What do you like about your breed, and what dont you like.

I like Golden Retrievers because they are easy to train and loveable. :)

What i dont like is when they lay down in muddy water and i have to clean them up when i get home, and have to smell wet dog all day. :(

What are the pro's and con's of your breed, all replies welcome.

Good thread! :)

Goldens: Pros: Easy to train, loves everyone and everything, always happy,  beautiful etc etc. Cons: Their coats drag in so much mud, take ages to prepare for a show, and they are a bit too slow for me that like really fast dogs to do obedience with. More health problems to watch out for -but that is of course only a problem if you're not dealing with responsible breeders.

Malinois: Pros: Beautiful, very healthy breed, very trainable, VERY fast, will be totally loyal to their family but will also guard you, hardly need any grooming or show preparation. Cons: Energizer bunnies -they never stop, never slow down, never get tired! Need a LOT of training and a lot of socialisation. Can be very destructive as youngsters.

Papillon: Pros: Everything! They're beautiful, loving, really fast little dogs, really trainable, healthy, etc etc. Cons: The only thing I can think of is that they too get muddy when it's wet.

Goldens:

Pros: Loves everyone and everything and wants to play with everyone and everything.  Long hair gets everywhere but supprisingly easy to clean up

Cons: Loves everyone and everything and wants to play with everyone and everything :rolleyes:
when they moult boy do they moult!

Staffordshire Bull Terrier,

Pros: Brilliant character and full of energy, endless loyalty and very smart as dogs go as well, brilliant obedience and good guard dog

Cons : Too friendly want to say hello to every dog we meet!

Pyrenean Mountain Dog: PROS: extremely loyal, extremely lovable, cuddly, fantastic in the house, don't need tons of exercise, look just beautiful! CONS: very hairy (or rather the carpets are...), not the easiest to train (but not impossible), very territorial (which is a good thing too), can be iffy with other dogs, particularly male/male aggression, generally poor recall, you need a big car.

Salukis/saluki lurchers: PROS: just breathtaking to watch them run, great indoors, very lovable, cuddly, an honour to be with, independent thinking, sensitive, the most elegant dogs around, love lots of exercise. CONS: can be very accident prone, need very careful training, easily distracted outdoors and independent which makes recall and general obedience difficult at times, very sensitive and often easily stressed.

American Cocker: PROS: never ending tail wag, beautiful looking dog, loyal, very lovable, cuddly, easily trainable, fantastic love of life, small handy size. CONS: lots of coat care, brings the park and the rest of it home if kept fully coated, when he gets wet he really gets wet, need lots of good socialisation as puppies otherwise can be nervous of things, tendency to resource guard if not carefully trained and managed. 

I wouldn't change any of them, they all are different and unique and I wouldn't want to miss any of them.

Vera

Cavvies

Pros - Very good with children, friendly, beautiful looking, cuddly, fairly easy to train

Cons - Grooming the coat! too friendly with other dogs and people (especially people who aren't keen on dogs!:rolleyes:)

Pro's everything, Cons none at all.

Seriously this is very subjective as what one person sees as a pro may be a con for someone else.

Cons with my breed are part of what make them what they are and removing them would remove a lot of the Pro's.

Pro: Proud Self Sufficient, but these can cause Cons this independence can make them prone to selective deafness and Bull headedness.

Pro: that beautiful thick wolf coloured Jacket, Con: in order to have this they have to moult their undercoat especially profusely.

Other Pros, are they are sociable with Man and Beast so easy to mix.  Affectionate and loving without being clingy, very Bright and trainable (but need to see some point for them, to what they are doing).  Ideal size for average home, neat tail carriage.  Prick ears and dry heads mean no smelly ears or drool.

From showing point of view a major Pro is that what you see is what you get, only need a good comb and brush and occasional bath for the showring.  Breeding Pro:  they are re natural creatures who mate, whelp and rear their robust young with minimum fuss and bother.

great post!!

Siberian Husky Pro's
Fantastic with people of all ages
NO doggy smell :)
Intelligent and very cheeky
Each have their own induvidual personality
If your a bit of a health freak then these dogs are just brilliant, no amount of walking/running will tire them out!

