What makes a good dog?

I think a good dog will not so much do everything you tell him. But stay by your side, and be there for you when you whenever you need him.

Everything you have said is really down to the owner....................if the owner doesn't train the dog, it isn't going to be obedient........... if they don't socialise the dog it will be anti social...if the owner is not a good pack leader...you will have an anxious dog and one that takes over and displays bad behaviour. ........and it is 'horses for courses' I like working dogs, with a work motivated brain, that wouldn't suit everyone and they can be hard work especially when you have several ( as I do) but I work them, compete with them and they are my assistant trainers for other dogs and people...........so they have to be well trained, have to listen to my verbal and body commands. A lot has to do with the temprement, a good sound balanced dog................ You made me smile " I hope my dog won't jump off a cliff because it's told to" ............I didn't exactly tell my dog to jump off a cliff......however I had 6 dogs at that time BCs and poodles and they are well trained dogs, don't need to use a lead with them, they all work sheep, compete to the highest International standards ( and win) working trials, breed, agility, flyball and obedience...my youngest BC at that time was 18 months old and I was travelling.....she has a very strong 'eye' does very impressive out runs and rounds the other dogs up..........at the ferry I walked them along the dock wall to toilet before we went on the ferry, off she went on an outrun and coming back I turned and she took my body language as a 'command' she jumped straight over the dock wall about 3 foot high to my horror.............fell 30 feet the other side into the water thank God there was water the other side I was in shock as there was no way for her to get out..............so with 5 other dogs I ran nearly a mile and a half shouting her to swim as I went to the jetty which the small boats used .........I have never been so frightened in all my life and all this at 5am in the morning in a posh residental area of Dublin ( Oh I bet they loved me).......so much for teaching her agility............saying that brought it all back to me, it was a dreadfull experience for me and my poor little girl took 3 days to recover from the shock...................................…

Dogs come with all the parts to be good. It is man who has brought the worst in dogs. That is not to say that most people don't love their animals, it just emphasized that it is more likely that we will hear the negative before the positive.

One that is house trained, first & foremost. One that knows to be gentle. One that chews only its toys. One that barks at strange noises to warn you. One that doesn't bark incessantly to whine or get its way. One that doesn't jump all over the place or up on you. One that doesn't stay under foot. One that has been trained not to beg while others are eating. One that likes to be active (walks, runs around the house at times) & be playful (fetch, tug-of-war). One that loves you & cuddles you! =) One that has been trained to fetch. One that heals on walks. One that is house trained, first & foremost. One that knows to be gentle. One that chews only its toys. One that barks at strange noises to warn you. One that doesn't bark incessantly to whine or get its way. One that doesn't jump all over the place or up on you. One that doesn't stay under foot. One that has been trained not to beg while others are eating. One that likes to be active (walks, runs around the house at times) & be playful (fetch, tug-of-war). One that loves you & cuddles you! =) One that has been trained to fetch. One that heals on walks. One that comes when commanded. Answer mine? =) http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Auz9r.L2Ms9xpljkVHA5M4Tsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20111007064224AAPhGi2 Here's a good recipe for dogs & peeps: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnHVRuJz7YAlBInItbvaZhXty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20111007075146AAzyGvq ~I will have to disagree, personality & natural temperment play a huge part in it.... google different breeds of dogs & it will tell you whether or not the dog is easily trained... specific breeds have specific personalities... it's just like with siblings; raised the same way but can turn out different... personality! =) It will also tell you the different natural temperments of certain dogs... so, you cannot blame & say it was the owner & they didn't do the right training... there's usually exceptions to the rule... and with certain breeds, some will always have little accidents in the house, may be more naturally barkers, etc... & you are NOT gonna change that! Look at some puppies.... the puppy I bought was with his brother... the brother was a barker & jumper, he wasn't.... both four months old & raised by same breeder....] Some dogs can be trained to get better with age & w/the patience & consistency of the owner; but still, personality will make some dogs lapse or not be as sound with the same training....

i think you just answered you own question, and the owner has some to do with it but the best dog is one that is right for what you need him to be. good training is one of the best tools to get this done.

OK- asides from good training, good owner etc - as you have pointed out, that's not what you are asking, what I am aiming for with the training of my dog, and what I was looking for in a dog is this: - An obedient dog - Not too submissive that they are no fun to take out and about. I want my dog to enjoy being a dog and "do doggy things": investigate and be inquisitive, get muddy and filthy, jump around in the grass and in the surf and generally get stuck in to life (all under my supervision of course). - A dog with enough energy to go for long walks with me, and enjoy training and agility occasionally. - A smart dog. (Sorry - but some are just quicker to pick up stuff than others!) - A biddable dog. - A short haired, medium size dog (perfect for my lifestyle) - A dog that is healthy, well fed, well exercised, fit, is calm and has no behavioural issues. - Personally, I would only have a neutered dog. - I also prefer a not so smelly or drooley dog, but at the end of the day, if you're a good dog owner, you'll love your dog whatever! Is that what you meant? It seems to me that what you are asking is: "What dog would you get, how would it fit into your life, and what would you want it to do for you? Edit: Just read the story about the dog that jumped over the wall. I almost mentioned something about what you said about common sense, and now I will, as that lady gave a perfect example... A "good" dog will respect its pack leader. Whether that is an owner, or the alpha in a wild dog pack, the underdogs will listen to that leader. They have already entrusted their survival to that leader. Yes, you say you hope a dog has "common sense". Yes, if a dog was untrained and put to a 3m drop and told to jump down, they'd tell ignore you. But if you have a dog that is very well trained, or submissive to a alpha, it should, technically speaking according to usual dog psychology and behaviour, jump. Sad but true. Dogs simply do not have brains that work like ours. They don't think logically, and we can never assume we know what they are thinking unless we are professional or know dogs very well indeed. So, even though dogs instincts are about survival, when a dog really puts it's trust into an owner or alpha, that owner/Alpha better had be responsible and not make mistakes, or there could be disastrous consequences. Therefore, I'm afraid I think I disagree with your version of a best dog. To me, you are asking for two different things in the same dog. An obedient dog that will be disobedient? That would be one confused pooch!

You gave allot of what a good dog makes. I would also go on to say temperament while the owner is there and not. Loyalty is earned most of the time. A good citizen ship (socialization). One that can form that personal BOND that can't be broken, like they can read your thoughts. My two cents, have fun.

training, exercise, socialization, grooming and vet care well mannered and trained of course not, up to me not to get in that situation depends on command, if ridiculous, no yes mine is trained therapy and service for me she listens to me and keeps me company

I agree with what you consider a good dog is, but any dog will only be as good as what the owner teaches it to be. I want my dogs to listen when I speak to them, do what I ask of them, respect but not fear me,be friendly to other people and other animals but not overly so to the point of being obnoxious, have a keen sense of humor (not all dogs do), work with me as a partner not as a subservient. That's what I call a good dog and it's what all my dogs are like. Some of that is training and some of that is genetics.