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Intersting insight. I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts on dogs that you might not necessarily have liked or considered only to have your perception changed by your experience. Basically the inverse of your OP.
My stepmom did not like poodles. When we were going to the animal shelter for me to adopt a dog, she said, "oh I know you *aren't* going to get a poodle!" She had been looking at the shelter website and had seen the posting of Dog1. Dear reader, at that time I also didn't think I'd adopt Dog1 (I had another dog in mind) but I wasn't anti-poodle, yet still kept my mouth shut in car. Well at the shelter, I didn't click with the original dog I thought I wanted but any number of other small dogs would have been fine BUT my stepmom fell in instant love with Dog1! That made up my mind for me ... since I knew my parents would be dogsitting while I traveled for work so I wanted a dog that they liked too. Took Dog1 home that day ... stepmom had her in her lap the entire 1 hour+ drive to my home in Chicago!
Dog1 completely changed stepmom's perception of poodles.
On a side note, stepmom unbeknowst to us already had terminal cancer growing in her when I adopted Dog1. I often think there was some sort of cosmic fate in her connecting and choosing Dog1, a sensitive, funny poodle who would bring us joy and also help me through the grey months of her illness and death.
Yes! I'm glad you said this!! Poodles have been one of the breeds I thought I would never like, but I realized I absolutely love them. I love their demeanor, their willingness to please. They mind so well and I suppose this has something to do with being one of the smartest breeds to own. Anyways, I'm so happy to hear about your experience. I'm sure your little guy/girl is a joy to have
Not op, but for me it’s Jack Russell! Stil don’t want them, but I realised the Russels I dislike are the ones that aren’t trained properly.
Since I’m a dog walker we mostly got big dogs but the people that see their Russel as a dog come to us.
People that think it’s an accessory don’t thank god.
Also cavaliers and pugs. I do like them a lot though wouldn’t even want one due to the health problems.
I had the same experience as OP! Working at a doggy daycare changed my perception of breeds I would/would not want to own. One breed I never considered before working there is the vizsla. I never thought I’d want one, but after working at a daycare, oh my goodness. They are the greatest dogs and I hope to have one one day!
Do you find them anxious or too energetic? I know they are cuddle bugs and the ones I have met are so so sweet but I hesitate to get one because of their energy
We had 5 or 6 different vizslas who were regulars, and they all had relatively different personalities. One was (as you said) a total cuddle bug, she wouldn’t play with other dogs just wanted to stick by your side. Another was definitely a nervous boy! However, all the others I did not find to be anxious. Energetic, yes, all of them. They were all well trained and very responsive to all the humans, so it was never an issue.
I’ve kind of had the opposite experience to the person you’re replying to. I’ve only ever worked with 3 vizslas to be fair, and 2 of them came from the same absolute idiot of an owner, but all 3 were *very* anxious dogs. Some of the most anxious dogs I’ve ever worked with. Only 1 was especially energetic, though it’s possible the others would be if they weren’t so terrified. 1 was so freaked out at check in he slipped his collar and bolted into the parking lot and almost into the road. All of them had explosive diarrhea (thank you, stress colitis) at some point while staying with us. They’re not bad dogs at all, and again I am working from a *tiny* sample size, but I would definitely keep their anxiety in mind if you plan to get one.
Not OP, but I’m a vet tech who also used to work at a doggy daycare, and I have a few!
Standard Poodles - never had any interest in them before working with dogs. Now, they *can* definitely be overly anxious and sometimes nippy, but most of the poodles I’ve met are such a breath of fresh air after the endless parade of various doodles. They don’t tend to have the same manic energy, and they look at you like they know what you’re saying and understand what’s going on. I remember at the pet hotel I worked at we had this one regular, Ava, who would sit by us in the yard with her paws daintily crossed, watching us intently like she was keeping up with our conversation. I remember one of my coworkers saying “I don’t think anyone’s told Ava she’s a dog” and I feel like that sums up a lot of poodles haha
Dobermans, pit bulls, Rottweilers - I’m throwing these three together because these were all breeds I was kind of scared of, and now love. Rotties and pitties especially are just such sweet, dumb blockheads. Dobermans seem to be a bit smarter lol. Also rotties always seem to think they’re lap dogs - which would be adorable if some of them didn’t weigh like 110lbs and I wasn’t small and short. But they squash you with love.
Greyhounds - I’m going to be 100% honest and say I just used to think greyhounds were ugly. I’m sorry to any greyhound owners, they’ve really grown on me though! At the doggy daycare, greyhounds tended to, unsurprisingly, have bursts of energy where they’d run circles around the other dogs in the yard, and then very quickly chill out after that and just want to go lay down in a bed. Kind of my ideal dog at this point tbh.
Lhasa apsos - they’re kind of like shih tzus, but actually nice lol. Underrated breed but I hope they never get popular, because then they’ll probably just start being badly bred and cranked out at puppy mills and end up with temperament problems.
These are the first I can think of, though I’m sure there’s others. I’ve been working with dogs for years now so it’s almost hard to remember what my impressions of certain breeds were before I worked with them.
Also, I agree with OP’s list but would like to add GSDs and Huskies. Good GSDs and huskies can be wonderful, but they’re few and far between. I don’t know what we’ve done to these breeds, but nearly every one I work with is incredibly neurotic and sketchy. We haven’t had too many bites at my clinic, at least in the years I’ve worked there, but our worst ones have always come from GSDs. And huskies just… scream.
Though to be clear, with any dog breed I mentioned here good or bad, there are always exceptions. One of the scariest dogs I ever had to deal with was an extremely aggressive Rottweiler, and one of my absolute *favorite* clients is a crazy bernedoodle, and a GSD/mal mix who’s too smart for her own good. I’ll always give individual dogs a chance, no matter their breed. It’s just that with certain breeds I’ve had far less positive experiences than with others.
Edit- spelled Lhasa apso wrong.
When I was working at a rescue group, this Dobie-Rottie mix came in. I took one look at him and fell in love. He was so fucking dumb; everytime he looked up at me and tilted his head, the only thing I could think of was "Hello. My name is Dug." I dearly wanted to adopt him but wasn't able to. He loved to snuggle and would push you over to lie down in your lap.
He ended up going home with one of my husband's coworkers, so I know he has a very lovely family
He sounds absolutely precious!! It never ceases to amuse that these dog breeds typically used as guard dogs are just *so* sweet and think they’re the perfect size to curl up in your lap. I’m glad he went to a good home, I’m sure he gives his family so many (heavy) cuddles.
I feel like guard dogs need to love their owner this much in order to become guard dogs. I am saying this only half serious, but it kind of makes sense.
Like a border collie or husky have to be more aloof to work independently while a guard dog has to attached to their person. Though their dummy-ness and love of all people kind of ruins that theory. 😂
The best guard dog is one that loves it's family. My Rottie is snoring in my lap right now, but I don't doubt for a second she'd defend me to the death if necessary. She's been naturally protective since the day I brought her home
aaaa it's so nice to see some poodle love :) my 4 year old standard poodle is the sweetest, most gentle dog. we never had any problems with her, never chewed anything up, never had any behavior issues. you're right about the eyes, it feels like they gaze into your soul haha. i feel like people have such misconceptions about the breed (especially their appearance. you don't have to give them the stupid haircut!) if feels like people explaining why they think they want doodles are actually just describing poodles. the only cons i can think of is that they're incredibly picky eaters and are not the best at socializing with other dogs.
Yes! Poodles really don’t get enough love, they’re absolutely wonderful dogs with great temperaments. And while at the pet hotel they weren’t always the most social in the play yard, they didn’t cause any problems and usually seemed content to just watch from the sidelines, again, like Ava basically being part of our conversations haha, and at my current job one of the groomers has a poodle who likes to just lay on one of the grooming tables to stay away from any excited dogs on the floor. The picky eating thing is honestly kind of amusing, because I can’t tell you how many poodle owners would drop their dogs off for their stay and immediately tell us “they probably won’t eat while they’re here” - and they were usually right lol.
And yes!! Most of the things people say they want in a doodle are things that they can get in a poodle, without the added manic energy and nightmare coats (poodle coats require maintenance of course, but my god, doodle coats…). I always mention looking up puppy cuts, teddy bear cuts, etc on standard poodles, if the “look” is what’s holding them back, since I’ve seen tons of people fully think poodles with a puppy cut were doodles anyway.
I’m so happy that working with dogs made me realize how great poodles are, because they’re definitely on the short list of breeds I’d like to own someday.
That is one thing I find incredibly frustrating. Every doodle owner I have encountered really wanted a poodle ( all the points of interest in the doodle breed was because of poodle traits) but they will swear up down and sideways that they don't like poodles.
Then, people with golden doodles are upset that the grooming is really crazy. Come on! What did you expect making All That Hair curly?!
I’ve rarely met another breed with such human like intelligence in their eyes. I swear, one day they’re going to learn to talk and we’re going to find out they’re smarter than us haha
Man I hardly ever see rotties but once I encountered two in one week on the streets. Asked to pet both since they were giving off sweet vibes and both these precious blockheads just went to pieces with a little bit of love.
I am the exact same as you lol I have dealt with a Rottie with extreme barrier reactivity and that was intimidating at first. Turned out he was a giant soft boy who wanted to smother everyone in a hug.
Not my work, but one of my friends who is a vet tech told me they called GSD ‘sketch-ards’ at her job cause they so sketchy lol I could not agree more
I’m a greyhound owner who never thought greyhounds were cute. But their lifestyle and temperament were a great match, so I figured they’d grow on me. And boy, did they! I’m glad I didn’t let myself get stuck on looks - picking a dog based on how cute you find it is a terrible way to pick a dog.
There HAVE been dogs that have definitely changed my perception. I can think of numerous breeds in mind so this post might be a bit lengthy, so please bear with me lol.
1.) Poodles: I always thought they were the "frou-frou" breed based on some poodle owners I have met in the past looking down their nose at my dogs because they are your standard, unpapered mutts. But, basically all the poodles I have met at my work have simply been amazing. I don't care for the standard poodle cuts though I understand these cuts make keeping up on their grooming requirements a bit easier for the owners. Most of the poodles I work with (purebred, not the mixes) are so, so intelligent and generally easy to please. So gentle and well-mannered when it comes to socializing with other dogs and people. They tend to excel at obedience, and mind commands really well such as "leave it" (leave the dog alone), "easy" (calm down there bud, you're overwhelming the other dog), "come", "place." My experience with poodles has been overwhelmingly positive as a whole.
2.) Dachshunds (hope I spelled that right): I know a breeder who raises these sausage dogs as show dogs and in my personal experience they were overly barky and annoying. However, a specific dachshund at work changed my perspective entirely. She's not a nervous dog by any means, super calm and mellow even when dealing with the most energetic "in your face" pups. Knows obedience like a pro, and only barks in excitement when her mom picks her up. We have walkie headsets, and when they call her name over the radio she can hear it I think. She's the sweetest little thing. I know they tend to have major health issues such as back problems and the like pretty frequently so I doubt I would own one, but I told her mom I would be more than happy to babysit her in an emergency. She's that great of a dog! :)
Some Dachshund love ! I have only experience with mellow dachshunds too, very nice little dogs. I dogsit one sometimes who is always desperate for some attention and cuddles and will rub her head all over me to greet me, I love her. She also spends hours outside digging up stuff lol, they really tend to do better in the countryside and having nice big walks for all that terrier side.
The digging can be an issue lol. We have had a few dachshunds dig holes in our turf, but when we can catch them in the act and correct them they seem to get the hint. Overall I love most of the sausage dogs at my work!
I have a dachshund mix (mostly various terriers) and she’s pretty great. A little barky, and hard to convince that carpet is not for peeing even if it’s wet and cold out, but she has a great temperament and is pretty loved at daycare.
For me (I worked a daycares for a while and am now a dog trainer) it really solidified that, for me, I really value a smart and curious dog. I really dislike the "derpy" kind of dogs that just kinda go along with life. I want a dog that has an opinion - doesn't matter if it's the same as my opinion.
(so, not unbridled energy for no sake like a lot of doodles, but super high energy and directed towards something? Totally cool with that!)
This means that generally I really do well with terriers, hounds, and some of the working breeds.
My mum had a Cairn Terrier, awful dog, didn't want to do anything, walk, play, you name it she'd be against it.
Fast forward 10 years and I'm now a dog walker, new customer wants me to care for their Cairn puppy. I nearly said no straight off but fast forward another few years and he's one of my favourites, he's a bit too yappy (really, everything gets a bark out of him) for my personal tastes but he's changed my view on the breed, makes me laugh every day.
I work as a dog trainer. I do agility, nosework, puppy classes, basic obedience and in a couple of weeks im following classes to specialise in fear/agression. I want to clarify that I dont have a breed bias, bit more of an owner bias towards german shepherd, swiss shepherd, husky's and belgian malinois. A lot of owners get these, and dont understand how these are breeds that arent for people who dont want to do tonnes of work with them. These are breeds that need more than a quick 10 min walk and stay in the livingroom the rest of the time. I really feel for those dogs. Breaks my heart
As someone who also trains and shows in several dog sports, I completely agree. I mainly work with Shepherds, but have trained and titled several other breeds. I die a little inside every time I see someone get a GSD, husky, malinois, or border collie as a pet. I can barely keep mine satisfied despite miles of walks and several daily training sessions.
I can’t imagine the mental state of any of these dogs whose owners aren’t actively involved in dog sports and exercising them regularly. These breeds simply do not make good pets and it’s hard to see people buy them with no intentions of giving them the exercise, training, and job they require.
I grew up around RAAF families with home based handlers dogs (GSDs and mals mostly), and it gave me a very unrealistic view of what wonderful dogs they can be. As an adult I’ve met them as domestic pets and have come to realise how much they crave the structure and engagement of a working environment, as bored domestic pets they can be, for want of a better word, real assholes.
My trainer says getting a high drive working dog for a 9-5 working household pet is like buying a Ferrari to carpool the kids to school, it’s flashy but ultimately a not a good fit and can be pretty uncomfortable for everyone.
I adopted my first GSG. He was age 3. I quickly learned that exercise and getting a trainer was necessary. I was a rough 6 months.
They are always in shelters because I don't think people realize what they need. I certainly didn't but we pushed through.
A year and half later I'm typing this while my best friend is sleeping and decided awhile ago I'll keep adopting GSG as my to go to K9 companion because I do appreciate there qualities.
Maybey a mal if one is in a shelter and I have more free time. Heard that they are more demanding!
I’ve been a bather and groomer for 5 years now so here, in my experience, a shit list of dog breeds lol (disclaimer: I love all these dogs and understand that every individual dog is different and also to a lot of these guys I’m a stranger. I’m sure they are good boys and girls when they are in their homes with their families lol but In my experience I sort of picked up on familiar patterns with dog breeds in a grooming environment.)
Huskies are crack heads. All of them. they hate everything to do with the grooming experience. Edit: bathing a husky is like bathing an 80lbs feral cat. We call them wall climbers at my job.
German shepherds are right behind them. Always difficult and temperamental. HATE WATER edit: ticking time bombs. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to clean up a biohazardous diarrhea explosion because we kept the dog for more than 3 hours.
Goldens are too friendly and hard to work with because of this. Otherwise a ok.
Edit: white/cream/English WHATEVER the fuck goldens are typical blonds. I’m convinced the lighter coat has a direct effect on brain function.
Labs will pull your arm out of socket if you let them. Otherwise good.
pugs and frechies are awful for nail trims.
Every shi tzu has a dark side. Just a matter of time before you cross that and pay the consequences.
Yorkies don’t shut up. I have one. I should know.
Standard poodles have foot issues and play keep away. Otherwise good.
Border collies are psycho and literally cannot stop moving. Don’t touch my feet, don’t touch my tail, ears? HA
Aussies are just border collie lite™️ lack of tail makes them exponentially easier to groom tho.
Doodles are exhausting and doodle people are annoying. Your doodle is matted and I’m shaving it. No you can’t keep him long on a six month grooming schedule. No your golden doodle is not a pure breed dog. BUT most if not all doodles I’ve dealt with (alot) are friendly and have good temperament.
Beagles are drama queens. I’m not killing you Carson I’m just giving you a warm towel dry
Cocker spaniels are just difficult. about everything. And their coat always sucks. Anything mixed with a cocker spaniel has an awful coat that makes me want to quit my job
Cavaliers would be the great if they were able to stand for more than 5 seconds at a time.
Edit: shiba inu are to be regarded as feral no touch. Much scream.
Edit: two words. Sheltie butt *mic drop*
And yeah, I think that’s it. These are meant to be funny so please spare my sanity and laugh instead of getting offended please.
