Arf arf.

[Takara]

So, Woody and I are thinking of getting a dog. However, we're having a really difficult time deciding on a breed, and deciding what will fit best into our lives right now. We originally thought we'd get a small dog (Pug, French Bulldog, etc) so we would have the luxury of having a lap dog; but then toyed with the idea of getting a Great Dane. Yeah, so we're kinda not sure what to get. We've been up and down the list of breeds, studied their personalities and traits but are still stuck. We're not in a rush, but I'd like to find a dog in the next month or so. We're looking for a younger dog, not necessarily a Baby but someone under a year old.

So, I know most of y'all are pet lovers, so I thought I'd ask for suggestions on breeds. I'm not opposed to buying from a breeder as long as they are recommended by the AKC. I'm open likely to get dogs from rescue missions, Human societies and shelters.

Breeds we are leaning towards: Pug (http://www.akc.org/breeds/pug/index.cfm), French Bulldog (http://www.akc.org/breeds/french_bulldog/index.cfm), Great Dane (http://www.akc.org/breeds/great_dane/index.cfm), Basenji (http://www.akc.org/breeds/basenji/index.cfm), Ibizan (http://www.akc.org/breeds/ibizan_hound/index.cfm), Miniature Pinscher (http://www.akc.org/breeds/miniature_pinscher/index.cfm), Bonston Terrier (http://www.akc.org/breeds/boston_terrier/index.cfm)... Ok, there's really NOT a breed we aren't considering at this point, which is the problem we're having.

The kind of dog we want:
1) Intelligent - There's nothing worse than a stupid dog. I want to be able to have this dog at a park and not worry about them.
2) Trainable - Ok, this might be worse than a stupid dog, one you can't train. I fully expect to have to take them to obedience classes and puppy training but I'd like to be able to use commands, and feel safe about having this dog in the car with me, since we'll be going back and forth to my office every day.
3) Energetic - I want a running companion. But at the same time, since we don't have a huge yard, the dog can't be left outside to entertain itself. A hard combination.
4) Snuggly - There's something so comforting about laying on the couch with your dog while the fireplace is on and an old movie is playing.

Reasons to get this pooch:
1) Companionship.
-- I would like someone to take with me to work and keep me company. I sit at a desk in an office by my self 90% of the time.
-- I would like to be able to take this doggy running with me. Not for security or protection, but again for company. I don't usually run more than 3-4 miles at a time.
2) Entertainment.
-- There will be something so genuinely fun about watching this dog chase ED around the house, or.... depending on the dog, the Cat chasing the dog.

Where we will keep this pooch:
-- Since he/she will rarely be left alone, there will likely be little reason to have them in a crate save for if we have company over for a short time, a formal dinner, or will be out of the house for more than an hour (like going to a movie and dinner). Otherwise the dog will be either at work with me, or have mostly free run of the house.
-- There are about 5 parks within a mile of our house and we live just a stones throw from hiking trails and ponds.

So there you have it. 1 Dog Wanted - in a nutshell. I know we need to narrow down what we want (size wise), but a part of me just wants to head to the shelter and just pick one.

[Erling E.]

Personally I would love a pug. They're awsome. These little balls of pure muscle. Unfortunately, they are hard to come by in Norway. They even have waiting lists sometimes, and people have had to wait two years to get one. Crazy.

I've heard, though, that pugs can easily get some sort of breathing problems. Not sure about the details, but as far as I know, they are not the most resilient race when it comes to diseases and such.

But they are lovely.

[Whytewulf]

Very Imporatant Question.. and one you may not be able to answer, but will there be babies running around soon?

Doing research myself, some breeds are better then others when working around small children and depending on the space available. Example: Australian Sheperds like to herd children and with a big yard (which you said you don't have they will find other things to do, but without one, they would be herding you and the fam). A great Dane is an awesome pet, but usually not good around babies or small children, because of their size, even being nice, they can squish!

If you plan on bringing this animal to the office, Terrier's tend to be a bit louder than the other breeds listed, a bit energetic and "yappy".

The Basenji is an awesome dog.. but with a lack of a yard, they may become destructive, not prone to sitting in one place long. My friend has two and they are awesome and friendly, just never sitting still.

The big thing, is as far as my knowledge, you picked good dogs, but size will matter. I myself am looking at getting 2 dogs, and am determining if I wanna go with an alpha type or not. I will probbaly go with a Mastiff and/or Husky, but I am hoping to have the yard to support them.

[Mutton]

Basset Hound (http://www.akc.org/breeds/basset_hound/index.cfm?SEARCH_BUTTON.X=0\&SEARCH_BUTTON.Y=0)

1- I've never met a stupid Basset
2- Bassets are highly trainable and obedient
3- Great running companions, their short legs make it easy for you to keep up. When they are left alone, they sleep.
4- Snuggly: check

[Takara]

Nope. No babies. I stay away from the water.

And outside, they wont be unsupervised because of the small yard and low fence ... but that's what parks are for! I don't plan on leaving the dog unattended for periods longer than a few minutes. If the dog will be at home alone, they will be crated or in a kennel or with my parents.


--


If i'm not mistaken; Bassets bark. A lot. Not that barking is a bad thing. It's what dogs do... but I don't think I could take ALL that barking.

[Whytewulf]

With the no baby factor, you are wide open..

With the proper training, most dogs can deal with crating, but some better than others. Pugs are known to be very obedient in this case, but are being over-bred right now. I will try to find this article and link it about some of the problems they are running into.

Also check some of the rescue societies near you.. You may want a certain breed, but then a tour and the one catches your eye and then you know you found your new best friend. (Woody not included)

[Insomniac]

DON'T GET A MIN-PIN!!! Those things are like little imps....Extremely annoying, and they bark at leaves blowing by. Very high strung. Demand attention constantly.

If I were you, I'd get a mutt.

[Whytewulf]

Bassets are known to be barkers younger.... Funny but they are actually good protectors in the, I heard a sound department. Not that they ever would really threaten anyone. Look Ma, I could wrap this dog in his ears and hide him.

[Soria]

I'd have to go with Mutton with the Basset Hound. I would have said Dacshound, but mine is..well... not terribly bright or obident.

[Takara]

I've known a few people who've had Min pins, and yes, while they are high strung, it's really personality that determines the annoying factor. I've met some really laid back ones, too.

I've been to just about every rescue site near us, looking at dogs, too. There is a Pug Rescue in our state, and i've sent in an application... you just gotta wait.... and wait... and wait....

[Rifter]

I've got three small breeds myself: A bichon-maltese cross, a bichon-shi tzu cross, and a wire-haired dachshund.

They are all awesome pets.

It took no longer then 3 days to potty-train the dachshund. He's extremely intelligent, and can solve problems faster then any dog I've seen. He's always energetic (which is good, because it's really easy for them to develop back problems if they get overweight,) and he absolutely loves being cuddled. I'd recommend his type to anybody.

I suppose it really depends on your surroundings and where you live. I've always kind of been from the mindset that big dogs deserve lots of space, so for me personally, I wouldn't get one if you live in an apartment. They'll start to get stir crazy and rip it apart, (I've seen this happen on a number of occassions.) Although, by the sounds of it, you're planning on getting it lots of exercise and time outside, so that might not be the case.

My next suggestion would be to check out the animal rescue centers. I've adopted dogs from them in the past, and a good majority of the time, they turn into amazing companions. I had a terrier that I picked up from one awhile back that was initially withdrawn and seemed almost vicious in her cage. As soon as she got outside and saw the car in the parking lot, she turned into this little bundle of energy that began licking my face and hands. Once she got home, she ripped around my backyard at 100/mph, and was probably the most protective and loyal dog I've ever seen.

[Soria]

Dang... maybe its just my dachshund that's a bit slow.

[Takara]

We live in a townhouse, 3 story, very open floor plan. We have a deck, and a small fenced yard. There's a country club within 4 blocks and 2 parks within walking distance.

