I am in the process of buying a new puppy. What an exciting time! There are so many choices. Not only choices of breeds but choices of temperments and styles within the breed. After years of training dogs and owning dogs I (like most people) have gravitated to certain breeds. Most of my childhood and early adulthood I had boxers and english mastiffs. I loved the playful attitude but fierce looks of the boxer and I loved the kind heart and intimidating size of the mastiff. I think that all dogs can be trained to coexist with their human but some tend to be easier than others. I think that boxers are high on the list. Most people have gotten it right as shown by the AKC registrations of dogs. The labrador retriever is number one and has been for several years. This is a great dog and has proven to be very adaptable to most environments. The golden retriever and german shepherd have constantly been high on this list. They have many of the same traits that make the labs so popular. With the big hollywood bratpack popularity and their little chihuahuas, the have increased in numbers as well but personally they are way way down my list.
At this point I am not sure what I want. Another boxer would be great but I was thinking about a german shepherd and trying the shutzhund training I posted about a few weeks ago. I have small children so that is also a big concern. I wouldnt be worried about either one of these breeds. I almost want to try something completely different like a giant schnauzer or a burmese mountain dog.
It is so important that if you are buying a pure breed dog that you find a reputable breeder. I find the best way to do this is by going to dog shows and talking to as many breeders as you can. You will quickly get a feel for those breeders that are very careful who they will breed to and what dogs they breed themselves. You are going to be spending a lot of time and money on your new best friend so do your homework. Over the years I have built many good relationships with some of the best breeders in the country and am excited to start this journey for my new puppy. Dont worry…Ill keep you posted!

It seems to be pretty big business to sell dogs that have been trained and come with schutzhund titles. For those who don’t know what shutzhund is, think german shepherd police dogs. There are some breeds more suited than others for shutzhund training. The most popular has to be the german shepherd. Other popular breeds that do well are the Giant Schnauzer, Doberman Pinschers, Belgian Malinois, and Rottweiler. I cant lie, purchasing a dog that comes with such a high level of training sometimes doesnt seem like such a bad thing. Puppies are so cute but are a ton of work that can seem overwhelming at times. To me even its worth the special bond you get with your new best friend when raising your dog from a puppy and going through the puppy training together.
For some special circumstances, skipping the puppy time may be the best for both you and the dog but I think for most people the efforts of raising and training your new puppy will more than pay off. There are many schutzhund clubs that are very helpful to new members (everyone was new once) as well as many nice sites and books on the subject. Dont get too intimidated, all the tools are out there and it just takes time and dedication and you will have your own Schutzhund titled dog and all the gratification that comes with knowing you and your dog did it together.