picking a new dog in the future

S

starcrafttom

Active member
Ok, most of you know that cyper died a few days ago. We are not getting another dog any time soon, we have some traveling over the holidays coming up so now is not a good time.
Susan has always had dogs but never had to pick a breed before. Her dad always got what he wanted for the family and cyper was a unwanted dog of a friends that ended up in a 13 year love affair.
That being said we did not take cyper with us on the boat too much because of his size. He was a plott lab mix. He had most of the traits we wanted or we got use to. So the question is what breed is right for us next? We talked about what we like in a dog and what we don’t like. One of the great things about cyper was his aggressiveness and big bark. Susan always felt safe with him while I am gone. If you came thru the front door unannounced you had to get by the plott before the lab wanted petted, and if Susan yelled out you where getting buried in the back yard.
Now cyper was not a mean dog but you had to get the thumb up before you got licked. Neither of us wants a shy or skittish dog. We want something with confidence, but not to stubborn, labs can be hard headed as hell. Cyper would get in to the trash more as he got older because it was worth it to him, almost as bad as the kid. As for size we don’t like really small dogs but don’t want anything bigger then cyper, he was 65lbs. We do want to start bird hunting in the near future so a hunting bred is best but not one that is to tightly wound up. Cocker spaniels drive me nuts. Cyper was a very active dog that required a lot of running until he was 12 so we are good with that. It’s the crazy shacking pissing on itself dog I don’t want. We do like a dog that is social with other dog because we want to take him everywhere with us and all are friends have dogs.
With all this in mind we went thru the dog breed book and came up with two possible chooses. First is another lab on the small size. A costumer of mine that just bought a house raises pointing labs and has offered me a pup any time I want. His dogs have a bunch of awards and their pups go for $1800 and up. I don’t know how big his dogs are as I have not seen them yet. Second is a Brittney. It’s a type of spaniel that is used for upland game and waterfowl hunting. They only get about 40 lbs and are really smart. I like the look and the size and the fact that I can use one to hunt birds. They are friendly to dogs and get along with kids. I have never met one and do not know any more about them then what I have read. So does anyone here have one or know about them. Does anyone have a different breed that they would recommend?
 
Tom,

I had a Brittany Spaniel once and if Cocker Spaniels drive you nuts, you should give the Brittany a pass also. Sweet dogs but like all pointing/flushing dogs, tightly wound.

Having said all that, my most laid back and favorite dog (she was very unusual for the breed) was a German Shorthair.

Based on what you have said, though, I would go with the free Lab from your customer if the size is acceptable.

Warren
 
My uncle raised and hunted Brittany Spaniels for years -- always had a pair sitting by the fireplace during winter months in Newport OR. Very good dogs.

A neighbor here in Las Vegas has a rescue Brittany and Golden Retriever mix -- think smaller black and white Golden. A great dog that will retrieve anything. They also picked up a pure bred Brittany for $50 at an "auction" for rescue dogs. She now is certified as a dog that can visit hospitals and such.

My son is partial to labs -- lives in England just got a new hunter. We duck and goose hunted over labs in Wisconsin for several seasons and he did the same in Oklahoma and Texas before moving to the UK.

More than anything it is breeding and training that make the difference

Bill Uffelman
Las Vegas NV
 
I'm partial to water dogs - all retrievers but Goldens in particular.
Consider a rescue dog - all sizes, ages and breeds are available, pure breds and mutts. Price is reasonable and most are even house broken. Best of all you save a dog from being euthanized.

Here's a link:
http://www.petfinder.com/
 
I second Phil's suggestion....there are rescue groups for all the breeds.

Now with that said, I have owned many different breeds and I can't say enough good things about "Flatcoated Retrivers", they are a smart dog who loves the water and will bring the birds home for dinner, if you aim right...that is.
 
We lost our "Sammy" last Mother's Day but after months of searching and researching, we added a new family member ten days ago today. Mary's sons have Labs and we looked very closely at Labradoodles, but the final decision was to rescue a mini Schnauzer from San Diego Schnauzer Rescue. His name is "Joey" and we now know his personality so he's getting the nickname "The Fonz."

He's a little too big to be show quality at 19 lbs, he's silver/white which puts him further out from anything approaching US AKC standards, but he's fully trained, totally housebroken, and (so far) has already started learning the ropes as a replacement therapy dog in Mary's practice. Took him down to the boat yesterday and, like Fonzie, he's cool with that too.

