More of a lurker than a poster so "hello"!

Just wondering how people came to choose their breed? Or did the breed choose you? Would you change given the chance?

I'm in my final years as a vet student and hope to get a dog if/when I qualify. Knowing some of the diseases that affect different breeds, temperament issues and so on has made me a bit lost as to what breeds would suit.

My favourite breeds tend not to be very long lived which is sad- Danes, Bernese Mountain Dog, Anatolian Shepherd. Love Ridgebacks and Borzois as well. I get quite stressed by "velcro" dogs like labs and springers (nice dogs but I tend to trip over them as they follow me round!) I think aloof but cuddly is nice... and not really into little dogs!

I'm sure as I treat more dogs I'll be put off more and more breeds! Quite sad really :( But its always nice to hear other people's stories :)

The way I did it was to look on the KC site at all the medium and small breeds (it couldn't be a large dog but didn't want toy sized). I made a list of all the breeds I liked the look of, then once I had my list I looked into each breed on it in terms or temperament, exercise needs, grooming needs, common health problems, Health testing etc crossing off breeds who didn't sound as if they would suite me or had too many health problems.
Ended up with Shiba Inu and Swedish Vallhunds but picked the vallhunds as I didn't want the big shedding that online and dog books said shiba's do. Although after I fell in love with the breed I found out they also shed a lot but it was too late I was in love so brought a new hover before I got my pup.
Then started my search for a good breeder.

The way I did it was to look on the KC site at all the medium and small breeds (it couldn't be a large dog but didn't want toy sized). I made a list of all the breeds I liked the look of, then once I had my list I looked into each breed on it in terms or temperament, exercise needs, grooming needs, common health problems, Health testing etc crossing off breeds who didn't sound as if they would suite me or had too many health problems.
Ended up with Shiba Inu and Swedish Vallhunds but picked the vallhunds as I didn't want the big shedding that online and dog books said shiba's do. Although after I fell in love with the breed I found out they also shed a lot but it was too late I was in love so brought a new hover before I got my pup.
Then started my search for a good breeder.

Not a breeder, just a pet owner with a great love of dogs.

I fell in love with Irish Setters when a teenager and just had to have one. Eventually came across a breeder who was willing to part with one to me and he became a much adored family dog. However, I realised that they could be quite a handful and need time to train properly, and with a young family in tow decided to look for something a little more calmer. Liked the gundogs mentality and the longer coat and having met some very nice golden retrievers, decided to look into them more seriously. Now on my fourth GR and love the breed.

I narrowed it down to size first - something that could live in our house and garden - and I could pop in and out of the car easily for taking to work.

I wanted to do agility originally, so went to discover dogs (despite living above my parents petshop for 18 yeas and working there) as it was a great opportunity to meet all breeds. Needed something short, nippy and clever. Narrowed it down to mini poodles (already had a standard at my parents) and 3 terriers.

Then I was ring party at my local agility show and met a lady with a couple of the terriers that I liked - and instantly fell in love (and she had qualified so was a bonus for the agility). Went home and told husband that's the breed I want :D They are also at risk and native welsh breed (like the husband :P) so was nice to know I was doing my bit to help the breed.

Ended up showing rather than agility as the breeder suggested giving it a go. They had a hard decision which bitch to keep for themselves! she did so well at her first "test show" that we carried it on. Now I'm hooked on the breed and would have more.

Probably the worst ways!

Dobes I sort of fell into; I spent years researching malamutes until I was in a position to get a pup, then had a very frank discussion with an excellent breeder who thoroughly put me off them (and 11 years later I can only thank her for that, as I know now that they are not the right breed for me at all).  In a sort of 'puppy blues' I then did the worst thing and browsed the freeads!  There was an ad for blue and isabella dobe pups there.

I've always had an admiration for dobes, back then they were not at all common where I was and they always caught my eye.  So I started some research and they fit what I wanted - intelligent, somewhat independant, goofy, energetic, highly trainable, and could be let off lead.  So I contacted the breeder and got my first pup - Remy, an isabella boy.  That was that - I've been hooked on them ever since and will never be without.  I'm a bit short on them at the moment, I've gone from three at one point to 1.5 now (Paige and Linc, who is dobe/dalmatian) but I will have more in the future.

Malinois was an, er, interesting first impression - I'll be laughed at for this I'm sure! - years ago there was a behind-the-scenes program on a film called "The Breed" (genetically enhanced dogs left to go feral on an island, group of teens/20s go there for a break and chaos ensues) which featured a number of malis.  There is a clip in the program that shows one of the malis demonstrated his 'aggression' - a small hand signal and he starts to snarl and snap, another and he immediately stops and starts wiggling like a loon for his reward :-D  That wiggle got me, and I started researching them.  That would be about 8 or 9 years ago now and I finally got my first mali this year - no spontaneity this time, I knew they would be hard work so I've waited a long, long time until I was in the right position to take one on.  And like dobes, I won't be without them now.

Getting into collies was totally different, a baptism by fire.  I'd actually always said I'd never have one - too crazy, not my sort of dog.  Too neurotic.  Then in 2012 I started work with a couple who'd taken on a right royal mess of one, hadn't been told the extent of her problems (not even a fraction of them), and were wholly unprepared for her, even though they'd had collies before.  They worked hard for three months but progress was next to nothing, and their environment was not suitable (too noisy for her, she is massively noise phobic) so after much discussion, we agreed that she'd come here to live with me.  And again, that was that - I now have another collie who I more or less fell for on sight as a pup (not in the 'it's a cute puppy' kind of way but more, a connection), and I fully expect that I'll always have them now, too.  I do find them hard work - much harder than malis or dobes - but the two I have are the archetypal neurotic collies, OCD tendencies, guarding problems, nerves and so on (I may have had Willow from 11 weeks but she wasn't properly socialised and is naturally nervy) but I wouldn't be without them.  But then I do tend towards dogs with issues!

I rather hope now that I don't fall for any other breeds - I don't have room for any more addictions!

I just liked the look of the Cavalier, so I got a book on the breed and fell in love completely. Yes they have health issues but the good breeders are working hard and they are the most wonderful breed!

Believe it or not, my love of hounds began when, holidaying as a family in the Lakes, I first came across a Foxhound being kenneled on the farm we stayed at, through the non-hunting season.   She was lovely.  From there I moved to Beagles but decided I was seeing far too many fat ones, and perhaps wrongly felt to be fit, they needed to work.   From there is was Bassets and has been ever since.   At first, before we could take one on (I'd not have one with both of us working full time), I'd terrorise anybody I came across with one and went to a few shows including Crufts when it was held in London.   I quite soon decided which 'type' I preferred and once we could afford for me to stop working at least for 6 months, bought a puppy from a well known leading breeder of the time, which kennel happened to be more or less round the corner!    We thought our first was definitely a potential Crufts BIS (he was bought as a pet and was the only available male in any case).   I ventured into the ring a bit but pretty soon realised he was just a pet.  Our second, another male, was bought from a friend I'd met up with via the Breed Club who was showing a lovely puppy, persuaded her to do a repeat mating and was offered pick male.   And the rest is history really.

I'm glad you are intending to have a dog - so many vets don't!!   And it shows.......

ps   We took our first hound up to the Lakes on holiday when he was quite young - went to a Trail Hound meeting and were offered a 'considerable sum' for him by one person there - the rest just laughed at him saying 'where are his legs'!!!

I'd loved Bedlingtons since I was a tot,  but the time was never right.  I'd lived with four different dogs  by the time I was able to choose my own from a pup.    I knew what I wanted and what I didn't.

So I spent 2 years deciding if the breed was right for me and finding out all about it,  lines, breeders,  health etc.   The only thing I'd change about the breed is the coat -  I would much prefer a long straight coat than the fuzzy Bedlie coat.   But it's a minor thing,  I'd hate huge amounts if shedding and a doggy smell far more.

I've not regretted having them,  they are so easy to live with,  they are the most laid back of the Terriers,  and far more, laid back that many dogs under most circumstances,  then they'll get a whiff of rat or fox and it's like a switch is flicked and they are all purposeful hunter.  

I contacted the breed club to discuss health etc and they are wonderful,   all the show breeders are still working to ensure the health of the breed and totally open about where they are at.    They also put me in touch with some wonderful breeders to find my first pup.

Regarding the temperament and health problems you see at the vets,  never forget that the many healthy examples of the breed are not routinely taken to the vet.    And on seeing the breeds,  ask yourself who bred them and where,  what care was taken over the health and temperament of the parents and pups?  What care was taken over the placing of the pup in a new home?

The vast majority of dogs are bred by people only interested in how much money they can make and then sold to the first person with cash or to dealers/pet shops.     And many people don't even know that a different kind of breeder exists.    Many of these people would never be allowed a pup from a really good breeder as they,  or their lifestyle,  aren't remotely suitable.
 

Don't go for Bernese is you don't like Velcro dogs !! Mine are constantly glued to my feet !!
I fell into Berns with a change of OH..
Aileen

WE've had an English Springer Spaniel and Labs.  The ESS was a rescue and my husband wanted her as he was familiar with the breed from hunting over a friend's. Whisper was purebred, registered and gun trained already, four years old so perfect for our newly married life.  I had never found mostly white dogs attractive and particularly disliked uneven facial markings on white, like one dark ear and one white.  Of course that's exactly what Whisper had and after her I was ready for a lifetime of more such marked dogs.  LOL.

I was though, ready to rescue again but the OH wanted a Lab this time, again like the dog he had hunted over that belonged to another friend.  I did not want to rescue a Lab.  Sorry to say they have a bad history of poor and overbreeding over here and we are active people.  I wanted to make sure we got a dog with the odds stacked in favour of long, good health.  Plus hunting friends gave us lots of advice in this area too.  We went to a breeder well know for her showing, competeing, hunting and history with the breed and her health tests, which exceeded most others at the time.  We were not disappointed and got a second Lab, again because of the OH.  I was ready to go back smaller, maybe another ESS but the OH thought we were not so old we could not still lift a Lab, which is important for me when we are out alone in the bush so much.  I must be able to carry my dog if it gets hurt.

But along the way I've found several stray dogs.  A standard poodle most recently, three GR, mixed breeds.  We found all their owners but in the short time each was with me I hit the point very quickly where I was evaluating my life with them and how to work it out.  So I guess I'm pretty fickle.  :)

I definitely would not take into account at all what you see at the vet's. Healthy, wellbred dogs hardly ever see the vet -some have their annual boosters but far from all. The majority of unwell dogs tend to come from poor breeders. And temperament will never be true at the vet as most dogs are not at all themselves there. Several of my dogs do Discover Dogs at Crufts and happily meet hundreds of strangers, but take them to the vet and they act like different dogs. One of my dogs is very wellknown for her great temperament and we used to bring her to the vet regularly as a pup just to spend time there and get her used to the place, be given treats and cuddles etc. She didn't mind at all. Then we had to leave her there to be hip scored and since that day she hates going to the vet.

I have changed both my breeds, after years. I grew up with a Papillon and several Poodles in the family and always wanted those breeds, but it never happened. Aged 15 I started walking a Golden Retriever for owners who worked fulltime, and when they decided they could not keep him they gave him to me. That led to a total of 10 Goldens owned from then until now -I have my last Golden still, currently aged 12, and there will be no more. So that breed was a pure fluke. I then had various rescues of various breeds as well.

When my first child was born we started talking about getting a smaller breed that she would be able to walk when a bit older, and having had a friend whose Cavalier was an Obedience Champion, I decided on that breed. That led to a total of 5 Cavaliers between the years of 1995 and 2014. I no longer have one now.

In 1999 I visited California and met my first Malinois, a retired police dog, and was just blown away and knew this was a breed I wanted. Their protectiveness compared to how extremely soft they are with their owners did it for me. Now I could never imagine going back to a slower, easier breed, hence no more Goldens. I got my first Malinois in 2000 and there have been 13 since -or 14 if you count the one I co-own, and 11 are here now. A very difficult breed in many ways but I could not imagine life without them now.

In 2006 I finally realised my lifelong dream of getting a Papillon and the first led to more. There's been 10 in total. In some ways they are like a smaller version of Malinois, character wise.

My oldest child (now adult) ended up with no interest in dogs at all, but my middle and youngest go to shows and training classes with me, and my new husband (who was chosen by the first Malinois) do as well, so it's now entirely a family affair with four of us heavily involved in showing and training and occasionally breeding. My middle daughter, who has 2 Papillons of her own, is having a break from shows etc due to being pregnant, so fingers crossed that her son will end up being the next generation for our showteam. ;)

>I get quite stressed by "velcro" dogs like labs and springers (nice dogs but I tend to trip over them as they follow me round!) I think aloof but cuddly is nice...

That's me first dog herding breed and really found it too much, too needy.

My breed (had 9 now) are 'self sufficient but very sociable and friendly/affectionate.

IT REALLY IS ONE MANS MEAT IS ANOTHER MANS POISON.

I like a coat, but not one that tangles, so check :)

Prick ears, check :)

No slobber, Clean jawline, Check :)

Medium size, check :)

Long lived, 13+, Check :)

Robust, few health issues, good breeders health test, Check :)

Adaptable, take as much exercise as you give them but happy to take less, check :)

Sociable, People and dogs, Check :)

Would never change, had 7 generations so far.

>Regarding the temperament and health problems you see at the vets,  never forget that the many healthy examples of the breed are not routinely taken to the vet.

Have to agree here, mine rarely see the vets past the vaccinations and then hereditary health testing (specialist stuff), and spaying once they have had their last litter.

My 15 year old last saw the vet before this year over 7 years ago when she had mastitis with her last litter of puppies, and then was spayed.

