Best Family Dog

[Miss Critter]

For the record, we've seldom selected our dogs. They somehow always seem to select us.

 

[Alicia Leonard]

I have two very lazy Border Collies. Well trained, brings the paper in, never chews shoes and likes to be loved. I think sometimes the dog chooses the owner as much as the owner chooses the dog. Sarge was pick of the litter and my ex picked him out and trained him well. Shyann was unsellable due to something making her terribly skittish and afraid of people and noise. She trained as easy as her brother, though. I fell in love with her and we have been a happy family every since. Over ten years now. I know there are those who doubt it, but I swear, when I look into a dogs eyes, I can see a little soul in there

Shyann cried when her back was hurt and I tried to move her. When those tears rolled out of her eyes, my heart broke and I knew I would give her my best effort to regain her mobility and thanks to lots of TLC from me, Dr. Barr, and her little fighter spirt, she got it back. They are family

 

[Miss Critter]

You're a good mommy, aleo.

 

[Alicia Leonard]

You're a good mommy, aleo.

So are you Miss C;-)

 

[InletBchDweller]

ibd - you were looking!

well, not sure if I would pay that. but bless its heart. he needs some rescuing! I mean, he may be sitting there forever waiting for someone who can afford his cute little paper-holding self.

looking - that was it.

I was actually buying tropical fish for the aquarium. Much to the dismay of Mr. IBD who wants an Oscar.

The $$$ puppy actually had a sibling that was sold earlier that day.

 

[Mango]

looking - that was it.

I was actually buying tropical fish for the aquarium. Much to the dismay of Mr. IBD who wants an Oscar.

The $$$ puppy actually had a sibling that was sold earlier that day.

Looking is dangerous. :nono1: I once went out for a box of cannoli's and came home with a puppy.

 

[kimbug]

Looking is dangerous. :nono1: I once went out for a box of cannoli's and came home with a puppy.

I agree...we went back to school shopping last year and came home with our new little guy!! Well it took 4 more times to look at him; each and every return visit he was sweeter!

I love, love, love both of my doggies and they couldn't be more different. So I really agree with others who have said that it depends on what you are looking for/family needs. I do like that my little one doesn't shed but he is a lot more maintenance when it comes to taking care of his coat.

 

[Rudyjohn]

We've always had dogs, and I've loved all of them. Our dogs are family members. They sleep on the bed, travel to Grandma's house, are pictured on our Christmas cards. The "best" dog depends on what you are looking for. Small children? Allergies? Home all day or work long hours? Outdoorsy? Is space an issue?

That said, I love our lab. He is by far the most affectionate,easy-going and comical dog we've ever owned. The only downside is the shedding. He is a traveling fur factory. Oh, and I'm pretty sure he's not going to Harvard.

If you are asking because you are looking for a dog, please visit your local animal shelter to choose one. You can find purebreeds there, if that's what you're into, but mutts make great pets. They don't usually have the physical problems that can be common to many purebreeds, and most have great temperaments. Most of our pets have been rescues, including said lab.

My BC is adopted (or rescued).

I will second that for obvious reasons, AND, they are also good if you need help with your computer, installing dimmers, and doing sidoku puzzles...

Note of Caution: They are not a breed for couch potatoes though--their ideal owner is a 27 year old male, who like to multi task, take the dog in his pick up and go hiking and mountain climbing, skate bording, and hunting. If they are not contantly working or around energy, they can fall into a real funk!

Yes, ours "works" and Mr. JR is not a 27 yr. old but he sure takes Rudy out for a long walk every night, rain or shine or snow or ice. Rudy would walk forever and never stop. We're not sure what his mission is but he just keeps on walking.

 

[pgurney]

We have, from oldest to youngest:
- a Bordie Collie/Chow mix from the Humane Society. She's been a wonderful watchdog and a great part of the family, very loyal, loving and was extremely easy to train in her younger years. Now, as she's getting on up there, she's taking on more of the personality of the Chow...and the stubborness of the BC.

- a pure BC. The sweetest, smartest, thing I've ever known, but she does have to stay busy or she gets an attitude. She loves the beach (but won't swim unless she has to), anything she can retrieve for you and her little sister. She's great with kids, is a good baby sitter and she raised the next one like it was her own. She tries to talk and her noises (little moans and quiet little baby barks/howls) are pure communication with the same intonation a human would have. This girl is smart!

- a BC/Lab mix that we rescued from a kill shelter. This fun girl has all the best traits of both the Lab and the BC. Loves to swim, is strong as a bull, loves to retrieve, spoon, extremely trainable and smart, sweet, loyal, good watch dog, but without a mean bone in her body. I can't believe this mix isn't something that people are breeding.

 

[Miss Critter]

Forgot to include in the list: political aspirations! Here's a story from AP this morning:

Tress Turner gets a kiss from her dog, Willie Bean Roscoe P. Coltrane at The Coffee Loft in Fairhope, Ala., Saturday July 26, 2008. Turner, who manages The Coffee Loft, has taken a satirical poke at politics by launching the 7-year-old yellow Labrador retriever in the Fairhope mayoral race.(AP Photo/Press-Register, John David Mercer)

Labrador 'runs' for mayor of Fairhope, Alabama
Mon Jul 28, 8:04 PM ET


One of the candidates in the race to become Fairhope's next mayor is considerably more hairy than the rest. He also has twice as many legs and a constantly wagging tail. Wille Bean Roscoe P. Coltrane is a 7-year-old yellow Labrador retriever whose owner has taken a satirical poke at politics by launching the pooch into the race.
But Willie Bean may not be up for that rough-and-tumble world.
"When a little dog barks at him, he cringes and he runs away," owner Tress Turner told the Press-Register in a story Sunday.
Turner, 43, manages The Coffee Loft, which is also the dog's campaign headquarters where supporters can purchase T-shirts and yard signs.
Some of his supporters say all the politicking, name-dropping and sign-maneuvering in the seven-man Fairhope mayoral race is wearing on them weeks ahead of the Aug. 26 election.
"I think he polishes up the field," said Vince Kilborn, 66, of Fairhope. "We need new blood."
Kilborn, former Gov. Don Siegelman's chief attorney in his ongoing criminal corruption case, added about the dog: "He doesn't have any skeletons in his closet. He's eaten them all."
The dog's campaign began when a mayoral candidate placed a campaign sign on property that bordered the politically-neutral coffee shop about three weeks ago.
Turner told the candidate about her wish to remain out of the race, but he had permission from the neighboring property owner and the sign remained for a few days.
"Then, sure enough, customers started pulling in the parking lot and giving us a hard time," Turner said.
The owner of the coffee shop taped a sign to the door saying The Coffee Loft did not endorse the candidate.
"It turned into just people laughing and joking and playing. And I was, like, 'You know what? We are going to let Willie Bean run for mayor,'" Turner said.
Willie Bean doesn't have a realistic shot at being Fairhope's next mayor since the July 15 qualifying deadline has passed. Still, other dogs have held office.
In 2004, Rabbit Hash, Ky., elected Junior Cochran, a black Lab, as mayor. It was the second canine elected to lead the small Northern Kentucky town, according to the town's Web site. The first was a mutt named Goofy Borneman, according to Laurie Lamblin, a resident and employee of the town's historic general store.
Julie Ford, a volunteer at The Haven, Fairhope's no-kill animal shelter, said Willie Bean is setting his sights too low.
"I think he should run for president," the 61-year-old Ford said after stopping by the coffee shop.