brighid

I agree with pescifish. I haven't found a breed that doesn't have a rescue organization, and these people are very dedicated to finding their animals good homes. We support our state's doberman rescue, where we got our big guy.

I would also highly recommend a dobe. Depending on the breeder your female can be on the "small" side. We just have a very classic, very large red male. They are incredibly intelligent dogs and if you get them "floppy" eared they don't appear as menacing as the cropped eared dogs do. They are very loyal, friendly, bright, and they shed minimally. They are good with kids (when raised with children) and I have had dobes my whole life. They are sweet, affectionate and absolutely want to please their humans.

They do need to go to obedience school as soon as they are old enough because they are an energetic dog and they require good socialization in order to remain friendly.

They are also very protective of the family, especially the children. We would ride our dobes like horses, pull their ears, put our hands in their mouths, and run around the yard like screaming little banshees, and they would just sit there and go "okay." Now, if you were an adult, specifically a male and you tried to enter the yard while children in the back I feel sorry for you. You'd be lucky to make it 5 feet into the yard without them being on top of you backing you out of the yard and making sure that strangers aren't welcome - and this is how a dog should act.

They really are awesome family dogs and simply get a bad wrap, just like Roties and Sheppards. A well bred dog shouldn't have many genetic problems. Unfortunately, a well bred dog isn't going to be in the $500-600 range. At least none that I have come across during our searches for the breeds that would suit our families.

If there are any dog shows coming to your area (and I have friends that show Brazilian Filas at the big dog show in Chicago in the late winter) definately check it out. You can meet all the different types of dogs you are considering, as well as reputable breeders. They are generally very friendly and willing to answer any questions you have about the breed.

We did this because we had heard some negative things about Sharpeis and our fears were overcome upon meeting several different breeders and their dogs. Also, most rescue and adopt organizations have weekly or monthly meet and greets with the dogs.

Here is a page with lots of different "breed" info: http://www.dogpage.us/puppy-breeds-c-g.html

Here is a bit on doberman:
http://www.dpca.org/DobeAbout.html

And a better description of the dog:
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/doberman.htm



Brighid

Gooch's dad

Brighid's right, Dobies get a bad rap that's very undeserved. My ex had a red dobie female, and Kashie was *such* a sweet doberwoman. I've never met a dog with a better temperament. She was also a red dobie, with floppy ears.

The only drawback is that dobies have a ton of genetic diseases. Liver disease, heart problems, the list goes on and on. I'm not just judging from a sample of one, either. My ex is a vet professor here at UW, so I figured she knew her stuff.

A tendency toward such diseases in the breed is no reason to rule out the breed, however. Getting a dog from a reputable breeder, who knows the health history of the dog's ancestors, can rule out most problems. My ex's dog was found as a stray, so it was a pure coin toss as to her health.

Dobies shed very little, and I agree with Brighid, it would be hard to find a better dog to have around kids.

brighid

We have been pretty lucky. None of our dobes have had any of the typical genetic problems. We do worry about bloat with Ares simply because he inhales his food. So we make sure he eats smaller meals and wet his food with some broth (yes, are dogs are spoiled). Xena, our Sharpei eats like she is a damned princess, all slow, delicate and ladylike. She will even go and slowly lick his bowl clean and clean up the stray pieces that inevitably go all over the kitchen.

Our first dobes were from a breeder and Ares is from a doberman rescue, although you can tell by his features that he was very well bred, and at one point well trained.

They really are great dogs! Big sweethearts just wanting to cuddle you on the couch and have their velvety ears rubbed all night, or sit at attention when you are making meatballs hoping a few will be dropped in his bowl while drool streams out the side of his mouth

Brighid

Gooch's dad

Ha! That makes me miss Kashie the doberwoman! Describes her to a T.

Brighid, do you have pics of your pups in any of the threads for pet pictures?

Kelly

Viti

Another point to consider. Ensure that your homeowner's insurance doesn't bar coverage for the specific breed or family of breed you choose.