This year at 14 1/2 she had to have an abscessed tooth removed and at same time a large benign sebaceous cyst removed as she was under anyway.  Recently she has been the first of my girls to 'leak' and been put on Propalin.

I'm not a breeder or shower but I wanted to join in :)

I was petrified of dogs all my childhood and would never be on the same pavement as them let alone room.  My grandparents got a border collie (they lived in the bungalow next door that we built onto our house) and my parents would help walk him and play with him and train him. I wouldn't be in the same room as him - at 16 when I got my first full time job I used to ring before coming home to make sure "that mutt" wasn't in the house. Then one day I came home from work and no-one else was home yet as they had taken my grandparents out for the day. I looked in the back garden and there was bloody footprints all over the place where Bobby our collie had hurt his foot.  I don't know why but I ran outside, picked him up, and ran with him in my arms 3/4 of a mile to the vets terrified something awful had happened. The whole time he was calm (which he never was) and licked my face (even though he had never been in a room with me let alone picked up by me).  It was only a small cut on his foot. He and I were inseparable from that day on.

Then my mum, after bobby passed away and so had my grandparents, got our Bernese - Charlie.  The most wonderful dog. But he had issues and had to have a triple pelvic osteotomy at 7 months of age - I moved back home to look after him during his recovery - and despite the vet saying he would be walking on 3 legs in around 48 hours it took our baby Charlie 11 weeks. 11 weeks of me living and sleeping with him in the kitchen :)

I wanted a dog of my own and I was determined not to have a large dog as I didn't want the risk of my first dog having hip problems etc and I knew this was more prevalent in large breeds.  I settled on a Cavalier - went to a show in Salisbury to see them but for some reason my eye kept going to the westies at that show - they were so much bigger and stronger looking than I had seen before so I decided to go home to research the breed. Before I got home however a westie walked out in front of my car. I stopped and opened the door to see if I could stop the dog going in the road and find its owner. As soon as I got the door open she just jumped on in!!  I couldn't find the owner so I took her to the vets who sent me to speak to the dog warden who was useless so I decided to keep her and look for her owner - which I did 10 days later by which time I knew that westies were the breed for me.  I now have two, a girl and a boy, and I hope to never live without at least one westie in my house for the rest of my life. Though I still have a soft spot for Collies - adore Bernese and have a longing for a coton de tulear!!!

Wasn't even a dog lover when my first dog chose me. I had to pick my sisters children up after she was hospitalised. These little balls of came careering towards me. Everyone fell in love with the long haired chihuahua who was14 weeks old. But for me it was the 9 yr old shih tzu. I stood outside the hospital for hours at a time with these little dogs but the love I felt for Lil' was instant and mutual. My Brother said the same he said "she melted a black spot in my heart". My Mum took her on and I had just moved back in with her. 

When Lily died I knew I only wanted a shih tzu but i didn't have the knowledge to differentiate between good and bad breeders

That is why I am so grateful to CD. I now have my second and think I will always have one. This dog is just like Lil' but healthy and hilarious.

The coat needs a lot of work and they can be heat intolerant. But aside from that they are relatively easy. Great company like to be with you but don't like too much fuss. My brother who moved in with me when Mum died feels the same. ( although he loves Bedlingtons)

> That's me first dog herding breed and really found it too much, too needy.

Tara (Aussie) is a herding breed, but she isn't at all 'needy' :) She likes a cuddle, but, if there is nothing happening, she takes herself off and sleeps :) Mention the words walk, food or ball, then she is there in an instant and becomes hyper :) Now, Bramble (Heinz 57 dog) was very clingy - goodness what the breed was in him that made him like that ? :)

After 40 years of Great Danes, the time came for a smaller dog. It would have been easy to get a sheepdog, we had one in with the Danes. But some of them need so much work! I decided on a pastoral breed and was all set to get a Vallhund when OH said he didn't like the short legs. Looking in an old observers book of dogs we spotted the Buhund. Thanks to Champdogs and the breed club we now have Finn. He is the first dog we have had and such an affectionate and jolly little chap. Barks to alert us but is generally quiet. Likes being entertained but will happily sleep while I am busy. Very sociable ( what a relief after the last GD)
Louise

I ditto Merlot with Bernese being Velcro dogs, wherever I am mine wants to be, to be honest my Rott is quite similar but she is more confident and happy to be alone as she will take herself off to a crate and not feel the need to follow me to the toilet, to make a drink, to pop upstairs.. Lol
Because of their size I don't find them under my feet. I grew up with Labs and I wouldn't call them Velcro in comparison, always working lines and they normally stay put if you move about the house

> I'm not a breeder or shower but I wanted to join in :-)

Me neither - all my dogs are rescues now, my first two (Remy and Opi, a rott X) I got as pups from breeders but all my other dogs - 13 to date on top of those two - have been rescues or private rehomes.

