Chickentrain's Dog Q&A

[SpotTheCat]

I recommend you look up the heights of various breeds.

From what I see, German Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers can both be over 60 cm at the shoulders. Not all of them will be that tall, but some should be.

If the height is very important, you will have to either get an adult dog (so you know the height), or get a puppy of a breed that should grow even taller than you need, to be sure it doesn't come out too short.


The biggest breeds do tend to have a shorter lifespan, as compared with the less-big ones. That's a tradeoff you might be stuck with, if you need it to be big.

You could talk to breeders about how long their dogs live, because I'm sure some individuals and families of dogs will live longer than the average for their breed, and some others will tend to die younger than the average.

Thank you! I am looking at getting a adult dog now so I know the hight, I have found a 3 year old female german shepherd that needs a home sent it to my brother and he hasn’t said no (he is out with my mother). If we do want her is there anything I should ask or look out for?

 

[NatJ]

Thank you! I am looking at getting a adult dog now so I know the hight, I have found a 3 year old female german shepherd that needs a home sent it to my brother and he hasn’t said no (he is out with my mother). If we do want her is there anything I should ask or look out for?

That sounds promising!

Obvious points to check would be size, health, how much training the dog already has, how the dog reacts to strangers-- the kind of stuff you would ask about any dog. No, I don't know what specifically you would need to look for.

 

[SpotTheCat]

That sounds promising!

Obviousy points to check would be size, health, how much training the dog already has, how the dog reacts to strangers-- the kind of stuff you would ask about any dog. No, I don't know what specifically you would need to look for.

Thank you!

 

[black_cat]

Thank you! I will have a look at them

Too small . 156cm, I need the dog tall enough so I can rest my hand on their back while walking, from my hand held flat to the ground is about 60cm

60 cm is only 23.5 inches at the withers- so in standard Goldens, a standard poodle, a GSD would probably be big enough.

Thank you! I love Leonbergers but the seem to die quite young from health issues

Most giant breeds do, including Danes and Berners. It’s all about finding the right breeder.

 

[black_cat]

Has chickentrain been on here recently? We are looking for her over in Grannyland.

They’re active in PMs- I’ll pass the message along.

 

[black_cat]

Thank you! I am looking at getting a adult dog now so I know the hight, I have found a 3 year old female german shepherd that needs a home sent it to my brother and he hasn’t said no (he is out with my mother). If we do want her is there anything I should ask or look out for?

Ask to see what she knows how to do and take her for a walk before agreeing to her. You don’t want to be stuck teaching a 3 year old GSD how to sit and managing reactivity. A reactive dog will also probably not ever be well adjusted enough to act as a service dog.

 

[Cecisflock]

hank you! I have a few questions about collies if you and/or @Cecisflock don’t mind answering!
How are they with strangers? Good, little reserved, very handler focused
Are they very barky? VERY
Whats their prey drive like? Zero
How sturdy are they? (not sure how to phrase it. I might need to lean on the dog slightly, I am quite light and it would not be my full weight) Really sturdy, I've occasionally leaned on rory, shes good.

 

[Cecisflock]

In my experience, any herding breed that I’ve met (this includes collies) tends to be barkier than sporting or working dogs, simply because of the use of barking in their herding work. However, I have not owned any, I can just speak from my experience with dogs I’ve worked with or met.

This is true. They were bred for it, they do it, often.

 

[black_cat]

Only like 2 weeks until I’m showing

 

[Silkie Princess]

This is true. They were bred for it, they do it, often.

Wow. My collie wasn't barky at all. I guess it depends on the dog. And I didn't find him very sturdy but that's maybe because he was very weak at death