What breed(s) is your puppy and why did you choose your breed?

Golden Retriever. She’s our second, and they are my favourite breed. Loyal, smart, biddable, and most importantly kind. When we chose the breed for our first dog, I wanted a large dog (for hiking with) and a dog that would be an “easy” first dog. Loved the look of them too if I’m being honest. Considered a number of breeds but something just drew me to goldens. Our first one really made us fall for the breed and I think I’ll always have at least one from now on.

Border collie. Because I love to make my life harder. Jk. Once you have one you just can’t go back. They aren’t even a dog, they’re just a person in a dog suit

I got a corgi because I wanted a big dog in a smaller package. I grew up with labs, but wanted a dog I could easily lift in case of emergencies. Now I’m obsessed with herding breeds. He’s high energy, Velcro, and always willing to work. He’s my hiking buddy and first agility dog. I also love that he’s a challenge; we’ve overcome a lot together.

I previously had large dogs most of my life, then I got a rat terrier mix rescue from Wyoming and that dog was one of the best dogs I've ever had - he was tough, small, and versatile- he hiked with me, trucked with me as my trucking buddy and was an all around good boi

This dog I got now- purebred Rat Terrier- I chose him partly because of how great my last dog was but also because Rat Terriers are- single coated not fluffy low grooming needs, tough thick boned, good endurance athletic, Confident, super smart, and super affectionate to their people-

reasons- I hike, camp, bike a lot and needed a dog that wouldn't get tangled in burrs, easy tick removal, high endurance, tough enough to take a tumble, adaptable to changing lifestyle conditions and small enough that he can fit in a smaller space for portability both in travel and if an emergency happens I can still carry him out. And snuggly because I'm over affectionate physically and wanted a pup that was cool with snuggles, plus camping in cold conditions it's handy to both keep doggo warm and heat my bed if I have a wiggly pup in there. Intelligence was really high on my requirements as well- I love training dogs, and seeing their confidence when they figure out what is needed of them. Most dogs really love having a job and Ratties are no exception.

Bernese mountain dog. Our last dog was a human/dog aggressive rescue that we loved, but he truly held us captive. This time around I needed THE NICEST dog breed, and that’s totally what we got. He’s a big boy- 65lbs at 5months, but man he’s just a big cuddle bug who LOVESSS everyone and everything he meets. If you need a guaranteed sweetheart this is the breed for you ❤️

We chose a Finnish Lapphund! They're smart, easy to train but also have an independent streak, and as a cat lover I'm down with that lol. They also have a great propensity for being active or chill due to their ancestry. They don't slobber, or have a super "doggy" odor and are eager to please. The choice was mostly because she would fit into our lifestyle, and would be a good fit for a household with other animals! So far she's been an absolute joy and we love her to bits!

I got a miniature dachshund because I have always loved dachshunds and I live in a small apartment. I love their loyalty, courage and character. They're big dogs in a little body.

Whippet. Happy to be active or lazy, as long as they are with their person! Lots of hiking in nice weather, but don’t particularly like cold rainy weather (just like me) so those are snuggle days 😊

I chose an Australian Shepherd for their sensitivity, loyalty, high activity level and willingness to please.

I did a lot of research and struggled to pick a breed; thought low shedding and barking would be ideal but in the long run, that wasn’t what I needed at all

I researched for literally two years before settling on a poodle. Then I had to decide on size. I wanted a standard, but that was absolutely not going to happen. I now have a toy 😅🤣

I chose the breed due to the fact they’re highly biddable, person-focused, intelligent, empathetic, dogs that I really can feel like do anything. In my research I just kept coming back to poodle, it was so surprising lol. It’s like I wanted to NOT want a poodle, but for my desires, every breed ended up being compared to a poodle and it came up not quite what I wanted.

I have her now and she’s genuinely so far everything I wanted and more. I’m so impressed by her. Poodles are reallly wonderful dogs.

I have an Irish setter pup. I've had English setters my whole life, and when I started looking at rescues there was slim pickings at the English setter rescues. The Irish setter rescue had a litter of puppies, and they worked with me to place the appropriate one for my family. Setters are excellent with kids, which was important since I have two elementary age kids. My husband wanted a mastiff or other xl breed but we also live in a fairly small house so he was vetoed 🙃. Once you go setter it's hard to go back.

As my family and I have allergies we needed a hypoallergenic breed. The bichon frise seemed to fit the bill personality and lifestyle wise. I previously had bichons so that solidified our decision. We’ve had our girl for 2 months now and while challenging she brings so much joy to our lives.

I have an Australian shepherd. I’ve always adored high energy breeds and extremely biddable breeds. My dream dog is a border collie but I wanted something a little less sensitive and easier to acclimate to city life while also still retaining all the traits I love in herding breeds. Especially as an adult who hasn’t owned a dog since I was a kid.

Best choice of my life. My dog has made me super invested in dog training, dog behavior and opened a door for dog sports (an activity I never thought I would do!)

I was super analytical and realistic with my choice as well. I knew I would need a lot of time and resources to cater to such a high maintenance breed and was prepared for that. My next will likely be a show line border collie as I feel very comfortable with handling the intensity of the breed after owning my Aussie (my Aussie had some excitement based reactivity his first year of life and that was challenging but very humbling. He is now a phenomenally well trained, sweet, well tempered dog and dealing with that made me realize I could handle “tougher” dog breeds and temperaments).

Golden retrievers - we are on our third - first girl - sweetest most loving and loyal dogs plus are unique characters. Once you have a golden hard to do any other breed. We have been lucky both our boys lived ~ 12 plus years

English Mastiff.

I want a sweet, goofy, loyal lazy pal who isn’t very active and will be gentle with family and friends.

I’m disabled and can’t be very active so a dog that is fine doing a few blocks and coming home for a walk is the perfect energy level for me :)

Plus I’m obsessed with giant dog breeds 💕

We adopted a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel after learning about how sweet, kind, and sensitive they were. He lived until he was 14. He lived the longest life span for that breed and he was the absolute best. I still miss him always. He passed last year and had my heart. His spinning tail and slow walk to greet me every day. Shoving his face between my legs and snuggles. An amazing dog after having a highly reactive Daschund for nearly 9 years. Not that Daschunds are prone to reactivity, just that our previous Daschund was previously abused and hated strangers. He loved his people, just not strangers.

I now have a mixed breed of unknown origin and he's six months. Just happened and I'm okay with that too! Cavaliers are an expensive breed to own and I wanted a larger dog. I've had dogs of a variety of size and I wanted a pup to meet my own activity needs and this one just fell into my lap. But man do I miss my Cavie every day. He is deeply missed. Passed from a brain tumor. Sweetest man I'll ever did know.

Boxer, I knew multiple breeders as a child and they were always so playful and friendly and up for a good time. At the same time if someone posed a threat to their human they are quick to step between and will protect them. They also do well around horses as they dont have the drive to chase them and are good around cats and small dogs as well. I also like that they enjoy being around their person and focus on them. I prefer cuddly dogs rather than idependent and short hair is a lot less work. I have 2 long haired cats and really dont want another animal that requires daily brushing and regular hair cuts. After losing my boxer lab mix I wanted a dog who I knew their history and had a better idea on their health so wanted a purebred from reputable breeder.

I wanted a dog all my life. I wanted a husky because a friend's family had a pack of them and I wanted a dog that looked like a wolf.

But my mom was afraid of dogs.

In HS I took a few psychology classes and spent a year conditioning my mother to be less afraid of dogs.

There was a roadside store on the way to our cabin that always had puppies. And I begged and begged to stop there occasionally. 

One time we did stop, but didn't get a dog.

Then a few weeks later we did stop, but they had no huskies. They did have a few napping cocker spaniels that my mom wanted to see. Decades ago my aunt had a cocker and my mom said it was the only dog she ever could handle.

Well, the cocker puppies were tired, and my mom just assumed that was a personality trait so we took the "calmest" cocker spaniel puppy home.

We quickly realized Holly was not going to be like that all the time haha

So anyway 20+ years layer I'm on my 3rd cocker spaniel. 

Toy Poodle; I currently live at home with my mom & chose a toy poodle because my mom said she loved having a poodle before I was born & I wanted a smart & hypo allergenic dog so I decided on a toy poodle. I wasn’t sure if I wanted another dog after my childhood dog died almost two years ago but then I met my little boy Teddy & didn’t want to leave without him

I did a lot of research to see what type of dog would fit our family best. I have a 4 yr old granddaughter that lives with us so it had to be good with kids. We wanted a loyal, lovable, easy going, easy to train and not to high maintenance lol. So we went with a yellow lab. Just got our fur two weeks ago

I love the shiba inu and it was my first dog as an adult. I adopted my grandmothers red shiba when my granny passed away. I loved that dog so much I ended up adopting a second in 2022 and just adopted my third one this year. I love their independent spirit, their loyalty, they make great companions, and are a great breed. I’m stubborn and these dogs match my attitude. They are so kind and special.

My girl is a mini schanuzer! 🐶 I always loved small dogs, but was initial thinking about Yorkies but the more I learned about schnauzers, I fell in love with the breed. Our girl is sassy, smart, stubborn but also so friendly, cuddly, and sweet. 🥰

I have a rough collie, my sister has one of his cousins and I pretty much knew immediately this was what a wanted, my boi ended up being a super intelligent velcro dog, semi high energy but couch potato capable, all about family and loves every animal he's comes in contact with. He's literally the most perfect dog ever and I couldn't have chosen a better companion I already know my next will be a rough collie as well.

Havanese (mixed with I think schnauzer?) he’s recently rescued and is one. My Havanese poodle recently passed and the Havanese affection was what I wanted again. This is the first non poodle mix I’ve had - we also have a goldendoodle (who missed the poodle brain), and I’ve had cockapoo, bichipoo, standard poodle and miniature poodle throughout the years. I chose to look for another Havanese mix because I wanted another small dog who wanted to be with people constantly. I like the emotional support and constant presence.

Bouvier de Flandres. He’s our first, but have family who have Bouvs (actually our dog’s brother and half-brothers). Intensely loyal, too smart for their own good, complete stubborn a**holes, and stink to high heaven. He’s a fearless protector from burglars and chipmunks, alike. He has a giant personality (fitting as he’s a hundred pounds of muscle), ranging from cuddly teddy bear, to goofy family dog, to on-duty neighborhood watchdog.

Bouviers are immensely difficult, don’t listen, choose when they want to obey, and definitely pick favorites. But those sweet, sweet moments when they act like a normal, well-adjusted dog are all the more rewarding.

If you’re a glutton for being bullied by your dog, packaged as a giant teddy-bear, then Bouviers are for you!

Audible fart count while writing this: 3

Smooth collie!

I chose this breed because they are moderate energy level. They’ll go for hikes or just have chill days. Very sweet and sensitive, eager to please. Also very smart! :)

Smooth because I like the short fur better. My girl is pretty great. The only thing I wish out of her was that she was more affectionate! She is SO food motivated, but praise does little to nothing for her. Doesn’t get her tail wagging or anything lol.

Greyhound- very quiet, no bark. Very low energy. Short coat. Sleep all day. Docile and elegant.

Standard poodle- highly intelligent and very easy training. Athletic, able to run the trails while we ride horses. Not overly barky. Has the ability to sit so I can take her in the car (our greyhounds cannot/will not sit) Soft, curly coat that does not shed. Get to have her groomed with fun pompom bracelets and a topknot

I extensively researched dogs that have a better chance of success living in an apartment, in a big city, with a cat. Landed on cardigan corgi! She’s coming home with us in two weeks so fingers crossed it works out ha.

We chose a GSP because we love the breed. My mother in law and brother in law both have one also. So when brother in law bred his, we got one of the pups! We are an active family, so we love a dog that can keep up with us on our adventures!

We also have a husky mix that belonged to my step-son at his bio mom’s house. When he came to live with us full time, the dog came too! Not sure I would have ever picked a husky, but she’s an amazing dog and we’ve been happy to have her.

I’ve been wanting a yorkie puppy for 4 years now and I finally got one two weeks ago and he’s amazing!

I wanted a yorkie specifically because they are hypoallergenic (I have allergies but love animals), they’re little, they love to cuddle, have lots of energy to play, and I just think they’re the cutest things.

My puppy is a Yorkshire terrier. I chose this breed because they are affectionate, loyal, cuddly and playful. I had another Yorkie previously and loved him so so much.

Alaskan Malamute. I had always wanted a red malamute or husky growing up and we finally moved back to a colder climate to support the breed. We chose malamute over husky bc they’re much calmer, “gentle giants,” incredibly intelligent, cat-like, and love having a job to do (pulling, obedience, etc). Huskies are way too neurotic and hyper-active for our family. Plus malamutes are gorgeous, strong dogs who are always up for long walks, training sessions, and cuddles. We plan to put her in sporting competitions and teach her pulling for winter sports. I am obsessed with my dog and have turned into one of those “if my dog can’t come, I can’t come” people.

Shetland Sheedog bc they’re sweet and smart and easy to train.

OP - you should say which breed you have.

I got my first JRT in 1997 for my 16 yr old son. She turned out to be so smart , loving & happy. Loved everyone, especially kids. She lived for 19.5 years & I will always love her. Thus my love of the breed. Took in a JRT rescue when she was 9. Now she’s gone too. So I now have a 10 month old cutie pie from a breeder in Maine. She’s frightfully smart & I love her to pieces.

I didn’t really decide they asked us to foster and we thought we wanted a samoyed and he is perfect.

I wanted: • a long haired dog, double coated (aka not a poodle etc) • friendly with all people and dogs even strangers • active but not working crazy • trainable • medium or large

He is perfect for me and not that barky lol

Boxer. Not for any good reason. My first was rehomed to me (baby in the family was allergic). My former husband really loved that dog and wanted another, so when we first one passed away we got a puppy. Then we divorced and the dog came with me. Boxers are dogs with a lot of personality and can be very sweet but in my experience they are also very independent, resource guard (especially females) and have selective hearing. I love my dog but when she’s gone I will not be getting another boxer lol.

I have a whippet because they tend to not bark much, don’t shed often, live long lives, moderate energy levels, big ol snoot, medium size, affectionate, good natured, the list goes on and on 😊

Maltese. My rescue search for a small dog was not going well and I chanced into a Maltese. Perfect size (10 pounds) for a senior, completely adorable, portable, low shed, and playful. He surprisingly requires a lot of exercise which is good because it makes me get off my butt. We do lots of trail walks and I've enjoyed exploring places I never thought I would go.

A Bolognese. Not the pasta sauce. Sort of a rare breed, super smart, typically healthy, love their humans and other animals.

Japanese spitz.

We were browsing breeds, and cane across the danish spitz. We thought it looked really nice, and while the breed characteristics had some cons, overall it was interesting. We really wanted a pretty dog, but also a good temperament and energy level. The biggest con was picky eater. We talked about it with family, but put it on the back burner. We weren’t super actively looking. And the breeder I had talked to to get more info wanted the dog to be raw fed. Not something I feel comfortable getting right. Another con was it was slightly bigger than we wanted.

Then my sister in law told us she ran into her neighbor that had one that was pregnant. Long story short, we figured out it was a Japanese spitz. We looked it up and learned it’s a healthy breed, not known for being picky, and smaller in size.

There wasn’t any coms. It’s the perfect breed for us on paper, and also in practice it turns out.

Here’s the traits: Intelligent, sturdy mental health but needs a soft hand and no conflict in the family, good with kids and strangers, medium energy level but said to adapt to the family, easy to maintain fur (wash twice a year, brush weekly, daily when shedding), said to not shed much else, but there’s definitely some fur left behind on our sofa. They love the outdoors. And dirt falls off the white teflon fur when dry. Can be prone to separation anxiety, so best suited to people not away a lot. (I’m at home.)

It’s an amazing breed. He’s such a bundle of joy, full of mischief, but also a really good boy.

The most important thing he had to learn, was calm. 21 months and he’s so good!

Edit: they don’t drool, and don’t smell. Both very big positives!

We have a Wheaten Terrier. We wanted a small-medium dog that was sturdier than toy/smaller terrier breeds and truly no shed.

On personality, we wanted a dog that was cheerful and people-oriented with zero guarding. Clever and trainable without insane levels of drive.

6 months later, I have no idea why this breed is not more popular than it is. He is such a good, happy boy who is up for anything and is exuberantly loving.

Vizsla. I’m a shepherd person in my heart but knew that GSD wouldn’t be right at the moment and a malinois is a distant far off “maybe when you retire” dream. I also worked with tons of different breeds in various dog related jobs, and I think being able to work with these dogs really sold them for me. Our vizsla is the best dog I could ever ask for, I’m absolutely hooked on these things lol.

