We all know why we love our own breed, but maybe we wonder why some other people are so mad abouts theirs LOL. For me, life without a greyhound would be no life.

While I grew up with cocker spaniels and labradors and loved them, I also spent a lot of time with my dad at greyhound events. When I moved out and was in a position to get my own dog - greyhounds were what I wanted. I now work with an organisation which promotes sighthounds as pets and also organises walks/off lead playdates in a secure settings for sighthound owners. We really try to promote all hounds but especially greys here where they are seen as the most UNSUITABLE of pets. As part of this work, we also rehome some hounds. I show mine and lure course them. They have done a little agility but weren't great! For me they are the perfect breed. Beautiful, sure, but it's the personalities that melt me. Friendly, affectionate, loyal, funny....there's no better dog. They are also handy for a lot of people in that they don't require as much exercise as one would expect and are very laidback in the house. We currently have two, are planning a third, have had three previously and will never be without one...or a few ;)

Despite all this, people still presume they need 10 miles of walking a day and are vicious. Sigh!

Oh, what a good topic!
I inherited my cockers from my grandfather.  I still like the breed and will always own at least one but there are so many breeds I would love to own that I'm running out of time!!lol  I don't want to restrict myself to one breed(I know, makes me sound un-loyal).  I did try.  I found a breed I loved(and still do) but I found I compared all the dogs to my first(and best) dog of that breed.  So I changed breed.  Hubby wanted a springer to work so we got one and now, I will always have a working springer.  Fab! But There are still so many on the list of dreams.

I think you don't need to be mad about one certain breed, I'm mad about all dogs

You're right, and actually I could never have a lab or spaniel again as I'd only compare them to my old dogs :( I would LOVE a borzoi one of these fine days!

Staffords kind of chose me :)  

A friend had a SBT who was just so adorable, friendly and a star with her two young children.  I fell for him immediately.  Embarked upon a long & careful search for my first Stafford 10 years ago.

My home wouldn't be a home without one (so I've got two!).  Their unique character & 'human disguised as a small terrier' are just two of the reasons I love the breed so much.

I spent decades with the wrong breed for me. :) I grew up with a Papillon and several Poodles in the extended family, and always wanted both breeds. It took until I was 39 before I got a Papillon and I've still never had a  Poodle -I actually have the chance of one right now but in reality cannot take on another breed with even just one as a single pet at the moment, much as I'd love to. However the Papillons turned out to be exactly what I thought they were like and I only wish I'd got them sooner.

My first dog was a Golden Retriever and he was sort of a rescue. I was walking him regularly to get some extra pocket money and when his owner no longer was able to keep him she gave him to me. I was 15 and I've had Goldens ever since -a total of 10. My current one is 8, coming up to 9, and will be my last. For so many years I thought this was MY breed and although I like many MANY breeds, I always saw it as my main breed and thought it always would be. In 1995 I got my first Cavalier, he was mainly acquired so that my daughter would have a small dog to help me walk (she was 3 at the time) turned out oldest daughter wasn't really interested in dogs but I've had Cavaliers ever since. For a short time showed a little (as I did with Goldens too) and toyed with the idea of breeding, but it never really took off and although I am 100 % convinced I will NEVER want to be without a Cavalier, I'm quite happy for it to be just one single one as a pure pet and for a bit of fun obedience. I.e. I have no wish to get more involved in the breed, much as I love them.

Have had crossbreeds, Border Collies, a Cocker, a Labrador over the years (mainly rescues) -all nice (except the Cocker who was horrible) but not anything I'd really want to have again.

In 1999 I met a Malinois for the first time during a visit to the US and as a direct result of that I ended up getting my own, and realised THIS was my breed. Funnily enough Papillons are just like a toy version of them -such similar temperaments. I couldn't do with slower, laid back dogs again, hence not having another Golden -it took me all that time to realise what I really get on best with are super fast hyper active dogs that never get tired. That's despite not being particularly active myself LOL. I guess in old age it will eventually be only Papillons when we can't cope with big dogs any more, the advantage of the Papillons is that they happily take as little or as much exercise as you care to give them.

