Comments on: Choosing Man’s Best Friend: A Guide to Canine Companions

By: Don C.

Don C. — Thu, 23 May 2013 07:02:43 +0000

Best dog I’ve had (currently have) is a border terrier. Bright, friendly and a tenacious hunter of rats. Also just likes being a lap dog. Not as hyper as some of the other terriers and definately looks like a “guys” small dog.

By: Bradley

Bradley — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:37:38 +0000

@ Jeff. My neighbors have two pitbulls and they seem like great dogs. They’re goofy and really funny. I think this breed gets such a bum rap b/c of the media’s sensationalism and b/c of the sort of trashy people that fight these dogs. The breed doesn’t deserve it.

By: Bradley

Bradley — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:31:46 +0000

My wife and I have two dogs. My Great Dane is perfect. She is the best dog I’ve ever owned (or been around). She is so gentle, sweet, and goofy. I’ve only seen her get mad twice in five years (at other dogs, never people) and it was scary.
My wife’s German Shepherd is creepy. He’s intelligent and very loyal. We get along fine, but he follows my wife EVERYWHERE and sits at attention right by her feet. Crazy thing is that he is massive and solid black like Damien’s guard dogs in the Omen. He doesn’t listen to me when she’s around.

By: Sean Taylor

Sean Taylor — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:43:10 +0000

I must add my vote for poodles– of the miniature kind. My little dog (now 4) may be 10 pounds, but he’s good company, a good watchdog & door-guard, endlessly amusing, and extremely intelligent (understands complex commands, blinks for yes, serious problem-solving skills). All manly dogs need not be 100-pound bruisers, any more than all manly-men are the size of linebackers.

By: Emily

Emily — Wed, 15 May 2013 05:22:50 +0000

Okay, I loved The Intelligence of Dogs as well, but the whole book was flawed and based the test on methods that benefited certain breeds over others. Also, intelligence is not always what you want, ask the many people who dump border collies in the pound every year, or watch Marley and Me. Smart dogs are far harder to deal with. The best way to pick your next companion isn’t to rely on a book like this or on a rating system like this one, but to go and do your homework. Recognize what the dog was bred for. Talk to breeders. Tell them your lifestyle. If you’re rescuing, talk to the rescuers, they often can match personalities. Don’t think “I’ll get a Siberian Husky and then take up exercise to keep the dog happy.” If you’re not already living the lifestyle for that dog then you’re not going to change for the dog once it joins you, and you will resent the dog and the dog will be unmanageable.

By: Fred2

Fred2 — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 19:55:36 +0000

A vote for Rhodesian Ridgebacks!

Plus: smart, short hairs= easy to keep, pleasant personalities, active dogs- BUT given some regular exercise mostly couch potatoes, great for ridding yard of varmints, protective of family and standoffish of strangers. Good with other dogs.

Negative: short hairs = not so great in cold/wet climates, smart = can be destructive if bored, Prey drive makes them traffic- stupid. Will destroy an “indestructible” dog toy in minutes given some motivation ( have dead kongs to prove it.).

To quote a buddy: A gentle flower of dog that will absolutely kick your ass if it feels threatened.

Bred as small pack baying hounds, hounds to bring to bay large african prey so hunters can catch up and shoot the prey. They have significant speed (slower than racers, but faster than mastiffs), some power (less than mastiffs /heavier protection dogs, more than typical hunting dogs due to size.

By: James

James — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 18:38:53 +0000

This list seems sorely deficient to me. No terriers, no poodles, practically no truly small dogs, this is a grevous oversight. While dogs like I have listed may not be automatically manly, that does not preclude them from being so. A man’s dog does not have to be large and/or have a traditional role in hunting or some other job, yet this list makes it seem so. It is important to take into account also, that big or energetic dogs have the potential to be destructive when kept around the house. Give the smaller dogs some love.

By: Julie

Julie — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 20:30:30 +0000

I’d just like to give a shout out for responsibly bred purebred dogs. Not all purebreds are created equal! Many of the problems that purebred dogs have today are because of puppy mills, but also because of irresponsible home breeders who do not test for genetic health, do not screen potential owners and are not there for the life of the puppy.

By: Best of Art of Manliness 2009 | The Art of Manliness

Best of Art of Manliness 2009 | The Art of Manliness — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 18:48:23 +0000

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By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:07:50 +0000

I’ll put in a vote for the Brittany. I realize it’s not one of the more common breeds which is why it’s often missed. Perfect family dog though…it’s a gun dog, so manly enough…and so yet so good looking that every woman on the street wants to stop and pet it. Plus it’s great with kids and other neighborhood dogs.