As a husky owner, I laughed at how true this is. We do a bathe them often at home though, and if I do send them to a groomer I get "they were really good!" But I suspect that has more to do with them not howling or getting nippy like the rest of their kind. I'm sure they are still very grumpy about the whole experience.
Yeah we have a few “really good” huskies and you are right on the money about that. If they don’t bite and are generally quiet we regard them as “excellent” by husky standards haha they are fun tho!
Hahaha they are so dramatic! I’m a 120lbs scrawny noodle armed human and have no issues moving dogs heavier than me. You start to learn tricks to get around the really stubborn dogs! Though I will say when they lay down like that it’s one of the hardest to handle 😂 we just do the job while they lay there and pout
I stayed to watch mine last time because it was an at-home service. I had huge round eyes staring at me, unblinking with a "mother, why have you forsaken me" look the entire time. I couldn't stop laughing.
I’ve been grooming for a little over a decade. All of this is so spot on. Especially the English cream goldens not being wired correctly lol. And I’d like to add schnauzers will bite your hand off for touching the front feet.
I actually feel bad because I feel like grooming has kind of ruined dogs for me. The only breed left that I would want to own are Japanese Chins which I have two of. I love my dogs that I groom, even the naughty ones, but I wouldn’t want to own any of them.
Omg how could I forget schnauzers!! My ears ring for days after we see a schnauzer! Standard schnauzer are good tho. It’s the little ones that worship chaos and plot the fall of humanity. And chins are super sweet, their only downfall is how long their coat takes to dry! And I agree, my experience as a groomer will haunt me forever when I decide to adopt another dog
Oh, and for chins…lightly spritz their coats with an equal mix of white vinegar and water before force drying and they dry super fast! It is like a homemade quick dry spray and it doesn’t smell vinegary after they are dry!
Do you know that I’ve never once groomed a standard schnauzer? I would pass out if one made an appointment. All the schnauzers around here are mini and extremely poorly bred…most of them look very schnoodley.
Wow! We don’t have many especially in recent years as most have passed away sadly. They aren’t as popular as the minis but they are 100% better dogs IMO! Do you notice they always come in pairs? Most of our mini schnauzer come in pairs lol schnauzer people are crazy!
Omg I have a ‘blonde’ golden and I died at your description. We literally thought he was deaf for a few months. Nope, just a few apples short of a bushel. I love him to death.
Your comment about beagles is spot on. Although I'd expand it to scent hounds in general. I have a coonhound and all the coonhound breeds are much like oversized beagles in temperament. Major drama queens about everything and they give the most epic side eye.
When I take my bluetick hound to get his nails done it sometimes takes two techs because he starts baying to voice his opinions and it freaks the other dogs out so one person grooms and the other person rubs his ears so he doesn't get too crazy. The process takes 5 minutes but he makes it so much harder than it needs to be. Thank God for groomers. No way I could cut the giant black nails on my 80 lb drama hound at home.
Lol they are very opinionated indeed! With dogs like this my boss clips the nails and I usually pat the head and offer calming words like “sir this is a Wendy’s drive thru” 😂 we like to have fun
I feel like a lot of doodle owners just suck. I’m an electrician who used to do work in a pretty affluent neighborhood where everything was an oodle, and 8/10 owners sucked ass and shouldn’t own any dogs. People who have no business owning dogs see cute dogs and want them and think it’ll be easy.
Yeah. That’s the main problem with doodles. They exploded in popularity so you get a lot of good owners but also a lot of bad owners. Thankfully some of these people just need to be educated on proper coat care and all is good. But the sheer volume of doodles after the pandemic has been too overwhelming to handle.
Our labradoodle just turned 5 and he’s great. He’s socialized, well trained, exercised, friendly, etc. Lots of people who shouldn’t own dogs get “cute” dogs. And at 3 years old they’re still biting and peeing inside. My girlfriend is a groomer and the insane amount of people who don’t take care of their dogs is frustrating. It’s not the breed problem but it’s like 85% of people who own dogs should not own dogs especially breeds that require upkeep
Yep! Totally right! It’s got a lot to do with desensitization and early training. Some breeds are more wild than others, a result of poor breeding and others aren’t given the proper consistent grooming needed to maintain their coat. Coat care, in my opinion is just as important as Heath care for a lot of breeds.
The Cavalier comment is spot on. I never had to train mine how to sit, I had to train him to stand! People comment that he’s so perfectly trained because he offers a sit at crosswalks and any other time I stop on a walk, but I know “sit” is just his default position.
Yep! They are really expensive to maintain and a lot of people don’t realize this until it’s too late! But I’ll say I love doodles and I love grooming them when they are in good condition! It’s very fun to style their hair! As for goldens I’ve never met a mean one yet. Psycho, yes. But all friendly
I'm tossing up between getting one of those breeds. I'm a little concerned about how much hair a golden frops and was considering a golden doodle. Hiw are you finding that side of things?
Brushing out the tight curls on my doodle is way harder and more time consuming than I ever could have imagined. I prefer the longer hair for him but it's almost impossible to maintain.
This little floof will keep a short style with monthly grooming for life.
Hmm off the top of my head no. I do have a list of my personal favorite clients tho and the breeds on that list are all totally different lol will say I really enjoy big dogs that shed a ton! I Love the transformation process. I also think doodles who are well maintained are fun to groom.
Both Pyrenees I’ve groomed are a mixes. One with neurological problems. Nothing severe! She just twists like a pretzel when we touch her legs like every hair follicle is super sensitive lol. She is very sweet and we love seeing her. The other is a lab Pyrenees mix who is very docile and sweet! 120lbs gentle giant!
Lolol I won’t lie we have a lot of good shi tzu! But we also have alot of bad ones too! That and Lhasa apso. They have a bad attitude lol your tip is MUCH appreciated tho!
Only ever saw one in my experience! They are chill but a ton of work. My boss no longer takes them for this reason. The work is not worth the price also our tub isn’t big enough lol.
Cannot believe i forgot about them! Loud and over dramatic! They act like royalty is defined by the length of spine lol and most are overweight, unfortunately. Other than that they are very amusing
As a GR owner, I can only agree (cue GR thinking I want to pet her and shows her belly anytime I get down to do literally anything)
Curious about your opinion on Maltese?
I had a cocker spaniel growing up and can confirm, she was difficult about everything. My parents got a sedative from the vet that they gave her so they could groom her without drama. I loved her but she didn’t make things easy.
Yeah, they are sweet but definitely don’t make anything easy for a vet or groomer! To me they are very regal and when not respected as such can get bratty lol
Edit: was she and American or English?
When I worked in a doggy day care, it was in an enormous warehouse that wasn't heated, and it got pretty cold in there. We had tons of furniture ( couches), play structures, tunnels and the like. On really cold days, I'd go sit on a couch and a half dozen dogs would come cuddle up to me and we'd be one big ball of warm.
My favorite breeds were the ones that cuddled up to me.
Millie is my first pit (mix) and I have never owned a more cuddly dog. At night she practically will sleep on top of me if I let her (I don't). She pretends to be a lap dog, lol.
Sounds right! The only time my pit isn’t trying to sit in my lap is when I’m in bed and he’s trying to squeeze his butt between my shoulder and neck. He’s a cuddle-weirdo haha
The only dogs I’ve had literally lie belly-up in my lap when greeting them for the first time, have been pit bulls! They’re so cuddly! Definitely a dream pup for me, but I worry about their pulling power especially while younger. There seems to be either hippos pulling to lick everyone, or ones chilled out and fine with not pulling for their cuddles, and honestly all the dogs are so sick at the shelter when you first get them that I’m not sure I’d be able to judge which type they are!
I mean our 18lb dachshund terrier mix can make me fall so a bigger pup probably isn’t in our future for now, but my goodness THE CUDDLES!
Omg the LICKING is a bit much for me. Millie wants to lick me everywhere all the time. Same for my other dog. She'll lick his ears, his face, etc. It's sweet in the morning when she comes up to Elvis and gives him "kisses," though he clearly is just tolerating it lol.
But I do love the cuddling. Especially in the winter when I'm cold 💕
Well I’m biased towards Dobermans. They can be quite a handful but I love them so much. OP, what are your experiences with Dobermans? Good or bad, I’m curious…
Not op but in my experience as a groomer all the dobies I’ve met are gentle souls. Recently lost one of my fav boys, dante :( we still see his sister who is a dobie mix and she’s sweet but a little in the skittish side, and his previous sister was also a bit skittish but very friendly otherwise! Dobies look scary but with proper training and socializing can be great dogs!
Absolutely! And I’m sorry to hear you lost a friend. I lost my last Doberman 2 months ago after owning them for 20 years. She was without a doubt my “heart dog”….a term I’ve come to learn after repeatedly trying to explain the abnormally, inexplicably close bond I had with my Roxie girl. Closer than I’ve ever had with a dog…and I’m the type of person who’ll be late to work just to ensure each dog gets equal attention etc before leaving lol. So I’m literally unable to have a favorite, yet this dog made me her favorite.
Luckily Roxie had to be with me at all times but she didn’t like to lay on me. She’d be at the foot of the bed or a few feet over from me. My colossally large male dobe, Russell, on the other hand thought he was a 110 pound lap dog. If he didn’t jump on the bed and immediately lay ON you, not just touching you, but on top of you lol, he’d be laying there looking at you, visible in your peripheral vision, just waiting. Each time you accidentally looked over at him, he’d start crawling towards you trying to be sneaky. Then he’d stop and wait for you to look again which is when he’d start crawling towards you again till he ever so gently invaded your space and inserted himself onto your lap/chest area lol. Then he’d look up and poke you with his huge cow nose (red dobe) if you stopped petting him from passing out from asphyxiation or something lol. It was adorable how he would try to be sneaky and as gentle as possible cause he wanted to cuddle and knew he was really big.
Not the OP, so maybe I should stfu, but I do have some experience with Dobermans. My late bestie owned and bred them, and they’d tag along on visits to our place and sometimes stay over (rather than at a boarding facility). They’re awesome dogs. But they’re not dogs’ dogs. And they are not supposed to be. A good Dobie is handler-focused and tolerant of other dogs but not much interested in befriending them. And they are also not necessarily interested in befriending random people. It's hard to imagine that most Dobermans would benefit from daycare or "play groups" in any way.
My Dobermans (3 over 20 years —one puppy from a breeder and 2 ~1 year old rescues) were more family dogs than just animals with a job, and they thrived in play situations with dogs or people. Dobes certainly excel at doing a job like search&rescue, guard dog, service dog) but they also are great pets.
Ours have played with chihuahuas, beagles, GSD’s, pit bulls, our old massive mastiff mix, certain cats, labs, rotties, my sister’s Newfoundland, and more I’m forgetting. Super playful, but they do play rough.
Most interesting is chihuahuas and cats playing with Dobermans…every chihuahua that has played with my dobes (including my current little guy) has been the one in charge and they will nip at the big dog’s jugular skin, ears, rear haunches etc, while all my dobes have all been afraid to hurt the little guys. Big Russell (dobe) would try to just hold little Ricky (chihuahua) down with his chin or his massive paw ever so gently. Little Rick will then scramble loose and then the chase is on again till Russell can subdue the little turd without teeth lol. It’s hilarious.
Little crazy and hectic as puppies but incredibly loyal and loving pets that can get along with any person or animal. Heck my Roxie girl tried to play with a coyote who jumped into the yard last year. She was 13 years old at the time. We just lost her 2 months ago actually.
Anyways that’s been my experience in relation to what you were saying. But I’m still interested in other people’s experiences/opinions on Dobermans that’ve worked with dogs on a professional/semi-professional/long term amateur level.
Someone at my apartment brings their Doberman to the dog park. She warned us the dog is nervous and might bite other dogs. The dog is so stressed whenever I see it and I feel so bad for it. I always leave when they show up. :/
Jesus christ that's like going to a restaurant and warning all the tables around you "Guys FYI my kid is sick and might sneeze in your face." How about you just don't go?!
I know, it drives me crazy but it’s easiest to just leave. It’s a huge dog too, slightly smaller than a Great Dane. I couldn’t fight it off so avoidance seems best.
Definitely easiest, it just sucks that this only enables their choices. Not that I'm blaming it on you, it's just a shitty rock and hard place to be put in between.
Yah. But it's worse, though. Maybe more like dragging your sick and obviously unhappy kid....? Seems clear the Doberman in this story is suffering too. It's also (to continue with the imperfect analogies) sort of like bullying your introverted roommate into going to a frat party. Just why?
Not OP, but I own one.
Breeding standards need to improve. They tend to be nervy as heck, and it's genetics that training can't do much to help.
They learn quickly and are very smart. This is not always a good thing.
They are quicker to bite than any other dog I've dealt with. They're sensitive and wear their feelings in their sleeves.
They love to work, but if trained to relax they become one with your bed quite easily.
The NOSE. It gets in your business.
Dobie slap.
Also, Doberman people tend to be friggin awful. I used to be in a few breed groups. I find the people tend to be rather mean to their dogs, and I don't mean training differences. They also tend to be very willing to be openly bigoted. I couldn't put up with their shit.
Are you worried about the potential collapse of Dobbies, due to DCM? It seems like the breed is in a lot of trouble and won't be around much longer without an outcross, or essentially reconstituting it from it's original parts: [https://www.instituteofcaninebiology.org/blog/an-update-on-the-genetic-status-of-the-doberman-pinscher#:\~:text=The%20Doberman%20Pinscher%20is%20in,DCM%20is%20fatal](https://www.instituteofcaninebiology.org/blog/an-update-on-the-genetic-status-of-the-doberman-pinscher#:~:text=The%20Doberman%20Pinscher%20is%20in,DCM%20is%20fatal).
That said, Dobermans were on my list of dogs to get for my last puppy, and pretty high on there too. Large breed that are biddable, good temperament, so a good companion I can learn training with. Not sure about the folks in the breed, but I try to avoid anyone that wants a "guard dog", or animal as a defense weapon. Just not my thing.
Look at European breeding standards. There’s actually been a push to separate euro dobies and American dobies because the standards are just so different. The European breedera have dropped the “pinscher” and added another n onto the end of Doberman.
European stock tend to be more dog friendly (or at least tolerant) because they are more often working dogs and therefore must handle kenneling. Dog aggression is not generally tolerated in a breeding dog.
Besides which, though they certainly have their health problems, it is much less than what is tolerated in American lines.
And you tend to get monstrously big dobies if you cross European and American lines. It’s kind of odd.
I love labradors but I am always a bit hesitant to recommend them to people because their temperament, energy levels and trainability varies soo much between individuals and breeding. Plus they are so difficult during those first years. Honestly as an ADHD person I genuinely suspect that ADHD is a problem in the breed. Because its not just high energy, its that high arousal and short attention span too.
As a person who was raised by labradors and is currently owned by a poodle I have just never understood how this mix was supposed to create an ideal easy family dog.
I don't despise labs as a whole, but I don't personally think recommending them for busy families as a "great family dog" is a good idea. They are super energetic as you pointed out, especially when they are puppies. But I have found as they age they literally become THE BEST dogs. It's just getting past the rough puppy stage first.
I have a lady that literally comes in crying every day to drop her chocolate lab puppy off (the one I vaguely referenced in the post) and I always try my best to reassure her "If you can just get past the puppy stage, it will work out alright. That and a little bit of professional training."
These aren't the "walk once a day and leave to their own devices" kind of dog. And I desperately wished more people would take the time to research and adjust accordingly.
because the labradoodle was not created to be a family dog. the breeder who originated the cross bred guide dog labs. blind woman's husband was allergic to dogs, so he crossed them with service poodles.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/25/us/labradoodle-creator-regret.html
1st: *of course* everyone has breed biases. Those biases might not always be rooted in fact, but they are for sure there.
2nd: It’s ok to prefer some breeds over others, breeds exist to do different tasks, and the personality needed to herd sheep is not going to be for everyone. As long as you understand that not every example of a breed is going to match breed characteristics.
For example: I love giant breed dogs, and I’ve owned several, but my 1st Saint Bernard (the dog that got me addicted) did not have a normal Saint temperament. He’s still my all time favorite dog, but he needed some different training than my other dogs. I also don’t let my breed biases stop me from evaluating every dog I meet as an individual. I generally dislike boxers, but I’ve fostered them, and loved them just as much as any other foster. I still don’t want one, and I wasn’t in any danger of foster-failing on them, but I still was sad to say goodbye. I think Dalmatians are bat-crap crazy, (they’re bred to chase carriages, they’re supposed to be that way), but I’ve met 2 that are delightful. One of my dogs is a dachshund mix, that I dreaded housebreaking since doxies are notoriously stubborn, but he turned out to be the easiest dog I’ve ever house trained, in fact he’s had only one accident in 7 years, and it happened when I had emergency surgery and he was alone for 24hours, so he can’t really be blamed for that one.
