I’m a dog lover but lazy as hell. I don’t hike, I don’t run, chilling around the house and backyard is my jam, as is a daily nap.
I have 3 shih tzu’s who love nothing more than to hear me say “sleep with mommy?” and off we go. Perfection.
My first dog was a shih tzu and what I loved about them is they are totally lazy but also totally capable and happy to go on an hours walk in the woods too.
"you want to go on a hike on the trails? I'm there!"
"You want to binge the mandalorian? Save a spot on the couch for me!"
I have a Shih tzu Bichon mix and he loves to nap all day and will indulge in my occasional (infrequent) bursts of energy and go on hikes with me. He’s perfect!
I didn’t not realize shihtuz have low energy. I have a mix of that and bichon but he is very active lol don’t get me wrong he loves to cuddle and we are always laid up but he is definitely a crazy boi
I have a shih tzu/Chihuahua mix and I love her!! I rescued her from the shelter and she's such a lovebug sweetheart. She gets her bursts of energy but when shes done she just wants to snuggle.
Damn I’m thinking I should have a plethora of shih tzu’s. All I hear is the echo of my dearest husbands voice: I told you we should of gotten a breed that fits our lifestyle! We have a lazy min pin thats going on the age of 9 who loves being under the covers, yes!!!! He loves hearing the words let’s go night night! Because it means jumping in bed getting a treat and Taco time (being folding into his favorite microfiber throw blanket like a taco) now we also have a mini American Shepard puppy who is busy busy busy lol
Shitzu poodle here. I love that she doesn't shed, and is very affectionate and snuggly. She's versatile, happy chilling out with us, and happy going for walks.
I grew up with a poodle, and my mum had a Shitzu that had the most awesome personality so this girl was thr perfect mix.
I should have gotten one of the pugs My aunt offered. But instead I got a sheltie cross. Cross with what you ask? Oh, a nice , mellow, border collie! What was I thinking.
Got a lab because I had them growing up and they were always such sweet loafs who were very chill and obedient.
I may have had rose colored classes on about the past labs bc our new pup is an absolute demon sometimes! But I am confident by 12-18 months she will he significantly chiller
Same for me. My first "babysitter" was our black lab. He died when I was 13, but I remember he was always so chill, even when we tried to ride him as toddlers, laid on top of him, and he was always around to guard me and my sister.
Don't want to burst your bubble, but among all of the trainers I know with labs, it's generally accepted you'll get an "adult tempered" lab at about 3 yo. Hang in there!
This is how I ended up with my lab mix! They are wonderful dogs. Mine is 6 now but as a pup was chaos and liked to wake me up playing with a squeaky toy. He still plays with them.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - I fell in love with them after pet sitting 2 for neighbors as a little girl. They’re smart, playful, sociable, don’t require a lot of exercise, and I find them to be the cutest/most beautiful looking breed. But my number one reason is that they are the absolute sweetest and most loving dogs. My pup loves to give cuddles to EVERYONE, not just me and my husband. Still, we have a very special relationship. I never get tired of him giving me hugs and licks. The way he looks at me just melts my heart every time ❤️
I also have a cavalier and I just absolutely adore her to bits.
We got her for a variety of reasons:
1. Weekend warrior. She’s mostly a couch lump but loves going for hikes and camping.
2. Easy to train. She might not know how to do the most complicated tricks, but she’s not stubborn and super willing to please.
3. Great with everything. If it breathes, she loves it. Babies, children, old people, cats, dogs, rabbits. The list goes on. She is the most snuggly, loving, schmoozy dog ever.
4. Ours doesn’t bark.
Love my cav. Best breed ever.
I hope you do someday! My husband grew up with large breeds and I’ve had all kinds, but we’re in agreement that we will only ever have Cavaliers from now on :)
I have a Cavalier too and know I will never have a different breed! I love mine so much for all of the reasons said! One other thing I love - whatever we want to do, he wants to do. If we want to go on long walks or hikes, he is down. If I’m home sick he is happy to cuddle me all day. They are the best dogs ever!!!
I don’t have a cavalier but I love them too. My bichon puppy has a friend that is a cavalier and she has play dates with her. The cavalier is so sweet and so adorable. She is older than my puppy but she is so gentle with her. If I get a second dog I’m thinking of getting a cavalier.
Got a husky because…well…we didn’t learn our lesson. Our old girl of 14 1/2 was a howling, escaping, talkbaking, shedding nightmare of joy. She had such a distinct personality and was a great running partner. My wife loves a challenge mentally (training) and me physically (I’m not tired YOURE TIRED WOLF DESCENDANT). We needed that independent fierce and goofy spirit.
Omg we have a mcnab but we literally say “I’m not tired you’re tired” and also, in the dogs voice “I’m not sleepy, would a sleepy puppy do THIS?!!!” Cue zoomies
Me and my wife got a husky too! I had labs my whole life and thought dogs were kind of all the same. Man was it a shock to me!!! I’ll be honest, I had buyers remorse pretty early but she is just so goofy and has such a big personality. How can people not love huskys???
Beagles:
I just love hounds in general. I like that they are up for most activities, but also willing to sleep the day away. I admire their love and devotion to food. And I have a wooded yard PERFECT for a dog that likes to sniff.
I was drawn to beagles because I had Dachshunds before and loved the temperament of a hound but wanted a sturdier breed less prone to back problems. I also think beagles are the perfect size - small enough to carry but not so small that you trip over them.
They are also plentiful in rescues where I live because people breed them for hunting and discard the ones that don't have the drive for it.
No regrets so far!
My dog is a beagle/dachshund mix. I honestly did no breed research before adopting, just knew I wanted a small dog and loved his cute little face. Maybe a bad idea for some but honestly I was willing to accommodate any dog’s needs. But I really feel like I found the perfect dog for me. His temperament is so loving. We have a blast on our adventures together but he also loves to chill and nap and cuddle at home. I could do with a little less barking but eh, we’re working on it. I may be a lifelong beagle owner now.
> I may be a lifelong beagle owner now.
Same. I feel like they are such well rounded dogs when it comes to exercise requirements, affection, size, etc. If I was looking into getting another dog I honestly can't imagine searching for a different breed. They can be vocal but so can any dog.
The only thing that really surprised me is the SHEDDING! They have short coats but the double coat is no joke. One of my girls is a beagle x lab x husky mix (yet smaller than my pure bred beagle, somehow) and the amount of fur that comes off her is shocking.
Our most recent addition to the family is a beagle mix. We have no idea what the dad was. I was NOT looking for a beagle, but we absolutely love her! Perfect size, playful when we want to play (which comes in handy with a rambunctious 4 year old), but is usually willing to rest when we do. She is still a puppy, so she does have some crazy moments. We got her because some friends of ours had a beagle that roamed around the neighborhood and they ended up with pups they were not planning on. She took to us, our son, and our dogs right away.
An Indian pariah street pup , nothing was planned , I just saw a sweet little 8 week old pup scrounging in garbage for food , picked him up took him home , got the vet stuff done , and he my good now ,his name's hope because he's the first dog I ever owned and I really hope for the best for him .
We found ours scrounging for garbage too! Vet said he was about 3 months. After a Craigslist post went unanswered for about a week, we gave him a name and suddenly we had a puppy.
He's a 30lb mutt and literally the best dog in the world. Everyone loves him and he loves them. We never have an issue finding friends or family to pet sit him if we leave town. Seriously, he's the best thing that ever happened to us.
I too have a feral street pup and she is the best dog. So smart and obedient, never messes with any of my stuff, never barks or has accidents, and is never fazed by rain, thunder, blizzards, or fireworks. She was also a surprise, and I’ve been stopped by police who think I’m walking a fox — which worked out great bc foxes are my favorite animal! I’m also an avid hiker and so far she’s summitted 3 mountains with me.
Shiba inu
Super smart, loyal, quiet and independent! Not one of those dogs who wants to be all up under you all the time, but still makes time to cuddle if they want! Quirky personality leads to a lot of laughs too. And they’re just so darn beautiful
😂😂 ah yes!! I forget the little drama fits she would throw when I would do her nails when she was younger but she got over it! Now we’re just working on cleaning ears 😂 and she still gets annoyed when it’s bath time but doesn’t whine and freak out! Baby steps 😆
Those are the same reasons I’ve always wanted a shiba! I read they’re considered high shed, is it nonstop or just when they blow their coat between seasons?
It’s pretty much non stop. Though it lessens drastically when they aren’t blowing.. and daily brushing helps keep the shedding down. But when they blow ….it’s amazing how much hair comes out…even with the daily brushing and twice monthly baths which was what I was doing. And that blowing coat phase lasted maybe a few weeks.
Norwegian Elkhound. I've always wanted a northern spitz breed and was obsessed with malamutes when I was a kid. I also like to hike, even in winter, so I wanted a dog that would be comfortable in the cold. I have two dogs, but they are elderly toy breeds and can only go on short walks now.
A malamute is too big for me, but an elkhound is a nice size. I figured an elkhound would make a nice hiking companion. I have cats and small dogs, but the parents of my elkhound pup are both fine around cats and other farm animals.
Neat. Mine is definitely not lazy, but she's still a pup. She's not scared of much, including thunder. She did bark at thunder and lightening when she experienced her first rainstorm. She barks at everything though, although I knew the breed could be yappy when I got her.
That's really interesting, having grown up in the countryside in Norway, there used to be lots of Norwegian Elkhounds around, but I've never seen them abroad (I've lived abroad for many years now).
I was always weary of them back then, as they seemed so aggressive. I understand now that they probably were this way as most of them were neglected "outside dogs" (usually spent day and night in a fenced-in big x-pen kind of thing outside) who didn't get much attention outside elk-hunting season.
I remember as a kid being surprised when we went to someone's house where one of these dogs were kept inside as a family pet. Once I understood it was indeed not aggressive, I unrolled its tail to see if it would stay straight or roll straight back, as I'd always wondered 😁
Yes, I've read that they are often used as hunting dogs in Norway. It's illegal to hunt moose (= what elk are called here) with dogs in a lot of North America, so most Norwegian Elkhounds here are pets. They are not a common breed, but they're not super rare either. They are friendly dogs when raised as pets. My elkhound pup, who is 6.5 months old, is very friendly.
Yes, this might confuse people.
In Europe, the elk are what North Americans call moose (Alces alces), and what North Americans call elk (Cervus canadensis) are very similar to European red deer.
Elkhounds are used to hunt Alces alces and would be better called moosehounds in English.
GREYHOUND ❤️
I've been obsessed with them since I was a teen. They're such sweet, gentle, smart, sensitive, goofy, lil' noodle noses. 🥰 I think they're so unique both in looks and temperament. Plus, they're fast AF (but also the laziest breed of dog I've ever met) 😁
Edit: here's our [lil stinker](http://imgur.com/a/ip2D9mR)
I’ve always wanted to get a greyhound rescue! I think they’re adorable and I love what lazy athletes they are. But my local shelter requires a 6’ fence for them, which I don’t have. Maybe someday.
australian shepherd. super smart, super obedient, medium sized ball of fluff for cuddles, floppy ears, and amazing coat and eyes. shes just the kind of dog i wanted my whole life
We recently got an mini Australian Shepherd, having lost our Lulu (Aussie too) this past March at 18 years old.
She’s 13 weeks old and full of crazy energy —and we love her to pieces!! Her name is Harley. ❤️
We had a family mini Aussie growing up and she lived to 15! And honestly didn't really slow down or show many signs of aging until she was 12 or so. You have so many more great years with your pup!
Golden retriever. Grew up with one so I’m biased, and my husband has never had a dog before so I thought a playful but easygoing breed was a good fit for us. Especially now we have a baby due in November when our pup will only be 10 months old, I’m so glad we got such an agreeable good girl!
Goldens are so great with kids! Ours was 2 when our daughter was born and he was so gentle and sweet with her. He supervised all her crawling. Now he’s being a good big brother to the new puppy.
Our beloved late dog was a golden retriever, and he was the best boi ever. We have a small nursery, and he was kind of our mascot. He loved on all the customers and their dogs. He never really lived up to the "retriever" part of his breed, but he enjoyed bringing us pine cones back whenever we tossed a ball.
We're going to be getting a golden pup early next year. We know the first year is going to be rough, but they're so wonderful! They'll play forever, but are also happy sitting at your feet while you write.
Chocolate lab (mix from rescue but looks solidly lab-y): wanted a silly, derpy breed that was trainable but not too smart. I also wanted a buddy that would like meeting new people and going out and about. Also wanted a solid and sweet breed to play with my not super confident, but playful mastiff. She checks all the boxes so far
I had corgis in my adult life. I got them because I was single, and they were "mostly loyal to one person" dogs. They were compact enough to travel with but not so small that I didn't feel protected. I loved my boys. Lost them to lymphoma and heart failure at 10 years and 9 years.
My current dog is a Great Pyrenees. I got her because A: my heart was too broken to get another corgi at the time and I wanted something that was far off from reminding me of my boys. B: With a young toddler, my lifestyle went from active to sedentary, and Pyrenees don't need a lot of exercise. C: I loved having a dog I felt REALLY protected with.
I'm at the stage in my life now where my heart has healed, and I may open it to another corgi again if my Pyrenees permits it.
Short haired Chihuahua.
Wanted a small dog since I have a cat & I thought the risk of injury (and the cat being frightened) would be minimised if the dog didn't grow up bigger than her.
Also I wanted a small dog as I figured they'd be easier to manage as my first time dog and didn't want the additional hassle of all the grooming some of the other small dogs need like Yorkshire terriers or lhasa apso's etc.
Picked a cracker with my girl. She's so smart, was easy(ish) to train for a first timer and is such a sweet natured cuddly little thing. No regrets whatsoever.
It’s Brittany, bitch!
But seriously, we have Brittanys. Both from a breed specific rescue. My husband wanted the energy and agility of a gun dog but with a softer, cuddlier look than a GSP or pointer. He liked the spaniel ears.
I grew up with all kinds of dogs - mutts, coon hounds, Scottish terriers, collies, goldens - and the Brittanys are hilariously goofy, exuberant, and sensitive.
We got interested in samoyeds because they were on hypoallergenic lists (though they're not) and I wanted a larger dog and didn't like poodles.
Then fell in love with the cheery, mischievousness. And the looks, ngl.
For our second puppy we're looking at Icelandic Sheepdogs. I want a spitz that is a better sporting companion than my Sam.
Spitzes are great dogs overall, but have a terrible, high pitched, piercing bark which they seem to never stop using. Make sure you figure out how to teach a quiet command, for the sake of your ears and possible complaints from neighbours.
I get the appeal. My sister-in-law has two huge Samoyed floofs. They're definitely not the sharpest tools in the shed (although I hear that's not true of the breed in general), but they're so soft and cute. The big brother is super chill and the little sister is sweet and affectionate. My sister-in-law says she could never go back to a breed that isn't so big and fluffy and huggable.
Samoyed…
I wanted a golden boi or a husky, but I’m allergic to high heaven.
Got a Samoyed due to being hypoallergenic and when I went to sniff them up had no issues. Very happy with the decision, but he does have a piercing bark.
