't get a bassett hound because you may sit down and veg on the couch for a few hours a month.

Agreed, know what you want out of a dog and find the dog that fits your lifestyle, not try to fit the dog to your lifestyle or try to fit your lifestyle to the dog. Otherwise both you and the dog will be unhappy.

[Great-Kazoo]

I'd advise against a puppy, unless you have time to train, house break, chewing etc them. a 1.5 year old is still young but old enough to work with. We use to try and adopt puppies but they are time consuming. Time spent looking for our latest pet was equal to buying a truck, research and pounding the pavement.

Regarding a "wolf" hybrid GFL. Having been involved with the "breed" you will need a few things before bringing one home
1) Very secure dog run, easy 10x10 minimum.

2) Very secure dog run, making sure the top is covered and you have at least 6-12" under the pen secure with fencing and or brick.

3) very secure dog run. The "hybrid" outside of being a pack animal is a very good escape artist. They like to DIG and JUMP. The 2 i had hands on experience turned their shelter into a labyrinth of tunnels and hiding spots.

4) No other pets especially cats. In their heart they are hunters, if it moves it's a meal.

5) Lots of time dedicated to the "breed" no matter how hard you try to train it, they have a mind (wandering) of their own.

6) Do NOT buy any new furniture or think about making the hybrid a house pet. They are not and house breaking one , or trying to, is like the Borg, futile.

This looks like you are going to buy a BMW of pets, STAY AWAY unless you do a lot of research and spend time with one of the wolf rescues. They are a handful and you more than likely will be trying to find a home for it within the year.

[Ronin13]

I'd advise against a puppy, unless you have time to train, house break, chewing etc them. a 1.5 year old is still young but old enough to work with. We use to try and adopt puppies but they are time consuming. Time spent looking for our latest pet was equal to buying a truck, research and pounding the pavement.

Regarding a "wolf" hybrid GFL. Having been involved with the "breed" you will need a few things before bringing one home
1) Very secure dog run, easy 10x10 minimum.

2) Very secure dog run, making sure the top is covered and you have at least 6-12" under the pen secure with fencing and or brick.

3) very secure dog run. The "hybrid" outside of being a pack animal is a very good escape artist. They like to DIG and JUMP. The 2 i had hands on experience turned their shelter into a labyrinth of tunnels and hiding spots.

4) No other pets especially cats. In their heart they are hunters, if it moves it's a meal.

5) Lots of time dedicated to the "breed" no matter how hard you try to train it, they have a mind (wandering) of their own.

6) Do NOT buy any new furniture or think about making the hybrid a house pet. They are not and house breaking one , or trying to, is like the Borg, futile.

This looks like you are going to buy a BMW of pets, STAY AWAY unless you do a lot of research and spend time with one of the wolf rescues. They are a handful and you more than likely will be trying to find a home for it within the year.

This is exactly what I was looking for! I'm sold, not getting a hybrid. I would love to start out with a puppy because it's like raising a child, adopting at 5 years old just isn't the same (I know bad comparision but it's all I've got). Great advice on getting a dog that matches my activity level, I do like to go out and I take Bear on lots of walks- I take him to the Bark Park up here in Evergreen where we can pop the leash off and he can run, so in that I could hypothetically get a husky, but again, with all the health issues of pure breeds I'd rather get a mutt maybe with some husky or shepherd in the mix.

Gabe, those are some good looking dogs, as the summer progresses I'll look into those as well. Now I can't find it, but I cannot get a pitt, my mom just has issue and the rare chance I might go out of town for a week or long weekend she would refuse to have one over, it's not that she believes the BS hype, we had a pitt once and they do tend to be more dominant and aggressive towards other dogs, just how they're wired. Also I cannot get a hybrid if they don't get along with other dogs as I do spend time at my mom's with Bear, and the little brother has mentioned he wants to get a dog as well (it's only fair). So thanks for the advice all, keep it coming; Jim, looks like yours hit the hardest, as much as I'd love to have one, I'll pass on the headache .
Looks like I'll start researching soon at some 9mo-15mo old pups to see which would fit best, I also wouldn't mind a Dogo Argentino, I think they're pretty cool dogs too. Anyone have experience with them?