File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
Hey /an/.
I'm planning to get a dog, but i don't know what breed i should choose.

I want a rather big dog.

Does anybody has advices? Tipps? Any additional Comments? What breeds are more difficult to handle? etc.
>> Anonymous
shiba and akita inus (dog pictured) run away a lot, so if you get one, dont take it off its leash.
>> Anonymous
There are many benefits to larger breeds.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
pit bulls are fantastic dogs, they are rather large, friendly (just like any other breed its how you treat them if you treat it like a baby you get a big baby), they are not too smart for their own good and in my experience they wont run away, they love their masters.
only problems with them is that they are strong and if not trained to walk properly they will pull during walks- however if u skate board they are great at pulling you around on it, they also take huge dumps which is a pain in the ass if you live in the city, but that comes with any large dog, so ya get a pit bull
>> Anonymous
(re)
I know that Pitbulls are not that kind of agressive like people think, but OTHER people don't know it and will blame me forever :\

Also, i'd like a dog like German Shepherd/Golden Retriver?/Husky? More, but I have no idea what's best.

As said, a website would be fine.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>>242056
English bull mastiff
>> Anonymous
Maybe an Irish Wolfhound. Hehe.

But i think they are TOO big.
>> Anonymous
i like to rub it in other peoples faces that my scary pit bull is friendly, just moved into a new house, first thing i did was show off my dog around the neighborhood, kids love him, and now so do their parents- who by the way where terrified when they saw my dog with their children, now they know better and welcome his presence so i don't even have to walk him on a leash any more, wouldn't have done that when he was a pup because he didn't know his own strength and could have easily knocked someones kid down causing trouble, but he is 2.5 now and has learned that he cant push on any one without hurting them so he doesn't and is very respectful and gentle when approaching people off his lead
>> Anonymous
>>242076
D'aww. Good job, Anon.
>> Anonymous
>>242076
But pure breeds are expensive :\

What do you guys think about getting a dog from the pound?
>> Anonymous
if you have allot of time to spend with dog and allot of energy get some kind of cattle dog, they are not huge, but a good size and can be a rewarding dog to have- very smart (which isn't always good especially if they are bored) they pick up on commands easily but are often over protective with their owners causing some miner aggression issues

German Shepard's are good too, smart, trainable, but they have a bad rap the way that pit bulls do, people think they are mean, but its just like any other dog, they can be smart

rots are good dogs also, they have a bad rap, but are sweet if you treat them right (just like any other dog) they are loyal and not so smart that they will be mischievous (like some cattle dogs can get when they are bored and restless) but they are trainable

Last recomendation
hunting dogs-
blood hounds
Britneys
labs
terriers (smaller)
large poodles
all great dogs are loyal, patient, and trainable
>> Anonymous
WELL THAN GET A FUCKING MUTT AND DONT ASK ABOUT BREEDS!
muts are great yes
>> Anonymous
Get a rhodesian ridgeback. My grandpa has one and he is such a good dog!
>> Anonymous
>>242076

Your dog is an accident waiting to happen. There are leash laws for a reason.
>> Anonymous
>>242081
Rots = Rottweilers?
Thats a good idea :\

How du Mutts behave? Are there any inheritable handicaps? And are the ones from the pond acceptable?
>> Anonymous
Get a St.Bernard They're Fucking Awsome
>> Anonymous
suggestion
if you dont know shit about dogs, maybe you shouldn't have one

get a cat, their easy and it doesnt matter what kind u get

fucking ass hole
>> Jesus H. Christ !!nwi78PCb+iZ
>>242087

No, get a Bernese (spelled correctly?) They kick St. Bernard's ass

Both are swiss dogs, with about the same color pattern... There are a lot of physical differences though.. And Berneses tend to be more friendly and accepting (because they were bred as sheep/farm dogs)... they get along great with horses
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
you should get a rhodesian ridgeback. those dogs are just perfect.
>> Anonymous
Explain the preferences of the breed, pls.
>> le/x/bian Anonymous
>>242086
It all depends on the dog, as far as mutts go. You can get an idea of what they're inclined to be like by what they're mixed with, personality-wise. Mutts tend to be healthier than most purebreds, too.

Rottweilers are fantastic big dogs - if well socialized, they love everything and everyone, and will act like big clowns and make you laugh. The girls I babysit have one (she's 160 ibs) and she likes to try and lie on my lap.

I have German Shepards myself, so I'm partial to them. They're INCREDIBLY smart, very easily trained, but you HAVE to make sure they know you're alpha otherwise they'll test you every chance they get. They're extremely loyal and love to wrestle, though the females tend to be a little shy/neurotic in my experience?
One of the major downfalls of German Shepards is they have so, so many health problems. My 3-year-old already has terrible hip displasia. If you get a GSD, get it from a REALLY GOOD breeder. They also require a TON of exercise otherwise they'll seriously destroy your house.

Irish Wolfhounds and Mastiffs both are incredibly gentle and, surprisingly, not too much work (as far as exercise goes, they require a lot less than the field/working dogs like retrievers or spaniels). Wolfhounds have a terribly short life span - up to 7 years if you're lucky, though 5-6 is more likely - and Mastiffs DROOL. A lot. They also fart.

St. Bernards are big droolers also, I don't have much experience with them otherwise. Bernese Mountain Dogs and Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are incredibly sweet, very social and friendly, and also very active (they require a lot of exercise).
>> Anonymous
>>242079
When you've got some idea of what breed you'd like, check for rescue groups for that breed near your area.
>> Anonymous
>>242176
Azawakhs any good?
>> Anonymous
>>242181
No clue, only large breed dogs I've ever owned are Akitas.
>> Anonymous
>>242176
What's this? oO Does it exist in Europe?
>> Anonymous
>>242189
Don't know if they're around in Europe. Basically they offer "foster homes" for certain breeds of dogs. The primary advantage over pounds is that you know they've done a good job of taking care of the dog while they've had it, and they usually know the dog's history as well as possible. It does usually cost a bit more to adopt a rescue dog than a pound dog though, at least where I live. Nowhere near as expensive as purebred though.
>> Anonymous
What about Dalmatians?

And what are the ones with some kind of tiger pattern called?
>> Anonymous
Animal Planet did a countdown of the 10 best dogs, #1 was Labrador, and #2 was Golden Retriever, #3 i think was Border Collie but it mentioned that they were very energetic dogs. My best advice would be lab or golden, i had a lab/golden mix that was the best dog ever.
There are a few important tests when choosing a dog, make sure you get one that pays attention to you and is interested in you, not just running around. Put the dog on its back, a submissive position, and put your hands around its neck lightly, it will not hurt the dog but one that is of the dominant temperment (harder to train, doesn't listen, possibly vicious) will struggle and yelp as if being hurt, one that has a good disposition will just lay there. If it's a puppy you can also try to pick it up and cradle it on its back, if it lets you do that it is trusting and will likely be a very good dog.

Breeds i would avoid, Akita, Pit bull (they are much more likely to be aggressive, and before they bite they do not use aggressive posturing, they just attack) dalmations (responsible for many more bites than you would think, plus they were in such demand after the movie 101 dalmatians that they were over bred and subject to health problems), Boxers are very friendly but die very early and have many many health problems.
Hope this helps
>> Anonymous
>>242270
I agree with you about labs/goldens being awesome dogs, but "possibly vicious" if it doesn't like having your hands around it's neck? Are you an idiot? Most ANY dog won't like that, even extremely friendly and social dogs. "Doesn't listen" and "harder to train" don't really apply there, either. Dogs that don't like being on their back can be perfectly well behaved and easily trained, believe me.