Wanted a husky. Live in an apartment. Realized it’s not fair to have a husky in such a small space. Got a pomsky instead. Love him to death even when he’s an asshole

I have a Great Dane “puppy”. He’s not yet 2. I wanted one my whole life and just so happens the breeder I had been following for years was having her last litter ever at the same time my dog was diagnosed with cancer and my dad was given a couple months to live.

I knew he’d fit into my lifestyle perfectly. I’m not a novice dog owner, love some chill dog sports (scentwork), enjoy a dog with a stubborn streak (my last dog was a beagle), but I don’t have a ton of time to spend with a high energy go go go dog. Nor do I spend a ton of time hiking etc.

He has been perfection. Beyond lovable, great with my granddaughter, awesome with my chickens, sweet as pie to everything and everyone, kills it at scentwork, good on leash and listens to me lots but has the sass of a thousand cats. He talks back, is stubborn af sometimes, has temper tantrums and then finishes up with loves. They say they look into your soul and they really do. I didn’t truly understand the specialness of a gd until I got one.

He requires mental exercise but not a ton of physical, so he’s perfect for me.

I have a pug that I rescued. I had one growing up so I have a soft spot for the breed. I also am in an apartment and wanted a small dog with lower energy requirements and I spend a lot of time at home so I wanted a really cuddly and affectionate dog. When my childhood pug died I said I wouldn’t get another because of their health issues but when I saw my buddy on a rescue site I knew I needed him. I also am lucky enough to afford to get him some surgeries to help with his breathing so he should live a great life. He is new to me and we are currently working through some separation anxiety but I have faith we will get through that and he’s a lovely addition. He is so loving and friendly. To him there are no strangers- just future friends. He is also very docile. Does fine in the car. Fine at other peoples houses. Does fine with people over. As long as he has company he’s happy. I would never tell people to get a pug from a breeder because i do think it’s an inhumane breed that should stop being bred, and with all of their health concerns they are very costly. But if you see one to rescue- know you will never get more love in the world. You will be their whole world and they will trust you without doubt (unless it’s mealtime in which case both the lateness and the measly nature of the meal is to be doubted)

My shelter search was not going well and I missed my terrier mix, so I researched all the AKC terrier breeds for a small/medium sized, athletic, quiet, smart, friendly, cooperative, low maintenance dog I would be able to deal with as I move into my 7th decade. I ended up with two sibling Cesky Terrier puppies, and they are all that plus affectionate and non-shedding. Hit the absolute dog jackpot, a wonderful breed.

I have an Australian Shepherd. I chose her because my 16-year-old was going through a nervous breakdown and wanted a dog. My Aussie is a homebody. She will actually try and move me with her body to go back home on walks. Shes 7 years old and I adore her.

My second dog is a lab Pitbull mix. I was looking for a lab and I got my dog Ash he's almost 3 years old. He's the sweetest most loving dog I've ever had.

My youngest is a mix of many dogs. 1/4 dachshund, mini Australian Shepherd, Australian cattle dog, German Shepherd, Pitbull, black lab, and mastiff. She's a little over a year old and looks like a black border collie.

I love all three of my dogs. Except for the Australian Shepherd I got the other two because they needed a home and my stupid ADHD brain thanks the three dogs is a perfect number.

Originally I had wanted a German Shepherd for years, because I wanted a big, smart dog that would be protective when I’m on walks (I’ve been followed by random vehicles before) and would be smart and easy to train. I did get a GSD pup on a trial period, and she was just SO. MUCH. She also had a big prey drive and was aggressive towards our cats, so she went back to the breeder.

After that I wasn’t sure what I wanted. We ended up getting a Golden Retriever/Labrador mix, and he is exactly what we didn’t know we needed. Big, wicked smart, friendly, playful, and easy-going with our cats. I doubt he would be protective, but his size and his bark will deter bad guys enough for us.

We got a mini dachshund because we wanted a smaller dog that is super affectionate. Our other dog is a shiba and while he is still very loving and loyal, it is on his own terms and is really fine being on his own (still my absolute best friend tho and Shibas are still my favorite breed)

Our doxie girl is SO loving and just loves everyone and every dog she meets. She is truly fearless and I love that about her. Her personality and our shibas personality are very different but they compliment each other well

Swedish Vallhund. I had a West Highland White Terrier as a teenager because our neighbor had one and I loved that he was smart, small and playful. He went to live with my grandmother when my dad remarried and I went off to college. Then I got a Pembroke Welsh Corgi when I was 26 because I had watched the anime Cowboy Bebop in college and thought it was a made up breed for the show but my roommate told me they were an actual breed and I decided right there and then that I was going to get one one day. When he was getting up there in age, I knew I didn't want another Corgi because he was THE Corgi to me, but I did love the breed so I looked for similar breeds and found that Swedish Vallhunds checked all the boxes and then some. I love my little guy so much, he is a fast learner, small like my previous dogs, very affectionate and looks like a little wolf!

Mini Dachshund. I live in an apartment and believe it or not he’s not much of a barker and does really well. I wanted a dog that was incredibly intelligent and I’ve never had a dog before. He’s brilliant and sensitive, he just always knows what I want or need him to do. He’s compassionate and a complete ham. I wanted a snuggle bug and I usually have to get him to get up for walk time. He is the best.

