Anyone have any experience with Swedish Vallhund? My father is thinking of getting one for my daughter this Xmas.
Here's a video I made a while back about Vallhund. Great dogs, if a little Scandinavian in temperament.
The Happiest Breeds of Dogs
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Best medium to large dog - Staffordshire
Best small dog - Jack RussellGiven appropriate socialization, both breeds tend to do very well with children, are highly intelligent/trainable, and do not tend to have higher than average health issues. Both are good indoor dogs, but they do need to have regular exercise (again, good with children).
Staffordshires get a bad reputation because of their association with dog fighting and certain criminal demographics, but it is 100% hype. Traditionally they were nanny dogs. Jacks get a little bit of negative press as being yappy and overly energetic, but this is way overblown and characteristic of individual dogs who are not cared for and given adequate attention.
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This list is ridiculous. So many of the breeds on the list suffer from popular dog syndrome, where overbreeding by moronic and/or money hungry people produce individual dogs full of health problems. Most of the goldens, labs, etc. that you are likely to run across are anything but "happy". They are suffering from numerous breed-specific ailments. If you want a healthy dog of a specific breed, visit a breeder who does health testing. That's not a perfect solution, but it puts the odds in your favor. If you want to know if a breed is good for you and your lifestyle, read their history. It amazes me that people will get a hound bred for hunting or a herding dog bred to (you guessed it) herd other animals and then are upset when the dog tries to do those tasks (ie, "misbehaves")and gets into trouble when it isn't given a job to do. Don't be that person.
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I'm looking for a good family dog. We had a border collie until recently. Smartest dog on the planet, but a bit neurotic. So who can recommend a dog that:
1. Is good with kids.
2. Isn't super skittish around strangers (like the Border Collie).
3. Won't suffer from bloat as it ages (like the labs and Goldens).
4. Can manage in the yard or crate for a few hours without having a panic attack (like the Border Collie).
5. Is smart. No Greyhounds.
6. Likes to go on hikes.
7. Is 40 lbs or more.
7. Doesn't have a crazy high maintenance coat. -
I'm looking for a good family dog. We had a border collie until recently. Smartest dog on the planet, but a bit neurotic. So who can recommend a dog that:
1. Is good with kids.
2. Isn't super skittish around strangers (like the Border Collie).
3. Won't suffer from bloat as it ages (like the labs and Goldens).
4. Can manage in the yard or crate for a few hours without having a panic attack (like the Border Collie).
5. Is smart. No Greyhounds.
6. Likes to go on hikes.
7. Is 40 lbs or more.
7. Doesn't have a crazy high maintenance coat.Boxer or a Staffordshire terrier
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I know that Boxers and Staffordshires get a bad rap. And I've been around some that were really lovely and affectionate dogs. But they can get aggressive too. I'll add "Doesn't require special dispensation from my home owner's insurance" to the list of criteria.
I'm looking for a good family dog. We had a border collie until recently. Smartest dog on the planet, but a bit neurotic. So who can recommend a dog that:
1. Is good with kids.
2. Isn't super skittish around strangers (like the Border Collie).
3. Won't suffer from bloat as it ages (like the labs and Goldens).
4. Can manage in the yard or crate for a few hours without having a panic attack (like the Border Collie).
5. Is smart. No Greyhounds.
6. Likes to go on hikes.
7. Is 40 lbs or more.
7. Doesn't have a crazy high maintenance coat.
Boxer or a Staffordshire terrier -
Labradors are ridiculously intelligent/greedy. they know exactly how to work humans. that breed know how to be 'another child' with your child and their friends. He'll be a good companion/protector, etc, while the kids secretly feed him cookies, ice-cream n hotdogs. He'll also protect the owner and house. I've had 2 Labradors.
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This list is ridiculous. So many of the breeds on the list suffer from popular dog syndrome, where overbreeding by moronic and/or money hungry people produce individual dogs full of health problems. Most of the goldens, labs, etc. that you are likely to run across are anything but "happy". They are suffering from numerous breed-specific ailments.
So, find a good mutt? Are you saying that some breeds don't have better temperaments than others? If you have young children, what should you do?