[dan wask]

after a few minutes we decided it'd be a good idea to look for him and we found the dog with a groundhog in its jaws being shaken to death.

Thats a hardcore dog for taking on a groundhog. I've seen ground hogs fux some ish up. In fact, my neighbor's pit bull/bull mastiff mix (biggest most frightening dog I've ever seen, but shes super nice) had to have some stitches because it took on a groundhog.

Try to get your hands on a yellow lab and golden retriever mix. They love water, love playing fetch, and will follow you anywhere if you let them. I used to take mine on local xc rides and he would just trot along with me unless he saw something interesting (to roll in), then he would just sprint and catch up when he was finished.

 

[TreeSaw]

I used to work with a girl that had a Shibu and she said she would never ever let the dog offleash. She has to leash it in her fenced backyard because it will find a way to get out. She loves the dog but knows there will be things she'll never be able to do with it. She also said he's really really stubborn.

I have 2 Weimaraner's, they are great dogs but they need a lot of exercise to keep them happy. Both were rescued, one was from the Humane Society and the other from a breeder that was going to put him down because only one of his balls dropped. Couldn't show him with only 1 testicle so he was worthless to them He doesn't have any now......

If you are going to get a dog go to a local shelter or rescue. There's way too many good dogs given up for stupid reasons.

I definitely vote for rescuing a dog that needs a good home. I'm sure if you visit a local shelter you'll fall in love with one (or maybe more) and give them a great home.

There's a guy who rides our local trails with 2 Weimaraners and they are amazing dogs...so well behaved and so beautiful too!

 

[chuffer]

another vote for rescue dogs and labs.

everyone here is talking about how great mutts are, but pure breeds are not always so bad. I rescued a 'papered' yellow lab and she is the best dog I have ever known. she is nearly 13 and very healthy for an old lady. the only problem is a touch of separation anxiety...err, thats me not the dog.

 

[jimmydean]

My Rottie was the first of her breed to be service certified for disabled use. She was big, but she was the sweetest dog on the face of the planet. She was an amazing dog on the trail and I could run her off lead anywhere. Being certified ment I could take her into any building. I did most of her training in Costco because you know there are a ton of people in there any time of day.

Rotties are great, but they are big (Tori was 110 pounds). My Boxer was just as good but about 40 or so pounds lighter. I also got my Boxer from the pound. She was 6 months old.

 

[jacksonpt]

I want a med/small dog that I can have in the house as well.

Jack Russells are good dogs - small, but not annoying yippie dogs (though they do tend to be barkers, from my experience). They are smart, intensely loyal, great on the trail, great with people, etc. They do require training though as they are hunters by nature, and consequently will chase critters of all shapes and sizes. And they don't back down from anything.

Also - they don't seem to have the health concerns that lots of bigger breeds do.

They are high energy dogs, which a lot of people don't realize. As such, they are usually easy to find as rescue dogs. We bought both of ours, but if I were doing it again, I'd rescue Jacks. Great dogs, IMO.

Another breed to consider might be Boxers. Much more mellow than JRT, but also not as smart or as loyal (from my experience). They also tend to have health problems.

On a side note, something to consider is that if you are going to have the dog off the leash, it's just a matter of time before it runs into other people. Well behaved and trained or not, people are generaly more receptive to an unleashed small dog than they are an unleased big dog. Just something to think about.

 

[Da Peach]

We had a mutt. Part poodle, part terrier of some kind. Smart, lovable, quiet, clean, gentle, no shedding, shaggy... Ahhhhhhh Pix...

You won't be featured in the next powerbar ad or anything, but she could outrun my any day!

I was out climbing last weekend and came across another bunch of climbers. The base of the crag was all bouldery, and one guy decided to bring his basset hound along. The poor thing would just get stranded on a boulder and have to wait for his owner to deposit him elsewhere... Sad, but kinda funny. Especially when they switched routes and the guy kept falling on his ass hauling his basset hound around. There's an example of a poor choice of breed for ya.

But noone has mentioned border collie! I've met three of these, and I've never seen such attentive, smart, FAST! and loveable dogs.

 

[I Are Baboon]

Stosh, if you are not supposed to let that breed off leash, then DON'T let the dog off leash. The beeders and trainers know more than you so take their advice. No amount of training can eliminate thousands of years of instinct. I'm not familiar with that breed's habits, but there are people who are convinced they taught their greyhound how to walk off leash, then the dog spots one furry rabbit and it's bye bye greyhound.

