My English American cocker spaniel is a pansy assed 25 pound lap dog.

She's gun shy and a total piddler when it comes to surprises.

I want a truck dog.

Wife scoffs.

Need a ruling.

Get a healer.

mastiff?

JRT

Mtn. Cur,,,, the wife gives you any back talk just show her this pic.

black-mouthed mountain curs are hard to beat.

I've settled for a mountain fiest. they're hard to beat too.

Dane or Lab

Snake

So many good dogs,picking one is hard.I would try the local shelter and see what they have to choose from.Fair warning,when you give a homeless dog a home they tend to be underfoot.

You need a man card before you can get a truck dog.

That'll work too, as would a Healer.
Heck,,, any working breed that the AKC hasn't f-ed up would make a fine traveling companion.

Steelhead's got some pups.

Divorce wife!

Get Heeler.!

Do you bird hunt or think you might if you had a dog?

Pointing Lab, other versatile gun dogs.

Catahoula. You're welcome.

Bluedreaux. As a pup he'd bay our kids if they got too far ahead of us on hikes. Smartest dog I've ever seen.

+1!

heeler hell, get a Scottie.

blue that dog looks well done.

Don't care if it hunts.

Jump in truck seat, goes where I go. Walks when I walk. Stays when told. Prefer it get active when people stop by, other than to pee and hide.

I got 2 acres in the fence, 6 acres if I leave the first gate open. 143 after that. So there's room to move.


And I know Steelie's got some pups. I don't mind mutts.

Best rabbit dog I ever had was a beagle-dachshund mix.

And our lab-boxer was the best guard dog I've ever had. A black bitch with an attitude problem.

I hear ya! This one came with the new wife and step-daughters so I haven't had her around guns much (other than gopher safaris with rimfires). She will flush grouse on her own with no encouragement so does have some instincts. The wife has always had Cockers so I've been telling her the next one should be a Brittany or similar Spaniel - after all they're just a bigger Cocker, right? Good luck with the new pooch!

Jgray, my cocker will absolutely hunt quail. It's scary.

But when the gun goes off, so does she.

And any attempts to break her have failed. She's five now, and sits on my lap when I hit the chair. That's it.

She's a priss.

Cat's are great,,, to big for my tastes these days though.

Buddy's got one that's awful hard on Coon and Skunks.

If you don't care if it hunts and just looking for company, get a stuffed dog.

Give the cocker spaniel to the pants (wife) and get yourself a lab, like this one, he use to love to go for rides in my truck.

Much good advice already given.

I have seen some outstanding beagle-Jack Russel crosses. We, personally, owned two beagle-cocker crosses that were great dogs.

A beagle is a 25 pound dog with a 125 pound voice. Terriers are ferocious defenders and very attuned to scratching noises.

A beagle sized dog is about the minimum size dog that is practical in Michigan. Shorter and they don't want to go out in the snow to do their necessary business. Lighter and they get too cold, too quickly.

We are currently a German Shepherd family and will probably stay that way. Unless you have very high quality information, most mutts are a crap shoot because you do not really know the male parent(s).

We also once picked up a dog from the pound. In hindsight, I am 90% sure that the original owners dumped the dog because it would vomit pools of phlegm from May 15 until July 1. Folks with fancy houses and lots of carpet cannot work around that issue. We figured out a way but it was a pain in the butt.

In the end, dogs are individuals. Every breed or cross has good individuals....ones that would die for you and you, in return, would kill for them...and ones that are an embarrassment to the species.

Super-popular breeds, especially ones that just recently ascended to peak popularity (like the French Bulldog), and super-rare breeds have more than their fair share of clunkers. The super-popular because unscrupulous breeders breed every fertile bitch to cash in while they can. The super-rare (like foxhounds) because of the narrow gene pool.

An exception is if you know that most of the dogs are NOT registered but are owned by people who work them and cull ruthlessly. For example, people who hunt raccoons or keep ratting terriers in barns seldom care about "papers". They care about dogs that get the job done. You are blessed if people like this will sell you a puppy.

It is my unscientific opinion that you are very likely to be a happy man if you choose any breed that has been popular for more than 20 years and is in the top 20 registered breeds Link . A further piece of advice is to pick a dog that looks like, well, a dog. Dogs that have punched in noses or other extreme features have "issues" and are often in-bred. English Bulldog and Basset Hounds is an example of this kind of dog.

Best regards and good fortune

-Joe

This.

Get a Chiweenie. Thank me later.

Little rifles, Little dogs, and Big Girls, I always say...

My first dog was a Cocker. A tough, rangy, hunting SOB he was. If for some reason he was chained up when I came outdoors with a gun, he went ballistic. I miss that dog...

Id get a heeler for a truck/companion/watch dog.

Another vote for a heeler, or Aussie Shepard.

FWIW, great words...

What an awesome looking beast!

What about a Boykin Spaniel?

I have a mountain cur and a healer/border collie cross, both are good truck dogs

Heelers are good dogs but they leave a lot to be desired when it comes to actually driving the truck.

It appears the silly bitch dropped half your load onto the ground.

Absolutely need a heeler. Im also a big fan of the JRT. I own two terriers and 1 heeler, a real man will not go wrong with these two creatures.

Of course, everyone thinks theirs is the best. Take my advice and get a "Seeing eye dog". They are easy keepers and can drive you home when you are drunk. On top of that, if you do get in a wreck, the "Seeing eye dog" can get you home safely if you can still walk...

I saw a dog this afternoon with no back legs, with it's hind end strapped to a two wheeled cart rig, chugging along with only it's two front feet.

And the owner gave me a dirty look when I stared.

Anderson Pooper..?

RWE- Im with all those that said a heeler.

Caveat: you need to do your homework and be smarter than the dog.

Jack Russell dog for us. They have a ton of personality.

mutha...


how's this:


half heeler, half aussie shepherd.

He'll try herding everything....

sounds like a beach dog...

THIS

Is that the new pup?!

Looks like a keeper!

not new.

Got a few logistics I need to take care of before I can acquire.

Notwithstanding work deadlines and pre "back to school" obligations, I'd need a few weeks before it happens.

I was just "surfing" and found the little guy about 40 miles from me.

This is what you do.

1.) Bring home a Norwegian Elkhound puppy. Wife will fall in love immediately. You can tell her it's a baby bear if she claims she doesn't want another dog.



2.) It will grow up to be a very smart, intelligent pet that bonds closely to its family. They are a little independent, but as long as you are the clearly the alpha, no dog is more loyal and loving.





3.) Ride around in your truck and enjoy! If you drive in a rough area, get several and potential vandals or "homies" will swear you have a pack of timber wolves and run.

What breed was Ingwe dog? Looked to be the ultimate companion.

So, I broached the Terminator (Mrs. RWE) on the dog, this dog, and I could tell she was relenting, because she started asking logistical questions, i.e. size of dog now compared to the pansy, future size of dog, shedding potential, etc.

Whether this one or another, I am breaking down the defenses.

Trench warfare to follow.

Invade tonight. Get the pup tomorrow. Win/win.

Wife said I needed to increase the size of the fenced yard if I wanted another dog.

Not a real big deal, mainly she wanted to include the garden area so maybe we can keep the bunnies out in the future.

Figured I'd hit a shelter when I get done stringing wire, plenty to choose from.

But seeing a near campfire consensus split between Heelers and JRT's I found this about 45 minutes away.



According to the phone call, it is half Australian Cattle Dog, half Parson Russell Terrier.

Hmmmmmm

It's all dog, and that's all that matters.

Good for you and good for the lucky dog who will now own you.

Get the dog.

I like the herding breeds, myself

Heeler !



That JRT / Cattle Dog looks likely though.

Noting, once again, that "just pull the trigger" is an underlying theme in most of your advice.

He'll herd squirrels. Then destroy them.

It aint half of either one of those. But that said, theres some herding dog in there, and I like them!

It may be me, but is there anything wrong with inviting friends over to drink beer and watch?

Sounds like a seriously good show.

And? Is there a problem with this?

I can't even look at dogs right now. The pups have been gone for a week now and I'm still a little blue.

Momma is doing great though and finally finding her place with the other 2 dogs.

This^^^^

And he looks like a possum-killer to me. He'll fit right in.

Or this

I often wondered how they determined that stuff.

Was going to call back later and talk to the head shelter lackey that took it in.

Not that it matters, but curiosity is what it is.

You're the dog expert. How do you know, Master Yoda?

TRUCK DOG, extraordinaire,

She'll look out the passenger door window and do this to folks in the car alongside, at the traffic lights in town. Never asks to go in hot weather,....knows better. Cooler weather,...a jaunt into town is a real treat.

That's a friggin' awesome pic!

You mean like this healer?

Those here who know her can tell you that she smiles a LOT. Up to a certain point, the friendliest of dogs, and a natural clown. She enjoys laughter, and has accordingly taught herself how to generate it. She's never learned that scrunching up her nose like that closes off her nose, and starts snorting and licking her chops while smiling / grinning.

Those who don't know her,....well suffice it to say that she's scared the crap out of more than a few,"not a dog person" sorta' folks.

Once, at a major intersection in S.V. guy came blasting up on his bicycle, Spandex et. al. and stopped right beside HER window, startling her. I guess he didn't see her. She let out a LOUD bark of alarm, and the poor bastid flinched / lurched away so hard he fell off his ride. Kinda' looked like that Arnie guy's tricycle schtick on the old "Laugh In" show. Once he got himself and his bike up and sorted out she started her smiling routine, stumpy tail madly wagging,....he, GLARING back. I proceeded on the green light, and the fellow followed me into the Diesel stop,.....really pissed.

We "discussed" the situation, and I managed to get him cooled off. The whole time we were talking, she was hanging out HER window, with that ridiculous face in full play.

Very comedic dog, her.

If you have to ask the wife you do not deserve a dog.

( flame on )

Ha. There is that point.

Go get the pup. Great size for a truck dog. Mixed breed is good. LUCK!

if i may ask, how bad do the various heeler/herding dogs shed?

I don't know about heelers, but Jack Russells shed a lot and those white hairs are very noticeable. I have four and the amounts of hair, especially at certain times of the year, is unbelievable.

That said, it is a small price to pay for such spicy, charming personalities. Unbelievably brave little buggers.