We got our dog, a golden retriever pup two weeks ago now. I’ve wanted a golden retriever for as long as I can remember because they’re sweet, playful, smart, loyal and great family dogs. My sister has an 11 year old retriever collie mix which also inspired me, she was the first dog I ever fell in love with and I knew I wanted a dog similar to her. She’s also why we picked a girl too. The puppy phase is hard but we adore her, even if she was a little velociraptor this evening

Ooh! I have a standard poodle. I chose them because of their eagerness to work, energy, playfulness (sassiness), and the freedom I have in grooming. My only negative is the barking but I’m hoping more exposure will help that (he’s only 7 months old)

Havanese. I walked one for a client for a year or so and he was so much fun and such a silly, good boy. He was the right size for my small house and relatively hypoallergenic. But mostly it was all about the personality. I loved the client’s dog and wanted one for my own. It’s my first dog. I was never a dog person until I met a Havanese.

My mini dachshund is the love of my life. She is the sweetest most good natured puppy. I just adore her and her sweet baby kisses. She had a HUGE personality in a 9 lb body and thinks she’s a 100 lb beast that can take down a moose.

Shikoku Ken

I got a Shiba first and I love her, but I wanted a dog that was more adventurous and higher energy, and a little less pampered. (I also prefer larger dogs, but I'm trying to stick to breeds I can lift and carry around if need be). I really appreciate the way ancient breeds think and problem solve, and I LOVE their vocalizations. (Happy growls just get me!) My favorite thing though is the bond you build from working with these breeds and how you have to earn it, but once you earn it, it's so precious and enduring. I have no doubt he trusts me because of the moments where he clearly dislikes something, but allows me to make the call, to intervene or to do the thing. We went through a lot to earn and grow that trust and our bond and trust will only continue to grow.

Daschund. Completely fell in love with the breed when my friend got one, so much personality and such loving little dogs. It was a no brainer for me. I love my little girl so much! Even if she is completely stubborn!

Wire fox terrier.

I grew up with many dogs, but the ones that I was the closest to were: a mixed but mostly smooth fox terrier and later a pure-breed wire fox terrier, both females.

I love their personalities, the fact that they are very stubborn and intelligent, yet at the same time sweet and very cuddly and "glue" dogs. They are very active and energetic, love playing and are very curious about everything. They are very sturdy and can be brought to hikes and long walks. They are also very easy to adapt to new environments and healthy dogs. Of course you can get a pup that has bad luck with its genetics roulette and I would love it equally, but the fox terrier breed per se is mostly free from breed-related diseases.

Also for me they are the perfect size (8-10kg so medium-small) : just small enough to be a perfect lap dog but not too small.

And wire vs smooth... Only a visual preference, I love the cloudy look of wire fox terriers !

I usually prefer females as they are more docile. Terriers in general are quite possessive and territorial, fox terriers moreso, and the females are usually easier-going.

This is not a breed for first-time owners. People who had them at some point in their life usually love this breed to death, but they got some bad rep from some other people that encountered badly socialized fox terriers, which is understandable. Socialization is a very critical step of their upbringing, as the lack of it can lead them to being very jealous and possessive of their owners and poorly behaved with other dogs. There needs to be work with cats and other animals early enough too, because let's not forget this is a hunting dog for mainly foxes but also boars back in the day, and this is very much written into their instincts.

So yeah, I very much know about the pros and the cons of this breed but it just matches perfectly with me.

Six years after my latest girl passed away I got my first very own puppy. She is actually extremely docile and calm for a fox terrier, she was just the most docile of the litter. We didn't choose her as she was the last one to be chosen, she is almost all white like Milou/Snowy from Tintin ! She is perfect and healthy, and was just destined for us ❤️

The first time my boyfriend (she is his first dog) went for a walk alone with her, he came back saying "she is so stubborn, she is really a dog for you !!!" 😂😅 Of course I got her because I am here to help him adapt and learn to be his owner, and now he is pretty much well adapted :)

She is very nice to everybody and is starting to open up very much to other dogs (she is introverted when it comes to other dogs). We are working with cats also and she makes a lot of progress. We also started with bunnies. At first she is curious and very calm, but after a while she needs a break because I believe she is fighting her instincts 😅 but for a beginning that's very good ! We do not own cats or bunnies so the exposition cannot be done daily, which would make it easier and faster. But oh well :)

We got a Staffy because as much as we love big dog breeds we have 2 young kids (daughter was 3 months old when we got him) and my wife wasn't comfortable getting a big dog while they're so young, especially as she'd never owned a dog before and don't have the biggest house.

I also like bully breeds a lot and although my wife was initially a bit skeptical after a bad experience when she was younger she met a couple of Staffies who were wonderful with our son and she came home one day after meeting one and said she understood now why they have such a good reputation as family dogs. We got our boy less than a month later.

He's got enough energy to run a 10k with me, play fetch until long after my son is bored etc but he's also so docile that he regularly falls asleep with his head in my son's lap or completely across my wife. My daughter can take his favourite ball out of his mouth when we're playing fetch and he will just calmly follow her and play with her with it unbelievably gently without us teaching him to or anything.

Momo is a shih tzu. We chose his breed because I’m allergic to most animals and shih tzu are hypoallergenic.

My Silken Windhound is a dreamboat, a lover of all things and a total sweetheart. Love the sighthounds, have had a greyhound and whippet mix. They are funny, quirky, loving and velcro dogs. She is so gentle and kind.

My husband and I got a Newfoundland puppy in January of 2023. He’s perfect for us. Big boy, a total love bug, loves hiking, swimming and walks as well as watching tv and cuddling.

I don’t think we’ll ever have another breed after him.

Lagotto Romagnolo. Needed a hypo allergenic dog and didn’t want a small dog but a middle size breed. Looked at labradoodles but they are a cross “breed” with many problems so then the Lagotto came along. Smart, loyal energetic family dog, it fits perfectly.

