just fluff
Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2005 3:16 pm
since the forum has been filled to bursting with politics and ACLU disagreements here is some fluff.
What your choice in dog breeds says about you. i figured after reading some of these posts that were becoming a little yappy, this may be fun.
Since i choose english mastiff - I like things supersized, with good hearts
the Boston terrier - means i like silly stupid things too!
those who choose Parson jack russells are hyper & workaholics
can forgive farm/ranch boys for Queensland heelers, they are great working dogs, but nasty, and aloof.
my take on tea cup poodles and poms - i'd rather eat glass, than own one.
and the beagle that lives behind me, well i have plans for him
-rebecca
Getting a pet dog is really a Zen process of self-discovery. You can't know the right dog for you until you know yourself. For example, a jock would prefer an active dog. A lazy slug would prefer a dog that doesn't require much exercise. A touchy-feely person would prefer a friendly dog. A tightly-wound person would probably prefer a dog that doesn't bark or shed too much. Think of picking a pup like choosing a mate; you have to find one that compliments your personality.
Here are some very general guidelines. Of course, we won't list every dog breed on the planet, but they'll get you thinking in the right direction:
Intelligent dogs
Poodle
German Shepherd
Australian Sheepdog
Belgian Sheepdog
Keeshond
Dogs that don't require much exercise
Dachshund
Brussels Griffon
French Bulldog
Manchester Terrier
toy breeds (such as a Chihuahua or Pekingese)
Good with kids
Pug
English Cocker Spaniel
Beagle
Basset Hound
Brittany Spaniel
Old English Sheepdog
Good city dogs
Pug
Basenji
Boston Terrier
Bulldog
Lhasa Apso
Welsh Corgi
Scottish Terrier
Quiet dogs
Basenji
Borzoi
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Whippet
Friendly dogs
Brittany Spaniel
Bichon Frise
Old English Sheepdog
Bearded Collie
Golden Retriever
Labrador Retriever
There are dozens of breeds and dozens of traits to sort them by. You get the idea.
Again, these guidelines are EXTREMELY rough. Picking a dog based on these lists is like getting a phone number off a bathroom wall. There are no shortcuts. A good place to start your research is by checking out the American Kennel Club's complete list of breeds. Then try going to a dog show or talking to a vet. In our opinion, though, the absolutely best way to research is to talk to friends who have dogs. Believe us, they'll give you more information than you care to know.
In case you didn't realize it, all of the breeds we listed above are purebreds. This means that they are the product of parents of the same breed. To get a true purebred worthy of being in a dog show, you often have to pay thousands of dollars. Most people get mixes of some sort (the "cockapoo," a combo of a cocker spaniel and a poodle, is quite popular), because rumor has it that purebred dogs can have personality problems because the gene pool is so small (think of people who marry their cousins). As a result, many people choose to go with a mutt, a mish-mash of different breeds. Mutts can combine the best of two or more breeds in a one-of-a-kind dog. Having a mutt is like the canine equivalent of owning an original work of art. Benji was a mutt. And who doesn't like Benji?
Is this all sounding like too much work? Then go back again and reread step 1, because the work is just beginning. A dog is a living thing, but millions of dogs die every year because their masters didn't realize how much work caring for a dog really is. We're not trying to bum you out, but this is nothing compared to how bummed you'll be if you become one of those failed former dog owners.
What your choice in dog breeds says about you. i figured after reading some of these posts that were becoming a little yappy, this may be fun.
Since i choose english mastiff - I like things supersized, with good hearts
the Boston terrier - means i like silly stupid things too!
those who choose Parson jack russells are hyper & workaholics
can forgive farm/ranch boys for Queensland heelers, they are great working dogs, but nasty, and aloof.
my take on tea cup poodles and poms - i'd rather eat glass, than own one.
and the beagle that lives behind me, well i have plans for him
-rebecca
Getting a pet dog is really a Zen process of self-discovery. You can't know the right dog for you until you know yourself. For example, a jock would prefer an active dog. A lazy slug would prefer a dog that doesn't require much exercise. A touchy-feely person would prefer a friendly dog. A tightly-wound person would probably prefer a dog that doesn't bark or shed too much. Think of picking a pup like choosing a mate; you have to find one that compliments your personality.
Here are some very general guidelines. Of course, we won't list every dog breed on the planet, but they'll get you thinking in the right direction:
Intelligent dogs
Poodle
German Shepherd
Australian Sheepdog
Belgian Sheepdog
Keeshond
Dogs that don't require much exercise
Dachshund
Brussels Griffon
French Bulldog
Manchester Terrier
toy breeds (such as a Chihuahua or Pekingese)
Good with kids
Pug
English Cocker Spaniel
Beagle
Basset Hound
Brittany Spaniel
Old English Sheepdog
Good city dogs
Pug
Basenji
Boston Terrier
Bulldog
Lhasa Apso
Welsh Corgi
Scottish Terrier
Quiet dogs
Basenji
Borzoi
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Whippet
Friendly dogs
Brittany Spaniel
Bichon Frise
Old English Sheepdog
Bearded Collie
Golden Retriever
Labrador Retriever
There are dozens of breeds and dozens of traits to sort them by. You get the idea.
Again, these guidelines are EXTREMELY rough. Picking a dog based on these lists is like getting a phone number off a bathroom wall. There are no shortcuts. A good place to start your research is by checking out the American Kennel Club's complete list of breeds. Then try going to a dog show or talking to a vet. In our opinion, though, the absolutely best way to research is to talk to friends who have dogs. Believe us, they'll give you more information than you care to know.
In case you didn't realize it, all of the breeds we listed above are purebreds. This means that they are the product of parents of the same breed. To get a true purebred worthy of being in a dog show, you often have to pay thousands of dollars. Most people get mixes of some sort (the "cockapoo," a combo of a cocker spaniel and a poodle, is quite popular), because rumor has it that purebred dogs can have personality problems because the gene pool is so small (think of people who marry their cousins). As a result, many people choose to go with a mutt, a mish-mash of different breeds. Mutts can combine the best of two or more breeds in a one-of-a-kind dog. Having a mutt is like the canine equivalent of owning an original work of art. Benji was a mutt. And who doesn't like Benji?
Is this all sounding like too much work? Then go back again and reread step 1, because the work is just beginning. A dog is a living thing, but millions of dogs die every year because their masters didn't realize how much work caring for a dog really is. We're not trying to bum you out, but this is nothing compared to how bummed you'll be if you become one of those failed former dog owners.