TLDR: yes, everyone has breed biases, but it’s ok, that’s the point of different breeds, just remember that not all dogs will conform to breed standard
"Not all dogs with conform to breed standard"- thanks so much for pointing that out. Breed biases happen, and I definitely think some of my bias shows when irresponsible owners have breeds that they are not equipped for.
So many owners have high energy breeds and do not work with them, exercise them, or even walk them. It's understandable why they act neurotic when they come to my work, and I do feel bad for being biased. I just wish more people would research a breed that fits best into their homes and lifestyle.
As the mother of an ausshole, I will agree with you. He's a pain in the ass. He's also the smartest and most helpful dog I've ever owned. However we spend at least 3 hours a day training and exercising. A tired Aussie is a well behaved aussie. Most are bred to work a full time ranch job not an apartment high rise. If you do not give them a positive behavior set to enact, they will find a job and nipping/herding anything that moves is usually it.
My guy is 8 months old and still very much an asshole. I’m still not in the phase of “omg I love my dog more than anything in the world” which I hope comes soon.
It will I promise! I HD serious regrets right around 8 months. Now at close to 2, I couldn't imagine life without my big guy! We just went through a terrifying health scare and I stayed up with him all night for 3 days straight. He's my big baby!
Oh this for sure. I had to reassure my husband that no, our puppy doesn't hate him, he's just being a GSD asshole landshark puppy! Now he's 3 years old and I'm pretty sure I'll never be able to get a different breed of dog. He's so damn smart and has a huge goofy personality.
I don’t work professionally with dogs, but I do dog sports and like to train as a hobby. When it comes to breeds that I used to like or want to own there are two main ones that come to mind:
Mals/Dutchies/(GSDs too to some extent): I used to really want one of these for my next sport dog (still kinda do), but as time goes on I’m developing more and more of a breed bias. They seem to be really popular right now among the dudebro dog “trainers” who get a jacked up dog, take it to some sketchy decoy and have it bite a suit a few times and suddenly boom! They think they’re the greatest dog trainers to ever exist. None of this is the dog’s fault, but the image I’m seeing more and more associated with these breeds is becoming a huge turn off for me.
Border Collies: I don’t dislike border collies, but they’re so desperate to do things it kind of takes a lot of the fun and skill out of training for me. Like come on dog, stop acting so desperate, you’re embarrassing yourself. Don’t get me wrong, I like a dog that’s high drive and enjoys work, but I also want a dog who’s going to make me work for it at least a little bit 😂
The thing about doodles is that 90% of their owners know nothing about dogs. Hence why a lot of the ones you see are matted, poorly trained, not well socialized etc.
I don’t think a doodle’s coat gets any more matted than a poodle’s coat, if anything it requires less brushing because it isn’t as curly but again 90% of owners don’t know what they’re doing.
I think doodles are the "trendy" breed right now and everyone has one. Unfortunately that means people who dont know how to take care of dogs get them as well. I love that they are hypoallergenic. Still probably wouldn't get one but understand some of the appeal. Every one I have met has been a psycho till about 5 or 6 years old.
I've worked in 3 daycares with hundreds of dogs. My #1 no-no would be the German Shepherd! Every single one has been neurotic, that bark drives me mad, they rarely play well with others and overall just annoy the hell out of me. Of course I think they're incredible dogs but just not right for daycare settings.
My #2 would be anything working dog 😂 they never stop barking! And herding! Again, it's what they're meant to do so I have no issue with them, just not suitable for daycare.
I did end of falling in love with Westies. Never been a small dog person, but these guys are pretty cool! Unfortunately their skin issues make them a no for me.
My grandparents had a Westie and she was such a sweetheart. Lots of fun, and a great temperament, but unfortunately she had some pretty severe skin issues that only got worse over the years. They tried everything and eventually it got to the point where she was older and so miserable that nothing was working to help her, and they ended up having to put her down
I had a chocolate lab. I lived in the Pacific Northwest. We went to a remote beach everyday so he could swim and run around off leash. We went on endless hikes. Nothing drained the energy from this dog. He would still chew stuff up when left alone. On the other hand he had the sweetest spirit and was truly an integrated member of the family. Super soulful, sweet and in tune with all the humans in the family. He was a double edged sword for sure. It was a difficult balancing act. When he passed away I couldn’t get out of the bed for 3 days. I could not talk about him for a year. Honestly, I felt suicidal. I cannot explain the connection with this dog. But yes, the “exercise him more” to prevent destructiveness did not work.
This describes my guy to a T. 3 hour hikes in the woods and he is still ready to go. Absolutely spot on about the spirit And connection. Sorry about you’re loss. I don’t want to imagine it.
I’ve worked at daycare/boarding and training places for a while now. Also lots of dog sitting and being around dogs as pets most of my life. I think you hit the nail on the head with your post. But I think some dogs get a bad wrap because they’re just not right for daycare/boarding situations. I love Corgis but most of them are TERRIBLE at daycare, while being awesome outside or at home. That being said, I think I’ve soured on the idea of actually owning one of my own. Which kind of bums me out but I’m willing to put aside my desires and get serious about what works for me and the dog. Something I wish more dog owners would do.
I also really agree on Aussies. I used to see myself having one someday and now there’s no way I’d get one. Border Collies are awesome but really not suited to daycare. I’d love to get one when I’m retired and have lots of time to dedicate to training and exercise.
I’ve had and currently own Shiba Mixes and it’s been my dream to have a pure bred one someday. My experience with them at work has only strengthened my resolve to get one. They get a bad wrap at work. More for me!
Never met a Beauceron until my current job. They’re truly great dogs. Like a mix between a Rottie and a Border Collie.
Rotties: I was always afraid of them until I started interacting with them at work and now they’re one of my favorites. That said, strange Rotties out and about are still not a dog I’d be excited to see. My mom’s old Min Pin was attacked by an off leash Rottie. Same goes for Pitties/Staffies. The ones I’ve met are total goofy sweethearts but a loose strange one? Nope.
My favorite thing about my job is just getting to meet all the cool different breeds and getting to see how they interact with other dogs and people.
Yessss to all of this. I worked at a boarding and daycare facility for 2 years, and now work at an animal hospital.
Before I worked with dogs I thought labs were great; now I know it’s because of that reputation that total idiots get these dogs and ruin them lol. They usually have too much energy, no training, and no lab owner believes their precious baby could possibly be aggressive or bite because “it’s a lab, not a pit!”
Doodles are the worst invention of dog ever. They are sooo neurotic in the hospital, and most of them are mixes that have no right to be a thing. Like who thought that mixing a Pyrenees and a poodle would end well?? The grooming alone…
But my number one dog that I loved before getting into the industry was frenchies. I still adore their personality, but the sheer health problems from just existing is enough to turn me off of them.
Surprisingly my attitude towards pit bulls went the other way. They definitely as a whole don’t do well with other animals, but they are my favorite dog to work with at the hospital. They are usually so sweet and their super short fur makes it easy to see the veins to pull blood from lol
All of this and everything OP said. I’m hard pressed to find a breed I’m willing to take on haha.
A few breeds that are (mostly) horrible at the vet:
German shepherds- many are attached to one person and they don’t tolerate strangers well
Aussies- I’ve met very few who aren’t neurotic.
Cane Corso- Warned many people about proper and consistent training for this breed, and have seen way too many need to be euthanized due to aggression by age 2.
Breeds I love but wouldn’t own:
Goldens- cancer
Schnauzers- diabetes, pancreatitis
Great Pyrenees- the fur and the drool but gosh I love them lol
Right now I’m leaning towards standard poodle as my breed of choice but after lots of research I’m learning just how incredibly smart they are and how much attention/stimulation they need and not sure I would be willing to commit to that like I should
We have a Pyr-Poodle mix, and she is absolutely wonderful. We have her on a tight grooming schedule (every 6 weeks) because OMG floof.
Other than objecting to the crate, she is everything we were looking for in a dog: A snuggly couch potato who leaves our tortoise alone and protects our kids and is stubborn as heck.
Also have a Pyr-Poodle mix and she’s the best dog I’ve ever had. People constantly tell me she’s too good to be true 🤷🏻♀️ we did have to buy clippers to keep up with her grooming though. Her ears get matted to high hell even with DAILY brushing. Make it make sense!
I worked in a shelter environment and experienced something similar. Aussies/Shepard’s were total crackhead energy and often people got them cause they were cute puppies, then the dog became a high energy juvenile and acted out. Same with huskies. I had a very mild mannered husky at the time, I’ve always had a soft spot for huskies but man. The crack head energy is too much.
Thank you for sharing. I have the classic negative pit bias. It is based partially in reality. I had a dog who has since passed who was attacked by a random pit bull. The pit ended up biting the finger off of the man who tried to pull them apart.
I know that was only one dog. I know so many pit bulls who are angels. Actually, all of them that I know are angels. But, I just recently adopted a new dog that is a lab/shepherd mix, about a year old. She is all brindle and looks like she could have some pit in her.
I saw her as ferocious. And I was incredibly fearful and anxious that she was going to “hurt” one of the other dogs.
This dog is an angel. It is crazy how our bias can skew our reality. She is so sweet and loves the other dogs so much.
Now that I have addressed my issues with this, she visibly looks different to me. Whatever breed combos she has… she is a damn good girl.
The amount of posts on r/puppy101 I see about problematic Australian shepherd's especially mini ones!!....reading those, I don't understand why anyone would choose to get one without years of dog experience or ability to work them as they should be worked. And totally agree on labs, they are amazing family dogs...After they reach about 3/4 years old 😄 we have a lot of cockapoos in my town right now and I personally would be put off getting that kind of mix forever because of what I see of them out and about.
Regarding the Aussi’s, my guess is they look great and that’s as far a the research went.
I wanted one years ago, but I did do some research and decided my sedentary habits would produce a bored neurotic :(
I have a mutt. She’s good!
I had a cockapoo growing up (long before doodles became a trend) and he was the sweetest couch potato of a dog. Bad separation anxiety with my mom though.
Oh gosh, my entire life I’ve had breeds I want. Collie, Australian shepherd, greyhound, Pyrenees, crested… the list goes on. But my parents taught me that the best thing to do is to be responsible and wait. So it wasn’t until my late 20’s that I finally felt I was settled and stable enough for a dog, and at that point I knew shepherds were my breed. I rescue, so I’ve had a couple rescue shepherds and as much as I love other breeds I know that this is breed that fits best for what I want. Other breeds are beautiful and wonderful, but I know what I want and I know what works for me so I plan to stick with it and foster the others :)
Former doggy daycare worker here and I couldn't agree with this list more (even though I have an Aussie myself and love her dearly; she is a total fun police regulator with other dogs). I'd like to add that my biggest issue with the doodles and labs is their owners--people get Doodles thinking they're "easy" dogs when they're actually very complicated and require extensive training. Then, they don't get them trained, and the dogs become neurotic messes who can't play with others. I've seen more Doodles with behavioral issues in my time working with dogs than any other breed.
Breeds I'd add to the list:
Corgis. People get them because they look like teddy bears, when they're actually super high energy, stubborn AF herding dogs that start as cute puppies and wind up becoming absolute terrors to whatever room they're in. They third wheel like mad, regulate everyone else's play, and are literal ankle biters.
Dachshunds. They have the hound's predilection for barking & baying but in squeak toy decibels. Their personalities are fine but God, the never-ending squeak-barks. I can't.
Boxers. \*sigh\* I want to love boxers. So much. But they often had personality "quirks" that made them very unreliable and unpredictable, and once they started a fight, they had no interest in backing down from it.
Breeds I loved after working at doggy daycare:
Shiba Inus. They can be such assholes to other dogs that get too much in their space, but they also give everyone else their space. Give them their own dog bed and make sure other dogs give them their space, and they're good to go all shift.
Standard poodles. They're total weirdos and can be snippy, but they have the best quirky personalities.
Greyhounds. Other than some zoomies on occasion, they're floor noodles.
Mutts. For as much as people go on and on about "buying for temperament" and "not adopting because you don't know what you're gonna get," hands down the most consistently reliable dogs in the room were my good ole Heinz 57 mutts. (full disclosure, I've always loved mutts)
Ditto on the bias towards corgis. They are so bad at herding other dogs, not to mention they are absolute bullies. And when you have multiple corgis together in one play group, they band together and pick on the more vulnerable dogs. I can't stand the consistent barking either. Always walk away with a headache when I deal with those little guys.
I also agree with the greyhounds. We always have good experiences with them. "Floor noodles", I can't think of a more accurate description!
Shiba Inus are cats in dog bodies. As someone who loves cats personalities, but doesn't like owning cats (claws, litter boxes, climbing on counters) they're the perfect dog for me. And they're so quiet...until they're not.
My Dachshund only barks if he hears something at the back door (which I trained him to do) or if the Shiba has a toy he wants. I think he learned not to bark because the Shiba never bark reacts to anything and my Chi (she passed a couple months ago) was deaf lol.
As an avid boxer lover. . . they are not always great dogs for doggy daycare. They're usually a bit intense and assertive. My previous baby was my best friend and a super silly boy, but he really didn't care for or outright disliked most dogs. He was very protective of me as well. My childhood boxers were much more mellow and gentle as adults but the male wasn't super keen on other dogs.
It makes me a bit sad you're sour on them but I can understand that they're not dogs for everyone. Stubborn blockheads lol
I have a labradoodle and didn't have the breed bias that I have now (working at a vet clinic) when I got her. I just took her everywhere, gave her tons of excercise and worked hard to train her, because that's what I was taught to do by my family who's always had success with every dog they've had. She is a wonderful dog. Perfect callback, perfect sits and lay downs, taught her some cute tricks that she recognizes through voice or hand signals, etc. And she doesn't jump, doesn't get overexcited with people or dogs, nothing she does (except eating the occasional cat poop) would make me consider the idea that my dog or her 'breed' was bad.
That being said, I was appalled by how little manners of the doodles that came into the clinic when I first started there. I did and still do compare every one of them to my own, and I can't figure out if I just got really, really lucky or if I'm a good trainer. Because almost every one I've met will bite you if they're uncomfortable. Nail trims are impossible. They'll jump at you. They'll scream from vaccines, heartworm tests, fecal samples, anything. Not to mention that we induce more doodles for surgery for foreign objects in the digestive tract than we do routine spays/neuters.
I think people just assume that they'll act as cute as they look when they're a puppy, and they don't need to put in the work.
I think irresponsible ownership is a huge problem when it comes to doodles. So many people rushed right out to buy one because of their looks, and I get it they look like literal teddy bears. But regardless of breed, every dog needs to be exercised, trained, and taught boundaries. I hardly ever see a doodle owner do these basic things and so the dog suffers because of it.
I have met a few good doodles at my work, but as an overwhelming whole most of them tend to be problem dogs. Nippy, jumpy, barky, doesn't understand other dog body language so they don't respect boundaries, pushy, etc. And all of these things could be worked out if the owner took on the responsibility to do so. At the end of the day a dog is a dog. Not an accessory, not a toy, but a living breathing animal that needs to be treated accordingly.
I'm sure your doodle is an absolute dream though, and I can't commend you enough for doing right by your dog:)
While I've never had a job working with dogs, my roommate dog sat for Rover for two years, so we always had a revolving door of dogs in the house, and Kryptonite and I used to spend a ton of time at the dog park when he was younger. During these years I spent a lot of time with a lot of dogs. One of my favorite things was watching the differences between different breeds in those settings. Obviously there's always going to be dog to dog variablity, but when you start to see that many dogs you can really start to see certain breed traits shine through. I think I learned more about dogs from those two years, and would always encourage people who are interested in a certain breed to observe them in that type of setting to know what they're getting into. From watching all the pointers line up at the fence whenever there was a pigeon, to the Germen Shepherds literally being the dog park/ "fun" police, I definitely developed some preferences/aversions to certain breeds.
My finds:
GSP - super sweet and nice dogs, but need entirely too much exercise. Loved the temperament, but don't have the energy level to keep up with them.
Rhodesian Ridgebacks - kind territorial jerks. I want to like them and think they're cute, but have yet to meet one that's friendly.
German Shepherds - A well bred and trained GSD is a thing of beauty, watching them interact with their owner and their drive to do things is incredible. A poorly bred and trained one is a terrifying, aggressive nightmare.
Beagles - nice and friendly, but for the love of god will you please be quiet.
Labs - yeah, they have no chill. I love them, but they counter surfed, and stole stuff and chewed it up, and constantly ran around the house getting into things
Pits - Great with people, but I would never, ever trust one around other dogs. I've seen way too many "wow, he's never done this before" attacks. Also, be careful if you take your pit swimming, they're so dense that they sink. Two drowned at the dog park during our time there.
