I'm intrested in peoples memories of their very first breed please, be it from adult or childhood?  And do you still have that breed now or have your tastes changed and if so, why? Maybe a pattern will appear? :)

my parents had Cassie a beautiful, massive silver fawn bullmastiff bitch when i was born and shortly after that kept a pup bred from her, my Chad who was my best friend till he was pts at the pretty great age of 14. now mum and dad still have 3 bullies and i would if i could but current situation does not permit :(

As a kid, my mother hated animals, so when I bought my own place, I had dogs.  It was a terraced house, with a tiny garden, this was back in the 70's, and I had Toy Poodles, and later Yorkshire Terriers.  Border Collies had always been my first love, because I was interested in obedience.  When I moved on, the house was chosen for the 200ft garden, so I had my beloved Collies.  I now have both toy dogs, and large dogs, but have never, ever since the 70's been without a Toy Poodle.  My current one is 15 years old, did obedience in her youth, and is allowed to boss all the others around!

The first dog I have vague memories of was a yellow Lab called Goldie.  She had a dangerous fascination with the harbour near our house and would escape at every opportunity to go swimming in it.  Even though the beach was 100 yards from our front door, she was only interested in swimming in the harbour.  As her hobby was potentially deadly for her and every effort to contain her failed, she had to be rehomed a considerable distance from the coast :(

Our next dog was a farm bred tri-colour BC called Misty who was an abolute darling and was with us 'til just before I left home at 18.

I now have a Newfie (and plan to have more :D ) and a large cross-breed (Chow X Rottie).  My love of big dogs comes from my Mum who would have loved to have large/giant breeds but she recognised that our circumstances weren't suited to them back then but she always admired them and obviusly passed her enthusiasm to me :)

My mum and dad had Rough Collies mainly and a couple of Shelties.  When my brother was ill they got me a Pomeranian.  Twenty seven years later they still have them, but I fell in love with the Spanish Water Dog 16 years ago, lost my first one almost four years ago and her daughter is still with me and fighting fit at the wonderful age of 14!

The first dog I can remember was a heinz 57- a large black bc type dog with a white chest- which was found under my Dads car one night, shivering, freezing cold and wet, he was brought inside for the night and ended up leaving after 14 years (goodness knows how old he must have been in total) he was helped along to the bridge after battling throat cancer :-)  His name was Bruce by the way x

Stacey x

i was young when we got a dog maybe 3 or 4 he was a sprollie called scrumpy

Well I ought to tell you mine I soppose as it's my post:rolleyes:

My nanny bred Pembrooke Corgies before, during and after the 2nd world war. We lived with them, so there's them of course and oh yes, the big white GSD from next door that bit me Living on a farm meant there were the Collies. All animals had to work for a living then and no one could afford a pet, so I guess my nana was a backyard breeder. The sepia photo I have of her with her Corgi that grandad was NOT allowed to sell, shows that the breed has not changed much at all in shape, which surprises me. I love my longdogs of 28 yrs keeping not breeding and that comes from the love of sleek fast horses which we also kept.

God.....I feel old now

My first doggy memories are of my anties golden retrievers.
They are the reason my love for dogs started.

My own first dog was a Leo, 15 years ago, I was 12.

I met a Leo, did research and knew this is what I want.
I then had to wait to grow before I could have one :rolleyes:.
My parents would only let me have a smaller breed so instead of settling for another breed,I decided to wait (which was very hard for a dog mad youngster!).

My current dog is a Leo and I have a new puppy growing up...
A Leo of course :).

I have had close relationships with other breeds too but Leonberger is still the breed I love, admire and have a passion for.

First dog, was a Springer Spaniel.  Working lines, wouldnt have done anything in the show ring.  She was oversized (22 inches tall!) and had a horrid mouth!  But she was a wonderful wonderful pet.  I was 8.  Just lost her last week, when we had to put her to sleep.  (she was almost 15)

MY first dog, the one with my name on the papers, etc, is a Miniature Pinscher named Cher.  Wonderful movement, wonderful looking dog.  Have done very well with her in the show ring (best of breed at the Toy Specialty - had to brag!).  She is wonderful, and I love her.  She does live up to her name though, and is a Diva.  I think all my dogs live up to their names.  Cher is the Diva (or Brat as mom calls her), Joy was the Twit - but she was a Joy to have!, and Casie, her registered name is Flashie Casie  and boy does she do that!!!!!!  Walk into the room, you know she is there!

