How true! One of the most macho dogs I ever met were a pair of black standard poodles. I met them at a draft horse auction and they were really sturdy, smart, sharp dogs!

When we adopted our SPCA Maltese there was a black standard I wanted SOOO badly! But we needed a small dog as a companion to our first Maltese, who is aggressive with large dogs.

If you are looking for a big dog, especially one that is easy on allergy sufferers, Standard Poodles rock!

i am also allergic to dogs, but the golden retriever is truely worth the suffering. my friend owns a golden and a new yorkie puppy. when i take my boy over there, the two puppies are going crazy and driving the golden insane. but he takes it in stride. if he gets too stressed then he'll just go outside and relax. they are such sweet dogs. when we all go out for walks, the two yorkies are right by him. then he waits by the door until everyone (including the yorkies and the humans) comes inside. he was very easy to potty train as well. he could care less if we're brushing his teeth or cutting his nails. the golden coats get more dander when he is in the rain (outside). but i dont sneeze when he's been inside all day. if she has the energy (after watching the FOUR kids), a regular brushing with the furminator will take care of the allergy problem. i definitly think it's worth it.

If she is going to keep a dog outside I vote for a cow. But whatever you do do NOT get a German Shepherd. Our Ivan is a gentle giant and is absolutely wonderful around the little dogs and children. He is protective and loving as he can be BUT...he has a double coat and sheds more than any dog I have ever owned! I can't even walk by him in the morning or I get covered with hair.

She might enjoy a collie if she is willing to do daily groomings but I think a standard poodle would be best.

If I were to get a large dog, I would look into a shelter, but I could not get an adult dog, it would have to be a puppy, and they would have to know the exact breeds if it were a mix. I have 6 kids under 11, and you just never know the history. Not that puppies cannot grow up and do something unpredictable, but I can understand why someone might be inclined to go through a breeder as opposed to a shelter if they have children.

I LOVE, LOVE all kinds of retrievers! Growing up we had a black lab and she was the best!!
If she has allergies, she should look at the labradoodles! Though it would be wonderful if she would get one from a shelter! You can always find large breed dogs and puppies at the shelters!

I agree with this. I have grown up around Old English Sheepdogs - they are wonderful with children and other pets, but they can also have a fierce bark. I also love bullmastiffs, but they definitely shed more than the OES. I attached a picture of my sister's OES playing tug with one of my girls. The other one is my parents' two OES.

Sorry if I wasn't clear. Shelters are getting lots of puppies nowadays. In the shelter I'm at, they get fostered until about three months and they are super well behaved. Well behaved for puppies, at least.

Both Standard Poodles or any type of Poodle are supposed to be non-shed or Hypo-Allergenic!! Ger, Shep. and Husky's all shed like heck too!! I had a Great Dane that shed terrible also. Labredoodles/Goldendoodles you have to go back several generations for them not to shed, That mix might work with your sister's allergies...Good-Luck, :goodluck:

Thanks everyone for all your responses!! Its very nice of everyone. I'm going to look into a standard poodle, because bless your hearts there's a poodle breeder about two hours away. They're registered, vet checked, and all that good stuff. But I am going to look into rescue as well, because as it so happens we have a local rescue in my town. Since I'm still researching and stuff I can look back from time to time to see what lovies they have that need a home. That way if she decides to get a rescue it will have his/her shots, neutered/spayed and all that good stuff, and she can also set up an appointment to meet the possible new member of the family so she can see if they all get along. I would've done the rescue route too, and in the future I'll do that.Thanks everyone. :) You all rock.

Good for you Roxy87... My female standard is from a breeder in Canada!!

Good Luck:)

... none .... I don't like big dogs ..... ;)

my dad has a mastiff.. such a sweetheart!! :wub:

Mastiffs are so gentle, but protective. Their bark can make a grown man run(i witnessed this once :) ) I just dont know about the allergy issue, sorry.:animal36

I've thought about getting an Old English Sheepdog, a Rottweiler, or a Komondor, however, I don't think any of those are good for allergies. Also, after having read more of their temperaments, I'm not sure if I'd be owning one of those anytime soon. :( Those are the only large breeds I'd consider... maybe also a Saint Bernard.

oh boy...there is a list...i have never ever been a little breed dog lover, but i did recently live with 3 newfoundlands, and im convinced i'll have one some day...oh, and a mastiff, and a great dane, and ohh a greyhound!!!!!

i put a pic of me and abby the one newfie i used to live with and i loooove her!

What about a Labradoodle? They are good sized and I don't think they shed as they have poodle in them.

Okay, I didnt read all of the thread so forgive me if your decision is already made/ whatever..

