The Right Breed... Which breed for me?

He wants them to be photogenic and 2 colours for his photography.

So the criteria is...

• Dog friendly
• Active
• Medium to large in size.
• A 'beautiful' breed.

Hmmmmm there are so many!

These might be worth investigating:

Afghan Hound?
Briard?
Cirneco dell'Etna?
English Cocker Spaniel?
Ibizan Hound?

That's just a few I think you might like the look of.

I do agree with some of the comments that while it's fine to create a list of dogs based on looks (which lets face it most of us do initially) just make sure the dog's temp & traits are exactly what you want or fit in with your lifestyle. I know it might sound obvious but a lot of people end up getting breeds that are not suited to them (think Huskies/collies/BSDs etc) (which then end up in rescues).

I was going to suggest a spaniel (springer) bit I think these might be too small size wise?

Personally I find the Flatties stunning, saw the liver at Discover Dogs and went all drooly

What about the fox red coloured Labrador?

I agree some of the most stunning photos I have seen are of Vizsla

Agree!!

A well bred Flat Coat is stunning, a badly bred one not so much. Flat coats are bouncy, exuberant, enthusiastic dogs who love life and people to the max. They need kind and patient training methods and careful handling, they really do have to think that anything they do was their idea in the first place. They want to be with their people at all times and in olved in everything that they do. They are not a breed for everyone and if anyone is tempted they must spend time with the dogs and their owners, a lot of time . They should also contact the litter registry people at NEFRA and the FCR society as they will also guide people to good breeders AND to whether the breed suits them.


FCRs have come into view a lot this year thanks to Jet's win, but people judge them on looks and not on the madness that is a Flat Coat.

Black dogs are notoriously hard to photograph well. Lots of amazing photographers do it though. Just takes more effort and skill.

Munsterlander?

You've pretty much said it yourself here but I think it could be difficult asking for suggestions to fit the photogenic criteria because I feel that what one person may find attractive, others may not. It can even come down to individual dogs. Same with people; some girls think Brad Pitt is phwoar for but I just think yeuck!

Perhaps also, some dogs an individual finds attractive do not photograph well so are not so 'photogenic'?

What about a German Shorthaired Pointer? With them you can get the coat contrast you like, they are active, highly trainable, and friendly dogs.

You know, it never ceases to amaze me how forum mentality sometimes works. Because I happen to mention (amongst many other criteria, I should add) that a photogenic dog would be nice if we were looking for perfect, the comments include:

As is often the case with forums, and indeed what made me become extinct from this one for over a year, a mentality of semi-anonymous keyboard-powered rudeness begins and focuses on one small aspect that seems to make good incommensurate argument for the sake of argument. After all, there is little that is easier than insulting someone over the internet, right?

I would urge the posters of these comments to reread my original post:

"d. Photogenic. (That may seem shallow but I am a photographer and so if we're looking for the perfect dog then why not go for a photogenic one too?)"

See? It makes up one tiny aspect of the criteria. By far, the dog-friendliness and temperament was highlighted as the main criteria.

I applaud people for wanting to stick up for dogs and I respect that people are entitled to express opinion freely, but please, show a little decorum, manners, and respect (both for others and for yourself). I don't go around freely insulting others and I expect the same courtesy in return. It may be helpful to remember the old adage 'if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all'.

For those who didn't react with such unashamed vitriol, I thank you for your suggestions and comments (particularly from Moobli), they were helpful. I think we've decided on the Spinone. It's the breed that seems to have captured our hearts. So the next stage is to find a good breeder.

I love Spinones! Have you had a HPR dog before, because it`s a real culture shock if you`ve mainly had GSDs? I speak as one who knows......
I spent ages trying to get my Shorthair to walk closely like the Shepherd. Even the Shepherd tried and kept herding him.
In the end I went on a course with a Gundog person and learned better . They are great fun but a totally different ball game to the GSD.

Double post!

Did you not think that you may have inadvertently insulted others by saying some very popular breeds were not photogenic? ;-)

Anyway, try contacting the Spinone breed club. Puppies are quite thin on the ground for the less common HPR's so you may have a long wait on your hands.

No, just GSD and Border Collies.

The one thing I have in abundance is time. I have there luxury of working from home and I reeeeeally love my training so it certainly wouldn't be a lack of trying on my part!

And you know, sometimes the dog who just won't do as he is told can be the cutest in his own little way. I board many dogs and I always fall in love with the spirited ones. That said, I've had a couple that have taken spirited to new levels!

It may turn out that, after speaking and meeting with breeders and seeing some Spinones in action we get put off, and that is fine too. That's the point really though isn't it.

Even if that was the case (and I would cheerfully apologise to anyone who felt it was) that hardly gives those people the right or excuse to make such personal comments.

Thank you.

I personally think that if you find Weimaraners 'too playful', I'm guessing that is a polite way of saying too full on, then most of the HPRs would not be suitable.

William Wegman finds them photogenic ;-)

And a very good job he makes of it too.

That is the last comment I am going to make on the photogenic aspect of any dog. Photography is an art form and, as such, is subject to personal interpretation and preference.

However, this is not what this thread was intended to discuss and I've already grown bored of doing so.

No, I think you will find I said that the couple I have experienced were too playful. I suspect (actually, I know) that it was a training issue. Regardless, they are just not to my personal taste hence they were rejected anyway.

Certainly, Moobli's first-hand experience of the Spinone was:

Certainly seems to marry with my initial criteria to investigate further, doesn't it?

I once had a Spinone as a companion for my first English Setter. She was beautiful and had the most wonderful temperament, however she was very destructive and ate her way through 3 sofas. I never blamed her though, it was my fault as I had to work and she was obviously not stimulated enough whilst I was out of the house.

I wouldn't hesitate in getting another if I were in a position to give it all that it needed in respect of attention and something to do. We get a bit spoiled with the English who, so long as they are fed, walked and loved, are like couch potatoes when they are not playing.

I can't wait to hear about your new pup when you get it

lol Duly noted!

I think that is what it boils down to really isn't it.

Curse you, now you're swaying me back again...