Dogs are lovely animals to have around.  My life would be boring without my dogs!

The first dog I remember was a really scary gsd cross that came with our army house in libiya. He was trained to attack coloured people and even at a very young age I just knew that was wrong. Apparently the original owners paid a few black men to beat the dog when he was young, this was common pratice there in those days :( Before we came back to this country he was passed on to the next people to live in the house. I can't remember his name as he wasn't really a pet, I was terrified of him. The next dog I do remember very well, a lab cross called suzie - she was very patient and didn't mind me plastering her with makeup and dressing her up :) After Suzie came a whole string of family dogs. My Mum was dog mad and a real soft touch. She was always rescueing dogs. I got my first dog of my own for my 16th birthday, a border collie called Zeena who lived for 17 years. At that time my Mum had 5 border collies and a gsd and was doing obedience, I would work her dogs occasionally but wanted one to train myself. I fell in love with borzois after seeing one in a film. My parents wouldn't let me have one, My Dad thought they were stupid big things (can't really argue there - but they are gorgeous :D ) I hired a kennel from a greyhound trainer up the road from me and bought my 1st borzoi myself when I was 19. He didn't have to stay in the kennels long before my Dad gave in and let him come home. At one point when my Mum was still alive we had 3 collies, 4 chinese cresteds and 5 borzoi in the house. Since then I've always had borzois and border collies, currently have two of each.

Our first dog was a family dog who was so dreadful he is etched on my memory for ever.  Louis - a b&w English Springer, sire all show bred, dam all working bred.  He was noisy, male dog aggressive, tireless, totally ruined and makes the Munsters seem like pussycats!   He lived until almost 15 years old and never lost his complete obsession with chocolate!

A german Shepard/Collie mix called Zoe..... mum got her when she was pg with me :D

Grew up with her my whole life, she died of old age when she was 15........ that dog was AMAZING!!! she was like a surrogate mum :D

I used to go to school and she used to meet me there (these were the days when she roamed loose - or escaped ;)) i used to come out of school and there she would be sitting :D

I think most of the time she followed me to school and waited haha!!

boxer,then a corgie,when i was 1 to 9 years old.
then collie +
when we got married in 1978 we got a lab.8 years after him we bought our first flatcoated retriever,then a gordon setter with fcr for the last 20 years and spanish water dogs the last 6 years.today.

We had a cocker spaniel when I was very young - he died from distemper when I was about 3 and I don't remember him. Then we got a lab cross, who was male-dog aggressive but 100% reliable with people (better that way round than the other!). When he died we wanted something about the same size but different, so we got a dalmatian bitch. I now have two of her gt-gt-gt-grandsons ... (although we got a black lab bitch shortly after we married and will get another one in the next few years).

My first dog was a Gordon Setter named Ollie, he was beautiful and knew it!!!  He was my shadow, my clown, god he's made us laugh with his actions and facial expressions and i loved him unconditionally.  He was 12 when i had to say goodbye.

We now have a 2 year old GSD, who has taken to the role of shadow like a duck to water:rolleyes::rolleyes:

Jane

My parents were not dog lovers, but they did get me a Cocker Spaniel, pure black from a friend who bred them.  He was called Toby and I loved him dearly.
I have not owned a cocker spaniel since, but I do love the breed and would have one if I had enough room at the inn!!!
I now have BMDs

our first dog was a rough collie way back, there were to be many more while I was growing up.  I now have roughs myself and I love the breed and wouldn't be without one around.

A Golden Retriever. Was a lovely lovely dog. My parents were clueless as to how to raise a dog, though.

Hello

I had a rough collie as 'my' dog growing up (my brothers and parents were not really into dogs) and my great-aunt bred and did obedience with german shepherds. I still really love both these breeds :-).

