So sorry, didn't know where else to post this? I read in several posts on this forum and another that dogs such as Mals and Dobes are not good first time dogs for new dog owners. So what would be a good kind of dog without having to get a toy dog if you still wanted to get a medium to large sized dog? I know there are several factors involved such as breed tenedancies, genetics, age of said dog, drives and temperment, pack leadership, exercise, etc. Just wondered what you all though.

Thanks,
Cat

Is the dog just a pet?

That is a good question. I would probably think going with a lab, golden retriever or poodle would be a good choice. Maybe a Boxer, but not sure on that.

Pet or competition OB.

I live with two working line German Shepherds, ages 5 & 1. They are pets, but I hate to call them that because they are much more than that. I do attend obedience classes on and off throughout the year. I also do agility, rally-o, etc. and I lead a pretty active lifestyle.

Essentially, my 5 year old is a great dog. She is trustworthy in many situations, though she can be a little nervy in some situations (lots of confidence building for her and we have no problems). She's a great house dog, a good traveler, and just a joy to be around.

My pup, at almost 1, has a much higher drive to do things even compared to my other girl at that age. I always read about these working lines that don't sleep and thought they were joking until this girl came into my life! She requires A LOT of attention and exercise.

On the other hand, I also have a 10 year old Cairn Terrier...much easier to care for, less attention needed, etc. but not nearly as much fun lol.

I guess that is what it comes down to...these girls are a huge part of my life. My routine revolves around them and I don't mind that at all. It is just an automatic part of my life. I probably spend a lot more time with my dogs than other people.

Hope this helps a little bit

I answer the question of what kind of dog should I get the same as I answer what kind of gun should I get.

What dog skills do you have??
How much time are you willing to dedicate to train yourself/dog?
How much time are you willing to dedicate to exercising said dog?
How much room do you have for said dog to pee, poop, exercise?
Is the dog going to live indoors or out?
What color is your carpet and the dirt in your yard.
How much money are you willing to spend on food for said dog.
You said pet/OB, competitive OB or a well behaved pet OB.

Write a profile of what you want, check it against the cold hard light of day, then take the new list and weigh it against breed traits, size, and the other things you mentioned.

Get a dog that fits your needs and resources instead of getting a dog and fitting him (her) into your resources.

And remember, you're going to live with this decision for ten years.

Cat,

I am sure you can find a dog with a suitable temperament and energy level for you in any breed.

Do you love Mals? Contact a reputable breeder and tell the breeder that you are looking for a pet-quality Mal that does not have working ability. Contact a reputable trainer or training group and ask about adopting a dog that has washed-out of the program. Rescue organizations often end up with washed-out dogs. They make great high-energy pets (It has been rumored that couch-potato Mals exist. I'm not too sure about it), and still have ability for competition OB.

Be careful that the dog has not been washed-out of training or breeding because of a health problem that you are not prepared to treat or manage.

I used Mals as an example. Same story applies to any breed.

Happy hunting!

Word of caution when dealing with "washed out" working prospects. A Malinois that I might wash out as a working prospect may still be way too much dog for a large percentage of the population.

This applies for GSDs and many other working breeds.

Malinois (for example) can be obsessive/compulsive. This may drive the average dog owner crazy, even though the dog may not have the extra oomph that a competition home would require....

Evaluate each dog individually, I can't tell you how many pups I have sold that I wouldn't keep for my own personal dogs to "work" that have gone on to become working dogs... Everyones standards and evaluation criteria are different.

I totally agree with this. Also, I worked around Mals for a year or more before I made the decision to purchase one. I had a reputable trainer find and evaluate for me, as I was not sure about breeders. I wanted to make sure that I was up to task so I read and exposed myself to all the Mali's I could and I was hooked after that. With that said, being hooked was a small factor in my purchase decision.

I started with a 12 week old pup.

She was picked for working ability and drive, so I got MORE than I paid for and I would totally recommend the breeder I bought from.

Now there are the Belgian Tervuren, which have an "off switch" so to speak, but are still high drive. But, they are long haired and require maintenance for that. They are agile, smart and obedient. A gal friend of mine in Montana has a very nice working stud dog.

http://www.bigmtnbelgians.com/

Hope you find the dog your looking for.

I have to throw my 2 cents in here: It is my personal opinion that one of the best breeds someone can get for a first time dog owner is a Corgi...they're big dogs in a medium dog's body (approximately 27-30lbs), they're tough and fun as hell, and don't require as much exercise as the bigger dogs. They're pretty portable, very trainable and in general have a wonderful, impish personality.

They can be stubborn, but not like a rottie or the like can be. They're more like pranksters. They also don't have many breed-related health problems compared to many other breeds, and the ones they do have a generally not life-threatening.

Someone said they're like German Shepherds without the legs or tail, and to a certain extent I agree...They're like a starter Shepherd! I also heard that they're two dogs long and half a dog high.