We have 4 Cavaliers and a Golden Retriever. We have always had Cocker Spaniels but now think Cavaliers are the best breed ever.
I can’t believe the Old English Sheep dog did not make the list. Talk about high maintenance, they need daily grooming if you don’t want to shear them every month or so.
I can’t believe that the English Bulldog isn’t on that list, and at least in the top 5!
They’re notorious for having skin problems, especially “hot spots” due to the folds of skin that MUST be kept clean and dry. Be prepared to spend at least a half hour once or twice a day grooming them. Thank goodness they have short hair!
Next on the list are all the common aliments that they have. It’s not unusual for Bully owners to have to visit the vet at least once a month.
Finally, when it comes to breeding, they generally need to be artificially inseminated, and nearly always have to give birth through c-section!
The ones I’ve known LOVED water, but swam like bricks. They quickly get overcome by heat, and need to be kept cool. They snore like locomotives and they contribute more to “green-house gasses” than a herd of cows!
But they’re solid muscle, bone, and personality. Some people say they’re dumb and can’t be trained, but I’ve found that they’re just independent and once they’ve proven to themselves that they can do something, they don’t need to demonstrate the ability to anyone else.
Mark
We do Cocker rescue and also help a friend who does small breed rescue. Cockers are great dogs, but they do need a lot off attention; bathing, brushing, ear cleaning. We make sure the new owners are aware of what they are getting into. We get very few returned.
They are right about poodles shedding. Especially the adolescents. We see quite a few breeding dogs from puppy mills and back yard breeders that have never been groomed and are dumped at the pound. We call them Rasta-dogs. You can also tell they haven’t had much human attention. We clean them up and give them some love and they recover quickly.
The 10 Breeds listed in the article:
Australian Shepherd
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Border Collie
Brussels Griffon
Cocker Spaniel
German Shorthaired Pointer
Jack Russell Terrier
Poodle
Labrador Retriever
Yorkshire Terrier
We currently have Five dogs. One Westie, one Scottie, and three Australian Terriers. Love them all and for the most part they all get along. The Scottie is pretty sure she is the enforcer of the pack. She guards the doorway to our bedroom and won’t let the Aussies in. She’s best friends with the Westie so she can pass by without issues. About a half acre fenced backyard so they have lots of running room. They will kill anything that gets into the yard and then eat it. The smallest Aussie isn’t allowed out unattended as she will climb the fence and chase the horses. The wife complains about having five dogs but I know she loves them all. Out of them all the Scottie is the one that need the most grooming and the Aussies need no more than a good brushing and an occasional bath.
note to return here later