Never expected to get a Schnauzer but kept our eyes and hearts open to whatever dog wanted us as much as we wanted him. Joey fit the bill instantly. I wish you the same luck we had....

Don
 
I know the delima you are in. Most of my life I had Siberian Husky's. The last one I had Max was killed and it nearly killed me. For years I wouldn't have or even entertain the thought of another dog. One evening I heard a yapping at my front door and their was a small dog with no collar crying at the door. I forbade anyone in the house from feeding him. The next day I softened and feed him and that was all it took he was mine. Turns out he was apparently abandoned and was a chiwawa type dog less that 10 pounds. Nothing I ever considered owning but he became a great dog and a really good security dog despite his size he would let you know if their was and intruder. We named him Taco and he was with us for 7 years. One morning we awoke to find him dead so again we were very depressed. I decided my next dog would be strickly and outside dog for security and I wouldn't get attached to him. A friend gave us a Jack Russell as a christmas present. That was the worst dog in the world and sad for him he got run over about 3 months after we got him. Then came my present dog Smokey. He's part Chiwawa and Rat Terrior. He is the perfect dog for me small enough to easily lift in and out of the boat and very well mannered. He's not the nervous jittery type but will let you know if their is a stranger around. The best dogs I have owned have been those who have been rescued rather than brought home from a breeder. If I were to purposly go out to choose a dog I'd take a close look at Rat Terriors. As far as the bird dog breeds I'm not all that sure you can have a dual purpose dog. I was raised around bird dogs and they never made pets out of them and were always caged. Good Luck in your quest.
 
Tom,

I have had the same experience with Brittany's as Warren. My Dad loved them for bird hunting but could not deal with them outside of that, just too hyper. I am sure that there are exceptions to this and alot depends on how much exercise you can give them during the day.

We have always had large dogs and were in the same position as you were when we lost our German Shorthair (there is a great dog by the way!!). We wanted something that could travel, be good with kids, on the smaller size and also be as smart as our larger dogs have been. We ended up with a Papillon and realize that we really made a good choice. I know that you want a hunting dog but I guess what I am saying is that we did put a good deal of thought into the front end before we got the dog and it is paying off!

Take care and good luck! (Make sure you check the German Shorthair out! I have seen many in the smaller size range (45-55 lbs) and those dogs are incredibly smart and lovable!!

I see that Warren mentioned the German Shorthair as well!

Julie
 
much has been said about dogs. little has been stated about james.
james has apparently decided to put his life at risk and the key here, is put his life at risk. as of yesterday the total u.s. and coalitions casualties were 28,124 not including 3,839 fatalities, and those figures do not account for returning military personal that discover mental and/or emotional injuries, after discharge.
i sincerely wish him well and thank him, and all others for the sacrifice they make in our behalf.
six months from now, ask james, what dog best represents him and his brother jawheads, and his response will very likely be, an "english bulldog."
so, in my humble opinion, get a english bulldog, name him, jawhead, leatherneck, recon, grunt, or any number of meaningful names and you'll have pet that represents honor, commitment and courage.
that's my story and i'm sticking to it.
hope you take this message in the spirit it is intended.
best regards to all.
pat
 
hey loverboy,

i looked at german short hairs and they are beautifull.

this is teh AKA said about them
Temperament
The Shorthair is friendly, intelligent, and willing to please. The first impression is that of a keen enthusiasm for work without indication of nervous or flightly character.


suasn
 
Tom,

My big lab (Sagebrush) died last year, so I know the loss you are feeling. It's a cruel trick that we live so much longer than dogs.

I waited about a year to get another pup to provide company for our springer spaniel, and a fishing/hunting buddy for me. I really wanted another huge blocky lab (Sage was 115lbs and not fat), but kept an open mind. The short list came down to labs and drahthaars (German Wirehaired Pointers). I went with the drahthaar because I didn't think another lab could ever live up to the expectations that I had after having Sage. I found a nice litter in SW Washington, and got a nice male with a good wirey coat. This has to be the easiest dog I have ever had. I am not sure if it is the breed, or that I am now retired and have time to really bond and work with the pup. I am delighted with Salty my new boat/fish/hunting pup. Drahthaars have a reputation for being stuborn and hard to train, but I have not seen that in Salty. A few training snacks, and he is eager to perform. He is independent, but likes affection, too. The strongest needed discipline has been rolling him over and growling at him, plus a plastic bottle with pennys as an attention getting device. If needed, I toss the bottle towards him, but now it is usually just a rattle to get him to knock off the bad behavior. In 6 weeks at home, we have had a grand total of 8 house breaking errors. My lab hit that in the first week at home.

