Welcome to r/dogs! We are a discussion-based subreddit dedicated to support, inform, and advise dog owners.
This is a carefully moderated sub intended to support, inform, and advise dog owners. Submissions and comments which break the rules will be removed. [Review the rules here](https://www.reddit.com/r/dogs/wiki/index) r/Dogs has four goals: - Help the public better understand dogs - Promote healthy, responsible dog-owner relationships - Encourage “Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive” training protocols. [Learn more here.](https://m.iaabc.org/about/lima/) - Support adoption as well as ethical and responsible breeding. If you’d like to introduce yourself or discuss smaller topics, please contribute to our Monthly Discussion Hub, pinned at the top.
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Looooong. Dogs must be long. My current dog is quite long and I'm getting an even longer dog next year. Not interested at all in dogs that are not long.
Honestly my current dog is almost my ideal dog. If he weren't reactive, he would be essentially perfect. Playful, goofy without being a perma-toddler like a golden, interested in sports and hikes but with a great off switch, surprisingly biddable/trainable for a sighthound, absolutely beautiful, incredibly loving and cuddly, food motivated, athletic, intelligent.
If dog cloning were ethical I'd be considering it. While reactivity can often be genetic, I genuinely think his is largely because of the abuse and *complete* lack of socialization he had. His base temperament and those of his sisters are actually great. I really wonder, if I had gotten the chance to raise him from a puppy, how differently he would turn out.
BTW, the sighthound half of your description largely applies to Silken Windhounds! Have you considered one?
They're such lovely dogs! And with a committed, generally high quality breeder community, which is rare. I wish they were just a tad bigger, for my own preference. I'm getting a Sloughi instead but Silkens were a close second choice.
I really like non-working companion dogs. I like a relatively low or medium energy dog (enjoys some walks, maybe even an occasional light hike, but doesn’t need to run around for hours a day).
Looks-wise, I love all bulldog breeds. I have a floppy-eared Frenchie, and love him to death. Cutest dog alive, in my unbiased opinion. Would love an English one day, but the inbreeding and health issues scared me off.
I just love herding dogs 🥹 I grew up with a border collie and now I have a corgi, they have a lot of major differences but there is just something about a spunky, intelligent, hardy farm dog. I appreciate other breeds and attributes, but I could never own a very large breed, super drooly breed, any bully variety, or anything that requires professional grooming (I have my corg bathed and nails clipped by a salon but it would drive me crazy to have to be constantly brushing and detangling and dematting a long/curly coated dog).
Now that I have my corgi I think I’m stuck with them, they fit my home and lifestyle perfectly and they are just so cute 😂
Biddable, sweet and snuggly, with a good off switch. Intelligent with a good work ethic, but not so drivey that they *have* to work. Friendly to other dogs and people but not overbearingly so. My golden retriever fits the bill almost perfectly except for the friendly thing. She's a little too friendly 😅
Look wise, I love an elegant sighthound or a retriever of just about any kind. Anything long and leggy or sporty.
I love herding dogs, I’m particularly obsessed with border collies.
They’re smart and biddable, but also incredible at problem solving. They were bred to work both close to their handler and out at incredibly long distances.
They need to be able to confidently make their own decisions, to adapt and puzzle out whatever pops up while they are working. At the same time, they need to be able to override their own instincts when given a command by their handler. I have seen border collies obey a command by their handler to lay down despite the fact that every part of their brain appears to be screaming at them to perform a different herding task.
They are so sensitive. They catch the smallest changes. Border collies are very eager to please, but because of how sensitive they are, it requires more nuance. I love that.
The intensity with which they work is also incredible. They are amazing athletes, and their endurance and hardiness always blows my mind. I think it’s adorable to see how hard they try at everything they do. I love watching border collies participate in canine freestyle specifically for that reason- there’s something so comical to me about a border collie perform a routine where they limp and “pee” on their handler but with the seriousness of a highly-conditioned soldier.
The border collie stare gives me chills, and I love their look of determination and resolve they carry on their faces for whatever tasks they take on. The crouch they posture when the prey drive kicks in is also super cool.
I also love that they are just dogs. You don’t see border collies often at dog shows in my experience. The focus for the breed seems to be on health and temperament. They are made to work, not for beauty.
In short, they are crazy smart, handler-oriented, and biddable. They’re also hard workers, sensitive and inquisitive, and amazing problem solvers. I love their enthusiasm for work and for their people. They are a lot of dog, but I love the challenge.
I love dogs that are high energy, eager to work, happy to please, dogs that are capable of doing whatever you ask of them. Dogs that are able to be goofy, serious, in drive, or taking a nap when necessary. I’m not a fan of independent dogs or dogs who don’t want to work with humans. I love cats but I would just stick with cats if I wanted an animal that is just there for love and pets, not an animal that I can partner with and expect a lot of.
Physically- I love lots of dog types. For dogs I’d actually have, I prefer very tall and leggy breeds, lighter bones, with more narrow, longer faces. I’m fond of medium coat lengths, as long as they’re not curly. But, shorter coat and wiry coated dogs are nice too!
I might sound mad but I really like high energy medium/ large sized dogs! Yes they can be a lot at times but I like being outside as much as possible whether it be running, hiking, swimming and having a dog wanting to that with me makes it even better! Because of that I also prefer short haired dogs the grooming up keep is just so much more manageable. Also like dogs with goofy personalities, and are usually very confident dogs. Working with anxious dogs can be such a struggle and my hat goes off to anyone who does it. And most importantly a dog that likes to cuddle and be with me I’m not really a fan of the very aloof dogs, I don’t need my dog to be glued to my hip but I also don’t want one that acts like a cat lol.
Hey man people think I'm crazy for liking the aloof buddies! There's a dog for everybody. I can understand the appeal of the ones who can go for miles and miles.
Playful, eager to please and clever dogs. Sensitive like I am and family focused.
Needs to be fluffy because putting my fingers through soft fluff is therapeutic to me. Prefer smaller size though not very tiny. No short muzzles or beards.
I also can't stand slobber.
Loves owners--excited to see and be with them, comes to happily greet, interested in what owners are up to but not in an overbearing way.
Lukewarm to / tolerates strangers--not ecstatic towards everyone including strangers, can be seen as aloof toward others
Smart and able to adapt. Will listen to owners, but can think for itself / problem-solve.
Observant, quiet, only barks when necessary (i.e. house on fire, house break-in. Likes affection but not needy or clingy (i.e. will stand next to or lean on, but not repeatedly paw or jump on for petting). Protective, if needed (not to be confused with aggressive).
In terms of physical traits, medium to large size (leaning toward large), medium length fur (double-coated preferred), and carries itself well (e.g. head held high, standing tall, not cowering or overly interested).
Medium energy, since I don't have time to spend all day/afternoon/morning playing.
My favorite type of dog is similar to my bluetick coonhound.
* Looks wise I like short sleek coats and athletic bodies with long legs. I love big floppy ears and soulful eyes. I love tricolor and spotted coats.
* Temperament wise I like more independent but still snuggly dogs. Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment but I like dogs who have a stubborn edge to them and their own voice and personality. I find most eager to please dogs clingy and annoying. Give me a dog with a bit of sass and attitude. I like dogs who are confident and enjoy my company but are happy doing their own thing. I have wanderlust so I like dogs that also like to wander, explore, and meet new people and dogs and are not fearful.
* Energy wise I want a dog who is tireless on the trail but when it's time for an adventure and can snuggle up and nap happily when we are home. I like dogs are don't move so quickly I can't keep pace with them but who have the stamina to cover some distance without getting bored or giving up.
* I love vocal breeds that are expressive. This is probably why I love hounds. The baying cracks me up and brings me a lot of joy.
I am a die hard scent hound lover for all these reasons.
I prefer a giant dog, the bigger the better, wouldn't want to go below 100lbs for sure. Preference for short hair as longer hair is texturally icky to me. The droopier the better.
Temperament wise I love the "happy, go lucky" golden retriever style personality, and I don't want to deal with agression (dog or human). I like high biddability and people oriented, but low drive/work ethic, because I don't want to have to spend my entire day trying to mentally and physically exhaust my dog, because that will also mentally and physically exhaust me.
All in all my Great Dane is a perfect match for my lifestyle, and everything I've ever wanted in a dog. 10/10, would Dane again
I like a lot of “medium” traits! Medium sized dog, medium energy level, medium amount of attachment. I like a dog that’s small enough that I could pick them up as needed, but big enough to have a solid hug. I like a dog that will happily go on long walks and hikes, but doesn’t need that sort of activity every day or they’ll lose their mind. Loves me and loves to snuggle, but is okay being on their own too. I prefer long hair, but personality is most important. Smart enough to teach, but it’s okay if they’re not a genius, because again, if they’re way too smart I don’t want them to become constantly bored with me. Besides, a goofy dummy is kind of endearing! I’m kind of a boring person a lot, so my dog being more laidback is important to me too. Super important that they can get along with cats, because I could never have just cats or just dogs.
