My Top 5 Puppy Breeds
Rhodesian Ridgeback
I think it was Sir Walter Scott who said that Scottish Deerhounds were the most perfect creatures of heaven. He was wrong. This was the most perfect creature of heaven. She was of dubious heritage and not a stunning physical specimen but, damn, she had the attitude down! Her talents and antics could easily fill a novella, if not more, and so many of the things that made her perfect to me seem to be typical of the breed.
To me, Rhodesian Ridgebacks basically embody the total package of everything I want in a dog. Their background--hunter, herder, guardian, general purpose farm dog--lends them great versatility, and I like jacks-of-all-trades. I like a smart dog with a mind of its own that's capable of problem solving--and testing my own intelligence and problem solving ability! (Crazy smart, independent, creatively disobedient, capable of learning many great and varied things, impish, challenging, fun.) I want a dog that's basically indifferent to strangers, not wildly enthusiastic and willing to wander off with every person who gives out neck scritches but not openly hostile without some sort of justification either. I love a dog that makes me feel safer for it standing at my side and who I can be confident will have my back if shit should go down but isn't generally considered a liability to own. (I am not breedist, but insurance companies and plenty of other people are.) I like a dog who hates going out in the rain just as much as I do and will doe-eye beg from people it respects and outright steal from people it doesn't. I want a snuggly, affectionate companion and best friend whom I can always rely upon to find the most comfortable spot on any given piece of furniture or other surface.
Google Pics.
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I go into spasms of joy at the mere prospect of attending or watching dog shows so suffice it to say that I love dogs in general, and picking the remaining top four was a lot harder than that one shining paragon above. These are also probably subject to change at any given moment. If I was to be offered a puppy of any breed or mix thereof, I doubt I'd refuse it. I'd figure out some way to make that relationship work and meet that dog's needs.
Catahoula Leopard Dog
Catahoulas appeal to me essentially for the same reasons Ridgebacks do--their versatility--with the commonplace additions of a paint job courtesy of Jackson Pollack and a more extreme energy level. It's that lovely combination of multipurpose farm dog: hunter, herder, guardian. The short coat, floppy ears, long tails, and trim outlines also appeal to me aesthetically. Pics.
Rat Terrier
These dogs still commonly are called Feists in my neck of the woods. They're not as obnoxious as many of the smaller terriers can be. Every one I've ever met has been a lovely dog: sweet, affectionate, quiet, sociable with other dogs, confident, all wrapped up in a soft, smooth-coated package. Again, we've got a dog whose history lies in multipurpose farm use: ratters, home sentinels, and hunters of small woodland prey (and assisting with the occasional larger beastie). Pics.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
I like small fluffy creatures, as anyone who's seen the Persian roaming about can attest. Papillons and Tibetan Spaniels are high up on my list of "SOOOOOOO CUUUUUUUUUUTTTTTEEEEEEEEE, MUST CUDDLE!" but I am slightly concerned about having a dog smaller and frailer than my cats. The cats can be bullies. Cavs should at least meet (maybe exceed) the size of my monster cats. And those faces, look at those doe-eyed, precious, baby-doll faces! It's the ultimate little silky cuddle-bug for me. Pics.
Shiba Inu
They're adorable, wee, mischievous, foxy creatures with all the stubbornness and independence I seem to enjoy. Many of them aren't quite so keen on the cuddling though, which is a bummer. Who wouldn't want to snug something that looks like that? Pics.
I think it was Sir Walter Scott who said that Scottish Deerhounds were the most perfect creatures of heaven. He was wrong. This was the most perfect creature of heaven. She was of dubious heritage and not a stunning physical specimen but, damn, she had the attitude down! Her talents and antics could easily fill a novella, if not more, and so many of the things that made her perfect to me seem to be typical of the breed.
To me, Rhodesian Ridgebacks basically embody the total package of everything I want in a dog. Their background--hunter, herder, guardian, general purpose farm dog--lends them great versatility, and I like jacks-of-all-trades. I like a smart dog with a mind of its own that's capable of problem solving--and testing my own intelligence and problem solving ability! (Crazy smart, independent, creatively disobedient, capable of learning many great and varied things, impish, challenging, fun.) I want a dog that's basically indifferent to strangers, not wildly enthusiastic and willing to wander off with every person who gives out neck scritches but not openly hostile without some sort of justification either. I love a dog that makes me feel safer for it standing at my side and who I can be confident will have my back if shit should go down but isn't generally considered a liability to own. (I am not breedist, but insurance companies and plenty of other people are.) I like a dog who hates going out in the rain just as much as I do and will doe-eye beg from people it respects and outright steal from people it doesn't. I want a snuggly, affectionate companion and best friend whom I can always rely upon to find the most comfortable spot on any given piece of furniture or other surface.
Google Pics.
---------------------------------
I go into spasms of joy at the mere prospect of attending or watching dog shows so suffice it to say that I love dogs in general, and picking the remaining top four was a lot harder than that one shining paragon above. These are also probably subject to change at any given moment. If I was to be offered a puppy of any breed or mix thereof, I doubt I'd refuse it. I'd figure out some way to make that relationship work and meet that dog's needs.
Catahoula Leopard Dog
Catahoulas appeal to me essentially for the same reasons Ridgebacks do--their versatility--with the commonplace additions of a paint job courtesy of Jackson Pollack and a more extreme energy level. It's that lovely combination of multipurpose farm dog: hunter, herder, guardian. The short coat, floppy ears, long tails, and trim outlines also appeal to me aesthetically. Pics.
Rat Terrier
These dogs still commonly are called Feists in my neck of the woods. They're not as obnoxious as many of the smaller terriers can be. Every one I've ever met has been a lovely dog: sweet, affectionate, quiet, sociable with other dogs, confident, all wrapped up in a soft, smooth-coated package. Again, we've got a dog whose history lies in multipurpose farm use: ratters, home sentinels, and hunters of small woodland prey (and assisting with the occasional larger beastie). Pics.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
I like small fluffy creatures, as anyone who's seen the Persian roaming about can attest. Papillons and Tibetan Spaniels are high up on my list of "SOOOOOOO CUUUUUUUUUUTTTTTEEEEEEEEE, MUST CUDDLE!" but I am slightly concerned about having a dog smaller and frailer than my cats. The cats can be bullies. Cavs should at least meet (maybe exceed) the size of my monster cats. And those faces, look at those doe-eyed, precious, baby-doll faces! It's the ultimate little silky cuddle-bug for me. Pics.
Shiba Inu
They're adorable, wee, mischievous, foxy creatures with all the stubbornness and independence I seem to enjoy. Many of them aren't quite so keen on the cuddling though, which is a bummer. Who wouldn't want to snug something that looks like that? Pics.