On Wed, 22 Oct 2003 20:04:14 +0000 (UTC), Ruth
wrote:

Hello

I am thinking of buying a dog in the furture and amongst various other
criteria, one is that whichever breed I get, it musn't smell too 'doggy'!

I am wondering whether anyone can add to my list of dogs that typically
don't smell too strongly? From the reading I have done so far I have
come up with the following list:

Greyhounds
Labradoodle
Keeshond
Collie
Pharaoh Hound
Chinese Crested dogs
Basenji
Brittany
Beagles
Huskies
Chihuahua
Chow Chow

(I'm not too convinced about collies though, I had a friend with a
collie and that certainly did smell pretty doggy although it was always
kept in a very clean condition......)

Any additions much appreciated!

All the best

Ruth

What and how much a dog smells depends on a lot of things:

1) It's diet.
2) It's specific environment - inside dogs live in a drier
environment, also cleaner, so less bacteria will be growing in it's
fur/on it's skin. So they smell less.

A husky in cold weather will smell a lot less than a husky in warmer
weather, with equal humidity. Again, just less bacteria.

3) Type of coat. Smooth fox terriers, for instance, just have a LOT
less fur than a husky, so less of an environment for bacteria and
dirt, so less smell.

4) Size of dog - obviously a small dog, given equality in other
factors, should smell less than a big dog.

5) Breed. Basenji's head the list for self-cleaning dogs, they're
almost like cats in that respect. A bit independent, as breeds go.
If smell is all important, they're a little better than the Bichon
Frise, or the Labradoodle, for the least "doggy" smelling breed, IMO.


Some notes on the breeds:

Greyhounds are remarkably calm and low energy dogs, unless coursing.
They love to lounge around, and quite polite. They don't bark unless
there's a darn good reason. Look into Greyhound rescue if interested

Chows, collies, huskies, and keeshounds, all have double layered and
heavy coats. With these breeds, I'd worry about the heavy shedding.

And Chows have an adult temperament only God can love, and I hear He's
even reconsidering. Not recommended for first time dog owner's.

Brits are VERY high energy, think of them like Border collies with
interests in hunting, not herding. Same high energy.

Beagles are lovely, somewhat more challenging to train. Probably like
to dig and tend to howl when unhappy/lonely. Same with huskies.

Chinese crested? Eyoooou!

I like the Labradoodle, and I'd certainly add the Bichon-Frise, from a
good breeder. The Bichon's are like small poodles that went to the gym
and muscled up a bit, but kept their sweet manners and barely shed.
The one my neighbor has is without any detectable odor, at all, and
very sweet.

Beyond smell, what factors are you looking in a dog breed? Something
small for inside, something large like a Chow, or medium? Do you want
to go hunting with it like a Beagle, Greyhound, Pharaoh Hound, or
Brittany?

Getting a dog primarily based on smell is just a bad idea, IMO.
Consider other factors - are you a high energy person, or couch
potato? Really want a big dog, or a lap dog, or maybe a small active
dog, like a Miniature Pinscher (MinPin).

A toy, or any dog with a single coat, will NOT handle outdoor weather
in the Winter. Some will have trouble even in a doghouse, in Spring,
or Fall.

Your list has dogs ranging from almost 80 lbs. (the large huskies), to
less than 10 lbs. for the Chihuahua. From very sporting dogs to dogs
that don't know what "sport" is. That's no good.

While all dogs are great, in general, can you look at a specific thing
or two that you'd really enjoy doing with your dog? You might enjoy
petting any breed of dog, but isn't there SOMETHING ELSE you'd like to
do, that would help differentiate one breed from another.

Where will you keep the dog? The ideal indoor dog, is not the ideal
outdoor dog. It's not unknown for large hawks/eagles to kill small toy
dogs left outside!

My search for the right breed:

I really searched for a breed for a while. None seemed just what I
wanted. I loved the overall conformation, coat, and size of the German
Pinscher, but they're rare out West, somewhat argumentative as a
breed, and I'm just not into rat killing with my future dog. (the
dog's original purpose). Crazy small jaws, like terriers, also.

To me, it's a huge pleasure to use the dog for what it was bred (and
has a real talent), for. Coursing a jackrabbit with a Whippet, and
with a hunting Beagle, hitching my Husky up to his harness, these are
just the funnest things to do with a dog, IMO.

Trying to get my husky or Collie to course jack rabbits, or the
Whippet or Collie to mush, is just is a comical waste of time, see?

Sure, I enjoy a regular walk or romp in a dog park, with any breed,
but with a dog with an extra talent, you can just enjoy more
activities. Indeed, I wouldn't get a dog with such special skills
UNLESS I had some plans to let them develop and get used. Greyhounds
would be an exception, they do well without racing, oddly enough.

I'd love a Border Collie, but have no sheep, etc., to be herded.
Neither do any of my neighbors. The phrase "No sheep, no border
collie", is a good one to remember. It just wouldn't be a good match,
likely. But it's just the size dog I'd like, with the kind of coat I
like (just a little undercoat), and a light second coat. I've also
raised Collies (not border collies, rough coated collies), and they
really have heavy coats, and shed a bunch. In my warmer weather, here,
they also drool heavily to cool down.