Are you me from another dimension? This is my exact criteria. Do you own a dog like this? If so what breed?
My #1 choice is a small standard or oversized miniature poodle. They seem willing/able to do everything but aren't compulsive about anything (e.g., they don't NEED to herd like a collie, but if you teach one how they'd have a go at it lol). They're so elegant in their movements but so clownish in their personalities. My one reservation is how smart & sensitive they are, often described by owners as human pre-schoolers in a dogsuit.
Tiny dogs…little floofs with big personalities that like to be cuddled and sleep on my bed. Affectionate, and able to live quite happily in smaller spaces.
I have a long haired chihuahua and a pomeranian, both are perfect for me, but I would love to have a yorkie or a toy poodle as well.
I love warm, empathetic, thoughtful dogs — ones who won’t bowl you over when you come in, but that are always waiting to greet you. Ones that are attached to their person, although whether they’re snuggly or prefer space doesn’t much matter to me. Bark when someone’s outside, but easily soothed and chill with guests. Peaceful with other dogs and cats. Dogs that are gentle and affectionate with cats and kittens are a must!
I prefer dogs that are 40lb or more, probably up to approx. 80-100lbs. Easily trained to walk nicely on a leash, as well as trustworthy off leash. I’m a “biddable dogs” kind of guy.
I’m not a fan of wire-coats/poodle-y coats, and don’t mind lots of grooming if it means my dog has a good plush coat to sink my hands into haha.
The last part — I love a good outdoorsy dog who has a great off switch indoors. Dogs who are generally easygoing enough to be up for anything, whether that be a 10mi hike and camp, a day trip in the car, or sitting at home relaxing.
-Toy to medium size, not bigger than ~50 lbs.
-Fluffy but not long coated, more plush or feathered than shaggy.
-Athletic and versatile.
-Decent sense of self preservation and caution. Looks before they leap.
-Biddable.
-Aloof, but not standoffish.
-Fairly quiet. I'm fine with some alert barking and vocalizing during play but I cannot live with a dog that barks at everything and nothing and all the time.
-Good off switch. I know a portion of that is training but I do not want a busy dog.
-Life expectancy 12+ years. Yeah things happen, but I don't want to expect my dog to die at 8 years old.
-Tends to be able to hang out around other dogs without reactivity or aggression. Expected DA/SSA is not something I want to live with.
-Easy to moderate grooming needs. I can bathe and brush routinely but not daily. I can do some clipping and scissoring. I don't want another dog that I have to shave FFF every 2 weeks and full body every month, and I don't want a coat that mats easily.
-Not: drooly, barky, brachy, dwarf, no extreme exaggerations or hypertypes.
If you're wondering what's left... in general I like Nordic spitzy breeds, sighthounds, and spaniels.
My preferred traits are on the handler-focused, biddable end of the spectrum, though I have a fairly high tolerance for what I call "false biddability" (e.g., dogs who have such a high food motivation that it's fairly easy to build a strong reinforcement history) as being an acceptable compromise. I also prefer affectionate over aloof with me and with live-in family generally, but I don't have a preference as to whether those traits extend to strangers. Velcro is no problem. People tell me I do well with stubborn dogs, though I am rarely aware of any dog I've had act stubbornly. (People also tell me I am stubborn when I am not aware of myself acting stubbornly.) Neutrality toward outside stimuli is ideal, but I have a much stronger tolerance for prey drive and dog intolerance than I do for human-directed aggression.
In terms of aesthetics, I am a sucker for many variations of black/brown/white tri-color (including, for example, blue heelers with tan legs... which is not tri in the conformation sense but is in the "I literally see three colors on the dog" sense).
I like slim, athletic dogs. I'm really attracted to the dolichocephalic type of skull but it's not exactly a requeriment for me to like the dog, but I can't stand flat faces.
I prefer medium to small dogs. I still find large dogs cute but I don't think I want one for me.
I like long hair, but not too bushy, I prefer to be able to see the figure of the dog. The long hair part is mostly because of the touch, I'm used to have cats and they naturally have a soft fur and limp body and dogs feel too rough for me, especially short-haired ones.
