gratus fermentatio
Well-Known Member
IMHO, you can't go wrong with a German Shepherd. Smart, loyal, easily trained for multiple tasks/duties. Golden Retriever would be a great choice too.
Regards, GF.
Regards, GF.
A dog for my sister--Rotty, Dobie, Boxer or German Shepherd?
- Thread starter Bedlam
- Start date
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We're on German Shepherd #2 for our special needs child. The major genetic issue you can get is bad hips (dysplasia), but this can be minimized with a good breeder, x-rays, and vet records.
Smart, loyal, great with kids and cuddly (my GS lives with 5 pugs and he thinks he's a lap dog). Completely trainable. Good temperments... gorgeous breed. I can't say enough great things about them.
Gunner, our current GS, was a rescue. Great dog.
Smart, loyal, great with kids and cuddly (my GS lives with 5 pugs and he thinks he's a lap dog). Completely trainable. Good temperments... gorgeous breed. I can't say enough great things about them.
Gunner, our current GS, was a rescue. Great dog.
CreamyGoodness
Well-Known Member
Can I just cross-pollinate threads and mention that here in big scary New York, none of the single ladies pack pistols or get their dogs to protect them (more so that they can hang out at the dogpark).
Goodness gracious, I think I'll stay in New York where its safe! :cross:
I loved my golden growing up... sweet, athletic and more protective than any rot I've ever met. That said, my father and several of my friends swear by their German Shepherds when it comes to being protective while still obeying the "heel" and "release" commands. There is a reason the working dog of the NYPD is the Shepherd, and not just because Ray Kelly liked Rin Tin Tin as a kid.
Goodness gracious, I think I'll stay in New York where its safe! :cross:
I loved my golden growing up... sweet, athletic and more protective than any rot I've ever met. That said, my father and several of my friends swear by their German Shepherds when it comes to being protective while still obeying the "heel" and "release" commands. There is a reason the working dog of the NYPD is the Shepherd, and not just because Ray Kelly liked Rin Tin Tin as a kid.
BOXER!! You just need to get from a good breeder. Make sure the proper test have been done for common issues. Labs are also great. German Shepard the hip thing and most I have seen seem to be under sized now (bad breeding.) If you can get one of recent European decent, I would consider it.
I love my boxer, she is AWESOME!
Good luck!
I love my boxer, she is AWESOME!
Good luck!
OP
OP
Bedlam
Well-Known Member
All...thanks for the replies and great dawg pics! You guys got some good-lookin' furry pals.
Just to clarify, after talking to my sister, she hasn't ruled out a rescue and had looked at a lot of rescue organization sites. The issue is that they usually don't have puppies, but older dogs and neither of us think that her current Boxer would tolerate that very well. Also, she has a cat and most of them say that their rescue doggies don't do well with cats. She really isn't opposed to a mixed breed, but wants to know what direction to start in.
My advice was that she should go pick out a shelter puppy with orange eyebrows. That would cover Rottie mixes, Dobie mixes...and Dachshund...errrr... not sure how that last one might work out...
As for the safety issue, she is a single professional in a rural county rife with meth, pill heads and lax gun laws. A 911 call would result in at least a 30-45 min wait for law enforcement. She also got skeeved one day while hiking and she walked up on a guy cooking meth just off the trail. There is a good chance that having her Boxer with her that day kept her from having to shoot somebody. It isn't NYC, Creamy, but it is what it is around here.
She has a big, loud-barky boxer who is a goofball with everyone he trusts. He has a great personality and has been her constant companion these last few years. She may end up getting another Boxer, but wants to consider all options. Other than the recently-diagnosed medical condition, he's been perfect for her. She doesn't want to go through this grief again (none of us do), so she's trying to weigh her needs and options carefully. Thanks again to all who've chimed in for your help.
Just to clarify, after talking to my sister, she hasn't ruled out a rescue and had looked at a lot of rescue organization sites. The issue is that they usually don't have puppies, but older dogs and neither of us think that her current Boxer would tolerate that very well. Also, she has a cat and most of them say that their rescue doggies don't do well with cats. She really isn't opposed to a mixed breed, but wants to know what direction to start in.
My advice was that she should go pick out a shelter puppy with orange eyebrows. That would cover Rottie mixes, Dobie mixes...and Dachshund...errrr... not sure how that last one might work out...
