Quote:

If you want a really good house pet that is easy to raise in the home, you should get a Malinois.

ROTFLMAO Yea, and make sure both parents are french ring III dogs, they are the easiest to have in the house. Thats it, yup!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

To help Steve out here, I'm going to re-print what he was looking for ( from the thread that I linked to )

"What lines would the board recommend for my situation. Here are my needs:
-Family dog: great with kids
-Dog that is easy to train
-tracking for downed deer (blood tracking)
-stable in house setting "not bouncing off the walls"
-novice to gsd's
I know that my needs are vauge, but your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.





From what he indicated there, a calm pet lines Lab with just a little tracking drive would be his best match.

Steve, what is your skill level and more importantly your level of committment? I just read through your first thread, and have to agree with the person who compared hunting line labs to Tigger on speed. With the criteria you listed, you'd be pulling your hair out with one. While I have no hands on experience with GSD's, friend's and family have owned them. They didn't appear as chaotic as the labs. They carry themselves more intelligently and more dignified IMO. The other thread suggested an East German line gsd, and I've heard that advice given many times to people interested in getting their first protection breed. Look into them and decide how much time you have to offer the dog. Maybe look into Bloodhounds as well. A pet lab might do good as well. I just fostered a yellow lab recently, half from supposed 'working' lines and the other half show. The dog was very sedate in the house, but not the sharpest tool in the shed. He sniffed a little, loved to swim, and shed more than any dog I've ever seen. He was also semi aggressive. If it's a choice between a lab and a gsd it's really a no brainer. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Good luck!

Steve, have you looked at the book Tracking Dogs for Finding Wounded Deer ?

It has 4 chapters devoted to selecting a breed and tracking prospect. There are quite a few breeds to look into.

Dachshunds, Beagles, Bassets, Coonhounds, Bloodhounds, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrieves, Chesapeakes and Flat Coats, Curs, Cattle dogs, Terriers, German Jagdterriers, Norwegian Elkhounds, German Shepherds, Belgian Sheepdogs

What ever breed you choose, be aware that a working or hunting bloodline will require much more training and control, but a showline may disappoint you.

If you are looking for primarily a family dog, a beagle or dachshund may suit your lifestyle better because of their smaller size. Beagles can be notoriously stubborn, though.

No one can tell you what breed of dog will be best with children. The dog recommended for decades as the best breed for children and even called the "nanny dog" and "nursemaid" is now thought of as vicious because of irresponsible dog owners.

Any dog that is raised fairly, trained often and consistently, exercised adequately, given a healthy diet, appropriate medical care, and a structured life has a very good chance of turning out to be a safe, affectionate family pet.

If you cannot or will not make a committment to caring for a dog properly, it is better to NOT get the dog than to have the dog become unruly or even aggressive with your children because of poor training or lack of care.

I guess I should say that my current dog is a #150 pound Great Dane. This dog was quite active as a pup and needed constant excercise, but it was not a problem as I enjoy getting out of the house to run the dog. The down side to my Dane is it took her a while to learn basic OB and their life span is limited. She is currently 8 and I figure she has about two years left. I will not get a new dog until she goes, but I do plan on doing a little research on my next dog.

Might be a little bit o/t but I've always just known the Drahthaar as 'German Shorthaired Pointer.' Of course, I suppose that if you live in Germany it would just be 'Shorthaired Pointer,' right? Sorry, I make these little mental detours every once in a while... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Good for you to be thinking ahead and doing some research. It appears that maybe a Lab might be your best bet. I have known just two GSPs that made passable family pets but they didn't have anything on what a nice Lab could give to your family.

The drahthaar is the wirehaired version.

Learn something new every day...like how much I DON'T know. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I had a german friend tell me it was "similar to the Shorthaired Pointer."

"Similar," I should have realized, doesn't mean "the same as." <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Hey, what do I know? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />