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Beagles, Jean?

These folks don't want to do training. Most folks say they're willing to do a lot of training then end up doing little. So when folks say they're only willing to do a little, I expect that they'll actually do almost none.

There's a reason why so many beagle are on Petfinder. They're adorable, and untrained, they dig (and therefore escape), bark,bay, and howl when they're lonely (more so than most breeds), go to heroic lengths to get into anything that might be even vaguely considered foodish. and often don't respond to more traditional training. So they're called stubborn and stupid (thanks, Stanley Coren), when in fact most beagles are bright and lively. But they have to have engaged owners willing to m anage them 24 hours a day until they (the beagles, not the owners) about 8years old.

So shelters and beagle rescues are bursting at the seams for a reason. Adorable and sweet isn't enough for the average lazy owner when the dog does not obey the simplest commands, is hard to housebreak and gets into the garbage regularly.

I cringed when Uno won Westminster. That yowling he did when he won was pretty intentional by his handler, though. I'm sure there were a lot of people thinking, "oh, I'd love a cute little dog like that," until they saw how a beagle can just howl, and howl, and howl.....


I think Leonbergers are a good suggestion. I've never met any but a nice very mellow ones. An older well-screened retriever could work, as could an adult (well screened) large dog like a Dane. The problem with Danes is that they're guard dogs and can become very guardy and territorial if owners don't manage that from puppyhood.

I would recommend they not bother looking for a breed but a "type" of dog and then work with their local humane society or shelter to find a dog that suits their needs. There ARE dogs that suit them. But if they have a certain breed or two in mind, they may skip a dog that really is perfect for them.

My newest dog is a mix of two breeds I'd never get, but she's a nice blend of smart, energetic and willing to please: just gentle enough to play easily with my small dog and just feisty enoough to push back when my GSD gets pushy. I didn't plan to get this blend (I wanted a beagle or beagle/mix). But I was
open to getting a dog that could blend into my family. So I ended up with a JRT/Cattle Dog (possibly Aussie) mix.

And she's a lovely addition to our family.

She is also a mix I would never recommend for a novice or lazy owner. It's best when we match individual dogs to their prospective families, instead of looking for a breed type and hoping that it will work.

Have you all heard of a Native American Indian dog? They've got the longest life span (that I know of) for being a breed that's on the larger side. Plus the standard seems to have a wonderful temperament and they're hypoallergenic! I might be dogless if my two ever leave me simply because I know my own personality but that's the one dog I might consider getting!

I have been there somewhat recently, and it's a very lonely place to be....

I just pray I've a long way to go right now with Smokey being 4ish and Zeeva being 3 c:.

I'm sorry. I don't know how it feels to lose a dog (or a cat). I've only lost birds. I never really felt the void from that (maybe because I was young?). Only time will tell. I know if (big if) I ever have kids, and they go through the loss of our pets, I might have to cave and get them another...But man it's been a tough road with my two.

I can't imagine being dogless. I just can't.

It's why I maintain a herd of dogs, and not just individuals, but dogs of different sizes and different ages, so that if life goes as planned, I always have at least two at a time.

Of course, life doesn't always go as planned. The 16 year old who bloated outlived the 2 year old undergoing routine surgery. But we manage to go on, and I've learned that those who leave do so to make room for others who need us too. Life happens. We open our home and hearts again and again because that's who were are and part of the reason we were put on this earth. I know that our furry ones who left would not be happy knowing that no one was lying on our feet as we watch TV, encouraging us to hike up that steep trail or guarding the house from squirrels.

And honestly, I don't think we have any idea how to spend money if we didn't have dogs.

They can be challenges, particularly if you are bonded with them and care for them properly. But they are our teachers, and we also can learn a lot from them.

Maybe a Bernese Mountain dog? Family dogs that don't need much, except nap time

I will recommend vom GSD for protection better protection dog.

I know I'm late to the party here but what about retired military working dogs? The husband and I had planned to go that direction but we had a 12 lb little alpha boy to worry about so we went with a puppy. Our next GSD will be a retired MWD though and many of them are ready for a slower pace so do not need all the exercise of younger dogs of any breed and they are very well trained well before you get them.

Maybe I misread, I didn't read all the posts. If they can't handle a GSD and asked about another breed, why could they handle a retired military dog.

My friend trains Malinois for the military. You think a family could handle a military dog if they can't handle a pet GSD? They are crazy animals.

might depend a bit on what they were trained for in the military - I.E. difference between a patrol dog and drug detection or S&R dogs, perhaps.

A couple of national level IPO dogs I know are really great pets, kids and all; others not so much!

OP was 4.5 years ago. Wonder what the outcome was.

Haha, good question. It would be nice to know.