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Junior Member
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Last Login: 5/5/2008 8:16:42 AM
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My job is about to be a whole lot more busier. I will be literally traveling full-time for my company. In fact, I will be letting my apartment lease expire and not get a new one or a house but live in hotels for the foreseeable future. I am looking for a dog breed that would be a good one to accompany me in my travels. Let me tell my lifestyle set-up so you know what the dog will be part of.
I am the head marketer for an entertainment company with clubs all across America. Presently, clubs are in Miami, Atlanta, Dallas, and Las Vegas and there will likely soon be clubs in Tampa, New York City, Philadelphia, Houston, and Los Angeles. My company flies me by corporate jet so my dog will not be crated but hang out with me in the passenger cabin. My company also provides me limousine service and so the dog will get around town this way. We will be staying at the Four Seasons hotel chain. I have three executive assistants (all women, if that matters ... and I'm a guy, if that matters too) that accompany me and keep me on task. My three EAs get their own hotel rooms at Four Seasons.
The dog will never be left alone. He will accompany me to all my business meetings and visits to the clubs. If there is ever a time when the dog cannot accompany me (say a business meeting where someone there is allergic to dogs), one of my EAs will take care of the dog at this time.
I work three weeks and then have one week off. My company flies me by corporate jet to wherever in the world I want to take my week off, puts me up in that location's Four Seasons, and provides me limo service then as well. If I can, my dog will accompany me on all my vacations. If I travel to a foreign country that would quarantine the dog or not allow in the dog, one of my EAs that is staying in the US will take the dog with her for that week off.
At the beginning of each three-week work cycle, I will take the dog into a vet and groomer to get the dog all set for the coming three weeks.
I need a very social dog that gets along with everyone, including strangers, other animals, and other dogs. A dog that likes strangers petting it, as I know many will want to. A dog that is not a barker or can be trained not to bark. A dog that will chill while attending a business meeting with me. A dog that would like to go out for long night-time walks with me in the cities that I visit. A dog that is not a one-man dog but one that will love to socialize with my three EAs. The EAs will be allowed to take the dog out with them when they run, play Frisbee at the park, watch TV in their hotel room, go for a walk, and so forth. All three of my EAs want to and thus will be the ones that will groom the dog. However, the dog will always sleep with me in my hotel room, unless I have human female companionship that night whereupon the dog will sleep with one of my EAs.
I have no intention or time to show or breed the dog and thus plan to spay/neuter the dog. Personally, I am more concerned about temperament than looks. I don't really care if it is show-dog quality, but expense is not really an issue with me. I am also open to it being a dog from a dog breed rescue program.
I am currently waiting to hear from Four Seasons if an exception can be made so I can have a dog over 15 pounds in my hotel room. To hopefully help convince them to give me such a waiver, I told them that the dog will have an AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate -- thus the dog breed needs to be one that can actually get it.
Given all the above, tentatively, if Four Seasons gives me a waiver, the two dog breeds currently at the top of my list are Golden Retriever and Rough Collie. I would like a dog of about that size. I also like everything that I've read about Golden Retrievers so far and have never met a GR that I didn't instantly like. As for Rough Collies, I like them too (though they don't get as good write-ups as GRs) and that was the breed of "Scamp", my childhood dog.
If Four Seasons doesn't give me a waiver, the current dog at the top of the list of small-dog possibles is Bichon Frise, though I'd have it get a puppy style haircut since I really don't like the white puff look that it has in the show ring.
Regardless of what Four Seasons decides, I am thinking of getting a female dog. I read they're less aggressive and more affectionate.
I would greatly appreciate input from people here on what they think of those three dog breeds for my lifestyle and if they'd recommend a different dog breed for me.
Thanks in advance!
