The 10 most Manly Dogs

[moncton golden flames]

Originally Posted by 4X4

little yappers that have the gall to bite your ankles as you walk away from them. Bigger dogs just seem more secure about themselves.

In my experience, little dogs tend to be like that because they don't get socialized enough. Big dogs need to go to the park for exercise and they play with other dogs, where smaller dogs tend to get enough running around the house and don't play well with others.

Great call on the Rotti too, I love them. I knew a guy who's Rotti was so amazingly a softie. My next dog might very well be a Rot.

[moncton golden flames]

Originally Posted by HalifaxDrunk

I second that, Beagles are great!

I'm in the Labrador Retriever camp, I may be biased since I'm on my 3rd now. I had a Yellow Lab/Doberman mix in high school, he was awesome! I miss him.

I am biased towards the Yellow Labradors too, IMO, they are one of the greatest dogs ever. My Yellow Lab (Cooper) is the sweetest thing ever.

I'm trying to post a photo, but the link keeps showing 'broken'

[Flashpoint]

My best friend's Border Collie learned how to open the refrigerator. I was over at his house one day and saw a rope tied around the fridge. I asked if someone was on a diet. He just looked at me and said "It's not good to have a smart dog".

He had come home from school to find the fridge door wide open, the freezer defrosted, wieners all over the place, and the dog asleep in the livingroom with a half eaten roast in front of him.

Ever since then, I have respected the Border Collie above all other dogs.

[ricoFlame]

chesapeake bay retriever. way more manly than the golden.

[FlamesAddiction]

I volunteer to walk dogs at the local SPCA (also for cat enrichment), and probably the quietest and sweetest dog there is a Bull Mastiff. While all the other dogs bark and freak out when you enter the kennels, he just sits there calmly and waits his turn.

The worst one is probably the Rotty mix. Not scientific, I know.

[Crispy's Critter]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

Here's a few suggestions for your list:
-Great Dane (huge, powerful but generally docile, fairly intelligent)
-Springer/Brittany Spaniel (two of the best gun dog breeds around, very intelligent, great appearance when groomed well)
-Golden/Chocolate Labrador (large, intelligent, strong, loyal)
-Border Collie (probably the smartest dogs around)
-Pug (just kidding)

I have to agree with this one. My collie isn't big, but a couple weeks ago my buddy's two (yes 2!) boxers (who both outweigh my dog by over 3:1) decided they were going to start crap with him and take over my yard. He kicked the hell out of both of them and had them cowering between the garage and the fence. I think the combo of speed and intelligence was the main reason. He had them confused so bad they couldn't really defend themselves. The whole thing had me laughing (after I realized he was holding his own against them, was pretty terrified at first), but I laughed even harder when my friend said "OMG, I got two pussies for dogs!"

Other than that incident, his temperament is awesome. He plays with any dog, the bigger the better, plays great with children, and has no hesitation at all about getting between me and anything he perceives as a threat to me. He's really loyal, and will stick beside me no matter where I am. (His loyalty might be heightened by the fact that he was a stray, so he might also have a bit of separation anxiety, and might stick closer to me because of that)

Of course I'm kinda biased

[octothorp]

My Cardigan Corgi is manly enough for me (though really, the breed name alone is enough to disqualify it from any manliness conversation). He's robust, compact, solid and enthusiastic, totally rocks the agility course when he's not trying to goad one of the other dogs into wrestling, and has a bark loud and deep enough to discourage most door-to-door salespeople. He's protective (when we're in the room, he always lies down facing the door so that he's on guard), but quick to become friendly as soon as he meets someone new.

[Mccree]

I like Scottish Terriers. Loyal, smart but can be alittle stuborn. Great dogs.

[Buff]

Why would you want a manly dog? Do you want a manly woman too? I would prefer to have a dogly dog.

My preference for dogs is golden retrievers or cocker spaniels.

[llama64]

Any owner of a dog that was bred for fighting and or guard duty does need to be cautious. This includes Dobermans, Rotties and Pit Bulls (Staffies).

I've seen lines of Pit Bulls that would tear your face off if you got too close. I've also seen lines that would flop onto their back at your feet and demand that you rub their belly. The pit bull is slowly becoming one of the more passive dogs in America, but there are still some lines that are dangerous. Bottom line is, if you are buying a dog that has a bit of a reputation, do your homework and research the bloodlines. If you have a family, get a passive one. If you need guard your scrapyard, get one bred for that duty. Do not try to use a guard dog as a family pet though!

And be responsible. Don't let your dog (of any breed) have full freedom in your neighbourhood. You'll make your neighbours grateful if you demonstrate some responsibility.

Sad thing is, there are a lot of idiotic owners out there that won't heed to common sense and will go out and grab the most vicious dog they can find as some sort of machismo status symbol. Dogs are bred to fulfill a purpose. Make sure you get the right one for the job.

[MJK]

Originally Posted by longsuffering

What other breed will jump out of a helicopter?

I'd like to introduce you to Orson!

That's a Newfoundland dog right? I was going to suggest this as well.

[gordo67]

Originally Posted by 4X4

My large family has always had dogs. My sisters tend toward little yappers that have the gall to bite your ankles as you walk away from them. Bigger dogs just seem more secure about themselves.

After having a few breeds, I can say that I'm a rottie guy for life. Both rotties I've had (well, one of the was a longtime roommate's) were far and away the best dogs I've ever had. Loyal as hell. My dog can't stand not knowing where I am at all times. When I'm camping and I take off on the quad, she patiently sits at the mouth of the trail she saw me leave on. I never have to tie her up because she won't wander out of earshot because that'd mean that she can't see or smell me.
When my ex took her camping without me, she never left her side.
When a guy handed her a beer that he dropped and then made a sudden movement to catch before it hit the ground, she leapt like a cat to get inbetween them and growl at him. No biting, no barking, just a firm growl of warning.

They are the best dogs ever. You can poke them in the eye and pull on their ears and if they don't like it, they'll just move their head. The ex's nephew rides Moxie like a horse and feeds her carrots. I can put a morsel of steak in my teeth and she'll gently take it without even touching me....... I can go on and on about how great my dog is, but this post is really meant to help dispell the myth that rotties are psychopathic killing machines.
Obviously you wouldn't let your kids play with a junkyard dog, but as a family pet and friend, they are unbeatable. IMO.

I agree with you 100%, my Rottie is 8 and I would get another one in a second. She is 120+ pounds and thinks she is a lap dog. When we got her as a pup my daughter was 3, my inlaws went insane because we bought a killer LOL. She let my baby ride her, tug her ears, poke her in the eyes, take food (pig ears) out of her mouth, and even bite her. Never has she growled at the kids, usually she would just move or give them a big lick. My son is 6 and he did the samething my daughter did and then some. If someone is upset or feeling sick she stands by them, I mean literally stays with them until things are good. She is super close to my son and if you aren't mom or dad and try to give him she will let you know that you better back off.

She moans when she wants something, shakes when it thunders and moves her bowl when she is hungry. She won't go out when it is cold or if the ground is wet, we have to force her out to go. If she isn't sleeping in our bed she sleeps with our son. This is the most family oriented dogs I have ever had. I love my dog and now that she is getting close to the average life span of the breed it saddens me to think what will happen once she is gone. Anyone that has ever been exposed to Rotties knows what I am talking about.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by gordo67

I agree with you 100%, my Rottie is 8 and I would get another one in a second. She is 120+ pounds and thinks she is a lap dog. When we got her as a pup my daughter was 3, my inlaws went insane because we bought a killer LOL. She let my baby ride her, tug her ears, poke her in the eyes, take food (pig ears) out of her mouth, and even bite her. Never has she growled at the kids, usually she would just move or give them a big lick. My son is 6 and he did the samething my daughter did and then some. If someone is upset or feeling sick she stands by them, I mean literally stays with them until things are good. She is super close to my son and if you aren't mom or dad and try to give him she will let you know that you better back off.

She moans when she wants something, shakes when it thunders and moves her bowl when she is hungry. She won't go out when it is cold or if the ground is wet, we have to force her out to go. If she isn't sleeping in our bed she sleeps with our son. This is the most family oriented dogs I have ever had. I love my dog and now that she is getting close to the average life span of the breed it saddens me to think what will happen once she is gone. Anyone that has ever been exposed to Rotties knows what I am talking about.

Helluva post. They're just so damn friendly I can't believe they're associated with face ripping and terror. You're damn right they'll rip the face off of a stranger that tries to grab your kid, but they won't kill grandma for scolding junior.

As for the pending sadness, keep your head up. Moxie is 9.5 and still looking (and vet checked) good. Yeah, their average life span is ~9 years, but taking good care of them increases their lifespan a few great years.