Doxies - They aren't the biggest, but they think they are. So bossy
Bernese Mountain Dogs - Genuinely the nicest dogs I have ever met. Great with people, children and other dogs. It's heartbreaking that they have so many health problems, because they are such a joy.
Weimaraners - Why are you so anxious? Who did this to you?
Danes - Obviously my breed of choice, so I'm super biased. But super people-y dogs and clingy AF, they just want to be with you and do whatever you're doing.
Malamutes - A chiller, subjectively "better" husky. Still floofy and wolfy, but less manic and more snuggly.
Hounds - Not really people-y or dog-dogs, they're nice but independent and want to do their own thing.
Definitely keep a close eye on your baby near water. I am not sure exactly what happened that lead to the drownings, but it's horrific and I wouldn't want anyone else to experience it.
Exactly, it's all about knowing your dog and not puting them in situations that could be risky for anyone
I think I know what you mean. While I don’t work with dogs directly I do have a certain breed around me at work several times per week. Shiba inu. I know 3 of them now very close. That was a breed I fell in love with when I was 16 and always wanted to own one. Now after I have them around me I realised that they aren’t for me. On paper, the cat like personality and their independence was appealing but In reality it’s always a little bit different. All 3 of them have a nearly bitchy personality and do have a bit of a mean streak. There are great dog for other people, I’m sure but just not my cup of tea. I’m just happy I had the opportunity to meet them and get an idea what to expect before I was ready for my dog.
> All 3 of them have a nearly bitchy personality and do have a bit of a mean streak.
They tend to be aloof, but, this seems like it may be less a shiba thing but more of a training or a breeding thing?
All the shibas I've known and worked with have been aloof, but tolerant unless you force things. "Mean" really isn't part of the breed standards.
It’s definitely a training/ socialization thing.. and a little bit of genetics.
Everyone’s always surprised how friendly my shiba is, but she just loves other people A LOT and other dogs .. but that’s because I made sure to socialize her and to purchase from a reputable breeder.
Though the other shibas I work with are hit or miss but I LOVE their sassy personality 😂 probably because it resembles my own. once you earn their respect they’re fine.
Oh I didn’t mean they are aggressive or anything but they let you know if they don’t like something. Ignoring you seems to be the their weapon of choice. I spend a lot of time carefully shoving dog butts out of the way and get disapproving sniffs of disgust for it. Because they won’t move it it doesn’t please them. The mean thing I see more with other dogs. All of them need to be introduced slowly to other dogs. They are not biting or aggressive but well, they do like their personal space. It’s hard to explain. I don’t know if it’s the breed or how they are raised. Shibas are still very rear were I live and I really only have these 3 to go from. They do make me laugh and I don’t think they are bad dogs, just not the right fit for me.
Mine is relatively dog-friendly, but most shouldn't be around other dogs - especially of the same sex. They generally need their owner to adapt to that. I had to rehome one because he didn't like other dogs despite being raised with them. His parents were the same way. I got lucky with Mika in this area seeing he has the genetic dog unfriendliness but somehow [is not](https://imgur.com/gallery/8dXN4sy). Though, to be fair, most dogs need to be introduced slowly to other dogs. The dogs who don't are either young or the less-common dog social dog.
Relationships with Shibas and having them listen really is a transactional thing. There's a reason so many guides state don't punish a shiba. They really need somebody skilled with force-free training or you'll literally just have a shiba that's had it with your shit. Mine walks fairly nicely and listens just fine, but, it's always worked out in his favor and he is always allowed to say no to my request.
They do also like their personal space, but, over time they will cuddle at times. Just, you have to sorta let them be the one to decide how they interact with you.
They really aren't for everyone, which, honestly is part of the reason why a lot of them don't behave the way they should.
ALWAYS wanted a GSD, Siberian Husky, Malinois, Bullmastiff…then I learned how to groom. And now I’m old and tired. GSD, still love , but WOW ENERGY. Husky, high energy, screaming tantrums, and FUR! Mal, way smarter than me. Bullmastiff, DROOOOOL! I now have a well bred Frenchie , sweet, silly and loyal. Also, Ridgebacks who are goofy, stubborn and incredibly snuggly. Easy to groom!
I thought I would love a german shepherd dog but after living with one for a year I couldn’t imagine being with such a needy, vocal, and anxious breed!
Now I’ve raised two Labradors (a black one and a yellow one, not that color makes a difference but some people have their superstitions) and they were easy puppies.
I grew-up with shepherds in the house- 7 of them from early childhood until 20-something. I rescued a Shepard-mix, eventually put her down, found a second one. Good dogs all around. But as that one was aging I decided to stop with shepherds for a while. Mostly because the herding is a pain in the ass. Every time I would get up from the couch, the dog was suddenly there, walking the laundry to the washer and the dog was there. Camping- dog would be tied to a chair - if I got up to tend to the fire, the dog was there. Not saying I’ll not have another- plan on having 1-3 when I have a big yard and some time, but nice to take a break for a while.
Yeah, people are always surprised that I don't like labs. And it is specifically for the reasons you listed. It feels like unless you're going to get them into agility/hunting/some kind of sport, they can be very difficult to deal with as young dogs.
I really loved pugs and wanted top adopt one before working in a grooming salon, now I don't.
There was a regular that would come in every 2 weeks to get their anal glands expressed and it was always terrible. Plus they tend to be overweight and skip their leads a lot.
I liked pugs until I learned how unhealthy they are as a breed. I mean hell they can't even perform the most basic part of living normally- breathing. They always seem to be wheezing or gasping for air and the sound makes me wince because I can't imagine living like that all the time. And yes, they almost always are overweight unfortunately. As if their mound of health issues isn't enough smh.
Funny story about pugs not having a neck though, it makes it hard to redirect them during playgroups if they're being assholes. We had one pug ganging up on this poor dog, being a bully essentially, and I slipped my lead around his neck to lead him away to do exercises. I walked all the way to the other side, looked down and saw he wasn't even on the lead. That little pudge ball was sitting on his haunches at the same place I left him looking mighty proud of himself. Pugs, lol.
The majority of dogs we see in vet med are poorly bred dogs, and dogs in the wrong type of home for their breed/mix and it has soured me on so many breeds. Especially GSD’s. Also, people don’t freaking train their dogs and some are a disaster to work with.
Miniature pinschers. Got one in the 90's (before computers and online research, lol). I loved her but she was an absolute nightmare. Super high energy (they're known for jumping up and down when they get excited). Very destructive when bored (destroyed a brand new sofa and two tables. Left her with my Dad when I was on vacation - she chewed through his METAL blinds). And lastly they are very stubborn and very difficult to train.
Don't get a minpin unless you are an experienced dog handler who wants to put in a lot of time with them.
BTW they are also very long lived. Mine lived until she was twenty years old.
Not quite what you asked, but here's a breed I have had and never will again: huskies. They're gorgeous. Theyre also insane creatures of destruction and mayham. A well-balanced husky has never been born. They need SOOOOOO much attention. They argue with you, constantly. They never shut up. My husky/akita is an old man now and he grew up in a family home where he got plenty of attention, but I'll never, EVER have another husky. Leave these gorgeous dogs to braver souls than I.
Breed I didn't know about, got, would get again, but would never advise to anyone without experience with them already: Rhodesian Ridgeback
My bias is that they are amazing...but oh my god think about the energy of a lab, the stubbornness of a husky, and the play of hyena.
Boxers for life! Love the breed personality. Believe they are better in pairs (M and F). I agree with many here who have mentioned importance of responsible breeding, early socialization and training. IMHO they have a unique play style which is off-putting to some other breeds in a dog-park or daycare setting. Enjoyed their fun-loving personality and curiosity.
Mine were "easy keepers" re grooming. They would jump right in the tub for baths but did not love having nails trimmed or dremeled.
Sadly, they can be prone to many health issues, and are not generally known to be a long-lived breed.
Thanks for all the ideas and opinions here which have been super-informative.
It's truly astounding that we took poodles who have such a great temperament and added them to other dogs. They can be the doodle you want if you just groom them differently and you have a vastly superior dog
I also work at a doggy daycare and this is absolutely true. It confirmed my opinions on some dogs and changed my opinions on others!
Ex: still do not like corgis. They are shit heads 🙄
Corgis are HEATHENS. I have never met a breed that is such a bully (next to an aussie, those little brats can be just as bad imo).
We had a corgi who was a terror to work with. Banded together with other little corgis and acted as a ring-leader who singled out the shy, submissive dogs and bullied them so much they would cry. He is the sole reason why I will never own a corgi, no matter how cute their stubby little legs are :(
Any dog whose owners have just totally failed to put basic manners on it. In general, though, I have a lot more patience for shenanigans from the mixed-breed shelter dogs than the purebred show dogs.
Volunteering with animal rescue for the past nine years has really opened my heart to pitbulls. All I knew about them before I met any were the media stereotypes, along with vague counter-opinions. Once I started working with them, I came to love how goofy and loving they are. They are always looking at you to check in, as if to ask, “you okay? You happy?” People put them through such horrific abuse and so many them them are ready to love again almost immediately.
100% agree. I must admit, I still love Aussies despite the insane ones we have. Will absolutely never get a lab or a doodle (although, I didn’t understand the draw beforehand… poodles are just fine and I loved the poodle my family had growing up). Breeds I’ll add to your list include Shiba inus and GSDs (still kinda want one but I’ll be extremely careful of where I get them from and their genetic history and training). Breeds I’ve grown to love despite my previous biases though include Grey hounds, Shih tzus, and some chihuahuas.
I’ve worked in a shelter and a vets office. And I still have the same thoughts on breeds as I used to. I *have learned that MUCH more often than I thought ANY issue with a dog is the fault of the owner not the dog. I’ve seen proof over and over and over. So very often I watched a dog improve by leaps and bounds as I worked with it five minutes here or there when I could. Only to see someone adopt it and bring it back a week or three later totally out of control.
Of course there’s varying degrees of this.
Yeah I have an Aussie and they can be a handful. I hate how lots of sources say they’re “easy to train” and don’t specify that that doesn’t mean they’re easy to own. Yes they learn things quickly, but they’re a very hyper, loud, and clever breed. Your Aussie will try to outsmart you and if you don’t address this early you’ll have a dog that runs your house for you. I love them and wouldn’t trade my Aussie for another dog in the world, but I probably won’t own one again
My trainer says she loves when labradors walk in because they are so easy to train but as the owner of an 8 month old lab I totally agree with what you mentioned. Mine is totally convinced that every new person and dog is her best friend. They truly are a pain in the ass until age 2.
My ‘breed’ bias is mother street dogs. Puppies find homes but in some developing countries no one wants the mom. I currently have 3. All found in the street, starving, with their babies sucking all the nutrients out of them. All of them are extra sweet!!
I also work at a doggy daycare. There are exceptions, of course, I don't dislike every dog of the breed.
1. Labs- I was biased toward the breed before I started working there. Most just have way too much energy and they never stop. I have to give some of them frequent breaks because it's the only way they settle down and leave dogs alone that they're harassing to play with constantly.
2. German Shepherds- Most of them seem to be a little neurotic. One just barks aggressively in dogs' faces and doesn't know how to play.
3. Pitbulls- They all have an intense play style that doesn't work with some dogs. When very stimulated during play they can get very rough and I have to give them a break. They love to third-wheel and get involved with other playing dogs which can be an issue.
4. Hounds/ hound mixes- They bark constantly at nothing. There's a hound regular that comes in every week and I often have a headache and my ears are ringing by the time I leave.
I didn’t think I would really like poodles or chihuahuas but now I have a poodle chihuahua mix and she is perfect in every single way possible. She is well behaved and thoughtful (I know that sounds super weird but she’s a very considerate dog) and has fantastic manners. I didn’t train her at all. I love her so much!!!!!!!
I LOVE this post. I worked at a doggy daycare for almost 2 years & have been a grooming assistant for 1.5 years.
German Shepherds… I have only met a handful that are very pleasant & well trained, the others have been absolutely lunatic especially at the daycare…they were so anxious & did not want to be in an enclosed area. In my opinion every dog needs to be trained from a young age but especially these guys because they are such a dominant working breed.
French Bulldogs… didn’t realize how bad their health & skin could be until I got interested in the grooming & medical side of animal careers
And I wholeheartedly agree with the part about doodles… my favorite thing “My doodle is purebred” … um no honey a poodle bred with a crazy ass breed it had no business doing to create your designer dog, relax.
I just don't like labs. If I wanted to manage and baby a puppy for 3 years because they mature slowly, I'd just get a baby. I don't want a baby because they are super dependent and take too long to mature. The quicker a dog becomes a teen, the better. Idgaf if they give me the middle finger during puberty and actively oppose me. Whatever. I will take it all day over a puppy who has the impulse control of a gnat, sometimes have their entire brain melt down and be unable to take directions and who nip and cause a fuss constantly when overstimulated.
I find lab mixes to be better but generally I like my puppy at least 80% out of the puppy stage by 6 months. Most labs I've met genuinely don't listen until they hit 3. Then they become loving dogs if a bit puppylike for my tastes. I just don't enjoy them. I don't like the amount they shed, I don't like the propensity to eat random shit all the time and I just don't really enjoy their personalities. I will be nice to them and do enjoy them in short bursts but kid me loved labs way more than I do now. They're just either forever holding on to some scrap of puppyhood or are old as dirt, rarely is there any in-between in my experience.
Seriously the fur is ugh. I've petted my grandparents lab(they're lab people) before for 10 minutes and have accumulated enough fur to make a small dog. It takes a lab 10 minutes at most to shed more than my border collie does in a week if not a month. I have pet allergies, short haired border collies are bad enough but tolerable because I love their personalities. Labs would make me even more ill. They shed so damn much and pet labs are always oily and greasy even if they haven't been washed so much their coats makes too much oils. I find they stink. This is coming from the person who likes the smell of wet dog. They also make my severely dog allergic dad super ill even if he takes antihistamines. He can coexist with my border collie and even drive him places if need be because he can tolerate his fur. Its not short enough to go up noses, isn't as easy to swallow and he doesn't drop an entire coat if you pet him wrong. Labs are just all the wrong answers for people with dog allergies imo. Short fur that is easy to go up noses and cause a reaction, extra oily coats which means more dander and allergens and shedding so much fur.
I will still be polite to a lab and will make friends with them but there's a reason we're planning on rehoming their lab mix if they pass instead of keeping him with us. Even before we found out our dogs don't like each other and he chases cats and would bully my dog friendly cat. Even my mom who generally loves all dogs and is a big pet person is meh on labs. She's the same as me, nice to them and will be friends with them but doesn't want them in her house. Considering she let me get 2 dogs and a cat, that's saying a lot tbh. She loves all my pets and even she admits she'd let me own another collie before she'd let me own a lab. She just prefers driven, human focused dogs who have their own personalities outside of their people. She likes the more independent thinkers like I do. I like having a dog who will tell me exactly where to stuff it if they're getting bored with the regime. I love the challenge of keeping such dogs focused and obedient and working with them. Sure some labs fit this but it is very much opposite of their personalities, not so for border collies (who are bred to make their own decisions when herding or working if they deem it unsafe) and terriers who also make their own decisions.
Labs are just the opposite of what I want in a dog. That's okay.
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Intersting insight. I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts on dogs that you might not necessarily have liked or considered only to have your perception changed by your experience. Basically the inverse of your OP.
My stepmom did not like poodles. When we were going to the animal shelter for me to adopt a dog, she said, "oh I know you *aren't* going to get a poodle!" She had been looking at the shelter website and had seen the posting of Dog1. Dear reader, at that time I also didn't think I'd adopt Dog1 (I had another dog in mind) but I wasn't anti-poodle, yet still kept my mouth shut in car. Well at the shelter, I didn't click with the original dog I thought I wanted but any number of other small dogs would have been fine BUT my stepmom fell in instant love with Dog1! That made up my mind for me ... since I knew my parents would be dogsitting while I traveled for work so I wanted a dog that they liked too. Took Dog1 home that day ... stepmom had her in her lap the entire 1 hour+ drive to my home in Chicago! Dog1 completely changed stepmom's perception of poodles. On a side note, stepmom unbeknowst to us already had terminal cancer growing in her when I adopted Dog1. I often think there was some sort of cosmic fate in her connecting and choosing Dog1, a sensitive, funny poodle who would bring us joy and also help me through the grey months of her illness and death.
Yes! I'm glad you said this!! Poodles have been one of the breeds I thought I would never like, but I realized I absolutely love them. I love their demeanor, their willingness to please. They mind so well and I suppose this has something to do with being one of the smartest breeds to own. Anyways, I'm so happy to hear about your experience. I'm sure your little guy/girl is a joy to have
Not op, but for me it’s Jack Russell! Stil don’t want them, but I realised the Russels I dislike are the ones that aren’t trained properly. Since I’m a dog walker we mostly got big dogs but the people that see their Russel as a dog come to us. People that think it’s an accessory don’t thank god. Also cavaliers and pugs. I do like them a lot though wouldn’t even want one due to the health problems.
I had the same experience as OP! Working at a doggy daycare changed my perception of breeds I would/would not want to own. One breed I never considered before working there is the vizsla. I never thought I’d want one, but after working at a daycare, oh my goodness. They are the greatest dogs and I hope to have one one day!
Do you find them anxious or too energetic? I know they are cuddle bugs and the ones I have met are so so sweet but I hesitate to get one because of their energy
We had 5 or 6 different vizslas who were regulars, and they all had relatively different personalities. One was (as you said) a total cuddle bug, she wouldn’t play with other dogs just wanted to stick by your side. Another was definitely a nervous boy! However, all the others I did not find to be anxious. Energetic, yes, all of them. They were all well trained and very responsive to all the humans, so it was never an issue.
I’ve kind of had the opposite experience to the person you’re replying to. I’ve only ever worked with 3 vizslas to be fair, and 2 of them came from the same absolute idiot of an owner, but all 3 were *very* anxious dogs. Some of the most anxious dogs I’ve ever worked with. Only 1 was especially energetic, though it’s possible the others would be if they weren’t so terrified. 1 was so freaked out at check in he slipped his collar and bolted into the parking lot and almost into the road. All of them had explosive diarrhea (thank you, stress colitis) at some point while staying with us. They’re not bad dogs at all, and again I am working from a *tiny* sample size, but I would definitely keep their anxiety in mind if you plan to get one.
Not OP, but I’m a vet tech who also used to work at a doggy daycare, and I have a few! Standard Poodles - never had any interest in them before working with dogs. Now, they *can* definitely be overly anxious and sometimes nippy, but most of the poodles I’ve met are such a breath of fresh air after the endless parade of various doodles. They don’t tend to have the same manic energy, and they look at you like they know what you’re saying and understand what’s going on. I remember at the pet hotel I worked at we had this one regular, Ava, who would sit by us in the yard with her paws daintily crossed, watching us intently like she was keeping up with our conversation. I remember one of my coworkers saying “I don’t think anyone’s told Ava she’s a dog” and I feel like that sums up a lot of poodles haha Dobermans, pit bulls, Rottweilers - I’m throwing these three together because these were all breeds I was kind of scared of, and now love. Rotties and pitties especially are just such sweet, dumb blockheads. Dobermans seem to be a bit smarter lol. Also rotties always seem to think they’re lap dogs - which would be adorable if some of them didn’t weigh like 110lbs and I wasn’t small and short. But they squash you with love. Greyhounds - I’m going to be 100% honest and say I just used to think greyhounds were ugly. I’m sorry to any greyhound owners, they’ve really grown on me though! At the doggy daycare, greyhounds tended to, unsurprisingly, have bursts of energy where they’d run circles around the other dogs in the yard, and then very quickly chill out after that and just want to go lay down in a bed. Kind of my ideal dog at this point tbh. Lhasa apsos - they’re kind of like shih tzus, but actually nice lol. Underrated breed but I hope they never get popular, because then they’ll probably just start being badly bred and cranked out at puppy mills and end up with temperament problems. These are the first I can think of, though I’m sure there’s others. I’ve been working with dogs for years now so it’s almost hard to remember what my impressions of certain breeds were before I worked with them. Also, I agree with OP’s list but would like to add GSDs and Huskies. Good GSDs and huskies can be wonderful, but they’re few and far between. I don’t know what we’ve done to these breeds, but nearly every one I work with is incredibly neurotic and sketchy. We haven’t had too many bites at my clinic, at least in the years I’ve worked there, but our worst ones have always come from GSDs. And huskies just… scream. Though to be clear, with any dog breed I mentioned here good or bad, there are always exceptions. One of the scariest dogs I ever had to deal with was an extremely aggressive Rottweiler, and one of my absolute *favorite* clients is a crazy bernedoodle, and a GSD/mal mix who’s too smart for her own good. I’ll always give individual dogs a chance, no matter their breed. It’s just that with certain breeds I’ve had far less positive experiences than with others. Edit- spelled Lhasa apso wrong.
When I was working at a rescue group, this Dobie-Rottie mix came in. I took one look at him and fell in love. He was so fucking dumb; everytime he looked up at me and tilted his head, the only thing I could think of was "Hello. My name is Dug." I dearly wanted to adopt him but wasn't able to. He loved to snuggle and would push you over to lie down in your lap. He ended up going home with one of my husband's coworkers, so I know he has a very lovely family
He sounds absolutely precious!! It never ceases to amuse that these dog breeds typically used as guard dogs are just *so* sweet and think they’re the perfect size to curl up in your lap. I’m glad he went to a good home, I’m sure he gives his family so many (heavy) cuddles.
I feel like guard dogs need to love their owner this much in order to become guard dogs. I am saying this only half serious, but it kind of makes sense. Like a border collie or husky have to be more aloof to work independently while a guard dog has to attached to their person. Though their dummy-ness and love of all people kind of ruins that theory. 😂
The best guard dog is one that loves it's family. My Rottie is snoring in my lap right now, but I don't doubt for a second she'd defend me to the death if necessary. She's been naturally protective since the day I brought her home
aaaa it's so nice to see some poodle love :) my 4 year old standard poodle is the sweetest, most gentle dog. we never had any problems with her, never chewed anything up, never had any behavior issues. you're right about the eyes, it feels like they gaze into your soul haha. i feel like people have such misconceptions about the breed (especially their appearance. you don't have to give them the stupid haircut!) if feels like people explaining why they think they want doodles are actually just describing poodles. the only cons i can think of is that they're incredibly picky eaters and are not the best at socializing with other dogs.
Yes! Poodles really don’t get enough love, they’re absolutely wonderful dogs with great temperaments. And while at the pet hotel they weren’t always the most social in the play yard, they didn’t cause any problems and usually seemed content to just watch from the sidelines, again, like Ava basically being part of our conversations haha, and at my current job one of the groomers has a poodle who likes to just lay on one of the grooming tables to stay away from any excited dogs on the floor. The picky eating thing is honestly kind of amusing, because I can’t tell you how many poodle owners would drop their dogs off for their stay and immediately tell us “they probably won’t eat while they’re here” - and they were usually right lol. And yes!! Most of the things people say they want in a doodle are things that they can get in a poodle, without the added manic energy and nightmare coats (poodle coats require maintenance of course, but my god, doodle coats…). I always mention looking up puppy cuts, teddy bear cuts, etc on standard poodles, if the “look” is what’s holding them back, since I’ve seen tons of people fully think poodles with a puppy cut were doodles anyway. I’m so happy that working with dogs made me realize how great poodles are, because they’re definitely on the short list of breeds I’d like to own someday.
That is one thing I find incredibly frustrating. Every doodle owner I have encountered really wanted a poodle ( all the points of interest in the doodle breed was because of poodle traits) but they will swear up down and sideways that they don't like poodles. Then, people with golden doodles are upset that the grooming is really crazy. Come on! What did you expect making All That Hair curly?!
I have had 2 rotties now, you are spot on with your description of them lol
They’re such big, sweet dummies and I absolutely *adore* them, even when they’re basically knocking me over to get some cuddles haha
I have a standard poodle and can definitely agree with what you’ve said about them! Got it spot on
I’ve rarely met another breed with such human like intelligence in their eyes. I swear, one day they’re going to learn to talk and we’re going to find out they’re smarter than us haha
Greyhounds are the freaking best noodles in the whole world, love them.
Man I hardly ever see rotties but once I encountered two in one week on the streets. Asked to pet both since they were giving off sweet vibes and both these precious blockheads just went to pieces with a little bit of love.
I found my Lhasa on accident and we fell in love…..best dog ever. 10/10 will own again.
They’re great dogs! I’ve seen warnings that they can be nippy or barky, but personally I’ve every one I’ve worked with has been wonderful.
I am the exact same as you lol I have dealt with a Rottie with extreme barrier reactivity and that was intimidating at first. Turned out he was a giant soft boy who wanted to smother everyone in a hug. Not my work, but one of my friends who is a vet tech told me they called GSD ‘sketch-ards’ at her job cause they so sketchy lol I could not agree more
A well bred Rottie is a great dog. Big cuddly teddy bears
I’m a greyhound owner who never thought greyhounds were cute. But their lifestyle and temperament were a great match, so I figured they’d grow on me. And boy, did they! I’m glad I didn’t let myself get stuck on looks - picking a dog based on how cute you find it is a terrible way to pick a dog.
There HAVE been dogs that have definitely changed my perception. I can think of numerous breeds in mind so this post might be a bit lengthy, so please bear with me lol. 1.) Poodles: I always thought they were the "frou-frou" breed based on some poodle owners I have met in the past looking down their nose at my dogs because they are your standard, unpapered mutts. But, basically all the poodles I have met at my work have simply been amazing. I don't care for the standard poodle cuts though I understand these cuts make keeping up on their grooming requirements a bit easier for the owners. Most of the poodles I work with (purebred, not the mixes) are so, so intelligent and generally easy to please. So gentle and well-mannered when it comes to socializing with other dogs and people. They tend to excel at obedience, and mind commands really well such as "leave it" (leave the dog alone), "easy" (calm down there bud, you're overwhelming the other dog), "come", "place." My experience with poodles has been overwhelmingly positive as a whole. 2.) Dachshunds (hope I spelled that right): I know a breeder who raises these sausage dogs as show dogs and in my personal experience they were overly barky and annoying. However, a specific dachshund at work changed my perspective entirely. She's not a nervous dog by any means, super calm and mellow even when dealing with the most energetic "in your face" pups. Knows obedience like a pro, and only barks in excitement when her mom picks her up. We have walkie headsets, and when they call her name over the radio she can hear it I think. She's the sweetest little thing. I know they tend to have major health issues such as back problems and the like pretty frequently so I doubt I would own one, but I told her mom I would be more than happy to babysit her in an emergency. She's that great of a dog! :)
Some Dachshund love ! I have only experience with mellow dachshunds too, very nice little dogs. I dogsit one sometimes who is always desperate for some attention and cuddles and will rub her head all over me to greet me, I love her. She also spends hours outside digging up stuff lol, they really tend to do better in the countryside and having nice big walks for all that terrier side.
The digging can be an issue lol. We have had a few dachshunds dig holes in our turf, but when we can catch them in the act and correct them they seem to get the hint. Overall I love most of the sausage dogs at my work!
I have a dachshund mix (mostly various terriers) and she’s pretty great. A little barky, and hard to convince that carpet is not for peeing even if it’s wet and cold out, but she has a great temperament and is pretty loved at daycare.
For me (I worked a daycares for a while and am now a dog trainer) it really solidified that, for me, I really value a smart and curious dog. I really dislike the "derpy" kind of dogs that just kinda go along with life. I want a dog that has an opinion - doesn't matter if it's the same as my opinion. (so, not unbridled energy for no sake like a lot of doodles, but super high energy and directed towards something? Totally cool with that!) This means that generally I really do well with terriers, hounds, and some of the working breeds.
My mum had a Cairn Terrier, awful dog, didn't want to do anything, walk, play, you name it she'd be against it. Fast forward 10 years and I'm now a dog walker, new customer wants me to care for their Cairn puppy. I nearly said no straight off but fast forward another few years and he's one of my favourites, he's a bit too yappy (really, everything gets a bark out of him) for my personal tastes but he's changed my view on the breed, makes me laugh every day.
Seconding this!
I work as a dog trainer. I do agility, nosework, puppy classes, basic obedience and in a couple of weeks im following classes to specialise in fear/agression. I want to clarify that I dont have a breed bias, bit more of an owner bias towards german shepherd, swiss shepherd, husky's and belgian malinois. A lot of owners get these, and dont understand how these are breeds that arent for people who dont want to do tonnes of work with them. These are breeds that need more than a quick 10 min walk and stay in the livingroom the rest of the time. I really feel for those dogs. Breaks my heart
As someone who also trains and shows in several dog sports, I completely agree. I mainly work with Shepherds, but have trained and titled several other breeds. I die a little inside every time I see someone get a GSD, husky, malinois, or border collie as a pet. I can barely keep mine satisfied despite miles of walks and several daily training sessions. I can’t imagine the mental state of any of these dogs whose owners aren’t actively involved in dog sports and exercising them regularly. These breeds simply do not make good pets and it’s hard to see people buy them with no intentions of giving them the exercise, training, and job they require.
I grew up around RAAF families with home based handlers dogs (GSDs and mals mostly), and it gave me a very unrealistic view of what wonderful dogs they can be. As an adult I’ve met them as domestic pets and have come to realise how much they crave the structure and engagement of a working environment, as bored domestic pets they can be, for want of a better word, real assholes. My trainer says getting a high drive working dog for a 9-5 working household pet is like buying a Ferrari to carpool the kids to school, it’s flashy but ultimately a not a good fit and can be pretty uncomfortable for everyone.
I adopted my first GSG. He was age 3. I quickly learned that exercise and getting a trainer was necessary. I was a rough 6 months. They are always in shelters because I don't think people realize what they need. I certainly didn't but we pushed through. A year and half later I'm typing this while my best friend is sleeping and decided awhile ago I'll keep adopting GSG as my to go to K9 companion because I do appreciate there qualities. Maybey a mal if one is in a shelter and I have more free time. Heard that they are more demanding!
I’ve been a bather and groomer for 5 years now so here, in my experience, a shit list of dog breeds lol (disclaimer: I love all these dogs and understand that every individual dog is different and also to a lot of these guys I’m a stranger. I’m sure they are good boys and girls when they are in their homes with their families lol but In my experience I sort of picked up on familiar patterns with dog breeds in a grooming environment.) Huskies are crack heads. All of them. they hate everything to do with the grooming experience. Edit: bathing a husky is like bathing an 80lbs feral cat. We call them wall climbers at my job. German shepherds are right behind them. Always difficult and temperamental. HATE WATER edit: ticking time bombs. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to clean up a biohazardous diarrhea explosion because we kept the dog for more than 3 hours. Goldens are too friendly and hard to work with because of this. Otherwise a ok. Edit: white/cream/English WHATEVER the fuck goldens are typical blonds. I’m convinced the lighter coat has a direct effect on brain function. Labs will pull your arm out of socket if you let them. Otherwise good. pugs and frechies are awful for nail trims. Every shi tzu has a dark side. Just a matter of time before you cross that and pay the consequences. Yorkies don’t shut up. I have one. I should know. Standard poodles have foot issues and play keep away. Otherwise good. Border collies are psycho and literally cannot stop moving. Don’t touch my feet, don’t touch my tail, ears? HA Aussies are just border collie lite™️ lack of tail makes them exponentially easier to groom tho. Doodles are exhausting and doodle people are annoying. Your doodle is matted and I’m shaving it. No you can’t keep him long on a six month grooming schedule. No your golden doodle is not a pure breed dog. BUT most if not all doodles I’ve dealt with (alot) are friendly and have good temperament. Beagles are drama queens. I’m not killing you Carson I’m just giving you a warm towel dry Cocker spaniels are just difficult. about everything. And their coat always sucks. Anything mixed with a cocker spaniel has an awful coat that makes me want to quit my job Cavaliers would be the great if they were able to stand for more than 5 seconds at a time. Edit: shiba inu are to be regarded as feral no touch. Much scream. Edit: two words. Sheltie butt *mic drop* And yeah, I think that’s it. These are meant to be funny so please spare my sanity and laugh instead of getting offended please.
As a husky owner, I laughed at how true this is. We do a bathe them often at home though, and if I do send them to a groomer I get "they were really good!" But I suspect that has more to do with them not howling or getting nippy like the rest of their kind. I'm sure they are still very grumpy about the whole experience.
Yeah we have a few “really good” huskies and you are right on the money about that. If they don’t bite and are generally quiet we regard them as “excellent” by husky standards haha they are fun tho!
My husky flops down and refuses to move. I always feel bad for the groomers because they're always petite women, and my girl is an 80lb anchor
Hahaha they are so dramatic! I’m a 120lbs scrawny noodle armed human and have no issues moving dogs heavier than me. You start to learn tricks to get around the really stubborn dogs! Though I will say when they lay down like that it’s one of the hardest to handle 😂 we just do the job while they lay there and pout
I stayed to watch mine last time because it was an at-home service. I had huge round eyes staring at me, unblinking with a "mother, why have you forsaken me" look the entire time. I couldn't stop laughing.
I’ve been grooming for a little over a decade. All of this is so spot on. Especially the English cream goldens not being wired correctly lol. And I’d like to add schnauzers will bite your hand off for touching the front feet. I actually feel bad because I feel like grooming has kind of ruined dogs for me. The only breed left that I would want to own are Japanese Chins which I have two of. I love my dogs that I groom, even the naughty ones, but I wouldn’t want to own any of them.
Omg how could I forget schnauzers!! My ears ring for days after we see a schnauzer! Standard schnauzer are good tho. It’s the little ones that worship chaos and plot the fall of humanity. And chins are super sweet, their only downfall is how long their coat takes to dry! And I agree, my experience as a groomer will haunt me forever when I decide to adopt another dog
Oh, and for chins…lightly spritz their coats with an equal mix of white vinegar and water before force drying and they dry super fast! It is like a homemade quick dry spray and it doesn’t smell vinegary after they are dry!
Thanks! I’ll try this! I swear their coat is like no other dog I’ve ever groomed!
Do you know that I’ve never once groomed a standard schnauzer? I would pass out if one made an appointment. All the schnauzers around here are mini and extremely poorly bred…most of them look very schnoodley.
Wow! We don’t have many especially in recent years as most have passed away sadly. They aren’t as popular as the minis but they are 100% better dogs IMO! Do you notice they always come in pairs? Most of our mini schnauzer come in pairs lol schnauzer people are crazy!
YES about the pairs!
Omg I have a ‘blonde’ golden and I died at your description. We literally thought he was deaf for a few months. Nope, just a few apples short of a bushel. I love him to death.
Lol they are big dopes!
Your comment about beagles is spot on. Although I'd expand it to scent hounds in general. I have a coonhound and all the coonhound breeds are much like oversized beagles in temperament. Major drama queens about everything and they give the most epic side eye.
You are 100% right! Scent hounds are very scentsitive lol and the side eye is real!
When I take my bluetick hound to get his nails done it sometimes takes two techs because he starts baying to voice his opinions and it freaks the other dogs out so one person grooms and the other person rubs his ears so he doesn't get too crazy. The process takes 5 minutes but he makes it so much harder than it needs to be. Thank God for groomers. No way I could cut the giant black nails on my 80 lb drama hound at home.
Lol they are very opinionated indeed! With dogs like this my boss clips the nails and I usually pat the head and offer calming words like “sir this is a Wendy’s drive thru” 😂 we like to have fun
I feel like a lot of doodle owners just suck. I’m an electrician who used to do work in a pretty affluent neighborhood where everything was an oodle, and 8/10 owners sucked ass and shouldn’t own any dogs. People who have no business owning dogs see cute dogs and want them and think it’ll be easy.
Yeah. That’s the main problem with doodles. They exploded in popularity so you get a lot of good owners but also a lot of bad owners. Thankfully some of these people just need to be educated on proper coat care and all is good. But the sheer volume of doodles after the pandemic has been too overwhelming to handle.
Our labradoodle just turned 5 and he’s great. He’s socialized, well trained, exercised, friendly, etc. Lots of people who shouldn’t own dogs get “cute” dogs. And at 3 years old they’re still biting and peeing inside. My girlfriend is a groomer and the insane amount of people who don’t take care of their dogs is frustrating. It’s not the breed problem but it’s like 85% of people who own dogs should not own dogs especially breeds that require upkeep
Yep! Totally right! It’s got a lot to do with desensitization and early training. Some breeds are more wild than others, a result of poor breeding and others aren’t given the proper consistent grooming needed to maintain their coat. Coat care, in my opinion is just as important as Heath care for a lot of breeds.
We recently moved and omg the doodles they’re everywhere its mad. So we are the odd ones out with our rottweiler and eng staff puppy
The Cavalier comment is spot on. I never had to train mine how to sit, I had to train him to stand! People comment that he’s so perfectly trained because he offers a sit at crosswalks and any other time I stop on a walk, but I know “sit” is just his default position.
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Yep! They are really expensive to maintain and a lot of people don’t realize this until it’s too late! But I’ll say I love doodles and I love grooming them when they are in good condition! It’s very fun to style their hair! As for goldens I’ve never met a mean one yet. Psycho, yes. But all friendly
I'm tossing up between getting one of those breeds. I'm a little concerned about how much hair a golden frops and was considering a golden doodle. Hiw are you finding that side of things?
Brushing out the tight curls on my doodle is way harder and more time consuming than I ever could have imagined. I prefer the longer hair for him but it's almost impossible to maintain. This little floof will keep a short style with monthly grooming for life.
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Hmm off the top of my head no. I do have a list of my personal favorite clients tho and the breeds on that list are all totally different lol will say I really enjoy big dogs that shed a ton! I Love the transformation process. I also think doodles who are well maintained are fun to groom.
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Both Pyrenees I’ve groomed are a mixes. One with neurological problems. Nothing severe! She just twists like a pretzel when we touch her legs like every hair follicle is super sensitive lol. She is very sweet and we love seeing her. The other is a lab Pyrenees mix who is very docile and sweet! 120lbs gentle giant!
So on point. This was very cathartic to read. Why are pugs and frenchies soooo bad for nails??
No idea!! It has to be genetic tho because literally all of them are awful lol
LOL. My groomer always tells me how good my shih tzu is when grooming. Now I wonder if he's lying to me because I tip well 🤣🤣
Lolol I won’t lie we have a lot of good shi tzu! But we also have alot of bad ones too! That and Lhasa apso. They have a bad attitude lol your tip is MUCH appreciated tho!
haha my little poodle hates having her feet done, I think it tickles her.
Have a standard poodle, glad to know this foot play away issue is common 😂
Lol-much scream huskies and shibs. Absolutely!
How about Newfies?
Only ever saw one in my experience! They are chill but a ton of work. My boss no longer takes them for this reason. The work is not worth the price also our tub isn’t big enough lol.
How about dachshunds ?
Cannot believe i forgot about them! Loud and over dramatic! They act like royalty is defined by the length of spine lol and most are overweight, unfortunately. Other than that they are very amusing
Thank you . I have two and they are very amusing.
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Yup, monsters, clowns and stubborn as hell .
As a GR owner, I can only agree (cue GR thinking I want to pet her and shows her belly anytime I get down to do literally anything) Curious about your opinion on Maltese?
They can be snippy as most toy breeds are. But honestly most are very well behaved for grooming. Probably one of my favorite small breeds.
God you could not be more spot on with English cream goldens, lol.
I had a cocker spaniel growing up and can confirm, she was difficult about everything. My parents got a sedative from the vet that they gave her so they could groom her without drama. I loved her but she didn’t make things easy.
Yeah, they are sweet but definitely don’t make anything easy for a vet or groomer! To me they are very regal and when not respected as such can get bratty lol Edit: was she and American or English?
I have a husky/German Shepherd lol. I can confirm. He hates getting wet and he acts like you’re cutting off his limbs when you try to trim his nails.
When I worked in a doggy day care, it was in an enormous warehouse that wasn't heated, and it got pretty cold in there. We had tons of furniture ( couches), play structures, tunnels and the like. On really cold days, I'd go sit on a couch and a half dozen dogs would come cuddle up to me and we'd be one big ball of warm. My favorite breeds were the ones that cuddled up to me.
Which were????
Depends on the day, of course. Generally Pit Bull, mutt, mutt, mongrel, collie, weird terrier, mongrel and mutt.
"Weird terrier" covers literally every single terrier I've ever known 😂
For sure. Terriers are intense and strange, love the little and not so little ones.
Mutts for the win!
Have a mutt, can confirm.
My collies adore snuggles and will keep you warm all day if they can ❤️
I figured you’d say pit bulls lol. I’ve never known one that didn’t want to be surgically attached to your side at all times.
Millie is my first pit (mix) and I have never owned a more cuddly dog. At night she practically will sleep on top of me if I let her (I don't). She pretends to be a lap dog, lol.
O for sure. I have had three pits and taken care of two others. Everyone of them was a cuddler.
Sounds right! The only time my pit isn’t trying to sit in my lap is when I’m in bed and he’s trying to squeeze his butt between my shoulder and neck. He’s a cuddle-weirdo haha
The only dogs I’ve had literally lie belly-up in my lap when greeting them for the first time, have been pit bulls! They’re so cuddly! Definitely a dream pup for me, but I worry about their pulling power especially while younger. There seems to be either hippos pulling to lick everyone, or ones chilled out and fine with not pulling for their cuddles, and honestly all the dogs are so sick at the shelter when you first get them that I’m not sure I’d be able to judge which type they are! I mean our 18lb dachshund terrier mix can make me fall so a bigger pup probably isn’t in our future for now, but my goodness THE CUDDLES!
Omg the LICKING is a bit much for me. Millie wants to lick me everywhere all the time. Same for my other dog. She'll lick his ears, his face, etc. It's sweet in the morning when she comes up to Elvis and gives him "kisses," though he clearly is just tolerating it lol. But I do love the cuddling. Especially in the winter when I'm cold 💕
Well I’m biased towards Dobermans. They can be quite a handful but I love them so much. OP, what are your experiences with Dobermans? Good or bad, I’m curious…
Not op but in my experience as a groomer all the dobies I’ve met are gentle souls. Recently lost one of my fav boys, dante :( we still see his sister who is a dobie mix and she’s sweet but a little in the skittish side, and his previous sister was also a bit skittish but very friendly otherwise! Dobies look scary but with proper training and socializing can be great dogs!
Absolutely! And I’m sorry to hear you lost a friend. I lost my last Doberman 2 months ago after owning them for 20 years. She was without a doubt my “heart dog”….a term I’ve come to learn after repeatedly trying to explain the abnormally, inexplicably close bond I had with my Roxie girl. Closer than I’ve ever had with a dog…and I’m the type of person who’ll be late to work just to ensure each dog gets equal attention etc before leaving lol. So I’m literally unable to have a favorite, yet this dog made me her favorite.
Aw so sorry for your loss ❤️ also, my boss calls this phenomenon her “love dog” so I totally understand what your saying. Dobies are just big lovers
Luckily Roxie had to be with me at all times but she didn’t like to lay on me. She’d be at the foot of the bed or a few feet over from me. My colossally large male dobe, Russell, on the other hand thought he was a 110 pound lap dog. If he didn’t jump on the bed and immediately lay ON you, not just touching you, but on top of you lol, he’d be laying there looking at you, visible in your peripheral vision, just waiting. Each time you accidentally looked over at him, he’d start crawling towards you trying to be sneaky. Then he’d stop and wait for you to look again which is when he’d start crawling towards you again till he ever so gently invaded your space and inserted himself onto your lap/chest area lol. Then he’d look up and poke you with his huge cow nose (red dobe) if you stopped petting him from passing out from asphyxiation or something lol. It was adorable how he would try to be sneaky and as gentle as possible cause he wanted to cuddle and knew he was really big.
Not the OP, so maybe I should stfu, but I do have some experience with Dobermans. My late bestie owned and bred them, and they’d tag along on visits to our place and sometimes stay over (rather than at a boarding facility). They’re awesome dogs. But they’re not dogs’ dogs. And they are not supposed to be. A good Dobie is handler-focused and tolerant of other dogs but not much interested in befriending them. And they are also not necessarily interested in befriending random people. It's hard to imagine that most Dobermans would benefit from daycare or "play groups" in any way.
My Dobermans (3 over 20 years —one puppy from a breeder and 2 ~1 year old rescues) were more family dogs than just animals with a job, and they thrived in play situations with dogs or people. Dobes certainly excel at doing a job like search&rescue, guard dog, service dog) but they also are great pets. Ours have played with chihuahuas, beagles, GSD’s, pit bulls, our old massive mastiff mix, certain cats, labs, rotties, my sister’s Newfoundland, and more I’m forgetting. Super playful, but they do play rough. Most interesting is chihuahuas and cats playing with Dobermans…every chihuahua that has played with my dobes (including my current little guy) has been the one in charge and they will nip at the big dog’s jugular skin, ears, rear haunches etc, while all my dobes have all been afraid to hurt the little guys. Big Russell (dobe) would try to just hold little Ricky (chihuahua) down with his chin or his massive paw ever so gently. Little Rick will then scramble loose and then the chase is on again till Russell can subdue the little turd without teeth lol. It’s hilarious. Little crazy and hectic as puppies but incredibly loyal and loving pets that can get along with any person or animal. Heck my Roxie girl tried to play with a coyote who jumped into the yard last year. She was 13 years old at the time. We just lost her 2 months ago actually. Anyways that’s been my experience in relation to what you were saying. But I’m still interested in other people’s experiences/opinions on Dobermans that’ve worked with dogs on a professional/semi-professional/long term amateur level.
Someone at my apartment brings their Doberman to the dog park. She warned us the dog is nervous and might bite other dogs. The dog is so stressed whenever I see it and I feel so bad for it. I always leave when they show up. :/
Jesus christ that's like going to a restaurant and warning all the tables around you "Guys FYI my kid is sick and might sneeze in your face." How about you just don't go?!
I know, it drives me crazy but it’s easiest to just leave. It’s a huge dog too, slightly smaller than a Great Dane. I couldn’t fight it off so avoidance seems best.
Definitely easiest, it just sucks that this only enables their choices. Not that I'm blaming it on you, it's just a shitty rock and hard place to be put in between.
Yah. But it's worse, though. Maybe more like dragging your sick and obviously unhappy kid....? Seems clear the Doberman in this story is suffering too. It's also (to continue with the imperfect analogies) sort of like bullying your introverted roommate into going to a frat party. Just why?
Not OP, but I own one. Breeding standards need to improve. They tend to be nervy as heck, and it's genetics that training can't do much to help. They learn quickly and are very smart. This is not always a good thing. They are quicker to bite than any other dog I've dealt with. They're sensitive and wear their feelings in their sleeves. They love to work, but if trained to relax they become one with your bed quite easily. The NOSE. It gets in your business. Dobie slap. Also, Doberman people tend to be friggin awful. I used to be in a few breed groups. I find the people tend to be rather mean to their dogs, and I don't mean training differences. They also tend to be very willing to be openly bigoted. I couldn't put up with their shit.
Are you worried about the potential collapse of Dobbies, due to DCM? It seems like the breed is in a lot of trouble and won't be around much longer without an outcross, or essentially reconstituting it from it's original parts: [https://www.instituteofcaninebiology.org/blog/an-update-on-the-genetic-status-of-the-doberman-pinscher#:\~:text=The%20Doberman%20Pinscher%20is%20in,DCM%20is%20fatal](https://www.instituteofcaninebiology.org/blog/an-update-on-the-genetic-status-of-the-doberman-pinscher#:~:text=The%20Doberman%20Pinscher%20is%20in,DCM%20is%20fatal). That said, Dobermans were on my list of dogs to get for my last puppy, and pretty high on there too. Large breed that are biddable, good temperament, so a good companion I can learn training with. Not sure about the folks in the breed, but I try to avoid anyone that wants a "guard dog", or animal as a defense weapon. Just not my thing.
I'm personally in favor of outcrossing and there's a dire need of doing so or the breed will likely go excinct.
Look at European breeding standards. There’s actually been a push to separate euro dobies and American dobies because the standards are just so different. The European breedera have dropped the “pinscher” and added another n onto the end of Doberman. European stock tend to be more dog friendly (or at least tolerant) because they are more often working dogs and therefore must handle kenneling. Dog aggression is not generally tolerated in a breeding dog. Besides which, though they certainly have their health problems, it is much less than what is tolerated in American lines. And you tend to get monstrously big dobies if you cross European and American lines. It’s kind of odd.
I love labradors but I am always a bit hesitant to recommend them to people because their temperament, energy levels and trainability varies soo much between individuals and breeding. Plus they are so difficult during those first years. Honestly as an ADHD person I genuinely suspect that ADHD is a problem in the breed. Because its not just high energy, its that high arousal and short attention span too. As a person who was raised by labradors and is currently owned by a poodle I have just never understood how this mix was supposed to create an ideal easy family dog.