>But then I do tend towards dogs with issues!

Oh Nikita!  Whatever will we do with you?  LOL   :-)

Lovely hearing how people came by their dogs- rescues to show dogs and everything besides. That story about the border collie with the sore paw was especially sweet.

My mum has a Welsh/English springer X, and while she's a lovely dog (and very calm for a springer!) she's very switched on, so anything unusual will get her barking. Good watchdog but quite a wet blanket too! She's also a nudger if you aren't paying attention to her. And ball mad- one thing I've never really enjoyed is fetch! Horses for courses, I suppose.

Didn't realise the Bernese were velcro dogs. The couple I've met have been friendly and cuddly but more like Newfoundlands (which I also love but couldn't deal with dribble and hair!) slowly pottering round.

I'd never heard of a Buhund or a Vallhund so had a look on google- lovely. I like the spitzy types, always have such expressive faces. :)

Goldmali- You make it sound fantastic having so many Malinois. It must be like a full time job though. I went through a phase when I was about 16 of wanting a Tervuren or a dobe. Beautiful Belgians but a bit too clever and needing a job to do for me!

I suppose I shouldn't put too much weight on what I see in the surgery. Although, I swear dogs seem to be getting itchier these days...

My current breeds were not planned or thought out but they are perfect for me. When I was child we had a Ridgeback. When he died
d my parents didnt replace him due to working full time. However I desperately wanted a dog and would walk anyones I could. Parents turned away many people knocking on the door with puppies who came calling because I had told them how I wanted a dog. Then at 16 and finally with my own transport in the form of a moped I decided to visit a local rescue kennel I saw advertised in the local paper. There I found the most gorgeous little GSD  (x?) 6 month old puppy. I said on the spot that yes I would have him. Went home and asked parents who of course said no. Rang the kennels and told them that I wanted him but couldnt collect due to my parents being to busy for a few days! Never mind they said we will  bring him to you. and they dropped him off a couple of hours later! Parents retuned from work and went mad. They said he would have to go back 1st thing in the morning so I packed a bag and said if I couldnt keep him at home then both he and I were leaving. They did relent thankfully and he stayed. in fact he eventually became my fathers dog and started many years of happy dog owning for them.

When I married my husband wasnt a dog lover so had to wait until I divorced him before I could get another dog. Ifound a wonderful GSD at Manchester dogs home. So then GSDs were my breed. I only had several rescue ones over the years.

Because my breed was GSD I wasnt really interested in the strange looking shepherds my parents had got into after the death of Rip my first dog. They said they were Belgian Shepherds. They seemed nice enough but were a bit wild and were very fluffy. I prefer short haired dogs. I just preferred  my by German shepherds. In the mean time I had got together with another man. He mentioned his parents also had a Belgian Shepherd. When we went to visit they showed me this very strange dog They said it was a Belgian but it looked nothing like my parents dogs. It was a similar colour but was short coated. Never mind it was a dog and I love all dogs so we became best of friends and enjoyed many a happy walk together until she died.

My partner decided he wanted a Malinois puppy so we spent many hours with the breeder who was friends with his parents and eventually he got one but when we split he took his dog with him. My parents also got a Malinois about the same time as my partner. They were at a show and someone returned one to the breeder so my mum offered to take it home with her. Fast forward a few years. I was still a German shepherd fan but and my last one had so many health problems. Dodgy hips Dodgy stomach Dodgy skin and he died suddenly and  young of AIHA so I said no more GSDs no matter how much I loved them.

I was really struggling without a Shepherd in my life but would not get another.  Then mum happened to mention that she was going to visit the breeder of the Malinois as she had some puppies and did I want to come. Of course I said yes. I had no intention of having one. After all I loved GSDs not these funny Belgians but  the breeder was not about to let me go without taking a puppy. She had a large litter and not many homes. she had known me for years so knew I would be a suitable owner so I was persuaded. We loaded the car up with 2 puppies. We had a bitch each. Or so we thought. Turns out half way home that one of us had picked up a male by mistake! Mali puppies all look the same at that age and with 9 running round it was easy to do. Never mind I prefer males anyway so I had him. And the rest as they say is history. I Very quickly became besotted with him and discovered that this was the breed I needed not the GSDs. I have bred and shown many of them and now live with 5 of them who are all related. I cant imagine life without them now.

