What is your preference?

[gaddylovesdogs]

I'm a medium/large dog type of person. Small dogs are okay, but I can't help looking at large dogs as more "doggy". I love to rough house with my galz and that wouldn't be possible with a smaller dog.

[Ritz459]

I love my big dogs!! I always hope to have a large dog in my life, and I'm hoping to go the the most extreame largeness and get a Mastiff later in life. (Hopefully a Neo.)
But I also like some small dogs, and I wouldn't hesitate to get one. So while I prefer large dogs to small dogs (if I went out to look for a dog, I'd be looking for a large dog, not a small one), but if there is ever a time when I couldn't have a large dog, I would love to get a small one. The small dogs may be small, but they are mighty.

[My4Dogs]

I have five large dogs, two of them at 100#. I have always loved large dogs. I think it goes back to my childhood, when I always wanted a horse so bad. (And if we had the room, I would have a horse today).

But I would never say I won't someday adopt a small dog. I have seen some little guys I could bring home and love just as much as my big ones.

[oc_spirit]

I love big dogs. I like something that I can rough up without fearing about breaking them LOL None the less if it came to be that I were to take in a small dog I would love it just as much as my big guys.

[RedHotDobe]

I really like the larger breeds. Larger meaning over 50lbs, I suppose. There are some little toy breeds that I love. I'm just not sure I could ever own one. Maybe someday, but the big dogs always come first for me.

[Novel]

Originally Posted by Carrie

Well, probably that's because you were looking at sighthounds.

You're right. I've always felt Dane's are pretty aloof too. The Newfie's I know are companionable, but, forgive me Newfie owners, a little slow. Plus, I'll be honest, I couldn't deal with that slobber. I give and receive way too many kisses from my puppers to deal well with the goobers. Not to mention the fur factor. I love to groom, and have thought about taking it up again, but, it has to be different dogs all the time, or I get terribly bored. If I had a dog of my own that needed daily brushing I would go crazy.
Thank goodness there are so many breeds that I can find that exactly right dog for me. The other dogs my hubby and I tossed around before we decided on Weims were Dobes, Pharoah Hounds, Greyhounds, Vizslas, and German Shorthairs.
Now that we've had dogs for a few years together, we've changed a bit, and in the future I could definitely see us getting a Dobe. My hubby just loves the ones he meets at the shows. We have a Boxer, and if my heart doesn't break completely when we lose Alley, we'll get another one. After watching Eukanuba Nationals, I really really want a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (but for the grooming). The one in my NAVHDA class is amazing!
With Topper being 27.5" at the shoulder, I have found I really like that height. Sure, I can only fit three crates in the van. I am always so envious at the shows of the person that drives up with a Metro and unloads her 3 Shih Tzus... LOL! I, in turn, traded in my Firebird and bought a van, something I said I would never do, to accomodate my dogs. I actually love the van, and will buy another after this one is done.
I think with the IW, it's the focus away from me that I find I don't care for. They are focused on their job a little too much. We found it to be the same with GSH and Vizslas. Again, Weims are on one end of the spectrum, the opposite that of aloof. I don't know if you could find a breed as a whole, other than perhaps a toy breed, that wants to spend more time with you, every second, every moment. I love it!!

[Giny]

Wow, is the scale tilting much? “lol”
I did say that I prefer little dogs, which in some way I do but I wouldn’t mind having a lager dog at a later time. I’ve always loved to have Standard Poodle or Greyhound and someday maybe I will share my life with one or two. For now with a dog under 4 pounds who thinks she’s 100 lb I think its best, at least for her, that I stick with smaller dogs.

[Carrie]

I think with the IW, it's the focus away from me that I find I don't care for. They are focused on their job a little too much.

I hear ya. That's why, as much as I like hounds' dispositions....they're sweet, and most are so good looking.... they don't need us so much to do their job. I like a dog who is a little more dependent and bred to work along side his master. That's what I LOVE about the Doberman. They are sooooooooo into their owners, constantly watching and alert, wondering what you're thinking, (LOL) and just waiting for your next request. They have this inherent need to answer your every wish....obedience stars. They take to obedience training like a fish to water. They do have their distractable moments and their "creative" ways of doing things, but you just have to get creative too. They sometimes tell you that they have a better way. They're always thinking....I swear. And so intelligent and quick on the trigger. They are not apt to run off, at least Lyric doesn't. He will go a little ways when on an off leash walk, but not more than a couple hundred feet and only if he can see me. He keeps coming back to "check in" and doesn't dream of leaving me or getting way out of sight. The other day, he went ahead and was behind a huge snow drift. I could see only his ears and his eyes looking over the top, seeing if I was coming along or not...."hurry up Mom." LOL. He looked so funny.