Our other dog, the springer is what we call a love sponge. He's a little dense, but you couldn't ask for a more loving, loyal pup.

I hope you find a new four legged friend to help run the boat and keep you company.

Kind Regards,

Steve
 
I personally do not understand why anyone would want an animal of any kind on a boat. Especially a boat of the size that our C-Dorys are.
 
Down Roger Down... OK...not all dogs are as big as your "little Buddy."

Susan & Tom (AKA...loverboy?? :cry ) Sounds like Susan is doing OK.. You might should take that boat ride NOW!!!

:hug :dog :hug2
Talking with our vet, he was big on matching a dog to the person, and what/where they are going to do while enjoying life together. He basically said...get a dog that likes to do what you like to do.. I said fine... I want one that does not shed hair a lot. He pointed me here...and a bit from the AKA::

I guess the dog needs to be named ....LB after Susan's remarks.. :embarrased

Portuguese Water Dog Breed Standard
Working Group
General Appearance
Known for centuries along Portugal's coast, this seafaring breed was prized by fishermen for a spirited, yet obedient nature, and a robust, medium build that allowed for a full day's work in and out of the water. The Portuguese Water Dog is a swimmer and diver of exceptional ability and stamina, who aided his master at sea by retrieving broken nets, herding schools of fish, and carrying messages between boats and to shore. He is a loyal companion and alert guard. This highly intelligent utilitarian breed is distinguished by two coat types, either curly or wavy; an impressive head of considerable breadth and well proportioned mass; a ruggedly built, well-knit body; and a powerful, thickly based tail, carried gallantly or used purposefully as a rudder. The Portuguese Water Dog provides an indelible impression of strength, spirit, and soundness.

Size, Proportion, Substance
Size--Height at the withers--Males, 20 to 23 inches. The ideal is 22 inches. Females, 17 to 21 inches. The ideal is 19 inches. Weight--For males, 42 to 60 pounds; for females, 35 to 50 pounds. Proportion--Off square; slightly longer than tall when measured from prosternum to rearmost point of the buttocks, and from withers to ground. Substance--Strong, substantial bone; well developed, neither refined nor coarse, and a solidly built, muscular body
 
We lost our Molly, a yellow lab, after 14 years last october. In June we broke down and bought Mandy, another yellow lab. We picked her because she was a little smaller than her littermates and seemed really laid back. Now at six months she is 60 pounds and growing like a weed. So much for smaller. We make room for her on the 16. To both of us the dog is part of the family. Where we go she goes. Not an easy task. When Molly reached the last year I ended up lifting her into and out of the boat and same with the camper. We were hoping Mandy would be smaller so that if I outlive her I can give her the same kind of care. I have had labs and retriever's both for full lives and loved them both. The labs were calmer, but I think mainly because they were females. My male golden was great but really excitable. If not for sue I probably would have looked closer at springers. Springers can be really laid back and great boat and water dogs.
 
I would consider getting a German Shepherd. They are known for their versatility, intelligence and loyalty. Here is a picture of my dog at nine months old:
bolo%20on%20c-dory.jpg
 
Interesting thread. I'd just like to add my recommendation that you check the "Rescue" organizations for whatever breed you select.

Annie, our thirteen-year-old Golden Retreiver, is approaching the end of her thread and I need to help her into and out of our vehicles and the J.C.Lately. At 67 (me, not the dog) it's getting harder, but I wouldn't deny her the opportunity of joining us in our travels. It seems a modest effort given all the pleasure she's brought us over the past 11-1/2 years.

Annie's been a real find - raised for her first year and a half with her brother, a ninety pounder and definitely the alpha dog in that pack. The result is that, as an omega dog, it took Annie about six months to discover that it was OK with us for her to have her own personality. She came to us already "fixed" and a graduate of Basic Obedience training (an A student we believe) and, like most GRs, a people dog - terrible at security but everybody's friend. Annie's number six GR with us.

It may sound like I'm trying to promote Golden Retrievers, but in fact what I want to encourage is the use of a Recue organization since these folks (many of them volunteers) are focussed on finding good homes for "their" dogs, not just unloading them. Expect to be asked to cover some expenses, usually a vet's exam and perhaps a donation to help them cover their expenses. In return you'll get the straight story on the individual dog you're considering and lots of the lore of the breed.

Good luck,

Paul Priest
Sequim
 
Hey, LoverBoy :mrgreen:

I really like Portugese Water Dogs also but Lori did not, so much for that. Also it's a big dog and we wanted a dog that would be easy to lift in and out of the boat, plus not take up a lot of room in the cabin.

I second the recommendation to check out the rescue organizations. Go to Petfinder to find one for your breed near you. That is how I found my 2nd and 3rd Australian Shepherds. Just keep in mind, the less popular the breed, the fewer animals to adopt. Lots of Labs, probably very few PWDs.

Warren
 
SENSEI":1vp8j8o6 said:
I personally do not understand why anyone would want an animal of any kind on a boat. Especially a boat of the size that our C-Dorys are.
Click to expand...

Thank God some sanity does still exist in this world ! Appreciate hearing some common sense from this site every now and then. The man obviously must be a farmer? As a kid growing up on a "farm" the animals were outside the people inside.

Thanks Roger!

Cheers,
Tom
 
Susan, dam it, how many time do I have to tell you no nicknames on the net, no kissing in front of my fishing buddies and no hugging on the rifle range.... dog are easier to train then wives..

Thank you all for the idea on different breeds, we will look into all of them. i have to agree on no dogs in the boat on long trips, which is a day of fishing for me-12hour days, but susan wants it and we already covered training her. I did not take cyper on the c-dory very often but when we did he really loved it. the problem with him is he has to be lead dog. So he spent a lot of time figuring out how to get to the bow, drove me nuts. lack of training by his owner..susan.

Now as far as rescue dogs go I have two trains of thought. One I like it because to many people will discard dogs that are not up to grade for show for one reason or another or the dog was not as fun as it looked on tv where they saw it with there favorite star. Second I am a cheap bastard, why pay for a dog with blood lines when I am never going to show the dog, now you can get good hunting dogs from a breeder and they are probable worth the money but I am cheap. Two.. I have seen and heard of dog from shelters that are great and some that are just awful. many of these dogs have health and social issues that make a bad choice. many of these dogs where taken to the pound for a GOOD reason and then resuced by good meaning folk that cant see any dog put down. They should have been put down by their owner if unwanted or dangerous. that said my brother dane is a rescue dog and a really sweety but he is not for kids or loud people and does have issues that my brother is willing to deal with. It did take three placements in homes before pat got him.

now I am not a one for getting a pure breed dog because I am not going to show the dog but I might go to the field trial events if I had a good bird dog, mostly I want to be able to bird hunt and susan wants a buddy. If i was not going to bird hunt then I would be getting a ausy cattle dog, right size, smart, easy to train, confident and a good companion. don't know if the will retrieve birds or just herd them. they look mean enough that you would not want to mess with them, reminds me of my old cat.

marines an bulldogs. while i was a Jarhead, not a jawhead, a lot of guys had bull dog and I could never figure out why. not fast enough or big enough to be a guard dog, just ugly enough. they are love sluts and great for people who like to snuggle with there dogs but other wise pretty much useless other wise. we have not heard from james yet and I doubt I will until almost he end of boot camp. too much going on the first month.

Thanks everyone for the advice and recommendations.
 
I have owned three black labs, here on the Chesapeake. All were excellent boat dogs...all were females and two pure bred and one mix or shepherd /lab. All weighed in at about 60 pounds...we picked from small parents.

In all cases they were great boat dogs (though I am now without a dog and kind of agree with Pat A. that a 22 is just too small). All of my dogs were trained about getting on and off, not jumping in water with the ok, and two were able to get off and swim in about a three hundred yard circle for about an hour withoutl resting. Two wer able to swim to beaches to do their needed business, and swim back on call. It was training. As long as they had a bed, food, water and us they were happy.

Dogs are what they are, and adjusting to we humans must be really tough onl them...but they love boats..these labs.

terraplane
 
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