BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Dogs Your favorite breed?

Do you have a favorite breed of dogs?
I want to do more breed profile articles and
I'd like to know what breeds you're most interested in. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Sandy

Sandy,

My favorites just happen to also be the breeds that I have bred and raised:

Great Danes
American Pit Bull Dog
Irish Wolfhound

See? I love the GIANT breeds! LOL

My husband (who always reads over my shoulder when I am on Bella..hmmm) has asked me to add that he and his hunting partner have two of the very few LAIKAs in the U.S.

AND, he is interested in finding breeders and more breed information about the Italian Spinone.

Rick <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> -- hubby of

Thanks, Kitty,

Great Danes and Wolfhounds!!!! You do like the doggy giants! Did they get their Laikas in Europe?

That beautiful Spinone Italiano is one of my favorite breeds too. They've only been recognized by the AKC for about 2 years. We first saw them at a dog show last year. They're a sporting dog and they're supposed to be great hunters, but I just loved their looks. They're gorgeous dogs with such sweet expressions! When I asked some of the owners about their dogs, they said the Spinone's expression reflects it's personality...sweet, gentle and very loving.

Sandy

Yes, we got our Laika puppy from Europe. There is one man in the U.S. who has a different line and my husband's hunting partner bred his female to this man's male. He got a beautiful pup from the pairing.

My Dad (currently living in Japan and soon moving to Milan) has had the Spinone and he adores them! Their temperment is very sweet, they are very loyal and courageous on the ground and in the water should their favorite person or child seem to be in trouble. My Dad has had them in the U.S. for several years, but I had never heard much about them except in Europe.

I've never heard of a Laika. Different breeds sound fascinating.

Most of my dogs have been mutts, but I still have some favourites. The first love of my life was an Irish Setter and I will always love that breed. He was a great dog and some day I hope to have another. Then there was my Dalmatian. This would not have been my choice in a breed, but my daughter won me over when Kemo was looking for a new home. His life was much too short, but he won me over to that breed. You can see I'm looking at high energy type dogs. Another breed that I love, but I've never had (yet) is a Bernese Mountain Dog.

Oooops, clicked the button too fast....

Hi,

Laikas are a Russian breed (from Siberia) used for hunting bears etc.

Here is a picture (but there are several types of Laikas out there):
http://www.pets.kiev.ua/dog/breed_text/rusevroplajka_f.html

I`m in love with the Weimaraner and would like to invite everyone who loves this breed to our MSN Group at http://groups.msn.com/Weimaraners. We are having fun there, sharing stories, pictures and advice, and would like to have new Weim fans join us.

BTW, funny, my dog`s name is Bella! She is a GSD.

The Laika pictured appears to be the Russo-European Laika (related to the Karelian Bear dog)...

Our line is from Finland and is of Karelo-Finnish bloodlines. There are also West Siberian and East Siberian Laikas. The gentleman whom we deal with, Vladimir Beregovoy, has a website at http://www.laikabreeds.multiservers.com/
which is a great starting point for info on Laikas.

Each of these Laikas has a very distinct appearance - the Finnish are red; the Russo-European is black and white; the West Siberian is husky-like in markings and the East Siberian is almost German Shepherd in markings and conformation.



I do not recommend this breed for households with young children or people looking for a quiet, house or lap dog - the dog is a hunter and very much a "one-person" breed. We partner with our Laika on deer and other big game hunting - they are a sturdy, primitive, hardy breed. Okay - I will now shut up about Laikas.

My fave breed is the Chow Chow. There are two who live near where I work and I get to say hello to them in the mornings.

Also, I have a friend who is curious about Shiba Inus (not sure of the spelling of that). She likes how they are smaller dogs but have personalities like bigger dogs.

- Rae