Dogs

[citizenblue]

Got two rhodesian ridgebacks and they only bark when someone comes up to the house. Very protective and we know they've scared off burglars at least once as some pots in the back garden were knocked over and we now have a fine collections of screwdrivers and a hammer dropped presumably as the burglars were running away.

I also like to go out running and I take them with me. As I'm now training to play rugby again I need to keep this up but sometimes it's quite late so can feel uncomfortable for a woman on her own. They are v protective and any perceived threat move between me and whatever/whoever it is they don't like but never more than that. The one time one bloke did move towards me threateningly the dogs stood their ground with their hackles raised growling until he backed off and actually ran away. The dogs did not however leave me to chase him.

We call them Patrick Swayze dogs - they are nice until it's time not to be nice.

Oh, and whilst we haven't got kids my best friend has four and they've all learnt to walk using my two as props, hauling on their tails etc. with no reaction from them at all. Blaze did however wee on their Christmas tree.

They need a good walk/run everyday (about 30 mins to an hour) and apart from that are content to snooze.

Sorry for the essay but was trying to let you know what it's like living with ridgebacks. CB

 

[shadygiz]

i'm on my second staffie now and they really are shitbags.....they look fearsome, but mine just rolls over and waits for a tickle ;)

however, if it was a dog trying to get in our house rather than a human, the dog would be ripped apart instantly

thats staffies for you......mans best friend but another dogs worst nightmare

 

[smudgedj]

How about an Akita, my sister has 3; been great with her kids.

The girlfriends brother has one of them brazilian filas, filo..eermm off to google....ok seems it's a Fila Brasileiro. Nice dog but it scares the crap out of me. Sit's there staring at you, too scared to move at first, got used to it now and it 'seems' to like me. Can't bring myself to trust it though!

Google that Fila Brasileiro again and have a look at its traits - you're lucky not to have been ripped to bits!!

I might be giving it a disservice, as I'm unused to dogs having never owned one. However they seem to have a bad write up on 'tinernet. He say's the dogs ok as it's been around people all it's life with loads of guests staying at the house. Still not 100% myself but like I say I'm not use to dogs.

 

[ld joinery]

I have an English bull terrier, a bitch she's two and weighs 32 kg ripped! She was a bit of a handful when she was younger but now she's more chilled nowadays, really good with my kids and other dogs too. Similar to staffs, just a bit bigger.

 

[Norville Rogers]

Rottweiler - maybe the most misunderstood breed of dog, i have a 1 year old male fantastic with other people including children as well as with other dogs. With this breed it all about the owner my rottie gets all the excercise he needs and plenty of attention ive had him at obedience classes since he was 8 weeks old for which hes collected numerous awards - perfectly behaved dog and loved by all the neighbors (all have commented on how my dog has changed their mind about the breed)- all this with a presence and a bark that would make any would be burglar think twice. on a side note Rottweilers are known for their intelligence and for their loyalty to their owners.

 

[skiddypants]

American bulldog.

 

[doots]

Don't mess with me, I'll tear you apart...

 

[bluecapi]

GSD for me all the way.

I lost my GSD a few years ago now as he had an inoperable brain tumour. He's the best dog I have ever had and I still miss him. The only thing about him was that he would never bark (I'd hear him "practice barking" quietly in the garden when he was a tiny puppy but he just never seemed to learn how to let rip).

However when he was still very young, about six months old, he saw off two guys who were standing in the bottom of the garden late at night, obviously waiting for me to go to bed. I had gone to the back door to let him out last thing, and had my hand on his head. I felt my hand lift as the hackles on his back went up from his tail to almost the top of his head, and he flew down the garden like a bullet. All I heard was "FOOKIN HELL!" and the sound of bodies hitting the fence and then a crash as my dog hit the wood after them.

Funnily enough, we never had any trouble with people trying to break in ever again.....

Loads of good recommendations on this thread, so it's really up to what suits you. One slight word of caution though - rescue dogs can be fabulous, but sometimes their background isn't known (if they are strays etc). This can mean they have issues that you just don't know about. I had a flat coat retriever cross, a rescue, that had to be put to sleep after biting someone with no overt provocation whatsoever. Something just set him off, and to this day I still can't explain why. I grew up with dogs, have always had dogs including some so called challenging breeds and whilst I'm not an expert, I do know enough to make me confident when dealing with dogs. And yet it still happened. I have a nine year old daughter, and I'd have to think long and hard before having another rescue dog unless it was one whose background was known.

 

[stonerblue]

Rottweiler - maybe the most misunderstood breed of dog, i have a 1 year old male fantastic with other people including children as well as with other dogs. With this breed it all about the owner my rottie gets all the excercise he needs and plenty of attention ive had him at obedience classes since he was 8 weeks old for which hes collected numerous awards - perfectly behaved dog and loved by all the neighbors (all have commented on how my dog has changed their mind about the breed)- all this with a presence and a bark that would make any would be burglar think twice. on a side note Rottweilers are known for their intelligence and for their loyalty to their owners.

Mine is 3 now and has turned out to be a great dog. She plays with all the kids in the street and has many friends around the town.

I had a Doberman when my daughter was born and from the minute she came home from the hospital the dog was at her side. My daughter learned to walk by holding on to the dogs back and the dog would either stand still or walk very slowly with her. Top notch guard dog as well.

 

[citysince88]

Rottweiler - maybe the most misunderstood breed of dog, i have a 1 year old male fantastic with other people including children as well as with other dogs. With this breed it all about the owner my rottie gets all the excercise he needs and plenty of attention ive had him at obedience classes since he was 8 weeks old for which hes collected numerous awards - perfectly behaved dog and loved by all the neighbors (all have commented on how my dog has changed their mind about the breed)- all this with a presence and a bark that would make any would be burglar think twice. on a side note Rottweilers are known for their intelligence and for their loyalty to their owners.

Mine is 3 now and has turned out to be a great dog. She plays with all the kids in the street and has many friends around the town.

I had a Doberman when my daughter was born and from the minute she came home from the hospital the dog was at her side. My daughter learned to walk by holding on to the dogs back and the dog would either stand still or walk very slowly with her. Top notch guard dog as well.

My dad got a rottie to protect the house and my sisters whilst he was working away, they had been burgled while out a few times that was 5 years ago not been burgled since they got the dog, in fact the poor mut spends most of his time being dressed up by my little sisters !

My mum on the other hand decided to get a chihuahua and it can hear people whispering down the road so if you want a dog that will sound the alarm get one of those little rats.

 

[The Blue Order]

Springer spaniel all the way for me!!

Needs loads of exercise, but great with kids!!

The welcome you get when you come home from work is amazing!!