doggies! Best breeds, expenses, and rewards of having them

I have 4 dogs - a lab, a doberman, and 2 min pins. I love all of them but my favorite is for sure the Min Pins!! Love them!! No shedding and so sweet and playful. With Min Pins, they own you, you don't own them. :P

When we first started looking for a dog we researched for months for the 'perfect' breed. We decided we'd get a miniture schnauzer, small and well mannered, good family dog.
That was until my friend's dogs had puppies and we just fell in love with one of them. Now we have a crazy Jack Russell running around the house like a mad man, stealing socks, begging for walks every hour of the day (even after he's been for them). He's a proper character and I wouldn't change him for the 'perfect' breed.
When you see the dog for you you will know it.

My husband and I are looking at getting a French Brittany. They are expensive ($1500) and doube that cost if you want it to be trained, but they are over the top smart and very good with kids (we have 2 boys and one is somewhat fearful of animals). They also are exceptional hunters. My husband is a hunter..so we feel it meets all of our needs. The breeder quotes this type of dog as a "devil on the field and an angel in your home!'..that is a great tagline. We are just about sold on this..just putting the funds together. I can't wait!

I am a very, very bias Chihuahua mom. I think they are some of the best dogs around! I only have one dog right now and that's Tequila my chihuhua (of course!) but we plan on getting another dog (probably bigger) when we get a home... my other favorite breeds are: Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Doberman pinscher, German Short hair pointers, Brittanys, Chow Chows, Huskys, Alaskan Klee Kais, Samoyeds, Akitas, Keeshonds, Papillons, and Besenjis.

I don't know exactly how much I currently spend on my dog monthly, but when he was a pup he was much more expensive simply because he tore up everything in his path while I was at work. Getting him a few buddies (the ferrets) to wear him out in the evenings certainly changed that, though. Though we replaced the matress, our couch is still a holy hole-filled disaster area. We have to put a leather jacket ontop of one cushion so we don't get a spring up the bum when we sit down. Yes, I love chihuahuas. Yes I think they are perfect dogs (especially for apartments) but I don't recommend getting them as a pup or young dog, unless you have a ton of time to spend exhausting them physically and mentally. They are really smart but super stubbern and few people realize how much mental stimulation they really need. I won't lie, I was one- though I am not anymore lol.

The fact that you and your husband work opposing shifts is great! Especially if you're looking into a small dog, they have a smaller idea of what is their "territory" so they can be a pain in the bum to house train. Big dogs will also benefit from having someone home all the time, though, too.

If you are looking for a good runner, the Alaskan Malamute is a great runner- of course you have to take into account the weather wear you live but you can always bring along a drink for her/him They are also friendly (so you dont have to worry about him/her scaring your neighbors and/or other runner/joggers with a bark or growl and they are very intelligent and eager to please meaning they can be trained casual manners easily (as long as you and your husband train with firm leadership). They are very pack oriented dogs, the type of dog you have to show who's boss, especially if you want "formal" obedience. Rotti's, Boxers and Pitbulls are also good runners, as are the afore mentioned Basenji and Brittany. Brittany's are great hunting dogs too, good if you or your husband hunt, bad if you have small animals. The Brittany is a very smart breed but need consistancy in training. Basenji's are muscular and athletic dogs that are still small enough that (with a lot of daily excercise) they do well in apartments and small places. Like the Malamute, they need a trainer who can display leadership, and weather has to be taken into account with the Basenji as they don't do well in wet weather. They form very good bonds with owners but they are also great climbers and can easily get over chain and/or wire fence (ALSO keep an eye out for chewing). Unlike the malamute they aren't as easily socialized and can be a distraction when you run (by stopping to bark/growl at everyone) if they don't get proper socialization training. They can be described as speedy, frisky and tireless at play. Dalmations (though they are difficult to train and some are known to lash out at kids) are good runners. Samoyed's, although big, gentle and pillow-like, are good runners. They need a daily jog or long walk and they are very sociable, easy going dogs. They are extremly devoted but not good guard dogs because they love everyone- HOWEVER like the malamute and the basenji they need a firm trainer who is comfortable being the confidant leader, otherwise these guys can end up with behavior issues. Like the chihuahua, they will need as much mental stimulation as they do physical and have a rep for being chewers (but hey, look at that smile- irresistable!) If you have other small animals and don't get the Samoyed as a pup who is raised with the small animal- use caution if they come into contact (personally, I would avoid contact at all coasts- Samoyed in particular is an ancient hunting and herding breed whose gene pool is closely related to the primitive dog with no wolf or fox mixed in.)

Okay so thats kinda a lot- I will leave you with this: Dogbreedinfo.com. They have a quiz that can help you determine a good dog for you Good luck! And remember, although breed standards can give you an idea of what your getting into- every dog is an individual. Look for a dog that clicks with you and your husband, a dog that (above all else) you will enjoy

I have a Boston Terrier and a Puggle. Both are lap dogs and great with people, but both have their flaws.

The Boston wasn't properly socialized when she was young... a run in with a baby pit in a dog park has made her really defensive... then she was exposed to a St. Bernard that thought she was a toy and would constantly pick on her. She's still a great pet, just doesn't warm quickly to other animals. She's very playful, and sometimes reminds me more of a cat than a dog in the way she uses her paws. For better or worse, she's my Gypsy.

The puggle looks more on the pug side (fur and tail) but acts like a beagle. He's my alarm dog. If you don't like barkers, stay clear of Beagles and beagle mixes. He's a cuddler, but he also sheds quite horrendously. He was a shelter dog and is horrible about coming when called and about cutting his nails. He will roam the neighborhood if he gets out... but he doesn't actively try to escape, either.

Between the two, a 40 lb bag of food lasts me a month. Vet bills are minimal.

There are great things about adopting an older shelter animal... they are past the chewy phase and likely house broken. However, that means you can't train some things out of them. Max's feet sensitivity, for example... I've been working on for years and he still fights me to even hold his paw.

Good Luck!!

Yay for you for rescuing! We have 3 boxers and what I thought was a pit/boxer mix, but everyone tells me he is pure pit bull. He is our latest rescue (tied to a tree for 2 years) and I fell in love with him, so he is a permanent member of our family. He is a wonderful, loyal and smart smart dog. I am voting for the Pits...Your heart will tell you which one:)

Best breed..mutts hehe

Nah I really don't favor one certain breed, though i guess i have my favorites (pit bulls being one of them)
i currently have 4 dogs, one pit bull mix, one akita mix, one golden retriever mix and one small white fluffy mix(lol)

The best dog is what fits the persons personality and lifestyle. I think just going and interacting with different dogs will give you and your husband the best feel for what dog is best for you.

I spend about $60 on food a month to feed my 4 dogs, I use ivermectin for heartworm prevention and it's $28 for a bottle that lasts all year and then some(it expries before i use it all up) and then flea prevention there is no set monthly bill because they don't always need it but when they do it's about $17 per dog.

vet bills are practically zilch, $40 every 3 years per dog for rabies is all I get. I don't believe in yearly or bi-yearly check ups, I take my dogs to the vet when they are sick and that's that.
I also groom and train my own dogs, so not much expense there.

Everyone person is different though, some people live in climates where flea prevention is needed year around, some people feel comfortable taking their dog to the vet every 6 months for a check up, some people feel the need to have their dogs teeth cleaned, etc. etc.

It really just depends on you and what you feel comfortable with to give your dog a good life.