Dog Breeds... How Can I Love So Many?

[Camilla and Darwin]

I have to say that I really love having this blog. I may not use it much, but it's good to know I have a place I can ramble and maybe even get useful feedback on all of my crazy thoughts. This post is going to be long. I just have so much to consider!

I am a MAJOR dog person. Since I was two or three I have been obsessed. My first birthday present I can remember was "The Encyclopedia of the Dog" by Bruce Fogle. I have read that book SO many times it isn't even funny. Ironically, my parents hate dogs. We had one dog growing up due to my begging, and she was only allowed outdoors. She was a black lab and I loved her more than any of my other friends. I always dreamed I would grow up, get married, and have a yellow lab named Duke. Maybe even some day own a dog boarding kennel.

Well, that didn't really pan out exactly, but I did get married and get Darwin, and I couldn't be happier. Now that it's time to start thinking about adding a second dog, I am at a loss. I just love SO many dog breeds it is hard to narrow it down. Why not just get another doodle? Well, I am certainly considering that. But the fact is... I love so many breeds I wonder If I shouldn't experience them too. Each one has it's upsides and downsides, their own specific traits and I love that. I feel like a kid in a candy shop who is told to just pick one treat.

I love all dogs, all breeds. But really, I had to narrow it down a little. My first two criteria to narrow down the pool:
-no terriers. No offense to terriers, but their feisty personalities and VOCAL attitudes aren't really my style.
-no small dogs. Again, no offense meant. Just a personal preference.

I have spent hours pouring over my encyclopedia and the internet as of late, and I have it narrowed down to less than ten breeds. Of course, this is the ten breeds I would get if I had any choice. In reality, none of the giant breeds are a real consideration, I have a small car and I'm still a student... so no large expendable income for me. :-( And the pros and cons for each:


Bernese Mountain dog
Pros: Beautiful, gentle, great with kids, sturdy, and calm.
Cons: Limited Housing options, Tons of hair, heavy shedding, expensive to keep, short lifespan, hard to find.

Great Dane
Pros: LOVE the personality, gentle, fairly calm, huge, beautiful, great with kids, moderate shedding
Cons: Limited Housing options, Expensive, Not the best health, Short lifespan, won't fit in car (or apartment?), intimidating to people

Smooth Collie
Pros: Intelligent, Good with children, energetic, perfect size, beautiful, good with high level training.
Cons: Perhaps too energetic, may be hard to find, herding tendencies, shedding, Can be stubborn.

Labrador Retriever
Pros: gentle, great with kids, easy to train, widespread availability, good size, good energy level.
Cons: Shedding, Extended "puppy" behavior, Sometimes too boisterous...

Golden Retriever
Pros: Gentle, Lower Barking level, Friendly, beautiful, good size, Good availability
Cons: shedding, Boisterous, sometimes smaller than I am aiming for... some lines have problems with rage syndrom.

Standard Poodle
Pros: smart, good size, beautiful, no shedding, great companion.
Cons: not as eager to please, could be more vocal, require a lot of clipping.

Goldendoodle/Labradoodle
Pros: Good personality, have experience with breed already, cute, good size, intelligent, good with kids.
Cons: Not a lot of good options in my area, Heavy grooming requirements, somewhat unpredictable with shedding and size.

Other breeds I love...
Flat Coated Retrievers, Australian shepherds, Chesapeake Bay Retreivers, Irish Setter, Springer Spaniel, Bearded Collies, Mastiff, Saint Bernard, and all Hounds (although they are pretty stubborn and can be hard to train.)

This is just breed considerations, and doesn't even scratch on the puppy vs adult dilemma. <sigh>
Ayways, now that I've written that all down... it's still so hard to decide. Perhaps I will explore all routes and see what becomes available.

Have any of you had a hard time choosing from all the wonderful options available?

[Suzanne & Jack]

I would definitely look at rescues. When we wre looking for a dog to replace our old Jack I searched Petfinder with a generally description (giant schnauzer mix) We found Moose in South Carolina. We have since discovered he is a Catalan Sheepdog, very rare breed from Spain. His disposition is perfect, great energy level, and low shedding. Although I love puppies, I don't think I would ever want a puppy again. I love the rescues where I have a better idea of size, coat, temperment... Good luck choosing.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I love all breeds, too. But given your budget, exercise/yard restrictions, etc hear are my thoughts. English Springer Spaniel - excellent in all areas, does shed some Siberian Husky - contrary to popular belief Sibes are complete coach potatoes- unless you want them to do something - then they can go as long as you can, then flop right down and sleep - can be mellow or crazy as puppies just like doodles, drawbacks - shed lots unless you brush them once a week with shed-ender brush and must must must be kept in a well fenced yard or on a leash always. Irish setters - highenergy, not extremely trainable, dalmatians, border collies, ditto. Most goldens are excellent - reputable breeder only though. Whatever dog you get be prepared to love it unconditionally. Every breed and every dog is a little different and has some drawbacks - just like us humans.

