Dog owner thread: what breed(s) of dogs do you own?

[mvd]

And how are they in:

1. Intelligence
2. Friendliness with dogs and strangers
3. Affection

I own a Goldendoodle (Golden Retriever and Poodle mix) named Gordon. He is only 6 months old, and is very intelligent and loves dogs and strangers. He's very sweet but only somewhat affectionate.

[Broken_Hero]

1. a mutt

who is friendly/playful as can be, and two pom's...

Our female pom, Lulu is a barking, non playful,ocean of piss creating cuss, that I regret buying.

Our male pom spot, is a pee machine, but he is extremely playful, and affectionate....

[mvd]

2. Hi petersond

A couple of your descriptions cracked me up. :-)

[Longhorn]

3. I have five:

A Rhodesian Ridgeback, two Lab mixes, a shepherd/lab mix, and a poodle mix. They are all smart and affectionate and friendly to other people but they aren't very welcoming to other dogs. I'm afraid with five of them, they have too much of a pack mentality. :shrug:

[likesmountains 52]

9. I had a Rhodesian Ridgeback once...she sure loved us...and I sure loved her...

but she was very protective and did not like it if other people touched us..

[Longhorn]

14. This is Sparky.

He doesn't have a ridge and may be a mix. Someone dumped him on the side of the road when he was four months old. He is also very sweet but I'm convinced he would attack anyone who meant me harm! :hi:

[deepthought42]

30. Why would anyone do that???

Glad he has a good home now. :) Such a cutie!

[lizziegrace]

4. Shetland Sheepdog

He died a few years ago.

He was intelligent when it suited his purpose. (He was a retired show dog)

Very loving and affectionate to us. Was okay with strangers and other dogs - it depended on the dog.

He definitely had a role for each of us. I was the shepherd, my ex-husband was another dog in the pack and Lelapin was a sheep to be protected and herded. Interesting the way their instincts kick in.

I'd take a shepherd any day. He didn't wander and I'd go months without having to put a leash on him.

[mvd]

5. Sounds like he was a great dog

My dog Reba died this year. I never knew her breeds, but found out from a DNA test after she died that she had Golden Retriever, Akita, Chow Chow, Chinese Shar-Pei, and even Miniature Schnauzer. She was loving to all but dogs and just the perfect companion. I still really miss her, as you do your dog. :hug:

[lizziegrace]

6. He was one of a kind

He adored Lelapin and was her best friend.

I now only have cats because I can't have both a dog and a cat here. Someday though, I'd like to get another dog.

They leave such a huge hole when they go, don't they??

[mvd]

15. Yes, it's like losing a family member when they die

Dogs die way too young.

[driver8]

33. Our Border Collie, Cody, was very similar to your sheepdog.

He was smart as could be, had VERY strong herding instincts, and would not wander at all. We had some guys clearing some brush on our property and they left the gate to our backyard open. It was a few days before we discovered it, but Cody never left. Once he knew what the boundaries were, he never crossed them. We actually had to quit taking him to the dog park as all he wanted to do was herd the other dogs. He was quite a nuisance!

He was a great dog, and we really miss him.

Cody

[marzipanni]

59. Cody looks dear, I remember him from other dog threads

Our Sally (also mentioned in post#8) WAS very good about staying in our yard, even when the gate blew open. Then the new high school opened and now some kids walk home from school down the alley next to our house.
Suddenly we realized Sally wasn't around one afternoon; called her, looked for her in yard and house, no Sally. My husband walked toward the neighborhood park(one of her favorite places), my son and his friend went three blocks toward town. I followed a few minutes later, and the boys and Sally were walking toward me. They had found her in the park beside the library, tossing an empty water bottle toward some high school kids, trying to engage them in a game of fetch! :) She is able to leap over one gate, and we had to retrieve her from the library park two or three more times, but now we make sure she's in the house from 2:30-3:15 so she's not tempted to join the big kids.
She does much better if I play with her, throwing a ball or frisbee® each morning until she expends some energy..
Sally on our son's her bed

[Inchworm]

7. Dachshund/Beagle mix and an Akita

Dachshund = Trina
Don't remember when took pic


1. Intelligence

Understands english and usually listens

2. Friendliness with dogs and strangers

Known dogs are cool but all others are evil munsters she must raise her hair and bark at. All humans are her friend and she will annoy them until she gets a treat or belly rub

3. Affection

She IS my bedwarmer. She does have stinky breath though :D

Akita = Cripple
Last Year


1. Intelligence

A big dumb happy as hell horse/bear

2. Friendliness with dogs and strangers

Can't trust him with other dogs because Trina starts too much trouble. He also will do anything for some attention from humans. This can be scary if you don't know he just wants pets.