As for your comments on Pits, yes, they are more likely to be aggressive, but with good socialization they can be amazing dogs. Also, "before they bite they do not use aggressive posturing, they just attack" is NOT true. ANY dog will use aggressive postures (standing perfectly still, tail sticking straight up or wagging very slowly and stiffly, very attentive staring, ears perked forward) before fighting, and pitbulls are no exception. The difference in pits is that aggressive pits will attack with no provocation and they will not stop even if given submissive signals - that is, when they start fighting, they won't stop.

Akitas are more prey-driven than they are actually aggressive (same with Malamutes). Boxers are incredibly sweet and friendly and, if well bred, don't have many health problems as far as I know.

I agree with you on Dalmations, though.
>> Anonymous
>>242272
Labs are not the smartest of dogs and their gentle nature works against them. They are easily confused and may lash out in a panic. This usually scares people when their big, gentle lab bites for no apparent reason.
>> Anonymous
My akita died a couple months ago... from some eye disease. Make sure you're getting whatever dog from a good breeder

also RIP Maddie
>> Anonymous
>>242327

Labs are just as likely as any other dog to attack in my opinion. It all depends on how they're trained. Some black lab ran at me one time when I was really little, knocking me over and biting my arm sorta badly. My mom, being a typical mom, was pretty fast to react and got the dog away from me, but when the owners finally walked over to us, me still being on the ground with a ripped shirt and my mom still screaming "bad dog!!", they kept insisting that their "baby" was "just being friendly" and that it "just wanted to say hello" and that my mom didn't have to be so angry with it. WTF?! I never want a lab to say hello to me again if that's the case.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>>242108
I'd say this is a great idea, because while i own one, i also know that if the owner isn't willing to put the effort into training... and just wants a dumb large dog, Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not the answer...

These dogs take a person with enough sense to know when to do the right thing. Someone strong enough to stick through it.

They are just peachy if you can handle them. I wouldn't suggest them to someone who just wants a "large dog"

OP; if you pick a ridgeback for your dog.. please do the dog a favor and do at least a month's worth of research into the breed before you adopt one.
>> Anonymous
Golden Retrivers sound nice.
>> Anonymous
>>242412
Op here, since i have no idea if this 'Rescue Centers' exist here, i'm not assuming i'll get a purebreed.
Of course, if I'm going to get any breed ore a mixture or something, i'll get all possible informations about them o.o
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
Boxers are the end all best breed. Smart, funny, bad ass looking, tough when they need to be, great with kids/babies, loving, everything you would want in a pet
>> Anonymous
>>242437
But they are inducing "Why do you own a dangerous dog?"s.
>> Anonymous
>>242474
Are you kidding? Boxers are no more dangerous than labs or goldens. They're friendly, adorable, and great with kids as>>242437
said.

As for the person who keeps recommending Rhodesian Ridgebacks, they're great dogs too, honestly. Grooming them is nice and easy and they tend to be nice and laid back (but they tend to need a lot of exercise, too).
>> Anonymous
>>242503
see
>>242056
>> Anonymous
>>242515
well that's why you get the dog, socialize and train it well, then take it out with you in public so people can realize HEY WOW, THAT DOG IS ACTUALLY NICE AND NOT ATTACKING PEOPLE, MAYBE WE WERE WRONG!
>> Anonymous
>>242503
A word of warning; ridgebacks are not dogs for beginners. They're wonderful, yes, but you need alot of patience with them.
>> Anonymous
Op here, i think everything is okay.
Good friends of mine own a dog trainign center, and sometimes unwanted (or otherwise abandoned) dogs stay there.
I could get one from there, they are somewhat trained and I (as a noob) don't risk failing at training. :]
>> Anonymous
Not OP

I've been planning on getting an American Cocker Spaniel for about half a year now. The only thing that worries me is the health problems and the common loss of eyesight when they get older.

Other than that they're very sweet dogs (a little on the dumb side, sometimes).
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
>>242553
exactly why i suggested against it.. many first time owners end up sending their dog to the pound or hopefully a Ridgeback rescue... You have to be ready and know what to expect before you dare step into that arena...

I did almost two years of research online and from breeders, owners and our vet who is a specialist.