Anyway, after a long search, I've found my ideal breed (I think), a
Brittany. Very high energy, but the right size, the right coat, and
more important, very much into using their noses (and pointing) on
birds, particularly. Very wonderful to watch at work.

That can turn any ordinary walk, into a lark (pardon the pun), and
time afield into a special time, whether actually hunting, snapping
pictures of birds, (or a dog pointing at birds), or just strolling
thru the great outdoors.

(Brits have more combined field and conformation champions than all
other breeds of dog, combined.)

Darrz

In article ,
darrz wrote:

On Wed, 22 Oct 2003 20:04:14 +0000 (UTC), Ruth
wrote:

Hello

I am thinking of buying a dog
snip

What and how much a dog smells depends on a lot of things:

1) It's diet.
2) It's specific environment - inside dogs live in a drier
environment, also cleaner, so less bacteria will be growing in it's
fur/on it's skin. So they smell less.

A husky in cold weather will smell a lot less than a husky in warmer
weather, with equal humidity. Again, just less bacteria.

Yes, I am sure that there are many factors to consider.....


3) Type of coat. Smooth fox terriers, for instance, just have a LOT
less fur than a husky, so less of an environment for bacteria and
dirt, so less smell.

4) Size of dog - obviously a small dog, given equality in other
factors, should smell less than a big dog.

Yes, doggy surface area


5) Breed. Basenji's head the list for self-cleaning dogs, they're
almost like cats in that respect. A bit independent, as breeds go.
If smell is all important, they're a little better than the Bichon
Frise, or the Labradoodle, for the least "doggy" smelling breed, IMO.

Thanks very much - that's interesting..

Some notes on the breeds:

Greyhounds are remarkably calm and low energy dogs, unless coursing.
They love to lounge around, and quite polite. They don't bark unless
there's a darn good reason. Look into Greyhound rescue if interested

That looks to be the plan - there are plenty of greyhounds that need a
good home and a nice chilled breed is also quite important!


Chows, collies, huskies, and keeshounds, all have double layered and
heavy coats. With these breeds, I'd worry about the heavy shedding.

Not too bpothered by the shedding but actually the greyhound looks to be
ahead on other criteria at the moment.


And Chows have an adult temperament only God can love, and I hear He's
even reconsidering. Not recommended for first time dog owner's.

He, he - yes, I have done a bit of reading about them - they sound quite
interesting


Brits are VERY high energy, think of them like Border collies with
interests in hunting, not herding. Same high energy.

Beagles are lovely, somewhat more challenging to train. Probably like
to dig and tend to howl when unhappy/lonely. Same with huskies.

Chinese crested? Eyoooou!

I like the Labradoodle, and I'd certainly add the Bichon-Frise, from a
good breeder. The Bichon's are like small poodles that went to the gym
and muscled up a bit, but kept their sweet manners and barely shed.
The one my neighbor has is without any detectable odor, at all, and
very sweet.

Thanks very much for all the info - it makes for useful reading...


Beyond smell, what factors are you looking in a dog breed? Something
small for inside, something large like a Chow, or medium? Do you want
to go hunting with it like a Beagle, Greyhound, Pharaoh Hound, or
Brittany?

Getting a dog primarily based on smell is just a bad idea, IMO.

Yes indeed - my original post mentioned smell amongst other criteria -
there are a lot of other factors to consider too.

Consider other factors snip

Given the things that I am looking for I think that so far the greyhound
fits the ideal rather nicely: generally fairly quiet, doesn't need as
much exercise as some other breeds, easily trained, likes company, good
on a lead, a dog that is happy to be indoors rather than kenneled
outdoors, not much in the way of breed-speecific diseases, etc, etc.,
etc. (Of course, each individual dog will show exceptions to these
characteristics, I am talking 'on the whole' here!)

My search for the right breed:
snip

An interestinf process wasn't it? I think if more people took the time
to really think what they wanted, fewer dogs would get abandoned. I'm
looking forward to doing a bit more reading and then deciding for sure
what I want - as I say though, so far the greyhound has it and there are
plenty to choose from at rescue centres too.

Thanks for all the info - that was very useful

Ruth

In article r,
Maria_M wrote:

On Wed, 22 Oct 2003, Ruth wrote:
I am thinking of buying a dog in the furture and amongst various other
criteria, one is that whichever breed I get, it musn't smell too 'doggy'!

I have never met any Belgian Sheepdog that smells "doggy". And I have met a
lot
of those...!

Regards

Cheers Maria!


Ruth

In article ,
"culprit" wrote:

"Ruth" wrote in message
...
Hello

I am thinking of buying a dog in the furture and amongst various other
criteria, one is that whichever breed I get, it musn't smell too 'doggy'!

in my limited experience, this isn't just a breed thing. i have two pit
bulls. one of them i've had from a 12 wk old puppy, and she's never had a
doggy smell to her. the second dog i got as a rescue at 8 months old, and
he smelled horrible. after a month on good food he stopped smelling bad.

i think if you feed your dogs top quality food (not grocery store stuff),
and keep them clean (esp teeth and ears), your dog shouldn't smell bad at
all.

-kelly



Yep - it looks as if food is an important factor for sure!

Ruth