As for the safety issue, she is a single professional in a rural county rife with meth, pill heads and lax gun laws. A 911 call would result in at least a 30-45 min wait for law enforcement. She also got skeeved one day while hiking and she walked up on a guy cooking meth just off the trail. There is a good chance that having her Boxer with her that day kept her from having to shoot somebody. It isn't NYC, Creamy, but it is what it is around here.
She has a big, loud-barky boxer who is a goofball with everyone he trusts. He has a great personality and has been her constant companion these last few years. She may end up getting another Boxer, but wants to consider all options. Other than the recently-diagnosed medical condition, he's been perfect for her. She doesn't want to go through this grief again (none of us do), so she's trying to weigh her needs and options carefully. Thanks again to all who've chimed in for your help.
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SharonaZamboni
Senior Member
Just saw this in the dogs thread.
c_osbourn said:
Having a GSD is like having a 3-yr old child. they are anxious to learn. It is easy to teach them the borders of their property and they learn to stop when you walk off property. They have an uncanny ability to memorize their territory and will alert if something has changed (even if the trash cans have been moved) Nobody will get between them and their master.
an animal this smart requires a lot of attention and demands to help you with all the outside chores.
if someone not very well known appears unannounced (and who has not been greeted by master) while master is outside, watch out! After 3-4 visits they learn who is friend. We always hug new visitors so dog knows they are OK.
an animal this smart requires a lot of attention and demands to help you with all the outside chores.
if someone not very well known appears unannounced (and who has not been greeted by master) while master is outside, watch out! After 3-4 visits they learn who is friend. We always hug new visitors so dog knows they are OK.
wolfstar
Well-Known Member
Malinois are excellent dogs, but they are a lot of work. We have one (as well as a GSD). Lots of work in a Mal though...
We had dobermans growing up. All great dogs but none of them passed from old age. Our experience was that dobies could possibly have an above average amount of health issues. All were smart loyal and extremely social animals.
Since I have been on my own we have had Rotties. Three in the house for several years. Awesome dogs. Our dogs were extremely social, laid back, and smart. Well bred "Bully" breeds should have a laid back temperament.
We have many friends and family members with Boxers. Awesome dogs. That being said, I have seen a fair amount of health issues with them. I would say slightly above the norm.
GSD. I would go this route for two main reasons. Timing and body type. In general, these dogs are athletically built and are working dogs for that reason. They certainly have many other fantastic traits. The timing that I am talking about is the fact that GSD's went through the same over breeding stages that many of the other bully/working breeds have gone through. I think that happened a fair amount of time ago and the breed has recovered well.
We will always have a Rottie in our house, as well as, some type of rescue dog as well.
Good luck to your sister. Dogs sure do improve the quality of life.
Oh yeah, get a female as well. Out of all of our dogs I would take any of the females to be at my side if **** ever got sketchy. Fearless.
Since I have been on my own we have had Rotties. Three in the house for several years. Awesome dogs. Our dogs were extremely social, laid back, and smart. Well bred "Bully" breeds should have a laid back temperament.
We have many friends and family members with Boxers. Awesome dogs. That being said, I have seen a fair amount of health issues with them. I would say slightly above the norm.
GSD. I would go this route for two main reasons. Timing and body type. In general, these dogs are athletically built and are working dogs for that reason. They certainly have many other fantastic traits. The timing that I am talking about is the fact that GSD's went through the same over breeding stages that many of the other bully/working breeds have gone through. I think that happened a fair amount of time ago and the breed has recovered well.
We will always have a Rottie in our house, as well as, some type of rescue dog as well.
Good luck to your sister. Dogs sure do improve the quality of life.
Oh yeah, get a female as well. Out of all of our dogs I would take any of the females to be at my side if **** ever got sketchy. Fearless.
This is almost identical to what I was going to say. We have a malinois mutt and one that may be pure bred. Both eager to learn and as active as I want to be. The mutt is more independent, while the possible pure bred always wants to have us in sight.
UTPhish
Well-Known Member
My vote is for a boxer. My Layla (see my avatar) is the sweetest dog I have ever met. Boxers are known for being extremely good with small children and are friendly to everyone they meet. They do require a decent amount of exercise. They are also well known for being the biggest bed hogs. It is amazing how my 62lb boxer can take up 3/4 of our king size bed.