We live out near farms and lots of open space, almost the "sticks" you might say but still close to "stuff". About 7 miles East is town, 2 miles North is a farm with cows, 3 miles South is a farm with Buffalo, and 10 miles West are the flatirons and another 5, the Rocky Mountain National Park.

I'm sure a dog from a shelter and rescue would make a fine dog... I drive by and look in every day.. but so far, no dog has looked at me and I've said, "That's the dog." I guess that's what I'm waiting for.

I suppose any dog owner who's done the same would know what I'm talking about.

[Soria]

I totally agree. My dad was determined to get a dogon Father's Day two years ago. Must have gone to three different shelters/pet stores. My sister begs him to go him, but he insists on checking out the pet store in our local mall. ( The only pets store I know that always carries a certain breed of dog.)

Anyway, we headed into the back and boom! There he was. He kinda picked us, because he saw us and started to try to get at us.

[Rifter]

I like to think that it's the dog who finds the person, not the person who finds the dog. *Smile* Eventually you come across one that you just know is the dog.

The right one will come along! I belieeeve!

[lazuris]

I am a BIG mut fan, they're usually smarter, less likely to become ill, and have qualities (like long fur, puffy tails, etc) of both parents...just me. IF I were to go with a full breed though miniature rat terriers are nice. They're easy to train, energetic when you want them to be (mine just lays around until I start jumping or running around...and she's a pup), I had her potty trained faster then any other dog, doesn't chew on stuff (had a big problem with this from a yorkie...grr), runs with me, and she's already doing tricks, AND she's quiet. Best dog I've ever owned. Like most things in life though you can't judge a book by it's cover or in your case a dog by it's breed.

[Kallysti]

My boyfriend's folks have an Australian Cattle Dog (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y115/Kallysti/Random/100_0434.jpg). I've never seen a more intelligent, well trained breed. I swear there's cognitive thinking going on in her head sometimes. They do tend to be very stuck in routines once they settle in... like if you rearrange the furniture, CJ there will kinda freak for a bit (pacing, mostly), hehe. She's highly competitive, she's a "working" breed, too. But yeah... highly trainable, very smart. Highly entertaining as well... loves to play with frisbees and just run around playing. They're about 35-40lbs. or so... she's not huge but no way is she a lap dog, lol.

Besides that though... I'll have to go with mutts for my personal faves :)

[DeadThorn]

I'm partial to the Siberian Husky myself. They're very sweet dogs, extremely loyal and snuggly. So, if you're looking for a guard dog...Look else-where. While they have the appearance of a Guard Dog, they are VERY loveable.

Also, they were originally bred for Sled-Running, so I believe it should make for a good running companion.

Either that or a Shiba Inu, but I'm just partial to those dogs because of their tail...Its fun to play with x3

Also, great family dogs. No maulings with Huskies ^_^

They even got an offical site!
http://www.shca.org/index.shtml

[Kallysti]

Either that or a Shiba Inu
Shibas are VERY independent and next to impossible to train (not that you can't but it's tough). My mom has one, and he's a very sweet dog but he only listens when it suits him, lol.

Much, much <3 for Huskies, too.

[Ciarin]

dachsunds are my favourite.

[Swarfy]

Try a poodle.

1) They have a 500 word vocabulary, our poodle Dee Dee, already knows "outside, walk, grandma, grandpa, treats, no, go, and lay, down"... and those are a few.

2) Trainable, it took us two days and she already knew to let us know if she had to go outside (and if you get them as a pup, it's funny to watch them go outside with about an inch of snow on the ground, they do a "bunny hop")

3) Energetic, oh god, she could yank my grandma off the step (before we had my shi-Tzu here) she would hit the end of the leash and try to keep going, however if you teach them to "heel" they will stay beside you. Dee Dee knows that one too, we just don't use it very often; however she knows what it means when we use it.

