For Dog Lovers

[yeuxdebleu]

I know many of you love dogs -- actually all animals -- so I thought you'd find this interesting.  If you're planning to get a dog and want to have it around for a long time, you might want to consider one of these long-lived breeds.  I've never heard of many of them, but perhaps you have.  Personally, I would much prefer getting a dog from a

Comments

[nutmeg3]

The reason you haven't heard about a lot of them is that they're not breeds, they're crossbreeds masquerading as breeds, and I doubt most of them have enough history for anyone to know what their average lifespan is. Interesting that the New Guinea Singing Dog - a real breed that's quite rare and I think pretty ancient, too - is the longest lived.

[yeuxdebleu]

Yes, I realize that. Sometimes the crossbreeds get recognized by the AKC, but there are many more that don't. The New Guinea Singing Dog was new to me. I've learned a lot from watching Animal Planet's show Too Cute. It's rather masochistic viewing because it makes me want one of everything they feature.

I'd have a dog if I lived alone, a BIG dog with a substantial bark, but it would be only in that instance. I'd be spending all my time scraping cats off the ceiling if I got a dog.

[nutmeg3]

If ever you decide to try a dog, you could look for an adult dog that's got cat experience, because a lot of dogs are really mellow with cats. Also, some shelters will let you try a dog before committing, especially if you have cats or kids, to see if the fit works

[nutmeg3]

Interestingly, just came across this on Twitter: http://thebaffler.com/blog/labradoodle-racket/

[addie71]

I like a lot of purebred dogs, but if I were to get a dog it would be from a shelter.

[yeuxdebleu]

Me, too....definitely.

[shirebound]

Interestingly, many of these are mixed-breeds with mixed-names. My Pippin, a chipin (Chihuahua-miniature pinscher) hopefully will live just as long!

[yeuxdebleu]

I thought of you and Pippin when I saw the mixed breeds. There used to be only cockapoodles (my sister has one), but now there are so many combinations.

[ladysnaps]

nothing better than a mutt. i like those best! the chihuahua is a breed i don't have a liking for. if i had to give sheba a unique mixed breed name it would be a bullbox. (bull terrier/boxer)

[yeuxdebleu]

If I lived alone, I'd definitely have a dog. A BIG dog with a convincing bark. I've always loved German Shepherds and Rottweilers. I'm not a fan of small, yappy dogs.

[casey28]

That's interesting, to see which dogs are long-lived breeds.

I agree, getting a dog from a rescue shelter is the best idea. It isn't what we did when I had dogs as a child, but it's the ideal thing to do. I had a Yorkie, and a Cocker Spaniel.