[Frannie & Callie]

Hi Camilla - I'm a dog nut too, from back when I was 3 years old and desperately wanted to marry the neighbor's cocker spaniel, Nelson (at three I didn't know that wasn't possible - I loved him, therefore I wanted to marry him!). My first thought would be to rescue - yes you get to miss the puppy phase and even if you are breed-specific, there are many breed rescues to choose from. I love goldens, labs, great danes, and just about every dog that everyone has listed. It's very hard to not let bias in here, but these are some additional suggestions.

A Sheltie - they are more mid-sized but have the sweetest faces and dispositions. My next thought was a rescue Greyhound - there are several in my neighborhood and they are some of my doodle's favorite playmates because they run the same speed. They shed a little, but not too much. I know you're not a terrier person, but a standard schnauzer isn't super terrier-ish. Also, my parents have a Tibetian Terrier (also mid-sized) and he is a fantastic dog (or would be if they actually trained him or ever told him "no" to anything!).

Keep us posted on what you decide. I'm not quite ready to own a second dog, so I like to live vicariously!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Wow - decisions decisions! I would go with a doodle or a poodle....my opinion only!!! And you could let your poodle's hair grow a little longer and look like a doodle!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'll tell you...Jack is the first dog I've ever lived with who shed. I fostered many German Shepherds, which are known to be inordinate shedders, but not for more than a month.
I don't know what living with a lab or a golden is like, but there is no possible way the shedding could be worse than Jack's. And it isn't even the amount of hair, which is bad enough; it''s the texture. It weaves itself into all of my clothes, blankets, any fabric that has any kind of nap like fleece, knits, etc. I have to fold clothes on the dining room table, it's the only place there isn't any dog hair. My son has a Lab-Dane mix and he says his that there is more hair on his clothes when he spends an hour with Jack than there ever is with his own dog that he's with all the time. I think part of the problem is his allergies...itchy, scratchy dogs with dry skin lose more hair than dogs who don't have these issues.
This has been very hard for me to adjust to. I have adjusted, and I don't have to tell you how much I love Jack, or that if I had it to do over again, I wouldn't hesitate in adopting him for an instant. But I would have to really think lonmg and hard before I would get another dog who sheds.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I actually prefer the working group too. I have a serious love affair with giant breed dogs. I just don't think we are prepared to take on the financial responsibility of a giant breed though. Otherwise, I would probably get a Dane or a Newfie.

As far as Standard Poodles go, size really isn't of huge importance. It's just that Darwin is going to be around seventy pounds and I feel that under fifty pounds, and it they may be too "delicate" to be a great playmate for Darwin. I would probably try and find a larger Standard Poodle, more in the 50 plus range. I also like that Standards are taller...

I know Goldens can be big, but I think most well bred ones are under 65 pounds... right?

The more I think about it... the less I want to deal with shedding. Which would really cancel all of these out... except for two. I just keep imagining hair in my car, on my floor, on my couch... on my clothes. eek. I'd have to buy a hand vacuum for sure.

Vizslas are good dogs, but I think they may be a bit too energetic for our lifestyles, same with Weimeraners, German Shorthairs, etc. Also, the same with Wheatens. I have known a few and they are nice dogs, but pretty energetic and I think they are more vocal and nippy because of their terrier roots.

I love Irish Wolfhounds as well, but obviously, they need a lot of room to run and we don't have it.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Oops, forgot the Golden...great dogs, sweet, gorgeous, but again, you have to get one from a world class breeder, the health issues are off the charts.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The Irish setters I have known were extremely destructive, too, although that could have been from not getting as much exercise as they need, which is a ton. No offense to anyone, but they are also not known to be very bright or eager to please.
Bernese are gorgeous, have wonderful temperament, fabulous with kids, and extremely cooperative in training. I love them. But they do have short life spans and lots of health issues if you don't get one from a top-of-the-line breeder.
I find poodles to be extremely eager to please, just not as obvious about it as the retrievers. But if a golden is on the small side for you, a Standard poodle will be too. Well-bred Standards rarely go over 65 lbs, and 55 is more the norm.
I don't know much about smooth collies, but the more common rough-coated collies are horrible with children. I know there are exceptions, but I'd stay away from that breed.
Danes are sweet, sweet dogs, but they have such short life spans.
I know they're great dogs, and JD is half Lab, but I've just never cared for their looks. Unlike Adina, I don't care for the look of most very short-coated dogs.
Some of the hounds are great dogs, but my favorites in terms of training and temperament are Irish wolfhounds, and they are just gigantic. Also very short lifespan, but very very sweet dogs.

My own list would look a lot different from yours, I prefer the working breeds to the sporting breeds, but that's my knowledge & input on the ones you've listed. If I had to pick one from your list, the poodle would win without question. But a Standard poodle would probably be my pick from any list.
For what it's worth.

[Lorraine Bromley]

what about an old English Sheep dog. No shedding lots of grooming or shaving. Laid back. More protective family dog

[Lorraine Bromley]

My sister has a viszla. It is a non shedding hungarian bird dog. Very smart gorgeous brown. They seem to think they are lap togs and can jump straight up in the air like a kangaroo Lots of stuff to involve them in. She loves my doodle too.