labgirl
Forums Sage
LOL, I'm not surprised you have strong feelings on the matter, "labgirl" ;-)
I don't believe that labs are stupid, rough, or any more annoying than any other sporting breed--I was mostly commenting on the commonness of the breed, and how everyone feels the need to have a lab, and often not for any particular reason except that it's what other people have. If shelties were as common as Labrador retrievers, you can be sure that I would get something else--no matter how much I liked them, lol--like a Belgian shepherd or a Icelandic shepherd...I've been known for a tendency toward Hype Aversion. I should also mention that I tend not to find sporting dogs very appealing in general; my mother's Gordon setters, even if they're nicer looking imo, have that same stubborn streak and they drive me nuts--as well as the super-friendly attitude that, while most people like it, I tend to find off-putting. I think the sheltie breeder was surprised when I was interested initially in a female dog because they were less outgoing and friendly.
Not to mention the slobber...and slobber...and more slobber. -.-;; if a dog was very attractive and stubborn, I'd probably be willing to put up with it...or if a dog was less attractive but tractable, I might be willing to put up with it...but a dog who is both stubborn with big, floppy lips just won't do it for me.
Ultimately, my dislike of labs (besides said hype aversion, though like I said, I tend not to like sporting dogs in general) is just a matter of personal preference.
Hehe, yes I am pretty biased! But of course I understand we all have our own tastes in dogs - be a boring old world if we didn't! Then again, some of the things you list as disadvantages in a lab are what I see as their charms - but I guess I would
Of course, I'm loitering on here because I'm planning that the next dog be a blue merle sheltie and I'm doing my research at the moment on the breed - so far nothing puts me off.
As for breeds of dog that I don't like - well I could happily live in a world without terriers, but only because so many of them around here are so snappy and aggressive.
And I'm frightened of border collies, but I need to get over that as my brother is a trainee sheep farmer and will have working BCs eventually.
Smoke also loves my mother in laws Samoyed and our neighbor's Golden Retriever. Other big dogs that Smoke knows and gets along well with are a Standard Poodle and a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.
Also, I think maybe schnauzers would be too much. I've only met one before, and it was completely wired up. It was nice and friendly, but I think that might have been too much for a more laid back sheltie. My uncle's pomeranian tried to attack my dog, so I'm not sure about those either. My aunt and uncle have always had pomeranians, and they're always extremely friendly to people, but they don't seem to apperciate other dogs coming into their home.
The pups leg heal fine.