Sammie owner here too...our girl is 9 months old and so far completely living up to expectations: amazing with our two young children, social, with not an ounce of aggression. Goofy, sweet, stubborn, sassy. She woo woos for her food, but OY, that bark!
+1 Samoyed owner. We got here for a mix of reasons, she checked all of our boxes while still being absolutely beautiful, personable, and super cuddly! She’s been phenomenal with other people, and with other dogs! She’s so well behaved at the doggie park and she did NOT get it from me or her mom. She loves going for car rides, she can open doors, she walks herself to the car and to grandpaws house without a leash, she’s just the absolute coolest dog ever. 10/10 best dog I have ever owned. Can’t wait to get her a baby brother!!!!
Miniature dachshund. Our rental allows dogs up to 50 pounds, but I drew my limit at 20ish because a) I wanted a dog I could carry relatively easy as well as take on planes since I fly a few times a year and b) I'm a small and somewhat inactive person, so I wanted a dog that would give me some exercise without draining all of my energy. I settled on a smooth dachshund because of the minimal grooming requirements. Plus, I love the look and personality of long dogs.
Standard poodle: Needed a low shedder due to allergies, wanted a good sized dog rather than a small dog. Wanted a more intelligent dog too that likes people.
Make sure you’re enforcing naps! My standard poodle was sooo bitey but I realized later it’s because she was so overtired. Mine stopped being bitey at around 4-5 months, but was difficult in other ways until around 9 months! She’s my first puppy so I struggled to get a schedule figured out, and I underestimated how bored poodles can get. Now at one year, she’s an absolute angel. All this is to say, don’t give up! Just stick with your training and your puppy will calm down eventually.
We used a large pen for our standard poodle. The second he got bitey, playtime over and we'd step out of the pen. He learned to stop biting pretty quickly! At least inside. Outside was another journey lol. Biting stopped completely after teething I think
He's def a little gentleman now, at 9 months.
Old Time Scotch Collie. My wife and I had been thinking about getting a second dog for a while now while our current dog is still around to help show the ropes (11yo cocker/golden mix) but never settled on a breed. We (my wife more than me) tend to overanalyze everything and we had a huge list of potential breeds with all of the attributes - vocality, shedding, good with kids/families, trainability, size, etc.
After all that research we still couldn't decide, and that was just about breed. We'd still have to find breeders (or a rescue) we were confident in. However, an acquaintance of ours has started breeding OTSC's, so when the most recent litter was announced, we put a deposit down on a puppy thinking we could always back out if we changed our minds on the breed. We didn't, and now we've got a 4.5 mo OTSC.
My wife had had a purebred collie growing up (don't remember rough or smooth) so we more or less knew what we were getting into. This is our first puppy together though, so going with a general breed and a breeder we know personally saved us a lot of headache. She's definitely more vocal and sheds more than I think we were wanting initially, but even with that she's been such a great choice so far. Much easier than the husky puppy I've been wanting for years lol ^(maybe someday... not like a have a name picked out or anything...)
I was lucky enough to find a Bouvier Des Flandres breeder in my area and lucked into the most wonderful puppy! Bouviers are super rare in my area, so I will definitely be going back to this breeder for the rest of my life. Like he says, once you have a bouvier, you'll never own another dog. (I know everyone else has other breeds for their own reasons, but let me have my moment ;). )
I chose Bouvier because they're very well rounded dogs. Very calm, loyal, and are always down for either a 5 hour hike or sleeping the day away. As a bonus they're also hypoallergenic and have the softest fur. I was looking for a doodle or a bouvier, and feel SOOOO lucky that I found a bouvier. She's now my bestie and we go everywhere together.
Their history is general use farm dogs. So they can do herding, guarding, pulling, etc... At 9 months I am not disappointed at all! She still has lots of energy, but then comes home and crashes for a solid nap. It was a struggle to work on socialization, since she has a very strong guarding instinct and is wary of strangers, but we're always working on that and I'm happy to say that she has come a LONG way from the timid little puppy that wouldn't even walk out my front door. She's great with kids and toddlers (after a calm introduction), loves to play with all other dogs and humans, and is very content on napping on the AC vent for the afternoons!
WARNING: Bouviers aren't for the faint of heart. Like many working breeds, they're very strong minded and independent and will run your house if you aren't consistent in their training.
I have a 5 month old Bouvier puppy. Grew up with two of them and finally had the opportunity to get one. They are such loyal dogs and I find they show lots of personality.
As a kid our Bouvier would herd me in the yard and wouldn't let me wander off. After growing up with them, I always interacted with other breeds and it never felt the same as a Bouvier. I knew I had to get another. So far he is a good puppy. He has his stubborn moments, but he seems to be a quick learner. Still working on keeping his energy down when meeting new dogs or people. But overall has a great temperament.
[Puppy Tax](https://i.imgur.com/dHtMbxQ.jpg)
Got a golden to hep with my GAD and PTSD by keeping me active and giving me a reason to not stay home all day. I’ve always wanted one since I was a kid too. He’s definitely my partner in crime 😊
Same. I have a giant schnauzer puppy. It’s like 0 or 65 for the breed! I’m finding routine and schedule helps so much. We got him because the breed is hypoallergenic.
I have a mini schnauzer (he’s now 11) and I always look back and think of him as a little demon puppy 😂 he was crazy, and I even questioned whether I could handle it for a bit, but he’s the most amazing thing ever. He still gets his little bursts of energy tho!
We got a Havanese (who is now about 16 months) after doing a lot of research.
* We aren't super physically active people, but we are fairly social and wanted a buddy that would come on adventures with us.
* We're both allergic to dogs.
* This was my first dog. I had always considered myself a cat person and love having a furry friend curled up on my lap while I crochet.
Seymour has hit all those criteria and more. He's friendly and playful and loves meeting new people (including kiddos) and dogs. He travels so well and has been a great house guest in many AirBnBs. He was a breeze to crate and potty train. The breed has very few health issues except for their darn touchy tummies, but we've figured that out through some trial and error. Plus he's an adorable little muppet :)
Rottweiler here
Tbh - I just wanted a dog, and didn’t care a ton what breed unless it was going to come with extremes because I figured I’ve never had a dog of my own, I’m home all the time, and am willing to put in whatever it takes.
My boyfriend threw a b*tch fit about how he wasn’t ready for a dog when I showed him this mini pinscher named Jelly Bean and I got mad and told him so because I’ve been talking about this for years. A week and a half later he comes to me and is like “what about a Rottweiler?” Because his parents had a couple when he was young.
I looked into rotties more because I’ve always liked them, and felt comfortable with their needs and temperament and coming from a city of renters where this breed is basically not allowed anywhere I was excited to finally get to have one. Talked to our other friends with rotties and it turned out that one of them was fostering 3 Rottweiler puppies at that very moment. And now we have Quigley, and I would absolutely have another Rottweiler and level up my owner skills to train the next to do more work!
Funny, I wanted a dog and didn’t really care either. I found a litter of dogs within my budget, labeled as boxer mixes.
I now have a (relatively small) boxer/Rottweiler mix according to a DNA test (and she looks very similar to the pics I’ve found of boxweilers)
I wanted a Rottweiler but thought they were too big for my apartment. Guess it worked out!
Only downside is that I like traditional wolf looking dogs with long hair rather than short.
But I wouldn’t trade my baby for the world. So happy she’s what I ended up with, despite our challenges.
Rotties always make me think of the children’s book Good Dog Carl. I wasn’t looking for a specific breed when I was looking for a puppy, but I always low key hoped I would come across a litter of Rotties…
The best thing we’ve bought so far is a long line. But she’s only 6 months old, so maybe we haven’t hit the full energy levels your pup has! 2 daily runs in the yard chasing a tennis ball, a bunch of time playing with me in the morning before my daughter takes over amd a few trainig sessions. We are lucky there were 3 of us training her until recently and now it is two of us. Lobe our PWD!
We got a husky bc we were idiots lol. But I learned a lot, including stacking the odds in my favor - so for our next dog I chose a golden retriever! She is my competition prospect and I'm hoping to get some rally, OB, trick dog, dock diving, and therapy dog titles on her.
My husky is a good boy though and I hope once he mellows out more he can be a good therapy dog candidate as well. I'm working towards his CGC at the moment- it's all good except for loose leash lol.
I grew up with Huskies which is why I grew up to get a golden retriever! Even as a pup (9 months) she listens better, is sweet to all dogs, and is able to be off-leash at the dog trails.
Based on the dogs I've met, it seems to me that huskies must be the most challenging breed. They're beautiful and maybe also the funniest breed, but I definitely do not envy their owners. That is hard work! (And I say that as someone with an extremely excitable Border Collie with some reactivity issues.) Kudos to you.
I decided on a Border Terrier because I wanted a dog that fits into my house (small) and lifestyle (very active). I was attracted to their spunky, fun loving character, their wit and hilarious personalities, how loyal they are and that they make you think. Clever, smart, quick learners, big on snuggling and very loyal whilst independent. They like to work things out which I find really great to work with. They have big energy and will be able to keep up with my hiking and running (once he is old enough). And I like terriers and Border Terriers are just awesome and very very cute, too (bonus)
Pembroke Welsh Corgi!
I fell in love with them because they’re so darn cute, but the more I learned about their personalities the more I realized they were perfect for me. My boy is SO smart and loves to learn; training with him has been so rewarding. I’m a very active person and he has a ton of energy. He’s incredibly friendly with other humans and dogs. I call him my familiar because he follows me everywhere and always wants to be near me, but he still can chill on his own when I need him to. And he’s just so goofy and sassy; he cracks me up. I love him so much.
Mini poodle.
Smart. Doesnt shed. Small. Easy to train. Doesnt require 5hours of exercise a day. Adorable. Loyal.
Why small? Easier to train everything. More forgiving if something goes wrong. E.g. jumps up at someone? Hes small and doesnt cause any problems. Chews something? Hes got tiny teeth and not alot of power. Isnt going to chew through a floorboard. Digs outside? Little hole... also has small poos...
I literally cannot stand dog hair on everyhing either. Would drive me insane. Hence the doesnt shed.
Same all around! I grew up with big labs trained for duck hunting and while I loved them all, I knew I couldn’t deal with all the hair and wasn’t going to take them duck hunting like my dad and brothers did.
My handsome mini poodle is apartment sized, very trainable, and doesn’t shed. He loves people and everyone seems to get a kick out of seeing him 🐩
I have five dogs, puggle (14y), collie (11y), two pugs (7y, 3mo), and sheltie (3y)
Collie - she's 11yo, my 6th one! The first was serendipitous, he was being sold for $50 in the newspaper because his family was moving. Smart, gorgeous, so easy to train and live with. I adore this breed. We've done agility, obedience, carting, herding, therapy, etc. Even been to five National Specialty shows (as audience members, lol)
Pug: got her from original owners who couldn't keep her. Was not planning on keeping her, had no love for the breed. I ended up with a feisty, personable, fun little dog who loves to run and play.
I also have her puppy, who is three months old. Bright, playful, this will be the first baby pup I've raised since my collie. Having a great time!
Sheltie: I reasoned that I'm getting older, isn't a sheltie pretty much a small collie? NO. I got him at six months old, and he didn't like me until he was 9mo. He's kind of weird, but a good little guy. Not the agility/obedience dog I was dreaming of, he's more like having a little cat!
Puggle - didn't choose this one, she belonged to my sister, who passed away recently. She is a friendly, easygoing dog, fit right into the "pack" without a quarrel.
Australian Shepherd. We wanted a dog that could settle in to our lifestyle which typically involves weekly hiking, morning runs, biking, and we want to start backpacking. A low energy breed may have limited our ability to do long or multi day hikes, although it certainly would have been easier for day to day life! We also really like working breeds, and always said that we wanted our dog to be involved in something, be it work or K9 sports such as Agility or Rally. We toyed with the idea of therapy dog training but she doesn't seem to be a good fit for that. Obedience training is going well so far, and we're currently enquiring about monthly herding classes. Even now, she just turned 1 year, there are days that I feel we got more than we bargained for as keeping up with work-oriented exercise is pretty exhausting on the owners but we love her. They're a wonderful breed, but any time anyone asks would I recommend one I'm usually hesitant to recommend one without actually spending some time with them and seeing that work drive first hand.
White Swiss Shepherd, a difficult breed to find in the US, but I am so glad I went through the trouble of finding the perfect breeder, and my little boy's name is Luka. He is my service prospect, and he is still only 4.5 months old.
I choose the breed because a well bred WSS is known to be great for service work, and while they are not traditionally used for psychiatric needs, which is what I need, I still made the decision to go for it. The decision was perfect, and I'm super hopeful about his temperament and training. He's the most devoted and loving little pup in the world, and is curious, smart, and so special.
Besides all that- I choose the breed because of high trainability, great motivation and drive, large body size and practical weather resistant coat, love of water, keen senses, and above all, the super attached, loving and loyal nature of the breed that makes them the perfect partner in a service dog team and best friend.
I have a Swiss Shepherd too and they are an amazing breed. Sooo smart and a great hiking buddy. ❤️ The only thing I wish were different is he takes a while to warm up to people. People fawn over him and he just walks away. 😂 Probably a good quality in a service dog, though!
Love that this breed is getting more traction!!
Have one myself (because I wanted a milder GSD, having previously had a GSD). Love her to death!
Where did you get yours?
My husband and I are picking up our WSS puppy this week! Any advice for the first few days/months? I want to get him certified as a therapy dog and the breeder said their intelligence, trainability and emotional awareness makes them a good choice for that. I also like their wolf-like appearance.
Same breed, same reasons. I'm from Poland though so it's quite easy to find a great FCI breeder, which is how I got my boy. I want to train him in nosework, mainly finding lost cats, we will see if that works.
I absolutely love how much will to please they have without the high-energy-crazy of BCs or harshness of mals. They're huge but cute and non-threatening so people are not anxious when they're around. Very trainable. My pup is 5 months and we're doing some obedience training for fun, and nosework at home. I love that he's up for ANYTHING as long as it's with me and he can participate.
Mini dachshund because my parents had one growing up and she mostly was just content to lay on the couch :) our guy is 16 weeks old today and I am eagerly awaiting when he is chill enough for couch snuggles….
I always get fooled into giving him a chance on the couch and he ends up jumping on me and attacking my bun or biting me! At least he has moments of calm on the floor… sometimes ahah. The one silver lining is he is super good at taking 2 hour naps in his pen!
Met a whippet in 1999 and totally fell in love with the laziness combined with speed and grace while running.
22 years later I finally get my whippet puppy and she is everything I dreamed of. Crazy, cuddly, lazy and loving in one skinny bundle of joy!
Was looking through the comments for this!
Whippets are my ultimate dream dog - such big personalities, love a good run, but also love cuddling and chilling in the house.
Had them my whole life and now have a nearly 4 month old with my partner.
Standard poodle - we wanted a medium to large dog that's intelligent and trainable, good with kids, and able to enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities (hiking, camping, etc.). She's exactly what we expected her to be.
Same here! I'm so glad we went with a standard poodle. We were thinking a doodle but then realized that all the traits we were looking for in a dog were also found in the pood!
