I like medium or big but definately not small and yappy!

We have two dogs: Bill, a pit bull/pointer mix, and Suki, a 1 1/2 year old full-blooded Akita. Bill weighs in at about 75, Suki tops the scales at about 125. Both are ruled by my 36 pound three year old human.

We also have two cats. We used to have 3. Boris, who passed away almost two years ago weighed in at a whopping 30 lbs. He was the best cat I've ever met. One of my other kitties, Gable is about 24 pounds so not too small, and Natasha is a petite 12 pounds. (But is the boss of every animal in the house.)

Back to the question, I like medium sized dogs for their convenience--smaller is definately easier to manage. But I think big dogs are cooler. The bigger the better almost, but not good for lap cuddling. (Although Suki wouldn't believe that.)

beth http://www.deadpan.net/stitches/index.htm

-- Anonymous, July 27, 1999

I'm mostly a cat person, but I have always wanted a dog. Unfortunately I live in a flat and I'm really not even supposed to have a cat.

I like BIG DOGS and BIG CATS. The bigger the better. My cat is about as big as a medium sized dog. I want a dog just like yours Beth, I *love* big black dogs.

Although I have to say I saw a little tiny puppy the other day at the doctors surgery (one of the nurses was dog-minding) and since then I have been obsessed with the idea of having one of these puppies. It was one of those pug-puppies with the flat, wrinkly black faces (milk coffee body). It was soooo cute. I think those dogs grow to be on the small side of medium, although I'm not sure. They are nice and fat and muscly though. Actually, I like any dog that is friendly and that isn't *too* hyperactive.

I really miss having a dog to take for walks. I've tried training Gary (my cat) to be on a leash but he flatly refuses to co-operate... hmph... Perhaps I should leave the poor puss alone and start a dog walking service.

-- Anonymous, July 28, 1999

Sure, puppies are soooooo cute. Problem is, they always grow up to become noisy, smelly, salivating, hair-shedding monsters who keep on standing in your way, no matter which way you turn. Especially where I live. Almost every household here in the Netherlands owns at least one dog. I'm sure it'd be nice to meet a dog every now and then, but there are limits. There's just way too many of them out here!

And don't think I don't know what I'm talking about - I'm from Amsterdam, and you Americans don't call this 'dogshit-city' for nothing! It is indeed the dogshit capital of the world.

-- Anonymous, July 28, 1999

I messed up the link to Ginger's picture the other day, it's here: http://www.westnet.com/~davetrig/journal/images/GinKit.jpg.

And I'll tell you how to keep that smell out of your house! Keep your dog clean! Give them a good bath at least once a month. Vacuum a lot and it will keep the hair up. The best way to keep the shedding at a minumum (at least for labs) is to use a shedding blade on them. It's a seraded blade with leather handles that you pull down their backs and it pulls out all the hair. It's not sharp, and it feels like a brush to them. Do it outside and all the hair comes out and they do not shed nearly as much.

Just a little tip!

Colleen

-- Anonymous, July 28, 1999

I'm a cat person, but I like some individual dogs after years of being scared by them. Generally big dogs scare me if they jump on me. The first dog I liked was an oversized Sheltie who was so well trained that when he sat in the car with us while we ate our McDonalds lunch, he didn't beg. He had been taught not to.

I like miniature dachhunds and chihuahuas, but Pat says that if I get one of the latter, "I will go into the garage, I will get a shovel, and I will kill it."

It's interesting that we bought a house and now everybody is sayihng to us, "You bought a house - when are you getting a dog??"

-- Anonymous, July 28, 1999

I like medium and big dogs, not tiny ones. Although I must say I liked the one chihuahua I met, though she did look like a bug. I do think of our dogs as being fairly small, though (20-35 pounds). But that might just be because most of my dog experience has been bug. Miles' dog is a Labradoodle(I just like saying that), and about 85 pounds. She's adorable, and actually looks like Sheila, dyed black, and expanded by a factor of three. (acts like her too). But then, Miles' grandparents have a cocker spaniel, and my goodness that dog is annoying. Very hyperactive, a little aggressive, and yippy/whiny. Cute, but I wouldn't want to live with him. I do like that when you walk a big dog, they pull you along a bit and it's much easier. But then, when you they want to do something, it's much harder to stop them. So... I like mellow dogs. Doesn't really matter what size, but larger ones seem to have a greater tendency to calm down.

-- Anonymous, July 28, 1999

I was wondering when you'd post a picture of Doc . He's adorable, but too bad he doesn't have owners that are crazy about him, haha! Big dogs are *it*, Beth....all my life I've wanted a Great Dane, and finally at the ripe old age of 39 I had the house and yard for one. Jake weighs almost 180 pounds and is a big old baby and my best friend. If you want to see him just ask for the URL. I have lots more pics of him than my kids!

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

My family had a toy poodle when I was a kid. He was everything you think a small dog would be -- yappy and nervous and not too smart. But we loved him. Now, I have a cat. A built-like-a-linebacker cat.

I always figured that if I was going to have a dog, I was going to have a DOG. A big, hairy dog. Newfoundlands appeal to me. Or maybe an Old English Sheepdog.

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

I love all dogs, but I do prefer big dogs. I've always had big dogs growing up and still have one now. My first dog was a Black Lab, beautiful, beautiful dog (Doc's pic reminds me of him *sniffle*) He was huge!!! My next dog wasnt' that big, but big enough to frighten people off. He was mean and we had to give him up when we found out he was part wolf. It explained a lot to us about his mean nature and violent tendencies. My present dog is one of those dogs, like yours Beth, that is big and looks mean but is the biggest sappiest sweetheart. He's a German Shephard/Chow-Chow mix and he's big and hairy and golden tan and he's just adorable. When people see him for the first time they're so scared but 5 minutes later he's attacking them with kisses and from then on in, they're in love with him. He's so cool, my dog! And he's so Handsome! (That's his name by the way!)

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

My dog Dixie weighs 70 pounds which is just 2 pounds over the definition of medium dog size (for those of you playing along at home). People do not approach me at night when I walk her. They are afraid of a dog that size, so it really is a useful visual deterrent. She's never jumped on anyone in her life, doesn't bark, and is as sweet as pie with our cats who insist on falling asleep up against her. I like having both cats and dogs.

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

I wish I could say Doc had never jumped on anyone in his life, but I can't.

I think what most people don't like about little dogs is that they're very often totally untrained and poorly socialized. I think most people who get a German Shepherd or something realize pretty quickly that they need SOME obedience training, but plenty of people get a little dog and never do a thing with it. And people are less likely to worry about proper socialization with little dogs. Many people even encourage bad behavior -- aggression, begging, jumping up -- in little dogs, because it's so cute.

Sure, an out of control shih tzu probably isn't going to kill anyone, unlike an out of control Rottweiler, but no one's going to want to be around it, either. I am so sick of vicious little dogs darting out of their yards to attack Doc ... if I had a Doc-sized dog that did that, I'd get sued in a heartbeat. (And I wonder who the owners of those dogs blame when a big dog finally turns on their little terrors?)

-- Anonymous, July 29, 1999

Big dogs! Tho I'm better about my prejudice against little ones than I used to be.

Ooooo-hey- picture of Howard (a medium dog) at http://tattletale.net/misc/howard0708.jpg

He's a very good boy

-- Anonymous, July 30, 1999

My favorite kind of dog is the hot dog. With lotsa ketchup and relish. Mmmmm.

-- Anonymous, July 30, 1999

Big dogs, hands down. I freely admit to a huge dislike for little yip-yap dogs...besides, they scare my big vicious-looking dog!

She's a lab/pitbull mix, 70 pounds or so. As is typical in both breeds, she's fun-loving, loyal and sweet as can be. I'm sure there's some chicken in there somewhere, though, since for a ferocious-looking dog, she's a big fraidy-cat.

In the interest of full disclosure, she might just lick you to death once she decides not to be afraid of you.

The cat, on the other hand (all 12 pounds or so of her) isn't afraid of anything, especially big dogs!!

Obligatory pictures; no, the cat is not really sitting on the dog's head: http://www.frameshift.com/images/pets/ind

-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999

I know it's been months since anyone wrote on this, but oh, well.

I have always been a cat person. In fact, I pretty much hated all dogs. But for some reason lately, I've been wanting a Bull Terrier so badly. Spuds McKenzie from the Budweiser commercial? They are the cutest dogs I've ever seen. My dad's friend had one years ago and I loved it... his name was Willy. If I got one (and I will have one!), I'd name it Eddie, definitely.

-- Anonymous, October 10, 1999