DOGS

Help me out here guys.

I currently have a 17 year old Jack Russell Terrier, who obviously isn’t going to last much longer. I inherited the dog because my ex brought it home and decided she no longer wanted it so was going to have it killed. I still have the dog, named bobber after a fishing cork, and he is doing well. He is also extremely intelligent, but sneaky.

So I am planning on getting another dog. I am not a hunter, bit live on a small river in Wisconsin and do a lot of fishing. I am retired and also fish the Mississippi River a lot from Alma to LaCrosse. My thoughts on the next dogs are narrowed down to German Shepard, Golden Retriever, and Black or Yellow Lab. A mutt from the humane society is also not ruled out. The dog would be kept in the cottage.

My experience with the dogs has been as follows. German Shephard equals easy to train, loyal, but maybe a bit to protective and I have grand kids. The Labs, love the boat, decent with kids, but a bit stubborn and not to protective. A Golden Retirever, extremly friendly with the grand kids and a good water dog, but almost to friendly and sheds a lot. A mixed variety who knows.

I would appreciate your insight into these breeds and any other dogs you think I should consider.

The second question involves your opinions regarding the use of a shock collar for training. After being unable to get the dog to stay in the yard my son trained his Yellow Lab with a shock collar and it was extremely effective. But, being retired are there better options, and/or is a shock collar to cruel.

Thanks in advance for your responses/opinions.

Well consider the strength of the breeds you have narrowed down. Will a large dog fit for you? Next, get books and read up on the breeds you selected. Learn as much as you can about the breed. I have always had Springers. Very good dogs!

I have been contemplating getting a fishing buddy dog as well. I spend hundreds of hours on the water every year and much of this time I go it alone. I know several people who have dogs they take out in their boats. All kinds of breeds. I asked a friend about what kind of dog to get and he told me one with a large bladder. I have a friend with a Golden Retriever and another with a Springer Spaniel. I don’t know about the Golden but Springers shed like there is no tomorrow. My brother and father have both had springers at one time or another and they are good dogs but you have to put up with the hair. I have been leaning towards a dachshund. They are very intelligent, loyal and they don’t shed. They don’t take up a great deal of room in the boat either. I think it is Jerry McGinnis that has a dachshund that he always fishes with.

As far as training the dog I am all for shock collars for larger dogs. I have 2 neighbors with large dogs. One barks all the time and the other very seldom barks. Which one do you think was trained with a shock collar? I have heard that if you use a shock collar that you should first test it on yourself. I don’t know if this is true but it makes sense to me. If you can handle the jolt then your dog should also be able to. If anything it might give you the peace of mind that you aren’t hurting the dog.

Best of luck finding your new fishing buddy.

Eyehunter

If ya just want a “buddy”, find a mut that is yellow lab/german shepard cross………..You will have a dedicated, life long friend that is loyale, doesn’t run, playfull but not too much, protective in the right way, doesn’t shed…..

I had my buddy “Fritz” from when I was 10 years old, til I had to put him down when I was 24……..Died of just flat out being old……….He was the absolute best dog a person could have ever owned, for not being “trained”……

Good Luck!!

My springers have never shed at all. I get hair on the carpet in the winter but nothing you can notice. I get them clipped every three months. Not sure if the food makes a difference, but I have always used high quality natural food.

What makes a dog worth having is dependent on how much time and patience you are willing to put into it. Breeding or bloodline has a lot to do with it, but some of the smartest dogs around can be found at the city pound as mixed breeds. But whatever you decide to get, that animal will reflect on you and how much time you give.

I have a Rottweiler and he is GREAT.
Never a problem with my 5, 3 and 2 year olds as they drag him around the yard.
Very intelligent, sheds very little.
We have enjoyed all 8 years with him!

My lab is a great hunting partner, and a horrible fihsing partner!! She wants to jump in and retireve every fish or surface lure on the end of the line. Also wants to jump out of the boat after every duck we see.

I do think, and others will likely disagree with me, that labs and goldens really like alot of attention and human interaction. Will it be a house dog?

My lab also barks at everything with a very deep and scary bark. Once she sees you, your only chance of injury is if she knocks you over attempting to lick your face. Good for scare, but not really “protection” I guess. Not so big on “protection” dogs myself. neighbor kids running into your yard could get ugly in a hurry.

I use a shock collar for hunting training, but for keeping in the yard, you are looking at an electric fence IMO.

I am biased towards labs, but if you’re looking for a companion, a lab is hard to beat in my mind. As for personality of the dog, most of that comes with it’s upbringing I think. If your dog is around a lot of people, it will like “everyone”, if it is cooped up in the house and doesn’t see many people, it may get protective, regardless of breed. Good Luck with your choice.

I would go with the golden. Yes they shed but they are really easy to train and will never stop loving you from the day you get him/her to they day they die. Also they love water and the cold minnesota winters. My uncle has one and as long as the pond isn’t froze over he goes in. I am a german shorthair guy. But if I didn’t want a pointer I’d get a golden. The best place to go to get one is at Dokkens Kennels in Northfield. Hope this helps
Paul

I have a husky/shepard mix, he’s 2 years old, he is a great all around dog,very friendly,he’ll retrieve a ball or a stick all day long,great in the boat,great around my 1 year old. all the dogs you metioned are good dogs,its all about how much time you spend with them,and work with them..

Herb you are 110% correct!

Your dog will only ever be as well behaved as the time you put into them… whether you get them for free or pay $1000+.

Temperment, activity level, care and feeding (shedding), and size are breed factors — but it won’t make them listen.

My wife Jackie volunteers at the Dunn County Humane Society here in Western WI.. They have some great dogs come in there. Heres a great link for checking out availability of dogs and it tells you about diffeent breeds and stuff. Steve
Future Pets

hey mossboss i agree with you on the labs my two labs have a deep bark but when they see you all the do is jump and lick you. the shed a little and we use a shock coller on them to keep them in the year and for hunting when the little one gets older. my black lab is 6 moths and the yellow lab is 4 years old and is gun shy. but i dont think a lab is want you want to go for.