These excluded breed lists are ignorant and unfair in the extreme, but that doesn't stop them from denying you coverage for owning a "Husky type dog" (which is an entire family of dogs) or anything with "Bull" in it's name (again, an entire family, Molossars), or a Dobe or a Chow.

brighid

Yes, this is important to note. Some insurance companies will drop you if you have a pitbull, doberman, sheppard or rottie. Others will charge you a higher premium and some don't charge differently. We have USAA insurance and we haven't had any change in premium (although I can't remember if my husband informed our insurance carrier or not.)

Brighid

brighid

I think I did, if not I will email you some pics of my babies

Brighid

Hobbs

For the most part, a keeshond fits your bill.

One drawback on your list is that they do tend to shed, but we don't find it to be an excessive amount (though, other than poodles, shedding is a problem with dogs in general; and cats don't solve that problem). They have very poofy coats which look like they must take hours of grooming, but actually their coats are self-maintaining; they stay poofy without any brushing. But an occasional good brushing (like maybe once a month) helps a lot with the shedding.

The other drawback is that they aren't shy about barking, but then again we don't find our dog's barking to be excessive. They are excitable, but calm down quickly, so when our dog does start to bark, which is relatively often, she does not bark long. So she's much better than those dogs that just never shut up.

They are great with kids, they are fine with being left alone and with being in smaller places. They are very good apartment dogs, as long as they get a bit of exercise. Cold weather is absolutely no problem for them. We got our dog when we lived in Wisconsin, and it wasn't until about -20 F that she started to be noticeably less reluctant to come in out of the snow. They don't like really hot weather, though, but Wisconsin doesn't often get too hot for them.

Also, since they aren't overly popular and haven't been overbred like labs and other dogs with a lot of genetic health problems, they don't have those types of health problems. I got the impression that they have a higher percentage of more responsible breeders, but that may just be because those were the types of breeders we found and talked with before we got our dog. We paid $400 for our purebred, but that was 9 years ago.

A big benefit or a big drawback, depending on your perspective, is that they are rather mischievous. They aren't good for obedience competitions. Not that they aren't bright and perceptive and able to figure out what you want them to do, but that they are playful and get bored with doing the same thing repeatedly and they want to push to see how much they can get away with.

Just make sure you have a fenced-in yard, and you keep her on a leash outside the fence. They are mischievous, after all; and, cars carry people, and people are fun to play with ...

Bad Kitty

First, I think you can find what you want at the pound. Buying a pure bred dog is no gaurantee of personality, temperment, or health. One of my dogs was from a litter bred out of the Best in Breed winner at What-cha-ma-call-it dog show (the big one, the name is escaping me at the moment). And yet he has more health problems than the female of the same breed that I adopted (as a rescue) who had unknown lineage.

If you're set on a pure breed, then I suggest a Minature Schnauzer. He is a big dog in a smaller, compact -- but robust --- body. Lots of attitude and energy, trainable, friendly (socialization as a puppy is a must though), outgoing, smart. I have four dogs (three being totally unsuited for your purposes), but the Schnauzer would be good.

You can keep them clipped or let them go scruffy (I prefer scruffy).

Here is my bad boy engaging in a favorite activity: lounging.

doghouse

First off, a good dog is a good dog. I wouldn’t get too hung up on the breed.

That said, what about a miniature schnauzer? Around 20 lb, minimal shedding, generally healthy with even temperament.

Someone mentioned whippets, which are great dogs but may not tolerate the cold in your area.

Standard poodles –don’t confuse their personality with miniature or toy poodles—they are actually good hunting dogs. And no shedding. Some will be slightly over 50lb though.

Goldens make excellent pets but shed a lot and are larger than you want. They have more than their share of health problems too.

Dobermans are great (please don’t crop their ears) but are larger than 50lb. They shed but their hairs are so short it’s less of a problem.

In general, Australian shepherds are high maintenance. They are very smart but get bored when they don’t have plenty to do. And a bored genius can be a problem.