4) Snuggly, poodles LOVE attention. The more attention the better, whether it's just petting them, playing with them, or smothering them with kisses and treats. And they love being around people. And when you want to sit down and cuddle they'll do that too, and have no problem with lying on your lap.

Or go for a shi-Tzu,
1) While they aren't as smart as poodles, they are quite intelligent. My Shi-Tzu Twinkie (whom is my avatar picture) knows all the words that our poodle does.

2) Trainable, YES, it took me about a week (my aunt couldn't stop her form doing the submissive peeing, so once we got her broke of that, she was fine) to get her fully house broken.

3) Energetic, she's a bundle of energy, and oh so CUTE. They love to play, they will run and chase a ball or toy all day if they can, and if they are sleeping and they are dreaming, the noise they make is funny. (Not sure if Twinkie is one in a few that does it, or not, but if she's really into her dream she'll "yip" makes me laugh whenever I hear it.)

4) Twinkie, will come up to me and jump on my lap, if I’m not doing anything I’ll sit back and she'll fall asleep on my lap, Shi-Tzu's are definately cuddle bugs. They keep you warm at night too. I know Twinkie kept my feet warm last night. :)

Good luck on your hunt for the perfect pooch. Hope you find one that will make you happy. :)

[Coffee]

Well, if I were after a particular breed, well, I like deerhounds (http://www.akc.org/breeds/scottish_deerhound/index.cfm), but actually I find mutts tend to be healthier and smarter...fewer in=breeding issues.

I've never had a stupid pound-puppy. Ever.

[Shadowthorne]

The newfoundland My favourite a good dog all around. or a lab retriever . I had a combo when i was a kid awesome dog friendly smart good all around read up on em.


Shadow

[Lirren]

I'm all for the shepherd mixes. We had a dog that was part german shepherd, part chow and part wolf. And he was the best friend I'd ever had. He adored me. He adored my husband. He was incredibly gentle with our baby, and all my nieces and nephews. And he saved my life once. We had him for 12 years before he finally had a stroke and we had to put him to sleep because he was in so much pain.

[Da_Dude]

Get a Husky (http://ciarraide.org/images/humour/puppykiss.jpg)!! Huskies are so cool!

[togashi]

I agree with the notion of getting a mutt from the pound. They're usually healthier than purebreds, as well as having better personalities. As far as size, it's usually the average of the two parents. I'd look for a Lab mix, and generally avoid smaller ones. The little dogs of the world, especially purebreds, can be so freaking annoying. I spent over a year working in a pet store that lets pets in, and I've seen pretty much all breeds. Australian Cattle Dogs are really smart, but don't confuse them with Australian Shepherds. Totally different breeds. Stupidest dog by far is the Irish Setter. Smartest dog, and I mean evil smart, is the Jack Russell Terrier. Larger dogs are great with kids, smaller ones tend not to be. I could go on for hours, but I'll save you a long read.

[Reddlore]

I actually registered just to reply to this thread! Long time lurker!

I can't say enough about Boston Terriers. I've had them since I was a child and have had zero bad experiences.

They've all been intelligent and trainable with boundless energy. Affectionate and playful even as they mature.

I can't wait until I live somewhere that I can have one or two in my life again!



Reddlore
Newbie and Longtime Fan

[SilverCrescent]

I would recommend either a Minature Poodle (http://www.akc.org/breeds/poodle/index.cfm) or a pound puppy.

While living with my grandmother, we had a Miniature Poodle named Sage. He was so adorable and he was always right there for me when I got home. From the day we brought him home and showed him where his food and water was, I began to train him myself. No joke, within about 2 or so hours, he had basic commands down. He even knew how to fetch and I had never taught him how to. When we would go for walks or runs, he could easily keep up with me and if I stopped for a drink or to sit, he would just sit down and wait for me with a look of, "C'mon! Let's go momma!". He was such a great dog, however when I moved back with my parents, they had me give him back to my grandmother who gave him away.

Edit: In the entire time I had Sage, he never got sick...I had him for about 3 or so years and he was always healthy as a horse.

Edit: (*sigh* Yes, another thing I thought of, lol.) You don't really have to go for the foo-foo cut for the poodles. Sage in the time I had him was only cut like the stereotypical poodle once (he hated it and stared at my grandma with an evil look for about a week, hehe). What we ususally asked for was a "puppy cut". That is where they only trim the majority of the body hair short, instead of shaving it. They do, however, leave the hair on the head and tail somewhat long.

Also, I have had many animals from the pound and, to me, it seems like they become especially attached to the family (along with rescued animals, but that just sort of happens :)). But, it makes sense. To the dog or cat, you just saved them from a place where they did not want to be. They also, as said before, seem to be stronger towards disease.

It's sort of hard to say really, it's all up to you in the end. :wink:

[wiccalight]

how about a german sheaperd? they are very intelligent and are easly trainable and have the most adorable "pet me" look. When I was a kid there was always a german sheaperd around. they also make excelent guard dogs and are very protective over anyone they are close to. And are great around kids.

[Takara]

We are driving down to a rescue mission this weekend that's holding a pet fair at a PetCo to see about a puppy.

She's a Beagle/Aust. Cattle Dog mix. Mom was mostly beagle, Dad was the Cattle dog. We'll see how it goes. Young though, might be less than 3 months old.

Puppy potty training wouldn't be my favorite, but the pictures of her and her sisters have been adorable (http://weblogs.girlongames.com/girl/archives/doggy.jpg).

[Darth Lorax]

Well this might too late but if you decide to go with a big dog I love my Shiloh Shepherd, Cinder (http://web.tampabay.rr.com/jspinx/slides/Cinder.html) (think big German Shepherd). They are intelligent and very trainable. They have the personality of a lapdog even if they are too big to fit in your lap. They love to be around people. My dog has gotten along great with my daughter and my cat. He likes to play with the cat but has never hurt him. He loves to go outside and play. Indoors he never barks unless he needs to go out and you don’t notice him standing by the door then he’ll give one short bark. The only draw back is that he sheds lots of hair and needs to be brushed daily. As a puppy he chewed on stuff a lot but grew out it by the time he was one year old. He’s also afraid of thunder.

What ever you get I highly recommend crate training especially with larger dogs. The crate becomes their safe place and is life saver when you need to keep the dog out of the way. Some dogs can’t stand being shut in a room and pitch a fit if you do. The crate will calm them down when you put them in there. A good example: during thunder storms my dog will want to either sit in my lap or if I’m on the computer, under my desk. This can get annoying with a 100 lb dog. So when he gets like that I put him in the crate and he chills out.

You can get more breed info here http://www.shilohshepherd.com/ and here http://www.shilohshepherd.org/.

[Whytewulf]

Them are some cute dogs and a cute puppy.. good luck this weekend. Now I am jealous.. I want a dog, but am waiting till i get a house.

[Soria]

Awwww! That is a cute puppy!

[Fyrie]

We have a Keeshond and it's the best breed I've dealt with because they are all about being companions. For example, they warn you when getting one that you should get used to company everywhere - including when you go to the bathroom because they'll want to keep you company everywhere.

The one we got was a year old when we got him and we've found out he was severely abused as a pup, so he's nervous around males (which would have been nice to know with 3 boys and me in our house - so he's my dog). Still, he'll sit and watch tv with me, go to work with me, and he's happiest if he can - in fact he lets me use him as a pillow if I'm watching tv in bed at night.

Today they were showing on TV the newest hot thing in dogs being the 'Puggle" a cross between a pug and a beagle, they're supposed to be great but hard to get a hold of right now.

I would suggest that after you find a breed, look up the breed rescue sites on the internet or in your area. That way you get all the satisfaction of saving a pup like you would getting one from the pound but you can often get great dogs that might be just what you want. You just have to be a little more careful screening so you don't have to deal with more issues than you bargained for!