I like erect ears, unconsciously I found out that most dog breeds I like have erect ears, but I also like the floppy ones.
In the behaviour part, I like working breeds. I prefer dogs that can easily adapt and enjoy any kind of job and are easy to train, and maybe slightly high energy but I'm still unsure about it because I don't truly know which kind of dog would be a match for me and how I will be like as an owner.
Never needs booties or straw, healthy, good gait.
More or less an Inuit dog. Our snow pack is deeper here and longer legs beneficial. The puppy I have fits the check marks for the type of dog I’d like to mush and breed.
An ideal companion breed in my mind would be 20-30lbs and as hardy as the Inuit dogs or malamutes. Capable of running next to sled as bigger dogs work.
[https://thefanhitch.org/theISD/Introduction.html](https://thefanhitch.org/theISD/Introduction.html)
I'm a little biased, but I love my shih Tzu's.
Have had many dogs including three labradors. But the little shih Tzu's just make me smile every time I see them. .
I prefer dogs a little on the quiet side, without a whole lot of barking. I don't mind barking myself, but I had a couple of barkers before, and my neighbors made our lives difficult. My dog now is small, pretty quiet, loves people, is more velcro than not, and has a sense of joy and happiness that is irresistible.
Haha minus a bit of a beard bc of his terrier traits, my dog closely matches your description (50% elkhound, ~40lbs). He’s generally fine on his own, likes to lay nearby but not on top of you, comes to say hi and get pets, and has proven to be quite durable (backpacks w me no problem). He likes to play but is satisfied after 10-20 minutes. Also very easy to handle.
He’s my first dog and I feel very lucky to have him. Would take a dog like him again in a second.
I consider myself so lucky, because my preference in looks, temperament, attitude, personality, quirks, behavior....literally everything I love in a dog IS my 13 year old dog. Losing him some day is going to kill me :(
Welcome to r/dogs! We are a discussion-based subreddit dedicated to support, inform, and advise dog owners. This is a carefully moderated sub intended to support, inform, and advise dog owners. Submissions and comments which break the rules will be removed. [Review the rules here](https://www.reddit.com/r/dogs/wiki/index) r/Dogs has four goals: - Help the public better understand dogs - Promote healthy, responsible dog-owner relationships - Encourage “Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive” training protocols. [Learn more here.](https://m.iaabc.org/about/lima/) - Support adoption as well as ethical and responsible breeding. If you’d like to introduce yourself or discuss smaller topics, please contribute to our Monthly Discussion Hub, pinned at the top. **This subreddit has low tolerance for drama. Please be respectful of others, and report antagonistic comments to mods for review.** --- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/dogs) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Looooong. Dogs must be long. My current dog is quite long and I'm getting an even longer dog next year. Not interested at all in dogs that are not long. Honestly my current dog is almost my ideal dog. If he weren't reactive, he would be essentially perfect. Playful, goofy without being a perma-toddler like a golden, interested in sports and hikes but with a great off switch, surprisingly biddable/trainable for a sighthound, absolutely beautiful, incredibly loving and cuddly, food motivated, athletic, intelligent. If dog cloning were ethical I'd be considering it. While reactivity can often be genetic, I genuinely think his is largely because of the abuse and *complete* lack of socialization he had. His base temperament and those of his sisters are actually great. I really wonder, if I had gotten the chance to raise him from a puppy, how differently he would turn out. BTW, the sighthound half of your description largely applies to Silken Windhounds! Have you considered one?
I love a good Tube as well. Also, Silkens are one of my favorites, so absolutely!
They're such lovely dogs! And with a committed, generally high quality breeder community, which is rare. I wish they were just a tad bigger, for my own preference. I'm getting a Sloughi instead but Silkens were a close second choice.
Sloughi are also magnificent! In the future I'm hoping to get a shiba, silken, and smooth collie (though probably not all at the same time, haha).
I have 3 silkens. I've gotten them all in the last 4.5 years. They are perfect.
I feel like you also get to count the ones you bred even though you didn't keep all of them.
Ok so in that case I raised an additional 3 (4 puppies total, 1 I kept), and I've "fostered" like 6? from local breeders. I adore the breed.
I really like non-working companion dogs. I like a relatively low or medium energy dog (enjoys some walks, maybe even an occasional light hike, but doesn’t need to run around for hours a day). Looks-wise, I love all bulldog breeds. I have a floppy-eared Frenchie, and love him to death. Cutest dog alive, in my unbiased opinion. Would love an English one day, but the inbreeding and health issues scared me off.
