+100000 on Rescue Dogs. And mixed breeds (mutts) are best.

As an aside, I'm a pit bull advocate. Our brown dog is 1/2 Choc Lab and 1/2 some sort of bully breed dog. Bully breeds have a poorly deserved reputation (like Cayenne or 996 owners) and 99.9% are wonderful companions. If you abuse any dog, they will turn on humans. Unfortunately, a rabid (pun intended) press and an incredible bite makes for a super bad reputation -- much like dobermans or rotties a few years back. /soapbox.

Get a dog you love to share your life with - they willingly sharing theirs with you. Don't lock them up outside, they want to be in with their pack - you. Don't punish them for doing wrong, reward them for doing right.

Good Luck!

I thought this was going to be a thread about sex.

Puppies are 1000% better because they grown and learn to develop your personality. If you buy/adopt a full grown dog; they have had the chance to be around other people that may have been mean, cruel, inpatient and other bad habits that a dog can pick up on. At least with a puppy; you can mold it have your personality so that it can be quiet and kind and mellow. I would NEVER buy/adopt a dog...I will ONLY buy/adopt puppies.

Grey Hounds are great Dogs!!
The rescue ones have ran pretty hard.
But they are very sweet. Just don't let them off lease in a field that has Rabbits!

It appears that you know little about dogs and successful, fulfilling ownership.

A puppy does not just "develop your personality". It will take a lot of work and much frustration. To the point that many end up in the pound.

I can compare one dog who was given up in such a way (and was the absolute best, loving pet) to a pure bred pup of the same breed. Raising from a pup and working through the adolescent stage is, in many cases, very trying.

The fact that you ask such a broad question with little to go on and like life as easy as possible makes me think you should think twice before making the commitment.

I used to hate dogs because as a runner over the years I despised them chasing me and having to defend myself because their stupid owners let them out. Then 10 years ago I relented because my kids were 8 and 14 and had only had cats. Someone had dumped a mostly Blue Healer mix in the country. A friend had been feeding it out at an oil pump jack but didn't want it. Long story short I brought it home. It is the greatest dog in the world. She ran with me for years. We are now retired from that endeavour. Then 2 months ago someone dumped a dog near our house. It was another Blue Healer mix. Our older dog is training her on proper back yard guard duty and they are great chums.

Well then you should tell that to my current puppy who is the happiest and most well trained puppy that EVER walked the planet. You DO NOT know me so DO NOT pretend that you do. The words you spoke were pure ignorance and I wonder if you are a fit dog owner yourself. I have had a new PUPPY (yes puppy) every 2 years for 24 years; so your comments are naive and unwarrented. All a dog needs is love and attention. It doesn't matter the size of the yard. And yes; when you buy an adult dog you are buying someone else's problems.

ENOUGH said

:)

I like German shepherds

6 weeks old

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1154468315.jpg

4 months old

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1154468342.jpg

Go with a mutt. Any type of lab mix is a good bet.

My 2.5 month Lab/Husky mix.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1154469096.jpg

I have had a black lab/husky mix and it was my favorite puppy/dog thus far!!! What a great looking pup!!

black lab and goofier than SH&! wolf weimereiner have both been wonderful but very territorial. come on my property..........they bark. that stops 99% of people. then when they approach gate and goofier than SH&! wolf weimereiner jumps with shoulders above 6 foot gate...........YES A 6 FOOT GATE CHEST HIGH! the 1 % pee themselves and then go ring the doorbell. best dogs ive owned and my mom raised poodles.........teacups toys minis and standards. made BIG BUCKS OFF OF THEM! laugh about poodles. our standard "dutch" would pick up basketballs and footballs in his mouth, chase dove quail, swim the lake until you couldnt and still keep swimming. standard poodles are wayyyyyy cool dogs if trained. if not, like any large breed they are a handful!

+5 on the pound pooches.

(This opinion endorsed by Casey, Colby, Jazz, Brindle and Colleen.)

Les

THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL DOG!

I love my Bouviers and they love the family back.

No one touches us with impunity.

My favorite breeds (that I have had) are:

1) any kind of lab. Sure they shed but you gotta love em. I've never met a chocolate or black lab I didn't instantly fall in love with.

2) german shepherd. Loyal to a fault and easy to train. Can be aggressive if abused but most of the time are very gentle. Prolly should get them as pups because sometimes they don't adapt to new masters well.

3) dachsund. Most personality of any dog I've been around. Affectionate, funny, playful, entertaining.

4) Border collie. Very high maintenance dog. They are extremely smart but have to be challenged constantly. If you don't give them a job to do they will find something to do on their own, and it will be bad. Requires a lot of time and effort but is worth it.

I had a corgie mix that did not turn out well. he howled constantly whenever he was outside. I tried everything except cutting his vocal chords. I had to give him up after the third complaint and visit from animal control.

+1

Pure bred dogs are MUCH more likely to have inherited defects. Top 10 smartest dogs I have ever seen have all been mutts. Never got one from the pound, last few dogs found me.

Spoken like someone who has obviously never owned a Border Collie!;)

puppies and kittens blow.

pound/shelter rescue of adolescent or adult animals. Mixed breed.

I am a humane society kind of girl. My sweet baby I found there was a cockapoo. Toy poodle/cocker spaniel.

This combination produced a wonderful temperament, great disposition, respectful, had hair instead of fur which meant no shedding and none of that "greasy dog" smell and feel, was easy to potty train and didn't do much in the way of chewing as a baby, and didn't go around tracking dirt all over (was on the clean side).

And cute. Very cute, with cute mannerisms. She even won the hearts of my big-dog friends.

She liked to bark, but she eventually did muffled huffs most the time (lest I yell at her LOL). She barked still from time to time, but more often than not, it was that muffled huff.

I don't know if it's the breed or if it was just Chance, but if I ever get another dog, it will be another cockapoo.

We have done both the pound dogs and pups.
I'd personally go with the pup route on the next one. If you do go with the pound dog, check out petfinder.com. My wife has gotten both a dog and a cat from it.