Con's
They require a huge amount of exercise ( this would be a bad point for some people)
They blow thier coat twice a year and when they do, you really know about it!
They dont cope well alone and can be VERY destructive
They are born escape artists and need a 6ft fence at least ( most cases need about 7ft )
They cannot be let off the lead
Huge prey drive
Can be very vocal, the love to howl

I could go on and on lol!
But i love my furry babies and I wouldnt change any of them for the world

Basenji Pro's -
Very loving
No Barking
Very clean
No doggy odour
Very intelligent
Great entertainers
Very little grooming needed
Very quick to housetrain
Bitches normally only have one season a year

Con's -
Great escape artists,so 6 foot fence with overhang needed!!
Can be destructive
Very keen hunters so will go deaf if let off the lead
Cunning,stubborn,hardheaded,disobedient
Can be vocal if upset about something

The pro's still outway the con's so I wouldn't be without the breed.

akita
pros: cuddly, loyal, fun, beautiful plush coat, intelligent, full of energy (think thats a pro!)

Cons: stubborn, the twice annual coat blow, must stay on lead,vocal (that might just be mine especially when the ice cream van arrives) digger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I admire nothing more than a well bred/groomed akita in tip top condition!

Chinese Crested (hairless)
pros: adorable, cheeky, intelligent, little grooming, no moat,no smell, can carry around, cuddly, warm, etc etc

cons: delicate, spots,

Dobermanns;
Pros-Loyal, loveing, clever, clean and quick to learn, stunning to look at. Adventurous and an athletic, an all action dog who'll look after you and keep you fit.
Cons-Not very good left alone as a youngster, doesn't like change and late to mature. Maniplative, willful, headstrong, boisterous, needs masses of exercise and brain work to keep them sane. 

Whippet
Pros-Loyal, affectionate and cuddley, easy to keep happy with a few short off lead walks, loads of fun and friendly, comical, clean, pretty, healthy, portable, adaptable and sleeps a lot. And will exercise your Dobermann for you.

Cons-will steal like a pirate, chew up all your clothes. Big expressive eyes that will melt your heart and render you useless so you can never tell them off. They keep running.

Wire fox terrier (From a sample of 1, so may not be wholly accurate!!)

Pros:
Cheerful, bouncy, energetic, always ready for a game.
Loves people.
Very clever.
Huge personality.
Independent but also very affectionate.
Very, very bold and feisty.
Always ready for new experiences, and approaches them all bravely.
No doggy smell.
No shedding (hand strip two or three times a year).
Great movement when she trots along so proudly, there's nothing else quite like it.
The most wonderful expression. How could anyone resist?!

Cons:
Too clever for her own good sometimes.
Cunning and a thief!
Very opinionated, and not afraid to let you know if she doesn't want to do something.
Huge prey drive - goes deaf and forgets all commands if she sees something to chase.
Takes an instant dislike to some dogs (well, most dogs actually!)
Very, very bold and feisty (see above. Yes, it can be a disadvantage too!)
Impossible to tell off - she thinks you are mad or joking. No one has managed it - not even our trainers at obedience classes.
Can bark for England (and, being very opinionated, likes to hear her own voice!)

Claire

Large Munsterlanders.....

Pro's - real characters, hardy, friendly, great with kids, fairly easy to train, attractive looking, please themselves on walks (No constant ball throwing!), love swimming, males are more sensitive than bitches, the majority are pretty good with other dogs, really great welcome home when you've been out whether for 2 mins or 2 hours!, like being with you.

Con's - black & white hair gets everywhere, carcass eaters, muddy water dookers, please themselves on walks (Some do!), some can be headstrong, some can be noisy, some will chase game, not for couch potatoes or for those who melt in the rain, not good with small furry pets, some can suffer from separation anxiety, not a breed for kennel life, very 'natural' breed and consequently they have big litters although most whelp naturally but not an easy breed to find a ready market in homes for.

Dobermanns - pros: very trainable, very loving, very loyal, protective - I feel very safe with mine whatever I'm doing - velcro dogs, goofballs (good for making you laugh :p), VERY smart.

Cons: VERY smart :D, quick - the chicken's gone before you've left it out to cool :p - headstrong, determined and persistent when they want something, very energetic (except my boy who is a total freak among dobes :D), don't grow an adult brain till at least 2 or 3 and not always then :p.  Heavy - they like to sit on owners :D Health issues - prone to osteosarcoma, hypothyroidism, cardiomyopathy and bloat.  Girls more prone to spay incontinence than a lot of breeds.

Colour specific cons: alopecia and skin problems in the blues and fawns (my lad is a fawn).  Can cost a fortune in fleecy coats!

