I definatly like these dogs, and once I settle down with my own house and gf, I’d like to either take a rescue dog in, or get a puppy.
For a first dog, I would recommend a boxer. They do need a lot of exercise, but are easy to train, and love to please. You can usually find some in rescues, too.
Tags: Rottweiler
hmm..each of this dog has a distinct personality. Perhaps what you should be looking for in a dog is that which will be a perfect match to your personality, lifestyle and that would meet your other requirements.
Here’s a breed selector quiz that can help you figure out:
http://lnk.nu/dogtime.com/t78
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I like the big dogs too
Personally, i would choose the english mastiff. But its your choice. Buy the breed you like the most.
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Well for a first dog the Mastiff breed isn’t the best choice. They tend to have more health problems and are very expensive. I have seen a mastiff weigh over 200 pounds easily. Feeding 200 pounds isn’t cheap nor are the vet bills. If you are very active then the boxer is a good choice. If you want a lovable pet that isn’t too hyper then the Rottweiler is the best one for you.
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moof if you were so educated like your title says you are then you would know that looking into the mother and father’s past health records and their relatives you can tell if the dog is going to have health problems. The fighters are the ones that are most inbred so those are the ones with the worst problems. I happen to know a line of rotties with perfect health. The entire generation of their dogs have perfect health. It all depends on the breeding.
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I wouldn’t suggest a boxer for a first dog, everyone says they turn on a dime, while others say they’d trust their child with them. So I don’t know about them.
As for the others, I had a rottweiler, and he was the sweetest dog ever.
Mostly, I’d suggest you find a possible pup and go take a look at him/her and see their personality and pick from there. Its all a matter of personal choice.
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Owner of Siberian Husky & Black Lab. Previous owner to Labs, and Rottweiler.
That depends on YOU and YOUR lifestyle.
Read this about Rotties:
http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/general-info/57934-why-rottweiler-not-everyone.html
Read this about Bullmastiffs:
http://www.bullmastiffinfo.org/breed.htm
Read this about Boxers:
http://www.flbr.org/areyourightforaboxer.html
Read this about Mastiffs:
http://mastiff.org/rescue/mastiff_right.htm
Now, think about which breed would fit your lifestyle. Do you want a challenging, powerful dog like a Rottie or Bullmastiff? A goofball like a Boxer or Mastiff? A leaner dog like a Boxer or a thick dog like a Mastiff? A dog with huge work ethic and stamina like a Rottie, a relative couch potato like a Mastiff or a an athlete like a Boxer? Can you handle a willful dog?
EDIT: Just wanna refute a comment made by Binka. ALL of these choices of dog are associated with health problems. However, it is definitely the Rottweiler that is known to have the worst luck with health. That’s because Rotties are poorly bred more often than Mastiffs, Bullmastiffs and Boxers because they’re more popular and widespread. NONE of these dogs should be heavily predisposed to many problems when purchased from a quality breeder, however.
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For a first dog, I would recommend a boxer. They do need a lot of exercise, but are easy to train, and love to please. You can usually find some in rescues, too.
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btdt
I dont think it is a very good idea to rescue these breeds as adult dogs especially a rotty. These breeds are much better being raised as puppies. I think boxers because they are smaller of those breeds and they are affectionate. Trying to rescue a puppy is the best way to go =] but hey i may be wrong every dog has a different personality.
http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogprofile.do?id=2460
http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogprofile.do?id=2380
http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogprofile.do?id=2370
http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogprofile.do?id=2490
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I like those dogs too but you should try a bulldog
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I’ve heard Boxer are one of the top ten best dogs to have around kids .. at the dog park boxers do seem to be wonderful with them. .. however-that being said they can also be the most pugnacious and aggressive, but that could be a problem with most of the breeds you have listed. I’ve met really sweet calm rottweilers at the dog park .. but i’m guessing the less behaved ones aren’t at the dog park because that would be incredibly dangerous. There are several quizzes online that can help you find a breed- i’ve listed on on animal planet . .but also, i guarantee you books about each of those breeds will not recommend them to first time dog owners- but i love terriers, and they aren’t recommended for first time owners . . .my terrier mutt is awesome.