Wow! 27-1/2". He's way up there. I didn't realize. That's the ideal height for a Doberman male. (28 being the max they should be) Lyric is a tad on the tall side at I think (last time I measured) 29".

I'm not into grooming on a daily basis either, but do admire dogs with gorgeous, luxurious coats.

But I do like Poodles, large and small. I just love intelligent dogs who are bred to work closely with their humans.

And Chihuahuas....that's all they were bred for, working as companions.....lap dogs. They're very good at that. LOL. They're pretty much as velcro as my Doberman.

[AlaskanKristen]

I'll always have a large dog around, but since I got Jacques I've fallen in love with the Bichon. I'll probably keep a Bichon around as my mascot .

[Novel]

I think for us a Doberman would be a wonderful compromise between a Boxer and a Weim. Alley cracks me up because she is never serious about anything, ever! Even when we used to work on her ScH training, that was just so much fun! Obedience is more of a comedy routine than anything, but she's great because sometimes I do like to be a dog that is not staring at me trying to read my mind, like the Weims.
I was over at my lab friends and she commented that Topper stares at me so intently. Oh, yeah, I know, I say. She says my labs would never care that much about where I am or where I'm going. They'd care, just not that much... I have to laugh. It's true. I haven't gone to the bathroom by myself, or even taken a shower alone in years. I've always got one dog head or another pushing open the door, and forget about sitting on the couch by yourself. If I ever get arthritis, it's because the dogs have caused such poor circulation in all my extremeties!! LOL!
Today I was on the floor with all of them and I had a four dog pile on my legs, and then here come Storm, the cat. Since she could care less about the dogs, she walks over them so she can sit on my chest, which is where she is now. I'm sure it was quite the sight, especially since Laney and Topper compete to get closer to me, which usually ends in me gasping for breath because they're straining to get an inch closer to me, pressing against my chest. But, I wouldn't trade their antics for anything.
The thing with Dobes is I know of two Weim breeders that also have Dobes. In fact Jazz's breeder co-owns one of the top Dobes in the US. I think they have many similarities, not only in structure, but personality too.

[Carrie]

They definitely do sound similar. That watching you, the extremities going numb. LOL. I can relate. Lyric can take up 2/3 of my couch and I'm all scrunched up trying to get comfortable. I don't want to sit up straight on the one cushion that's left. I want to lie down. So sometimes I put my legs on top of him, his head, his side....wherever I can. I think that's what's made him so tolerant of everything and why he isn't bothered by being awaken at all. It's in his subconscious that I'm all over him. (another thread where someone's dog was biting when startled awake) Lyric has learned "turn around." That's when I'm so numb I can't stand it anymore and if he gets up, turns and faces the other way, he curls up more so he's the scrunched one and I have more room. LOL.

I didn't realize that Weims were so dependent or whatever it is, like the Dobe....where they want to be by you every second practically. So, you probably would love a Dobe. And that humor. I've had a lot of different dogs and I've never seen such a dork. That's the best way to describe Lyric. He's a dork....clownish....always figuring out something to make me laugh.

Well, I think Weims are gorgeous and I am suprised to hear about some of their ways which are like a Doberman. Are they suspicious at all of strangers? I know one Weim around her and she knows me from puppy hood, but is quite quiet and seems a little distant, but sweet. She was such a wild pup, is a little younger than Lyric and has really settled down. She's not into playing with Lyric. He gets too rough and it kind of freaks her out.

Well, I love hearing about different breeds and what everyones' preference is. To me, just about any dog would do. LOL. Maybe not the big ferocious breeds though. ROFLOL. (Like those Filas)

[Novel]

Originally Posted by Carrie

Well, I think Weims are gorgeous and I am suprised to hear about some of their ways which are like a Doberman. Are they suspicious at all of strangers?

It depends... The old German breeding meant for them to be able to get a ScH I, but alot of that has been bred out of them, unfortunately. There are still some ScH Weims out there, but they're definitely of the same lines that our current top show dogs or field dogs are from.
If someone drives up to the house, they all let loose. Topper has a big resounding bark, and I know once at a show he scared the heck out of a little kid, because a Boxer was barking at him and he decided to bark back. Startled that poor kid... They've got lots of chest to get those barks BIG!! LOL! They always want to get to the door in front of me and see who's here. I would put them at about the same initial suspicion level as Alley (Boxer) but, they are much more accepting after that. Meet somebody, lots of sniffing, 10 minutes later sleeping in your lap, even if you don't want them there. Alley is alert as long as someone is in the house she doesn't know. The others are back to normal, no big deal, look at our new friend... LOL! Except they have met people they don't like. I take their word for it, and have rolled my window up in the past when their hackles go up as someone approaches the car. They know something...
Laney, who is a little different because of her poorer breeding, is the one that causes the UPS guy to leave packages outside of the fence!! She growls, and she barks her fool head off anytime she thinks someone is turning into our driveway. She's a baby once I introduce her to you, but she warms up too... Now if you're a dog, that's another story. It takes her twice or three times as long to get along with a new dog as it does a person. Jazz is still getting funny looks from her... She reminds me of an ol' hag, who hates everything.
And I think many breeds can build a strong bond, depending on the owner, but Weims are a breed that NEED that bond, or they go a little nutzoid. Weims left outside by unknowing owners usually have mental issues.
Would you consider Dobes a one person dog or family dog? Alley is def. a one person dog, the Weims listen just about as well to my husband, even though he does none of the training. They also accept the in-laws, friends etc. that come over. Alley will always prefer to be on my lap.

[Carrie]

Would you consider Dobes a one person dog or family dog? Alley is def. a one person dog, the Weims listen just about as well to my husband, even though he does none of the training. They also accept the in-laws, friends etc. that come over. Alley will always prefer to be on my lap.

Dobes are generally thought of as family dogs. They too, must be with their family or person, not left outside alone...definitely inside dogs, very needy and just flat out are bred to stick with their person. Of course, they're going to obey better the person who spends the most time with them or trains them..their main leader. But they love everyone in the family and want to "take care" of everyone. Lyric absolutely is nutso about my daughter, Emily. She lives in Seattle and I, in Idaho. But we get together several times a year. If I even say Emily's name, all the dogs get all excited. He will listen to her and obey her.....and when I visit her apartment and she goes out of the room, he follows her and wants to watch her put her make up on or whatever. LOL. She can take him for a walk and he respects her. He tends to respect people in general. He just loves everybody he knows...loves my son also. And I see him less frequently than my daughter.

When he's indoors and a car drives up or someone knocks on the door, he barks quite menacingly. But when I open the door he stops and watches...not aggressive, just assesses things. When we're both outside and someone comes to the yard, he doesn't usually bark, maybe one or two woofs. Then he's just watching, paying attention. It's as though he's thinking to himself, "If I bark too much, I can't concentrate and figure this person out." LOL. When they're friendly and I'm friendly, he sniffs them and soon his little stubby tail wags, but he continues to keep an eye on them for another 15 minutes or so.

He has shown viciousness when someone entered my son's apartment in the middle of the night, uninvited. Having been asleep, we both sprang off the couch and he jumped in front of me and growled and barked viciously at this person. He didn't lunge or bite, just muscled up and barked with all his gnashing teeth.

Also, my neice came to take care of him one time when I was gone and her boyfriend came with her. Lyric didn't know the boyfriend and I wasn't home. He growled at the boyfriend very seriously, stood in one place. My niece told the bf to get out of the house now and wait in the car. So, apparently, he didn't go for having a strange man in the house when I wasn't there....didn't seem to get it that my niece thought it was OK or that my niece, not being his leader, even though he loves and trusts her, wasn't quite capable of making such a decision. He felt it his duty to take care of this situation. LOL.

[GreenleafGreyhound]

For some reason, I don't like medium sized dogs. I like the extremities on either side of the spectrum, which is why I own a Grey and a Peke. Generally, I like large dogs more than small dogs, but it's only because the vast majority of Toy dogs that I see are poorly bred and barely know the Basic 5 commands. Their owners are hardly better trained and compromise obedience with lavishing and luxury. It frustrates me to no end, and that has definitely turned me off from many many Toy breeds.

That said, I just like having the security of a large dog because, although this Grey wouldn't hurt a fly (maybe a fluffy, white dog or a bunny...), strangers don't know that and they are off-set by her size. She's pretty petite, standing at 26", but she's still pretty tall in comparison with the majority of other dogs. Plus, she has a long, slender neck which literally puts her a head above the rest Besides...I just like being able to walk my dog and not have to lean over to pet her head or pat her back.