We've got an australian shepherd as husband thought GSD's were a bit large, and I have not-so-fond memories of having to brush a very muddy rough collie :-) (he really was a tremendously mucky pup!). Our choice was between border collie and aussie and when I met a working-type aussie I was smitten by the slightly more laid back attitude, but with plenty of drive ... in fact reminder me a lot of my great-aunts GSD's

As I said in another post my parents and family are not animal lovers, don't dislike them but can't be bothered with the responsibility.

My maternal grandmother who we didn't see much had a dog though.

My parent did get a dog on two occasions, pups being passed on as unwanted, but they didn't last long before they became a burden to them, I think with the last one I was 10, and had really hoped he would stay, came home from school one day and they made out he ran away.

My Mum was rather vain and always had her dead straight hair in curlers in The 1970's and within an hour her hair would be straight again, but perms in those days were rather harsh.

So I was the one who ran errands to buy milk etc.  I knew all the local dogs that people walked,a and often took a long time on my errands.  there was a lovely Airedale type dog in the corner shop owned by Asian brothers.  He was tied up so he couldn't come all the way into the shop through the door into the store room, but he loved getting a fuss as you passed, he was very friendly.

There was a  Schnauzer who disliked children but loved me owned by one lady and numerous others.  dogs and cats just liked me and I them.

I got my first dog eighteen months ago; a huge bouncy standard poodle. I love him and would love either a miniature poodle or a Pharaoh Hound(after tons of research). All breeds are lovely but it would take a very special one to tempt me away from poodles. My S.P. suits me perfectly.

I was not allowed a dog when I was little as we could not afford it. However, when I was 17 and still at home, my grandad went into hospital long term and his dog came to live at our house. His name was Moss and he was a border collie, almost completely black with a white blaze. He was already 15 years old, and he lived till he was 20! he was a gentle and loyal old boy....when he was with my grandad he never left his side. When he came to us he transferred his allegiance to my dad, and went with him everywhere. I loved him loads. I still have his photos up, although he has been dead over twenty years now.

We have always had dogs but my first memory is for my sixth birthday my uncle bought me a border collie puppy who I loved to bits, unfortunately died on my birthday two yrs later. Since then I have taken in all sorts of waifs and strays much to my mothers disgust.
Mary

First dogs I actually lived with were the first two of the 3 I currently own myself, a Cavalier and an American cocker. My parents weren't into animals, we never had more than a hamster when I was a child, though oddly enough my dad is now mad about my dogs and comes to shows in his area and everything! But I remember my aunt's collie cross, she was a very pretty little tricolour. I used to spend our visits doing 'training', at least I would tell her to sit and stay, walk to the other end of the room, find she'd followed me and give her a doggy choc anyway! :-D As a teenager I also walked a couple of friend's Labs from time to time. :-)

Our first dog we had when we were kids, was a toy poodle called Pepe, he lived till 13 years old, he was a bit snappy , so I decided when I could afford a dog of my own I would go for a completely different breed.  With my first pay pack I bought a beautiful ruby CKCS called Lady, she moved out with us when we got married and lived until the age of 12, it broke my heart when she died :(.......we then had our 4 children before getting another dog, this time we went for Cocker Spaniels......and this is what we have now

My first dog I got when i was 16. she is a mongrel called pesto. I have always had cats in the past but had always loved dogs. I was aged 15 when I became severly anorexic and was admitted to hospital. A year on and not much progress and no one knew what to do. My parents set the condition of me to get better (to a stage where I am at home) and I can get a dog. If I went backwards she would be rehomed (however not sure this would ever have happened but i didn't want to find out).

Pesto is my saviour literally. Without her I am not sure I would be here today. She was 7 weeks when I got her and I was not talking to anyone except my mum, dad and sister (and of course the cats). I didn't leave the house without someone with me.

Pesto got me out and about as then she loved her walks. I started to talk to people that I met on my walks (about Pesto only really but I was talking) and gradually got to where I am today - still with my problems but with Pesto still by my side I feel I can cope.

She has changed my future completely I am now going into a career with dogs hopefully and she has helped many others along the way (she is a PAT dog).
I don't even want to think about her leaving me so thank goodness she isi only 4.

I started dog walking when I was 11 as my family didn't have any dogs, but I really wanted one. The first dog I walked was a black and white Border Collie called Petra. She was a fabulous dog, we had some great walks and I have never known another Collie like her! She helped me to make a good living for myself as a teenager - people in the village saw me walking her, and pretty soon I was walking near enough most of the dogs in the village.

I kept photos of all of the dogs I walked when I was younger and have them all in an album. They were all very special to me :-)

We got my first dog for my 11th birthday (few years ago now ;)).  Marmaduke was a black lab/springer spaniel cross.  Basically, he looked like a smaller version of a golden but black with a white chest.  He cost £10 donation and he lived to the grand old age of 14, when he was sadly PTS due to a brain haemorrhage.  I loved the way he looked with all his feathering and floppy ears (I dont like pointy ears) so owning a golden now I suppose is very similar.

I do like Bernese Mountain Dogs as well and I would love to get on in the future.
:D

Wasn't allowed a dog as a child, coz of my mum's heartbreak over her 'Laddie', but I loved all dogs and cats which we had plenty of. I knew all the dogs locally but was afraid of one called Bonzer who always stood and barked!
Then eventually a couple of cats on and two children I got a black Lab(Kitty), she was beautiful and we all loved her dearly, I had another child and Kitty stood gaurd over her pram, if the baby would cry she would come and bother youy to see to the baby. However she was not reliable with people out of the house, on or off the lead,the vet advised that she must be pts...........so a couple of months later the deed was done, ahorrible experience.
Now we have our Jack a terrier who is such a different story, a real lesson to learn how differnet two breeds could be|!
Plainly a much less complicated creature but adorable and I cant wait for another.

Karen ;-)

Like you Karen we were denied a dog because my father was too upset as a child when he lost his dog. His excuse was always 'the kids would be too upset if something happened' but we all knew it was him we had to worry about. We finally convinced my parents when I was 13 and my sister was 15 that the time was right. Sis did lots of research and decided a Keeshond was the perfect dog for us. Not that common a breed in 1977 California either. Meatje was with us for 11 years. :) I had to wait for another 28 years before I would be in a position to have a dog again. I have golden retrievers now and wouldn't be without one. :-D

As a child we had a black crossbred whippet dog called Woofy. When I was 18 we got another whippet cross a yellow fawn bitch called Tammy.  Then in 1980
I got Jacob my first Pharaoh Hound. In 1983 I got Becky, in 1986 Carrie, in 1990 Hannah, in 1992 Zara.  Zara whelped a litter June '95 from which I still have Kiera. In Jan 2001 took on 14 month old Yonnie, in May 2005 got Patti.
Then Dec 28th last year got my first greyhound, Cora, after having waited over 3 years for a show bred bitch.

So you can see I've always loved hounds!

Pam

I'm interested in what this pattern may be? :-D

Grew up with two Rough Collies,

When they both passed over, mum and eldest brother got into gundogs big time after my 10 years roped in as the puppy trainer, (unfortunately, or fortunately, I seemed to have a knack for it :-)  ) and going through my teenage years and early 20's with gundogs they rubbed off on me too........... so my next dog and first to own personally, was of the same breed.

And then after my children were older I got another gundog.

If your looking for a pattern IME I have been influenced by my mum's joy of the breed/s aswell as through her, meeting breeders and becoming a big part of something.

But my love for the first dogs I grew up with is always there, and I know when I get to my 60's, (as I would like a break in-between again from dog ownership) I will most probably go back to it, I don't think you ever forget the love of your first dogs, and everytime I see a RC it reminds me of my happy childhood. :-)

I didn't have a dog until I was in my thirties. He was a rescue dog. He was around 12 weeks old. A rough collie - golden retreiver cross. A beautiful dog, who loved children, adults and all other dogs! He had a great zest for life and was always utterly mad. We were devastated when he passed away aged 13, four years ago. He changed my mind about dogs, (I had always been afraid of them). Now I cannot imagine living without one!

We got Teddy when I was only four so I don't remember much of his early years.  We called him a BC but now I think English Shepherd suits better.  My father rescued two pups, from a litter destined for the garbage shoot, from a co-worker.  I remember I was more keen on the black and white pup our neighbours took.  Teddy was a beautiful tricoloured adult dog but as a puppy was just a ball of fuzz.  WAAAAY back then it was unusual to vaccinate dogs let alone neuter so Teddy wasn't but his brother Tippy was and they fought horribly the rare times they got together.  Teddy was quite the man and my mother used to tell us if a "bad man" ever tried to get to us we were to run to Teddy.  We were also cautioned not to "sic" him on anybody because he would defend us.  Mum confidently allowed us to roam some distance from home as along as Teddy was with us.  it was a different era, post WW11. 

As I grew Teddy became more my dog and we spent happy hours on his walks which were mostly in the back fields of a nearby riding stable.  There he flushed pheasants (escaped, not native here) and killed groundhogs to the delight of the riding stable owner.  Yet I remember the day Mum decided to get rid of the starling nest in a tree near our house.  Starlings are a pesky, nasty import which displace native songbirds.  She'd waited too long though and not only were the poor little things hatched but nearly fledged and they scattered to the four winds.  Teddy was instructed to dispatch them but instead he retreived them, alive, one by one and Mum had to do the dirty deed.

We had Teddy for over 16 years.  My next dog came some years later when I was married.   She was a rescue, 4 yr old ESS.  Then came Jet as a Lab puppy and now Oban as a Lab puppy.  The only pattern I can see is the time spent outside in pooch's company, enjoying long walks.

Is there a pattern? Only, IMO I'd say the love of animals is always there for sure, as well as the assurance of their unconditional love and protection. We're all guilty of that need of course and wouldn't be? The first love does appear to be the last though. Even if the dog owned during your childhood was mixed, a breed as closely matching as possible in you adulthood either in temperment, character, or coating is the one for you....there are exceptions though, granted.

What does anyone else see?

No pattern at all really some people have grown up with animal loving families yet others who have been animal mad from birth come from families where there was no appreciation of animals other than their utilitarian use to man.  Others never liked them until they were won over and now can't imagine not having them in their lives.

That's very true too, Brainless. And there's always the love of the dog next door if the family was petless?

Our first family dog was a Golden retriever, Bruce , followed by a cocker spaniel, Sam.  When I was young I used to help an old lady down the road out with her dogs, a border collie Pebble and a Bernese Mountain Dog, Rocky.  I used to attempt to show Rocky with not much success (imagine a skinny 12 year old struggling to keep a BMD in a ring that he really didnt want to be in!!). 

My own first dog was a collie cross, Bute.  When we lost her, I wanted something to show, but OH didnt want a dog that slobbers or with much coat.  How I ended up with Gordons I've still not worked out!!!

Jill

Of course Gordons are bald and never slobber

My first dog as a child, well my Mum's dog was a Heinz 57, lovely dog, Rex was his name, used to take notes to my Nan who lived down the road in his collar!  Didn't have a phone!  Then he'd bring a reply back! 

Didn't have another until I was a teenager and we got two brothers border collie x lab.  Tommy and Ni****, wouldn't dare call him that today, lovely dogs and did very well at dog training both of them.  Left Tommy when I left home with my Mum, long since gone to the bridge both of them.

My first family dog was a blacklab crossed with who knows
my parents had him before i was born, he was called 'blackie'
my dad grew up on a farm and this dog he trained to perfection.
he used to walk us to school (this was back in the days that
dogs were let out on thier own ! ) go home and come back again at home time.
wherever we went the dog came with us and spent long happy holidays
in the woods climbing. our local mountain and down the beach all with blackie tagging along
looking out for us even though all he wanted to do was lay down and lick bricks !!!
he sadly died at the age of 18. i will never forget him.
had two other crosses after that taffy and pepe RIP could tell you stories about them
too! when i got together with Oh we decided to get an english bull (he wasn't allowed before
got a dog called casper (RIP)  now we have two EBT's mum and daughter zoe and daisy .