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http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogselector.do
A mastiff is a bad start off. Rottweilers have a lot of health problems as they age, and boxers aren’t always the brightest. I’ve owned many dogs, and my favorites are great danes. But I do have fond memorys with my boxer, Macy. She died at around 6 from cancer, but she was incredible. Smart too, ditsy, but she learned quick. Boxers can be very agressive or very cowardly.
I would definately say a boxer, a good start.
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a goldfish,moron….
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For a beginner- none of those breeds are best. With a little experience, the English Mastiff would be great. However it is important you research the breed beforehand
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I am going to add that a rottie does need an experienced handler or one who has the backing and help of a close-by breeder, which is how I started.
Brought up well these are fab dogs, but unsocialised and without strong boundaries with a firm fair leader then you "may" have problems. Not always. Some of them are so super in temperament that you can drag them up and they’d still be ok.
As for rescue. I work with rescue and we see a lot of lovely adult dogs come through that have not put a paw wrong but lose their home from no fault of their own.
An adult rottie that has got attitude and a problem doesn’t get as far as being rehomed. We have to be responsible with what we rehome. Sometimes if they are "a bit naughty" and cannot go out to the general public, they stay with us long enough that either an experienced dog handler comes along, a behaviourist eg. or we have room to take the dog home. They are rarely PTS, and never put out to the public.
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Its strange that you came up with this mix because they are all so different in temperament. For a first dog I would definitly recommend a Boxer.
Since the dog is going to be a rescue it is likely to have behavioral problems. You do not want a 200 lb dog with a behavioral problem or a notoriously aggressive breed like a rottwieler when you are starting a family.
english mastiffs are one of my absolute favorite dogs but only if you have thousands a year to contribute to medical expenses and basic up keep. Bull Mastiffs are great too but I dont like the look as much as the english mastiff.
Are you talking about you are going to buy a house or rent a house? If you are renting you will likely not be permitted to get a large dog and you do not want a huge dog that causes damage to your home either.
When it comes time your best bet is to see if you are buying/renting and if you will surely have a place to keep the dog for the next 10-15 years. Make sure the dog gets along with your girl friend. Ensure that you have the income to upkeep a large breed. (at least $2K expendable income per year plus extra for emergency vet care)
Good luck. It is a big choice and one worth pondering.
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It depends on your life style and personality.
If your not that active and like to go for a quick stroll, then id go with the english mastiff or bullmastiff.
If you think you can handle such a strong breed and provide enough exericse and socialise and train it, then I would definetly recommened the rottie.
If your more active and like jogging or long hikes ect, i would go with the boxer as the have endless energy.
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owner of 2 dobies, a rottweiler and fostering a bullmastiff.
Obviously i would choose a Bullmastiff… (see my pic… Shilo). I have 2. Each of these breeds are very very different. Boxers are far to high energy for me. Bullies are a very lazy breed… brilliant guard dogs, very stuborn so not for the weak willed! Good luck in your choice.
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Depends what type of dog you would like. English Mastiffs are very lazy, so it depends if you want a dog you can take for a walk frequently.
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Boxers are great dogs (I’m a bit bias there seeing as I have one) and I don’t think I’d ever get any other dog now.
They have such a great personality, great with kids and great family pets. ANY Boxer owner will tell you the same
As a first pet though all these dogs need a good strong leader, I’d suggest you do a lot of reading a things like Pack leadership, obedience & basic training before you get any of these dogs, they all can be great dogs! but you need to do your google’ing
Good luck!
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i love all these breeds, good choices!
but as a first dog, i would recommend a boxer.
they don’t have the weight of a mastiff or rottweiler and that is something that takes awhile to get used to.
rottweilers need experienced owners, so i think a rottweiler should be out of the question.
mastiff are really big, but they are great dogs.
but i still think you should start with a boxer, at least for a first dog.
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