manly Dog for a cigar smoker.

[marcovgv]

I am looking to add a dog to my family what breed do you guys think is a mans dog.

Winston Churchill is often associated with English Bull Dogs.

I am considering the following:

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Rhodesian Ridge Back

Australian cattle dog

feel free to recommend any breed.

[RexBeck]

I have one (Aussie Cattle Dog). And no not a heeler, a cattle dog!

Just as smart as a heeler, but more of a smart ass until they get some age.

Love him to death.

[longburn]

We have an Eskimo Spitz

[smokin5]

Flat-coated retriever, Bro!

[longburn]

Well actually,if you really want a manly dog...make sure it's a leg humper

[marcovgv]

Ive heard they can be especially difficult as pups(aka pains in the ass) untill they reach about 2 years? tell me more about these guys. Do you think they will do well with kids? is this a dog I can take with me in my landcruiser ridding shotgun or are they pron to jumping out the windo at the first site of some herdable livestock?

Originally Posted by RexBeck

I have one (Aussie Cattle Dog). And no not a heeler, a cattle dog!

Just as smart as a heeler, but more of a smart ass until they get some age.

Love him to death.

[Pitbull]

I am considering the following:

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

I have had more then my fair share of experiences with this breed and they are all super positive a very loyal breed of dog and a super family pet to boot just my though

[marcovgv]

I have been offered a pup from the breeding of this stafford.
let me know what you think

[Dom]

Outside of a Pitbull, doesnt get much manlier than this little TANK...


English Bulldog

[Jonesee]

I had an Australian Cattle Dog. One of the smartest and most trainable dogs I've ever worked with. Absolutely devoted to me. They are smart, fearless and energetic. There is no limit what the breed won't do to please its master. And that is where the rub is. As I mentioned in another post I grew up on a farm. My dog could work cattle. If you aren't going to work cattle, NEVER teach it to "sick or Ssssss". Absolutely teach it to "release" "leave it" and "flat".

They tend to be a one person dog. When I married my wife it got jealous and it had a habit of ignoring and not obeying her. It was made worse because it responded to different whistles and my wife can't whistle. When we had our first son it became jealous. It bit him him at least once. And NO ROUGHOUSING when the dog was around. If a friend ran up and grabbed me, the dog was likely as not to take a grab at the friend. This continued as my sons got older and we would wrestle around. Others that have had the same dogs seemed to have the same temperment. The dog was not mean!!! He did not have an ill temperment. He was just a one owner dog. Some dogs are like that. In all honestly I wouldn't recommend it as a family dog and I truly loved mine!!!

For a family dog I recommend a lab.. Yep a regular old lab. Got a yellow one when my oldest son was 2. It had the rounded head (english blood lines), not the block head. Had him during the same time I had the Australian Cattle Dog. That lab raised all 3 of my sons. Never a nip out of him. All he wanted was love. He lived almost 17 years and I had to take the day off work the day he died. His collar and tags are still in my gunsafe. If they ever perfect cloning, I would pay a fortune to have him again.

I don't know your family situation, but an Australian Cattle Dog is best brought into an already established family. Mine and others I have been told about don't adapt well to encroachers (wife and kids) that enter your life after they do.

The difference in tempermant in the two breeds is like:
1) Having a best friend in the truck with you and knowing that no matter happens he is in the fight with you. The Cattle Dog
and
2) Having your son in the truck knowing he just wants to be next to you. The Lab.

I have always had a bunch a dogs. I still have a black Lab (American Lines) block head. and a stray mutt that has high percentage of pit bull in him. For the record the Pit Mutt is more loving than my current lab. What they say about american labs (block headed) not being as loving as english labs (smooth headed) is true in the two I have owned.

[wolfman]

Cattle Dog and Heeler are the same animal and I don't recommend them as family dogs either. these dogs REALLY need a job, and if you don't give them one then they will give themselves one and it will be one you won't like. like taking apart the living room. We run Blue Crush ACD rescue if anyone interested here is our website.
Welcome to the Frontpage

[Kayak_Rat]

We have a Ridgeback. Honestly the best dog I have ever had. Great tempered, strong, smart.

[marcovgv]

THey look like great dogs. The breed description makes them out to be rambunctious and hard to handle , but you are the second owner that states theat they are well tempered. It is a little confusing. I have notice that alot of the breed descriptions dont match actual owners experience.

[billybarue]

Best family dog we had was a lab. I think she had a good bit of retriever in her.

For a "Man's" dog that might work in the family you might consider the "gentle giant" - Great Dane. They are exceptionally affectionate and quite good with kids. And surprisingly agile and trainable - we have a family friend who is in the local K-9 cops, and he uses a Great Dane. I didn't think they would fit that job, but he says they are great for the job. And can be quite menacing when trained in that work.

I would never risk a pitbull, but I have to say one of the best family dogs I ever saw was a Rottweiller. Buddy of mine hade two little girls (7 and 9) and lived out in the country. I loved his dog (Thor) and the dog knew me fairly well. I was over working outside on some stuff with my buddy over the course of a few hours and the girls and dog would come and go. We got to talking about Thor and my friend said the dog is absolutely indispensable as a guard dog/nanny for his girls. He pointed out, and I noticed from then on, if the girls came out - Thor was right with them. I also noted Thor stayed between me and the girls whether they were 5 or 500 feet away. Not menacing and completely happy to get petted by me, but nonetheless I was not part of his "pack" and he made sure to stay between me and the kids. My buddy said Thor and his instinctive need to guard and protect his daughters was indispensable for peace of mind and ultimately, if needed, keeping his kids safe.

I also like the big "cinder-block" headed German Shepherds. I am familiar with Malinoix, Tavernes, and the sleeker/smalller breeds of German Shepherds. But the big, hefty, heavy-pawed German Shepherds are regal looking to me and as manly as they come. My uncle had two when I was a young kid (named King and Kaiser) and they were fantastic dogs.

Also had a friend with two dobermans (Herman and Heidi). The father trained them with German commands and trained them daily. I am not sold on the breed, but those two were fantastic dogs. Well behaved, obedient, friendly, loving and athletic. They were family dogs that I never saw one iota of aggression in. But looking at those "land-sharks" I sure wouldn't want to put them to the test.

Back side neighbor when I was young always had boxers. Another fantastic manly dog. In common with all the dogs I mentioned were loving households that transferred into loving pets and family members. I have to say about boxers (and all breeds that have "pushed in" noses, ie, bulldogs, boston terriers, etc etc) is that they are very gassy. Man those boxers could put you out of a room, and they farted in their sleep too. But great dogs.

Another uncle had a Newfoundland. They lived on a lake and the "Newfie" is very much a water dog, although looking at it you might not know it. They have webbed paws and love the water. Calm and friendly. Not very energetic and they require a lot of care and grooming. But they are a blast if you live around or like water activity.

Last one is Swiss Mountain Dog (or similar breed). Friend and his wife have two. They don't have kids and I haven't visited in awhile so I haven't seen the dogs personally. By all accounts great dogs.

FWIW, but more than I intended to write

Last one

[Dgar]

A rescued dog.....

Check out the local shelters, just a thought.....