Bf is anted a husky, I do not. So we compromised and got a pomsky. He literally just looks like a tiny husky. And acts like one too. Jokes on me! lol

My wife and I wanted a big dog, independent, active breed with a short coat for outdoor activities like hiking and camping. We each made a list of our top 5 breeds and then compared, and Rhodesian ridgeback was towards the top of both our lists. After some googling we found a breeder that we thought was in a town close to us and they had a litter that was going to be ready in 6 weeks. It turns out they were about a 3.5 hour drive away but still, we're so glad we got our puppy from them because we're so happy with her temperament and intelligence.

Edit: we basically researched online and came across RRs. the reason they were at the top of our list is because our older dog we have as well, and the senior dog we had to say goodbye to over a year ago were herding breeds. Our border is a Velcro dog (understandable, looking for cues) so we wanted to try something different

I chose a bull terrier because they’re just so goofy. They get medium sized and have easy grooming. Hes definitely a challenge, but hes also amazing. And hes super uncommon in my area so everybody loves him. And hes the MOST sociable dog ive ever seen. He THRIVES with people and gives so much affection and joy to people. Hes a stubborn little boy but honestly still pretty easy to train. He had all the right physical attributes and hes fun and happy.

I'm wildly disappointed in the commenters for not posting pictures...

Sheltie x Toy Poodle. And I didn't choose him, he chose me 😂🥰

I always wanted a Rottweiler. I love their big heads, their calm and loving personalities, and fierce loyalty to their family. Every rott I ever met was the sweetest, gentle giant that seemed to be able to switch between couch potatoes and balls of energy!

I was casually looking at breeders but decided against it due to the costs but once I stopped looking, I found my girl at a humane society shelter. Her mama was a Rottweiler and dad is unknown but we assume cattle dog so she’s not truly everything rott but she exhibits a lot of the calm nature and fierce loving personality I wanted !

She's over 2 now but German Shepherd. I grew up with them as a child along with having them on my own and it's the only breed I'll ever own. Intelligent, loyal, protective, goofy etc. I like that even tho they're highly biddable they will test and challenge you at times as an owner.

My first dog was just a spontaneous shelter pick. He was a huge bloodhound mix, stubborn and with a big personality. I absolutely adored him.

After losing him, I considered getting another bloodhound mix, but instead decided to research other breeds first.

I wanted another giant dog, who can be a couch potato and a walking buddy all the same. A dog with personality and a little stubborn.

Another big consideration was average lifespan. For example, I love great Danes, but they have such short lifespan, I don't think I could deal with it. I also find mixed breeds generally more interesting. 

Ended up picking a great Pyrenees mix. I couldn't be happier with my choice. The sweetest, gentlest giant puppy. He can play for hours, or sleep all day. Smart, stubborn, and unexpectedly, incredibly empathetic. 

I think I found my preferred breed from now on.

A Wheaten Terrier! I'm allergic to dogs, so choosing a dog that's hypoallergenic is best for me. I still have some allergist but it's tolerable. We were looking for a non-shedding/low-shedding medium sized dog that's friendly, energetic, and intelligent.

Cons of Wheatens are the high maintenance coat, stubbornness and some separation anxiety. He's been a very good boy so far though.

I grew up with a Bichon and she was great too for similar reasons, although she was a lot more stubborn.

Australian cattledog. I have admired them for a long time -- athletic, roguish cowboy look, so smart, and just a lovely shaped, keen dog.

My first adopted dog was supposed to be cattledog/border collie but a DNA test revealed absolutely different breeds. I'd already thought I was pretty skilled at my dog training with her and had got a cattledog puppy, so it was fun to discover that I knew nothing about them at all!

These are NOT easy dogs and definitely not for most people. I no longer have a farm, so every single day is devoted to meeting his energy and engagement needs. He's amazing, and pretty well trained, but it's a LOT some days. I have learned SO MUCH. I still think they're the prettiest things!

I might get a cattledog mix next. Other breeds high on my list are corgi, westie, and some other medium terriers.

Catahoula/lab mix. I rescued a puppy. She is a great dog. I always have had dogs and have lots of room. Did my research. Trained accordingly. Perfect dog.

Corgi! I love how they’re stubborn and basically rule your life lmao. They are super chatty and smart and just have my heart entirely. They’re super quirky and hilarious and I find them super endearing.

Cocker spaniel. I just love them. I’ve only had cockers in my life, they are such amazing dogs 💜

We choose an (English) show type, cocker spaniel. We do a lot of hiking, running and paddleboarding and wanted a breed that would be up for anything and active. We also wanted a very affectionate and trainable breed.

We were torn between a cocker spaniel and golden retriever but wanted a medium size so they could fit in the car with our gear, and the longer lifespan.

The show type was so he would settle a bit easier at home (in theory).

So far our puppy is perfect, he loves exploring and picks up commands really quickly, he is SO cuddly and sits on my paddleboard happily for hours. We haven't quite got to the settling at home aspect, but it shows through occasionally..

I've ALWAYS wanted a Great Dane. My boyfriend wanted a Boxer but they make me itchy along with being entirely too hyper for me. My boyfriend works a lot so I knew most of the training and regular care would fall on me, which is fine, but I don't have the time or patience for a hyper dog when I have work and housework. I wanted a chill dog that was easy to train. I live in an apartment so I don't have a yard for them to run around all day. A couple of longer walks and some mental stimulation is enough for them. They are generally not barkers. I've read mixed things about how much they shed. She isn't shedding yet, but we'll see when she gets older. They generally aren't smelly dogs. They generally have a good temperament. Some people say they aren't bright but she's super smart

If I could work from home or didn't have to work as much, and had a big yard, I'd get a Rottweiler

For our first we got a golden retriever, it was the willing to please, more easily trainable, kid friendly, characteristic we were going for. We wanted a larger dog (she only ended up a good 47 pounds lol) and she ended up being an extreme terror. Made me never want a dog again if I’m being honest. (We still have her and love her. She’s just a turd.)

