True that is the one thing I don't like so much about dogs, that you have to be hierarchical with them. But it is their instinct to defer to an alpha. Plus I am a sucker for GSDs. I would probably dote on it like it was my kid.
Cats are much more self-sufficient and so more respectable in my book Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Yup. I like that about cats. Still want a GSD though. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Who likes wolf/dog hybrids? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf-dog_hybrid These creatures are fucking awesome.
Korean Jindos are pretty cool dogs too. http://www.kang.org/Jfac.html Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
I like herding dogs. Border Collies, Blue and Red Heelers being my favourites. Their agility is fun, and they are all around family oriented. Also, very loyal dogs. They do keep the horses in line as well. My Red Heeler is brilliant intelligence wise. But he talks too much for my liking, not barking mind you... but always has a sound to mark every event in the house like it's a bowl game and he's the play-by-play announcer. He's only a year old and maybe when he gets a bit older he'll settle down vocally. We just finally broke him of the incessant scratching by switching his food, but he's really the most finiky dog I've ever owned. He's allergic to chicken (which as a by-product is in almost every dog food except the really expensive ones... bugger) and to rawhide, but he's an active chewer. We have kong and kong-like chew toys all over the house and one of these days I'm going to break my neck tripping over them. My Border Collie/Blue Heeler mix isn't as smart, but he's bigger, older and wiser. He lays the smack down on the annoying tike when he has to. I <3 my dogs. My Border Collie Mix; Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Yeah, I rescued him two years ago. Apparently, a farmer had left him tied up in the middle of a cornfield around here to die, probably for stealing chickens. It happens a lot around here. When they first found him, he was 23 pounds and he's 42 now. So he's gained a bit of weight. He's still skittish though, and I suspect he got more than a few beatings where ever he was before here. He's got a big scar on his face, one on his tail and a leg he limps on from time to time when it rains. He's a great dog, quick to get between the kids and danger, but quiet and caring otherwise. Probably the best dog I've ever had. He scared a pit bull out of our yard once when the kids had left the gate open, and then he closed the gate himself. Sometimes, I think he's smarter than my 13 year old Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Jindo's are jumpers like Akita's and they won't stay somewhere they don't like. Saw one jump a sheer 8 foot guard wall once, no foot holds on anything. Just backed up and ran full bore towards the wall and up he went. Was rather impressive, but the owner didn't think so since he built the walls to keep his two dogs in... lol.
Like VI says, depends on the purpose. My female Boxer has natural ears, but my Dobie doesn't. I adopted the Dobie from a rescue and his ears were already cropped. But, any Dobie I get as a puppy, I will crop their ears and dock their tail. Even though Kingston is a pet first, he's still part of home security, and I'd like him to be able to do that job the best he can. So are Boxers. And given Kingston's sheer size and his deceptive ability to jump, both could easily clear my 4' chain link fence if they wanted to. They never will though, because they love their master too much. haha
so you have 3 dogs and you will have one mutilated so he will do a good job protecting things. The one you saved who was already mutilated isn't a guard dog?
I'm not much of a pet person, but this made me want to go out and get both dogs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HJTG6RRN4E