NO dog that is kept outdoors is well cared for. DOgs are pack oriented animals, and to keep one outside by itself is CRUEL. NOmatter if its 5 lbs or 500... As somebody who takes care of one of these "Well loved outdoor dogs" beleive me, Its depressing to see hwta a dog goes through as an outdoor dog, even though it may get attention eveynow and them/ whatever. Its sick.


If you do indeed decide to get a dog for her. YOU CANNOT GET A LOW SHEDDING DOG AND KEEP IT OUTDOORS! A low shedding dog means that it has little to NO undercoat. Which does not protect a dog from cold/warm weahther or rain! YOu cannot have a short haired boxer or anything like that, because it will get cold faster.

Keeping a golden retriever outside is like keeping a child opoutside. They are waaay to faily oriented to keep outside.

If you were to keep a dog outside. I can honestly say that the only breed i would "Recomend " (I dont recomend any really, because its cruel, But to the ones that I cannot talk out of there dumbness, i do recomend) A husky. They are more equiped for the outdoors than most dogs. Either that or i recomend a stuffed dog thats left outdside.

Oh, If you are going to adopt from a rescue or a reputable breeder. Make sure you lie to them. NObody that runs a responisble shelter or Breeding program would ever even CONSIDER adopting one out or selling one to anybody who is going to keep "IT" outdoors.


PLEASE DOnt get a poodle to keepout doors. FOR trhe love of God dont! :'( :'(:thumbdown :cry:

YOur in alberta I just noticed. My brother is working inalberta, and iT gets to -40 C up there at times. I cant beleive anybody is accually helping her find the perfect dog to keep outside in alberta winters!!! Im sorry, I mean no disrespect, but i am in tears now. This is unreal!

best hypoallergenic larger dog is Wheaton Terrier--Hands down!! We had one and he was the best!!!! Great with kids-mine grew up with him, easy to train and lovable
You will love them!
morrislaz

Yeah. Okay, thats fine. I expected to maybe get comments like this. I didn't think it would happen, but I thought about it. I didn't say a decision was made, and I did think of the possiblities. And I didn't want to be confrontational, but thank you.

You thought of the possibilities and your still thinking about doing it to a poor dog? Love, How did you expect not to get "not so nice" responses back?

Thank you. No disrespect against you. I've read your posts, I can see where you're coming from. I was just asking what everyone thought, because everyone's great here. But, I'm finished.

No no. Its fine. I dont see why i bothered, Cause the chances of anybody accually listening to anything i have to say and taking it seriously is slim to none. Abviously anybody who is set on keeping a dog outside, is going to continue to think its okay. whatever.

Well, if she had a non-shedding, hypoallergenic dog, it wouldn't have to be an outside dog, right? That was really why I was suggesting a poodle-- it could be inside since it wouldn't be any harm to the person with the allergies.

Well, looking at this quote I though that the sister wanted a outdoor dog, regardless of allergies.

IMo some dogs are outdoor dogs, They get too hot indoors, pant alot , are uncomfortable. Our Abby ( an Australian shepherd hates inside. She get too hot and wants out out out!!!!!!! She loves the outdoors and loves to go to the barn and just roam around the farm, hates being in the house so we leave her alone. I',m just saying NOT all dogs like to be in the house, they would much rather play and explore the farm.......HAPPILY!!!!!!!!!

Well I would go with a GSD, I have a 120 pound male that is a gentle giant, I would worry about the yorkies before I would Max. They do shed a lot but they are great with children, I have no problem with taking my grandbaby around him, Max will sit and just look until I tell him he can smell and get close.
As for being outside my Max stays outside almost all the time, he can come in if he wants to but he rather be outside where he can run, play, and chase the squirrels and rabbits, he hates to come in, and I think its not cruel, I think it would be cruel to not let him stay out if he doesn't want to come in. He use to come in at night but cried at the door wanting outside. Good Luck to your sister with whatever baby she gets. I have very bad allergies and he doesn't bother mine at all.

Okay, I think some of the posts here are maybe a leeeetle confrontational, but there are points worth considering. Dogs need a lot of contact, so will this family be able to provide the necessary human and/or animal companionship? Yorkies cannot be outside dogs. I'm sure there are some exceptions, but I'd say 99.9% of the time, they need to live indoors. If an outside dog is a must, don't get a yorkie.

Even if this dog lives outside, it will probably not want to be outside on a bitterly cold winter night, so again, something to consider.

I think it's great that you are asking, that's the best way to get information! I am sure you will make a good decision.

Hey everyone. I just wanted to apologize. I didn't mean anything by my comments. It's easy to hurt my feelings and I went about it all wrong. Thank you all!! For all the info and suggestions.