personally i prefer rare/unusual breeds - helps to ensure survival of good breeds
and they are not more expensive than common breeds, except if they become fashionable

I always wanted a dog, Of that time it was mostly a Husky i wanted so i finally gave up and got 1

Done loads of research about the breed / psychology courses and training, Dog is great and he is out running 15+ miles a day with me and loves it, Only think i dont like is the mass amount of fur

I got a West Highland Terrier too, When i was younger my Gran had 1 and i loved that dog so though imma get 1

This post was edited by Sire on May 11 2013 06:06pm

add a scottie to complete the whisky pair:

i choose one based on size/personality/looks

after research or at the spur of the moment?

rare breeds cost more, especially if they're fashionable... (shallow people)

I pit bulls, wonderful dogs that have been abused not only in households but in breeding aswell.

I have a rescued pit bull, and on the nights that I allow him to do so... he'll sleep with his mouth inches from my throat and I'm not worried about him at all

hell, he loves kids as young as 1 year old. (I've seen pits that will be running full speed when a toddler walked into their path, and they'll slam face first into a wall in order to not touch the child)

yes: I voted specific breed

e/ I should note:

if you're a first time dog owner/trainer, be ready for a thoroughly thick headed animal and hope it's well bred (they're extremely loyal, which makes them such prime targets for fighters).

if you want one for stereotypical reasons: GO DIE IN A FUCKING FIRE YOU PIECE OF SHIT! (sorry... /rage)

double edit/

don't get a rescue unless you have previous experience with training dogs with issues.

a noob with good intentions getting a puppy will do better than a noob getting a rescue with issues and will most likely wind up with a better/healthier dog in the end.

This post was edited by oBlUWUlFo on May 12 2013 01:15am

have to disagree with your assumption on the cost of rare breeds
if they are not fashionable they cost the same as a common breed of the same size
maybe different where you live but that is my personal experience with the last three i got
and yes, i agree that going for fashionable breeds is silly (eg after every screening of "101 dalmations" the numbers go up)

good to see that someone is aware of what scrupulous breeders did to some breeds including pitbulls
my puppy loves to play with a female pitbull, a very friendly bitch but as the owner says "a genetic disaster" due to the fault of the breeder

my reason to go for pure bred dogs is that the character can be better predicted and i can look at the pedigree

I'm fixed on one particular breed. Rotties

I like mutts usually. But my favorite breeds are German shepards, labs, border collies, and jackrussel terriers

I picked my last dog (a mutt lab border collie and what ever else was mixed in) based off of how friendly she was and how much energy she had she was very energetic and would play fetch all the time and she learned very fast best dog I have ever had a lot of people underestimate the mutts

This post was edited by Krugg on May 12 2013 09:26am

carolina dog (aka dixie dingo)

amazing dogs