I had the Collins book of dogs when I was about 10, my eye was drawn to a white standard poodle in lion trim, I kept going back to it, and loved it.  I started buying books on poodles, bought a toy, then moved onto standards when I was an adult and married.  I love all dogs, but will only own poodles!  Call me mad :)

I would adore a Poodle but my OH hates the shaved bits so much, he knows I would keep in the show trim so no chance of the fluffy trim he's so fond of.

Miniature Schnauzers are my first breed really, apart from childhood dogs. My mother agreed to my need for a dog almost four years ago after I fell ill. She said I could have one if I trained it, groomed it, fed it, walked it; basically everything, and if it was non-shedding, small, and good with kids. So there came my first, bought for me (I was 17 at the time) but he has ended up being the family dog really. I trained him to an inch of his life and though I adore him deeply, he is a boring dog, LOL. Then came the second whom I wanted to show and hopefully have a pup from at some point to show too. She turned out to be my perfect heart dog, and I'm more in love with her than I can even express. She was too dark for the show ring but her pup is doing well. Her pup is our third and she too is more of a family dog.

My next breed is still in the air; if I don't have another Mini when we emigrate, plans are already in motion for a different breed I've had my eye on.

[b I don't want to restrict myself to one breed]

Me neither !

My first dog was Louie a wonderful dream of a dog ( white GSD ) but he was Eddie's choice, much as I adored him, a GSD was never the dog for me.
I ended up getting a Stafford, as on paper, they seemed to fit what I wanted in a dog and I loved the way they looked. So I got my Celeste, and what a dog !, she was utterly perfect for me and everything and more I could have wished for.
Although now my next dog will be a HWHV, I'll always have a Stafford, I really couldn't not have one, their lust for life and love is unquenchable, and their loyalty hard to beat ( unless there's a sausage on offer ), easy to train, but with a " hook or by crook " mentality on the side, I'd never be without one, but this time, I'll get a rescue.

> I think you don't need to be mad about one certain breed, I'm mad about all dogs

Now I am the opposite it has to be one breed, but then breeding has always interested me (came from small livestock showign adn breedign to dogs) and I don't think you can do justice to more than one breed, unless various family members are into different breeds and you have loads of space and money.

I quite like a lot of dogs but don't want to live with anything else than what I have.

There are some breeds that if I had no other choice I would rather not own a dog at all, they are some of the most popular/common ones too.

I never understand those with a motley assortment of breeds, they must be very adaptable people, luckily it takes all sorts to make a world.

Pure fluke to be honest!  I was actually looking for a malamute, did my research and decided against them, and spotted an ad in the freeads for blue and fawn dobes.  Yup, worst possible way to get one!  Lesson learned :-P

But that was it - as soon as Remy was home I was hooked on dobes, always will be.  Only had 3.5 so far but there will be many more :-) 

I do also have a love of malinois and they are next on the list - only got 0.25 of one now though :-P but in her head she is almost all mali.  Despite the crazy nightmare that she's been at times she's done nothing to dissuade me from them - the only thing stopping me at the moment is that I'm still not back to full health (years of thyroid decline take a while to sort!) so I wouldn't keep up with one right now - I just about manage Linc :-P but I will have one, one day, perhaps when I get down to 5 dogs.

*snort*

I honestly don't know why!!!!, never read the book and only really watch the film now with interest as I have the breed.
Finding it quite strange that I can't pin point a time or reason hhhmmmm........but I do adore my breed so maybe it was fate lol

I sort of inherited the breed with my OH, he and his ex had 2 and we had them at nights while she worked, having had GSD's for 25 years it was a huge change but I had always admired the BMD and now I am competly hooked. I would never have another GSD, I love the breed but not liking what some folk have done to it. I was always middle of the road ! I also love the fact that we can walk all 3 down the road or out at a country fair and so many people want to say hello instead of walking the other way as they did with the Shep's.
Aileen
PS I love the look of the Borzoi but it's not the breed for me and I would love to have a Malamute but am too old now to give one what it needs.

