getting a new dog.....but which?

hey everyone..let me get right to the point

im moving houses and getting a new dog. we want a big one that doesnt really shed (or sheds to a minimal). we dont want a lab or big poodles. we love huskies but i cant find much info on them based on weather (im in socal so we want to know if it'll be ok if he/she lives here). any other dogs you can list off the top of your head?

thanks everyone and :rockon:

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Originally Posted by adi

hey everyone..let me get right to the point

im moving houses and getting a new dog. we want a big one that doesnt really shed (or sheds to a minimal). we dont want a lab or big poodles. we love huskies but i cant find much info on them based on weather (im in socal so we want to know if it'll be ok if he/she lives here). any other dogs you can list off the top of your head?

thanks everyone and :rockon:

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My favorite big dogs are Great Danes!

My boss owns a huskie...and take it from someone whose job it was to vaccum her floors daily: if you don't want a dog that's a big shedder, do NOT get a huskie.

ok thanks on the info!

i love great danes.....are they good as far as with kids, shedding, are they energetic?

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Originally Posted by adi

ok thanks on the info!

i love great danes.....are they good as far as with kids, shedding, are they energetic?

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I've never owned one personally--and the few I've met have been brief meetings :) I'll let someone more experienced tell you about that. I just think danes are gorgeous.

There are really only two kinds of coats: Those that shed, and those that do not.

Those that do not shed will require literally -constant- grooming. Plan on being at the groomer for a clip-down every month, even with daily brushing. Failure to brush will result in matts, which will be harder to remove, and big dogs who matt a lot can develop a strong resistance to being groomed. When I say "strong resistance", I remember a particularly nasty Bouvier who had to be given sedatives at home just to walk in the door, followed by heavy tranquilizers to keep him from eating the groomer once he arrived. The owners tried dozens of groomers, but none of them were able to work with him, and they were a busy multi-kid household and did not make time to keep him brushed at home so he was always horribly matted up.

Large non-shedding breeds: Standard poodles (great dogs, much different than their tiny foo-foo relatives), Giant Schnauzers, Bouvier de Flandres (mostly good dogs, but bad ones are horrid), Airdales (dominant, agressive), Komondors, Old English Sheepdogs (biters). All of these except for the poodle are breeds with a reputation for being "difficult", meaning that getting a puppy and turning it into a well-mannered enjoyable pet is pretty much guaranteed to take a lot of work. Poodles are a bit more eager to please, although they can still be a handful. The rest are notoriously hard-headed and absolutely need obedience school.

On that note:

Huskies make sucky pets. They're pretty to look at, especially when bounding through the Arctic wilderness, but that's really all they're good for. They've been bred to run all day without stopping, and living suburban lives is very difficult both for them and their owners (and neighbors). You will need constant exercise and stimulus to keep them tired out, and they are also extraordinarily vocal, often quite piercingly. You can never trust them outdoors off-leash, and they are hard to catch once on the run. High prey-drive means they can be pretty dangerous to small animals too. Unless you're the sort of person who loves everything about a husky and is willing to commit your life to keeping them happy, then don't get one. It can be done, and done well, but it's a heck of a lot of work and the odds of success are poor for novice owners.

Edit: Oh yeah, and huskies shed like you wouldn't believe. Constant low-level, and then a massive blow-out twice a year.

I know that's not a very constructive answer, but it may give you some tangents to research.