 

[Tmeyer]

I got a black lab german shepard mix in March at a local non profit rescue center and he is awesome. I vote mutt all the way. Fewer health problems and there are so many good dogs out there that need a home. He's about 7.5 months and weighs 72 pounds so he's big but very lanky. Go mutt, you won't regret it.

 

[bockner]

rott weilers actually make REALLY good trail dogs. same w/ dobermans. i ride with 2 guys and they have one of each (well, one has one, the other guy has the other). VERY friendly, very good on the trails. they are well trained dogs though. THe one day we were building the doberman wandered off. after a few minutes we decided it'd be a good idea to look for him and we found the dog with a groundhog in its jaws being shaken to death.

Rots are awesome trail dogs....beware the knees though mine had to have BOTH ACLs done (OUCH)...but she did follow me down rollers and even, albeit mistakenly, a couple of 6 footers!

The only problem with Rotts (and a lot of pure breeds) is health. Our Rott's knee issues were jus tone of her problems...while she was the best dog ever she was only with us 7 years due to heart failure....

I say go with the pound puppy, the mixes tend to be healthier and you can get the best of several breeds in one....

 

[BurlyShirley]

My dog is an adopto-dog, and he has health issues as well. Just skin allergies, but he's now on steroids and antibiotics that make him piss every 5 minutes. He may have hip issues in the future as well.

 

[Da Peach]

Our mutt lived to 20!

 

[moff_quigley]

Stosh maybe you could adopt a Shiba from a rescue. Barkley lives Upstate: http://national.shibarescue.org/barkley/barkley.html

Found here: http://national.shibarescue.org/avail.html

 

[MMcG]

Stosh maybe you could adopt a Shiba from a rescue. Barkley lives Upstate: http://national.shibarescue.org/barkley/barkley.html

Found here: http://national.shibarescue.org/avail.html

Nice find Travis.

Barkley looks like a nice dog!

 

[homepiece]

http://www.petfinder.org/
great resource to find adoptable dogs in your area by breed. I wanted a australian shep mix, and got the best dog in the world as a pound pup.

 

[MMcG]

There are a couple of Shibas in NJ too on that page that Moff posted up.

 

[moff_quigley]

There are a couple of Shibas in NJ too on that page that Moff posted up.

Yeah, "Samurai" from Livingston, NJ sounds like a good pooch too: http://national.shibarescue.org/samurai/samurai.html

 

[OGRipper]

Jack's are great but they are a lot of work. Here's a pic of ours, he is now 15 and is just starting to slow down. He came into my life 5 years ago and, at 10 years old, was friggin' hyper. Cute little bugger eh?

 

[Slugman]

BTW - Shiba's have such big necks that they can get out of a standard collar, you'll have to use a harness.

 

[jacksonpt]

Jack's are great but they are a lot of work. Here's a pic of ours, he is now 15 and is just starting to slow down. He came into my life 5 years ago and, at 10 years old, was friggin' hyper.

I think that's very relative. I had heard horror stories about how hyper they are, but neither of ours are as bad as I was expecting (not sure if ours are quiet by JRT standards or if I was expecting worse than I should have been). Yea, they'll go for ever, but it's not like they tear up the house if they don't get to run 3 times a day.

 

[stosh]

There are a couple of Shibas in NJ too on that page that Moff posted up.

Yeah and they are older so that makes them more desirable for me.

 

[stosh]

BTW - Shiba's have such big necks that they can get out of a standard collar, you'll have to use a harness.

Thanks for the hint!

 

[TreeSaw]

Now I want a doggie to love too. (I knew I shouldn't click on moff's link, but I just had to)!

 

[stosh]

If I do get a rescue dog, do I have to go pick it up? I'm only asking because there seems to be preferences of what states the dog should be adopted in and I'm not sure why.

 

[DH Diva]

BTW - Shiba's have such big necks that they can get out of a standard collar, you'll have to use a harness.

You can also use a martingale collar, which are designed for dogs with a larger neck than head. I use them for my greyhounds and they are great, they also help correct leash tugging if that is an issue.

 

[Tame Ape]

If I do get a rescue dog, do I have to go pick it up? I'm only asking because there seems to be preferences of what states the dog should be adopted in and I'm not sure why.

You should meet the dogg before you take it home. Its a sort of a better safe then sorry scenario.

 

[stosh]

You should meet the dogg before you take it home. Its a sort of a better safe then sorry scenario.

Yeah, thats what I thought. Why would many of the rescue places specify what state they can be adopted to?

 

[fuzzynutz]

I rescued a Shiba Inu once. I called her Gary. She was very cool, although she pee'd all over the house, which was not cool. Then one day she ran out of the house and was hit by a car. Now she's dead.

Jack Russels are one of the hardest dogs to train, and a pain the in ass. Friends had one. They spent thousands of dollars in top professional training(think: dog shipped off to be trained for months). Then the dog came back and a few days later ran away and was hit by a car. Now he's dead too.

 

[DH Diva]

Yeah, thats what I thought. Why would many of the rescue places specify what state they can be adopted to?

They probably specify what state because most rescue groups will only adopt out to a certain distance from the rescue, most likely in case there needs to be any follow up visits, or there are any problems, or they need to retreive a dog from an owner.

 

[stosh]

I rescued a Shiba Inu once. I called her Gary. She was very cool, although she pee'd all over the house, which was not cool. Then one day she ran out of the house and was hit by a car. Now she's dead.

Jack Russels are one of the hardest dogs to train, and a pain the in ass. Friends had one. They spent thousands of dollars in top professional training(think: dog shipped off to be trained for months). Then the dog came back and a few days later ran away and was hit by a car. Now he's dead too.

That is what I am worried about. I live about 400' from a road that is thru a thick bunch of trees. I could just see the Shiba Inu getting loose from the front door and bolting out thru the trees and onto the road.

 

[stosh]

They probably specify what state because most rescue groups will only adopt out to a certain distance from the rescue, most likely in case there needs to be any follow up visits, or there are any problems, or they need to retreive a dog from an owner.

Ok cool, gottcha!

 

[fuzzynutz]

That is what I am worried about. I live about 400' from a road that is thru a thick bunch of trees. I could just see the Shiba Inu getting loose from the front door and bolting out thru the trees and onto the road.

Pretty much exactly what my dog did. Not a pretty picture.

 

[stosh]

Pretty much exactly what my dog did. Not a pretty picture.

How old was the dog?
Were you good about keeping the door closed prior?

 

[jacksonpt]

That is what I am worried about. I live about 400' from a road that is thru a thick bunch of trees. I could just see the Shiba Inu getting loose from the front door and bolting out thru the trees and onto the road.

Any dog is going to be a risk. Put up a fence, never have the dog off a leash, or deal with the risk. Sorry if I sound harsh, but it's the reality of dog ownership. Dogs aren't easy or convenient.

 

[fuzzynutz]

How old was the dog?
Were you good about keeping the door closed prior?

Well like I said she was a rescue, so I don't know the exact age. But she wasn't a puppy. I think she was in the 2-4 year old age bracket.

Yes, we were extremely good about keeping doors closed. Our other dog, Rusty, is also an escape artist, so all doors need to be closed at all times. We actually think she may have escaped while we were taking Rusty for a walk.

 

[stosh]

Any dog is going to be a risk. Put up a fence, never have the dog off a leash, or deal with the risk. Sorry if I sound harsh, but it's the reality of dog ownership. Dogs aren't easy or convenient.

Gottcha!

Our neighbors JRT did the same thing.

 

[stosh]

Well like I said she was a rescue, so I don't know the exact age. But she wasn't a puppy. I think she was in the 2-4 year old age bracket.

Yes, we were extremely good about keeping doors closed. Our other dog, Rusty, is also an escape artist, so all doors need to be closed at all times. We actually think she may have escaped while we were taking Rusty for a walk.

Ok cool thanks for the heads up.

Do you have any kids?

 

[fuzzynutz]

No I don't have any kids.

 

[dan-o]

For a first time dog owner I'd suggest something loyal, dumb and inherently lazy like a lab. Great personality, active when you want them to be but also content sleeping all day and lacking the velociraptor instincts that make some breeds a PITA.

 

[stosh]

For a first time dog owner I'd suggest something loyal, dumb and inherently lazy like a lab. Great personality, active when you want them to be but also content sleeping all day and lacking the velociraptor instincts that make some breeds a PITA.

Man.... I feel you may be right....

 

[Tame Ape]

Man.... I feel you may be right....

Maybe look for a mature dog or a breed that is recomended for Seniors?