Borzois

Pros: Breathtakingly beautiful. Loyal. Loving without being a pest. Very quiet in the house- rarely bark. Incredibly easy to housetrain. Rarely chew as puppies. Just as happy with a couple of quick off lead walks a day or will walk all day with you. Almost maintenance free coat- mud just falls off it and only needs a quick brush a couple times a week (unless moulting), no doggy smell, no drool. Very healthy, natural breed- no hip, eye or heart problems, require no health tests.

Cons: Prey drive- if it runs they want to eat it. Very loyal- won't go out for a walk with anyone but Mum, won't go more than 3 feet away from Mum on a walk (unless chasing). Dog hair everywhere. Will steal your dinner and your bed.

Border Collies

Pros: Very bright, eager and keen to please. Easy to train. Entertaining. Could run all day and never admit to being tired. Good watch dogs. Very loving. Easy to keep coat- a quick brush once a week or fortnight.

Cons: Will devise own entertainment if not kept active. Will go out for a 3 hour walk, sleep for 3 mins and want to go out again. Can be destructive as puppies.

Great Danes
Pros:Adorable, loving, kids are scared of them, the mother in law never visits now
Cons: Giant size poo's & always pinch your underwear and sleeps on it!!

Afghans:
Pros  =  loyal, fun, glamorous, attention grabbing, elegant, independent, loving

Cons =  they steal everything, they can open fridges and cupboards, they pick up every leaf and twig in their coats, they need weekly baths, they cost the earth to blow dry, they need their own grooming room, they howl, they escape, they dont do "recall", and they are buggers to train!

BOXERS:
PROS:  Clean cut and muscular, look like small polo ponies ( or in some cases show hacks),
athletic and bold. Love being with you, love life,love kids, love lying by the fire but will be happy to go out in all weathers (and only need a quick wipe)
Cutest chimp-faced puppies in the world.
Quiet guard dogs, let the burglar in but wont let him out! Dont bark at nothing so when they do it means something.
When trained they are easy to switch on and off, will go from flat out play mode to 'settle' in an instant.
Like to make you laugh and usually can cheer you up when you're down.
Usually a breed for life, I was born into a family with ex-German war dogs, had them all my life, learned to walk holding onto them just as my son did much later. Both my brother have boxers and now a nephew has followed in the family tradition.
CONS:
Sometimes attracts the wrong kind of owner due to the macho look and those who think it's funny to have a 'manic nutter' to laugh at.
Jumping up to get to faces, lovely kisses but sometimes a bloody nose instead.
Poor recall unless good training given likewise pulling on the lead.
Dont make great lap dogs due to boney elbows etc.
CAVALIERS:
PROS:
Surrogate babies, all big eyed, cute and cuddly. Underneath they are still small spaniels with all their instincts. Mine hunt squirrel, mouse, rabbit, crow (in fact anything).
Pure glamour and alround gorgeousness.
Fit into your lap with no pointy bits, a bit like that memory foam. They love their owners with a passion.
CONS:
Can't think of any... oh yeah.... wet feet need drying after ever walk, seems to soak into their feet like a sponge.

Golden Retriever

Pros - Beautiful to look at ,soft and fluffy, When running at full pelt or trotting  looks so strong and athletic, Floppy expressive ears - can show a highly alert state one minute and sloppy affactionate nature the next, friendliest dogs in the world, Happiest, waggiest tail on record, Show's the happiest exuberance at the smallest things, will find the only muddy puddle in a 10 mile radias and looks the most happy as their just ploncking thier bellies in it, so gentle around children, thier 'smiles', thier cheekiness and spirit (to be read as 'being naughty).......I could go on for hours.

Cons - none whatsoever. I love a dog that wants to be part of everything you do, and does it with complete joy and love. It helps to be not particularly house proud too. ;)

Flatcoats: PROS: beautiful, fun loving, intelligent, energetic, loyal, clowns, GSOH, complete people lovers, like to add a bit of play in with their work, cuddly.
CONS: overloving to people who don't like them, moult on the carpet a lot and like to leap in every bit of muddy water there is going and then decorate when we get back home. ;) And too prone to cancer. :(

GSPs:
PROS: elegant, stunning, loyal and independent, affectionate, intelligent, brilliant expressions, love to work with you when you get them tuned in to you, sensitive, amazing sense of smell, waggy tail at the smell of grouse, full of energy, easy coat care.
CONS: High prey drive, selective deafness (or maybe it's just mine), prone to separation anxiety, tendency to disappear and hunt.