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Member
 
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Last Login: 2 days ago @ 12:09:32 PM
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| jeez texaspup- im kinda starting to feel like you might be a long lost sibling or something... petfinder.com is a GREAT resource. you can narrow your search by size, geographic location, age, etc and theyre all shelter/rescue dogs. as far as labs go, people much more dog-educated than I have stated theyre hunters and not runners. This is true, however I would like to add that i have a lab/dane mix and i worked in the field for 6 hrs a day the first year i had him. He would run most of the day. I'm not saying they are runners, but some do and love it. an hour of walking on the leash is more tiring for him than running for two hours. and he will chill all day and night without budging if im sick or lazy. I think i have the (near) perfect dog, and wish you luck finding yours! good luck with your quest!
If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then giving Fido only two of them. ~Phil Pastoret
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Member
Group: Forum Member
Last Login: 11/7/2009 8:27:36 AM
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I think a lab or golden would be perfect cause they can go for 3 miles and you can go to the park with them, throw the ball and then they'll get enough exercise. They shed Mildly not that much and they love the water,pool,ocean whatever. They would recommend a bath about every two weeks or so I think though. but I'm glad I could help and know that this means a lot to you.
Animals are not to be treated rude but to be treated nice and respectedly. I love animals!!<3 DogLuvver37 <3 Love Animals. Don't hate them!!
Please Help To Save Animals!! Ones In Puppy Mills, Shelters, Everywhere, Including From People Who Don't Treat Them Nicely, And Pet Stores
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Junior Member
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Last Login: 10/27/2009 11:34:31 PM
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| Sounds like a no brainier to me..Go to your local shelter and see what they have to offer, all of the dogs in there would be willing to fit your specs, for the perfect lifetime friend!
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Community Moderator
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Last Login: Yesterday @ 9:04:08 AM
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You should try giving The DogChannel.com Dog Breed Selector a whirl. It asks you questions about your preferences and lifestyle and matches it up with dog breeds that might best fit your selections. DogChannel.com also provides an opportunity to compare breeds side by side with the information that DogChannel.com editors have compiled for all of the different breeds in our system. You can use this feature with your quiz results or just to compare some breeds without taking the quiz.
Here is the link: www.dogchannel.com/dog-community/dog-breed-selector.aspx
FeathersNFuz
DC Community Moderator
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Member
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Last Login: 2 days ago @ 12:09:32 PM
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ive got a shelter mutt thats mostly black lab, part great dane, and he is a low shedding, super chill dog that hikes with us for days when we do and will chill on the floor next to the bed on movie nights. when i went to the pound his sister was a hyper dog climbing all over him (54 lbs then, 100 now) and he was hanging out on the floor tolerating the shenanigans. i think if you did some basic dog research- ie working dogs vs. herding dogs vs... you could go to the pound and the perfect dog and you guys would find each other.
herding dogs are a bit high maintenance and busy- great dogs in the right environment. i personally like big dogs that arent too big to be active but still like to backpack for a few days. ive had much better experiences with male dogs than females. males tend to be more loyal and obedient in my experience, but i would get any dog fixed ( i dont breed or show) to prevent the hormone aspect from coming in to play.
good luck on your search.
If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then giving Fido only two of them. ~Phil Pastoret
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Member
Group: Forum Member
Last Login: 11/2/2009 7:02:47 AM
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| Great review of your situation, but what I'm not hearing is what characteristics you want in overall aptitude. How Social do you want your dog to be? With people? Kids? Dogs? some dogs are simply not "dog park dogs". Some are aloof with strangers. Others are a "love everyone type". This is an important characteristic to identify! What level of trainability do you prefer? And do you plan to take the dog to a training class? For how long? Some are easy to train but require regular mental challenges (alot of the herding breeds are like this). Others are non challenging (a bit dumber) and so are also easy to train but won't amaze you or your friends with tricks and acts of intelligence! <G> Others are more difficult to train either because they are independent free thinkers, or they are independent single minded dogs. If you like to be in control of those around you, you will probably want an easy to train dog. But if you don't have a lot of time or plan to spend a lot of time/money training your dog then you want to avoid the type who need regular challenges. What characteristics will bother you? Will the dog who "ignores you" at times be a source of irritation? Likewise will a dog who is "glued to your side" be a problem? How about the demanding/nudgy type of attention seeking dog? Finally keep in mind that the dogs may be labeled with a "breed" or "breeds", but it's not always accurate. Even if it is accurate, the dog is quite possibly a poorly bred dog who's characteristics will not mirror the characteristics the breed is supposed to have. When in doubt, seek the advise of a neutral 3rd party! (Dog trainer/behavior counselor)
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Member
Group: Forum Member
Last Login: 11/2/2009 7:02:47 AM
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| I forgot to add Social Acceptability to my last post. How important is it to you to have a breed that is socially acceptable? Will you be upset if your neighbors or people in your town unfairly judge your dog because of it's breed? Or do you want the added protection that comes from having a breed that makes people think twice before approaching? A Pit Bull/Am Staff (if allowed in DC...I'm not sure if they are?) would be a great possibility for you. However you are going to be fighting breed prejudice if you own one. Also important...if you want a Running partner you'll want to make extra sure that the dog you select is physically sound. (this is where a neutral experienced 3rd party can be helpful when selecting a mixed breed/rescue) There is nothing worse than forcing a dog to exercise when it has structural defects. And regardless of mixed breed or purebred, if you end up with a retriever type I'd plan to have it's hips and elbows xrayed for dysplasia before running with it. (same if it's a GSD mix, and certain other dysplasia prone breeds) And keep in mind if you get a young dog, no forced running/jogging till it's at least 18 mos. of age. It can damage the dogs joints and bone structure if forced to run prior to the growth plates closing. OTOH, a Retriever type is well suited as a running partner. (sorry to disagree with the person who said it's not) Retrievers, while not bred to run all day...these days often have that type of energy. And 3 miles a few times a week is not extreme IMO. Some other breeds to consider without knowing your answers to the additional questions I've brought up: Pointer type breeds (GSP, Pointer, GWP, Visla, etc). Whippets and Greyhounds, Doberman Pinscher, Boxer, Collie (barking may be an issue!), the right Border Collie (one with a good on /off switch), Eng. Springer Spaniel, Dalmatian, etc. Good luck in your search!
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