My other breed is Boston Terriers. A complete contrast to the shepherds. Small. I dont like small dogs. Squashed noses. I like long pointy noses. Someone near where I used to live walked past my house regularly. I knew her slightly as she used to work at my local tescos. she walked two   strange looking dogs. they looked like a French bulldog but were a lot more lively. At first I was distinctly unimpressed with them but as time went on I started to see their charms. They were a lot of fun and despite being small they were actually proper dogs. I hadnt planned to have one but just happened to be looking in my local free ad paper when I saw an advert for a litter. Bostons are not a common breed and it is rare to see them advertised so I thought I would just go and have a look. They handed me the only puppy available, a bitch who was born on my daughters birthday and who just happened to have the same registered name as a cross breed I had registered on the KC activity register many years before. How could I  not bring her home with me. I just happened to have the money with me even though I was not going to buy a puppy(!) and that was the start of me having Bostons.

As someone else has already said, it tends to be sick, scared dogs who go to the vets so don't use work for picking a breed !
My parents had a black toy poodle bitch when I was born. They hadn't chosen that breed, my dad's sister had got her on a whim and got bored of being tied to a dog, so my dad took her on.
That poodle became his 'heart' dog and she would sit across his shoulders when he sat on the couch or was driving ! He still wells up with tears when he remembers the sound of her being hit by a car when she had escaped on to the road. She broke a leg badly and the vet wanted to PTS but he refused and it cost a lot of money to get her put right, but there was no way he was giving up on her. That was back in the 60's.
So jump forward to my children being old enough, and despite hubby not wanting a dog, I am now the proud owner of a black toy poodle bitch.
She has brought absolute joy to our lives and hubby is smitten. My dad is also smitten with her as he reminds her of his dog.
I love her curly coat despite the grooming and cost.
I love that she is so playful and mischievous.
I love to feel her warm body at my feet in bed.
She is a constant companion, if she can't go then I dont !

I have a feeling that a breed will choose you, not the other way round !

>I'd never heard of a Buhund or a Vallhund so had a look on google- lovely. I like the spitzy types, always have such expressive faces. :-) <br />

Check out the Norwegian Elkhounds then too, bit biased moi ;)

>Although, I swear dogs seem to be getting itchier these days...

Ditto, although because I have an itchy dog I'm inclined to notice it in others!

I have Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla and although many people describe their vizslas as velcro dogs I wouldn't describe mine in that way.  I suppose that knowing they have that reputation I was very careful to ensure they were happy to be left behind a closed door and not encouraged to follow me around.  The dogs are pretty choosy about who they pay attention to and won't immediately smile at strangers - they definitely prefer to approach than be approached.  I quite like this as they are pretty good at spotting the dog folk to make friends with :)

My choices for this breed, and our mongrel, were based on preferences toward size, coat, shape, ears and tail.  I like a wiry whiskery dog with a long muzzle and with ears and tails down. I think my 'model of a dog' was informed in childhood - we lived in a rural area where most of my friends dogs were working gundogs, hounds, or farmyard terriers.  As an adult I would apply some practical considerations to my choice of breed but those are probably the only groups I'd look at.  Living in an area with clay soil as we do now, and where every walk involves copious amounts of mud, I certainly wouldn't want a dog with a soft feathered coat as the poor woof would spend much of its time being washed.  A wire coat works very well. 

I also knew what I wanted from my dog in terms of behaviours when walking, and around the house.  Based on our current location I didn't need a reactive dog that was going to bark at every passing cow or it would never be quiet.  I also need a breed that is less likely to be stimulated by livestock.  As we walk through fields of cows, sheep and chickens on a regular basis I need a dog with a natural inclination to please me rather than itself!

It's surprising how this criteria starts to really narrow down the field of choice.  When I'm out and about I see many more dogs that I wouldn't have, than those that I would.  Although thank goodness for that - there are so many lovely breeds suited to different people that we maintain the diversity.  I do wish that new dog owners would consider the breeds though before looking at the oodle and doodle crosses as they often have no clear idea of what to expect as their puppy matures.  Good luck with your decision making - window shopping for a dog is fun though :)
  

I fell in love with a borzoi that I seen down our country park when I was a child, I desperately wanted on but my family done obedience and really only collies or gsds were acceptable so I had to wait till I was 18 and could afford to buy my own borzoi and drive to collect him myself. I had borzois for over twenty years but they're not easy dogs. They're wonderful in the house and if you had your own land to exercise them on, but if like me, you have to walk where other dogs do then no walk is truly relaxing!