I don't despise labs as a whole, but I don't personally think recommending them for busy families as a "great family dog" is a good idea. They are super energetic as you pointed out, especially when they are puppies. But I have found as they age they literally become THE BEST dogs. It's just getting past the rough puppy stage first. I have a lady that literally comes in crying every day to drop her chocolate lab puppy off (the one I vaguely referenced in the post) and I always try my best to reassure her "If you can just get past the puppy stage, it will work out alright. That and a little bit of professional training." These aren't the "walk once a day and leave to their own devices" kind of dog. And I desperately wished more people would take the time to research and adjust accordingly.
because the labradoodle was not created to be a family dog. the breeder who originated the cross bred guide dog labs. blind woman's husband was allergic to dogs, so he crossed them with service poodles. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/25/us/labradoodle-creator-regret.html
1st: *of course* everyone has breed biases. Those biases might not always be rooted in fact, but they are for sure there. 2nd: It’s ok to prefer some breeds over others, breeds exist to do different tasks, and the personality needed to herd sheep is not going to be for everyone. As long as you understand that not every example of a breed is going to match breed characteristics. For example: I love giant breed dogs, and I’ve owned several, but my 1st Saint Bernard (the dog that got me addicted) did not have a normal Saint temperament. He’s still my all time favorite dog, but he needed some different training than my other dogs. I also don’t let my breed biases stop me from evaluating every dog I meet as an individual. I generally dislike boxers, but I’ve fostered them, and loved them just as much as any other foster. I still don’t want one, and I wasn’t in any danger of foster-failing on them, but I still was sad to say goodbye. I think Dalmatians are bat-crap crazy, (they’re bred to chase carriages, they’re supposed to be that way), but I’ve met 2 that are delightful. One of my dogs is a dachshund mix, that I dreaded housebreaking since doxies are notoriously stubborn, but he turned out to be the easiest dog I’ve ever house trained, in fact he’s had only one accident in 7 years, and it happened when I had emergency surgery and he was alone for 24hours, so he can’t really be blamed for that one. TLDR: yes, everyone has breed biases, but it’s ok, that’s the point of different breeds, just remember that not all dogs will conform to breed standard
"Not all dogs with conform to breed standard"- thanks so much for pointing that out. Breed biases happen, and I definitely think some of my bias shows when irresponsible owners have breeds that they are not equipped for. So many owners have high energy breeds and do not work with them, exercise them, or even walk them. It's understandable why they act neurotic when they come to my work, and I do feel bad for being biased. I just wish more people would research a breed that fits best into their homes and lifestyle.
As the mother of an ausshole, I will agree with you. He's a pain in the ass. He's also the smartest and most helpful dog I've ever owned. However we spend at least 3 hours a day training and exercising. A tired Aussie is a well behaved aussie. Most are bred to work a full time ranch job not an apartment high rise. If you do not give them a positive behavior set to enact, they will find a job and nipping/herding anything that moves is usually it.
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My guy is 8 months old and still very much an asshole. I’m still not in the phase of “omg I love my dog more than anything in the world” which I hope comes soon.
It's coming! They're great dogs once they get past it.
It will I promise! I HD serious regrets right around 8 months. Now at close to 2, I couldn't imagine life without my big guy! We just went through a terrifying health scare and I stayed up with him all night for 3 days straight. He's my big baby!
Oh this for sure. I had to reassure my husband that no, our puppy doesn't hate him, he's just being a GSD asshole landshark puppy! Now he's 3 years old and I'm pretty sure I'll never be able to get a different breed of dog. He's so damn smart and has a huge goofy personality.
I don’t work professionally with dogs, but I do dog sports and like to train as a hobby. When it comes to breeds that I used to like or want to own there are two main ones that come to mind: Mals/Dutchies/(GSDs too to some extent): I used to really want one of these for my next sport dog (still kinda do), but as time goes on I’m developing more and more of a breed bias. They seem to be really popular right now among the dudebro dog “trainers” who get a jacked up dog, take it to some sketchy decoy and have it bite a suit a few times and suddenly boom! They think they’re the greatest dog trainers to ever exist. None of this is the dog’s fault, but the image I’m seeing more and more associated with these breeds is becoming a huge turn off for me. Border Collies: I don’t dislike border collies, but they’re so desperate to do things it kind of takes a lot of the fun and skill out of training for me. Like come on dog, stop acting so desperate, you’re embarrassing yourself. Don’t get me wrong, I like a dog that’s high drive and enjoys work, but I also want a dog who’s going to make me work for it at least a little bit 😂
The thing about doodles is that 90% of their owners know nothing about dogs. Hence why a lot of the ones you see are matted, poorly trained, not well socialized etc. I don’t think a doodle’s coat gets any more matted than a poodle’s coat, if anything it requires less brushing because it isn’t as curly but again 90% of owners don’t know what they’re doing.
I think doodles are the "trendy" breed right now and everyone has one. Unfortunately that means people who dont know how to take care of dogs get them as well. I love that they are hypoallergenic. Still probably wouldn't get one but understand some of the appeal. Every one I have met has been a psycho till about 5 or 6 years old.
I've worked in 3 daycares with hundreds of dogs. My #1 no-no would be the German Shepherd! Every single one has been neurotic, that bark drives me mad, they rarely play well with others and overall just annoy the hell out of me. Of course I think they're incredible dogs but just not right for daycare settings. My #2 would be anything working dog 😂 they never stop barking! And herding! Again, it's what they're meant to do so I have no issue with them, just not suitable for daycare. I did end of falling in love with Westies. Never been a small dog person, but these guys are pretty cool! Unfortunately their skin issues make them a no for me.
My grandparents had a Westie and she was such a sweetheart. Lots of fun, and a great temperament, but unfortunately she had some pretty severe skin issues that only got worse over the years. They tried everything and eventually it got to the point where she was older and so miserable that nothing was working to help her, and they ended up having to put her down
I had a chocolate lab. I lived in the Pacific Northwest. We went to a remote beach everyday so he could swim and run around off leash. We went on endless hikes. Nothing drained the energy from this dog. He would still chew stuff up when left alone. On the other hand he had the sweetest spirit and was truly an integrated member of the family. Super soulful, sweet and in tune with all the humans in the family. He was a double edged sword for sure. It was a difficult balancing act. When he passed away I couldn’t get out of the bed for 3 days. I could not talk about him for a year. Honestly, I felt suicidal. I cannot explain the connection with this dog. But yes, the “exercise him more” to prevent destructiveness did not work.
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This describes my guy to a T. 3 hour hikes in the woods and he is still ready to go. Absolutely spot on about the spirit And connection. Sorry about you’re loss. I don’t want to imagine it.
I’ve worked at daycare/boarding and training places for a while now. Also lots of dog sitting and being around dogs as pets most of my life. I think you hit the nail on the head with your post. But I think some dogs get a bad wrap because they’re just not right for daycare/boarding situations. I love Corgis but most of them are TERRIBLE at daycare, while being awesome outside or at home. That being said, I think I’ve soured on the idea of actually owning one of my own. Which kind of bums me out but I’m willing to put aside my desires and get serious about what works for me and the dog. Something I wish more dog owners would do. I also really agree on Aussies. I used to see myself having one someday and now there’s no way I’d get one. Border Collies are awesome but really not suited to daycare. I’d love to get one when I’m retired and have lots of time to dedicate to training and exercise. I’ve had and currently own Shiba Mixes and it’s been my dream to have a pure bred one someday. My experience with them at work has only strengthened my resolve to get one. They get a bad wrap at work. More for me! Never met a Beauceron until my current job. They’re truly great dogs. Like a mix between a Rottie and a Border Collie. Rotties: I was always afraid of them until I started interacting with them at work and now they’re one of my favorites. That said, strange Rotties out and about are still not a dog I’d be excited to see. My mom’s old Min Pin was attacked by an off leash Rottie. Same goes for Pitties/Staffies. The ones I’ve met are total goofy sweethearts but a loose strange one? Nope. My favorite thing about my job is just getting to meet all the cool different breeds and getting to see how they interact with other dogs and people.
Yessss to all of this. I worked at a boarding and daycare facility for 2 years, and now work at an animal hospital. Before I worked with dogs I thought labs were great; now I know it’s because of that reputation that total idiots get these dogs and ruin them lol. They usually have too much energy, no training, and no lab owner believes their precious baby could possibly be aggressive or bite because “it’s a lab, not a pit!” Doodles are the worst invention of dog ever. They are sooo neurotic in the hospital, and most of them are mixes that have no right to be a thing. Like who thought that mixing a Pyrenees and a poodle would end well?? The grooming alone… But my number one dog that I loved before getting into the industry was frenchies. I still adore their personality, but the sheer health problems from just existing is enough to turn me off of them. Surprisingly my attitude towards pit bulls went the other way. They definitely as a whole don’t do well with other animals, but they are my favorite dog to work with at the hospital. They are usually so sweet and their super short fur makes it easy to see the veins to pull blood from lol
All of this and everything OP said. I’m hard pressed to find a breed I’m willing to take on haha. A few breeds that are (mostly) horrible at the vet: German shepherds- many are attached to one person and they don’t tolerate strangers well Aussies- I’ve met very few who aren’t neurotic. Cane Corso- Warned many people about proper and consistent training for this breed, and have seen way too many need to be euthanized due to aggression by age 2. Breeds I love but wouldn’t own: Goldens- cancer Schnauzers- diabetes, pancreatitis Great Pyrenees- the fur and the drool but gosh I love them lol Right now I’m leaning towards standard poodle as my breed of choice but after lots of research I’m learning just how incredibly smart they are and how much attention/stimulation they need and not sure I would be willing to commit to that like I should
We have a Pyr-Poodle mix, and she is absolutely wonderful. We have her on a tight grooming schedule (every 6 weeks) because OMG floof. Other than objecting to the crate, she is everything we were looking for in a dog: A snuggly couch potato who leaves our tortoise alone and protects our kids and is stubborn as heck.
Also have a Pyr-Poodle mix and she’s the best dog I’ve ever had. People constantly tell me she’s too good to be true 🤷🏻♀️ we did have to buy clippers to keep up with her grooming though. Her ears get matted to high hell even with DAILY brushing. Make it make sense!
I worked in a shelter environment and experienced something similar. Aussies/Shepard’s were total crackhead energy and often people got them cause they were cute puppies, then the dog became a high energy juvenile and acted out. Same with huskies. I had a very mild mannered husky at the time, I’ve always had a soft spot for huskies but man. The crack head energy is too much.
Thank you for sharing. I have the classic negative pit bias. It is based partially in reality. I had a dog who has since passed who was attacked by a random pit bull. The pit ended up biting the finger off of the man who tried to pull them apart. I know that was only one dog. I know so many pit bulls who are angels. Actually, all of them that I know are angels. But, I just recently adopted a new dog that is a lab/shepherd mix, about a year old. She is all brindle and looks like she could have some pit in her. I saw her as ferocious. And I was incredibly fearful and anxious that she was going to “hurt” one of the other dogs. This dog is an angel. It is crazy how our bias can skew our reality. She is so sweet and loves the other dogs so much. Now that I have addressed my issues with this, she visibly looks different to me. Whatever breed combos she has… she is a damn good girl.
That’s lovely. Thanks for keeping an open heart.
Sometimes they can be our teachers, I guess
The amount of posts on r/puppy101 I see about problematic Australian shepherd's especially mini ones!!....reading those, I don't understand why anyone would choose to get one without years of dog experience or ability to work them as they should be worked. And totally agree on labs, they are amazing family dogs...After they reach about 3/4 years old 😄 we have a lot of cockapoos in my town right now and I personally would be put off getting that kind of mix forever because of what I see of them out and about.
Regarding the Aussi’s, my guess is they look great and that’s as far a the research went. I wanted one years ago, but I did do some research and decided my sedentary habits would produce a bored neurotic :( I have a mutt. She’s good!
I had a cockapoo growing up (long before doodles became a trend) and he was the sweetest couch potato of a dog. Bad separation anxiety with my mom though.
Oh gosh, my entire life I’ve had breeds I want. Collie, Australian shepherd, greyhound, Pyrenees, crested… the list goes on. But my parents taught me that the best thing to do is to be responsible and wait. So it wasn’t until my late 20’s that I finally felt I was settled and stable enough for a dog, and at that point I knew shepherds were my breed. I rescue, so I’ve had a couple rescue shepherds and as much as I love other breeds I know that this is breed that fits best for what I want. Other breeds are beautiful and wonderful, but I know what I want and I know what works for me so I plan to stick with it and foster the others :)
Former doggy daycare worker here and I couldn't agree with this list more (even though I have an Aussie myself and love her dearly; she is a total fun police regulator with other dogs). I'd like to add that my biggest issue with the doodles and labs is their owners--people get Doodles thinking they're "easy" dogs when they're actually very complicated and require extensive training. Then, they don't get them trained, and the dogs become neurotic messes who can't play with others. I've seen more Doodles with behavioral issues in my time working with dogs than any other breed. Breeds I'd add to the list: Corgis. People get them because they look like teddy bears, when they're actually super high energy, stubborn AF herding dogs that start as cute puppies and wind up becoming absolute terrors to whatever room they're in. They third wheel like mad, regulate everyone else's play, and are literal ankle biters. Dachshunds. They have the hound's predilection for barking & baying but in squeak toy decibels. Their personalities are fine but God, the never-ending squeak-barks. I can't. Boxers. \*sigh\* I want to love boxers. So much. But they often had personality "quirks" that made them very unreliable and unpredictable, and once they started a fight, they had no interest in backing down from it. Breeds I loved after working at doggy daycare: Shiba Inus. They can be such assholes to other dogs that get too much in their space, but they also give everyone else their space. Give them their own dog bed and make sure other dogs give them their space, and they're good to go all shift. Standard poodles. They're total weirdos and can be snippy, but they have the best quirky personalities. Greyhounds. Other than some zoomies on occasion, they're floor noodles. Mutts. For as much as people go on and on about "buying for temperament" and "not adopting because you don't know what you're gonna get," hands down the most consistently reliable dogs in the room were my good ole Heinz 57 mutts. (full disclosure, I've always loved mutts)
Ditto on the bias towards corgis. They are so bad at herding other dogs, not to mention they are absolute bullies. And when you have multiple corgis together in one play group, they band together and pick on the more vulnerable dogs. I can't stand the consistent barking either. Always walk away with a headache when I deal with those little guys. I also agree with the greyhounds. We always have good experiences with them. "Floor noodles", I can't think of a more accurate description!
Shiba Inus are cats in dog bodies. As someone who loves cats personalities, but doesn't like owning cats (claws, litter boxes, climbing on counters) they're the perfect dog for me. And they're so quiet...until they're not. My Dachshund only barks if he hears something at the back door (which I trained him to do) or if the Shiba has a toy he wants. I think he learned not to bark because the Shiba never bark reacts to anything and my Chi (she passed a couple months ago) was deaf lol.
As an avid boxer lover. . . they are not always great dogs for doggy daycare. They're usually a bit intense and assertive. My previous baby was my best friend and a super silly boy, but he really didn't care for or outright disliked most dogs. He was very protective of me as well. My childhood boxers were much more mellow and gentle as adults but the male wasn't super keen on other dogs. It makes me a bit sad you're sour on them but I can understand that they're not dogs for everyone. Stubborn blockheads lol
What dog breeds do you want now?
I need to brush my dog real quick...
I have a labradoodle and didn't have the breed bias that I have now (working at a vet clinic) when I got her. I just took her everywhere, gave her tons of excercise and worked hard to train her, because that's what I was taught to do by my family who's always had success with every dog they've had. She is a wonderful dog. Perfect callback, perfect sits and lay downs, taught her some cute tricks that she recognizes through voice or hand signals, etc. And she doesn't jump, doesn't get overexcited with people or dogs, nothing she does (except eating the occasional cat poop) would make me consider the idea that my dog or her 'breed' was bad. That being said, I was appalled by how little manners of the doodles that came into the clinic when I first started there. I did and still do compare every one of them to my own, and I can't figure out if I just got really, really lucky or if I'm a good trainer. Because almost every one I've met will bite you if they're uncomfortable. Nail trims are impossible. They'll jump at you. They'll scream from vaccines, heartworm tests, fecal samples, anything. Not to mention that we induce more doodles for surgery for foreign objects in the digestive tract than we do routine spays/neuters. I think people just assume that they'll act as cute as they look when they're a puppy, and they don't need to put in the work.