I grew up with lots of different breeds,
Our first family dog was when I was just young a GSD called Cher but we had to give her away.
We got a nasty Lab after that which we had to have PTS.
Then we had a YT and WHWT we had to give them up several years later when we moved.
Then a quite a few different rescues which we took but rehomed when someone suitable came along.
Then when I was growing up I bought a whippet cross who I still have now along with my 3 BSD'S

The family always had dogs long, long before I was born.   The first one I met was Brandy, a yellow lab, who was firmly established in residence before I was and boy he liked to remind me.  I was further down the pack than he was and if I went near I was growled at.  Needless to say in those early years one of the first things I learnt was respect the dog and if I got growled at, well it was my fault, backed up by my parents too I might add, huh. :-D  Anyhow from then on, we had Collies, every type of terrier under the sum, too many to mention, Lurchers, greyhounds, Labs, Crossbreeds of this that and the other.  I now have GSD's, always liked them and we never had one so ........... 

The first dog I can remember is a boxer that I used to walk for a neighbour. Lovely big brindle boy called Sandy.

The second dog that made a major impression on me was a Great Swiss Mountain Dog (Swissy) called Argo, who lived at a farm where my brother and I often spent our holidays. He was fab...

Then I walked and trained another neighbour's dog called Panda, which was a heinz 57 (though a lurcher type being a pharao hound cross)...

Then I walked and trained someone's beautiful GSD, she was totally nutty, but fabulous... She was called Ronda.

I last but not least, I walked a Golden Retriever called Holly when I was an au-pair which was also the dog that introduced me to my now husband who was walking his pyrenees.

Out of all the dogs above, I ended up with lurchers (so surely Panda had an influence there) and one day I would love to have a Swissy - they are just fantastic dogs and now bred in the UK too.

My first dog that I actually owned myself is our lurcher Dylan. He is still very much with us at 6 1/2 years old and is the reason why I fell in love with saluki lurchers!

Vera

My mum brought home a Sheltie puppy when I was about 3 or 4, I can still remember her standing at the door with him in her arms, we didn't know we were getting a puppy. He was called Kerry but died when he was about 7 or 8, my mum was devastated. It took me another couple of years to persuade her to get another dog and we got a rough collie cross from the local farm. His mum was a tri-coloured rough collie and had been picked up as a stray, then had pups on the day the woman moved to her new house on the farm . We had him for 13 years and my mum always said he was the best dog she ever had, and she has never had another since. In the meantime I got married and our first dog was a border collie that my brother - in his infinite wisdom - had got from a farm because 'if he didn't take it it would be PTS :rolleyes: ' . Of course he then discovered that a collie and shift work didn't go and we took her. She was fear aggressive with humans and dogs but we kept her for 7 years. Once we lost her I wanted a Bernese Mountain Dog as I had fallen in love with them on a holiday in Switzerland years before, he died of cancer age 4 and it took us 10 years to even consider getting another Bernese but I bit the bullet and bought one for my OH's 40th birthday. We had our adorable Dakko in between and also have a Gordon now too, another breed I've loved since I was young.

Our first family dog was Pancho a chocolate brown verging on red Afghan (very unusual colour) my parents showed him and had some succsess, this was in the 70s and he and my dad had very similar hair styles  

After that we had two more Afghans and a Bichon, who was bought for me when I was nine because I always wanted a little dog, he was great and went everywhere with me but I always preferred the bigger dogs.

I now have 2 Irish Setters, I wanted similar "flashy" dogs to the Afghans but something slightly more trainable, and although they are a totally different breed I do see my old Afghans in my two Irish boys, just little personality traits that make me think of the old Afghans.  I still admire Afghans and always stop and watch them at shows, maybe one day I will have another, I know there is at least one on the agility circuit so it must be possible!

My family all had dogs which ranged from my favourites which were Mastiffs, Bullmastiffs, Collies, Cocker Spaniels and dalmations to my lesser favourites of jack russells!
In each household was a different dog!

My first dog which I can actully call my own is the girl SBT I have now, she is my first and now 2 years old and I have waited my whole life for her ,were hoping for a second in February!! Her brother a fellow SBT!

When i was a child we had a miniature poodle, when i got married i wanted a standard poodle but my husband didnt want a sissy dog like that, so we agread on a Irish setter, then we had a golden retriever, now we have got 2 cross breds, my next dog im going to have a poodle again, and i dont care what my husband says they are not sissy dogs, they are loveable and clever. I wont have a standard as im nearly to retirement age now, but either a toy or another miniature poodle. :)