I think that what really gets them is that their hips go when they're ~8. This is why I've always been liberal about letting her on the couch and always giving her soft places to lounge. Make it easy on the hips and she wont get the arthritis that leads to inactivity which leads to obesity and ultimately death.

My Big Baby is a princess in my home. She reciprocates by not stepping in mud puddles. Sucha gooda girrl.

[gordo67]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Helluva post. They're just so damn friendly I can't believe they're associated with face ripping and terror. You're damn right they'll rip the face off of a stranger that tries to grab your kid, but they won't kill grandma for scolding junior.


I think that what really gets them is that their hips go when they're ~8. This is why I've always been liberal about letting her on the couch and always giving her soft places to lounge. Make it easy on the hips and she wont get the arthritis that leads to inactivity which leads to obesity and ultimately death

She gave Nana a little nip when she went after our son, nothing to hurt her more of a warning to lay off. Nana has never physically went after the little turd since. A good verbal scolding does just fine. I gave him a haircut once and he started to freaking out (we were behind closed doors) and she literally was trying to come through the door, she is very protective of Reid.

She still looks pretty good but is a bit over weight. She has been fairly inactive but this is just the way she is. When we first got her we took her for a walk up Nosehill, half way up she decides she had enough and we had to carry her. She has her own couch at least she thinks it is hers so she is always lounging on a soft surface. We just went to the hill and she still only goes half way up and that is enough for her. She is the biggest softie you will ever meet, but I owuldn't want to be the one who came afer one of my kids.

[keratosis]

Wolf.

[longsuffering]

Originally Posted by MJK

That's a Newfoundland dog right? I was going to suggest this as well.

Yup, he's 61 kg of Newfie. The colder, the wetter and the windier the weather, the more he loves to stay outside.

[PYroMaNiaC]

Any breed of dog can go crazy. I took in a yellow lab that was positively schitzo. I should have been certified insane myself for trying to save her. The first month was hell on wheels. My girls walked on egg shells around her. The rule list I put in place for their safety was a mile long. They weren't to touch her, talk to her, approach her, feed her. The second month was better, but not by much. It's been a gruelling job to socialize her.

We've had her now for about 4.5 years. Today, she's a good dog. She barks but it's now a rare occasion when she growls and never at my family. She likes to play fetch with my kids, but only ever wants to bring the stick back to me. She still doesn't like strange men, but responds well to the command "nice" when new people come into the yard. It's a good trait in a guard dog. Three years ago, she saved my black lab/rottie mix from drowning in the flood-swollen river in our back yard. I've introduced two new rescues since her arrival - a dalmation that needed to go to "the farm" and an Akbash that has a serious case of wanderlust - to the herd of dogs and she's quite happy with the ever growing family - as long as she gets fed first. She'll always have a few issues, but I trust her now and she's earned a special place in my heart.

Anyone who gets a dog needs to be extremely aware of their own abilities to handle dogs, the enviroment that the dog will be living in, and lastly and least important, the heritage of the breed they're choosing. Tequia could be saved because she's a lab, but if the other two ingrediants for a successful partnership had been taken into consideration, she wouldn't have needed saving.

Oh, and as for manly dogs, I would highly recommend the Akbash. Amazing, simply marvelous dog. (The wanderlust I spoke of isn't generally an issue with this breed, but of course, I only ever seem to own dogs that have some quirks that make them unsuitable for the general dog loving population.)

http://www.akbashdog.com/content/view/13/32/

[alltherage]

[Shin Pad]

I've had large dogs all my life. Usually they have been German Shepherds and Labs. I just put down my last White Shepherd on Jan. 3 of this year (he was 13 years old). Anyway, we now have our first small dog - I guess it goes with age (I'm close to retirement). We got a Boston Terrier. It is quite a change from Shepherds.

All the Shepherds I have owned have been extremely friendly and mild (with the exception of one Female Shepherd I owned). I found them to be very smart and very loyal. I walked my White Shepherd in town without a leash, and he stuck by my side the whole time. When I stopped, he would immediately sit right beside me. Man, I really miss that dog.

Anyway, with the Boston Terrier, I was pleasently surprised. These dogs are also very smart - he was a pleasure to train. They are active dogs, so I wouldn't recommend them to anyone that doesn't have a lot of time to spend with them. I work out of my home, so the dog is always around. They don't shed much and are great as lap dogs.

[llama64]