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Originally Posted by adi

hey everyone..let me get right to the point

im moving houses and getting a new dog. we want a big one that doesnt really shed (or sheds to a minimal). we dont want a lab or big poodles. we love huskies but i cant find much info on them based on weather (im in socal so we want to know if it'll be ok if he/she lives here). any other dogs you can list off the top of your head?

thanks everyone and :rockon:

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As the owner of two huskies i can tell you a few things.
a-Very high energy please if you dont have the time to put into them take a pass.

b-Very head strong. Very high strung dog but like any other dog you get of him or her what you put in.

c-Sheds like a beast

I don't really have any expertise with dogs...but I'll say this about one particular standard poodle that I was aquainted with. He was an AWEsome dog. Solid black...pretty big...gorgeous dog. There was nothing "poodley" about him except his keen desire to please. So long as you don't get them cut like a circus clown and put pink ribbons on their ears....they're really great dogs. I wouldn't mind having one...and I'm not at all a fan of your stereotypical "poodle."

standard poodle sounds interesting...ill look into it....any gentle non high maintence big dogs out there?

Hehe...ALL dogs qualify as "high maintanence" in my book. Give me a snake any day! :P

I love these dogs, there gentle giants. great with kids and other pets. wish i got one in stead of this daschund i got..lol

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Originally Posted by AzureN1ght

My favorite big dogs are Great Danes!

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Originally Posted by adi

standard poodle sounds interesting...ill look into it....any gentle non high maintence big dogs out there?

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Greyhounds are highly under-rated. They are wonderfully gentle, and contrary to popular stereotype, they don't need to run all day. They don't even like a jog...a quick sprint is about it for them. I love love love greyhounds...you'll hardly ever meet an agressive one, and they are really healthy for big dogs...most ones I know lived to be 12-14. The only caveat with them is they cannot be trusted off-leash...they are all prey-drive and will bolt after any small animal that moves. Likewise, not all of them are cat-safe, but any decent rescue group will know that before you adopt from them. Mostly, they just like sleeping on the couch. :-)

Great Danes are cool, but physically high-maintenance and have very short lifespans. Also, when they do need medical care, it's always expensive...bloat, heart failure, arthritis...even their heartworm and flea & tick meds are twice as expensive because you need to buy two doses to get up to their weight range. I love their temperaments, but they are not by any stretch of the imagination low-maintenance.

Don't get a husky as your first dog.

thanks for all the info!

this is definitely not my first dog....

the greyhound sounds wicked cool....ill get info on all of them...

in addition to a new dog, im getting me some spider and pastel baby! ive been saving up for more than a year

Huskies are great and like most said if you don't have the energy to keep then look for something else. My brother has one and it is his first dog he has had him for four years and when we watch him we get a work out. He is non stop energy but we love it and take him on long long long walks which hardly faze him. Also like it has been stated above they shed so much I just pulled a husky hair out of a shirt that I have washed 5 times since I saw him. They shed a lot. Good luck with your dog search.

If you want a smaller dog with a heart of a big dog, look into the West Highland White terriers, i own two and wouldnt trade them for anything. small energitic and think that they are big..

Shar pei or bull mastiff.

Huskies don't have a problem in warmer weather. I live in the south and mine do just fine. The insulation works both ways. They are definetly a handful, but they are so much fun and have wonderful personalities. If you can get over 6 mos to a year of your puppy being a destructive little monster and willing to exercise her as much as she needs, you will be a very happy dog owner down the road.

Have you considered the Irish wolf hound. A gentle giant, laid back attitude, good with kids, loyal protector of family but not overly aggressive unless it needs to be.

My mom has a standard poodle and besides the fact that you have to keep them groomed, the poodle is a very smart and learns very quickly.

Also what about a Doberman Pinscher? They are short haired and are supposed to be the third smartest dog.The only time I was ever scared of a dog was when I went to my uncles lake house. the neighbors had a large Doberman. It came walking up to me then turned over on its back wanting me to rub its belly. I am 6'2" and it's back came up past my waist.
As soon as I get a house I am going to get one

First off I'm a groomer so I've got a LOT of experience with many breeds of dog.

Everything Jess said was right on too.. I'd just like to add that there's two 'grades' of shedding dog.. the single coat (great dane, doberman etc) and the double coat (husky, german shepherd, labrador etc) BIG difference in shedding amounts there.