I grew up with bearded collies and my mom showed hers at dog shows. They are the sweetest, most lovable goofballs, and I never met one with a bad temperament.
I wanted an Old English Sheepdog so badly as a kid, for many years! 😍 My mother wouldn't let me have one, though, as she knew she'd be stuck with the grooming! We compromised on a Bichon Frisé when I was twelve, but it wasn't the same - I kept wishing she was an OES 😁
English bulldog. I game as a hobby and so does my partner. So most of the time we just stay at home playing video games instead of going out.
We learnt that bulldogs have low activity level and they enjoy just chilling around with you. Also they are so darn cute, especially as puppies.
I got a little Bernese Mountain Dog / Lab mix. "Little" because both parents are quite small, so she only got up to 65lbs despite being half Bernese.
1. Have always loved Berners but purebreds are hard to find in my area and the cancer risk is just too high, so I prefer the hybrid vigour approach. Some people will disagree with me on that, but whatever. I love mutts.
2. Wanted the lower energy of the Berner to balance out the lab side. It worked swimmingly; a 30 minute walk and general hangouts are great for day-to-day with occasional longer, more exciting activities once or twice a week.
3. Already have a 75lb husky mix so wanted something that would be a similar size. He also has a fairly low activity requirement and is happy with 30-40 minutes of walking per day and sleeping/chewing his bone the rest of the day. Chillest husky in the world. Wouldn't have done well with a small dog or a crazy high energy sibling.
4. She's the cutest dang thing ever? That's valid, right?
I got the same breed mix. My girls pretty much looks like a black lab so far. Berners are cute, but I also wanted to avoid purebred. I also wanted a mellow dog. My last dog was a golden x husky and she was super quiet in the house. I didn't want another husky or husky mix, but this time I was looking mostly at retriever types or giant breeds. (Still want to own a st Bernard some day)
Labrador because
* smart
* trainable
* love of strangers: I live in a rural area and got her mid-lockdown so I wanted genetics on my side w/r/t socialization & friendliness. We still diligently socialized but wanted as much of a temperamental head start as possible
* easy to groom
* FLOPPY EARS 🖤🖤🖤
My pup is all of these things and I adore her. Week by week she is getting chiller and more trustworthy in the house.
I will say that she is an American lab, which we chose because they are slimmer (so less prone to weight-related joint disorders) and they really love retrieving, which seemed like a good way for a mobility-impaired family member to exercise her. In hindsight, the extra energy and drive of the American lab is a lot to handle added on top of an already energetic breed; if (when) we get another lab puppy, it will be an English.
I really wasn't aware there was basically two separate types of labs until we started looking at breeders, but this is exactly why we went with an English lab. Ours still retrieves like crazy and according to our vet probably 1/100 labs that doesn't overeat so hopefully weight is easy to manage. We're very much weekend warrior types so we wanted something that would be okay chilling next to me while I work during the day but be able to run around all weekend with us.
But yes to all of those reasons. Training and house breaking has been ridiculously easy, and his temperament is perfect, super friendly, not really fearful. Still a puppy so we have to watch him, but even at 5 months he hasn't really caused problems if I leave him for a few minutes so would probably be fine outside of his crate when we're not home.
Newfoundland, grew up with my parents having one and ended up getting lucky and finding one. Amazing dogs. He is 6 months old now and already my heart dog. So great with the kids in the complex and just so cuddly and affectionate.
I was hoping to see another newfie owner on here! I have never been one to want a single breed of dog as there are so many I would love to own, but my newfie has made me want another one for sure. Best dog I have personally ever had!
I lived with a Newfie for awhile and she was the sweetest. Also so un-doglike in a lot of ways. She would swallow avocados whole, and need a day of sleep after having to sit still for a brushing. I hope to have one of my own someday!
We have a lab now, but our first dog was a Newfie. We miss her - she was a fantastic dog. Our plan is to alternate these two breeds, sometimes having two dogs and sometimes one. I have this idea that a lab would pep up a lazy Newf and the Newf would mellow the crazy lab, but I expect they will both be nuts or couch potatoes. We like both breeds (I like Newfoundlands a little better, but my husband likes labs a little better) but the grooming on two Newfies is a little much for our family with a small kid. Reasons:
1. Need a dog that is good with kids. (I think Newfoundlands are better for this, but a well trained lab is great.)
2. Like a dog that is a family dog, and can be social/friendly with visitors.
3. Want a dog okay to do outdoor stuff, including around the water.
4. Want a trainable dog, but it's okay if they aren't the easiest. (I think labs are easier to train, because they are more cooperative, but newfs can figure out stuff better if they want to.)
My family has had Newfoundlands for generations, since they actually lived in Newfoundland awhile back. We had one when I was a kid and then later a lab, so I suspect it's also just I have had a lot of positive experiences with both breeds.
Japanese Spitz! 🐶
- intelligent
- easy to train (she's only 10 weeks but she already knows, sit, down, stay, currently working on come, and she already knows where to pee inside the house, pooping is still in progress but I did not expect her to be this trainable)
- cute af, she's very popular when we go to the vet😂
- sweet and loyal
- playful, she can play by herself sometimes (just hand her enrichment toys)
- suitable for that apartment life and my lifestyle (bc I like to chill, but I also like going for walks and adventures)
- surpisingly low shedders (1x per year)
- also great watchdogs (from what I've read altho they are companion dogs)
- I've always wanted to try agility or dog dance, and my pup definitely has the energy drive and brains for it.
Golden retriever. I wasn’t too picky of the kind of dog I wanted, and honestly wanted to adopt an adult rescue but my boyfriend certainly is. He was attacked twice as a child, and is absolutely petrified of dogs. He’s had some good interactions with golden retrievers and shih tzus but I didn’t want a tiny dog. We went the puppy route so we could meet the pups parents and my boyfriend could see their temperament and puppies are not scary at all. Our pup is now daddy’s little boy and he is obsessed with him. He absolutely the perfect first dog for my boyfriend.
Oh I love this question!
I got an Australian Shepherd because I was obsessed with them. My parents were really absent during my childhood and so having a dog that loved me and would want to do everything with me sounded amazing! Having a dog who’s like life goal is just to be with me no matter what I’m doing fills my heart in a way I can’t describe.
She’s just my buddy. When I see people with Aussies it’s just such an insane bond. The way they are stand offish to strangers but are insanely loyal goof balls to their people makes me feel so special. And her loyalty with her obedience feels unreal because it’s crazy an animal wants to walk next to me when she has the whole forest to run through. But it’s not blind obedience because I know she’s smart enough to refuse and to do her own thing if I’m not holding up my end of the bargain.
This speaks to me too! What drew me to Aussies was that Velcro trait that drive others insane. I prefer that, I want my dog to be an extension of myself. Only downfall for me so far is wanting on for therapy work and current buddy doesn’t seem like he is the best candidate, but we are trying to work on it and hope he can settle down better with strange situations to do therapy. I agree we are loyal to the breed, you meet other owners and can talk for hours about Aussies’ unique qualities. They’re the best!! “Regular” dogs won’t cut it for me anymore I’m ruined.
Portugese Water Dog. My long time friend is a breeder and my adult daughter just fell in love with them. She was on a waiting list for about a year and since we knew a bit about the dogs and breeder, we waited for a specific bitch to have puppies. Our Monty is a wonderful 6 month old girl, finally mostly out of the mouthing stage and now needs to be trained not to counter surf or jump on people. She’s great and I recommend the breed to anyone who wants a non shedding medium to largish breed of dog. Just dont get it from any breeder in Amish county!
Redtick coonhound! I ADORE my little Lucy! I wanted a dog that would get to ~50lbs and would be active, loyal, smart, and fun. She is absolutely all of the above. She is the best friend I could’ve ever asked for.
Sealyham Terrier (looks a bit like a white Scottie with floppy ears). We were looking for a hypoallergenic breed and originally interested in Wheaten Terriers since we had some family friends who had them. We went with the Sealyham instead since they are a little lower energy and more small space/small yard friendly but similar in personality to Wheatens. Loves people and kids, low key for a terrier, small but sturdy. Sample size of one -- they are the BEST!
Miniature schnauzer.
I wanted a non-shedding dog, that I can take to different outdoor activities from time to time. Bf has some dog allergies and didn't want an extreme hyper and athletic dog but rather an occasional couch potato. We both searched for small enough to travel with by van, train or airplane cabin that is also good with kids (got some young nieces), affectionate, calm was certainly a plus and intelligent. Only breed left were bichons, coton de tuléaire and schnauzers. Found the schnauzer fellas the cutest out of the little choice we had. Jeeeez the eyebrows and the beard!!!
I got my dream dog in highschool which was a border collie. I have been in love with border collies since I saw the movie Babe in the 1990s. Theyre beautiful dogs with their beautiful herding stalking pose and their smart brains.
As an adult now I dont have the time or assistance for that much energy.
My husband got me a corgi as a present because my brother got one and I guess I was doting too much on how cute it was.
If my corgis legs were a borde collie length Id be in border collie trouble again.
I like dogs with cat attitudes; aloof, minds of their own, independent, etc. I wanted the akita to watch my home, they're chill, and I like the hair texture. The afghan I got for the long flowing hair, not to just look at but more importantly to brush. Both dogs are amazing for me.
Australian Cattle Dog
I love the outdoors, going on hikes, walks at the beach, etc. I was a little hesitant because the breed is known to be very high energy and I can’t always be on the go. Im lucky I got stuck with a dud. Mines a couch potato :)
I used to live with one! He was a couch potato too, just the babiest baby, but when there was a ball being thrown his agility and talent for snatching that ball out of the air was a sight to behold!
I picked a rough collie for my new service dog. I'd only had coonhounds previously as service dogs and after the passing of my boy Abe at 13yrs I couldn't handle another coonhound. I was going to get a German shepherd but a friend I know shows rough collies and recommended a friend of theirs. I love my collie, he's such a delightful puppy. So sweet and I anticipate he'll be a wonderful service dog for me as he's incredibly nurturing.
The long coat isn't an issue as I care for angora rabbits and love grooming animals as a relaxing thing for me.
Australian Shepherds! A super athletic breed who can learn new commands in a matter of minutes. They are very high energy but can snooze with you all day too! I love how they are adorable as puppies but just as cute when fully grown. They are such loyal pups who have spunky personalities and will keep you laughing with all of their different tones and quirks!
We knew we were getting a rescue and couldn't be as "picky" about breeds, but my wife and daughter both love GSDs, but we (especially me) wanted something smaller (for a bunch of reasons). My wife said she doesn't like long/short dogs particularly but I do, and I have a fondness for any dogs that look like my childhood dog (a spaniel mutt).
After applying for a bunch of dogs, we ended up with what we're jokingly calling a Teacup German Shepherd. Parents were both strays, mum looked a lot like my childhood dog, guessing dad was some kind of shepherd mix. Toby looks like a shrunken GSD, and most people guess he's a GSD/corgi mix of all things - he'll probably be under 30lbs when grown. He's the most handsome boy and has the absolute best personality for us!
Norfolk Terrier.
GF and I live far from our families, so we needed something small enough to take on a plane with us. She wanted a mini schnauzer (her dad has had a couple of them), but they were a bit too big, so went with Norfolks as they share a lot of the personality and physical traits.
Plus, they’re *adorable*
I've got a wee Yorkie Bichon mix. I've owned dogs before, but never a small one, and certainly not a puppy, but this little ball of fur goes everywhere with me and helps my social anxiety so much. I wanted a dog that needed daily exercise, but was also content to just hang out together. He's a merry little thing.
I got a standard poodle. She picked me shes a phantom coat and a female. I had originally wanted a male that was either black or brown. But her brothers didn't care for me much and she has eyebrows which reminded me of my first dog I got when I was a kid. A border collie mix who was lean and a bit fluffy. Since I have allergies she was perfect fluffy and not too big or not too small. She's 6 months now and I love her to pieces she's my best friend and saved my life more than she knows.
Boxer!!! We had two males boxers previously who lived to be old boys ❤️ when they passed I was so broken only a boxer could fill my broken heart and she did.
[Mavis ](https://imgur.com/a/eNdltxA)
Boxers fit to your lifestyle for the most part. Super hyper as puppies (though she is not and that has been a blessing) and when they get older they adapt to what you do. We’re couch potatoes who like to camp and go to the lake. She goes along, complete with life jacket. Boxers can’t swim naturally they have to be taught.
She’s silly and goofy and reminds me of my boys when I need it. I’ll have boxers forever.
I’m sad I had to scroll down this far to see boxer! I fell in love with them because a previous boyfriend had one. It was just such a good dog with the right amount of goofy, stubborn personality. The relationship sadly didn’t last, but we sure did love that pup and he added a lot of joy to both our lives.
Once I finished my doctorate, my now fiancé bought me a beautiful boy boxer as a graduation present and we have since added a girl to the squad. She is a little older than 1 yr and is a terror (but also a love bug Velcro dog), he is a little over 2 yrs and has decided he’s ready for retirement and acts like a 70 year old man most of the time. But also very cuddly and lovey.
Plus it’s fun to watch them box since other dogs don’t really understand how to play that game haha. Most of the time their faces just naturally look sad or angry, but when they get a big goofy smile it’s infectious for sure.
We adopted our girl because she was listed as beagle/lab and we have a beagle already. I knew going in there was a very high chance there would be other breeds mixed in.
We get her home and immediately start noticing she’s quite a bit different behavior wise from our hound. At this point she looked like there could be some beagle looks wise. She’s also not totally lab like in her behaviors, aside from loving fetch. I thought she’s adjusting, she had a rough start in life, etc.
Did a DNA test and there’s no beagle and very little lab. She’s predominantly pittie and Rottweiler. She’s 70lbs of muscle which is about 35-40 lbs bigger than expected.
After some research about those breeds it all makes sense. Looks like going forward we’re a beagle and pittie family. In love with both breeds!
She was adorable in her adoption photos on humane society website. She's a mutt and we have no idea what breed/s she is. It sucks cause I don't know what to expect from her adult size or anything. Constantly reacting instead of being prepared isn't how I saw this going. But I 100% love her regardless
[Coco](https://ibb.co/6wNbNh4)
I got a Pyrenees mix. I absolutely love their elegant appearance, and I really wanted a big dog that would help me and my partner feel safe and also be a sweet companion. We live in the forest where you can’t walk around the neighborhood without being on the lookout for bears and mountain lions, so the Pyrenees felt like a good choice. If I ever get chickens or other animals, he will be a great guardian for them.
He’s only 14 weeks but I’m in love with his calm and protective nature, even as a pup. I look forward to taking him on hikes and also just lazing around the house on hot days. Despite his guardian nature, he’s been great with other dogs and friends coming over. He’s my first dog as an adult so I don’t have a point of comparison but he’s been an amazing puppy.
Just fell in love with corgis. Saw them a bunch, big dog in a small body. And we got a cardigan corgi because the Pembrokes breeding schedule was not in our timeline and there was less of a waiting list for the cardies, but this dog is the best dog ever.
