Thinking about a dog...any ideas? - Page 5

Why don't you try to combine all the things you all like together?

A mixed breed dog is usually more healthy and steady than a high pedigree dog. 

I have a mix breed dog, which has some poodle it it (so it does not shed its fur), and I think some spaniel too.

Many dogs need good homes from shelters, and they also have puppies.  Don't spend money of buying an expensive over bred dog when you can give a kind loving home to an animal that really needs one.

I have a mixed breed lab and she is great. She is about 60lbs and only comes to the middle of my thigh (I'm only 5' tall). We adopted her when she was 1 1/2 years old and had been abandoned in the city with a litter of pups. She gave everything for them, and when we got her, she was 35lbs (skin and bones) and had been in the shelter for 12 days. We knew just looking at her that she was ours. We took her home and she did not eat for 3 days straight. She was scared of men, trash bags, brooms, rope, and loud noises. About a week after we got her, my little cousins came over (they were 3, 4, 7, and 9 at the time) We all took her out and that's when she came out of her shell. She absolutely loves kids, and babies even more. When she got comfortable, she did go through a phase where she ate shoes, but she grew out of that and we made sure to keep shoes in closets.

We have had her for 9 years now and although she is still scared of new men at first, she warms up to them if they just leave her alone. She has also helped raise 5 litters of abandoned kittens, carrying them around and cleaning them after they ate. It took some time, but she has been the best dog we ever had. She will leave the chickens alone if you are out there, but I don't trust her alone. She completely stays clear of the goats after one of them head butted her while she was chasing them .

Here she is with our chocolate lab, Chunk, who is 80 lbs.

Please, please, please rescue your new furry family member. As a shelter volunteer, I find about 5 dogs that seem like they would be the perfect fit for me every time I volunteer. Whenever we are looking for a dog again, that will be the first and last place I look. All breeds, mixes, ages, sizes, temperaments, and fur lengths and coat patterns you can imagine. Just so many wonderful dogs. It is so unfair to them that they ended up there. Please consider saving a precious life. Adopt don't shop. 

I haven't had time to read all the previous threads fully but get the idea and would like to make a couple of comments, firstly I am all for spaying and neutering, secondly on the subject of rescue dogs, I have a rescue Border collie, she has been a lot of hard work but the rescue I got her from knew I didn't mind that and I have no kids around, I now have a wonderful obedient dog, the bond we have is very special and she has taught me an awful lot.  There are lots of lovely natured dogs in rescues that are there through no fault of their own and deserve a chance to have a loving home, a friend of mine decided not to go to rescue as it was "safer" to get a pup from a responsible breeder, the pup ( a golden retriever) turned into a very bolshy, aloof  dog who wanted no attention at all, despite training and a lot of money spent on behaviourist and vet checks, he started jumping on his owner and growling and barring his teeth, my poor friend was distraught as she had to make the decision to either have him PTS or find him a home with someone able to try and deal with his issues, she did manage to rehome him and his new home say he is just the same with them but they are younger and have another dog and that seems to help him.

I hope you get your perfect family dog, lots to think about but with care I am sure you will succeed,

The OP asked about mini aussies:)

I have had dogs my entire life, the majority being german shepherds.  I defected to aussies about 10 years ago, and still have both of them as well will always have german shepherds.

My vote is aussie as well if you like herding breeds.  They aren't all 'off the wall', (even tho one of mine has alot of energy at 12 years old!)   My next one will be a mini.  I have alot of friends with mini aussies, and again, not all of them off the wall.  I like their compact size not to big, not to small .  All that I have been around have lived long healthy lives. 

Key is finding a good breeder and all else will fall into place.

I'm all for rescue as well, aussies come in all shapes , sizes and color here's a great Aussie rescue site

http://aussierescue.leepfrog.com/

And I am ALL For SPAY/NEUTER if your not breeding or conformation showing your dog:)
Diane