Standard poodles are AWESOME. Highly intelligent, generally good with kids, typically very well behaved animals, however lots of grooming is required.

I know someone with 3 great danes. They're big goofs.. like to have fun, and can be big babies. Looove their people. Something to remember with giant breeds though.. they don't live long. 6 years old is getting up there for a great dane, irish wolfhound, etc.

On the note of irish wolfhounds.. they're one of the most majestic breeds there is. I've never met an ill-mannered one. They know they are royalty, but they do love their family.

I can't say enough good things about greyhounds. They really are couch potatoes.. affectionate, intelligent, and beautiful. Hard to go wrong.. though they do have a high prey drive.

If drooling doesn't bother you, english mastiffs (aka just plain 'mastiff') are one of the best family dogs there are.. now, they do tend to be a dominant breed, so lots of training is needed, but these guys are absolutely crushed if you say a harsh word to them. They want nothing more than to protect you and make you happy. I've never met an aggressive mastiff. Bullmastiffs are a slightly smaller and more energetic choice as well.

While not really 'BIG', boxers are a great medium sized pet. They're energetic and playful, and I've never met a nasty one. They love kids too.

Dobermans get a bad rap, but every one I've met has been very sweet. One of my friends has one and he is the most well behaved dog I have ever met. Gorgeous animals too.. just require training (as does every breed really)

If you want a really active dog and don't mind a decent amount of training.. the pointers (vizslas, weimeraners, german shorthair or wirehaired pointers) are beautiful dogs. They are a handful though.

Well.. there's a start. :)

Get a Boxer dude there one of the coolest breeds imo (hey im biased ) :D
there always acting the clown and are excellent with kids , a very gentle but they can also be a very energetic breed too when they want to be, but beware....they loooooove the couch lol plus there alittle bit on the windy side lol. Through my experience with this breed Boxers are defiantly NOT an outdoor dog imho , they love being at the side of the owners/family also they are excellent Guard dogs :D

thanks for all the comments people! :D

i told my mom about all of these breeds. we all liek the german shephards (she use to own one) and the great danes. i will be posting pics and details when we get one!

thanks,

-adi

German shepherd shed a LOT.. and make a lot of noise, they're big babies.

Borrder collies are a low shedding dog, but VERY VERY hyper!!! not good for small houses and backyards.


Now a Golden retriver would be great!!! Get a puppie, and raise him up.


These 2 will be your best friends for life!!:rockon:

Border collies and goldens can both be heavy shedders as well.. not every one is, but lots of them 'blow' their coat in a big way, and it's amazing how the clumps of hair just fall out.

I have a Cairn Terrier and am keeping my step bro's Chesapeake Bay Retriever right now. I had an aunt who bred Border collies... she only has one left. They're such sweet dogs, they're super hyper but will always be with you. :)

You couldn't pay me to own a German Shepherd...they are high-strung, nervous, inclined to go off half-cocked, and shed like you wouldn't believe. They can be terrific dogs in the right hands, but again it takes a tremendous commitment to work with them. If not socialized adequately, they can be quite dangerous. I hate dealing with them at work; they are strong and quick and fearful; not a good combination. I know some good ones, but they are not in the majority. Also be aware that they have a high rate of hip problems, so unless you get one from a very good breeder who does hip testing, you can easily wind up with a dog who leads a short painful life.

Boxers...terrific personalities, joyful, playful, exuberant and clownish. I love them too. Things to be aware of: -High- rate of heart defects, so don't buy from a breeder unless they do the cardiac testing and definitely don't buy from a breeder who insists that's not necessary because their dogs are clean. Also, they get cancer like crazy...any funny lumps or moles should be surgically removed and biopsied. And finally, those funky flat faces mean deformed jaws and lots of dental problems...this is more a maintenance issue than a real drawback. Just be aware that regular dental cleanings and toothbrushing at home is often a must for these guys.

i see what you all are saying...