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Supreme Being
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| Sounds like your dog will have quite the life! I honestly think most dogs from the sporting group would fit into your lifestyle. They tend to be outgoing, people friendly, resonably easy to train and I don't find any of them to be barkers. In addition, they would enjoy the exercise of nightly walks as well as playing fetch with your EAs. More than anything though, I think getting a dog to adjust to your lifestyle has more to do with training than breed. Here's the AKC's sporting breed page akc.org/breeds/sporting_group.cfm As well, a couple of working breeds come to mind in your description, it sounds to me that Boxers, Dobermans, Rotts, Standard or Giant Schnauzers may work for you as well. However I guess my concern on these breeds is that even though a well bred and trained dog is very sweet, if you are in a public position you may be dealing with people who have issues with the social stigma that surround them. In any case, if you have a chance (it sounds like your a busy man), I would suggest to see if you can find a dog show in an area you are staying and head down and talk the people exhibiting there. Since many are breeders they have had extensive exposure to their breed of interest and would be better to answer your specific questions on each individual breed.
Amy Can. Ch. Kamann's Over the Rainbow "Bo" (Miniature Poodle) Cindeross Silver Slippers "Gidget" (Miniature Poodle)
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Junior Member
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Last Login: 5/5/2008 8:16:42 AM
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PudelGrl (3/20/2008)
I honestly think most dogs from the sporting group would fit into your lifestyle. They tend to be outgoing, people friendly, reasonably easy to train and I don't find any of them to be barkers. In addition, they would enjoy the exercise of nightly walks as well as playing fetch with your EAs.
That's good to hear.
More than anything though, I think getting a dog to adjust to your lifestyle has more to do with training than breed.
In talking to a couple breeders, they said they and other good breeders can socialize their dogs to all the conditions my dog will encounter. As for training, I suppose I could hire a trainer to help with the dog's adjustment to my lifestyle.
As well, a couple of working breeds come to mind in your description, it sounds to me that Boxers, Dobermans, Rotts, Standard or Giant Schnauzers may work for you as well. However I guess my concern on these breeds is that even though a well bred and trained dog is very sweet, if you are in a public position you may be dealing with people who have issues with the social stigma that surround them.
Yes, that is a concern and why they haven't made my short list. I need a dog breed that has a positive reputation and not one that I have to work to overcome.
In any case, if you have a chance (it sounds like your a busy man), I would suggest to see if you can find a dog show in an area you are staying and head down and talk the people exhibiting there. Since many are breeders they have had extensive exposure to their breed of interest and would be better to answer your specific questions on each individual breed.
Yes, I am actually here in La Crosse, Wisconsin where the Collie national specialty is taking place this week. This is just pure luck since I was here visiting a brother and his family and heard about it. For the last two days, I have been talking to a number of Collie breeders. They all think a Collie would fit into my lifestyle nicely but all say Collies are barkers and I would very likely need to get the one I pick to be de-barked. I don't like the idea but they said it won't traumatize the dog and almost all the Collies at this event were de-barked. Sure enough, most were that I heard try to bark.
But most of the breeders (the ones that were not doing the hard sell to buy from them) said that a Golden Retriever would also suit my needs very nicely and wouldn't need to be de-barked. They also said that if I have to make do with a small dog that a Bichon Frise would be a good choice. They were all unanimous that any terrier was not the dog for me and most toy dogs wouldn't be either.
