Dogs... I Need Some Opinions Please!
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Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Benton, AR, USA
Of the two mentioned - go with the lab. We have a year old chocolate female, and she is very tolerant of everyone - even those you would just as soon have her bite. 
Of course, she also thinks that everyone that comes to the house does so just to see her! And I don't know why people are talking about labs and dog hair "dust bunnies" - we have dust buffalos. She definitely leaves her mark everywhere - thankfully it stopped being more than just hair long ago. The house training was pretty quick, although it seemes like ages at the time. We are still working on the chewing. There hasn't been any furniture incidents since she was a small pup and thought that the corners on the coffee table needed to be more rounded. She is quite fond of kleenex (and all things paper) - to the point where she feels obligated to take them out of the trash cans around the house to let them know who is boss. She also has a penchant for footwear - thankfully mainly my wife's! Of course - she is horribly spoiled (thanks to my wife ), and she is catty. If she gets shut out of somewhere that she thinks she should be, she will find something to chew on. D@mn teenage dogs! 
Of course, she also thinks that everyone that comes to the house does so just to see her! And I don't know why people are talking about labs and dog hair "dust bunnies" - we have dust buffalos. She definitely leaves her mark everywhere - thankfully it stopped being more than just hair long ago. The house training was pretty quick, although it seemes like ages at the time. We are still working on the chewing. There hasn't been any furniture incidents since she was a small pup and thought that the corners on the coffee table needed to be more rounded. She is quite fond of kleenex (and all things paper) - to the point where she feels obligated to take them out of the trash cans around the house to let them know who is boss. She also has a penchant for footwear - thankfully mainly my wife's! Of course - she is horribly spoiled (thanks to my wife ), and she is catty. If she gets shut out of somewhere that she thinks she should be, she will find something to chew on. D@mn teenage dogs!
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 255
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From: northeast usa
as long as you know your 'in the market', why dont you cruise the local pounds or dog rescue groups.
you dont have to 'buy' anything, and maybe you'll come across something that strikes a chord with you guys.
we got our 'mutt' from a dog adoption group 10 years ago.
he's a lunk-head, and we love him. he is also really tolerent and good with our 5 year old.
some people suck, some dogs suck, wether they are pure breeds, or not. it might make you feel good knowing you saved one of them from the gallows.
when ours eventually goes, i will adopt from one of these places again.
you dont have to 'buy' anything, and maybe you'll come across something that strikes a chord with you guys.
we got our 'mutt' from a dog adoption group 10 years ago.
he's a lunk-head, and we love him. he is also really tolerent and good with our 5 year old.
some people suck, some dogs suck, wether they are pure breeds, or not. it might make you feel good knowing you saved one of them from the gallows.
when ours eventually goes, i will adopt from one of these places again.
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Joined: Jan 2002
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From: The Bluegrass State
I mentioned a sacrificial dog ... it gets the furniture, it'll be on the front lawn for public viewing...
LOL....
But, then again, right now, we don't have much 'nice furniture' thus, we'd be in pretty good shape if he/she tore into something. I'm not that worried about the wifes' shoes... she could stand to have a few less pairs.
RP
LOL....
But, then again, right now, we don't have much 'nice furniture' thus, we'd be in pretty good shape if he/she tore into something. I'm not that worried about the wifes' shoes... she could stand to have a few less pairs.
RP
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,803
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From: North Canton, Ohio
Jenn in Ohio how right you are.
Our Sydnee weighs about 65 pounds and constantly wants to be on, or near your lap.
She is undoubtly the smartest of the 3 we have had. We brought her home at 7 weeks and I spent the first week sleeping on the floor with her. She would lay on my chest and sleep and when I would feel her move, I would take her outside. She has never, in the 6 years we have had her, had an accident in the house our has she ever chewed or torn anything up. She has been alone in the house for as long a 9 hours too.
Her favorite toy is an old basketball that she will chase for hours on end.She also plays leap frog with my 10 year old daughter.
She was raised with 2 cats, and I swear she thinks she is one. She will lay on the floor clean herself like they do.
I only wish we would have bred her before having her fixed.
Our Sydnee weighs about 65 pounds and constantly wants to be on, or near your lap.
She is undoubtly the smartest of the 3 we have had. We brought her home at 7 weeks and I spent the first week sleeping on the floor with her. She would lay on my chest and sleep and when I would feel her move, I would take her outside. She has never, in the 6 years we have had her, had an accident in the house our has she ever chewed or torn anything up. She has been alone in the house for as long a 9 hours too.
Her favorite toy is an old basketball that she will chase for hours on end.She also plays leap frog with my 10 year old daughter.
She was raised with 2 cats, and I swear she thinks she is one. She will lay on the floor clean herself like they do.
I only wish we would have bred her before having her fixed.
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Joined: Oct 1999
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From: NJ
My girlfriend has 2 Labs. Very nice dogs, but oh do they want to play all the time .....
Funny thing was I didn't know she had to dogs the first day I was over her house. So I'm sitting on the couch petting one and the other sneaks up behind me and barks in my ear. Talk about jumping
My vote is either the Lab or Retriever. Both are great dogs, and good with kids.
One friend has the cutest little Chuwawa. It doesn't have the normal Chuwawa attitude. It's just playfull fat little hotdog with 4 legs.
Right now I have a Sharpee, very smart but stubborn dog, sometime very tempermentle, but she knows I who the boss is.
Dogs to avoid:
Small dogs that bark at everything then cower/hide when you look at them funny.