I do also have a love of malinois and they are next on the list - only got 0.25 of one now though :-p but in her head she is almost all mali.  Despite the crazy nightmare that she's been at times she's done nothing to dissuade me from them - the only thing stopping me at the moment is that I'm still not back to full health (years of thyroid decline take a while to sort!) so I wouldn't keep up with one right now - I just about manage Linc :-p but I will have one, one day, perhaps when I get down to 5 dogs.

You ought to come and visit at some point and meet our lot seeing as we live fairly close.  They might put you off for life LOL. :) (Did you ever get my e-mail last year talking about that?!)

Our two Mali/Golden crosses really are very much Golden except in looks and it's not often we see much Mali in them -the odd bit here and there only. They're even aging differently, at 10 they look several years older than their 12 year old Malinois mum.

I spent ages wondering this - we had Setters because my husband was brought up with them - his uncle bred, showed and judged.  However although they have a wonderful temperament I wanted a dog that I could walk anywhere (try lifting a wet muddy setter over a stile) and one that I could do something active with besides walking.  I went to Discovering Dogs and Crufts too - really fancied a Welsh Springer but knew that I would have to wait for ages to get a pup.  So I went for a working sheepdog.  She has given me an interesting 7 years and I am starting to think about a youngster for the next agility dog before I get too old.  I must say my preference is for a collie now although one chosen from a more informed background.  I would never consider breeding though - does not interest me at all.  I would have another setter tomorrow if I could have a collie for agility too.  One can dream!

When I was 3 my mum used to take me to nursery every morning and we had to walk across a large park.  Every morning we used to meet a woman with a cocker spaniel called Barney.  I fell in love with Barney and used to pestered the life out of my mum asking if I could have a 'Barney dog'.  Her answer was always the same "When you're old enough and leave home, get a job and your own home then you can get a Barney dog". 

Unfortunately the time was never right to get a 'Barney dog', I worked full-time and travelled round Europe due to my husbands job. So, when we eventually settled down and I gave up work the first thing I did was look for a 'Barney dog'.  I found a wonderful breeder and put my name on her waiting list, I had to wait 18 months but I now have a 'Barney dog'.  He will be 9 in August but it is just the best dog ever - I waited 37 years for him but he was certainly worth the wait. :-)

Barbara I am with you on the one breed thing, even though there are 6 types of dachsie the mini long is the one I love[first met one when I was a nanny and then my parents got one], great temperament and attitude to life, settle well to my routine, 3 were not tiny pups when I got them.

I grew up with cockers and since getting my own home and finally settled I got one very long lived one but when it came to thinking about breeding I couldn't have coped with more than 2 as from past experience they didn't calm down till they were about 10yrs old, although there are cocker genes in the mini long dachsie they calm down much earlier in life but still have their mad moments.

I don't like large breeds or muscley ones either but as others have mentioned it wouldn't do if we all liked the same.

> You ought to come and visit at some point and meet our lot seeing as we live fairly close.  They might put you off for life LOL. :-) (Did you ever get my e-mail last year talking about that?!)

No I didn't!  Nuts!!  I did have a fair bit of trouble with the email account I was using then though so it might have gotten junk filtered or something (I never check the junk folder as there was just so much going in there).  I will have to come say hi definitely - I need to meet some more malis, more experience the better to prepare me lol!  Where is it you live exactly?

