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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
What kind of dog?
If you could get any type of dog, what would you get or what do you already have? PIP!
We are in the very beginning stages of thinking of getting a dog. It probably won't be for a few years, but want to start researching now and I like to look at pictures of dogs!
Where I go running is also an area where dogs can run free in the mornings, I love seeing all the different breeds, some of my favourites are Beagle,
Tibetan Mastiff,
and Sloughi.
Re: What kind of dog?
I would love, love, love a Newfoundland. My parents have adopted three since I was little, but something tells me one won't fit into my 47 sq m. apartment.BUT we have the beach a block away and it would be so fun. Then again, that's one big stink when it's wet!
Here's a more mini-apartment friendly breed I'd love:
In the end, I don't think we'd go breed specific. If we ever get a dog here in Spain we'd go to the shelter here in town and find a good match. My problem is I want to bring them all home when I go to the shelter!
If I had my way, I always wanted an Afghan Hound, a Saluki, Newfoundland, or a Bull Mastiff.
What we ended up getting, quite by accident, was a Bull Mastiff (and we think) Rotti cross.
If the PIP decides to work for me, see her highness below :-)
The best points are his amazing personality, patience, willingness to learn, easy to toilet train, adoration and endless affection. He also loves contact so I'll randomly be cooking and he'll come and sit on my heels or just lean against me. Give him a foot to lie on by the couch and he's in heaven. He's got great energy and perfect for mid-length runs up to a max of 20km in cool weather.
The downsides are that he's not great in the heat so no summer midday runs. He does love sunbathing in the garden. His energy is mostly good but he is still 'in training' on the lead. He hated the collar so we use a harness that restricts his shoulders if he pulls. He can be great for an hour but then suddenly a dog or bike or leaf or tree will drive him crazy. Also he jumps a lot. We love it but don't let him do it outside without signalled permission as he doesn't realise how strong he is.
The very best attribute; he loves hugs, full-on paws on shoulders, head nustling into my shoulder type hugs. nothing cheers me up on a horrible day like a proper puppy hug.
Another one - he loves Everyone and Every dog. He will eventually learn that not everyone and every dog and cat want to say hello or play with him like he does.
I plan to rescue a dog when we're ready for one but when I was young we had a Boston Terrier and I love them. LOVE THEM!
H wants a Beagle. I want either a Rhodesian Ridgeback:
or a Vizsla:
:
Although we won't be getting a dog until we live in a house, so I'm 95% sure we'll be going with a Ridgeback when that happens. H travels for work and if I'm alone in a house I'd feel more safe with a dog bred to fight off lions than with a hound or a pointer/retriever--especially if we end up in any of the places being thrown about as a possible next posting.
I had my eye on Springer Spaniels for a very long time (never had space, time, etc for a dog). When we ended up ready, no SSs were on hand at the rescue, so we ended up with Lucy, a tri-color English Setter (see below).
I sound like a stage-mom gone dangerously wrong, but she really is a perfect dog-- outside she'll run with you tirelessly but inside she's a calm coach potato.
She's friendly but not overly affectionate to strangers (in other words she wags her tail and might sniff, but she has never once jumped up on anyone other than me/H). At the local park, unattended little kids (probably ranging in age from 3-5yrs) swarm her... she just sits down and lets them do whatever (obviously I don't let it go on too long). Doesn't mind cats or other dogs.
In the 2yrs we've had her, I've heard her bark 3 times. Never once chewed/taken anything not intended for her.
She's a moderate shedder, but not too bad (and if I brushed her more frequently, I'd say she'd be a light shedder).
Great traveler-- driven to France/Spain with her, no problems. Fine on trains/subways. Have also sailed with her and she's been on commercial ferries w/o issue.
Easy to train-- such a gentle temperament, that positive reinforcement is the way to go. Seriously... I sealed the deal on house-training by telling her I was "disappointed" in her. I know she can't understand the words, but really the half-tired, half-frustrated tone was enough, she never had another accident. True story.
I'll stop now. While I definitely think EVERYONE should get an English Setter; whatever breed or cross you choose, it's awesome if you consider rescue (and an adult dog b/c they're often harder to place).
Oh, almost forgot sig pic... although I'll happily post more
!
Another vote for boxers, sorry no picture, I don't remember how to do that! Boxers are wonderful family dogs, I can't wait until we move back to the US and are able to have one.
I grew up with them and would recommend them in a heartbeat. In addition to excellent family dogs, their shedding is minimal as they are short-haired dogs and they are very intelligent. I remember our second boxer figured out how to open his cage (only used when we had to be gone for long periods of time) with his tongue and one bottled water, which he preferred to tap water, I guess.
As for boxers and young kids, they were our playmates and had a TON of patiences, especially with my brother. Our first boxer loved to nap on my parents bed, when my brother was five or so, he would climb their shorter dresser and jump into our dog to give her hugs. It was a massive jump and he weighed more than she did. She would just stand up and move over on the bed where he couldn't jump to. So he would jump to the bed, and then crawl over to give hugs.
Size-wise our first boxer was smaller and at her peak she was 50 lbs. Our second boxer was bigger and was in the high 70 lbs at his peak.
Here is some information from the AKC: http://www.akc.org/breeds/boxer/
I grew up with an Irish Setter, she was awesome. Her training didn't go so well though, she never listened to us and ran away all the time. She went to puppy school twice and "failed" both times! Luckily even though she got out of the house a lot, she lived to be 15 years old.
There is an English Setter where I go run, he is amazing, I love seeing him run with his tongue hanging out, reminds me so much of Kelsey.
I think we would go the rescue route, when we eventually decide. At the park I've met a man who runs a Boxer rescue and a girl who works at a shelter who walks and trains the dogs.
That's funny-- H grew up with Irish Setters and I grew up with a Gordon Setter mix. We both agree L's much easier/calmer than our dogs as kids. But she definitely does have that "bird sense" and can be easily distracted outside... good as she is, I wouldn't typically trust her outside 'off leash'.
Good luck with your decision... so much fun!
Here's Lucy in a gelato induced haze:
I would love a Labrador, but I don't see myself ever living anywhere but an apartment and they need a lot of space/exercise. Bull mastiffs seem to be good apartment dogs, based on the people I know in NYC who have them, and are supposedly very good with children.
I just finished a work project in which Russian borzois featured prominently and now I am very curious about them. I've never met one in real life. Here's a pic:
My food blog
What I'm looking forward to in 2012:
Eating our way through (northern) Italy on vacation
<a href="http://www.thenest.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Home DH and I got a Beagle about 2 months ago and we LOVE her. We got her from a local vet school that was doing testing on 4 Beagles. She was used as a control in the experiment so nothing physical is wrong with her but she did spend the first 5 months of her life at the lab with the three other dogs in a cage nearly all day. When we first got her, everything was new from grass to seeing the sun. New people and puppies were very scary for her and she's still a bit timid but is truly improving everyday.
I would recommend a Beagle if you have the time to take them for walks once or twice a day - they really need it as they are such an active dog. (If you're looking for motivation to start exercising- get one!) They also tend to experience separation anxiety and don't enjoy being alone- with Patti's situation, we weren't surprised that she didn't like when we went to work! We are considering getting her another puppy to keep her company.
Anyways- Beagles are very loving, loyal and good natured dogs. We don't have any kids yet but if you do, they are wonderful with children. H and I feel so fortunate to have received Patti and were more than happy to "give her a chance" to live.
We have a French Bulldog (named French Fry) that is back home with my ILs.
I love the French Bulldog, but she has been such a big hassle! I don't know if I could do another one of that same breed. She has allergies and was tested and found to be allergic to different types of grass/pollen and also human dander. The ILs thankfully have taken wonderful care of her, but I'm sure its costing them an arm and a leg! They giver her allergy shots on a weekly basis and take her to the pet dermatologist often for checkups.
Besides that, she is really sweet and loves people, has never shown aggression towards anyone, but is also stubborn as heck! She still will pee/poop in the house (and she's 3) occasionally just out of defiance.
If someday we live on a large property, I would love to have a St. Bernard or a Newfoundland. I had some friends who had a Newfie when I was growing up, and I absolutely love it!
Smudge is a smart and good dog. He is wonderful with LO. He is big for a Boston, at 34 pounds, but he's healthy, so there's just more to love! He doesn't shed much, does not get stinky and needs some exercise, but not tons.
Because I have animal allergies, the only dogs we will ever have are Yorkies. Meet our current two:
Pepper & Steel:
I will also never get two dogs again. Too much work.
I grew up with cats so I am definitely more of a cat person (and so sad I can't bring my cats with me internationally -too much instability and we're not comfortable with the flight), but we have tossed around the idea of getting a dog in the past. My best friend has a standard poodle (a big one, not a toy) and he is a lot of fun, so I thought I wanted a poodle. Then I met the dog that the family I work for has, a Red Healer. He is sooooo well behaved. That could have a lot to do with his training though.
Other than that I was never around dogs much as a kid so I don't know what I would like.
omg. I love them!!
We have a maltipoo. She's the sweetest girl in the world.
P.S. This thread has me looking on petfinder for another dog to rescue. I found one I want already.
My parents have a beagle who is sweet but oh so stupid.
The thing with beagles is that they're food motivated, which can be problematic if it isn't handled well when they're young. My parents got theirs from another family when he was 3, so his bad habits were already set. He goes so far as to intentionally pee on the floor if you have food and won't give him any. He is super cute though! And my dad loves him, even when annoyed by him.
Here's a silly Skype picture of dad & dog:
I seriously considered buying the entire pack when we got the second one. How can you say no to this face? Squeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Wedding stuff.
We want to rescue a English Bulldog. But I'm not ready to deal with the health problems that come along with them. They can be super lazy and stubborn too.
Here I am with a bullie I walked in Zurich.
2012 Reading Challenge
Now Nesting from Chicago, IL My nail blog: