Help me pick a dog

Agree with most of the comments above in regards to working dogs. Do NOT get one in your current house.

I have a border collie. Greatest dog in the world. But requires huge levels of entertainment - walking, chasing, herding etc. Even at age 10 he still won't slow up if there is an adventure on the cards.

I don't get the whole 'outside' dog thing. You either have a dog, or you don't.

I like Jack Russells as small dogs. As well as corgis. but don't know much about other breeds.

Blacky

 

Get an alarm system, or a Rotty. I'm not a fan of them personally, but they fit your requirements. Scary guard dog that can live outside and only needs walking once a day.

I breed English staffs now but the best dog I ever had was a red cattle. Need to be vigilant with training though.

 

Definitely, not defiantly.
No dog for you guys.

 

Get a Snoop Dog

 

i over heard a man talking to his greyhound called " steve" at suspension i nearly spat my coffee out in laughter.

 

is that an australian sheppard?

 

Hubby had a Border Collie x Rhodesian Ridgeback growing up. Great dog, with an awesome temperament. Good guard dog but essentially it would have kicked you to death. It looked like a Border Collie with a slight mohawk! Not the same level of craziness as a Border Collie, he was happy to go with the flow. Needed to be walked once a day though.

We used to dog sit a Great Dane. She was a brilliant guard dog. Didn't need daily walking. They are perfect for small yards, believe it or not, but they need constant company and fret when you leave them for long periods of time. We would love a Great Dane but opted for a Spoodle as our 10 year old has had her heart set on one for the last 5 years. So far, spoodles are not guard dogs!

 

German Shepherds are the best. We have a German Shepherd and a rescued Japanese spitz. But shepherds are smart--they need stimulation, exercise and company. If you are both at work all day, I wouldn't get a dog. The dog will get lonely all day on its own. If we were to get another dog it would be a rescue greyhound.

 

Don't get a dog if it's going to be outside all the time. When I walk our dog around and see dogs sat in back yards, alone whilst they're family is in the house watching TV it breaks my heart. Our dog is as part of our family as anyone else in the house, the thought of leaving him outside alone whilst we're inside is just sad to me.

We have a Great Dane and he is hands down, absolutely the best dog I have ever known. Totally chilled out, needs minimal space or exercise, (especially now he only has 3 legs!) and is more like a person than a dog.

He's never caused any damage and he never barks unless a stranger comes up to the house, and when he lets that warning bark out there's no way anyone that doesn't know him would come any closer.

He comes to work every day with me, he has his own bed in our office and hangs out with me and the staff. He's such a gentle soul.

Unfortunately, he lost a rear leg to bone cancer back in May and last week his latest CT scans showed it has spread to his lungs now, so the big guy is on borrowed time. We have no idea how long he has left, but likely not long and it is absolutely breaking my heart.

So, in response to your original post, if the dog is to stay outside then don't bother, but if you want a dog that will become part of the family then a Dane is the only dog for me, (just be prepared for some VERY heavy vet bills over the years). Greyhounds would be the other choice for us, (rescue), very similar temperament to Danes.

This is Huckleberry and me on his first visit back to the beach about 4 weeks after losing his leg.



Such a poser....



...and doing what he does best, being nosey!! Always has to be in, checking out whatever it is you're up to. Never steals anything, he just likes hanging out with me and watching what I do.

 

We had a Boxer when I was a kid... He barked away people who stealing roses from our front garden at the middle of the night (he was a very well behaved dog and if he barked, you knew something was not right....)

 

Sounds like you're not really up for a dog.

I'd love one also but don't believe it's fair to leave-em alone in the backyard all day/night when working or out/other

Personally, a dog is gunna cost ya, even a rescue can cost ~$300, then ongoing costs, food, medical etc etc, plus cleaning up after it, smell, flies, fleas, washing etc etc...
I'd stick the coin into beefing up low maint security, alarm, sensor lights with warning sounds, window shutters etc

 

The white one ... he's about 5kg heavier than the border/koolie ... back's okay ... twisted ankle is causing me grief as I don't know how to "do nothing".

No Australian Shepherd - the white one is a Border/Retriever/Kelpie cross - the grey on is Koolie/Border cross ... all working breeds there ... thanks goodness we live on a farm, even if they are spoilt inside/outside (dog door) babies ... but no sleeping on the furniture.

The photo of our Keeshond cross was taken around 5 months before she died at the age of 14 ... still puppy cute but super chilled and mature

 

Anything but a little yappie dog.
We see people walking little dogs and ask them what's wrong with their cat.

 

You're lucky the owner didn't bite you
Mine will bark at strangers... to get attention and pats....

 

Hehe, these are only the hipsters in the inner burbs with the stupid dogs for attention.
I don't mind cute little dogs.

 

We have a boxer cross and I just love him to bits. I don't think I could go past a boxer. He looks like a big teddy bear, is free to come and go inside and sleeps in our room at night. For some reason he scares the pants off delivery men but little do they know he wouldn't hurt a fly.

 

By the time that we got our doggy set up (purchase, vaccinations, kennel, toys, food, harnesses, etc), we were looking at well over $1k. And this was for a 'non-designer' adoption puppy. Add on top of that training effort, ongoing 'running costs', exercising, socialisation and they're not a simple security system!

For security, our CCTV and monitored alarm were much better value!

 

I shall add. You might ended up getting the security system anyway, since you'll be worried about potential dog-napper.