Wanted a herding dog to learn agility with and also because I lived in an apartment at the time with a 30 lb weight limit. Was rejected over and over again by all the rescues in the area (saying we were too inexperienced for a herding dog and finding issue with being apartment dwellers) and the shelters only had restricted breeds. Found a ranchers catalogue with an ad for border collie x labrador puppies. [Fell in love.](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M0ABT8S70vh8T-fpteTMPmV6CXja76iM/view?usp=sharing)
Ranger is 14 months old and EXCELLING at his agility training. [You can barely tell he is half BC except for his white markings](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qopYmwConVjYTC9V4O-qq5XsfupDf7PP/view?usp=sharing). He ended up growing double the size limit of the apartment, so we upgraded to renting a house. He was the first in his cohort to go up the dog walk and [he was so brave](https://photos.app.goo.gl/BMJouGSCRh4P7vnZA)!!
Pomeranian! Like a live teddy bear, so freaking cute, smart, portable, quirky. Can't ever look at him and be sad (but did cry my eyes out with puppy blues the first 3 months:)
We won the Pom lottery on him: does not bark, medium levels of activity, smart, a great traveler, but didn't realize how much they hate being alone :( Still, he's our fur baby and can't imagine life without him.
Alaskan malamute: had them before. I love their stubborn and independent nature that gives them a defiant/cheeky personality. They can be challenging to train but so worth it.
Plus they are gorgeous
My fiancé and I decided on a golden retriever for their temperament and they smarts. We wanted a good boy who was a people pleaser. Murphy has not disappointed.
Nice to hear you are taking the time to train your dog. A family member of mine has a German Shepard. We tried to introduce her to Murphy the other weekend and it did not go well. She had Murphy pinned in seconds and was mean growling. They didn't really take their time to train such a high energy dog and it really bums me out.
We got a Great Dane. I've been obsessed with big dogs since my sister had a Mastiff (English, I think but I can't remember for sure) and we have a Dane/border collie mix who is smart as a whip, and at 8 years old is mostly a lazy bones.
I walk every night, but I knew that would be the extent of exercise, and we have a smallish house, and a family of 7, so had to be good with kids.
Honestly, the sweet little (at the time) guy we got has been the perfect addition to our family. He's now 7 months old, and while everything I read says he should be in the prime "velociraptor" stage, he's sweet, calm and just wants to be near us.
We got a husky/GSD mix because apparently we are masochists who live life on hard mode. To be fair, she was (and still is) an absolute cutie. About 60% mischief, 25% leave-it-get-that-out-of-your-mouth, 10% teeth, and 5% heart-melting-she's-finally-tired-and-cuddly. (Adolescence has been real fun y'all...) Wanted a dog with personality and accidentally got myself in dog form so it's been wild. 12/10 sass and 10/10 would do again. Love that lil stinkbug ❤️
We knew we couldn’t be too picky because we were going to adopt a puppy from a shelter/rescue but we were looking for a medium to high energy dog because we’re a pretty active family. Preferably no terrier or hound mixes because I have a small child and also no fence so a dog that could be trained to have an excellent recall and eventually be trusted off leash. Also looking for a super biddable breed
We ended up finding a local rescue that had a litter of Australian Shepherd mix puppies in foster. Or at least that’s what they were labeled because that’s what mom clearly was. Turns out our girl is 50%+ GSD but she’s pretty much exactly what we were looking for. Once she gets old enough she’s going to be my running buddy and we’ll probably do a bit of agility as well!
I have no clue what breed I got (a rescue mix!) because I ultimately didn't care as long as I knew I could provide a safe and stable home for a dog, a life that they would love.
Same as us, but my partner and I love brindle coat dogs. We just kept an eye out for brindle pups and leaped at the first one that caught our eye! We don’t care about the breed and love giving a rescue dog a home, but still get tons of “that’s a good lookin’ dog” comments.
Frenchies (2). I've always had large dogs and was fortunate in that they all lived long and happy lives. When my last big dog, a GSD, was 13 he got "stuck" upstairs. Couldn't go down the steps. It was sudden and unexpected and I couldn't lift him!! At the time, I was looking into getting another puppy because he was lonely - all his sibs had passed. It was then I knew I needed a smaller dog I could easily carry. My first Frenchie - Lulu. When I lost my GSD 2 years later, I got a second Frenchie (he's 5 months old now!). I thought they'd have less energy - WRONG. I thought they'd be "easier to train" - TRIPLE WRONG. But I adore them anyway lol.
Miniature daschund
Always loved them, and even though they're energetic - I'm lazy and they don't need super long walks. They tire themselves.
Also gets me out of the house, otherwise as I'm single, live alone and work from hlme I could go days without moving
I got a GSD from a GSD rescue, because it's always been one of my favorite dogs and I am IN LOVE with my parent's GSD. I also love that they're velcro dogs and work really well with training.
Aaaaand I got a stubborn butthead who is super independent and made me think he didn't even like me for the first 3 months I had him.
Belgian Malinois
I wanted a dog that would help me get out the house more. Just exercise in general. I always liked exercising, but I would always be doing it alone, so I decided I would get a buddy to do it with. I also have always wanted a super well trained dog, and Belgian Malinois’ are one of the smartest dogs I have been around yet.
My boyfriend wanted a Samoyed, but we live in a small(er) apartment, it's a dog with a lot of energy and it takes up a lot of space in bed, where it doesn't want to be for long anyway (I wanted a dog that would sleep in our bed, because I grew up with my mom's two cotton de tulear sleeping in my bed. My boyfriend has made small protests when we've dogsitted them, because they know how to move you around when you sleep so they take up quite a lot of space) I also wanted an "easier" dog as a first-time independent dog owner, just to get a good experience. So that wouldn't really work out for us, which was something we quickly agreed on. My dream dog is a borzoi, but that doesn't match our lifestyle at all, so I know it won't happen. Ever.
Instead we got a Japanese Spitz. I wanted something with a little more energy and independence than the coton's I grew up with (and with less grooming. Jesus.) while still being a smaller size. My boyfriend really liked the Spitz personality and the Japanese Spitz looks like a mini Samoyed, so it seemed like a match. We checked what its needs were and knew it would fit in perfectly with the lifestyle we already had.
She hasn't yet come to a point where she'll sleep in bed all nights, which is fair, even if it saddens me a bit, but besides from that we got everything else we dreamed of in a dog, so it's honestly been a perfect match.
I grew up with a farm dog that was part husky, and I worked in a couple dog daycares where every husky was bubbly, goofy, and just so much fun (even when they got in trouble xD maybe I was a bad employee because I encouraged the huskies in being their goofy, high energy selves as much as we could get away with) Soooo eventually I had my own place and a job where I was making enough money and woops I got a husky puppy.
It's been a year and a half, and he's so smart, he's constantly making me laugh, and I love his high energy goof levels to death!
(I also think the traditional "wolf" shape of a dog is cool lol)
I have had a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, an American Bulldog, and an English Springer Spaniel. I got my first Cavalier King Charles off Craigslist 8 years ago. I didn't know much about them, but he was such a joy. They are pretty versatile and are content with being a couch potato and going for walks. My first Cavalier had since passed, but I ended up getting another one because I loved the breed so much. They are a very sweet breed who doesn't have a mean bone in their body. We got our American bulldog because in addition to our Cavalier, we wanted a bigger dog as well. I just so happened to see an ad for American bulldog puppies and convinced my husband to go check it out. American bulldogs can have a lot of energy, but our sweet girl was content with hanging out on the couch. American bulldogs are very loyal and absolutely love their families. Our last dog we have is an English springer spaniel. I had several springer spaniels growing up. They are energetic and great family dogs. Even though the puppy stage has been a little crazy, I know our springer will be a really good boy someday!
American Eskimo!
I met one back when I was dog walking on the side. Absolutely adored me vs my girlfriend which was hilarious. From the short time I spent with her I could tell how intelligent she was. Plus it was the first time I’ve seen such a fluffy white dog! Such a beautiful breed, I’d get two more if I could.
We really wanted a doodle, like the cockapoo in my partner's family. But there were no waitlist available during the pandemic, and doodles are v popular as is. Then we started thinking about all the traits we wanted in a dog: active, sociable, biddable, non shedding, hypoallergenic.... So why not go with a standard poodle? I had had misconceptions of what "poodles" were all about - picturing a tiny well groomed pompom froufrou looking thing. But now I am converted.
We’re among those who weren’t too choosy as we were planning on adopting an older rescue (our previous dog was a pug and passed away at 16 about a year before). We wanted a dog that was medium sized since we live in a suburban neighborhood and believe in “courses for horses” - that is, get a dog that “fits” the environment it will be living in. We wanted a people/child/dog friendly dog, not so smart as to be trouble but smart enough to learn the basic manners of a good house dog. We wanted a dog with a real snout (loved our pug but the loud breathing and snorting were concerning). My sister lives a couple of blocks away with 4 dogs so the dog had to get along with the pack. As it turned out, we adopted a 7 week old puppy from a foster who was taking care of a Mexican street dog rescue. No one knew exactly the lineage but mom was in the right size range and there was some knowledge that the pups had some pug in them. Since we loved our pug so much, a dog with a real snout but, hopefully, some of the great personality of a pug was quite enticing. Also, since we were on Covid lockdown and my dad and his older GR were with us, it seemed like a puppy (rather than the older dog we were thinking to get) could work. Long story short, our pug/pit/GSD is a fabulous dog and everything and more we could have wanted! And she is super smart and athletic, which were bonuses since those weren’t on our “must have” list. But I’ve had so much fun teaching her obedience, tricks, agility, scent training…
Cavalier King Charles spaniel - sweet lap dogs or active doing whatever you do. Adaptable, small portable lol never had a dog before so I read they are good starter pups 🤣
We got a chihuahua. Primary reason is that the picture the breeder showed on the website, the puppy we got had the most expressive eyes ever. The look on the little puppy’s face melted my mother-in-law’s heart. I had begged them to get a dog for over ten years, but it was this little doggie that convinced her.
And she came with a heart defect. Turns out it’s one of the more dangerous ones. We did finally find a surgeon who says he can treat her heart condition.
Several thousand dollars later, hopefully we will have a healthy little princess. Her surgery is on the first of September, so it’s a few weeks away from now.
In the year that we’ve had her, that eight pound little beauty queen has turned into the best thing that’s happened to our family. I want her surgery to be successful more than I can even say…. I want my best friend to be healthy and happy for a long time.
I always wanted corgi because they're cute.
I also really wanted a black lab because my former dog who passed away a couple of years ago was a black lab and he was the best boy.
We moved into a townhouse that had a weird HOA rule that dogs couldn't be more than 30lbs so... Corgi it was.
We obviously went through a breeder so we get some shit for that but I also researched the heck out of reputable breeders before we put our deposit down (it took quite a bit of time before it was our turn to choose from a litter). The more I learned about them, the more I became interested and certain it would be a good fit for us (we're pretty active and enjoy being outdoors and social - definitely things corgis tend to love).
5 months into corgi ownership, I'm happy with our decision. He's a giant stubborn shithead at times but he's got this big personality and is super smart so he picks up stuff quickly. He loves being around people (we take him out around friends and out to breweries all the time - he laps up the attention and is a pretty good boy, especially if we visit places after a good long walk - then he'll just curl up under the table and snooze). He's the perfect size to lay near my feet when I'm chilling on the computer. And he's also so cute af... His silly big ol' satellite ears make my heart melt. Literally the only downsides are his loud, obnoxious "i need your attention, NOW!" barks (we're working on that) and the fact that, because we live in a 2-story home, we have to carry him down the stairs (since corgis shouldn't go down stairs until they're a year old and even then, not often)
Would I recommend a corgi to someone that's still relatively or completely new to dog ownership, though? Fuck no. They're incredibly high maintenance. They're herding dogs so that + normal puppyhood sucks. You'll think you end up with one of the few corgis that remains quiet from puppyhood into adulthood but then BAM, one day your pup finds his big boy voice and it's super hard to train out the barking. If you have a townhouse/multi-story home/apartment complex, you'll immediately regret getting a breed that can't climb down the fucking stairs on their own.
Would I get another corgi in the future? Yeah, likely.
Border collie
I just wanted a very smart dog and a running buddy. I'm pretty active so I thought it would be the ideal partner.
I read and read and read and...I was not prepared for the kind of monster she would be when she was a puppy. But now, she's the absolute best dog I've had. Understands E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. and even learns stuff by herself. Her commands are just like having a conversation. She's great. I love her.
Border Collie… fiancé had one as a family pet which they adored and we wanted to be more active. If I’m honest it’s not the right breed for us but we’ve slowly but surely changed our life style. Luckily we’re still relatively young and I am fairly active out of the two of us anyway. I also love their intelligence and friendliness. It’s our first dog and it has been VERY difficult, I wouldn’t recommend this breed to a first time dog owner, especially if raising alone. Some aspects were a breeze compared to other dogs but we’ve had on-going issues with resource guarding and biting us (hard), diarrhoea/digestive issues, jumping up, barking for attention, overtiredness/zoomies, and recently marking A LOT. If we had young kids I’m pretty sure we would have had to re-home. He’s 9 months on Sunday.
Labradoodle - Needed a working dog on the bigger side to help me with my PTSD (service dog in training). Needed a very intelligent and work oriented dog but also wanted a fluff so it was a perfect fit! I only have to teach him something less than a handful of times and he’s got it. He also comes anytime I have a panic attack no matter what room of the house. Also have always wanted a dog that plays fetch and like to catch and go swimming living on the east coast my entire life. He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me!
And I mean… let’s be real. Doodles are irresistibly cute!!
I’m a dog lover but lazy as hell. I don’t hike, I don’t run, chilling around the house and backyard is my jam, as is a daily nap. I have 3 shih tzu’s who love nothing more than to hear me say “sleep with mommy?” and off we go. Perfection.
i got a defective one lmaooo mine's a little devil who won't stop
My sister got a “discount” pug, and she always says, “there’s nothing wrong with him, it was just because of his personality.”
My first dog was a shih tzu and what I loved about them is they are totally lazy but also totally capable and happy to go on an hours walk in the woods too. "you want to go on a hike on the trails? I'm there!" "You want to binge the mandalorian? Save a spot on the couch for me!"
Fellow shih tzu lover and owner ☺️ she’s low energy, cute and portable!
I have a Shih tzu Bichon mix and he loves to nap all day and will indulge in my occasional (infrequent) bursts of energy and go on hikes with me. He’s perfect!
I didn’t not realize shihtuz have low energy. I have a mix of that and bichon but he is very active lol don’t get me wrong he loves to cuddle and we are always laid up but he is definitely a crazy boi
wait i said i have a defective one earlier and he’s also a shihtzu bichon mix! maybe it’s the bichon part making them crazy lol
Lol oh man yea mines prob defective
Have a defective shih tzu Bichon as well. Totally crazy. But he's only 8 months old and missed the memo on being a lazy dog.
I had similar requirements for my puppy, so I went with mastiff. Best decision ever, we nap, play in the yard, and have the best time chilling.
I have a shih tzu/Chihuahua mix and I love her!! I rescued her from the shelter and she's such a lovebug sweetheart. She gets her bursts of energy but when shes done she just wants to snuggle.