3. Affection

He's a trip. Tries to act all tough, but once you find one of his many favorite spots to scritch he freezes and gets irritated if you stop.

:loveya:

[lukasahero]

76. Those two live together?

Your descriptions seem to be for the other dog - your doxie is all goofy and cute and the Akita (thud!) is all serious.

[Inchworm]

82. Indeed they do

It's true though. If the little one stays quiet the big one plays well with other dogs. If the little one yaps the big one tries to join in.

Trina (little one) is about 6 years old
Cripple (big one) is about 2

:hi:

[lukasahero]

83. Just out of curiosity: "Cripple"?

There has to be a story behind that...

[Inchworm]

85. There is hehe

:blush:

I'll save that story though. Let me just say that at first it was a joke... .then it stuck.

:rofl:

[marzipanni]

8. My family had a male standard poodle, Pepé, when I was 3-15 yrs old,

and a female royal standard poodle, Mimi, who I talked my mom into getting after Pepé died. Both were smart and friendly with people, but Pepé was a little too friendly toward someone's leg occasionally, and got into a a few dog fights (he wasn't neutered). :o
Poodles can be kind of independent, maybe because they are so intelligent.

I've had a goofy German shepherd mutt, a sweet lab mix whose mom was supposedly half coyote, a
malamute-Australian shepherd-blue heeler mix (she was a real character), and my present dog, a Border Collie, Sally.

Sally is very intelligent, loves people, is very affectionate, but does not like other dogs. We got her from the SPCA when she was two-years-old, and had been living with another dog so I don't know what happened.

Is Gordon golden colored? Does he have curly hair?

[mvd]

12. Curly hair, yes

He's golden and white. He has the face of a retriever and floppy ears.

[mvd]

43. I'll post a picture of Gordon later

[mvd]

48. Here's a picture of Gordon from early August

[Rhythm]

57. OMG... what a face!

He looks like he's have the fur consistency of a stuffed animal...

I just want to roll around in the floor and snuggle him.

[mvd]

68. Thanks for the nice comments

He is VERY snuggleable. He's getting a little more affecionate - licks more and I think his puppy exhuberance makes him less likely to cuddle. While Gordon's very intelligent (notices everything and knows quite a few words already,) so far he still has problems obeying when he wants to do something. Some spunk is good, but he should do things like come when called better when he's an adult. He is getting better with the puppy mouthing. He is very exuberant with people and also likes other dogs, though in a big group of dogs he can get intimidated. Also could be his puppyhood.

[driver8]

61. Gordon is very handsome...such a great face!! n/t

[dropkickpa]

10. Pit bull

1. She is VERY smart, by far the easiest dog I've ever trained, VERY eager to please, willing to work just as hard for praise as for treats, picks up new "tricks" lightning fast
2. She loves dogs and strangers and guinea pigs and cats, but is wary if someone is acting "off" (the neighborhood crackhead sketches her out, as does his dealer)
3. She's my velcro dog. If she could surgically attach her head to the space between my breasts, she'd be blissfully happy.


Oh, and this thread is worthless without pics! Cough up yours!

Agatha and Dropkid

[flvegan]

17. Word.

I've got 10 here just like that. Pit bulls, that is. Easiest dogs to train, eager to please, etc. And they do become velcro when given the opportunity. Also, I'm going on record as saying that the pit bull is the most butt-skritchiest breed in the world.

[dropkickpa]

18. Agatha groans and moans for butt skritches!

You'd think obscene things were being done to her from the noises!

[LeftyMom]

46. English bulldogs might have them beat as being whores for scritchies.

Series.

[driver8]

62. What a sweet photo...

Your dog looks like a love bug!

[driver8]

63. What a sweet photo...

Your dog looks like a love bug!

[undeterred]

11. My first dog

was a border collie mix. She was brilliant, in charge of other dogs and strangers, and very affectionate to me. Somewhat aloof to strangers. She learned words I never tried to teach her and was always looking for work. I am afraid I didn't understand border collies very well.

My second dog was a leonberger mix. Gentle, affectionate, and a devoted companion. Not as smart as the border collie, but easier to train and live with. Got along well with other dogs and people.

My transitional dog is a laborador retriever. He is friendly to other dogs and people and does whatever he wants. He is affectionate when he wants something. I am looking for a hunter to adopt him and channel his magnificent energy.

My next dog will be a leonberger mix puppy. Gentle, affectionate, and a devoted companion.

[bluesbassman]

13. Boxer/Pitbull mix.

She is very friendly with kids, adults, other dogs, and even tolerates our two cats. She is pretty intelligent, and for the most part behaves herself indoors. She is actually kind of over the top on the affection side, and can be a little annoying, but that's okay.:)

[Richardo]

16. JRT, Mini Schnauzer, rat terrier

All females, and they each excel in all three areas you mention.

Intelligence stories: I was playing the 'hide the treat' game by showing the JRT the treat in my right hand, putting my hands behind by back, then showing her my empty right hand. She immediately looked around my back at my left hand.

I once threw a ball and the schnauzer didn't see what direction it went - when I pointed, she looked in the direction I was pointing instead of at the end of my finger like most dogs do.

[harmonicon]

19. big time mutt!!

She was in a litter of puppies found with their mom in the desert - a family had moved out and just left them there :( ... but, I really do think that she's the greatest dog ever. As for what kind of mutt, we really have almost no idea - different vets have put down different guesses on paperwork, but I think most of them include lab. The mom looked sort of like a boxer, and one of the brothers looked kind of like her, but more like a german shepherd (but dogs from the same litter can have different dog dads). So, our best guess is some combination of lab/some sort of herding dog/pit bull/boxer/blue healer (I'll try to include a picture, which I've never tried before)

Intelligence: She is incredibly smart, almost to a fault. When we lived in a place with a back yard, she would jump the fence and run around in the area, but would always come back when called. She'd get punished by being put in her crate for running away - after a few times of that, whenever she came running back, she would put herself right in the crate. She'd decided that the adventure was worth the punishment. She knows several words, including people's names, and can remember people an places that she hasn't seen in years.

Friendliness: mixed. As a puppy, she loved all other dogs, but at around age 2, developed a serious alpha female problem. The only female dogs she liked after that were ones that she'd known when she was younger, but not even all of them. My girlfriend just moved into a new apartment complex with a courtyard. There are three other dogs - all males - and she likes two of them, but hates one. We don't know why. With strangers, she's a real sweetie if we're (my girlfriend or I) around to introduce them - she loves people. She can also spot a dog lover a mile away and knows how to make them swoon. Otherwise she's very protective. The only times she barks are when strange people get too close to the door/window/etc. - I think its sort of a good thing.

Affection: insane affection. She loves us, and almost all people. She loves to be cuddled, petted, scratched, and she's a big licker. She also loves to please people and obey commands. She's very attached to us, and always wants to be close by. The only bad thing about that is that she becomes afraid when left alone in a new place. She can really whine up a storm when left alone in a hotel room or something.

[malta blue]

20. two rescued rat terriers

They are highly intelligent and extremely friendly and affectionate. Both were both puppy mill bred, one in Ohio, the other in Florida.

One of them was slated for destruction by the "breeder" because her ear had a fold at the top. The other was just given to the rescue because there were too many.

[Orsino]

21. Only one purebred, I think.

All our animals are strays or hand-me-downs.

Sadie is obviously an Australian Cattle Dog. Not friendly to anyone but us, even her doggie housemates, especially on her own turf:



Obie seems to be a lab/pit mix. He is the best-natured dog in the world, and something of a chicken who will pee when introduced to strangers. Loves other dogs:



Sylvie is sorta Spitzy-looking, and very friendly to all:



Sparky is, um, maybe Manchester Terrier-ish? A doll. She loves strangers, but is a little shy of other dogs:

[Arkansas Granny]

81. Your Sylvie looks a lot like my Sapphire. They have that same clean,

kinda foxy looking muzzle and the little stand up ears. I've always suspected that she might be part Spitz. Sapphire's coat is a little slicker than Sylvie's, but about the same length. She's white with blue eyes and weighs around 25 lbs.

[mwooldri]

22. Shadow, our Siberian Husky.

I can tell you that if you want the ideal family dog, have a large enough fenced in yard and don't mind a bit of digging then a Siberian Husky may just be for you. They are intelligent, and they want to make friends with everyone - including other dogs and especially strangers. If you're looking for a guard dog forget Huskies. They just love being rubbed on and are great with young kids.

Ours is the runt of the litter, so is smaller than the average husky. She communicates well with me (for a dog of course) and I can figure out her wants and needs quite readily. If we'd let her, she'd cuddle up in the bed with us.

Mark.

[inanna]

52. That is a beautiful dog

I also had a Siberian Husky named Chinook. (No pics of him on this computer though.)

I see yours has two blue eyes. Ours had mixed eyes: blue and brown.

What a chatter box he was!

Poor ol' Chinook died earlier this year. :cry: He was thirteen.

[BarenakedLady]

23. A full rescue Golden Retriever

1. Dumb as a rock
2. Love bear
3. Slobbery kisser/humper

A mutt Black Lab/Whippet (?)

1. Very smart
2. Wary but friendly
3. My bed warmer

[hobbit709]

24. Our five

Boogie-mostly smooth collie- our ADD child aka Queen of the Doofii.
Jake and Rusty-two brothers that I rescued about 13 years ago. Mostly cowdog
Sweetie Pie The Snuggle Puppy-looks like retriever and who knows what-loves everybody
Wheezie aka Devious And Conniving Little Weasel-rat terror-smallest of the lot and thinks she's a big dog.

[Red State Rebel]

25. 2 Rescued Dachshunds

Very smart
Female is very friendly with other dogs, kinda shy with strangers, boy is protective with both at first but warms up pretty quickly.
Both are VERY affectionate. The guy in particular loves to be in your lap or right next to you getting loved. They are great to sleep with, burrow under the covers and snuggle with you.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

26. beagle: great in all those areas but imo you dont really want a clever dog

you want an easily trained not obdurate dog. also one who loves food rationally, unlike a beagles love of food

[ET Awful]

27. One VERY disrespectful Staffordshire Terrier

He's a very sweet doggy who LOVES people, he just needs a bit more training on the co-existing with cats front :P

[lukasahero]

80. This should be in the "cutest pic in your photobucket acct" thread

He's ADORABLE!

[Mutley]

28. I have a six year-old mixed breed.

1. Intelligence
Hahahaha. Haha. Ha. No, actually I think she's smart enough to pretend she's stupid. :P

2. Friendliness with dogs and strangers
Loves both.

3. Affection.
Sometimes aloof, and sometimes very affectionate.

[deepthought42]

29. Never heard of that breed! We have a Shar-Pei

He just turned 5 months old yesterday. :) His name is Torpedo; we got him from the local SPCA in Maryland.

He's pretty smart, sometimes. He figured out right away the backyard is where he goes to the bathroom, he'll stare at his leash when he wants a walk, and when he gets into something he KNOWS he shouldn't, he'll take off running around the house. Not that smart when it comes to finding things sometimes though, lol.

He's very energetic around people and other dogs. We're still teaching him not to be over enthusiastic when meeting others. The little thing doesn't know his own strength; there are a few dogs in our neighborhood that are smaller than him. But overall he loves getting attention from anyone. :)

He can be very affectionate sometimes. He loves belly rubs and giving kisses; and he loves to play. *sigh* I can't wait to go home this weekend and see him again. :loveya:

[RubyDuby in GA]

31. Mini Dachshund and Beagle

I've owned doxies all my life. they have all been girls in the past and were super smart. As for my boy, my current one, well he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer. All of my doxies have been loving little ones. The only thing I fault them for is their friendliness with strangers - or lack thereof.

My beagle is a very gentle girl. We've had her nearly a year (and she's only about 2 years old now), but she is still very skittish around people. The vet where we adopted her from got her from a shelter in a neighboring county. They would only tell them that she was terribly abused. Poor girl. She's so sweet and lovely. I just can't imagine anyone purposefully hurting her.

[driver8]

32. We have a shepherd mix named Buddy.

He is pretty smart, loves other dogs and people, and is very affectionate. On the other hand, he is a great watch dog and nobody gets near our house without Buddy letting us know. He is also amazing with our children.

Buddy






My wife and I had a Border Collie named Cody who passed away a few years ago. He was incredibly smart, did not like other dogs at all (except to herd), but loved most people. He was also very affectionate. I really miss him...

Cody

[LostinVA]

34. Border Collie

1. Extremely intelligent
2. Likes other dogs and good with strangers when properly introduced. He needs to know that we think they're okay, then he'll be their friend. He's very protective of us and the property.
3. Very affectionate

[Dinger]

78. Me Too

1, 2, and 3 the same for me.

Here's Zippy as a puppy (about 4 weeks old):

[Faygo Kid]

35. Mutt, mutt, and 15-year-old Pomeranian.

Still kickin', but not looking quite as good as this photo from three years ago:

http://home.earthlink.net/imagelib/sitebuilder/misc/show_image.html?linkedwidth=actual&linkpath=&target=tlx_new

[lukasahero]

36. Mixed from Puerto Rico

Bella is a 7 mos old mix, we're not sure of what (we may have her tested just out of curiosity). She's smart as a whip, afraid of people and other dogs (but we've been working with her at the dog park and she just LOVES to play once she figures out the dogs won't hurt her) and she is a real snuggle-bug. (She climbs up in bed between me and my husband in the morning when the alarm goes off for her 15 minutes of belly rubs and snuggles. :) )

Bella:


My Lab who passed away this spring at 14 was a wonderful dog, loved everyone, everything, affectionate, loved to rest his chin on me and just doze off or sleep with his head in my lap. He was basically dumb as a stump when it came to figuring things out on his own but he'd do anything you asked him to without fail or pause. He was also very perceptive and "knew" people better/faster than I did - he protected me more than once. (He never bit - he didn't have to - at 110 lbs, he just had to look pissed and the bad guys backed off right quick.)

Beau:

[Bake]

37. A springer spaniel, a lhasa apso, and two lhasa shihs

The springer is very affectionate, loves attention, and reasonably intelligent (excelpt sometimes I don't know if she's stupid or just stubborn). The lhasa is Muffin, although my son's frineds call her Satan. That should tell you something. But she's very affectionate with ME. Very territorial and protective. Her two babies were sired by a shih tzu (hence the name, lotsa shits). They're all spoiled rotten and they love it.

Bake

[MountainLaurel]

42. I'd go with stubborn

Our springer girl is like that -- she knows all her commands and what we want her to do, but if she's not in the mood, she'll just flip you the finger and go do what she wants. You tell her to come, and you can see her mulling it over and saying "Nah, not today."

[Vanje]

38. Border collies

4 of em.
2 retired, and 2 who work sheep magnificently.
Smart!? Its true!
All mine are affectionate with people and other dogs.
2 of them are a little strange about thunder storms, but otherwise , all are very well adjusted.
All are affectionate. One is perhaps a bit clingy, but I enjoy her near me, so theres no problem.

Edited to add picture of my girl, Miss Vangie doing her stuff last Sunday:




I am still mourning the loss of a Standard poodle deceased 2 years ago.
He was one of a kind. That dog did everything outside the box. Very intelligent but eccentric. Dry sense of humor. Flair for drama. Those times when things did not go exactly Watson's way, boy, could he pout!

[LostinVA]

51. We're getting another BC within the next two weeks

Mick and my wife take herding lessons with a Big Hat who just went to the Worlds, actually.

Mick also doesn't care for thunderstorms -- he does into his "happy place" when they occur: a soft-sided travel kennel in the living room, carpeted with a sheepskin and full of toys and bones. He goes in there when he's upset.

We're getting him a companion, and let's face it, you can't have just ONE BC, can you??? We're going up Sunday to see if we and the other dog get along. She's a sweet bitch, and Mick is a sweet, submissive male, so we shall see!

They are fantastic dogs, aren't they?

[Vanje]

66. Hello!

I sent you a PM. Look at your inbox

[LibertyLover]

39. We've got 5 - all adopted

2 rescued former racing greyhounds, 2 rescued whippets and a rescued Siberian Husky. They are all wonderful with our 6 year old daughter. The greyhound bitch thinks she is just one more puppy to raise. They are affection sponges, even the Husky, whom my husband promised me would not require much attention as they were a breed known to be aloof. If he gets anymore "aloof" I won't have a bed to sleep in.

The whippets sleep with us at night, in all seasons. In the summer they do get out of bed during the night when they get too hot, but come back soon thereafter. The greys love to cuddle with us on the futons in the living room. They are all very good with people, except the occasional one that they take a dislike to. We've learned to trust their instincts. They may not be the most intelligent dogs, but they are plenty smart for us.

[seemunkee]

40. Italian Greyhounds

1. One if very bright(purebred offspring of AKC champs), the other not so much(rescue boy of dubious background)
2. The don't socialize much. A little skittish due to size but don't show aggression.
3. Absolutely love being close to us. Real snugglers.

Major downside, and we were warned of this, they are a tough breed to housetrain.

[EFerrari]

41. I have a Lab. She has badges and while she isn't as smart as

my dear Buddy, gone these two years, she's sweeter than anything anywhere ever. She tries to submit to every dog she meets, she greets people as if they're long lost relatives and her gig here is as secure as possible.

I need a new pix of Kid, but this was a year ago:

[lukasahero]

75. I'm in love with your dog

Those are serious eyes. That are serious dog. :)

(I LOVE Labs!)

[femmocrat]

44. Two Corgis (Pembroke)

1. Intelligence -- If there was a doggie Mensa, they would be in it!
2. Friendliness with dogs and strangers - They love everyone. Super friendly, but not overbearing.
3. Affection -- The male is a big teddy bear, very cuddly. The female is a bit more reserved, but gives big kisses!

I think they are the most wonderful dogs. I have owned many breeds over the years and loved them all, but the Corgis are the most "human" to me. They really are like little furry "children".

They are easy to train, well-mannered, and excellent house pets. They are great watch dogs but not aggressive. It's nice to have two of them, because they play together, although they do compete for attention and toys. The female sometimes puts the male "in his place" when he takes her toy. They are such characters! :)

[Tikki]

45. Tikki the Dawg is a Chi-Rat Terrier mix....

Even though she is getting older...she is still really cute.

Tikki

[dropkickpa]

47. I'm loving all the descriptions and pics!!

[IDemo]

49. Chesapeake Bay Retriever

A great companion, but I'm afraid the dementia may be creeping in with age. She has become intent on plucking every tomato, grape, cantaloupe, and pepper from the garden, and goes over, under and around wire fencing to do it.

She's got us trained to open the sliding door when she rings a small wind chime on the coffee table with her nose.

[driver8]

60. Wow -- she is beautiful!

Such a sweet face.

[RebelOne]

50. I have a Rottweiler and a Chihuahua.

Legend, my Rottie, is the best dog ever. She is intelligent and very easy to train. Unfortunately, she turned 11 years old Sept. 15 and is nearing the end of her lifespan.

Honey Bear, my Chihuahua, is a wild child. She is only 6 months old and so hyper. Right now, she is at Man's Best Friend for 2 weeks being trained. I can't get her to stay still long enough to teach her anything. So, I thought I would leave it to the experts.

[lady raven]

53. We have a border collie/ Australian Shepherd mix

He's pretty smart, though sometimes he doesn't appear to have much common sense.
He is super friendly- To the point that we warn people of being licked to death or affectionately pushed over.
His is one of the most loving dogs I've ever seen.

He is 7 years old and acts like a puppy- boundless energy.

[chknltl]

54. Elderly female Pit Bull

Her name is Karma, she is 11.

1. She seems smart. Not sure how to rate a dog's IQ-she is not a trained guide dog but she knows enough to pay attention when it is important to do so. I can get her to stop if I think she is about to charge off and she does well on a leash-I confess I could be stricter with the training but she is elderly and I am not a strict kind of person.

2. She is quite friendly with strangers but especially friendly with those she knows. When it comes to other dogs though I have to be on guard. She is quite friendly with dogs we know BUT I keep an eye on her even then just in case. Around dogs we don't know I don't take any chances-I am in control of her during such encounters. Pit Bulls are a powerful breed, I got Karma after she was already quite mature. She had a few bad habits I needed to keep in control over. Fence fighting used to be one such. Encountering loose dogs forces me into the position of protecting BOTH dogs from each other, I am not adept at it but so far nobody has gotten nipped during such an encounter-(he says while knocking on wood)

3. I am the typical dog owner, Karma is part of my family. Affection is more of a one-way street though but she is addicted to tummy rubs and has been known to distract me away from whatever else I am doing for one. My step kid has a female Pitt Bull named Pepperoni. Now THAT dog is the ambassador of affection. She is constantly going up to folks and giving them friendly head-butts and licks. She enjoys a good tummy rub too. When she was still a pup, she used to sneak out of the yard and go find a neighbor. She would go up to the neighbor, head-butt him or her enough to catch their attention then she would roll over on her back exposing a pink tummy in need of rubbing. She likes to eat pears too. She could stay occupied under our pear tree for hours at this time of the year. All of our neighbors loved Pepperoni but my step kid has moved to California taking the 'dizzel' (his nickname for her) with him. She is now spreadin' the love around a neighborhood in Palo Alto. (Gonna have to call him and make him buy her a nice pear!)

I've been around a half a dozen or so Pit Bulls over the years. They were each fun to be around, quite loyal and loving of their families. They ARE a powerful breed of dog though. I'd recommend a good understanding of the teachings of Cesar Millan to anyone considering getting a pitt-bull for the first time. http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/

[Neshanic]

55. Bull Mastiff. Not sure about intelligence, I think he plays dumb...

and I am the patsy. This is just a theory though.

Loves EVERYONE, but just stands there and then tuns his butt on them so they can scratch the top of it. Loves little dogs, HATES Boxers and Poodles.

Extremely affectionate, loves to be cuddled and have his face mushed by strangers.

[Rhythm]

56. Our Goldie loves everybody, and you're next!

Toby is a 3 1/2 yr old unneutered (but not for long) male purebred Golden Retriever.
He's smart, and has a knack for communication with us. He doesn't speak english, but he understands enough of our idle conversation to know when he's being talked about, even if we don't slip into that "talking to Toby" tone of voice, and 'talks back' in gestures and an assortment of non-barking noises that make up quite a vocabulary.

He barks... at people walking by, other dogs, and the family felines. He does this while 'smiling' and wagging that big, fluffy flag of a tail, though, so i interpret his noise as more of a 'hello' than any sort of aggressive or territorial posturing. After the barking is over, he expects visitors to pet or at least scratch him behind the ears, and is actively playful with the neighborhood children.

The cats often sleep on top of his 4'x6'x4' crate with their paws and tails dangling in, and he rubs up against them as a sort of self-petting thing.

Like i said, he loves EVERYBODY... especially if you have a treat for him. Then, he'll sit up straight and listen intently to everything you say, then eventually roll on his back and expect a tummy rub.

I love this dog... here he is when he was just a big-eared pup:


That cute little thing turned into a four-footed Chewbacca. *L*

[DBoon]

58. one pure pitbull and one pitbull/lab

pitbull/lab (now 14 yrs old) - Lucky

1. Average intelligence
2. Very people friendly, dog agressive and dominant
3. Subtly affectionate




Pure pitbull (3 yrs old) - Smokey

1. Well..... probably average
2. Very, very people friendly, either friendly or guarded with other dogs, submissive
3. A total love sponge

[Tommy_Carcetti]

64. Yorkshire Terrier-Poodle mix.

And I absolutely refuse to call him a "Yorkiepoo." That's just lame sounding.

My 8 month old loves the little guy--she giggles whenever she sees him. For that reason, I love him too. However, I do have to wonder if he even cares for me all that much. He loves my wife, but can be passive-agressive towards me at times.

Intelligence? Ehh--I think he's got more Yorkie in his brain than Poodle.
Friendliness to dogs/strangers--He's not agressive, but he obviously doesn't seem to like newcomers all that well. When someone comes to visit he'll bark at them for about a half hour straight.
Affection--He's affectionate, but high strung. Not a lap dog. He's more like an eternal puppy.

[Critters2]

65. I'm on my second beagle.

As to intelligence, well, she's no border collie. She has earned her canine good citizen certificate and a novice title in rally obedience. But regular obedience--where she's across the room from me while I give commands--that she just does not get. She come to me and then does what I ask. We've tried agility, too. That was just a comedy of errors!!

She's REALLY friendly with people! She's sure that human beings were created for the purpose of petting her, and she lets 'em! Never met a person she didn't like.

Somewhat less friendly with dogs. She barks and acts a bit aggressive, or so it seems to those who don't know her. But once she gets to sniff the other dog's butt, she's fine. She couldn't have gone to weekly obedience classes for so long if she weren't good around dogs.

She's less affectionate than my first dog, who was a cocker made of velcro :). And less so than my first beagle as well. She's quite independent. Not really a cuddler, but I know she loves me. She's always glad to see me at the end of the day, and likes me to just sit next to her on the porch steps in the evening. Not cuddling, just quietly sitting together.

There are reasons to not get a beagle. They're stubborn, and, as I say, not terribly bright. But a healthy beagle won't have an aggressive bone in her body, and can be trusted around kids, seniors, anyone. That's why they make good parsonage dogs.

[Footay]

67. Subject: These are my boys on the way home from the groomer

They are smart, well-behaved when they want to be, and are uber-friendly to people. Jacomo (on the right) has a very aggressive bark with other dogs (he scared a big lab last week in doggy school) but is the most mild-mannered, laid back dog. Simon (on the left) seems like he's on crack 23.5 hours a day. They are both supper affectionate.

Edited because I forgot to tell you they are both Pekingese.

<a href="" target="_blank"><img src="" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[lukasahero]

79. Welcome to DU!

Your dogs are cuties!

I can one-up your "my Pekingese scared a big Lab" with a "my 32 lb mix reprimanded a Pit Bull who was getting too bossy"! Seems someone forgot to tell the little dogs they're little. :)

[Lyric]

69. A beautiful Golden Retriever

Toby, a.k.a Puppysaurus Rex.

He is VERY intelligent--he understands a lot of English words, and learns new things at an amazing rate.

He's extremely friendly with people he's been "introduced" to, he barks at strangers (at least until they talk to him/offer him a Slim Jim, at which point he'd hand over the non-existent family silver,) and he doesn't like dogs that are smaller than him. He's not openly aggressive with little dogs, but it's like he thinks they're deformed toys, rather than dogs. He loves cats, though.

As for affection--omg. He'd spend his days and night in our laps if we could handle the weight! He's absolutely devoted to his family, including the cats.

[mvd]

70. My last dog Reba wouldn't fit on my lap, she was so big

She was very affectionate and licked a LOT, but she wasn't crazy about cuddling. Gordon might actually like cuddling more. Affection comes in different forms. :-)

[old mark]

71. Doberman/Great Dane

115 pound 8 year old puppy. He is the smartest animal I have ever met, and he is very goofy at the same time. He is a real sweeh heart, except he wants to run the house.

He is a great alarm system, and he is scarey to see, but he is just a puppy at heart. He loves to cuddle. He is a bed hog.

mark

[TheCentepedeShoes]

72. Standard poodle

Thing is smarter than I am. Can be somewhat independent but he generally minds. And mr 'pede is retired so he's never been left home alone much, so is very much a Mommie and Daddy's boy.
Across-the-street neighbor guy has a very sweet springer spaniel. But she just won't mind, almost got HBC the other evening. We used to let Raven play with her in the front yard, but not anymore, unless Raven is on his leash. If she darts across the street, he would try to follow, and if mr 'pede and the neighbor are talking and not paying attention....
Raven just had his dinner and is now in here stomping his feet to be let out to pee.

[SallyMander]

73. Two pure-bred mutts!

:D

Elmo (the lighter one) is (we think!) a Wheaten terrier mix. Simon is supposedly dachshund/schnauzer... :shrug:

Elmo is super smart, but "independent" - he is MY boy, and a little more standoffish with everyone else. Simon is a bundle of energetic love - he has never met a person or dog that he didn't ADORE! - but he is not the brightest bulb. :rofl:




They were our ringbearers! :D

[YellowRubberDuckie]

74. Miss Prudence is a Dachshund.

She is way too smart for her own good.
She likes to watch other dogs and strangers, but she doesn't want them touching her.
She loves to giving kisses. She also leans into me when I kiss her. I swear, last night she gave me a ton of kisses, then I scratched her belly. It must have been so good, BOTH legs were shaking.
Duckie

[Arkansas Granny]

77. My favorite breed is mutt. The little mutt I have right now is as intelligent,

friendly and affectionate as any dog I have ever owned. I think she may be some sort of spitz/terrier mix, but since I never saw either of her parents it's total guesswork. She has a thick, straight, medium length white coat and pale blue eyes. I'm sorry I don't have a picture to upload, she's a real cutie.

She has literally never met a stranger and has never shown even the slightest bit of aggression toward a human and gets along well with other dogs and cats. She absolutely adores children.

[foxfeet]

84. Two cairn terriers and a big, honkin' St. Bernard mix

Our two cairns, Toby and Hazel, are both smart as whips, but stubborn as hell (typical cairn traits). They are great watchdogs-- I make it a point to be the alpha when it comes to keeping a lid on the barking. They don't like other dogs or people on the other side of our fence, but if I allow the dog or person into the yard, they love to play and rassle. They both love people and are very affectionate. Toby looks just like Toto in the Wizard of Oz. He was a pet store puppy who got farmed out to a horse ranch because his new owner "didn't have time for him." At the horse ranch, he loved being around the horses and big dogs, but got kicked and stepped on so often the people were afraid he would get killed. So we got him. Hazel's mom was a puppy mill rescue and arrived from Missouri already pregnant. The foster mom did a great job of caring for the litter and we adopted Hazel (who's a wheaten brindle) through the Colonel Potter Cairn Terrier Rescue Network-- great folks, doing great work (google 'em). Stella, our big dog, was dumped into our fenced yard late at night on 1/2/00. She still had her puppy teeth. We heard her crying, so I went out and brought her in. She was scared and confused, not understanding what was going on. We kept her. As she grew, she was convinced she was a cairn (we had two other cairns, Angus and Mamie, both now deceased) and would try to perch on the back of the sofa like the little dogs did. She is bright, incredibly sweet and eager to please. She loves people and little dogs. She starting to slow down a bit here at age 9. The only complaint with Stella is that she sheds to beat the band, unlike the cairns. I wouldn't trade any of them.

[bluedigger]

86. Catahoula Leopard mix

I just reentered the dog-owner category after a twenty-five year hiatus, so I may not be the best judge of dogs...

Intelligence? Smart, stubborn, but eager to please.

Friendliness? All dogs are her friends and potential playmates until proven otherwise. People she is a little more aloof with, but I have no doubt she would run off with gypsies at the drop of a hat.

Affection? Not a lap dog, but sleeps with me.





(oh yeah, she can fly, too)

[erinlough]

87. Zoey and Mitzy are litter mates and sisters

They come from a long haired chihuahua and a pom/terrier mix. They are intelligent enough to make me jump when they want anything, Mitzy is very friendly with other dogs, Zoey is smaller and very careful around other dogs. Both dogs are great with cats, our cats are about the same size as Zoey. They are my constant partners and are my bed mates.