Funny thing was I didn't know she had to dogs the first day I was over her house. So I'm sitting on the couch petting one and the other sneaks up behind me and barks in my ear. Talk about jumping
My vote is either the Lab or Retriever. Both are great dogs, and good with kids.
One friend has the cutest little Chuwawa. It doesn't have the normal Chuwawa attitude. It's just playfull fat little hotdog with 4 legs.
Right now I have a Sharpee, very smart but stubborn dog, sometime very tempermentle, but she knows I who the boss is.
Dogs to avoid:
Small dogs that bark at everything then cower/hide when you look at them funny.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 749
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From: Lakeville, Minnesota, USA
I vote lab here! When I was growing up we had four black labs, and now that I'm married an in a house, guess what I have - of course - a black lab!
Our current guy is Rocky - seems to be nearly all lab - got him from a humane society. All I can say is someone lost a very good dog! He knew all his commands and was housebroken to boot when we got him- he was around three years old.
The good:
Labs love kids and will literally let them do just about anything to them, and keep coming back for more! Excellent dog for the kids!
Labs generally have a pretty good security sense and know who should and should not be around. Nothing like having salesmen come to the door and be greated by 85 lbs of growling / barking black dog! Of course, if you let them in, then they are his buddy!
They love to work - retrieving anything is fun - it could be a rock, a stick, retrieving dummy, actual brd, whatever - they don't care. In the water, on the land, its all good...
They are also very loving and come up for lots of petting and cuddling - very very friendly and loyal too.
The bad:
The hair! Oh my god, the hair! It will find its way everywhere. It literally weaves itself into the couch and car seats - only my shop vac will pull it out! Spring is the worst, but they will shed non-stop.
They love to chew! Especially when young, everything makes a great chew toy. Rocky pretty much only chews on stuff we give him now (rawhides, pigs ears, etc...) but once in blue moon has an episode and eats something expensive - last tally was one remote, two cordless phone handsets, and a cell phone - oh, and a weakness for stuffed animals.
Can be a bit hyper and rambunctious. Will go away (some) as they age. Best bet is meeting the parents before you buy a pup. Generally is a pretty good indication of where your dog is headed.
Given all that, I still wouldn't get anything else besides a lab (OK, maybe a golden)
Give some thought to the humane societies too. Not every dog finds a good home, but there are some really nice dogs at these places. Rocky has been the best thing for us - and defintiely someone elses loss!
Our current guy is Rocky - seems to be nearly all lab - got him from a humane society. All I can say is someone lost a very good dog! He knew all his commands and was housebroken to boot when we got him- he was around three years old.
The good:
Labs love kids and will literally let them do just about anything to them, and keep coming back for more! Excellent dog for the kids!
Labs generally have a pretty good security sense and know who should and should not be around. Nothing like having salesmen come to the door and be greated by 85 lbs of growling / barking black dog! Of course, if you let them in, then they are his buddy!
They love to work - retrieving anything is fun - it could be a rock, a stick, retrieving dummy, actual brd, whatever - they don't care. In the water, on the land, its all good...
They are also very loving and come up for lots of petting and cuddling - very very friendly and loyal too.
The bad:
The hair! Oh my god, the hair! It will find its way everywhere. It literally weaves itself into the couch and car seats - only my shop vac will pull it out! Spring is the worst, but they will shed non-stop.
They love to chew! Especially when young, everything makes a great chew toy. Rocky pretty much only chews on stuff we give him now (rawhides, pigs ears, etc...) but once in blue moon has an episode and eats something expensive - last tally was one remote, two cordless phone handsets, and a cell phone - oh, and a weakness for stuffed animals.
Can be a bit hyper and rambunctious. Will go away (some) as they age. Best bet is meeting the parents before you buy a pup. Generally is a pretty good indication of where your dog is headed.
Given all that, I still wouldn't get anything else besides a lab (OK, maybe a golden)
Give some thought to the humane societies too. Not every dog finds a good home, but there are some really nice dogs at these places. Rocky has been the best thing for us - and defintiely someone elses loss!
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 56
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
RP -
I freely admit that we were watching South Park. I'm not ashamed. I love that show, it's so funny. They just didn't make enough Towlie episodes.
We even have the Mr. Hanky Christmas CD. When my step sons (7 year old twins) come for the holidays, that's the first thing they ask to listen to. Actually, whenever they're over that's the first thing they want to listen to. I of course FF through the songs with curse language, but there are a bunch that are clean and funny. Then they go home singing "Mr. Hanky the Christmas Poo" and their mom calls, visibly upset... lol...
Jenn in OH
I freely admit that we were watching South Park. I'm not ashamed. I love that show, it's so funny. They just didn't make enough Towlie episodes.
We even have the Mr. Hanky Christmas CD. When my step sons (7 year old twins) come for the holidays, that's the first thing they ask to listen to. Actually, whenever they're over that's the first thing they want to listen to. I of course FF through the songs with curse language, but there are a bunch that are clean and funny. Then they go home singing "Mr. Hanky the Christmas Poo" and their mom calls, visibly upset... lol...
Jenn in OH
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 106
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From: Crystal Lake, IL
I'll throw in another vote for a Border Collie. My Mom has 2 and they're the best dogs we ever had. They're medium sized, smart and real good with kids. They aren't hyper like alot of the Labs and Golden retrievers and don't have a stubborn streak like the Rottys and Shepherds. If I can find some pics I'll post 'em up.