Our last 2 dogs have been Cavalier Spaniels, when we got our first we thought we'd found "our" breed. Small dogs with big personalities, loves a nap on the couch as much as tearing around the forest. Murphy was my shadow and I miss him every day. But both suffered chiari malformations of the skull, Murphy was put down due to pain episodes and it broke my heart. Misty has syringomyelia as well, due to the CM but her med have kept her happy and loving life. We swore we couldn't go through the CM/SM again so looked around and decided on the labrador.
I'm definitely a short haired gundog person, love both Weimaraners and English Pointers. I would have another of either but could also be tempted by a Viszla or GSP.
I never thought I would have a lab, I prefer longer coated big dogs. I have had 3 Newfies and current still have an Alaskan malamute. My favourite breed is the Newfie though. Meg kind of chose us and now a smaller breed fits our more active lifestyle and we don't have the space for big dogs and kids in the car anymore. So now I am total lab convert. Might have a Newfie when the kids leave home
When I was growing up my godfather had a Saint Bernard that I adored. My auntie always had Rottweilers that I absolutely loved. I've got to know a vizsla over the past 2 years and really like him, but is far to active for me! I do like bigger dogs to be honest, but there have been as few smaller dogs that I have got to know that I do like a lot, but labs are where my heart is
I'm attracted to Newfies, Bernese and St Bernards too. I'm never going to own them but I always want to pet them if I meet any.
Couldn't see myself with anything other than a lab, though it would be nice to have something that didn't shed!
For me labs are always on top but I also like beagles - I think they are very cute mid sized dogs. I'm very tempted with getting Golden Retriever but I don't think I'm ready now to try to expand my kennel yet but maybe one day I'll add nice light-coloured GR to our team
my friend has great danes they ate kitchen and she has to wipe slobber off the ceiling! lovely lovely dogs but too much goobber
If it wasn't a lab then my top two breeds would be a Dalmatian or a Nova Scotia duck tolling retreiver. Totally fell in love with them when I saw them at crufts! I'm also a sucker for bull breeds! Staffies, French bulldogs, bull mastiffs, you name it! I think this may have come from years of working in rescue centres and unfortunately you see an awful lot more of these types of dogs than anything else.
