Help me find my future dog breed?

[GirlsHuntToo]

From what you have described threw out this thread, I would say a Black or Yellow lab might be what you are looking for. I have known a couple and they can be great dogs and trained to pretty much do whatever you want - they are often used as Game Warden K9 dogs so they can be trained to leave wildlife alone! The one I currently know, Cora, is a yellow lab and she is very strong and rips apart almost every toy!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

How about a Boxer? Raised ours from a puppy and he was amazing around small animals. Boxers are very friendly but also good guard dogs. They have a good amount of energy and tend to stay quite active into their senior years. Yes, they do literally bounce off the walls as puppies, but they don't stay like that. They are considered brachycephalic but many don't have problems related to that. They are prone to tumors, however.

My current boxer has a high prey drive. The first two I had were okay, but Rosie was a killer. She also drools at times. She's now 12, and is mostly harmless now. They are great dogs, but probably not a good fit.

From what you have described threw out this thread, I would say a Black or Yellow lab might be what you are looking for. I have known a couple and they can be great dogs and trained to pretty much do whatever you want - they are often used as Game Warden K9 dogs so they can be trained to leave wildlife alone! The one I currently know, Cora, is a yellow lab and she is very strong and rips apart almost every toy!

A lab would fit the description. Getting one from a good breeder is important as some field lines probably will have some amount of prey drive.

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

Thanks for the tips! It’s helpful to know what to look out for because a lot of puppies look pretty different from how they look as adults.
I tip that I think is true for picking a more chill puppy out of a litter is to choose the one that does not run up to you right away, but is also playing and interacting with the other puppies.

Picking the chillest puppy out of tbe litter can also be picking the terror puppy. We picked the calmest chocolate lab and once he was home it was completely different.

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

I think a show lab from a ethical breeder could be a good fit. But be prepared the price of a ethically bred puppy is normally over $2000.
Our labs and any lab i know doesnt drool a ton, but there is still drool even with tiny dogs.

 

[Everose]

I understand that pretty much any dog can be trained to be around chickens.

Two years ago I was full of hope and optimism as you are now ...
Then I was given this little .

While I do think that MOST pitties and other high prey drive dogs can be trained to redirect their prey drive some are just too game and are plagued with too much OCD and ADD to give two craps what you want from them.
Be careful who you get your high prey drive dogs from. If you end up choosing a breed that is known for high prey drive I would personally go to a breeder who breeds for show line dogs or adopt a fully grown dog who you can "test out". Do not just grab any cheap puppy you find in a Walmart parking lot (like in my case), because sometimes no amount of socialization, redirection, discipline, rewards, or medications can undo centuries of breeding.
Other than that my suggestions would be as follows:

• Aussie: SMART–quick learner–active but has an off switch–10,000/10 for adorkable personality (I know, I know the hair! But it's shortish and just needs the occasional brushing, it doesn't get super long and mine has always been a great shedder, her fluff comes off in cottony clumps and doesn't get everywhere. They are not supposed to be shaved down)
• Beagle: GOOBERS–talkers–velcro dog will not want you to leave–usually a good farm dog–very naughty will always keep you on your toes (I know you said the PD was a turn off but they're people pleasers and good hunting beagles have to be penned up or else they get kinda lazy)
• Corgi: Ears–big booty–big eye balls–low maintenance coat–legs are too short for much running (okay that's a lie, they're herding dogs like the Aussie, but this means they were historically kept on farms like the aussie and beagle so they should be trainable if bred properly)
• Labrador: boring–dumb–cute–Marley from Marley and me was a lab I guess–nobody will be afraid of this empty headed dog icon–medium PD but they're people pleasers and everyone and their mom keeps one on the farm for some reason

Honestly most of the good breeds have high prey drive now that I think about it
If you liked the brachycephalic droolers I'd have a lot more suggestions, and if you liked long hair the list is endless

 

[Everose]

What I've found to be the best indicator when picking a puppy is not how the puppy treats you or its litter mates, but rather how the puppy treats its mother. Puppies who are their mother's shadow (and are probably the chunkiest babies) will be a little more inclined to follow you around and let you take the lead. I have never liked the friendliest or the most standoffish out of a litter.
I'm not a friendly person and I hate it when I take my pittie out and all he wants to do is lick the kids and meet every person we walk by, it's sooooo uncomfortable for me. And I've never liked the super nervous types either, they're just a little too sketchy, I never get the feeling that they'll fully trust me or be very accepting of other people, in one case the super nervous dog only trusted me and ended up being a jealous brat (he wasn't even mine and he bit a hole in my pittie's face).