What was it that made you decide?

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

With so many wonderful breeds and mixes to choose from I'm always curious what it was that made someone decide on their particular dog. What exactly was it that made you decide on your breed? Was it by chance, a certain quality the breed has or for a certain purpose such as working, tracking or field?

[gaddylovesdogs]

My first dog I got from a shelter as a pup. She was chosen because she was (and still is!) a gorgeous sweetheart.

My second is a Lab. We couldn't bear to know that she would be put down, the sweet soul, so we adopted her.

My third dog was originally going to go to friends, but they didn't want her, so we kept her.

[Rip's Girl]

I chose the Papillon because I wanted a small dog, but we didn't want a breed that was a "lap dog". We wanted a large dog in a smaller body.

I chose the Border Collie because I wanted an intense, focused workaholic that could do and enjoy a wide variety of jobs.

[Pharlane]

I choose Australian Shepherd because I needed something that would move Brahma cattle.
I only wanted one but the say is true you can't just have one aussie.....

[ChiChi]

well my sheltie was by chance... we had been looking for a small, non fru fru dog, that could rough house but that was clam too, we were at first going to get a Tibetan Spaniel, or Pappillon but then we looked in the paper. We saw an ad for Brody went to see him then brought him home on the same day! We love him very much!

[Pugdawg1]

The Look of the pug is what first got my attention. Then an old ex boyfriend gave me a puppy for christmas (yes, I know, bad thing. But in MY case, a very good thing). That pug charmed me with her personality, her jovial little puggly sense of humour. She was a perfect house dog, a great lap dog, and my best buddy. She gave me a huge love for the breed that will always be with me. She has been dead for 3 years next month.. although I don't have her anymore, I have others, thanks to her "pugging" me. I now have 3 pugs, 2 of which are rescues, and one from a breeder.. I am pretty certain that all future pugs will also be rescues. So that's the basics. I've been pugged, and it seems to be a pretty permanent thing. Fine by me

[GreenleafGreyhound]

What first drew me to Greyhounds were their streamlined look. I know it's a little naive, but I thought they were the coolest-looking dogs in the world!!! Everything seemed to fit. Couch potato inside---runnin' fool outside. Verrry little shedding, easygoing temperaments, gentle, and the majority are just big hunks of love. So then I started researching into AKC and NGA hounds, and I really didn't like the look of the AKC hound, nor was it easy to find a breeder. So I was hooked onto the retired racing Greyhound.

Lucky...Stroke of luck...(no pun intended, but that would be a cool registered name )

[Carrie]

I like so many breeds that it was hard to come to descisions. I love GSDs but don't want the hair that I remember vacuuming. LOL. I love things about dogs that are contridictions. ie: I love the laid back, quietness of my Lab. I love the perky, spirit of my Chi's and Doberman. The Labrador makes such a great pal, is willing and easy to train. She's a little more independent than my other dogs. But I guess the best adjective for her is just plain sweet. I like the looks.....the utilitarian look, plainness, strength and sturdiness.

The Chi's I wanted because I never had a tiny dog before and I wanted a lap dog and if I was going to go small, I was going to go really small. LOL. They are so into their owner and so full of personality and NOT hyper....not mine anyway. They are so happy to cuddle quietly on laps and can be ready to play at a moments notice.

The Doberman, I was initially attracted to their looks.....alert, sleek, muscular and very handsome. When I read about them and even knew a few, I liked their spirit and perkiness. The Dobe is similar to my Chi's that way. The Doberman reminds me of an Arabian horse which I had. They are atheletic, spirited, alert and even have similar action in their gaits. They are both extremely into their people. The Doberman is very, very velcro, terribly affectionate and loyal.

I love the atheletisism for doing fun things like hiking and agility. The intelligence is uncanny and extreme. I love that in a dog. I love the fearlessness and bravery in my Dobe. He can be so serious one minute and an absolute goof ball clown the rest of the time. I love the major sense of humor in Lyric...he flat out cracks me up all day long.

[Carrie]

OK Sourmug Mom...your turn. LOL.

My goodness but I can go on and on. A-h-h-h-h...