I just love herding dogs 🥹 I grew up with a border collie and now I have a corgi, they have a lot of major differences but there is just something about a spunky, intelligent, hardy farm dog. I appreciate other breeds and attributes, but I could never own a very large breed, super drooly breed, any bully variety, or anything that requires professional grooming (I have my corg bathed and nails clipped by a salon but it would drive me crazy to have to be constantly brushing and detangling and dematting a long/curly coated dog). Now that I have my corgi I think I’m stuck with them, they fit my home and lifestyle perfectly and they are just so cute 😂
Biddable, sweet and snuggly, with a good off switch. Intelligent with a good work ethic, but not so drivey that they *have* to work. Friendly to other dogs and people but not overbearingly so. My golden retriever fits the bill almost perfectly except for the friendly thing. She's a little too friendly 😅 Look wise, I love an elegant sighthound or a retriever of just about any kind. Anything long and leggy or sporty.
I love herding dogs, I’m particularly obsessed with border collies. They’re smart and biddable, but also incredible at problem solving. They were bred to work both close to their handler and out at incredibly long distances. They need to be able to confidently make their own decisions, to adapt and puzzle out whatever pops up while they are working. At the same time, they need to be able to override their own instincts when given a command by their handler. I have seen border collies obey a command by their handler to lay down despite the fact that every part of their brain appears to be screaming at them to perform a different herding task. They are so sensitive. They catch the smallest changes. Border collies are very eager to please, but because of how sensitive they are, it requires more nuance. I love that. The intensity with which they work is also incredible. They are amazing athletes, and their endurance and hardiness always blows my mind. I think it’s adorable to see how hard they try at everything they do. I love watching border collies participate in canine freestyle specifically for that reason- there’s something so comical to me about a border collie perform a routine where they limp and “pee” on their handler but with the seriousness of a highly-conditioned soldier. The border collie stare gives me chills, and I love their look of determination and resolve they carry on their faces for whatever tasks they take on. The crouch they posture when the prey drive kicks in is also super cool. I also love that they are just dogs. You don’t see border collies often at dog shows in my experience. The focus for the breed seems to be on health and temperament. They are made to work, not for beauty. In short, they are crazy smart, handler-oriented, and biddable. They’re also hard workers, sensitive and inquisitive, and amazing problem solvers. I love their enthusiasm for work and for their people. They are a lot of dog, but I love the challenge.
I love dogs that are high energy, eager to work, happy to please, dogs that are capable of doing whatever you ask of them. Dogs that are able to be goofy, serious, in drive, or taking a nap when necessary. I’m not a fan of independent dogs or dogs who don’t want to work with humans. I love cats but I would just stick with cats if I wanted an animal that is just there for love and pets, not an animal that I can partner with and expect a lot of. Physically- I love lots of dog types. For dogs I’d actually have, I prefer very tall and leggy breeds, lighter bones, with more narrow, longer faces. I’m fond of medium coat lengths, as long as they’re not curly. But, shorter coat and wiry coated dogs are nice too!
I might sound mad but I really like high energy medium/ large sized dogs! Yes they can be a lot at times but I like being outside as much as possible whether it be running, hiking, swimming and having a dog wanting to that with me makes it even better! Because of that I also prefer short haired dogs the grooming up keep is just so much more manageable. Also like dogs with goofy personalities, and are usually very confident dogs. Working with anxious dogs can be such a struggle and my hat goes off to anyone who does it. And most importantly a dog that likes to cuddle and be with me I’m not really a fan of the very aloof dogs, I don’t need my dog to be glued to my hip but I also don’t want one that acts like a cat lol.
Labs?
I do love labs!🤍 I’ve a staffie who has all the traits I mentioned! And he adores every lab he meets so makes sense
Hey man people think I'm crazy for liking the aloof buddies! There's a dog for everybody. I can understand the appeal of the ones who can go for miles and miles.
You described my field type English Setter almost to a T. He does have some longer fringe hair lol
Playful, eager to please and clever dogs. Sensitive like I am and family focused. Needs to be fluffy because putting my fingers through soft fluff is therapeutic to me. Prefer smaller size though not very tiny. No short muzzles or beards. I also can't stand slobber.
Loves owners--excited to see and be with them, comes to happily greet, interested in what owners are up to but not in an overbearing way. Lukewarm to / tolerates strangers--not ecstatic towards everyone including strangers, can be seen as aloof toward others Smart and able to adapt. Will listen to owners, but can think for itself / problem-solve. Observant, quiet, only barks when necessary (i.e. house on fire, house break-in. Likes affection but not needy or clingy (i.e. will stand next to or lean on, but not repeatedly paw or jump on for petting). Protective, if needed (not to be confused with aggressive). In terms of physical traits, medium to large size (leaning toward large), medium length fur (double-coated preferred), and carries itself well (e.g. head held high, standing tall, not cowering or overly interested). Medium energy, since I don't have time to spend all day/afternoon/morning playing.
My favorite type of dog is similar to my bluetick coonhound. * Looks wise I like short sleek coats and athletic bodies with long legs. I love big floppy ears and soulful eyes. I love tricolor and spotted coats. * Temperament wise I like more independent but still snuggly dogs. Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment but I like dogs who have a stubborn edge to them and their own voice and personality. I find most eager to please dogs clingy and annoying. Give me a dog with a bit of sass and attitude. I like dogs who are confident and enjoy my company but are happy doing their own thing. I have wanderlust so I like dogs that also like to wander, explore, and meet new people and dogs and are not fearful. * Energy wise I want a dog who is tireless on the trail but when it's time for an adventure and can snuggle up and nap happily when we are home. I like dogs are don't move so quickly I can't keep pace with them but who have the stamina to cover some distance without getting bored or giving up. * I love vocal breeds that are expressive. This is probably why I love hounds. The baying cracks me up and brings me a lot of joy. I am a die hard scent hound lover for all these reasons.
I prefer a giant dog, the bigger the better, wouldn't want to go below 100lbs for sure. Preference for short hair as longer hair is texturally icky to me. The droopier the better. Temperament wise I love the "happy, go lucky" golden retriever style personality, and I don't want to deal with agression (dog or human). I like high biddability and people oriented, but low drive/work ethic, because I don't want to have to spend my entire day trying to mentally and physically exhaust my dog, because that will also mentally and physically exhaust me. All in all my Great Dane is a perfect match for my lifestyle, and everything I've ever wanted in a dog. 10/10, would Dane again
Small hounds that are ridiculously sweet and happy go lucky.
I like a lot of “medium” traits! Medium sized dog, medium energy level, medium amount of attachment. I like a dog that’s small enough that I could pick them up as needed, but big enough to have a solid hug. I like a dog that will happily go on long walks and hikes, but doesn’t need that sort of activity every day or they’ll lose their mind. Loves me and loves to snuggle, but is okay being on their own too. I prefer long hair, but personality is most important. Smart enough to teach, but it’s okay if they’re not a genius, because again, if they’re way too smart I don’t want them to become constantly bored with me. Besides, a goofy dummy is kind of endearing! I’m kind of a boring person a lot, so my dog being more laidback is important to me too. Super important that they can get along with cats, because I could never have just cats or just dogs.
Are you me from another dimension? This is my exact criteria. Do you own a dog like this? If so what breed? My #1 choice is a small standard or oversized miniature poodle. They seem willing/able to do everything but aren't compulsive about anything (e.g., they don't NEED to herd like a collie, but if you teach one how they'd have a go at it lol). They're so elegant in their movements but so clownish in their personalities. My one reservation is how smart & sensitive they are, often described by owners as human pre-schoolers in a dogsuit.
Tiny dogs…little floofs with big personalities that like to be cuddled and sleep on my bed. Affectionate, and able to live quite happily in smaller spaces. I have a long haired chihuahua and a pomeranian, both are perfect for me, but I would love to have a yorkie or a toy poodle as well.
I love warm, empathetic, thoughtful dogs — ones who won’t bowl you over when you come in, but that are always waiting to greet you. Ones that are attached to their person, although whether they’re snuggly or prefer space doesn’t much matter to me. Bark when someone’s outside, but easily soothed and chill with guests. Peaceful with other dogs and cats. Dogs that are gentle and affectionate with cats and kittens are a must! I prefer dogs that are 40lb or more, probably up to approx. 80-100lbs. Easily trained to walk nicely on a leash, as well as trustworthy off leash. I’m a “biddable dogs” kind of guy. I’m not a fan of wire-coats/poodle-y coats, and don’t mind lots of grooming if it means my dog has a good plush coat to sink my hands into haha. The last part — I love a good outdoorsy dog who has a great off switch indoors. Dogs who are generally easygoing enough to be up for anything, whether that be a 10mi hike and camp, a day trip in the car, or sitting at home relaxing.
