ross wrote:QR_BBPOST One other thing , in order to train any critter you have to know more than it , what makes it tick , be it breed or type . Decide what needs you have in your dog . Always exceptions . There are lots of good trainers out there just do your home work . Luck
I agree completely with Ross. Crossbreeds are less likely to have "purebred" health problems (hips, aggression, shorter life expectancy).
We've had three rescues and one that was a year old pup from city folk who realized they didn't have time.
We always have a dog that looks like a nasty junkyard mix to intimidate people. Our house is the only house on the street that's never been robbed.
Baron, a doberman mix (collie) now ten years ago, smart, easy going, really gentle with kids and friends, but he hates little dogs (he was bitten by a
zu and later a poodle.) We had him at dog parks, no problem. When young he needed a good run every day or two or he would get antsy.
Duchess, doberman/lab mix, great with people but a dominant dog so our pugs and Baron don't like her. She could run all day, a real athlete. Both these dogs were great when we lived in town, easy to walk.
Fred a lab/rottie mix was abused as a pup so was always a bit nervous. Smart, loyal, great farm dog, deceased at age 16.
Duchess needed scolding to leave the cows alone, all left the chickens alone (duchess steals eggs). They were taught about birds one step at a time (dog tied birds free, birds in yard dog free).
We always choose a german shepherd/rottie/ or doberman mix. Smart, loyal, easy to train, energetic. They need a good run to relax. and being smart they need something to do or they can het into trouble.
Stay away from huskies, great family dogs, but absolute killers on a farm. Scent hounds: bloodhound, black and tan, coonhound, beagle; extremely stubborn and hard to train. I had a beagle a real sweetheart, but stubborn and really hard to train. Let her loose and she's gone.
Pugs are small and full of beans but no trouble to birds.
I'd get a rescue again in a heartbeat but You have to spend time on the front end educating the dog.