We got our second dog, a Newfoundland, due to wanting a guard dog that was good with kids. She’s an angel. We adore her. She has basically trained herself. Eager to please. Super watchful does her job. Good pup.

We did extensive research into both breeds. Once we got our second dog our first really mellowed out and became easier. I’ll still never get a golden retriever. However our Newfie has me thinking I will only be getting newfies from now on. 😅

Rhodesian Ridgeback. I wanted a dopey puppy, one that was all legs and tail and floppy ears. This is exactly what I got. Twice 🥰

I got an English cocker spaniel because I found them while scrolling local ads and fell in love with this half sister and then looked into the breed and it seemed like a good fit for my lifestyle so I met the puppies and convinced my family it was the right time for another puppy, by that time there were only three left and I got my little boy

Bernese mountain dog!

We wanted a low prey drive, a breed that would never show up on banned breed lists (mil family so may move places that restrict breeds), and I wanted big and soft and cuddly. Honestly so so so please with what we got. Our friends have a golden retriever and something about GRs didn't really click for us.

Standard Poodle. For their intelligence, loyalty and aesthetic. I just think they’re beautiful creatures with amazing personalities.

We got a Keeshond primarily due to their temperament, adaptability, size, and trainability.

We have a semi-disabled cat, another cranky cat, and a 9-year-old daughter with friends that visit daily.

Our dog loooooves kids, and he's never aggressive with the cats, but is also big enough that the mean cat won't try to start anything with him. (That cat likes to attack anything smaller than she is.)

He's equally happy chilling on the couch or doing physical activities, which works with our lifestyle. He's proven to be a very quick learner during training as well. Plus, even though we have a big fenced-in yard, he always sticks near us outside unless we're playing fetch or practicing recall. It's honestly hard to get far enough away from him to do the recall unless he's got 2 humans to run between. He's got zero motivation to escape or run off.

I think it also helps that in our area, there aren't any sketchy breeders for that type of dog. I had to hunt to find 2 breeders within a 5 hour drive, and both are part of the show scene, do all the health testing, early vet care, and home environment socialization with their dogs.

We chose a schnoodle. They are really smart and they imprint hard on their humans. They have hair (not fur) and little to no dander, so no allergy issues and no shedding. They come in small or large sizes, so you can have a lapdog or a big ol beastie - whatever your preference His name is Fenris. He has a HUGE personality. We adore him.

I have a Shih Tzu (3/4) crossed with a Maltese (1/4). We wanted a small dog that loves cuddles but also loves to play, and that's exactly what we got! He has such a big personality and is actually quite large for his breed mix at just over 9kg. We also wanted a breed with minimal shedding, which means higher maintenance grooming, but it's a small price to pay for not having a house covered in fur.

We have a small garden, a 4.5 year old son and two cats, and from what we read about Shih Tzus, they are good family pets, are happy with an hour of walking a day and supposedly have a low prey drive, so he wouldn't chase the cats too much. We didn't luck out on that part 😂 but he's such a loving boy, he's great with our son and loves literally everybody and other dogs. He was a great choice for us!

I chose an airedale terrier! We got him 1.5 years ago.

I fell in love with this breed when I was young, there was a book with its cover including airedale terrier and they looked so funny and interesting that I still remembered it at 28 years of age!

Apart from their look when we started thinking in buying a dog I researched their personalities and it seemed to be in line with what I was looking for! Our airedale terrier is such a clown, she makes everyone laugh and on top of that her fur makes look like a sweet cuddly teddy bear 🥹

I'm cheating a bit here because I'm just gonna say sight hound breeds instead of just one specific breed.

I love the look of them, tall, slim and elegant, with cute long faces. I also want a dog that is low energy like me and happy to have a lazy day if I'm not up for doing much. Couldn't cope with a dog that needs to be kept very mentally stimulated like a collie etc so sighthounds are perfect for me.

Previous dog was a lurcher (german pointer x pharaoh hound) and now have a mongrel that is only a small % greyhound so I've never owned a proper sighthound but one day!

Greyhounds are my breed. I’m on houndie #4. I chose them because I wanted a unique dog, a large breed, but was living in an urban studio apartment when i got my first pupper. Greyhounds are known as the 45 mph couch potato. They’ve been a wonderful breed for me/us. Polite, friendly, gentle, are willing to go on as long or as short of a walk as you’d like, quiet, minimal shedding…just really wonderful temperaments.

English Bull Terrier. My dad had them when I was a little kid and I always knew I wanted my own when I got my own dog. When my ex partner got the call that his work friends EBT had a litter, it was a no brainer. They just have such interesting and funny personalities. So loyal, so silly, honestly, my girl is daft as a brush but she’s so loving and obviously, the zoomies are absolutely hilarious.

I’m a big believer in you get the dog you need not the dog you necessarily want. I went for a cross breed, a cavapoo, because they were a small breed, would love snuggling, be gentle and not require tons of walking. I thought I did my research well. Turns out I got a huge one… so much energy, stubborn, smart, attitude problem - you name it. But he has taught me so much. All the things I needed to work on: patience, gentleness, anger management, negotiation skills, hard work, he has taught me in bucket loads. I am a better person for being his owner. It didn’t work out how I thought it would… it was so much better than I imagined. In retrospect of course. At the time it was hell 😆

Staffy Bull Terrier. (X)

Novi 6 months old at time of posting.