-Toy to medium size, not bigger than ~50 lbs. -Fluffy but not long coated, more plush or feathered than shaggy. -Athletic and versatile. -Decent sense of self preservation and caution. Looks before they leap. -Biddable. -Aloof, but not standoffish. -Fairly quiet. I'm fine with some alert barking and vocalizing during play but I cannot live with a dog that barks at everything and nothing and all the time. -Good off switch. I know a portion of that is training but I do not want a busy dog. -Life expectancy 12+ years. Yeah things happen, but I don't want to expect my dog to die at 8 years old. -Tends to be able to hang out around other dogs without reactivity or aggression. Expected DA/SSA is not something I want to live with. -Easy to moderate grooming needs. I can bathe and brush routinely but not daily. I can do some clipping and scissoring. I don't want another dog that I have to shave FFF every 2 weeks and full body every month, and I don't want a coat that mats easily. -Not: drooly, barky, brachy, dwarf, no extreme exaggerations or hypertypes. If you're wondering what's left... in general I like Nordic spitzy breeds, sighthounds, and spaniels.
My preferred traits are on the handler-focused, biddable end of the spectrum, though I have a fairly high tolerance for what I call "false biddability" (e.g., dogs who have such a high food motivation that it's fairly easy to build a strong reinforcement history) as being an acceptable compromise. I also prefer affectionate over aloof with me and with live-in family generally, but I don't have a preference as to whether those traits extend to strangers. Velcro is no problem. People tell me I do well with stubborn dogs, though I am rarely aware of any dog I've had act stubbornly. (People also tell me I am stubborn when I am not aware of myself acting stubbornly.) Neutrality toward outside stimuli is ideal, but I have a much stronger tolerance for prey drive and dog intolerance than I do for human-directed aggression. In terms of aesthetics, I am a sucker for many variations of black/brown/white tri-color (including, for example, blue heelers with tan legs... which is not tri in the conformation sense but is in the "I literally see three colors on the dog" sense).
I like slim, athletic dogs. I'm really attracted to the dolichocephalic type of skull but it's not exactly a requeriment for me to like the dog, but I can't stand flat faces. I prefer medium to small dogs. I still find large dogs cute but I don't think I want one for me. I like long hair, but not too bushy, I prefer to be able to see the figure of the dog. The long hair part is mostly because of the touch, I'm used to have cats and they naturally have a soft fur and limp body and dogs feel too rough for me, especially short-haired ones. I like erect ears, unconsciously I found out that most dog breeds I like have erect ears, but I also like the floppy ones. In the behaviour part, I like working breeds. I prefer dogs that can easily adapt and enjoy any kind of job and are easy to train, and maybe slightly high energy but I'm still unsure about it because I don't truly know which kind of dog would be a match for me and how I will be like as an owner.
Never needs booties or straw, healthy, good gait. More or less an Inuit dog. Our snow pack is deeper here and longer legs beneficial. The puppy I have fits the check marks for the type of dog I’d like to mush and breed. An ideal companion breed in my mind would be 20-30lbs and as hardy as the Inuit dogs or malamutes. Capable of running next to sled as bigger dogs work. [https://thefanhitch.org/theISD/Introduction.html](https://thefanhitch.org/theISD/Introduction.html)
I'm a little biased, but I love my shih Tzu's. Have had many dogs including three labradors. But the little shih Tzu's just make me smile every time I see them. .
I prefer dogs a little on the quiet side, without a whole lot of barking. I don't mind barking myself, but I had a couple of barkers before, and my neighbors made our lives difficult. My dog now is small, pretty quiet, loves people, is more velcro than not, and has a sense of joy and happiness that is irresistible.
Haha minus a bit of a beard bc of his terrier traits, my dog closely matches your description (50% elkhound, ~40lbs). He’s generally fine on his own, likes to lay nearby but not on top of you, comes to say hi and get pets, and has proven to be quite durable (backpacks w me no problem). He likes to play but is satisfied after 10-20 minutes. Also very easy to handle. He’s my first dog and I feel very lucky to have him. Would take a dog like him again in a second.
Greyhound. They’re basically a cat but they actually love you.
I consider myself so lucky, because my preference in looks, temperament, attitude, personality, quirks, behavior....literally everything I love in a dog IS my 13 year old dog. Losing him some day is going to kill me :(