[Coldnose]

We didn't choose Fiona so much as she was chosen for us. We went to the animal shelter, thinking we would get a lab or a golden retriever, but somehow wound up coming home with a boxer st. bernard mix. LOL It just felt right when the volunteer brought her out to meet us. Don't know how else to explain it. We said we were looking for a dog that was not too young but not too old and was good with children. Instantly the volunteer said, "I have the perfect dog for you. Let me go get her." And once we saw Fiona, we instantly fell in love with her. What broke my heart though is that as we were getting ready to leave the shelter, a little girl started crying, because we had just adopted the dog they were going to get.

[ralphie]

I love boxers and my girl friend didn't really want 1 so she found a Valley Bull on the net.Iread up on them and thought they would be a great dog for the family.And Nova Scotia is where they came from and I live here,so we got 1 He is a great little pup!!Part boxer part English Bull dog.They have been bred like this for 60 years or more!!

[IceyBlueSibes]

We... well *I first chose Sarge because I just totally fell in love with him. He is such a big baby, and is lovey, and he is also a great protector, and I feel very safe with him when my boyfriend isn't around. So, Sarge, was just all out his personality!

Sheiba (Siberian husky) we got because we had just lost our GR/Chow mix, and it was just too empty without a little girl around! Of course, one dog can never replace another, but we felt we needed another girl. So we came across Sheiba from a young couple that could no longer care for her. My dad had been wanting a Sibe ever since he was little, and we fell in love with her instantly! She was such a sweetheart, and so funny! She has THE best personality, she's a lovey dovey miss priss, with quite the sense of humor, and very playful! So we wanted another!

That's where Denali came in... an older couple felt they couldn't take care of a big dog, and wanted to give her a good home. My mom brought her home as a surprise, and what a clown! She's been so goofy since day one, and can be lovey when she wants to. She's not as much as a, I want you to pet me kinda girl, but she still can be a lap dog...

I have fallen in love with the Siberian... their personality, their willingness to please, hard workers, and just wonderful spirits. They are truly angels...

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

Originally Posted by Carrie

OK Sourmug Mom...your turn. LOL.

My goodness but I can go on and on. A-h-h-h-h...

What made me decide?

Well, I've always been a HUGE fan of bulldogs.....when I was about 7 years old a neighbor had a bully named Tank, Tank would sit and wait for me every morning when I walked to school and was there every afternoon when I walked home waiting to see what leftover lunch I had. LOL I always saved something for my bully buddy. I've just always loved their snorts, snores, their heavy boning and over all strong appearence but yet gentle as a lamb makeup. Their comedic little ways and how their so very much like small children.

Tank was my first bully love, then some years later while working as a vet tech a woman brought in a very young bully pup who's mother had died, the vet didn't have time to care for the pup 24 hours a day and the woman had no idea what to do. I offered to raise the pup and give it back to her, Petunia was an absolute doll and giving her back was about the most difficult thing I'd ever done.

I vowed one day to have a bully of my own, once my children were a bit older and my husband and I could afford it ( lets face it, bulldogs aren't cheap! ) we picked our first bulldog, or should I say she picked us, a darling little red bitch with white markings who pushed all eight in her litter out of the way to make sure she was right in front of us at all times. The whole time telling us with her eyes "you've already found me, theres no need to look anymore."

Her name was Lady Gabrielle ( Gabby for short ) and she was not only the light of our lives but our heart and soul, she became the foundation of our kennel and was in every sense of the word a truely amazing girl. We lost our Gabby this past July but her spirit, will and love of life lives on in our entire family...both four and two legged alike.

[Carrie]

They are nice dogs. I had some friends who moved to Arizona and had a boy named Bivoy. (not sure of spelling since it's a Czech name...I think) Anyhow, I visited them there and they had this tile floor and left a big towel in the corner. They'd have to go behind the dog and wipe up drool off the floor. They just dragged the towel around with their foot. LOL. But Bivoy had a very sweet disposition and was quite a character.

[fireworksinjuly]

my dad had always told me stories about his Sammy and how great of a dog she was, so when I was looking to add a bigger dog to our family of 2 Min Pins I got a samoyed.