Probably because I'm a little insane or so I'm told by many other dog owners, but although fond of many breeds I've loved the BH since I was a child when my godmother had them. Sadly they have more than their fair share of issues & I would weep if I added up the annual vets bills but I'm passionate about them.
Stubborn, wilful, sensitive, loyal and I can't imagine our home without them about. Occasionally they can push me to the limit when out walking, have to be with them mentally all the time but they only have to look in my direction when called & my heart sings.

I just saw a Cavalier on a course I was on, and thought they were the most beautiful dogs. Read up on them and thought they sounded like nice easy going cuddly dogs, small enough to pick up if needed but big enough not to lose. 10 years on I have 3 (having sadly lost one) and wouldn't be without them! My husband had an American cocker as a child and never wanted anything else, so we have one of those too. He's a lovely boy and I love him lots (dog and husband!), but I love my Cavaliers most! :-)

Went to Bournemouth Ch show in 1985 with my Goldens, walked past the Clumber ring where open dog was taking place and I was hooked, didnt get one untill 1999, waited until the time was right, and now only have 2 after losing my old boy before christmas. Luckily I have his son to carry him on.

I've always loved the GSD ever since my granddad had one when I was younger. Shayne was a big baby, and so dopey. He used to let the cat jump all over him, and I remember the smell when he'd burn his tail on their calor gas fire and not even notice!!

My granddad could walk him off lead and he would be at his side constantly, and I even have pictures of him sitting on my granddads lap!

Anyway, when I was younger we always had smaller breeds (A Yorkie, a Cairn X lancashire heeler for example) and it wasn't until recently that I decided to get a GSD. It was a family decision but he is 'my' dog.

I think what I liked about them is that they look almost like a wolf type breed, but they're so soft and are really just big babies when they have the attention of their favourite person!

I had 3 cockers over the years and I adored all of them. When I lost the last one (at 15), there was no way that I could bear to try and replace him. I went through a miserable period of about 18 months, with no dog at all.

Luckily, fate intervened and my new breed found me. :-)

All the dogs I would consider owning are toy dogs with long coats,and suspect this is because I grew up with yorkies.

Currently I have two cavs and three jap chins and the two breeds get along very well and have similar temperaments,although the chins are stubborn little blighters!

I have had several cavs over the years and always thought they would be the only breed for me until I met a chin for the first time.Iwas working at hearing dogs and a chin pup walked into the training hall and it was love at first sight and I knew from that moment that I had to have one.

The first chin I got was a one who didn't make the grade to be a fully fledged hearing dog and I have never looked back.They are cheeky,clever little dogs and I will hopefully always have one in my life.

I chose cavs when my grown up daughters were very young as they fitted my requirements for a good family dog and I can honestly say they are wonderful little dogs who can fit into most enviroments and families.

My husband prefers the cavs to the chins but I think I probably prefer the chins as they are just so cheeky .

The other breeds I would consider having are papillons and maltese but funnily enough I don't think I would have a yorkie as no dog could ever replace my childhood companion,pinky,who I had from the age of three until I was nearly twenty one.

Even now I can feel myself welling up when thinking about her.

Well I was raised with working Labradors, they are a great all round dog but just not enough for me and when the time was right I did an immense amount of research into choosing the right breed. I have ended up with the BMD and love, love them, I can't see myself not ever having one. I have however added another breed which I had always wanted from younger, but was told no, probably due to the silly scare mongering, but hey I have a lovely Rottweiler and yes she keeps me on my toes, but she just amazes me at how each day is greeted with HUGE enthusiasm.. Now I can't see myself without a Rott either..

They are going to add up eh?

There are other breeds I admire and would like in time, a Samoyed for one when I actually have the time and inclination to want to deal with that amount of grooming. I'm a wee bit taken with the Aussie and now the Gordon Setter(Thanks Rachel)... I do like the large breeds and fairly active happy go lucky breeds.. I like personality in a dog to shine through :-)

I have had the opposite experience with Miniature Schnauzers - my first was ideal, a great chracter and easily trained. My second is simiar, but slightly more lively and wilful - which I put down to being a male! After the early death of my first, a year later I got an 18 month old bitch who is reactive, a yapper and troublemaker. She was brought up with children, but is the only one of my dogs I would not trust as she is nips when she gets excited. She has put me off the breed for life!

I had a Pembroke Corgi years ago who is probably my favourite dog. You could see her legs and she looked dainty (which she was not!) compared to the heavy weight Corgis around nowadays. She did everything from showing to agility - and even hunted foxes in my local wood!

As I am years away from getting another dog, I am interested in a lot of breeds ranging from Vallhunds to Standard Poodles - definately not a terrier, a hound  (except Whippets, I am from a Yorkshire mining village!) a tiny toy breed or a bull breed. It stil leaves quite a large choice

Now if I wanted a low to groudn breed I would have a Vallhund.

Sounds a bit like my bitch before she grew up a bit (naughty, steals things, and barks at other dogs on walks); must have glutton for punishment though. She's calmed down so much over the past few months but the naughtier she gets, the more I seem to fall for her.

Incidentally my 'boring' one is the one I would never trust with children as though he's very well trained, mild, and over all perfect, he has a very low tolerance for pain and shows almost no sign when he's about to react to it (usually with a sharp intake and a gentle but still there teeth touch). Best behaved but the opposite to my bitch who I would trust with kids infinitely.

I've always thought they look like your breed, but with the legs of a daschund, Barbara! lol

Yep, that is why I considered one when my daughter wanted to start junior handling and I thought her too young to handle one of ours, but by 8 years old she was fine to handle Elka at 4.

I have a picture here of my three year old niece walking Nando as a puppy. Now I imagine if he got wind she had hold of the lead he would run like the wind on purpose!

Both my parents have grown up with large cross breeds which carryed on in my childhood, last cross breed we got a a collie x gsd, he was a present from a boyfriend, when we split up i moved back n with my parents so he came with me a month later i found out i was 22 weeks pregnant with my eldest daughter, we did consider rehoming him as i felt as a single parent i could not afford to keep him, by that point he had worked his way under my mums skin, so he stayed. Fast forward 7 years i had my own place a 2nd child and was working part time decided i would look for a dog in need that needed a home. Along came max a 9 month old bullmastif that was huge, within 4 weeks we found out his hips and elbows were bad. we loved that boy within a inch of his life he made it to 18 months when he could no longer walk even as a slim dog he was touching 60kg when we let him go to be pain free. Took me another 4 years before i could have another dog in the house and yet again another rescue bullmastiff a girl this time called lucy, another dog that was loved within a inch of her life and she repaied us 10 fold when she was 2 we decided to go for a kc reg boy because i had made a few friends who showed their dog and i wanted to give that a go that pup is now 6 years old he has done us proud in the show ring and above all proud as a family pet. we are now upto 5 bullmastiffs all related in one way or another and all my babys, i have a love for certain other breeds but my bully babys will always rule a place in my heart and my house would not be my house without a couple of them. Now my parents are geting on a bit they dont have a dog but my dad always tells people if he wer to have another it would be a bullmastiff, my sister has also caught the bug and owns 2 herself now.

For me, at the moment it's siberian huskies. I grew up with collies so am used to high energy dogs but always admired huskys and was of course captivated by their beautiful eyes (although we researched them for 2 years unlike the morons who I meet and want one purely because,' their eyes are pretty' grrrr!)
We currently have 2 and I love their personalities! Eternal puppies, great fun, very expressive and I can't stand ' barky' dogs so love how quiet they usually are yet when they do find their voices no sound is quite as amazing as a husky howl!
Having said all that and despite my love for the breed I think the next addition for us would be a japanese shiba inu. From the research I have done they seem to have husky personalities in a smaller, manageable package with less exercise requirements!