[Insomniac]

The best dogs I've ever interacted with have been Alaskan Malamutes. My brother owns several. They're incredibly intelligent, loyal to a fault, and they love children. Plus they don't have a lot of the breeding problems that other purebreds have. They are outside dogs, though. They do well inside, but they shed constantly. Hair everywhere.

This (http://www.ruhmannsalaskanmalamutes.com/images/lexus.female.581.mandala.jpg) is the new puppy they just got.

[Da_Dude]

Are those Malamutes a type of Husky? They look like it. I love them Huskies!

[Kallysti]

Aye, malmutes are sweet, all the ones I've met are very good natured... they're like Huskies squared, lol. MASSIVE. Their heads alone are bigger than most small breeds of dogs, hehe.

My b/f reminded me too, if you're getting a cattle dog (or a mix) make sure you have lots of room for them to run around (ie, not just an apartment), because if they're cooped up they'll get destructive. He also suggests any kind of shepherd for cuddliness, intelligence and trainability :)

[Takara]

Alaskan Malamutes aren't Huskies, but they are a snow/working dog. Used by Northern Natives as sled and carrying dogs. They don't bark, but talk. My family had a malamute as I was growing up. Such a fantastic dog. She'd howl when ambulances were within ear shot. It was hilarious.

OH MY LORD are the Puggles cute.. but I could never pay for a "designer dog" as it were and shell out $1,000.

[Da_Dude]

They don't bark, but talk.

Talk? Could you elaborate on that one please?

[Insomniac]

They make kind of.....not really growling....kind of low, moaning sounds to communicate. You can "talk" to them. They are awesome. :D You just have to make sure that the dog does not end up thinking it's the alpha. You have to have a strong personality for them to be able to "follow" instead of trying to lead.

[Kallysti]

Hehe, yeah, CJ (the one I pictured above), she'll talk to ya too. Kind of a moaning, grumbling "talk"... it's so cute :) (I assumed that's what Takara meant)

[Da_Dude]

Aww now I want one fo these guys too, they sound cool AND LOOK LIKE HUSKIES!

[Soria]

:: laughes:: I think Dude like Huskies... I love the puppies floppy ears.

[Trumble]

Might I suggest a:

"English (http://www.likalot.com/images/bonnie_puppies/lex4wks.jpg) Staffordshire (http://pages.prodigy.net/cellic/angelrock/06-06-05%20016.jpg) Bull (http://www.tebralmist.com/Sunny2.jpg) Terriers (http://members.tripod.com/~droplegs/Staffordshire_Bull_TerriersBRONSON.jpg)" are the most loving companions you could ask for. Buster is the gentelest, sweetest, smartest dog I have ever had, and he has so much character. Don't let the "bull" fool you. Be prepared to shell out some money and possibly a waiting list though, their are only a handfull of breeders in North America, as it is an English breed.

^Not to be confused with American (http://dogtownkennels.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/princess1.jpg) Bull Terriers (pitbulls) who are much larger, and have a bad (http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/j/r/jrh295/pittbull2.jpg) wrap. If raised with love they too can be gentler then a 16 year old teecup (http://www.wizardofclaws.com/puppy-names/U291F1IHNCBFUY.JPG) poodle, but not as sweet as their English counterparts, due to the fact that Pitbulls were bread for fighting, and Staffys were bread for sporting more then fighting. Of course no dog is born "evil" or agressive. I just find pitbulls, even when raised well, are more jumpy and aloof.

I also think staffys are very handsome dogs, this one is doing a impression of The Rock (http://hem.passagen.se/staffy/hardy2.jpg)

-Hardly Shed
-Love the outdoors
-Can double as a watch dog, although their more likely to lick a burglar then bark at one, but a visual deterant none the less.
-Great inside, love to cuddle and be with family
-Known as the "nanny" dog because of their love for children, some dogs can't adapt to small children, but this breed is world renowned for it.

Many breeders will have American Staddordshire Terriers, and tell you it is an English Staffy. The American dog will end up much larger. Make sure to go through the AKC or something similar to find regeistered breeders, pedigree is important in this breed, as many offical breeders breed for temperment. Which is important in any bull terrier breed.

