there are too many to list so I offer general categories; you can specify in your answer.
I'm a big-dog person and my favorite (no surprise to anyone who's encountered me) is German shepherds. Not just because they are smart, gorgeous, easily trained, and protective, but because as anyone who's owned one knows, they have a supremely silly side that rarely is shown to strangers.
I've seen quite a few in my life and they seem so serious compared to other dogs, such as labs or retrievers. Intense, even, or at least reserved. They have a silly side???
I prefer big dogs myself. Lab/retrievers mixes are my favorite. My last dog was a retriever who loved hunting more than anything, and her second favorite hobby was catching frisbees, with her being quite proud of herself when she could catch them in the air that led to a great deal of strutting and showing off.
I like big dogs. That's why I have a Bichon...
[In reply to]
Can't Post
I love Huntaways and Golden Retrievers especially. I haven't been in a position to give a big dog the right sort of life, so I have settled for a teeny tiny dog (now a pirate).When I was growing up, our family dog was a Samoyed Cocker Spaniel cross. He barked a lot, and ate a lot of stupid things, including a needle and thread that nearly killed him. He was gorgeous and I loved him to bits. He was given to us as his father had burrowed under a fence to have a brief but loving relationship with a purebred Samoyed bitch, much to the horror of the breeder. Nowadays he would be selling for megabucks as a 'designer' dog I expect.
He looked a bit like a Golden Retriever with a massive fluffy tail (Mum called him toetoe tail).I have photos somewhere so will post a pic if I find them.
but they only show it at home. They are serious about their job (YOU), but when they feel like they can relax - as in, everyone is home for the evening and everything is following the same routine as usual - then they get silly. Mine would lie on her back and sing songs, or play hide-and-seek with the cat. She was hilarious with my niece and nephews, treating them like puppies. When we lived with horses, she had a horse buddy who would race her back and forth across the pasture, a game they both loved. And when her bestie (another female GSD) came to visit, they acted just like bratty teenagers, including hiding away from her bestie's brother by going under the porch where he was too big to fit, so he'd come to us and whine, just like a kid going "MOOOOMMMMM they're being mean to me!"
Also: biting the water that comes from the hose, or the waves on the beach. The big guy mentioned above (115 pounds) liked to swim and would splash the water with his front paws and then try to bite the splash - he would keep it up for an hour, going in circles chasing after his own splashes.
went for a hike with a bunch of women from the local women's club I've recently joined. It was an international group: two Dutch women, one Aussie, and two Americans. One of the Dutch women brought her stabyhoun along:
I was totally enamored. An active but calm, obedient (mostly), sweet-tempered, medium-sized dog. As much as my heart belongs to big dogs, at my age I don't think I could take on another 80+ pound dog, but a dog half the size would be perfect.
He sees him when he goes to the groomer. Unfortunately they are not allowed to play together as Midgey would be crushed immediately!Huntaways are lovely but they are a working dog and need to live on farms, plus they have massive barks. There is a group in NZ that rehomes retired Huntaways and Heading dogs. Maybe one day...
(Sorry I keep spelling his name wrong! Don't
[In reply to]
Can't Post
tell him . . . ) Perhaps you could get one, and attach a howdah for Midgey to its back. With an ejection seat and plenty of randomly strewn cushions for emergencies.
I have a German Shepherd named Gypsy, and I love her so very much. She is the life of my family, and came in when my mom left us. She has filled a void so much, that I will always think German Shepherds will be my favorite dogs, and animals in fact.
OK, that definitely qualifies as silly and playful
[In reply to]
Can't Post
One thing you reminded me of is how dogs like spectators. Our mother/daughter retriever pair loved to play together, but in particular they liked to have one of them crouch on a mound while the other pranced below it like a deer, so the higher ground one would pounce and attack and they'd have a fake fight to the death, then trade places and repeat the scene. But they would only do this if we were watching. If we turned our backs or went inside the house or whatever, they would stop and wait for us before they'd resume. Drama dogs!
And I agree re: silliness when they're in relax mode. She's not even 2 years old, so she's very much a brat when I'm back home playing with her. Incredibly smart though (probably too much for her own good).
Pancho the Wonder Dog, so named because we wonder what the heck breed he is:
Found him abandoned as a puppy in a park. They at least left him a plastic spoon of peanut butter and a yogurt container half full of water. First saw him trying to jump off a 10 ft concrete embankment onto a busy access road as I was driving home from work. Stopped and rescued him before he took the plunge. Wormiest dog I ever saw. Here he is at puppy school. Pretty much flunked. Liked to play with the other dogs too much.
My first dog was a stub-tailed German Shepherd mix. Still can't explain that one. Got him when I was six. He passed away when I was 23. Good dog. Heaven ain't worth the name if he's not there.
(This post was edited by Darkstone on Nov 26 2018, 10:18am)
) 
1