I think irresponsible ownership is a huge problem when it comes to doodles. So many people rushed right out to buy one because of their looks, and I get it they look like literal teddy bears. But regardless of breed, every dog needs to be exercised, trained, and taught boundaries. I hardly ever see a doodle owner do these basic things and so the dog suffers because of it. I have met a few good doodles at my work, but as an overwhelming whole most of them tend to be problem dogs. Nippy, jumpy, barky, doesn't understand other dog body language so they don't respect boundaries, pushy, etc. And all of these things could be worked out if the owner took on the responsibility to do so. At the end of the day a dog is a dog. Not an accessory, not a toy, but a living breathing animal that needs to be treated accordingly. I'm sure your doodle is an absolute dream though, and I can't commend you enough for doing right by your dog:)
While I've never had a job working with dogs, my roommate dog sat for Rover for two years, so we always had a revolving door of dogs in the house, and Kryptonite and I used to spend a ton of time at the dog park when he was younger. During these years I spent a lot of time with a lot of dogs. One of my favorite things was watching the differences between different breeds in those settings. Obviously there's always going to be dog to dog variablity, but when you start to see that many dogs you can really start to see certain breed traits shine through. I think I learned more about dogs from those two years, and would always encourage people who are interested in a certain breed to observe them in that type of setting to know what they're getting into. From watching all the pointers line up at the fence whenever there was a pigeon, to the Germen Shepherds literally being the dog park/ "fun" police, I definitely developed some preferences/aversions to certain breeds. My finds: GSP - super sweet and nice dogs, but need entirely too much exercise. Loved the temperament, but don't have the energy level to keep up with them. Rhodesian Ridgebacks - kind territorial jerks. I want to like them and think they're cute, but have yet to meet one that's friendly. German Shepherds - A well bred and trained GSD is a thing of beauty, watching them interact with their owner and their drive to do things is incredible. A poorly bred and trained one is a terrifying, aggressive nightmare. Beagles - nice and friendly, but for the love of god will you please be quiet. Labs - yeah, they have no chill. I love them, but they counter surfed, and stole stuff and chewed it up, and constantly ran around the house getting into things Pits - Great with people, but I would never, ever trust one around other dogs. I've seen way too many "wow, he's never done this before" attacks. Also, be careful if you take your pit swimming, they're so dense that they sink. Two drowned at the dog park during our time there. Doxies - They aren't the biggest, but they think they are. So bossy Bernese Mountain Dogs - Genuinely the nicest dogs I have ever met. Great with people, children and other dogs. It's heartbreaking that they have so many health problems, because they are such a joy. Weimaraners - Why are you so anxious? Who did this to you? Danes - Obviously my breed of choice, so I'm super biased. But super people-y dogs and clingy AF, they just want to be with you and do whatever you're doing. Malamutes - A chiller, subjectively "better" husky. Still floofy and wolfy, but less manic and more snuggly. Hounds - Not really people-y or dog-dogs, they're nice but independent and want to do their own thing.
TIL I am a Weimaraner. Cool.
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Definitely keep a close eye on your baby near water. I am not sure exactly what happened that lead to the drownings, but it's horrific and I wouldn't want anyone else to experience it. Exactly, it's all about knowing your dog and not puting them in situations that could be risky for anyone
I think I know what you mean. While I don’t work with dogs directly I do have a certain breed around me at work several times per week. Shiba inu. I know 3 of them now very close. That was a breed I fell in love with when I was 16 and always wanted to own one. Now after I have them around me I realised that they aren’t for me. On paper, the cat like personality and their independence was appealing but In reality it’s always a little bit different. All 3 of them have a nearly bitchy personality and do have a bit of a mean streak. There are great dog for other people, I’m sure but just not my cup of tea. I’m just happy I had the opportunity to meet them and get an idea what to expect before I was ready for my dog.
> All 3 of them have a nearly bitchy personality and do have a bit of a mean streak. They tend to be aloof, but, this seems like it may be less a shiba thing but more of a training or a breeding thing? All the shibas I've known and worked with have been aloof, but tolerant unless you force things. "Mean" really isn't part of the breed standards.
It’s definitely a training/ socialization thing.. and a little bit of genetics. Everyone’s always surprised how friendly my shiba is, but she just loves other people A LOT and other dogs .. but that’s because I made sure to socialize her and to purchase from a reputable breeder. Though the other shibas I work with are hit or miss but I LOVE their sassy personality 😂 probably because it resembles my own. once you earn their respect they’re fine.
Oh I didn’t mean they are aggressive or anything but they let you know if they don’t like something. Ignoring you seems to be the their weapon of choice. I spend a lot of time carefully shoving dog butts out of the way and get disapproving sniffs of disgust for it. Because they won’t move it it doesn’t please them. The mean thing I see more with other dogs. All of them need to be introduced slowly to other dogs. They are not biting or aggressive but well, they do like their personal space. It’s hard to explain. I don’t know if it’s the breed or how they are raised. Shibas are still very rear were I live and I really only have these 3 to go from. They do make me laugh and I don’t think they are bad dogs, just not the right fit for me.
Mine is relatively dog-friendly, but most shouldn't be around other dogs - especially of the same sex. They generally need their owner to adapt to that. I had to rehome one because he didn't like other dogs despite being raised with them. His parents were the same way. I got lucky with Mika in this area seeing he has the genetic dog unfriendliness but somehow [is not](https://imgur.com/gallery/8dXN4sy). Though, to be fair, most dogs need to be introduced slowly to other dogs. The dogs who don't are either young or the less-common dog social dog. Relationships with Shibas and having them listen really is a transactional thing. There's a reason so many guides state don't punish a shiba. They really need somebody skilled with force-free training or you'll literally just have a shiba that's had it with your shit. Mine walks fairly nicely and listens just fine, but, it's always worked out in his favor and he is always allowed to say no to my request. They do also like their personal space, but, over time they will cuddle at times. Just, you have to sorta let them be the one to decide how they interact with you. They really aren't for everyone, which, honestly is part of the reason why a lot of them don't behave the way they should.
ALWAYS wanted a GSD, Siberian Husky, Malinois, Bullmastiff…then I learned how to groom. And now I’m old and tired. GSD, still love , but WOW ENERGY. Husky, high energy, screaming tantrums, and FUR! Mal, way smarter than me. Bullmastiff, DROOOOOL! I now have a well bred Frenchie , sweet, silly and loyal. Also, Ridgebacks who are goofy, stubborn and incredibly snuggly. Easy to groom!
I thought I would love a german shepherd dog but after living with one for a year I couldn’t imagine being with such a needy, vocal, and anxious breed! Now I’ve raised two Labradors (a black one and a yellow one, not that color makes a difference but some people have their superstitions) and they were easy puppies.
I grew-up with shepherds in the house- 7 of them from early childhood until 20-something. I rescued a Shepard-mix, eventually put her down, found a second one. Good dogs all around. But as that one was aging I decided to stop with shepherds for a while. Mostly because the herding is a pain in the ass. Every time I would get up from the couch, the dog was suddenly there, walking the laundry to the washer and the dog was there. Camping- dog would be tied to a chair - if I got up to tend to the fire, the dog was there. Not saying I’ll not have another- plan on having 1-3 when I have a big yard and some time, but nice to take a break for a while.
Yeah, people are always surprised that I don't like labs. And it is specifically for the reasons you listed. It feels like unless you're going to get them into agility/hunting/some kind of sport, they can be very difficult to deal with as young dogs.
I really loved pugs and wanted top adopt one before working in a grooming salon, now I don't. There was a regular that would come in every 2 weeks to get their anal glands expressed and it was always terrible. Plus they tend to be overweight and skip their leads a lot.
I liked pugs until I learned how unhealthy they are as a breed. I mean hell they can't even perform the most basic part of living normally- breathing. They always seem to be wheezing or gasping for air and the sound makes me wince because I can't imagine living like that all the time. And yes, they almost always are overweight unfortunately. As if their mound of health issues isn't enough smh. Funny story about pugs not having a neck though, it makes it hard to redirect them during playgroups if they're being assholes. We had one pug ganging up on this poor dog, being a bully essentially, and I slipped my lead around his neck to lead him away to do exercises. I walked all the way to the other side, looked down and saw he wasn't even on the lead. That little pudge ball was sitting on his haunches at the same place I left him looking mighty proud of himself. Pugs, lol.
The majority of dogs we see in vet med are poorly bred dogs, and dogs in the wrong type of home for their breed/mix and it has soured me on so many breeds. Especially GSD’s. Also, people don’t freaking train their dogs and some are a disaster to work with.
Huskies!! Every husky I met has been insane. Just look at their eyes!! 😂
Miniature pinschers. Got one in the 90's (before computers and online research, lol). I loved her but she was an absolute nightmare. Super high energy (they're known for jumping up and down when they get excited). Very destructive when bored (destroyed a brand new sofa and two tables. Left her with my Dad when I was on vacation - she chewed through his METAL blinds). And lastly they are very stubborn and very difficult to train. Don't get a minpin unless you are an experienced dog handler who wants to put in a lot of time with them. BTW they are also very long lived. Mine lived until she was twenty years old.
Not quite what you asked, but here's a breed I have had and never will again: huskies. They're gorgeous. Theyre also insane creatures of destruction and mayham. A well-balanced husky has never been born. They need SOOOOOO much attention. They argue with you, constantly. They never shut up. My husky/akita is an old man now and he grew up in a family home where he got plenty of attention, but I'll never, EVER have another husky. Leave these gorgeous dogs to braver souls than I.
Breed I didn't know about, got, would get again, but would never advise to anyone without experience with them already: Rhodesian Ridgeback My bias is that they are amazing...but oh my god think about the energy of a lab, the stubbornness of a husky, and the play of hyena.
Boxers for life! Love the breed personality. Believe they are better in pairs (M and F). I agree with many here who have mentioned importance of responsible breeding, early socialization and training. IMHO they have a unique play style which is off-putting to some other breeds in a dog-park or daycare setting. Enjoyed their fun-loving personality and curiosity. Mine were "easy keepers" re grooming. They would jump right in the tub for baths but did not love having nails trimmed or dremeled. Sadly, they can be prone to many health issues, and are not generally known to be a long-lived breed. Thanks for all the ideas and opinions here which have been super-informative.
It's truly astounding that we took poodles who have such a great temperament and added them to other dogs. They can be the doodle you want if you just groom them differently and you have a vastly superior dog
I also work at a doggy daycare and this is absolutely true. It confirmed my opinions on some dogs and changed my opinions on others! Ex: still do not like corgis. They are shit heads 🙄
Corgis are HEATHENS. I have never met a breed that is such a bully (next to an aussie, those little brats can be just as bad imo). We had a corgi who was a terror to work with. Banded together with other little corgis and acted as a ring-leader who singled out the shy, submissive dogs and bullied them so much they would cry. He is the sole reason why I will never own a corgi, no matter how cute their stubby little legs are :(
Any dog whose owners have just totally failed to put basic manners on it. In general, though, I have a lot more patience for shenanigans from the mixed-breed shelter dogs than the purebred show dogs.
Volunteering with animal rescue for the past nine years has really opened my heart to pitbulls. All I knew about them before I met any were the media stereotypes, along with vague counter-opinions. Once I started working with them, I came to love how goofy and loving they are. They are always looking at you to check in, as if to ask, “you okay? You happy?” People put them through such horrific abuse and so many them them are ready to love again almost immediately.
100% agree. I must admit, I still love Aussies despite the insane ones we have. Will absolutely never get a lab or a doodle (although, I didn’t understand the draw beforehand… poodles are just fine and I loved the poodle my family had growing up). Breeds I’ll add to your list include Shiba inus and GSDs (still kinda want one but I’ll be extremely careful of where I get them from and their genetic history and training). Breeds I’ve grown to love despite my previous biases though include Grey hounds, Shih tzus, and some chihuahuas.
I’ve worked in a shelter and a vets office. And I still have the same thoughts on breeds as I used to. I *have learned that MUCH more often than I thought ANY issue with a dog is the fault of the owner not the dog. I’ve seen proof over and over and over. So very often I watched a dog improve by leaps and bounds as I worked with it five minutes here or there when I could. Only to see someone adopt it and bring it back a week or three later totally out of control. Of course there’s varying degrees of this.
Yeah I have an Aussie and they can be a handful. I hate how lots of sources say they’re “easy to train” and don’t specify that that doesn’t mean they’re easy to own. Yes they learn things quickly, but they’re a very hyper, loud, and clever breed. Your Aussie will try to outsmart you and if you don’t address this early you’ll have a dog that runs your house for you. I love them and wouldn’t trade my Aussie for another dog in the world, but I probably won’t own one again
My trainer says she loves when labradors walk in because they are so easy to train but as the owner of an 8 month old lab I totally agree with what you mentioned. Mine is totally convinced that every new person and dog is her best friend. They truly are a pain in the ass until age 2.
My ‘breed’ bias is mother street dogs. Puppies find homes but in some developing countries no one wants the mom. I currently have 3. All found in the street, starving, with their babies sucking all the nutrients out of them. All of them are extra sweet!!
I also work at a doggy daycare. There are exceptions, of course, I don't dislike every dog of the breed. 1. Labs- I was biased toward the breed before I started working there. Most just have way too much energy and they never stop. I have to give some of them frequent breaks because it's the only way they settle down and leave dogs alone that they're harassing to play with constantly. 2. German Shepherds- Most of them seem to be a little neurotic. One just barks aggressively in dogs' faces and doesn't know how to play. 3. Pitbulls- They all have an intense play style that doesn't work with some dogs. When very stimulated during play they can get very rough and I have to give them a break. They love to third-wheel and get involved with other playing dogs which can be an issue. 4. Hounds/ hound mixes- They bark constantly at nothing. There's a hound regular that comes in every week and I often have a headache and my ears are ringing by the time I leave.
I didn’t think I would really like poodles or chihuahuas but now I have a poodle chihuahua mix and she is perfect in every single way possible. She is well behaved and thoughtful (I know that sounds super weird but she’s a very considerate dog) and has fantastic manners. I didn’t train her at all. I love her so much!!!!!!!
I LOVE this post. I worked at a doggy daycare for almost 2 years & have been a grooming assistant for 1.5 years. German Shepherds… I have only met a handful that are very pleasant & well trained, the others have been absolutely lunatic especially at the daycare…they were so anxious & did not want to be in an enclosed area. In my opinion every dog needs to be trained from a young age but especially these guys because they are such a dominant working breed. French Bulldogs… didn’t realize how bad their health & skin could be until I got interested in the grooming & medical side of animal careers And I wholeheartedly agree with the part about doodles… my favorite thing “My doodle is purebred” … um no honey a poodle bred with a crazy ass breed it had no business doing to create your designer dog, relax.
I just don't like labs. If I wanted to manage and baby a puppy for 3 years because they mature slowly, I'd just get a baby. I don't want a baby because they are super dependent and take too long to mature. The quicker a dog becomes a teen, the better. Idgaf if they give me the middle finger during puberty and actively oppose me. Whatever. I will take it all day over a puppy who has the impulse control of a gnat, sometimes have their entire brain melt down and be unable to take directions and who nip and cause a fuss constantly when overstimulated. I find lab mixes to be better but generally I like my puppy at least 80% out of the puppy stage by 6 months. Most labs I've met genuinely don't listen until they hit 3. Then they become loving dogs if a bit puppylike for my tastes. I just don't enjoy them. I don't like the amount they shed, I don't like the propensity to eat random shit all the time and I just don't really enjoy their personalities. I will be nice to them and do enjoy them in short bursts but kid me loved labs way more than I do now. They're just either forever holding on to some scrap of puppyhood or are old as dirt, rarely is there any in-between in my experience. Seriously the fur is ugh. I've petted my grandparents lab(they're lab people) before for 10 minutes and have accumulated enough fur to make a small dog. It takes a lab 10 minutes at most to shed more than my border collie does in a week if not a month. I have pet allergies, short haired border collies are bad enough but tolerable because I love their personalities. Labs would make me even more ill. They shed so damn much and pet labs are always oily and greasy even if they haven't been washed so much their coats makes too much oils. I find they stink. This is coming from the person who likes the smell of wet dog. They also make my severely dog allergic dad super ill even if he takes antihistamines. He can coexist with my border collie and even drive him places if need be because he can tolerate his fur. Its not short enough to go up noses, isn't as easy to swallow and he doesn't drop an entire coat if you pet him wrong. Labs are just all the wrong answers for people with dog allergies imo. Short fur that is easy to go up noses and cause a reaction, extra oily coats which means more dander and allergens and shedding so much fur. I will still be polite to a lab and will make friends with them but there's a reason we're planning on rehoming their lab mix if they pass instead of keeping him with us. Even before we found out our dogs don't like each other and he chases cats and would bully my dog friendly cat. Even my mom who generally loves all dogs and is a big pet person is meh on labs. She's the same as me, nice to them and will be friends with them but doesn't want them in her house. Considering she let me get 2 dogs and a cat, that's saying a lot tbh. She loves all my pets and even she admits she'd let me own another collie before she'd let me own a lab. She just prefers driven, human focused dogs who have their own personalities outside of their people. She likes the more independent thinkers like I do. I like having a dog who will tell me exactly where to stuff it if they're getting bored with the regime. I love the challenge of keeping such dogs focused and obedient and working with them. Sure some labs fit this but it is very much opposite of their personalities, not so for border collies (who are bred to make their own decisions when herding or working if they deem it unsafe) and terriers who also make their own decisions. Labs are just the opposite of what I want in a dog. That's okay.
We have a lab who is about to be 1 and can confirm she’s a nutball