We ended up fostering two dogs over the course of about four months, Star (pictured here) and Minnie (who I really wanted to bring to Iowa with us). I have to say that fostering is a great way for a family to figure out if they really want a dog, to learn about the personality of a particular breed and to test drive a dog as fosters will usually get first dibs to adopt a dog. And after living with Greys for a few months I have come to truly love the breed, but to also wonder if there might be a breed that works a little better for my family at the moment.
What I love about Greyhounds is that they are amazing in the house. They are calm and quiet, they sleep a lot, they usually don't rush the door when someone comes in and they are greyt cuddlers. Some organizations don't recommend them for homes with really small children, but this is usually for the safety of the dog (they are thin skinned and boney and not accustomed to being climbed on) or because any large dog could run-over a small kid in a hair-brained moment. It isn't because of aggression.
What I dislike about ex-racing Greys is that they have not been bred or trained to be obedient. They can be stubborn and they can never be trusted off leash anywhere near a road as they will mindlessly chase anything - squirrel, cat, blowing leaf, moving garbage, imaginary friend - even into traffic. These are truly minor complaints about a breed, and every breed has pros and cons, but my experiences have set me off on a hunt for the perfect dog for my family.
There are a number of breed selector quizzes out there, some more helpful than others. I suggest staying away from the ones that focus on physical attributes - size, color, coat type, etc. The most important things to consider when contemplating bringing a dog into your home are temperament, intelligence and obedience. Even if you are already set on rescuing a dog, which means likely taking in a mixed breed, I suggest learning the characteristics of breeds so you have some idea of the instincts you are going to have to deal with.
Don't waste your time with the breed selecter at Kaboose as the recommendations are entirely too general. The results given are either a) Retriever, b) high energy breed, c) mixed breed or d) toy. Instead try the Animal Planet Dog Breed Selector, which includes lots of questions about temperament and provides a very comprehensive list of breeds, include rare breeds.
After looking at a few quizzes, talking with lots of dog owners and doing a bit of digging, I have settled on a few breeds that I think would work well in my family. At the top of my list are a few of the sighthounds: Pharoah Hound, Ibizan Hound and Whippet. Admittedly these breeds have some of the same challanges as Greyhounds, but all can be obtained at a younger age and at least the Pharoah and Ibizan Hounds are known to be easier to train. I am also looking at the Wire-Haired Pointing Griffon, which is seeing something of a resurgence in hunting circles and is known to be obedient and calm, though hard working and rugged. Another advantage of this breed is that WPG mixes are relatively common on Petfinder. I am also considering pointers.
I am staying away from anything that has been bred to fight or to hunt small mammals, as well as any breed that is known to have problems with aggression towards people. Note that the human aggressive breeds may not be the ones you are thinking of like Pitbulls, but rather the breeds that have been bred to be guard dogs. This being said, I am considering submissive and well socialized Staffordshire Terrier mixes, especially Staffy/Lab mixes, which I think might be a great fit for us because of a combined desire to please (from the Lab) and their athletic ability (from the Staffy - I want a running partner and skijoring dog). Before you judge, do a little research on the Bully breeds; you might like what you see.
Hit me in the comments with your picks for the best family breeds or with your experiences as a dog owner and parent.
I would just like to say that the best family dog we ever had was a welsh border collie. She was extremely smart and a very loving dog!
ReplyDeleteJohnny's family is golden retriever obsessed. Everyone who has a pet has one and they are so lovable and smart. They seem to be good hunting dogs who are also willing to come home and snuggle little ones. One of his cousins trains them to be service dogs. The main thing that turns me off with them is their coat. I couldn't deal with that much shedding.
ReplyDeleteI am down with the Wired-Haired Pointing Griffon, but to fair I'm biased as an owner. I can say that they are very gentle and golden retriever esk... the big selling point with my wife was the reduction in shedding. To be fair I told her that they didn’t shed, and she will also tell you that we do have dog hair in our car and in hidden corners of our house, but it is nothing like a lab, golden, or husky in the shedding world. Golden Doodles are also great dogs that are fun, gentle, and don't shed. Our dog is very playful still at almost four years old but we can also leave him in our house all day or on a 5+ hours car ride with no issues. He loves to hunt and does very well if that’s your thing, but we also get him out daily for a walk or hike and getting any dog out of the house and some exercise daily is crucial.
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