I think it's time for me to get a dog.

[Redlinerobert]

Any help from my bro's here would be great. These are the charachteristics I'm looking for, so feel free to chime in.

Small to medium size. Short hair. I don't like hairy dogs. I prefer dogs that are of athletic build. I've had a Vizsla and a German Short Hair in the past, been happy with both.

Considering but not limited to:

Vizsla

German Short Hair

Doberman (smaller one, not a Miniature Pinscher though)

Terrier (like Scott's!) Is that a Jack Russel?

I suppose a dog that isn't so hyper would be preferable, and any one of the dogs that I've mentioned usually are. This is where the breeding would come into play I imagine.

Any other suggestions guys? Know any top tier breeders?

[Fisher of Men]

Well if you ask me, you can't beat a Lab, but they tend to be larger framed and the hair is mid-length.   My in-laws have had two Jack Russells and they were both hyper spazzes.  However, they don't necessarily spend much time with their dogs.  I would guess if you were willing to spend time with them playing ball and such, they might settle down.  Good luck with the search, Robert.  Post us a pic when you get one!!

-FOM

[tipptruck1]

I also agree with the lab. My lab had a lot of engery when he was a pup. Now with him being almost four all he dose is sleep and eat.

[grimlin]

Another vote for lab or doberman. I have a Lab/mastiff but he's more on the Lab side than anything...little hyper on the puppy side,but once grown up they settle down.I have no issues with his hair as i consider it to be short(close to a doberman) and he's never had it cut.I don't like hairy dogs either as i tend to favor dogs like dobermans or Rottweilers.

I dislike small dogs and always wanted to kick em' like a football when they bark.Their barking annoys me big time.So i'm gonna be no help on the small dog part.

[jhoffman]

I have a shorthair and a lab. The lab is a pup but he listens better then the shorthair. That shorthair sure does put pheasants on the table which is why she is still here. She drives me INSANE!

[burleytog]

You need a east TN attack beagle.

[Hookemdown.]

My friend has a Jack Russel.  It's a smart, athletic and very loving dog.  But, that thing is very hyper.

[tritz18]

lab, they are great dogs have had them all my life, love them

[frogtog]

Find you one by the road that someone has put off, I prefer the real skinny ones. Feed them and they will walk through fire and back for you. I picked up a mama dog at the river and she had ten pups with her. I managed to find a home for nine of the pups. I kelp mama and one pup I named Slinky, he is one of a kind. He will sit in the yard and look up a the sky for five or ten minutes at the time. My friend said he was looking for a space ship to come and take him back home. ;D

[Raul]

Any help from my bro's here would be great. These are the charachteristics I'm looking for, so feel free to chime in.

Small to medium size. Short hair. I don't like hairy dogs. I prefer dogs that are of athletic build. I've had a Vizsla and a German Short Hair in the past, been happy with both.

Considering but not limited to:

Vizsla

German Short Hair

Doberman (smaller one, not a Miniature Pinscher though)

Terrier (like Scott's!) Is that a Jack Russel?

I suppose a dog that isn't so hyper would be preferable, and any one of the dogs that I've mentioned usually are. This is where the breeding would come into play I imagine.

Any other suggestions guys? Know any top tier breeders?

Skip the Jack Russel, it will drive you insane.

[=Matt 5.0=]

I'm partial to the American Pitbull Terrier. Great family dog despite the rumors. Have had ours for 8 years now. Short hair, athletic build, great personality.... not much for home security tho.  

[guitarkid]

After reading this I would recommend a Golden retriever. Loyal, Loving, Kind of hyper as a puppy, But after having one I would Hignly recommend one. After that I would recommend a lab.

                        -searoach  

[dumb_dog11]

love labs, mine is sitting next to me. hes actually sick right now

but for the quailities your looking for, i would say a beagle

my cousin has a jack russel...it is the MOST ANNOYING dog i have ever seen. he barks all the time with such a loud hihg-pitched bark and he is hyper and is always running around and bouncing off walls

[fishfordollars]

Robert, I have a terrier bird dog mix. It is black and white, mild mannered, short hair, 30lbs., and the best dog I ever owned. If you want to look for a dog go to petfinder.com and you can check out all the dogs in the pounds in your area. that's how I found mine. Good luck!

My daughter has a Jack Russell and it is the only dog I have ever wanted to pinch a head off of. It is the most irritating thing I have ever been around. Never sits still and never quits barking. They actually give it Vallium when company is coming over.

[guitarkid]

I would not ever get another beagle. We have a beagle mix he is cool and all that BUT they are kind of hyper, they shed year round, PLUS here is the kicker : they like to roll in poop and dead animals. Unless you like to give your dog a bath every week or so do it, but they do smell kind of bad if you doi not find about. They are pretty loyal, but they do bark ALOT.

                               -searoach

[Redlinerobert]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.  Labs are great, but probably a little bigger than what I want to have inside the house.  Also their hair is a little on the longer side, no?  How bad do they shed?

Anyone here have any experience with the Vizsla?  

[Fish Man]

golden retriever

[KYbass1276]

I say give a beagle a try

[jhoffman]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.  Labs are great, but probably a little bigger than what I want to have inside the house.  Also their hair is a little on the longer side, no?  How bad do they shed?

Anyone here have any experience with the Vizsla?  

The vizla is a beautiful dog and quite rare to come by. They too with most of the breeding geared towards the field are very high energy. If you want one on the calmer side find one thats been bred for show.

[Red]

recently my dog that i had growing up through high school was put to sleep.  he was old, and the best d**n dog a guy could ask for.  he was a liver(brown) spotted dalmation.  not to big, about 75lbs in his prime, short hair and more energy(but not wild) than you could ask for.  he was more than willing to take me for a walk everyday.   ;D  he was always great with kids and he was also very smart.  thats my recommendation!!

Cliff

[Ballpark Frank]

I have six dogs ranging from small to huge; Dachshundx2, Beagle, Beagle/Vizsla, Vizsla, Irish Wolfhound. The best of the bunch is the Beagle-Vizsla mix(she is a product of a midnight rendezvous at a breeder of both dogs). Francis is her name and she is a great dog. She has the best of both breeds and none of the bad. I wish I had all of the puppies of that litter. Although I love all of my other dogs, she has become my constant companion. I have nothing bad to say about any of my dogs except for Seamus(the Wolfhound); I have a hell of a time keeping him in the fence. I have a 6' privacy fence around my yard and at least once every couple of weeks, I find him sitting on the front porch looking through the side windows. Sorry for talking about my dogs, I get carried away with them.

With the characteristics that you mentioned, I would recommend the Beagle also. They are great dogs and are easily trained. Stay away from the Jack Russel, those dogs are breed with a few marbles left out, just kidding. They are too smart for their own good, which makes their masters angry and gets the dogs into trouble. The Beagle is America's dog and rightfully so.

[fourbizz]

I gotta agree with Matt, a pit would be very cool.

They really are great dogs and have an undeserved reputation.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

couple things.

labs do shed quite a bit,....all those Armani suits won't look so nice in those hairs.

I'm with Matt and Biz, the right American bull or Stafford terrier seems to be a great fit for you.  One thing about the smaller hyper dogs like the Jacks is that they want a lot of attention, you need to remember that you need a pretty independent dog as it will spend a decent amount of time on it's own (no kids to occupy it while you're at work, etc)

Your house is always flawlessly spotless,....you sure you wanna do this?  That wouldn't matter to me personally, as long as I had the room (which I don't right now), I would totally own a dog, but you own a lot of nice stuff to chew on.........

Good luck with the decision, another family member is never a bad thing.

[bowtech_182]

I think  a miniature schnauzer is in your future.  Smaller build and they DON'T  shed.  The perfect house dog

[Raul]

I think  a miniature schnauzer is in your future.  Smaller build and they DON'T  shed.  The perfect house dog

But they bark, and bark and bark ad inifinitum !; I 'm a veterinarian, I don 't mind much about dogs barking but Schanuzers ........   , the pitch of the bark can drive me nuts instantly, can 't stand one bark of them less alone several.

I would go for something small, compact size, don 't shed much, look funny, don 't bark much either and the bark isn 't bothering, a lot less crazy than a Jack Russel, athletic build, no need for "grooming" ----> Smooth Fox Terrier

I know a couple that breeds top show quality Foxies,here in Mexico City ( Sandra & Felipe Lara ), they inherited all Sergio Balcazar 's breeding stock when he passed away ( search for Son Es "El Matador" or Son Es " DaVinci" or Son Es OGT ):

Pic of Matador ( don 't remember the year but he won Best of Breed at Westminter ):

Pic of OGT: