<p>When DD (dog, that is) passed away several years ago, I decided to take a little break from dog ownership and all the responsibilities that go with it. Now that DS1 is headed off to college in the fall, this seems like a good time to bring a new dog into the house. I will have more free time and I think the distraction would be welcome. Does anyone care to recommend their breed? DD1 was a Norwegian Elkhound, a wonderful dog who I loved dearly, but a constant shedder and, I will admit, not the brightest bulb (230 on the old SAT). I’d like another medium sized dog (say 50 or 60 pounds), with a nice bark (no yippers), companionable and one I might be able to run with. I would rather not be up to my ankles in dog hair again. One breed I’m considering is the Portuguese Water Dog. Anyone?</p>
<p>those dogs are sooooo cute, that is all I know about them, but cute is IMPORTANT!!</p>
<p>I should add, I would also like a dog that is trainable. Elkhounds will typically do what you want only if it’s what they were planning on already.</p>
<p>Well, in honor of our own DDD (dear departed dog), I have to put in a word for labs. Our chocolate lab was smart, endearing to all, beautiful, well-trained, no yipping. A truly perfect dog (can you hear me, Megan?). In our case, she had “her pillow” which is where she always lay (lie, lay, lain,laid?), so shedding was not an issue. There would always be some there, but not all over the house.</p>
<p>She varied between 60-70 lbs. as an adult (you will find some heavier labs, but too often that is a master/mistress problem of overfeeding).</p>
<p>Our cats’ fur, on the other hand…</p>
<p>I like those labs; I have friends with a pair (Mocha and Latte, oy). How was she with the cats; we have a pair.</p>
<p>She was great with the cats. One cat tried to be a dog (take walks, etc.) and would also snuggle up to her on her pillow. Another cat never got quite that friendly to Megan, but Megan wanted to be equally friendly to her.</p>
<p>Now, she would have gladly eaten all of their food until a friend suggested keeping their food in the mudroom closet with the sliding door open just wide enough for the cats to get in, but not wide enough for Megan. Worked great. We used dry Iams for all.</p>
<p>We have Border Collies-rescues- so needless to say, we are overwhelmed with energy and intelligence. And we are a bit snooty too because BCs are the smartest ones, and the most annoying dogs you have ever met. The looks we get from them if we don’t know what they are thinking. They are kind of like teenagers that way, we are useful to take them around and feed them, but we are the dumbest people on the planet.</p>
<p>I have been blessed with two male golden retrievers, whose personalities turned out to be very different (hunting line vs. show line). They are loyal, loving, smart, easily trained and obedient, but they do shed. We get them sheared for the summer and they love it (and it solves the hair problem, for at least a few months of the year). If I had it to do over, though, I might try a lab. They have the same characteristics but without the long hair. You probably already know that whatever you decide on, you should choose a good breeder and check out the lineage for disposition, intelligence, and health-related factors. The breeder may even be willing to board your dog when you go away, and that’s a real plus. Good luck!</p>
<p>LOL. One concern about BCs; I have a B&B and need a dog that will calm down a bit once it’s out of puppyhood. How’s the shedding?</p>
<p>We have a Pembroke Welsh Corgi and I must say they are very smart, very loyal and full of energy. The great thing about her … she’s also willing to just lie in the bed and sleep late when we do. Corgis are “big” dogs in small bodies (~30 lbs). She is my husband’s shadow and loves to go wherever he goes … he even takes her to work sometimes. She’ll lie by the window next to the door (where she is right now) watching and waiting for DH to come home. </p>
<p>As you may have read in another thread, we recently brought another dog into our home. This one is mine and I think I got her because DD is away for several weeks this summer and Sadie (our Corgi) is much more attached to DH than me … I felt the need to have a dog of my own. I adopted a yellow lab/golden retriever mix and I have my hands full. I will say, though, that she (Scout) is just a puppy (~4 1/2 - 5 months old … d.o.b. not confirmed due to rescue status … vet-guessed birthdate). Something that I already find very endearing about her is her desire to be with me always. She thinks she’s a lap dog, so the moment I sit, she’s in my lap. She’s already 27 pounds, so I fear the lap thing won’t last very much longer. She’s done beautifully with crate training … never potties in her crate. There are days when I want to pull my hair out, but I have to remember back to Sadie’s puppy days and think “this too shall pass”.</p>
<p>Good luck. Uh-oh, I just read your post again … Corgis do shed quite a bit, I’m afraid, so that might not be the best breed for you. They’re so stinkin’ cute, though! Hope this link works - Scout and Sadie -<a href=“http://images.snapfish.com/343%3B%3A83523232fp63%3Dot>232%3B%3D765%3D897%3DXROQDF>23238%3B363%3B%3A72ot1lsi[/url]”>http://images.snapfish.com/343%3B%3A83523232fp63%3Dot>232%3B%3D765%3D897%3DXROQDF>23238%3B363%3B%3A72ot1lsi</a></p>
<p>PWDs are lovely dogs and highly trainable. Very playful and people are amused by them. Several friends have them. They do like the water.</p>
<p>I will also point out that a standard poodle meets your requirements perfectly. I was stunned to find out that the publicity–that poodles don’t shed and don’t cause a problem for those who are allergic to dogs–is actually accurate. I got a poodle–when the kids left home–because I like the personality and the brains.</p>
<p>We have a Bearded Collie that’s a great guy, fun-loving, and somewhat of an independent thinker to our training commands. 45 pounds and probably leveling out at 50. Has hops like Michael Jordan. Loves to run. With all the fur, not much shedding.</p>
<p>Lots of energy for them collie dogs…mine are ten, eleven and nine and still need two to three walks a day, and follow you around…they are very loving, but be warned-LOTS OF WORK and very annoying…one runs into the house and smells all the stairs to see if someone came in while we were out, they have different barks for the postman (no cookies) and the UPS guy (cookies)</p>
<p>Poodles don’t shed, and there are some really good mixed breeds</p>
<p>Check out the pound or rescue, sometimes a very sweet dog is there</p>
<p>A standard poodle is another dog I’ve been thinking about. (Trying very hard to get beyond my dislike of their smaller relatives.) How’s the bark? Has your pup settled down a little as it’s gotten older? (I don’t mind a dog with some spirit, just can’t have a hyper dog w/guests.) </p>
<p>Citygirlsmom, your dogs sound wonderful, but might be a little too much for me. A friend of mine has a BC named Kay. I call her Kay the Wonder Dog because she is such a great dog.</p>
<p>I get my cats at the pound, but I worry more about a dog being an unknown quantity with my business (B&B).</p>
<p>1moremom–Elly (my SP) is now almost 20 months old. She is currently asleep on the couch. We had an hour-long walk this AM (she was off-leash, so she ran and I walked). She does not beg for food when we have guests; she has been easy to train; our guests comment on how nice she is. Her bark is deep and full and loud. My husband hates it; I like it. She only barks for new events in her environment (for example, she hasn’t barked at the milkman since the first time), which I like and DH doesn’t. Her breeder pointed out that she barks more than most standard poodles; if she is a frequent barker, other SPs must barely bark at all.</p>
<p>Where are you located? I occasionally hear of rescue SPs. Right now my breeder has a four-year-old female that she’s retiring from breeding. She describes her as an “agility prospect,” which means she’s high energy and trainable. Send me a PM if you want the link to the breeder’s website. (She’s in Oregon.)</p>
<p>Except for the shedding part, Australian Shepherds are a great dog that fits your requirement: Highly intelligent; love to play; live to please you; a real dog bark (but not incessantly); very friendly but they put up a good act as if they will protect you.</p>
<p>ff (love your name)-- I think of them as being a lot like a border collie; no?</p>
<p>What about one of the bigger spaniel breeds? The easiest/sweetest dog we’ve had is a Welsh Spaniel. He’s beautiful, he’s gentle, and he only barks when someone comes to the door (two short barks, then silent). He was very well trained before he hit old age (I think he’s just too deaf now to hear the commands), and he weighs about 45-50 pounds. He barely sheds, and he’s just a wonderful dog.</p>
<p>It sounds like a good dog for you would be an Airedale. They’re not as smart as a poodle, but they’re definitely no dummies. They are very low maintenance in the grooming department, too. A friend of mine has one and he’s a sweetie! I’m personally partial to shep mixes. We have a German/Aussie mix and he’s gotta be the sweetest, but most loyal and protective dog around. His sidekick is a Boykin Spaniel. She’s a good dog in her own right and very laid-back, but slightly smaller than what you’re looking for at around 30 lbs. The males weigh around 40. I could see her personality fitting in a B&B, though.</p>
<p>Yes, similar in intelligence and athletic ability. Aussies are a bit larger than BCs - generally about 50 - 55 pounds and probably have a bit deeper of a bark. I can’t comment on personality differences because I don’t have first hand knowledge of border collies. However, as I said Aussies live to please their master and are always looking to see what you want them to do. </p>
<p>They also love to play. I used to take a snooze in my chair and when I would wake up I would find all of my dog’s toys and tennis balls in my lap which he had gently placed there during my nap. He would be just sitting there looking at me, waiting for me to start thowing them.</p>