Staffys are very enegetic, long runs are no problem for them, they will love you for it. They love to snuggle, are very adaptatble (a yard is a must though, it can be very small, but they need to be able to go outside, they love the outdoors, even if it's just a smal bush, they will make friends with your shrubs. One thing though, you shouldn't run with one if it is very hot. They do not do well excersing in high temperatures, they can not cool themselves off as well as other dogs. If hes in a yard and it's hot, make sure he/she has shade and a little pool of water to lay in. They can actualy die quite unexpectadly if they overheat and are not helped.

Puppy classes are very important as with all dogs, they need early socialization with other animals and other humans, when he/shes a puppy, take him/her EVERYWHERE with you, the more encounters with other forms of life, the better. You might end up with a cat snuggler rather then a cat chaser if your not carefull though.

They have average inteligence as far as the "list" goes, but my staffy is very obideint. He will go running after a squirel at a park, and abondon the chase immediatly if called. But more importantly, his character is very strong, and will make you laugh just looking at you. You can not drag him anywhere, if your going somewhere, he needs to be asked, and if he agrees, off you go! Realy though, calling works, but dragging is impossible. Aristocratic in a nutshell.

They are a medium/small dog with the strength of king kong, standing only about 1 foot at the shoulder. So great for smaller homes. When they are puppies they are all mouth though, so lots of studry chew toys are a must. They are incredibly cute puppies, and watching them grow into an adult is fascinating. They start as a little furball, morph into a funny little guy with floppy ears, and end up looking like k9 royalty.

Not many people know about this breed here in America, and confuse it with larger bull terriers. You will run into people crossing the street to avoid you while you are running with him/her, to get a puzzled look from your staffy "what did I do?" It is a very very popular breed in other countries though, and as such, is a novelty here. When you meet someone that says, "my cousin has one and it's mean", they are confused as to the specific breed. Even many pet-stores will not know the difference, although when compared visualy it is very clear.

Detailed info: http://www.akc.org/breeds/staffordshire_bull_terrier/index.cfm

A dog is a hard choice, the urge is always to rescue an animal from a shelter, but you have to realize that this will be your friend for 10-15 years, so it's a big choice. And you also have to think what life may be like in 5 years, or in 10 years. If you do run alot with him/her consider entering a few local pet shows (I never have), it's a good way to socialize your dog, and a healthy looking staffy usualy gets the gold =)


Anyway, goodluck!

[Soria]

Awww I like the Staffordshire puppy... so cute!

[Takara]

Welcome Shelby into the family!

Zzzzzzz, Asleep on the way home. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlongames/60136094/)
Getting comfortable (http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlongames/60149886/)
This is the life (http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlongames/60150626/)

She is 9 weeks old. Born September 3rd. Mom was Beagle, Dad was Australian Cattle Dog/Blue Heeler. She has the floppy beagle ears and the round butt beagle waddle, but everything else is VERY Cattle Dog.

So far she's had a delightful time chasing ED around the house, and herding me when outside tinkling. She's not yet housebroken, but that shouldn't take long considering how amazingly smart she is.

She already knows sit and that her crate is a place of happiness and treats. She's a total sweetheart and I could not be happier.

Squee.

[Trumble]

Congratulations! 8)

[Soria]

Aww she's a sweetie.

[Kallysti]

Aww, she's a sweetie! Congrats :)

[DeadThorn]

Kewt lil' guy...

[Takara]

Here are some more photos.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlongames/sets/1311574/ Ignore the hideous curtains (they came with the place), we're still in the process of redecorating the new house.

[Soria]

Awww... She looks very comfortable.

[Takara]

Don't let that fool you. She's a terror, too.

But they're most adorable when they're sleeping... just like children!

[Reddlore]

She's beautiful!

Congratulations on the new puppy! The poor kitty looks absolutley green-eyed with jealousy!

May you have a long and happy life with her!!

Reddlore