I was happy to have any dog..............All I ever wanted was animals really.
I would have prefered to have a horse,but no space or cash.
So, living within my means and confines turned to the computer to help find a suitable dog to share our limited space.
Fed in our criteria and out popped the Australian Terrier, after a wait as they are not easy to come by got our first and now forever smitten.
They are small, but can manage lots of walking, they have big personalities, but are gentle and loyal, friendly and loving too.
Cheapish and easy ish to maintain .

Karen :)

Throughout my childhood I was never allowed a dog so within a couple of months of leaving home I was looking! Husband wanted a 'big' dog and I wanted a 'long haired dog', he suggested a Labrador, we settled on a Golden Retriever.

>I was happy to have any dog..............All I ever wanted was animals really.<br />

Karen, you must be my long lost twin sister!  :-)  :-)  :-)

:) It is fairly simple isn't it :)

Karen

I'm a person who likes most breeds, but I think that's because of a bit of a varied past.  I grew up with GSDs pure pets/guard dogs, had a neighbour who had Airedale Terriers, got into junior handling with them so learnt stripping of a square dog along the way, did well in my teens handling, ended up being paid to show an Irish Wolfhound, an Afghan, a Wire Fox Terrier and a few Border Terriers just from contacts at show, most were older folks that needed someone younger to do the work.  Then family got a smooth collie from a local that no longer wanted it, I got a border terrier to be my very own show dog, he wasn't great but we learnt a lot together.  Mother didn't want a dog that required stripping, clipping or thinning anymore so looked at super short coats for our next dog, I said Doberman, then the no big dog rule came in, lol. We went wandering on a day I was showing the Afghan and in the next ring was dachshunds, so there the fate was sealed with them. :) But a few dachshunds later we very much realised they were just as bad on the knees as a bigger dog.  So for my latest breed, I wanted a breed that was small ish but that would be a free stand breed, we were having a lot of trouble finding one we liked (I do all the showing but mother does like to come along and be involved still), then we went to every day of crufts 2011 to look at breed rings as well as discover dogs at all the different ones on the list, then I got tripped over by a group of Lancashire Heelers that were on their way home, the women apologised so much she said they literally made a bee line for me, lol.  They weren't a breed that had even crossed my radar before then, so in a way this last breed picked me :) So this I finally got my first, he is a 5 month old terror but an amazing dog that I think now why did I wait so long to have one. But if I had the space and money and time I would have Smooth Collies and Lancashire Heelers on mass, lol.

I met a borzoi once when I was tiny and thought it was the most magnificent dog in the world, my family always had collies and gsds and thought borzois stupid big dogs so I wasn't allowed one. I read up on them though, visited shows when I could and as soon as I was able I bought one myself. I had 15 borzois over a 22 year period but my last one did not have a good temperament and that's when I realised just how big they are. Up till then with lovely natured dogs I'd never considered their size or strength. About 10 years ago I seen a photo online of a silken windhound, how wonderful I thought they were, really just miniature borzois. I joined the internet group for them and followed their progress over the years. 7 years ago the first silken was imported into the UK and I had the option to buy one of her grandkids 3 years ago. I jumped at the chance and now have 2 of them and will probably never have another breed now, they have many of the characteristics of my beloved borzois but slightly easier to train and in a much easier to handle size :-)

I have 4 welsh springers now...the light of my life :-)

I come from a family that believed in dog ownership as a sequential affair--you get a dog and when it dies you get another. I've had a desert-bred saluki, a long haired dachshund, a standard poodle and a Lancashire heeler rescue. When I was bringing up my children and working full time they used to beg for a dog, but it just was a non-starter with no one to look after a dog during the day. As soon my younger son turned 16 and decided he wouldn't move with me to my new job, I began working from home and told him I'd be getting a dog as my 'reward.' I'd thought about a springer but the separate show and working standards didn't appeal. I thought a welshie might be the answer, was lucky enough to get a pup and immediately thought there was no reason to just stop at one.