well, all in all we just want a calm (not hyper) dog who loves to be around people and kids. its not much of an issue if he/she sheds unless it is by the pound. we love great danes but it will be a pain cleaning up after them (if you get what im saying). my mom does care about looks so she says no to a lot of types even though i find them perfect.

thanks for all the info so far!
:rockon:

Well, if you feed a good food, you won't have much to clean up after :)

Unless you're absolutely stuck on a purebred I want to put a plug in for your local humane shelter/private dog rescues. There are a lot of breed specific rescues if you want to go with a certain breed or you could adopt a love mixed breed dog. We have two mixed breed big pups and although some days they drive me nuts (what pup doesn't) they will mature into lovely dogs.


Have you tried looking through:

www.petfinder.com

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Originally Posted by adi

standard poodle sounds interesting...ill look into it....any gentle non high maintence big dogs out there?

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Pit bulls- even though they're not that big! I have 2 full blooded pits and 2 mixes and the shedding is minimal (except one of the mixes is worse than the rest- don't know what's in her) If you thought you could handle the headstrong nature of a Husky, you can definitely do a pit. You do have to maintain your place as leader of the pack and make sure the animal gets out and gets exercised and socialized, but my experience with the breed has been great!

I'm sure in socal there's a dog on death row (probably a pit and a pit mix there too) that's just right for you and your needs. Puppies too. Good luck!!

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Originally Posted by Shelby

Border collies and goldens can both be heavy shedders as well.. not every one is, but lots of them 'blow' their coat in a big way, and it's amazing how the clumps of hair just fall out.

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Yeah, I see that more in golden retrivers, but with a good brushing every once in a while it will be all good! But with the border collies, just get a smooth coat or a medium coat and the shedding is decreased! Good luck!!

I really want a Boxer!!!! Thats what i would do... :)

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Originally Posted by juddb

I really want a Boxer!!!! Thats what i would do... :)

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Boxers are the bomb too, I've never met a boxer I didn't like!!! They do tend to be... well... energetic and quite (charmingly) puppylike for waaay longer than some other breeds... like till they're 3+ years old... (part of the reason I've always wanted one, but could be a deterrant for some...) Maybe I'll find me a nice boxer X pit when its time (15 years from now) to get another dog... My friend has one with a crooked nose, and he's hilarious to see him go from boxermode to pitmode it's a trip...He drools more than my dogs do though, and I don't know if that's the ghetto breeding in him or what... he also buries his whole face in the water bowl when he drinks if it's deep enough... he'll go in to his eyes and then shake his head around the water... which is only funny outside or for the first time LOL

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...g?t=1173989098
........awww what a face! i love this dude, hes a clown and yeah its true they still act the clown and stay in puppy mode upto around 3/4 years of age...thats why i love em so much but they are also a very affectionate and loving breed :cool:.
its true they are prone to cancer my first Boxer Harvey died at the young age of 7 years which was a horrible experience to go through i was gutted and lost a very dear friend that day :(
Here is Harvey acting the clown on his favorite place...the SOFA :rolleyes:
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...g?t=1173989338

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Originally Posted by steveo

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...g?t=1173989098
........awww what a face! i love this dude, hes a clown and yeah its true they still act the clown and stay in puppy mode upto around 3/4 years of age...thats why i love em so much but they are also a very affectionate and loving breed :cool:.
its true they are prone to cancer my first Boxer Harvey died at the young age of 7 years which was a horrible experience to go through i was gutted and lost a very dear friend that day :(
Here is Harvey acting the clown on his favorite place...the SOFA :rolleyes:
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...g?t=1173989338

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He's absolutely gorgeous!! And I'll bet he had the best 7 years a dog could ask for with you! All these health problems are why I was talking about a pit x boxer mix (in my future) above... such a cool breed, but they're prone to a lot of hardships...

and while we're doing pictures :D
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m...3_Hoodlems.jpg