I first seen a silken windhound online back in 2001 when looking at borzoi pages. I fell in love with them, the same look and personality of my beloved borzois but in a smaller, easily managed package and apparently more trainable too. I didn't manage to acquire one until 8 years later but now I have three and for me they are just perfect :-)  They have the wonderful points of the borzoi but without the worrying points and after losing most of my zois around 7 years old I was so relieved to know that silkens usually live well into their late teens.

I can't see myself ever changing from silken windhounds now.

I grew up with a GSD at my grandparents but was otherwise totally and utterly terrified of dogs - full on screaming, running, cross the road etc.
After the GSD passed when I was around 9, I wouldn't be near any dog until one day a neighbour who was walking her collie encouraged me to meet her girl and when I wasn't savaged, I slowly came round to liking her dog, and over a few years her numbers increased and I walked them and even housesat up to a total of 5 or 6 collies, from the age of about 9 to 16 or 17.
I started to beg my parents for a dog a couple of years after becoming unscared of dogs but they are not animal people so it took years to convince them. We eventually ended up with a rescue pap (we basically swapped him for a computer monitor..) who was about 18m - I was about 15 when we got him I think? He was generally a sweet dog but as he got older he used to flip out a bit - would fly into a bitey rage over no obvious triggers and had to be bundled up in a cover to get him out the room to calm down - looking back we did so much wrong but he was basically my dog and we muddled along (I do wonder with hindsight if we missed trigger signs, or if he was in the early stages of a brain tumor or similar - he def wasn't as healthy as he could have been, he had weird alopecia, we castrated him due to odd sized testicles and we lost him aged 10 to heart failure - I do think it was plain bad luck as we had his paperwork and he was [i think!] well bred)  I went off to uni and when I got back, I looked to get a puppy to compete in dog events as I still had an interest but the pap at this time was coming up for 9 and if i'm honest, a bit uninterested! I had my background in collies but I wasn't sure I wanted to go down that route - I got as far as booking to see a litter in another breed before deciding to stick with the known.. I got my first collie at 20 and we sadly lost the pap a few months later. Since then my first collie is now 7, and I've added 2 more :) I will always have a collie, but I do have a fairly short list of other breeds I have encountered, researched and would like to own one day alongside at least one collie. I'd quite like another pap one day too, but I am slightly scared that I will end up with another unstable one so it remains to be seen if that will happen!

I got a Pembroke Corgi over 20 years ago as she was the only small dog advertised in the local paper. Luckily I found a great breeder and dog. I currently have Mini Schnauzers, but had always hankered after a WFT for their looks but wanted a dog-friendly pet and Schnauzers are more sociable in that respect. I recall seeing a photo of pack of Deansgate dogs milling around and started to research the breed more. I have to admit I am not a fan of WFTs now, they look to spindly-legged and fragile, whereas Corgis have veered to far the other way!
For my next breed I want something with an easy care for coat, up to Spaniel size and with a calm nature......hopefully I will not be getting a new dog for a few years

>whereas Corgis have veered to far the other way!<br />For my next breed I want something with an easy care for coat,

Swedish Vallhunds, have the legs Corgi's have lost, and easy care double coat.

I wanted a breed that I could work to gun and show so we quickly narrowed that down to a HPR breed. I spent approx a year attending dog shows, field trials and working tests to talk to breeders about the breeds, their temperament and work style. We were made very welcome at events and at working tests a judge took us forward into the line and explained how the dogs were working and the difference in the breeds. We then established the GSP was for us and spent the next three years studying dogs that took our eye, studied bloodlines for common lines, in addition to cross referencing show and working results to pedigrees. We joined the breed club and got introduced to a Gundog trainer and started beating on his shoot to learn more about how the dogs work and fireld craft.  Eventually we establish who we wanted a puppy from and waited for a puppy. Once that little bundle of trouble came home life was never the same again :)

I must admit to a hankering for a Pembroke Corgi, but the one I grew up with looked like Kentwood Copper (scroll down the page to see him )  and was a son of Stormerbanks Sabreflash.  And he was a bobtail!

How on earth could I possibly live with one of the fluffy soft toys being bred today? :(   My great Aunt had a proper 'fluffy' Pembroke - looked like a small haystack, my father was most disgusted with her LOL

The Swedish Vallhund now looks more like the dog I grew up with.   I've not even seen a rich red Pembroke Corgi since our old boy, who was a really rich deep fox red with white flash on his chest and white socks.

> I must admit to a hankering for a Pembroke Corgi

My aunt and uncle had one when I was a small child. Rochester - a great dog that, at Christmas, would wear a little hat and hold my Uncle's pipe in his mouth whilst begging :) :) Maybe why I am attracted to the Vallhunds :) Unfortunately Rochester was killed by a car that mounted the grass verge and didn't stop :(

I remember ours joining in the ice sliding with all of us children.  He'd run forwards, then throw himself onto his belly and sliiiiide, then run to the back of the queue and wait his turn LOL

Such a lovely character :-D  

Mali puppies all look the same at that age and with 9 running round it was easy to do. Never mind I prefer males anyway so I had him. And the rest as they say is history.

And one of my earliest Mali memories is arriving at our first or second ever show with this breed, and being greeted by this woman who introduced herself and said "I can see your Malinois is a Sabrefield, what litter is she from?" and that was you! :) Back then with only two main breeders you could tell just by the look of the dogs who had bred them, and of course our dogs were born the same year but from different breeders. And now we have a pup each descended from those two dogs!

We had a labrador first, when we got married hubby wanted a dog and wanted a Malinois as he had used them as Police dogs at work, I said no, I had only ever seen them at work (We were both in the Army), I wanted a pet dog, not some crazy thing that throws itself at the kennel when you walk past, so as he had previously had a labrador explosives detection dog we got a lab.

When it became time to get a second dog again he wanted a Malinois, as the Lab had turned out to be 'my' dog I agreed and he got a Malinois who is very much 'his' dog. I was smitten from day 1 and 8 month later Mali number 2 arrived. 9 years on and we have our Labrador, 4 malinois and a Dutch Shepherd who is also a fantastic dog and someday id like another but for now we are firmly sticking with our Malinois :)

I think the Red Vallhunds very attractive, it is more like the Red of a Malinois or Tervueren with the black overlay/guard hairs.

Yes, the red Vallhund is lovely :-)   Actually, all the colours are lovely :-)

But I just think it such a shame that the Pembroke Corgi has changed so much that I barely recognise it as the breed I grew up with  :-(

I do think he was a dog in a million though.  Never going to be another like him :-)

There aren't that many red vallhunds in the UK and most have incorrect light eyes. I think vallhunds have more get up and go than Pembroke corgis today, but then I am bias....

I think vallhunds have more get up and go than Pembroke corgis today, but then I am bias

I'm inclined to agree :-(

Ours was a really active dog .  But the ones I see/meet now just don't seem to have much capacity for energetic activity :-(

It is a shame that other breeds have been imported because British breeders have made such a mess of some native breeds. I will look into Vallhunds - I used to breed Chinchillas, have kept Mini Schnauzers and now have grey hair so they appear to be a natural progression. But if anyone is breeding Corgis with legs please let me know!

My 13 year old can take a hour walk a day my dogs have ground clearance and sometimes to much get up and go, a lot depends on the lines. At crufts last year her father was giving eight years away to the five year old who came second to him but it looked the other way around on the move and showmanship

brainless you tick list cover most of what I like in a dog except I don't mind Velcro, said as I have a flat coat at my feet . Have never considered elkhounds or similar although rather loved a buhund that my dog walker used to walk but don't know how typical he was of the breed. steady , friendly but aloof sadly he died young all of a sudden.

I like that the Elkhounds are so affectionate, but do not usually feel the need to cling, and follow from room to room, unless it's the kitchen!

Buhunds are similar but as you'd expect a bit more herdy.  I have been told by people who have owned both breeds that Elkhounds are actually more obedient.

I prefer the colouring and size of the elkies.

It was a family decision...  We spent time discussing looking at various breeds and then voted.  I wanted a Weimaraner but was outvoted 3 to 1!!  So we had a Golden Retriever - best decision we've ever made, super family pets. 

I saw a chocolate Lab when I was 6 and told myself I would own one one day . I got my first at 21 and 26 years later I am on my 6th and 7th !

I love all the spitz breeds or so it seems the one downside is they are rather vocal and after living with a pom cross would love to have that quiet version

It's a matter of training, Living in a suburban house with 6 largish ones, I can't allow them to be too gobby,  but the smaller breeds are the gobbiest.

Unfortunately i worked that out rather late in pom ownership lol she will shut up if i click then comez running for a treat . i live also in a surburban street which makez it hard. I will be more prepared from day one in the future. Probably a case of do your home work first ! Althouh she was rather a surptise addition to the family.love her to bits though certainly a learning cyrve after gsd And fcr

Aloof and cuddly could apply to many different breeds ... it's an individual characteristic.

Can't think why you'd be put off breeds by treating them?!

We all choose a breed to fit in with our lifestyles, I would have thought. For me I want brains, active, athleticism, ability to think on their own, affection but also independence, plus plenty more traits. In fact, the only breed for me is the smartest dog in the world ... Border Collie :)

Don't forget, when you see sick dogs in your future practice, assuming you do actually qualify, then chances are they'll only be a very small proportion of what the breed has to offer.