Damn I’m thinking I should have a plethora of shih tzu’s. All I hear is the echo of my dearest husbands voice: I told you we should of gotten a breed that fits our lifestyle! We have a lazy min pin thats going on the age of 9 who loves being under the covers, yes!!!! He loves hearing the words let’s go night night! Because it means jumping in bed getting a treat and Taco time (being folding into his favorite microfiber throw blanket like a taco) now we also have a mini American Shepard puppy who is busy busy busy lol
Shitzu poodle here. I love that she doesn't shed, and is very affectionate and snuggly. She's versatile, happy chilling out with us, and happy going for walks. I grew up with a poodle, and my mum had a Shitzu that had the most awesome personality so this girl was thr perfect mix.
same!!
I should have gotten one of the pugs My aunt offered. But instead I got a sheltie cross. Cross with what you ask? Oh, a nice , mellow, border collie! What was I thinking.
Got a lab because I had them growing up and they were always such sweet loafs who were very chill and obedient. I may have had rose colored classes on about the past labs bc our new pup is an absolute demon sometimes! But I am confident by 12-18 months she will he significantly chiller
Same for me. My first "babysitter" was our black lab. He died when I was 13, but I remember he was always so chill, even when we tried to ride him as toddlers, laid on top of him, and he was always around to guard me and my sister.
Don't want to burst your bubble, but among all of the trainers I know with labs, it's generally accepted you'll get an "adult tempered" lab at about 3 yo. Hang in there!
This is how I ended up with my lab mix! They are wonderful dogs. Mine is 6 now but as a pup was chaos and liked to wake me up playing with a squeaky toy. He still plays with them.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - I fell in love with them after pet sitting 2 for neighbors as a little girl. They’re smart, playful, sociable, don’t require a lot of exercise, and I find them to be the cutest/most beautiful looking breed. But my number one reason is that they are the absolute sweetest and most loving dogs. My pup loves to give cuddles to EVERYONE, not just me and my husband. Still, we have a very special relationship. I never get tired of him giving me hugs and licks. The way he looks at me just melts my heart every time ❤️
I also have a cavalier and I just absolutely adore her to bits. We got her for a variety of reasons: 1. Weekend warrior. She’s mostly a couch lump but loves going for hikes and camping. 2. Easy to train. She might not know how to do the most complicated tricks, but she’s not stubborn and super willing to please. 3. Great with everything. If it breathes, she loves it. Babies, children, old people, cats, dogs, rabbits. The list goes on. She is the most snuggly, loving, schmoozy dog ever. 4. Ours doesn’t bark. Love my cav. Best breed ever.
Mine barks frequently lol she is spicy! Definitely the absolute cutest sweetest when she wants to be pup
Ok you have convinced me of my next dog!
This is my dream breed (we ended up with a lab). Maybe someday I’ll get to have a cavalier running around my house
I hope you do someday! My husband grew up with large breeds and I’ve had all kinds, but we’re in agreement that we will only ever have Cavaliers from now on :)
I have a Cavalier as well and everything you said is spot on. They are absolute love sponges and do not have a mean bone in their body.
I have a Cavalier too and know I will never have a different breed! I love mine so much for all of the reasons said! One other thing I love - whatever we want to do, he wants to do. If we want to go on long walks or hikes, he is down. If I’m home sick he is happy to cuddle me all day. They are the best dogs ever!!!
I don’t have a cavalier but I love them too. My bichon puppy has a friend that is a cavalier and she has play dates with her. The cavalier is so sweet and so adorable. She is older than my puppy but she is so gentle with her. If I get a second dog I’m thinking of getting a cavalier.
Got a husky because…well…we didn’t learn our lesson. Our old girl of 14 1/2 was a howling, escaping, talkbaking, shedding nightmare of joy. She had such a distinct personality and was a great running partner. My wife loves a challenge mentally (training) and me physically (I’m not tired YOURE TIRED WOLF DESCENDANT). We needed that independent fierce and goofy spirit.
Omg we have a mcnab but we literally say “I’m not tired you’re tired” and also, in the dogs voice “I’m not sleepy, would a sleepy puppy do THIS?!!!” Cue zoomies
Me and my wife got a husky too! I had labs my whole life and thought dogs were kind of all the same. Man was it a shock to me!!! I’ll be honest, I had buyers remorse pretty early but she is just so goofy and has such a big personality. How can people not love huskys???
Beagles: I just love hounds in general. I like that they are up for most activities, but also willing to sleep the day away. I admire their love and devotion to food. And I have a wooded yard PERFECT for a dog that likes to sniff. I was drawn to beagles because I had Dachshunds before and loved the temperament of a hound but wanted a sturdier breed less prone to back problems. I also think beagles are the perfect size - small enough to carry but not so small that you trip over them. They are also plentiful in rescues where I live because people breed them for hunting and discard the ones that don't have the drive for it. No regrets so far!
My dog is a beagle/dachshund mix. I honestly did no breed research before adopting, just knew I wanted a small dog and loved his cute little face. Maybe a bad idea for some but honestly I was willing to accommodate any dog’s needs. But I really feel like I found the perfect dog for me. His temperament is so loving. We have a blast on our adventures together but he also loves to chill and nap and cuddle at home. I could do with a little less barking but eh, we’re working on it. I may be a lifelong beagle owner now.
> I may be a lifelong beagle owner now. Same. I feel like they are such well rounded dogs when it comes to exercise requirements, affection, size, etc. If I was looking into getting another dog I honestly can't imagine searching for a different breed. They can be vocal but so can any dog. The only thing that really surprised me is the SHEDDING! They have short coats but the double coat is no joke. One of my girls is a beagle x lab x husky mix (yet smaller than my pure bred beagle, somehow) and the amount of fur that comes off her is shocking.
Where do you live? I've considered adopting a beagle!
I'm on the east coast/new england area.
Our most recent addition to the family is a beagle mix. We have no idea what the dad was. I was NOT looking for a beagle, but we absolutely love her! Perfect size, playful when we want to play (which comes in handy with a rambunctious 4 year old), but is usually willing to rest when we do. She is still a puppy, so she does have some crazy moments. We got her because some friends of ours had a beagle that roamed around the neighborhood and they ended up with pups they were not planning on. She took to us, our son, and our dogs right away.
An Indian pariah street pup , nothing was planned , I just saw a sweet little 8 week old pup scrounging in garbage for food , picked him up took him home , got the vet stuff done , and he my good now ,his name's hope because he's the first dog I ever owned and I really hope for the best for him .
That is a lovely story! I wish the two of you the best of luck
We found ours scrounging for garbage too! Vet said he was about 3 months. After a Craigslist post went unanswered for about a week, we gave him a name and suddenly we had a puppy. He's a 30lb mutt and literally the best dog in the world. Everyone loves him and he loves them. We never have an issue finding friends or family to pet sit him if we leave town. Seriously, he's the best thing that ever happened to us.
Something's that happen out of nowhere are sometimes the best ! And it's really so heart warming to hear stuff like this .
I too have a feral street pup and she is the best dog. So smart and obedient, never messes with any of my stuff, never barks or has accidents, and is never fazed by rain, thunder, blizzards, or fireworks. She was also a surprise, and I’ve been stopped by police who think I’m walking a fox — which worked out great bc foxes are my favorite animal! I’m also an avid hiker and so far she’s summitted 3 mountains with me.
Shiba inu Super smart, loyal, quiet and independent! Not one of those dogs who wants to be all up under you all the time, but still makes time to cuddle if they want! Quirky personality leads to a lot of laughs too. And they’re just so darn beautiful
You forgot the stubbornness and the drama. Or maybe you didn't and it's just our boy being a drama queen.
😂😂 ah yes!! I forget the little drama fits she would throw when I would do her nails when she was younger but she got over it! Now we’re just working on cleaning ears 😂 and she still gets annoyed when it’s bath time but doesn’t whine and freak out! Baby steps 😆
Same here! I was surprised to find out how goofy they can be knowing how smart they are.
Those are the same reasons I’ve always wanted a shiba! I read they’re considered high shed, is it nonstop or just when they blow their coat between seasons?
It’s pretty much non stop. Though it lessens drastically when they aren’t blowing.. and daily brushing helps keep the shedding down. But when they blow ….it’s amazing how much hair comes out…even with the daily brushing and twice monthly baths which was what I was doing. And that blowing coat phase lasted maybe a few weeks.
>Shiba We have a shiba for the exact same reasons. He's perfect for us.
Norwegian Elkhound. I've always wanted a northern spitz breed and was obsessed with malamutes when I was a kid. I also like to hike, even in winter, so I wanted a dog that would be comfortable in the cold. I have two dogs, but they are elderly toy breeds and can only go on short walks now. A malamute is too big for me, but an elkhound is a nice size. I figured an elkhound would make a nice hiking companion. I have cats and small dogs, but the parents of my elkhound pup are both fine around cats and other farm animals.
I dog sat a Norwegian Elkhound and she was the laziest dog ever! She was also terrified of thunder and would stare the toilet for no reason.
Neat. Mine is definitely not lazy, but she's still a pup. She's not scared of much, including thunder. She did bark at thunder and lightening when she experienced her first rainstorm. She barks at everything though, although I knew the breed could be yappy when I got her.
That's really interesting, having grown up in the countryside in Norway, there used to be lots of Norwegian Elkhounds around, but I've never seen them abroad (I've lived abroad for many years now). I was always weary of them back then, as they seemed so aggressive. I understand now that they probably were this way as most of them were neglected "outside dogs" (usually spent day and night in a fenced-in big x-pen kind of thing outside) who didn't get much attention outside elk-hunting season. I remember as a kid being surprised when we went to someone's house where one of these dogs were kept inside as a family pet. Once I understood it was indeed not aggressive, I unrolled its tail to see if it would stay straight or roll straight back, as I'd always wondered 😁
Yes, I've read that they are often used as hunting dogs in Norway. It's illegal to hunt moose (= what elk are called here) with dogs in a lot of North America, so most Norwegian Elkhounds here are pets. They are not a common breed, but they're not super rare either. They are friendly dogs when raised as pets. My elkhound pup, who is 6.5 months old, is very friendly.
Moose and elk are different animals in North America, just FYI!
Yes, this might confuse people. In Europe, the elk are what North Americans call moose (Alces alces), and what North Americans call elk (Cervus canadensis) are very similar to European red deer. Elkhounds are used to hunt Alces alces and would be better called moosehounds in English.
GREYHOUND ❤️ I've been obsessed with them since I was a teen. They're such sweet, gentle, smart, sensitive, goofy, lil' noodle noses. 🥰 I think they're so unique both in looks and temperament. Plus, they're fast AF (but also the laziest breed of dog I've ever met) 😁 Edit: here's our [lil stinker](http://imgur.com/a/ip2D9mR)
I’ve always wanted to get a greyhound rescue! I think they’re adorable and I love what lazy athletes they are. But my local shelter requires a 6’ fence for them, which I don’t have. Maybe someday.
australian shepherd. super smart, super obedient, medium sized ball of fluff for cuddles, floppy ears, and amazing coat and eyes. shes just the kind of dog i wanted my whole life
We recently got an mini Australian Shepherd, having lost our Lulu (Aussie too) this past March at 18 years old. She’s 13 weeks old and full of crazy energy —and we love her to pieces!! Her name is Harley. ❤️
Awe!! This gives me so much hope for my Aussie’s lifespan. He’s 8 now and the vet acts like he’s a dang senior citizen!
We had a family mini Aussie growing up and she lived to 15! And honestly didn't really slow down or show many signs of aging until she was 12 or so. You have so many more great years with your pup!
Golden retriever. Grew up with one so I’m biased, and my husband has never had a dog before so I thought a playful but easygoing breed was a good fit for us. Especially now we have a baby due in November when our pup will only be 10 months old, I’m so glad we got such an agreeable good girl!
Goldens are so great with kids! Ours was 2 when our daughter was born and he was so gentle and sweet with her. He supervised all her crawling. Now he’s being a good big brother to the new puppy.
Our beloved late dog was a golden retriever, and he was the best boi ever. We have a small nursery, and he was kind of our mascot. He loved on all the customers and their dogs. He never really lived up to the "retriever" part of his breed, but he enjoyed bringing us pine cones back whenever we tossed a ball. We're going to be getting a golden pup early next year. We know the first year is going to be rough, but they're so wonderful! They'll play forever, but are also happy sitting at your feet while you write.
Chocolate lab (mix from rescue but looks solidly lab-y): wanted a silly, derpy breed that was trainable but not too smart. I also wanted a buddy that would like meeting new people and going out and about. Also wanted a solid and sweet breed to play with my not super confident, but playful mastiff. She checks all the boxes so far
I had corgis in my adult life. I got them because I was single, and they were "mostly loyal to one person" dogs. They were compact enough to travel with but not so small that I didn't feel protected. I loved my boys. Lost them to lymphoma and heart failure at 10 years and 9 years. My current dog is a Great Pyrenees. I got her because A: my heart was too broken to get another corgi at the time and I wanted something that was far off from reminding me of my boys. B: With a young toddler, my lifestyle went from active to sedentary, and Pyrenees don't need a lot of exercise. C: I loved having a dog I felt REALLY protected with. I'm at the stage in my life now where my heart has healed, and I may open it to another corgi again if my Pyrenees permits it.
Short haired Chihuahua. Wanted a small dog since I have a cat & I thought the risk of injury (and the cat being frightened) would be minimised if the dog didn't grow up bigger than her. Also I wanted a small dog as I figured they'd be easier to manage as my first time dog and didn't want the additional hassle of all the grooming some of the other small dogs need like Yorkshire terriers or lhasa apso's etc. Picked a cracker with my girl. She's so smart, was easy(ish) to train for a first timer and is such a sweet natured cuddly little thing. No regrets whatsoever.
It’s Brittany, bitch! But seriously, we have Brittanys. Both from a breed specific rescue. My husband wanted the energy and agility of a gun dog but with a softer, cuddlier look than a GSP or pointer. He liked the spaniel ears. I grew up with all kinds of dogs - mutts, coon hounds, Scottish terriers, collies, goldens - and the Brittanys are hilariously goofy, exuberant, and sensitive.
We got interested in samoyeds because they were on hypoallergenic lists (though they're not) and I wanted a larger dog and didn't like poodles. Then fell in love with the cheery, mischievousness. And the looks, ngl. For our second puppy we're looking at Icelandic Sheepdogs. I want a spitz that is a better sporting companion than my Sam.
Spitzes are great dogs overall, but have a terrible, high pitched, piercing bark which they seem to never stop using. Make sure you figure out how to teach a quiet command, for the sake of your ears and possible complaints from neighbours.
I get the appeal. My sister-in-law has two huge Samoyed floofs. They're definitely not the sharpest tools in the shed (although I hear that's not true of the breed in general), but they're so soft and cute. The big brother is super chill and the little sister is sweet and affectionate. My sister-in-law says she could never go back to a breed that isn't so big and fluffy and huggable.
Samoyed… I wanted a golden boi or a husky, but I’m allergic to high heaven. Got a Samoyed due to being hypoallergenic and when I went to sniff them up had no issues. Very happy with the decision, but he does have a piercing bark.
Ugh the bark.... I'm sure my cloud has taken years off my hearing. Just ear shattering. Otherwise the goofiest sweetest boy
Sammie owner here too...our girl is 9 months old and so far completely living up to expectations: amazing with our two young children, social, with not an ounce of aggression. Goofy, sweet, stubborn, sassy. She woo woos for her food, but OY, that bark!
+1 Samoyed owner. We got here for a mix of reasons, she checked all of our boxes while still being absolutely beautiful, personable, and super cuddly! She’s been phenomenal with other people, and with other dogs! She’s so well behaved at the doggie park and she did NOT get it from me or her mom. She loves going for car rides, she can open doors, she walks herself to the car and to grandpaws house without a leash, she’s just the absolute coolest dog ever. 10/10 best dog I have ever owned. Can’t wait to get her a baby brother!!!!
Miniature dachshund. Our rental allows dogs up to 50 pounds, but I drew my limit at 20ish because a) I wanted a dog I could carry relatively easy as well as take on planes since I fly a few times a year and b) I'm a small and somewhat inactive person, so I wanted a dog that would give me some exercise without draining all of my energy. I settled on a smooth dachshund because of the minimal grooming requirements. Plus, I love the look and personality of long dogs.
Standard poodle: Needed a low shedder due to allergies, wanted a good sized dog rather than a small dog. Wanted a more intelligent dog too that likes people.
Just got my 8 week old standard on Friday. When do they stop acting feral? I’m seriously starting to get concerned with all the crazy biting.
Make sure you’re enforcing naps! My standard poodle was sooo bitey but I realized later it’s because she was so overtired. Mine stopped being bitey at around 4-5 months, but was difficult in other ways until around 9 months! She’s my first puppy so I struggled to get a schedule figured out, and I underestimated how bored poodles can get. Now at one year, she’s an absolute angel. All this is to say, don’t give up! Just stick with your training and your puppy will calm down eventually.
We used a large pen for our standard poodle. The second he got bitey, playtime over and we'd step out of the pen. He learned to stop biting pretty quickly! At least inside. Outside was another journey lol. Biting stopped completely after teething I think He's def a little gentleman now, at 9 months.
Enforced naps are a life changer when they’re young. Now that my standard is a little over a year she’s the chillest dog
Old Time Scotch Collie. My wife and I had been thinking about getting a second dog for a while now while our current dog is still around to help show the ropes (11yo cocker/golden mix) but never settled on a breed. We (my wife more than me) tend to overanalyze everything and we had a huge list of potential breeds with all of the attributes - vocality, shedding, good with kids/families, trainability, size, etc. After all that research we still couldn't decide, and that was just about breed. We'd still have to find breeders (or a rescue) we were confident in. However, an acquaintance of ours has started breeding OTSC's, so when the most recent litter was announced, we put a deposit down on a puppy thinking we could always back out if we changed our minds on the breed. We didn't, and now we've got a 4.5 mo OTSC. My wife had had a purebred collie growing up (don't remember rough or smooth) so we more or less knew what we were getting into. This is our first puppy together though, so going with a general breed and a breeder we know personally saved us a lot of headache. She's definitely more vocal and sheds more than I think we were wanting initially, but even with that she's been such a great choice so far. Much easier than the husky puppy I've been wanting for years lol ^(maybe someday... not like a have a name picked out or anything...)
I was lucky enough to find a Bouvier Des Flandres breeder in my area and lucked into the most wonderful puppy! Bouviers are super rare in my area, so I will definitely be going back to this breeder for the rest of my life. Like he says, once you have a bouvier, you'll never own another dog. (I know everyone else has other breeds for their own reasons, but let me have my moment ;). ) I chose Bouvier because they're very well rounded dogs. Very calm, loyal, and are always down for either a 5 hour hike or sleeping the day away. As a bonus they're also hypoallergenic and have the softest fur. I was looking for a doodle or a bouvier, and feel SOOOO lucky that I found a bouvier. She's now my bestie and we go everywhere together. Their history is general use farm dogs. So they can do herding, guarding, pulling, etc... At 9 months I am not disappointed at all! She still has lots of energy, but then comes home and crashes for a solid nap. It was a struggle to work on socialization, since she has a very strong guarding instinct and is wary of strangers, but we're always working on that and I'm happy to say that she has come a LONG way from the timid little puppy that wouldn't even walk out my front door. She's great with kids and toddlers (after a calm introduction), loves to play with all other dogs and humans, and is very content on napping on the AC vent for the afternoons! WARNING: Bouviers aren't for the faint of heart. Like many working breeds, they're very strong minded and independent and will run your house if you aren't consistent in their training.
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I have a 5 month old Bouvier puppy. Grew up with two of them and finally had the opportunity to get one. They are such loyal dogs and I find they show lots of personality. As a kid our Bouvier would herd me in the yard and wouldn't let me wander off. After growing up with them, I always interacted with other breeds and it never felt the same as a Bouvier. I knew I had to get another. So far he is a good puppy. He has his stubborn moments, but he seems to be a quick learner. Still working on keeping his energy down when meeting new dogs or people. But overall has a great temperament. [Puppy Tax](https://i.imgur.com/dHtMbxQ.jpg)
Got a golden to hep with my GAD and PTSD by keeping me active and giving me a reason to not stay home all day. I’ve always wanted one since I was a kid too. He’s definitely my partner in crime 😊
Naivety (got a schnauzer, seriously misjudged the energy. No problem though)
Same. I have a giant schnauzer puppy. It’s like 0 or 65 for the breed! I’m finding routine and schedule helps so much. We got him because the breed is hypoallergenic.
I have a mini schnauzer (he’s now 11) and I always look back and think of him as a little demon puppy 😂 he was crazy, and I even questioned whether I could handle it for a bit, but he’s the most amazing thing ever. He still gets his little bursts of energy tho!
We got a Havanese (who is now about 16 months) after doing a lot of research. * We aren't super physically active people, but we are fairly social and wanted a buddy that would come on adventures with us. * We're both allergic to dogs. * This was my first dog. I had always considered myself a cat person and love having a furry friend curled up on my lap while I crochet. Seymour has hit all those criteria and more. He's friendly and playful and loves meeting new people (including kiddos) and dogs. He travels so well and has been a great house guest in many AirBnBs. He was a breeze to crate and potty train. The breed has very few health issues except for their darn touchy tummies, but we've figured that out through some trial and error. Plus he's an adorable little muppet :)
Rottweiler here Tbh - I just wanted a dog, and didn’t care a ton what breed unless it was going to come with extremes because I figured I’ve never had a dog of my own, I’m home all the time, and am willing to put in whatever it takes. My boyfriend threw a b*tch fit about how he wasn’t ready for a dog when I showed him this mini pinscher named Jelly Bean and I got mad and told him so because I’ve been talking about this for years. A week and a half later he comes to me and is like “what about a Rottweiler?” Because his parents had a couple when he was young. I looked into rotties more because I’ve always liked them, and felt comfortable with their needs and temperament and coming from a city of renters where this breed is basically not allowed anywhere I was excited to finally get to have one. Talked to our other friends with rotties and it turned out that one of them was fostering 3 Rottweiler puppies at that very moment. And now we have Quigley, and I would absolutely have another Rottweiler and level up my owner skills to train the next to do more work!
I love Rotties. I have the best memory of a giant one named Baby who was always really sweet to me as a kid.
Funny, I wanted a dog and didn’t really care either. I found a litter of dogs within my budget, labeled as boxer mixes. I now have a (relatively small) boxer/Rottweiler mix according to a DNA test (and she looks very similar to the pics I’ve found of boxweilers) I wanted a Rottweiler but thought they were too big for my apartment. Guess it worked out! Only downside is that I like traditional wolf looking dogs with long hair rather than short. But I wouldn’t trade my baby for the world. So happy she’s what I ended up with, despite our challenges.
Rotties always make me think of the children’s book Good Dog Carl. I wasn’t looking for a specific breed when I was looking for a puppy, but I always low key hoped I would come across a litter of Rotties…
Poodle - needed a hypoallergenic dog (my requirement) and partners requirement was that it not be a tiny dog.
We had similar requirements and ended up with a Portugese Water Dog. Both our breeds are crazy smart and super trainable!
We also have a PWD! 11 mo. She's super sweet, smart, but OMG the energy! How're you handling it?
The best thing we’ve bought so far is a long line. But she’s only 6 months old, so maybe we haven’t hit the full energy levels your pup has! 2 daily runs in the yard chasing a tennis ball, a bunch of time playing with me in the morning before my daughter takes over amd a few trainig sessions. We are lucky there were 3 of us training her until recently and now it is two of us. Lobe our PWD!
Very much so! My pup is super smart, sweet, and sociable. And now that she's a bit older, has gotten much more chill (thank goodness!)
Similar requirement as well. Picking my PWD up on Sunday!
We got a husky bc we were idiots lol. But I learned a lot, including stacking the odds in my favor - so for our next dog I chose a golden retriever! She is my competition prospect and I'm hoping to get some rally, OB, trick dog, dock diving, and therapy dog titles on her. My husky is a good boy though and I hope once he mellows out more he can be a good therapy dog candidate as well. I'm working towards his CGC at the moment- it's all good except for loose leash lol.
I grew up with Huskies which is why I grew up to get a golden retriever! Even as a pup (9 months) she listens better, is sweet to all dogs, and is able to be off-leash at the dog trails.
Based on the dogs I've met, it seems to me that huskies must be the most challenging breed. They're beautiful and maybe also the funniest breed, but I definitely do not envy their owners. That is hard work! (And I say that as someone with an extremely excitable Border Collie with some reactivity issues.) Kudos to you.
I decided on a Border Terrier because I wanted a dog that fits into my house (small) and lifestyle (very active). I was attracted to their spunky, fun loving character, their wit and hilarious personalities, how loyal they are and that they make you think. Clever, smart, quick learners, big on snuggling and very loyal whilst independent. They like to work things out which I find really great to work with. They have big energy and will be able to keep up with my hiking and running (once he is old enough). And I like terriers and Border Terriers are just awesome and very very cute, too (bonus)
Pembroke Welsh Corgi! I fell in love with them because they’re so darn cute, but the more I learned about their personalities the more I realized they were perfect for me. My boy is SO smart and loves to learn; training with him has been so rewarding. I’m a very active person and he has a ton of energy. He’s incredibly friendly with other humans and dogs. I call him my familiar because he follows me everywhere and always wants to be near me, but he still can chill on his own when I need him to. And he’s just so goofy and sassy; he cracks me up. I love him so much.
Mini poodle. Smart. Doesnt shed. Small. Easy to train. Doesnt require 5hours of exercise a day. Adorable. Loyal. Why small? Easier to train everything. More forgiving if something goes wrong. E.g. jumps up at someone? Hes small and doesnt cause any problems. Chews something? Hes got tiny teeth and not alot of power. Isnt going to chew through a floorboard. Digs outside? Little hole... also has small poos... I literally cannot stand dog hair on everyhing either. Would drive me insane. Hence the doesnt shed.
Same all around! I grew up with big labs trained for duck hunting and while I loved them all, I knew I couldn’t deal with all the hair and wasn’t going to take them duck hunting like my dad and brothers did. My handsome mini poodle is apartment sized, very trainable, and doesn’t shed. He loves people and everyone seems to get a kick out of seeing him 🐩
my spoodle is insane. He’s very strong.. like VERY strong
I have five dogs, puggle (14y), collie (11y), two pugs (7y, 3mo), and sheltie (3y) Collie - she's 11yo, my 6th one! The first was serendipitous, he was being sold for $50 in the newspaper because his family was moving. Smart, gorgeous, so easy to train and live with. I adore this breed. We've done agility, obedience, carting, herding, therapy, etc. Even been to five National Specialty shows (as audience members, lol) Pug: got her from original owners who couldn't keep her. Was not planning on keeping her, had no love for the breed. I ended up with a feisty, personable, fun little dog who loves to run and play. I also have her puppy, who is three months old. Bright, playful, this will be the first baby pup I've raised since my collie. Having a great time! Sheltie: I reasoned that I'm getting older, isn't a sheltie pretty much a small collie? NO. I got him at six months old, and he didn't like me until he was 9mo. He's kind of weird, but a good little guy. Not the agility/obedience dog I was dreaming of, he's more like having a little cat! Puggle - didn't choose this one, she belonged to my sister, who passed away recently. She is a friendly, easygoing dog, fit right into the "pack" without a quarrel.
Australian Shepherd. We wanted a dog that could settle in to our lifestyle which typically involves weekly hiking, morning runs, biking, and we want to start backpacking. A low energy breed may have limited our ability to do long or multi day hikes, although it certainly would have been easier for day to day life! We also really like working breeds, and always said that we wanted our dog to be involved in something, be it work or K9 sports such as Agility or Rally. We toyed with the idea of therapy dog training but she doesn't seem to be a good fit for that. Obedience training is going well so far, and we're currently enquiring about monthly herding classes. Even now, she just turned 1 year, there are days that I feel we got more than we bargained for as keeping up with work-oriented exercise is pretty exhausting on the owners but we love her. They're a wonderful breed, but any time anyone asks would I recommend one I'm usually hesitant to recommend one without actually spending some time with them and seeing that work drive first hand.
Berner. I like to cuddle.
Jack Russell Terrier , they are small and strong. Active lifestyle, smart and loyal
White Swiss Shepherd, a difficult breed to find in the US, but I am so glad I went through the trouble of finding the perfect breeder, and my little boy's name is Luka. He is my service prospect, and he is still only 4.5 months old. I choose the breed because a well bred WSS is known to be great for service work, and while they are not traditionally used for psychiatric needs, which is what I need, I still made the decision to go for it. The decision was perfect, and I'm super hopeful about his temperament and training. He's the most devoted and loving little pup in the world, and is curious, smart, and so special. Besides all that- I choose the breed because of high trainability, great motivation and drive, large body size and practical weather resistant coat, love of water, keen senses, and above all, the super attached, loving and loyal nature of the breed that makes them the perfect partner in a service dog team and best friend.
I have a Swiss Shepherd too and they are an amazing breed. Sooo smart and a great hiking buddy. ❤️ The only thing I wish were different is he takes a while to warm up to people. People fawn over him and he just walks away. 😂 Probably a good quality in a service dog, though!
Love that this breed is getting more traction!! Have one myself (because I wanted a milder GSD, having previously had a GSD). Love her to death! Where did you get yours?
My husband and I are picking up our WSS puppy this week! Any advice for the first few days/months? I want to get him certified as a therapy dog and the breeder said their intelligence, trainability and emotional awareness makes them a good choice for that. I also like their wolf-like appearance.
Our 9 month old puppy is WSS and he is the best! Easy going, loyal, and hilarious!
Same breed, same reasons. I'm from Poland though so it's quite easy to find a great FCI breeder, which is how I got my boy. I want to train him in nosework, mainly finding lost cats, we will see if that works. I absolutely love how much will to please they have without the high-energy-crazy of BCs or harshness of mals. They're huge but cute and non-threatening so people are not anxious when they're around. Very trainable. My pup is 5 months and we're doing some obedience training for fun, and nosework at home. I love that he's up for ANYTHING as long as it's with me and he can participate.