This breed has stolen my heart forever. They are beautiful in every way--such nice temperaments, as long as you can put up with having them be with you most of the time--in the kitchen, following you to the shower (except when it's their bath time), sleeping on your feet, etc.) They can be real clowns, occasionally very stubborn and are quick to learn anything you care to teach them. 

ceejay, I'm surprised you would have to wait so long for a puppy unless you were waiting for a very specific mating. My new puppy has been "in my head" for two years because I was waiting for one bitch (then just over a year) and the right dog to produce a bitch puppy of potential show quality. I had my name down for a puppy very early, but I know some of that litter (and they were all super puppies) went to owners who only made enquiries after they'd been born. Quite a few welshies do agility now and some are extremely good at it. If you are interested pm me and I will pass some contact details along.

I am another one with a mixed batch.  Grew up with a rough collie but they are just too big and hairy for me now!
Then had a mixed breed (probably collie x but so was everything in those days)
Then a long haired border collie.
Then a lab type rescue girl.  She had been used as a brood bitch on a puppy farm, dumped with lab rescue when she got too old, took on by an elderly couple one of whom later passed away the other was unable to walk her at all.  Result was a grossly overweight unspeyed 9 year old.  She dieted, was speyed and gave us 5 great years. 
Now, I have my beagle/foxhound mix Lola who was an irish import who I took on at about 5 months as they were having trouble homing her.  She is a beautiful hooligan but I would never have another. 
And my only dog I have ever chosen based on breed and gone out and picked a puppy is my english springer, I knew I wanted a working girl with a tail and ended up with my Roxy.  She has definitely been the easiest dog I have had to train (although after the beagle....)  Would I have another?  possibly but there are so many other great breeds out there too.

Must admit I get a few looks when I go out with my two, my fiance's shih tsu and my housemate's staffie x - bit of a mixed bag!

My boyfriend at the time had Dogues and I always wanted a big dog, but back then like most had never heard of the DDB so I wanted a Rottie. After he got his girl who loved me more than any of her own family members I fell in love with the breed. There the unmistakable kind of Dog that if you see a flash of Ginger and wrinkles you know its a Dogue. Spent a long time researching the breed and i visited a breeder in Lancashire and she had lots. I bought my boy in 2006 and we did a bit of showing before he was out of puppy but didnt get anywhere. I now have 3 but I dont think I will have anymore in the near future. I love the breed and there is nothing nicer than a beautiful specimen, but my interest is now breeding and showing.

The breed is in a terrible state, so many puppies on adverts prices drop drop dropping each week. Adverts for adolescents with a very low price will then attract other people just wishing to cash in. The majority of breeders and owners do not care about hipscores (remember the hounding i got, proud to now have a very low average for dogs I have bred and that my dog has produced) I dont believe there are enough good homes for all the puppies being produced. I also have one French Bulldog almost 2yo and welcomed recentish addition of a Pug. I had success with my Frenchie whilst in puppy but have retired him due to his hatred of it, the poor boy gets bitten at every social dog outing recently bar shows, last one was really nasty had to be shaved. Thanks to many stigma on pugs health (plus my OH sayinig no( but he loves her to and wants her kc in his name) )and PDE (programme not illness) i havent had a pug sooner which is a shame as i LOVE them, everything about them and the fact that they just LOVE everything. Including food being a high priority. I am still not sold on the terrier nature of the French bulldog, he is exactly as the breed is described and would very much prefer to be just the one dog in my life (unfortunately for him he cant be, unless I pet home him!) Not sure if this is just him.... Ill have another pug easily, a showgirl would be nice. There the jam in my doughnut (i often describe her as Dough and would like to base an affix on that description). Also my circumstances have changed and we have a child, having big dogs is a huge liability (not in anyway for Tristan, they are fantastic with him) but when out walking, visitors to the house, constant on edge and having to hound socialisation into them. Its hard work, my preference has changed to a little fat Doughball who can come anywhere and sleep on the bed without taking up all the room. Plus the slobber ive had enough to last a lifetime.

