Maverick

My wife and I have started looking for our next dog and we are having a very difficult time finding the right breed. Every single breed we have looked at has issues that don't seem to fit with what we are looking for. So, what's our perfect dog? Glad you asked - here are some of the traits (seemingly mutually exclusive) that we are looking for in a dog:

• Small to Medium in size <50 lbs
• Great with younger children (one is almost 3 the other is 5)
• Minimal shedding (not a deal stopper, but no dogs that shed a ton)
• Indoor/Outdoor dog (Indoor most of the time, but able to handle various weather for hiking/camping/etc.)
• Moderate activity level - Daily walks and romps in the yard
• Ok to be left at home alone for up to 5 hours at a time (first year - longer afterward)
• Does not bark excessively
• Willing to pay $500-$600 for pure breed (not the $1500 we have seen for some breeds)

Most of the breeds we have looked at have issues with one or more of those items. So, what dog breed do you recommend and why?

A little background for you. We currently have a 7 year old Yellow Lab/Golden Retreiver mix. We are facing the prospect of having to put him down in the next couple of months. His severe hip dysplasia and related arthritis is getting to be too much for him. We have found that he is bigger than what we would like in a household pet (he weighs over 90 lbs). Because of the medical problems we have had with him we are a little reluctant to get a shelter dog where we can't investigate the health of the parents. We are planning to buy from a reputable breeder with the proper health guarantees.

After looking at breeds for the last month or so cats are looking better and better .

Viti

I have never purchased a dog, preferring adoption and rescue, but I think a Standard Poodle sounds like the perfect fit for your requirements.

Good luck!

King Rat

Female Golden.

She will be a little larger than 55 pounds. She'll also be the best dog you'll ever have. Keep away from the puppy mills, definitely get one that is papered. It won't guarantee against hip dysplasia, but it'll reduce the risk. Try to get one that is part of the Peruvian bloodline. They haven't been overbred like many of the American lines.

I have a male Longhair Peruvian Golden and he is the most-beautiful, smartest, sweetest, good-natured, kid-loving, dog I have ever had. Every where I take him people ask if he can stud. I even had the president of the local Golden Rescue fall completely in love with him, and he sees Goldens all day long.

cheetah

That's exactly what I was thinking. Have you checked them out?

Viti

Portuguese Water Dog might also fit the bill

ZouPrime

Are you looking for a pure breed for a specific reason? Not only are they more expensive than "bastard", they are generally more prone to genetic illness. Personnally, I like my dogs mixed breed.

brighid

I was going to recommend a Sharpei, but they blow out their coat twice a year and despite being only 40 lbs, there is a bit of work to clean it all up.

Our Sharpei has a really good temperment. She isn't terribly active and is a low-maintenance kind of dog as compared to our doberman. She is great with kids, especially very young ones and is incredibly indulgent of them attempting to ride her like a horse, pull her tail, etc. She only weighs about 45 lbs, and gets daily walks but she is much lower energy than her brother. But she loves to sit outside and just smell the air and she looks like she is deep in thought.

She isn't terribly demanding with your affection either ... unlike our "velcro" dobe. And she absolutely adores our son! If we come home without him (say he is at a friend's house or something) she goes frantic looking for him. She bypasses us and goes straight for him when we all come home together. She lays next to bed every night knowing it's "story time" and is just the cutest damn thing.

She is also very clean. Unless she is sick she will not have an accident in the house and the breed is known for early potty training.

Here is some breed info and I agree mostly with what they say. Our girl is just more laid back, but we chose her for her temperment as her mother and father are very friendly and easy going.

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/sharpei.htm

A well bred dog isn't cheap and a $500-600 price tag would be for something other than the pick of the liter.

Look at rescue organizations in your area, especially if you find a breed you really like. They all have rescue organizations and this is how we got our dobe.

This is the breeder we got our girl from: http://www.heritagesharpei.com/
Brighid

muon

I'm thinking Whippet.

But try the following:

http://www.selectsmart.com/beta_dog/

Ego

I recommend a Springer Spaniel. http://www.akc.org/breeds/recbreeds/engsprsp.cfm http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/englishspringerspaniel.htm

We've got one in my family and he's a bonny dog, though that said he's still quite young, but he's stopped growing, but he's still full of energy. I'd say the Springer is a medium sized dog, he doesn't malt any more than most short haired dogs. We've raised our out in the countryside hence he's a country side dog (he also dislikes the leash, and you can tell he's happy when he's running through a field sniffing and peeing as he pleases!) and in my opinion he's happy with at least 1 walk a day, but the more and longer the better. But our dog, Patch, even though he'll get himself mucky, and covered in all sorts (river, mud, sand, grass etc) we just leave him in the utility room and a few hours later he'll of cleaned himself. He's fairly quiet but when he does bark, there's usually a reason for it, but then he doesn't bark that often.

Price wise, I havn't a clue! But I don't think pure breeds are expensive.

If I get the chance I'll get a photo of Patch, but I'd recommend a English Springer Spaniel as they're friendly and a bonny dog.

Onager

I'm going to get a little preachy, but I'm not mad at you, I'm just mad. I spent three years of my life working at an animal shelter in a large city. During the spring we had to put down over 50 animals daily. One team did nothing but administer lethal injections all day long just to keep up. I know that adopting a dog can only make a tiny dent in this problem, but we can all do our part. I have enough other reasons to adopt a dog that altruism doesn't even have to enter the picture.

Dogs have been bred to exhibit very exact physical characteristics. Generally speaking, a purebred dog is by definition the offspring of other purebred dogs. You could not invent a better system for encourageing physical and mental defects in an animal. This is why purebred dogs tend to be walking vet bills. With respect, I must point out that trying to lowball the price on a purebred is not the best way to purchase a sound animal. There is a craze for Goldens around here, and I haven't seen one live past 8.

Mutts on the other hand, are hardy and intelligent (usually). The mixing of breeds tends to mitigate the physical deformities that define the pure breeds. I moved into my first place when I was 18 and the first thing I did was adopt a dog from the local pound. Kind of a plain little brown shepherd mix. Six girlfreinds, four states, and 16 years later I had to put her to sleep. Up to the end, she never set foot in a vets office except to get her annual shots. The smartest dog there ever was. A legend. Meanwhile, other families were working through generation after generation of purebred dalmations, shelties, and assorted other species of breathing furniture.

The joy of having a dog is in the personality of the dog and the way they bring out the good in us. It isn't like a car or blender, you can't just get the best model for the price. Break the chain of genetic stagnancy! Walk away from those people who think a dog is something to look at! Are you a freethinker? Then do what makes sense.

Just go to the pound and take a look. There are some beautiful dogs that aren't purebred. The workers and volunteers at the shelter are very familiar with the animals under their care. They know which ones are calm, which ones like kids, etc. There are puppies, too, of course, if you are up for that kind of adventure.

Do you know anyone who doesn't love their dog more than all other dogs? Go adopt a dog and I personally guarantee you will love it.