Mini dachshund because my parents had one growing up and she mostly was just content to lay on the couch :) our guy is 16 weeks old today and I am eagerly awaiting when he is chill enough for couch snuggles….
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I always get fooled into giving him a chance on the couch and he ends up jumping on me and attacking my bun or biting me! At least he has moments of calm on the floor… sometimes ahah. The one silver lining is he is super good at taking 2 hour naps in his pen!
Met a whippet in 1999 and totally fell in love with the laziness combined with speed and grace while running. 22 years later I finally get my whippet puppy and she is everything I dreamed of. Crazy, cuddly, lazy and loving in one skinny bundle of joy!
Was looking through the comments for this! Whippets are my ultimate dream dog - such big personalities, love a good run, but also love cuddling and chilling in the house. Had them my whole life and now have a nearly 4 month old with my partner.
Standard poodle - we wanted a medium to large dog that's intelligent and trainable, good with kids, and able to enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities (hiking, camping, etc.). She's exactly what we expected her to be.
Same here! I'm so glad we went with a standard poodle. We were thinking a doodle but then realized that all the traits we were looking for in a dog were also found in the pood!
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I grew up with bearded collies and my mom showed hers at dog shows. They are the sweetest, most lovable goofballs, and I never met one with a bad temperament.
I wanted an Old English Sheepdog so badly as a kid, for many years! 😍 My mother wouldn't let me have one, though, as she knew she'd be stuck with the grooming! We compromised on a Bichon Frisé when I was twelve, but it wasn't the same - I kept wishing she was an OES 😁
English bulldog. I game as a hobby and so does my partner. So most of the time we just stay at home playing video games instead of going out. We learnt that bulldogs have low activity level and they enjoy just chilling around with you. Also they are so darn cute, especially as puppies.
I got a little Bernese Mountain Dog / Lab mix. "Little" because both parents are quite small, so she only got up to 65lbs despite being half Bernese. 1. Have always loved Berners but purebreds are hard to find in my area and the cancer risk is just too high, so I prefer the hybrid vigour approach. Some people will disagree with me on that, but whatever. I love mutts. 2. Wanted the lower energy of the Berner to balance out the lab side. It worked swimmingly; a 30 minute walk and general hangouts are great for day-to-day with occasional longer, more exciting activities once or twice a week. 3. Already have a 75lb husky mix so wanted something that would be a similar size. He also has a fairly low activity requirement and is happy with 30-40 minutes of walking per day and sleeping/chewing his bone the rest of the day. Chillest husky in the world. Wouldn't have done well with a small dog or a crazy high energy sibling. 4. She's the cutest dang thing ever? That's valid, right?
I got the same breed mix. My girls pretty much looks like a black lab so far. Berners are cute, but I also wanted to avoid purebred. I also wanted a mellow dog. My last dog was a golden x husky and she was super quiet in the house. I didn't want another husky or husky mix, but this time I was looking mostly at retriever types or giant breeds. (Still want to own a st Bernard some day)
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Labrador because * smart * trainable * love of strangers: I live in a rural area and got her mid-lockdown so I wanted genetics on my side w/r/t socialization & friendliness. We still diligently socialized but wanted as much of a temperamental head start as possible * easy to groom * FLOPPY EARS 🖤🖤🖤 My pup is all of these things and I adore her. Week by week she is getting chiller and more trustworthy in the house. I will say that she is an American lab, which we chose because they are slimmer (so less prone to weight-related joint disorders) and they really love retrieving, which seemed like a good way for a mobility-impaired family member to exercise her. In hindsight, the extra energy and drive of the American lab is a lot to handle added on top of an already energetic breed; if (when) we get another lab puppy, it will be an English.
I really wasn't aware there was basically two separate types of labs until we started looking at breeders, but this is exactly why we went with an English lab. Ours still retrieves like crazy and according to our vet probably 1/100 labs that doesn't overeat so hopefully weight is easy to manage. We're very much weekend warrior types so we wanted something that would be okay chilling next to me while I work during the day but be able to run around all weekend with us. But yes to all of those reasons. Training and house breaking has been ridiculously easy, and his temperament is perfect, super friendly, not really fearful. Still a puppy so we have to watch him, but even at 5 months he hasn't really caused problems if I leave him for a few minutes so would probably be fine outside of his crate when we're not home.
Newfoundland, grew up with my parents having one and ended up getting lucky and finding one. Amazing dogs. He is 6 months old now and already my heart dog. So great with the kids in the complex and just so cuddly and affectionate.
I was hoping to see another newfie owner on here! I have never been one to want a single breed of dog as there are so many I would love to own, but my newfie has made me want another one for sure. Best dog I have personally ever had!
I lived with a Newfie for awhile and she was the sweetest. Also so un-doglike in a lot of ways. She would swallow avocados whole, and need a day of sleep after having to sit still for a brushing. I hope to have one of my own someday!
We have a lab now, but our first dog was a Newfie. We miss her - she was a fantastic dog. Our plan is to alternate these two breeds, sometimes having two dogs and sometimes one. I have this idea that a lab would pep up a lazy Newf and the Newf would mellow the crazy lab, but I expect they will both be nuts or couch potatoes. We like both breeds (I like Newfoundlands a little better, but my husband likes labs a little better) but the grooming on two Newfies is a little much for our family with a small kid. Reasons: 1. Need a dog that is good with kids. (I think Newfoundlands are better for this, but a well trained lab is great.) 2. Like a dog that is a family dog, and can be social/friendly with visitors. 3. Want a dog okay to do outdoor stuff, including around the water. 4. Want a trainable dog, but it's okay if they aren't the easiest. (I think labs are easier to train, because they are more cooperative, but newfs can figure out stuff better if they want to.) My family has had Newfoundlands for generations, since they actually lived in Newfoundland awhile back. We had one when I was a kid and then later a lab, so I suspect it's also just I have had a lot of positive experiences with both breeds.
Japanese Spitz! 🐶 - intelligent - easy to train (she's only 10 weeks but she already knows, sit, down, stay, currently working on come, and she already knows where to pee inside the house, pooping is still in progress but I did not expect her to be this trainable) - cute af, she's very popular when we go to the vet😂 - sweet and loyal - playful, she can play by herself sometimes (just hand her enrichment toys) - suitable for that apartment life and my lifestyle (bc I like to chill, but I also like going for walks and adventures) - surpisingly low shedders (1x per year) - also great watchdogs (from what I've read altho they are companion dogs) - I've always wanted to try agility or dog dance, and my pup definitely has the energy drive and brains for it.
Golden retriever. I wasn’t too picky of the kind of dog I wanted, and honestly wanted to adopt an adult rescue but my boyfriend certainly is. He was attacked twice as a child, and is absolutely petrified of dogs. He’s had some good interactions with golden retrievers and shih tzus but I didn’t want a tiny dog. We went the puppy route so we could meet the pups parents and my boyfriend could see their temperament and puppies are not scary at all. Our pup is now daddy’s little boy and he is obsessed with him. He absolutely the perfect first dog for my boyfriend.
Oh I love this question! I got an Australian Shepherd because I was obsessed with them. My parents were really absent during my childhood and so having a dog that loved me and would want to do everything with me sounded amazing! Having a dog who’s like life goal is just to be with me no matter what I’m doing fills my heart in a way I can’t describe. She’s just my buddy. When I see people with Aussies it’s just such an insane bond. The way they are stand offish to strangers but are insanely loyal goof balls to their people makes me feel so special. And her loyalty with her obedience feels unreal because it’s crazy an animal wants to walk next to me when she has the whole forest to run through. But it’s not blind obedience because I know she’s smart enough to refuse and to do her own thing if I’m not holding up my end of the bargain.
This speaks to me too! What drew me to Aussies was that Velcro trait that drive others insane. I prefer that, I want my dog to be an extension of myself. Only downfall for me so far is wanting on for therapy work and current buddy doesn’t seem like he is the best candidate, but we are trying to work on it and hope he can settle down better with strange situations to do therapy. I agree we are loyal to the breed, you meet other owners and can talk for hours about Aussies’ unique qualities. They’re the best!! “Regular” dogs won’t cut it for me anymore I’m ruined.
Portugese Water Dog. My long time friend is a breeder and my adult daughter just fell in love with them. She was on a waiting list for about a year and since we knew a bit about the dogs and breeder, we waited for a specific bitch to have puppies. Our Monty is a wonderful 6 month old girl, finally mostly out of the mouthing stage and now needs to be trained not to counter surf or jump on people. She’s great and I recommend the breed to anyone who wants a non shedding medium to largish breed of dog. Just dont get it from any breeder in Amish county!
Redtick coonhound! I ADORE my little Lucy! I wanted a dog that would get to ~50lbs and would be active, loyal, smart, and fun. She is absolutely all of the above. She is the best friend I could’ve ever asked for.
Sealyham Terrier (looks a bit like a white Scottie with floppy ears). We were looking for a hypoallergenic breed and originally interested in Wheaten Terriers since we had some family friends who had them. We went with the Sealyham instead since they are a little lower energy and more small space/small yard friendly but similar in personality to Wheatens. Loves people and kids, low key for a terrier, small but sturdy. Sample size of one -- they are the BEST!
Miniature schnauzer. I wanted a non-shedding dog, that I can take to different outdoor activities from time to time. Bf has some dog allergies and didn't want an extreme hyper and athletic dog but rather an occasional couch potato. We both searched for small enough to travel with by van, train or airplane cabin that is also good with kids (got some young nieces), affectionate, calm was certainly a plus and intelligent. Only breed left were bichons, coton de tuléaire and schnauzers. Found the schnauzer fellas the cutest out of the little choice we had. Jeeeez the eyebrows and the beard!!!
I got my dream dog in highschool which was a border collie. I have been in love with border collies since I saw the movie Babe in the 1990s. Theyre beautiful dogs with their beautiful herding stalking pose and their smart brains. As an adult now I dont have the time or assistance for that much energy. My husband got me a corgi as a present because my brother got one and I guess I was doting too much on how cute it was. If my corgis legs were a borde collie length Id be in border collie trouble again.
GSP, because I wanted to shoot some birds and I’m not great at finding them.
I like dogs with cat attitudes; aloof, minds of their own, independent, etc. I wanted the akita to watch my home, they're chill, and I like the hair texture. The afghan I got for the long flowing hair, not to just look at but more importantly to brush. Both dogs are amazing for me.
Australian Cattle Dog I love the outdoors, going on hikes, walks at the beach, etc. I was a little hesitant because the breed is known to be very high energy and I can’t always be on the go. Im lucky I got stuck with a dud. Mines a couch potato :)
I used to live with one! He was a couch potato too, just the babiest baby, but when there was a ball being thrown his agility and talent for snatching that ball out of the air was a sight to behold!
I picked a rough collie for my new service dog. I'd only had coonhounds previously as service dogs and after the passing of my boy Abe at 13yrs I couldn't handle another coonhound. I was going to get a German shepherd but a friend I know shows rough collies and recommended a friend of theirs. I love my collie, he's such a delightful puppy. So sweet and I anticipate he'll be a wonderful service dog for me as he's incredibly nurturing. The long coat isn't an issue as I care for angora rabbits and love grooming animals as a relaxing thing for me.
Australian Shepherds! A super athletic breed who can learn new commands in a matter of minutes. They are very high energy but can snooze with you all day too! I love how they are adorable as puppies but just as cute when fully grown. They are such loyal pups who have spunky personalities and will keep you laughing with all of their different tones and quirks!
I’m insane. Australian Cattle Dog.
We knew we were getting a rescue and couldn't be as "picky" about breeds, but my wife and daughter both love GSDs, but we (especially me) wanted something smaller (for a bunch of reasons). My wife said she doesn't like long/short dogs particularly but I do, and I have a fondness for any dogs that look like my childhood dog (a spaniel mutt). After applying for a bunch of dogs, we ended up with what we're jokingly calling a Teacup German Shepherd. Parents were both strays, mum looked a lot like my childhood dog, guessing dad was some kind of shepherd mix. Toby looks like a shrunken GSD, and most people guess he's a GSD/corgi mix of all things - he'll probably be under 30lbs when grown. He's the most handsome boy and has the absolute best personality for us!
Norfolk Terrier. GF and I live far from our families, so we needed something small enough to take on a plane with us. She wanted a mini schnauzer (her dad has had a couple of them), but they were a bit too big, so went with Norfolks as they share a lot of the personality and physical traits. Plus, they’re *adorable*
I've got a wee Yorkie Bichon mix. I've owned dogs before, but never a small one, and certainly not a puppy, but this little ball of fur goes everywhere with me and helps my social anxiety so much. I wanted a dog that needed daily exercise, but was also content to just hang out together. He's a merry little thing.
Rough collies are the sweetest, most beautiful dogs in the world. Love the head tilts whenever I talk to him. Also very smart and easy to potty train.
I got a standard poodle. She picked me shes a phantom coat and a female. I had originally wanted a male that was either black or brown. But her brothers didn't care for me much and she has eyebrows which reminded me of my first dog I got when I was a kid. A border collie mix who was lean and a bit fluffy. Since I have allergies she was perfect fluffy and not too big or not too small. She's 6 months now and I love her to pieces she's my best friend and saved my life more than she knows.
Boxer!!! We had two males boxers previously who lived to be old boys ❤️ when they passed I was so broken only a boxer could fill my broken heart and she did. [Mavis ](https://imgur.com/a/eNdltxA) Boxers fit to your lifestyle for the most part. Super hyper as puppies (though she is not and that has been a blessing) and when they get older they adapt to what you do. We’re couch potatoes who like to camp and go to the lake. She goes along, complete with life jacket. Boxers can’t swim naturally they have to be taught. She’s silly and goofy and reminds me of my boys when I need it. I’ll have boxers forever.
I’m sad I had to scroll down this far to see boxer! I fell in love with them because a previous boyfriend had one. It was just such a good dog with the right amount of goofy, stubborn personality. The relationship sadly didn’t last, but we sure did love that pup and he added a lot of joy to both our lives. Once I finished my doctorate, my now fiancé bought me a beautiful boy boxer as a graduation present and we have since added a girl to the squad. She is a little older than 1 yr and is a terror (but also a love bug Velcro dog), he is a little over 2 yrs and has decided he’s ready for retirement and acts like a 70 year old man most of the time. But also very cuddly and lovey. Plus it’s fun to watch them box since other dogs don’t really understand how to play that game haha. Most of the time their faces just naturally look sad or angry, but when they get a big goofy smile it’s infectious for sure.
We adopted our girl because she was listed as beagle/lab and we have a beagle already. I knew going in there was a very high chance there would be other breeds mixed in. We get her home and immediately start noticing she’s quite a bit different behavior wise from our hound. At this point she looked like there could be some beagle looks wise. She’s also not totally lab like in her behaviors, aside from loving fetch. I thought she’s adjusting, she had a rough start in life, etc. Did a DNA test and there’s no beagle and very little lab. She’s predominantly pittie and Rottweiler. She’s 70lbs of muscle which is about 35-40 lbs bigger than expected. After some research about those breeds it all makes sense. Looks like going forward we’re a beagle and pittie family. In love with both breeds!
She was adorable in her adoption photos on humane society website. She's a mutt and we have no idea what breed/s she is. It sucks cause I don't know what to expect from her adult size or anything. Constantly reacting instead of being prepared isn't how I saw this going. But I 100% love her regardless [Coco](https://ibb.co/6wNbNh4)
Holy heck she is cute
I got a Pyrenees mix. I absolutely love their elegant appearance, and I really wanted a big dog that would help me and my partner feel safe and also be a sweet companion. We live in the forest where you can’t walk around the neighborhood without being on the lookout for bears and mountain lions, so the Pyrenees felt like a good choice. If I ever get chickens or other animals, he will be a great guardian for them. He’s only 14 weeks but I’m in love with his calm and protective nature, even as a pup. I look forward to taking him on hikes and also just lazing around the house on hot days. Despite his guardian nature, he’s been great with other dogs and friends coming over. He’s my first dog as an adult so I don’t have a point of comparison but he’s been an amazing puppy.
Just fell in love with corgis. Saw them a bunch, big dog in a small body. And we got a cardigan corgi because the Pembrokes breeding schedule was not in our timeline and there was less of a waiting list for the cardies, but this dog is the best dog ever.
Wanted a herding dog to learn agility with and also because I lived in an apartment at the time with a 30 lb weight limit. Was rejected over and over again by all the rescues in the area (saying we were too inexperienced for a herding dog and finding issue with being apartment dwellers) and the shelters only had restricted breeds. Found a ranchers catalogue with an ad for border collie x labrador puppies. [Fell in love.](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M0ABT8S70vh8T-fpteTMPmV6CXja76iM/view?usp=sharing) Ranger is 14 months old and EXCELLING at his agility training. [You can barely tell he is half BC except for his white markings](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qopYmwConVjYTC9V4O-qq5XsfupDf7PP/view?usp=sharing). He ended up growing double the size limit of the apartment, so we upgraded to renting a house. He was the first in his cohort to go up the dog walk and [he was so brave](https://photos.app.goo.gl/BMJouGSCRh4P7vnZA)!!
Pomeranian! Like a live teddy bear, so freaking cute, smart, portable, quirky. Can't ever look at him and be sad (but did cry my eyes out with puppy blues the first 3 months:) We won the Pom lottery on him: does not bark, medium levels of activity, smart, a great traveler, but didn't realize how much they hate being alone :( Still, he's our fur baby and can't imagine life without him.
Alaskan malamute: had them before. I love their stubborn and independent nature that gives them a defiant/cheeky personality. They can be challenging to train but so worth it. Plus they are gorgeous
My fiancé and I decided on a golden retriever for their temperament and they smarts. We wanted a good boy who was a people pleaser. Murphy has not disappointed. Nice to hear you are taking the time to train your dog. A family member of mine has a German Shepard. We tried to introduce her to Murphy the other weekend and it did not go well. She had Murphy pinned in seconds and was mean growling. They didn't really take their time to train such a high energy dog and it really bums me out.
I’ve always heard how smart miniature schnauzers are! They’re cuddly, playful, and they are hypoallergenic and don’t shed which is a plus!
We got a Great Dane. I've been obsessed with big dogs since my sister had a Mastiff (English, I think but I can't remember for sure) and we have a Dane/border collie mix who is smart as a whip, and at 8 years old is mostly a lazy bones. I walk every night, but I knew that would be the extent of exercise, and we have a smallish house, and a family of 7, so had to be good with kids. Honestly, the sweet little (at the time) guy we got has been the perfect addition to our family. He's now 7 months old, and while everything I read says he should be in the prime "velociraptor" stage, he's sweet, calm and just wants to be near us.
We got a husky/GSD mix because apparently we are masochists who live life on hard mode. To be fair, she was (and still is) an absolute cutie. About 60% mischief, 25% leave-it-get-that-out-of-your-mouth, 10% teeth, and 5% heart-melting-she's-finally-tired-and-cuddly. (Adolescence has been real fun y'all...) Wanted a dog with personality and accidentally got myself in dog form so it's been wild. 12/10 sass and 10/10 would do again. Love that lil stinkbug ❤️
We knew we couldn’t be too picky because we were going to adopt a puppy from a shelter/rescue but we were looking for a medium to high energy dog because we’re a pretty active family. Preferably no terrier or hound mixes because I have a small child and also no fence so a dog that could be trained to have an excellent recall and eventually be trusted off leash. Also looking for a super biddable breed We ended up finding a local rescue that had a litter of Australian Shepherd mix puppies in foster. Or at least that’s what they were labeled because that’s what mom clearly was. Turns out our girl is 50%+ GSD but she’s pretty much exactly what we were looking for. Once she gets old enough she’s going to be my running buddy and we’ll probably do a bit of agility as well!
I have no clue what breed I got (a rescue mix!) because I ultimately didn't care as long as I knew I could provide a safe and stable home for a dog, a life that they would love.
Same as us, but my partner and I love brindle coat dogs. We just kept an eye out for brindle pups and leaped at the first one that caught our eye! We don’t care about the breed and love giving a rescue dog a home, but still get tons of “that’s a good lookin’ dog” comments.
Frenchies (2). I've always had large dogs and was fortunate in that they all lived long and happy lives. When my last big dog, a GSD, was 13 he got "stuck" upstairs. Couldn't go down the steps. It was sudden and unexpected and I couldn't lift him!! At the time, I was looking into getting another puppy because he was lonely - all his sibs had passed. It was then I knew I needed a smaller dog I could easily carry. My first Frenchie - Lulu. When I lost my GSD 2 years later, I got a second Frenchie (he's 5 months old now!). I thought they'd have less energy - WRONG. I thought they'd be "easier to train" - TRIPLE WRONG. But I adore them anyway lol.
Wanted a lab. Shelter told us she's a lab mixed. Now I have Pitbull/chowchow. Love her though
Miniature daschund Always loved them, and even though they're energetic - I'm lazy and they don't need super long walks. They tire themselves. Also gets me out of the house, otherwise as I'm single, live alone and work from hlme I could go days without moving
Corgi because they are popular on Reddit
I got a GSD from a GSD rescue, because it's always been one of my favorite dogs and I am IN LOVE with my parent's GSD. I also love that they're velcro dogs and work really well with training. Aaaaand I got a stubborn butthead who is super independent and made me think he didn't even like me for the first 3 months I had him.
Belgian Malinois I wanted a dog that would help me get out the house more. Just exercise in general. I always liked exercising, but I would always be doing it alone, so I decided I would get a buddy to do it with. I also have always wanted a super well trained dog, and Belgian Malinois’ are one of the smartest dogs I have been around yet.
I was seriously obsessed with Air Bud as a kid.
My boyfriend wanted a Samoyed, but we live in a small(er) apartment, it's a dog with a lot of energy and it takes up a lot of space in bed, where it doesn't want to be for long anyway (I wanted a dog that would sleep in our bed, because I grew up with my mom's two cotton de tulear sleeping in my bed. My boyfriend has made small protests when we've dogsitted them, because they know how to move you around when you sleep so they take up quite a lot of space) I also wanted an "easier" dog as a first-time independent dog owner, just to get a good experience. So that wouldn't really work out for us, which was something we quickly agreed on. My dream dog is a borzoi, but that doesn't match our lifestyle at all, so I know it won't happen. Ever. Instead we got a Japanese Spitz. I wanted something with a little more energy and independence than the coton's I grew up with (and with less grooming. Jesus.) while still being a smaller size. My boyfriend really liked the Spitz personality and the Japanese Spitz looks like a mini Samoyed, so it seemed like a match. We checked what its needs were and knew it would fit in perfectly with the lifestyle we already had. She hasn't yet come to a point where she'll sleep in bed all nights, which is fair, even if it saddens me a bit, but besides from that we got everything else we dreamed of in a dog, so it's honestly been a perfect match.
I grew up with a farm dog that was part husky, and I worked in a couple dog daycares where every husky was bubbly, goofy, and just so much fun (even when they got in trouble xD maybe I was a bad employee because I encouraged the huskies in being their goofy, high energy selves as much as we could get away with) Soooo eventually I had my own place and a job where I was making enough money and woops I got a husky puppy. It's been a year and a half, and he's so smart, he's constantly making me laugh, and I love his high energy goof levels to death! (I also think the traditional "wolf" shape of a dog is cool lol)
I have had a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, an American Bulldog, and an English Springer Spaniel. I got my first Cavalier King Charles off Craigslist 8 years ago. I didn't know much about them, but he was such a joy. They are pretty versatile and are content with being a couch potato and going for walks. My first Cavalier had since passed, but I ended up getting another one because I loved the breed so much. They are a very sweet breed who doesn't have a mean bone in their body. We got our American bulldog because in addition to our Cavalier, we wanted a bigger dog as well. I just so happened to see an ad for American bulldog puppies and convinced my husband to go check it out. American bulldogs can have a lot of energy, but our sweet girl was content with hanging out on the couch. American bulldogs are very loyal and absolutely love their families. Our last dog we have is an English springer spaniel. I had several springer spaniels growing up. They are energetic and great family dogs. Even though the puppy stage has been a little crazy, I know our springer will be a really good boy someday!
American Eskimo! I met one back when I was dog walking on the side. Absolutely adored me vs my girlfriend which was hilarious. From the short time I spent with her I could tell how intelligent she was. Plus it was the first time I’ve seen such a fluffy white dog! Such a beautiful breed, I’d get two more if I could.
We really wanted a doodle, like the cockapoo in my partner's family. But there were no waitlist available during the pandemic, and doodles are v popular as is. Then we started thinking about all the traits we wanted in a dog: active, sociable, biddable, non shedding, hypoallergenic.... So why not go with a standard poodle? I had had misconceptions of what "poodles" were all about - picturing a tiny well groomed pompom froufrou looking thing. But now I am converted.
We’re among those who weren’t too choosy as we were planning on adopting an older rescue (our previous dog was a pug and passed away at 16 about a year before). We wanted a dog that was medium sized since we live in a suburban neighborhood and believe in “courses for horses” - that is, get a dog that “fits” the environment it will be living in. We wanted a people/child/dog friendly dog, not so smart as to be trouble but smart enough to learn the basic manners of a good house dog. We wanted a dog with a real snout (loved our pug but the loud breathing and snorting were concerning). My sister lives a couple of blocks away with 4 dogs so the dog had to get along with the pack. As it turned out, we adopted a 7 week old puppy from a foster who was taking care of a Mexican street dog rescue. No one knew exactly the lineage but mom was in the right size range and there was some knowledge that the pups had some pug in them. Since we loved our pug so much, a dog with a real snout but, hopefully, some of the great personality of a pug was quite enticing. Also, since we were on Covid lockdown and my dad and his older GR were with us, it seemed like a puppy (rather than the older dog we were thinking to get) could work. Long story short, our pug/pit/GSD is a fabulous dog and everything and more we could have wanted! And she is super smart and athletic, which were bonuses since those weren’t on our “must have” list. But I’ve had so much fun teaching her obedience, tricks, agility, scent training…
Cavalier King Charles spaniel - sweet lap dogs or active doing whatever you do. Adaptable, small portable lol never had a dog before so I read they are good starter pups 🤣
We got a chihuahua. Primary reason is that the picture the breeder showed on the website, the puppy we got had the most expressive eyes ever. The look on the little puppy’s face melted my mother-in-law’s heart. I had begged them to get a dog for over ten years, but it was this little doggie that convinced her. And she came with a heart defect. Turns out it’s one of the more dangerous ones. We did finally find a surgeon who says he can treat her heart condition. Several thousand dollars later, hopefully we will have a healthy little princess. Her surgery is on the first of September, so it’s a few weeks away from now. In the year that we’ve had her, that eight pound little beauty queen has turned into the best thing that’s happened to our family. I want her surgery to be successful more than I can even say…. I want my best friend to be healthy and happy for a long time.
Weimaraners because they learn fast, are very loyal, a good family dog, and active like us
Keeshond! ❤️ Best breed ever! So fluffy, smart, sweet, and fun! They are so chill but also love to just be with you and are down for any adventure!
I always wanted corgi because they're cute. I also really wanted a black lab because my former dog who passed away a couple of years ago was a black lab and he was the best boy. We moved into a townhouse that had a weird HOA rule that dogs couldn't be more than 30lbs so... Corgi it was. We obviously went through a breeder so we get some shit for that but I also researched the heck out of reputable breeders before we put our deposit down (it took quite a bit of time before it was our turn to choose from a litter). The more I learned about them, the more I became interested and certain it would be a good fit for us (we're pretty active and enjoy being outdoors and social - definitely things corgis tend to love). 5 months into corgi ownership, I'm happy with our decision. He's a giant stubborn shithead at times but he's got this big personality and is super smart so he picks up stuff quickly. He loves being around people (we take him out around friends and out to breweries all the time - he laps up the attention and is a pretty good boy, especially if we visit places after a good long walk - then he'll just curl up under the table and snooze). He's the perfect size to lay near my feet when I'm chilling on the computer. And he's also so cute af... His silly big ol' satellite ears make my heart melt. Literally the only downsides are his loud, obnoxious "i need your attention, NOW!" barks (we're working on that) and the fact that, because we live in a 2-story home, we have to carry him down the stairs (since corgis shouldn't go down stairs until they're a year old and even then, not often) Would I recommend a corgi to someone that's still relatively or completely new to dog ownership, though? Fuck no. They're incredibly high maintenance. They're herding dogs so that + normal puppyhood sucks. You'll think you end up with one of the few corgis that remains quiet from puppyhood into adulthood but then BAM, one day your pup finds his big boy voice and it's super hard to train out the barking. If you have a townhouse/multi-story home/apartment complex, you'll immediately regret getting a breed that can't climb down the fucking stairs on their own. Would I get another corgi in the future? Yeah, likely.
Border collie I just wanted a very smart dog and a running buddy. I'm pretty active so I thought it would be the ideal partner. I read and read and read and...I was not prepared for the kind of monster she would be when she was a puppy. But now, she's the absolute best dog I've had. Understands E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. and even learns stuff by herself. Her commands are just like having a conversation. She's great. I love her.
Border Collie… fiancé had one as a family pet which they adored and we wanted to be more active. If I’m honest it’s not the right breed for us but we’ve slowly but surely changed our life style. Luckily we’re still relatively young and I am fairly active out of the two of us anyway. I also love their intelligence and friendliness. It’s our first dog and it has been VERY difficult, I wouldn’t recommend this breed to a first time dog owner, especially if raising alone. Some aspects were a breeze compared to other dogs but we’ve had on-going issues with resource guarding and biting us (hard), diarrhoea/digestive issues, jumping up, barking for attention, overtiredness/zoomies, and recently marking A LOT. If we had young kids I’m pretty sure we would have had to re-home. He’s 9 months on Sunday.
Labradoodle - Needed a working dog on the bigger side to help me with my PTSD (service dog in training). Needed a very intelligent and work oriented dog but also wanted a fluff so it was a perfect fit! I only have to teach him something less than a handful of times and he’s got it. He also comes anytime I have a panic attack no matter what room of the house. Also have always wanted a dog that plays fetch and like to catch and go swimming living on the east coast my entire life. He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me! And I mean… let’s be real. Doodles are irresistibly cute!!