EODRay
Active member
Hem, I'm sorry to hear about your loss. A few months before I left for this deployment, we lost our Lab/terrier mix at almost 17years old. We bought her during our first year of marriage and our son (8 yr old) didn't know life without Nala. It's tough.
Having said that, I am in almost the same boat as you. I have been looking for a dog with the same priorities that you listed. Only, I now also have to find one that is as hypoallergenic as possible. Both my son and I developed allergies to pet dander. How I became allergic to everything in the world at the age of 40, who knows? I'm sure that it has nothing to do with all the burning toxics that I've been exposed throughout my deployments.
You said, "I have always appreciated dogs which maybe are not mainstream". Well do a quick google search for Hunting standard poodles. There are some very serious breeders out there that are trying to breed back in the hunting characteristics that poodles were originally bred to do. There are some very funny/interesting stories out there about some very capable hunting poodles. There's nothing more non-mainstream than a hunting poodle.
Besides that, they are one of the smartest (if not the smartest) and best family dogs around. Just thought I would throw that out there as something else to think about since it has caught my attention and I may actually consider going this route. I like the unusual as well. :hump:
Even if it didn't turn out to be the best hunting dog you have ever had, it would probably be the smartest dog you have ever had.
Below is an article from Gun Dog Magazine about them.
http://www.gundogmag.com/2011/09/06/gun-dog-breeds-standard-poodle/
Having said that, I am in almost the same boat as you. I have been looking for a dog with the same priorities that you listed. Only, I now also have to find one that is as hypoallergenic as possible. Both my son and I developed allergies to pet dander. How I became allergic to everything in the world at the age of 40, who knows? I'm sure that it has nothing to do with all the burning toxics that I've been exposed throughout my deployments.
You said, "I have always appreciated dogs which maybe are not mainstream". Well do a quick google search for Hunting standard poodles. There are some very serious breeders out there that are trying to breed back in the hunting characteristics that poodles were originally bred to do. There are some very funny/interesting stories out there about some very capable hunting poodles. There's nothing more non-mainstream than a hunting poodle.
Besides that, they are one of the smartest (if not the smartest) and best family dogs around. Just thought I would throw that out there as something else to think about since it has caught my attention and I may actually consider going this route. I like the unusual as well. :hump:
Even if it didn't turn out to be the best hunting dog you have ever had, it would probably be the smartest dog you have ever had.
Below is an article from Gun Dog Magazine about them.
http://www.gundogmag.com/2011/09/06/gun-dog-breeds-standard-poodle/