I grew up with staffies. My dad used to breed them when I was young altho it took me until I was 42 to actually get my own.

The right time had came for us to get a dog. My girlfriends youngest had turned 11 and I knew she could then take part in the training of the little fella.

I wanted something timid and easy to deal with but a personality that would forge different relationships with each of us in the house. So our house of 5 became 6.

He's not full breed staffy. His mum was a blue staff and his dad was a staffy / amstaff cross. I picked him because he was the smallest in the litter.

He's smart, friendly with people and other dogs, and independent and funny in all the way his breed is. A perfect example of the breed in everything but looks as he a bit of a mix.

100% made our house a better place.

The only thing I want for him now is a companion. But that can wait I think he's a little too young for that yet.

Almost a few decades ago, in primary school, my friend had the most gorgeous dog. I also wanted that breed and finally got to get a puppy whilst halfway through high school. I ended up picking a gorgeous black Labrador.

Funnily enough, the girl from primary school had a golden retriever, and I got it confused with Labrador retriever. I was overjoyed when I found a black coloured retriever as I thought it was rare. Anywho, the best mistake of my life. I will only ever get Labradors, and I currently rescue Labradors, too.

They are so easy to train, outgoing, sporty, and just hilarious. I love going to the beach and so do the labs that I've had. They are complete nut jobs for the first few years, but once they mature, they are the perfect dog. The Labrador temperament suits my lifestyle.

I worked in the animal industry for a long time and with many different dog breed. I've considered cavi's, Samoyed, GSD, and viszlas, but nothing's matches my life like a Labrador.

Boston Terrier. They’re smart and easy to train, although can be stubborn when you call them and they want to keep playing. Small but muscular so they can play like a bigger dog but then you can pick them up. They’re very fast, which is fun but impossible to catch if they’re having a stubborn moment. They shed very little. Their fur is soft even as they age. Some of them jump and spin when they get excited which is a great way to be greeted. I think my current puppy is turning out to be a spinner and I love that. They need a lot of exercise. When she gets a little older, I’m looking forward to going on some long walks with her.

My puppy is a Lhasa Apso. We knew for years we wanted a small breed dog. We thought we wanted a Pomeranian, or maybe a yorkie.

Then we started looking for puppies - this is in the UK and we possibly did not do this in the “perfect” way as we used the website Pets4Homes and filtered for only KC registered puppies. We messaged a bunch of breeders and visited a few, primarily to make sure we found a breeder who checked all the boxes of a responsible breeder.

Our puppy’s breeder was one of those, and honestly we had never thought of a Lhasa but a) the breeder was by far the one who filled us with most confidence and b) there was just one puppy who wasn’t reserved and he was sat on my knee and I fell in love. Somehow it felt “meant to be”, even more so because we had not thought of getting a Lhasa.

We were a bit nervous of all the descriptions of Lhasas as being hard to train, stubborn and not the friendliest. But at 6 months he is actually is close to perfect as we could have hoped and we love his cheeky personality.

We really want another puppy once he’s a bit older and we would love another Lhasa because I think they fit perfectly with our lifestyle and I can’t help but love every Lhasa I see now. They have the perfect combination of independence, sass and devotion to their people! 10/10 would recommend.

Icelandic Sheepdog. Small enough to take everywhere but big enough that he has a lot of energy and loves to work. Because he’s a protected breed, I found a lot of comfort in the Icelandic sheepdog community - there are strict guidelines in place as to what would happen to him /where he would go if something were to happen to me.

I like winter hikes and hate to be hot - just like my Icie baby, he lives in front of a fan in the summer.

Very intuitive, eager to please, doesn’t shed, doesn’t really need a bath (his hair dries clean even after spending the day in a mud pit) and is really low maintenance but the smartest, most loyal little buddy I’ve ever had. He plays soft with his little pug girlfriend and plays hard with his Chow Chow bestie.

I grew up with an American Eskimo spitz, Great Pyrenees, Rottweiler, rat terrier, and a cocker spaniel. My last dog before my Icie was a shih tzu rescue.

German Sheprador mix, for the activity level to keep me and my wife busy aswell as being a great family dog and rather beginnerfriendly as it is our first dog. Coming up on 14 weeks of age and we're absolutely adoring every moment with him.

I just got my Miniature Pinscher puppy a few weeks ago , but he isn’t my first. I got my first Min Pin as a 5 month old back in 2009. I had wanted one since I saw one on the cover of a Dog Fancy magazine when I was younger. I read the article and, “the King of the Toys” just stuck with me. I waited until I was able to get one and they are hands down my all time favorite breed, ever. Animated, head strong, confident, little alarm systems that are up for anything at any time. They are mischievous and need a keen eye kept on them. They’ll keep you on your toes, and I absolutely love that about them. They’re a lot of work, a lot of training, but at the end of the day you have this really cool little dog that is often deeply dedicated to their chosen person. Of course it’s all individual, but they do have a tendency to attach to just one person. And when they do, you have a partner for life. They’re there for you, no questions asked. Just… never take that leash off, because they often do have a tendency to RUN. I just can’t get enough of the breed!

Brussels griffon. She is small, I can travel with her, she is friendly with other dogs, cats, children, humans. she is very courageous, she comes with us for hikes and long walks but she is also happy if we just have a cozy day at home (mostly during winter time) - then she enjoys her 30 minutes of playtime indoors and she is pretty happy, too. This breed LOVES to cuddle and be close to people. She sits on my lap during long train rides and just sleeps. for a person living in a city and wanting a companion that comes with me everywhere: the bar, the subway, art galleries, birthday parties …. She is THE perfect dog for me .