Consumer Homes.

Question:

You mentioned the vizsla as a possibility. It would suit some of your requirements, but not all. On the plus side, they are extremely affectionate, touchy-feely dogs who make good "child-substitutes". They shed a little, but not a lot, and the little reddish-brown hairs tend to blend with the decor (our vizsla is exactly the color of our hardwood floor and of the reddish-brown dirt in Virginia–OK, I’m obviously not a "neat freak.") They are good dogs for people who like a lot of exercise, as they do too. They’re intelligent, agile, easy-to-train dogs, provided you use gentle methods, but they are bred to notice everything that’s happening around them, so they are quite easily distracted. Most people who have problems with them can’t handle the energy. As far as destructiveness in the house goes, they apparently vary. Both mine have been extremely easy to housebreak and have left my possessions strictly alone once the puppy-chewing phase was past. I wouldn’t leave ANY puppy, of any breed, uncrated and unsupervised. I gather from the vizsla list, however, that some vizslas chew stuff if they’re left alone. I’ve noticed that "chewiness" in adults varies inversely with exercise–if we’re, e.g., snowed in for a week, the dog gets stir-crazy and starts to do all sorts of antsy things to work off energy. So maybe destructiveness is the consequence of lack of exercise. If you want a dog of rather similar temperament that doesn’t shed at all, I’d suggest a standard poodle. They are similarly athletic, humorous, and intelligent, but a bit more reserved than vizslas (not, IMO, a disadvantage). The big downside for me was the more complicated grooming, esp. since I wanted a dog I could show. Some days I don’t have time to comb my own hair, much less the dog’s. If you’re not showing the dog, the grooming is considerably simpler. If you can’t tolerate destructiveness in the house, I wouldn’t get a puppy. Check out rescue organizations for an adult dog. Katharine Maus and Ch. Csillag’s Bartok, vizsla

Response:

Well I’ll make the case for the Newf. First off they are the world’s sweetest dogs. Very bright and very gentel and very loving. They don’t shed all that much. A Newf would be a perfect dog for a couple such as yourself. They are so anxious to please that they train themselves. My current Newf is only seven months old and she already can "rescue" me while swimming. Carry home a plstic bag of groceries, find a friends shoes or t-shirt hidden in the yard. Newf’s are very sensitive too, you never have to hit them. Just grab them under the neck, make eye contact and tell them you’re pissed. A Newf will follow you everywhere, you go into the kitchen They’ll go into the kitchen. You go to the bathroom, they’ll go to the bathroom. And I don’t meant just sometimes. I meant every time! Where ever you go they go. Kinda like a shadow. They don’t demand attention they just want to be with you. If you get a Newf’s you will not be sorry. You just can’t get a nicer/friendlier/better behaved dog. On the down side a Newf puppy is going to chew/chew/chew anything and everything. If not allow free access (dogie door) to the yard a Newf puppy will DESTORy your home. Is is one dog you don’t leave in the house all day! Great dog but she/he must have a fenced yard (large) and a dogie door. If either is a problem then I’m sad to say that a Newf might not be the dog for you. jim : We