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Senior Member
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Last Login: 7/28/2008 9:24:06 PM
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| First, I would like to ask if you are planning on bringing you dog to obedience classes. I think you should really consider that. Nearly any breed of dog you decide on is going to respond much better to your life style if given obedience training. You should be the one to take the dog throught the course, too. Your dog will be much more eager to please you. When I read your first post a small dog came to mind right away but then you mentioned bigger breeds. I'm not one for small breeds, though they are cute and most people love them. I would recommend a Boxer (of course I am a Boxer lover). Boxers are very sociable, love attention and really win the crowd over when it comes to their butts wiggling while their stump for a tail is going. As for barking, mine does not. He was easily trained not to. He gives a quiet, woof, when anyone knocks on the door. I know two others that also are not barkers, but one who is. I think that is due to lack of supervision and training. They are energetic dogs and love a fast paced environment and long walks. Just the same a Boxer will be content to lay at his/her owners feet all day. They also require very little grooming and easily adapt to their surroundings. They are mild in temperment and are easy going with just about anyone who handles them. They can be bull headed, however. The Boxer want's to please you to death, but will often test you to see what it is that pleases and displeases you. Some Boxers do slobber alot, too. Mine does, two of the others I know don't. Another breed you may want to consider as far as a meduim sized dogs goes is a Keeshond. They are very laid back and very good looking dogs. They are very sociable and can be easily trained which includes not barking. My uncle has had Keeshonds ever since I can remember and they are really fun dogs. His dogs rarely bark and are easy to take care of. They have long fur which does require a regular brushing but they only shed heavily twice a year. They love a good walk but are very laid back. They're great dogs. I must also say that Border Collie is another great breed. You had mentioned a Collie. The Border Collies are one of the smartest breeds. I don't know a lot about them just that they are very smart and high enery as they are a herding breed. I would ask Rainsmom who is active on this forum( I hope she reads this)she will have some good input. As for for the de-barking thing, for any breed, I think that's awefull. Can you imagine a dog looking likes it's barking but no sound is coming out of it's mouth. I would definately consider a breed that doesn't need de-barking, that can easily be trained not to bark very often. All dogs are going to bark once in a while and that's a good thing. Like mine and many others, they just need to know when barking is good. It comes to them naturally especially when it's necessary. Like Pudelgrl said, the working breeds seem like a great fit. It is true that some like the Boxer, the Doberman and the Rottwieler do carry an intimidating image. They are all generally very gentle dogs. Some people have mistaken my Boxer as a Pitt Bull, it is common, but I consider those people uneducated as far as dogs go. There's a big difference in those two breeds. Another reason these great working dogs get a bad image is because they are often used for police work. They are very versatile and can be the best family dog to the best police dog. Good luck on your search for a doggy companion.
 -BouncingBoxer
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Supreme Being
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| Definatally true about the collies, I forgot to mention in my previous post (I was between classes so it was rather rushed) that that has been my experience with most herding breeds. I showed a large number of collies in my junior handing career and often my downfall would be that my dog decided to do a lot of "talking" in the ring. I would undoubtly lean towards the sporting and working groups. I personally have heard a variety of opinions on debarking, but overall I have decided I don't like it. Surgery itself is a risky practice and I believe it should only be done when nessisary, that is, for spay/neuter or for a specific medical condition.
Amy Can. Ch. Kamann's Over the Rainbow "Bo" (Miniature Poodle) Cindeross Silver Slippers "Gidget" (Miniature Poodle)
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Forum Guru
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Last Login: 5/3/2008 2:42:48 AM
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| I've had 3 rough collies and while it is true they tend to be barkers. If you train the dog the barking is not a problem. I found with my two that were de-barked before I got them that I was lazy about my anti-bark training. With my first collie, the one that wasn't de-barked I taught him to bark on command and also taught him to stop barking when told Enough. As long as you don't inadvertently encourage the excess barking in puppyhood you should be fine. And, like mine, it's possible the dog will be de-barked before you get it. I love Collies. They are great dogs.
A dog wags his tail with his heart.
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Junior Member
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Last Login: 5/5/2008 8:16:42 AM
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Four Seasons got back to me. Their pet limit is a "guideline" and not a set rule. They say each hotel manager can make an exception for a larger dog but I would have to get such exception on a manager-by-manager basis and not from the chain headquarters.
I think what I will do is get used to my new routine and, in the process, get on good relations with the Four Seasons hotels I will be frequenting the most. Then after my routine has settled into a comfortable groove and if I am still wanting a dog (and feel a dog would be right for my lifestyle and the dog itself), I'll raise the topic with the managers. When deciding where to go on vacation, this would then be one of the selection criteria. By then being an established highly-prized Four Seasons customer, the managers at the other hotels will probably more likely make an exception for my dog then.
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