> I have my beagle/foxhound mix Lola who was an irish import

Could swhe actually be a Kerry Beagle? http://kerrybeagle.blogspot.co.uk/p/photo-gallery_12.html

She is much smaller than any of them - she probably has been bred along those sort of lines but I had her DNA'd which came back as 100% beagle down one parent's side and foxhound x mixed breed down the other.  I shall look into that though.  Thanks

Cavaliers have it all imo, they have a super temperament - ideal for young and old alike - are beautiful to look at and are a very manageable size. I love the way they love their home comforts too, never happier than when snuggled with you on the sofa :-) But they do also love a good walk, perfect really :-)

That said, I love many, many breeds. I grew up with a samoyed (and a lab/schnauzer cross) but as lovely as sammies are, maintaining the thick white coat puts me off. My first dog as a married woman was a bichon, pts aged 13. Doubt I would have another. We have also had standard poodles, fantastic dogs they are. Wouldn't rule out having another in the future (any size poodle in fact).

We could do with a thread about other than the breed(s) you currently have, what breed(s) do you admire or would love to own. My list would be ever so long! :-)

>Cavaliers have it all imo, they have a super temperament - ideal for young and old alike - are beautiful to look at and are a very manageable size. I love the way they love their home comforts too, never happier than when snuggled with you on the sofa  But they do also love a good walk, perfect really

Yes, that's one of the major things I love about them - so loving and snuggly at home, but up for a good long walk or a day at a rally trial too!

Yes but is that perhaps what went into the making of the Kerry beagle which doesn't seem to be kept outside Ireland so perhaps not represented in the DNA databases.

That did cross my mind when I looked at your link.  She may well be bred along those sort of lines, perhaps then crossed with a beagle.  Either way she is like living with a beagle on crack!  The other thing people tend to say is that she is like a miniature trailhound, again pictures of them are not dissimilar to the Kerry Beagles.  Have a look see what you think - www.photobucket.com/lola2010

Forgot to mention their ever wagging tails, such happy little souls :-)

My Stepdad trained, worked and did a small amount of trialling with Springers and I started helping him train the dogs and going out on shoots when I was 10 or 11 and quickly got hooked. Prior to that we'd had a Golden Retriever and a GSD who were both lovely but not really 'my' breeds. When I was in my teens (I'm now 31) you never saw a working Cocker on a shoot, or not in Northern Ireland where we were anyway, it was all Labs and Springers, but I met my first one out beating when I was about 16 and thought he was just fantastic - such a character, attractive, fast, busy and cheeky but a great worker. I was always going to have working gundogs of some sort and when I was in a position to have dogs of my own it had to be Cockers. Although I do still love working Springers I wouldn't have anything other than Cockers now, I've gone over to the dark side :-)  I really don't think they are a dog for everyone but I adore them; all my dogs work (or have done, oldest is medically retired) and the youngest one trials which is expensive and nerve-shredding but very addictive.

Unfortunately the breed has now become very popular and literally thousands of puppies of mostly indifferent (at best) quality are being churned out for the pet market, with a corresponding increase in them coming into rescues. Nothing sets my teeth on edge like the phrases 'pedigree full of FTCh!/will make great pets or working dogs!' - the pedigree may well be full of red 3 or 4 generations back but that means very little if the 'breeder' has no idea who these dogs are or what they were like and if the actual parents (and invariably grandparents) have never heard a gunshot in their lives; not to mention the fact that even if they did have strongly trial-bred dogs these are highly unlikely to make a 'great family pet' or even a working dog for anyone who isn't experienced enough to handle them.

For me Rough Collies ...on my 4th one ...Not sure about my next Breed . Powlish Lowland Sheepdog..Catalan Sheepdog or a Bearded Collie ????