Opinion -Most Faithful Dog

[cowgirlmagic]

I was just wondering what people thoughs are on a truley faithful dog. I have found through the years that there are some dogs who would go to anyone,run off by themselves, selectively hear you, ext..... and then there are the ever faithful that never wander too far from yourside and that would stick with you till the very end. What are your opinions, mabey it's a dog you own now, have owned before, a select one out of all the dogs you own, or a specific breed you thing has earned the title "truely faithful" Just interested in what everyone has to say, Thanks

[singing tree]

In my experience, it is mostly a breed thing, with exceptions of course. Airedale LOVE guests and adventure- it is their nature. I call them "party dogs". Obviously, they are my breed of choice. You can train them until you are blue in the face, and they will obey most of the time. But it is the rare individual that never runs somewhere....

On the other hand, my daughter just got an Irish setter, who, with little or possibly no, training, can be let out anywhere, and will always come. She drives me crazy when she is here, because she wants my undivided attention (when my daughter is gone). We had another just like her many years ago, so I assume that is a breed thing. They were bred to sweep the area for birds, and then check in with the hunter. Airedales were bred to dispatch "the varmit" and then come home with the job done and a grin on their faces.

Those are the breeds I've been around the most, but they certainly provide a clear contrast.

[Oran'sMom]

I had a Welsh Corgi when i was growing up that was the most faithful dog in the world. I will probably never own a dog as loyal and loving as her. She was by my side 24'7 and was very smart and kind. She was always there to protect me when i needed her help. I would ride my bike up and down the street and she would run along side of me. I remember i was about 7 and i was being attacked but a large german shepherd (i dont have anything against them after the event ) and she protected me long enough for me to get away...she walked away with a few injuries, but never stopped protecting me. She was a very humble dog...never would sleep in bed with with me, but always at the foot of my bed. I truely loved her and miss her! I since have had two other corgis and they both have been very faithful and great dogs.

[Jesseysmom]

I have a 6 year old border collie mix that I adopted from our local shelter and she has been the most faithful dog I have ever met... Maybe a little too faithful. She follows me everywhere, sleeps with me, and never lets me out of her sight. It was like from the moment my hand touched her leash, she knew that she was my dog. We have been best friends ever since. I have never met another dog like her. In my opinion shelter dogs seem to be the most faithful.

[tallyho]

all my REALLY REALLY faithful dogs have been pound pooches......well, all my dogs have been pound pooches......but a couple....clooney , the one i just lost..was velcro dog in the house, but once he got out, he had selective hearing...he was JRT and doxie, so dunno which breeed caused that...
THE most faithful dog was jane, my lab/pit cross.....she broke down the metal storm dooor to get back INTO the house when she thought i hadd forgotten her.....next in line is my min fox terrier..he stays with me inside and out, but is a huge coward, so would never protect me.....

[Range]

I guess it's a definition of faithful.

My dog growing up would let me do ANYthing to her. Poor thing. Dress her up, harness her to a cart and have her pull a cooler, jump fences, do tricks, go down slides...and sleep with me at night. She was AWESOME!!! To me, that was faithful - allowing someone to do things to her that she had to have hated, and yet still not hide whenever she saw me coming!

[boo_loves_kitty]

My most faithful dog was a Great Dane named Lady that I owned in middle school. She HAD to go with me everywhere, especially when I rode my horse. She even saved my life one day from a young stallion that cornered me and was pawing me into the ground *tears* She left this world way too early.

[lbequ4002]

My rescued great dane never leaves my side especially when someone comes over. He always stands in between me and another person although now he is friendly to others. If he's off exploring all I have to do is whistle and it sounds like a horse galloping to me. He never leaves my property even when my labs do. when I walk he ducks his head under my hand either for a pet or to let me know he's there not sure. He tries to help me with the horses. If I yell at them to back off at feeding time he runs the fenceline barking and growling but will stop if I tell him to. I would have another dane.

[Horselady44]

My 8 year old 'mutt' Weiser is very faithful...shes a great dog. She will not leave my side when I take her anywhere. She does everything and anything to be with me. She is a great trail riding buddy. She sticks around the yard and chases anything that moves out of the yard She likes to 'help' lunge the horses she even walks them if I had her the lead rope A great help around the yard I dont think there will ever be another like her.

[Ginaw13]

I have been owned by alot of dogs and many different breeds but the most loyal by far for me was an Australian Shepard I actually bought my husband. He was within 6 ft of me at all times, came to work with me when he could, even came with me when I moved away from my husband for 6 months to check out a potential job in a different city. He was the best dog I ever owned. We also have an Aussie cross that shows the same loyalty to my neice and had to move with them when they moved out of my house. Fabulous breed.

[greygirls]

Although we've had several dogs, Koda (my Dane) is the only one that has been my dog. He's the biggest mommas boy to ever live!

He is always with me & God forbid I should go to the bathroom without him! He'll wake up out of a dead sleep when he hears the bathroom door & come running to stand in the doorway to keep watch...while I'm at my most vulnerable I guess.

He also lets the guard dog in him loose on occasion. My boss' Foxhound used to despise Koda & would chase after him, rather viciously, whenever I took him to work with me. If he was off by himself when she did this, he'd run from her but if he was standing next to me, he stood his ground as if to protect me.

He also, starts growling the moment he steps foot outside at night when I'm heading to the barn to feed the horses. He checks everything over, & then stops growling once all is clear.

He doesn't permit hugging either. He'll squirm his way in between me & whomever I'm hugging & lean on me.

Wow! That got long! Aren't you sorry you asked!?!

[qtrhorse1993]

i once owned a wolf hybrid, i had bear for 16 years, he was faithful trusting and loyal, good with my kids even as infants, good with my horses and ponies, never attacked any one or thing, rode in the car, out on the trails, you name it he did it. i have had many dogs come and go, and i currently have 3 fantastic dogs, but he was truely "the one"

[paintedpastures]

Originally Posted by Ginaw13

I have been owned by alot of dogs and many different breeds but the most loyal by far for me was an Australian Shepard I actually bought my husband. He was within 6 ft of me at all times, came to work with me when he could, even came with me when I moved away from my husband for 6 months to check out a potential job in a different city. He was the best dog I ever owned. We also have an Aussie cross that shows the same loyalty to my neice and had to move with them when they moved out of my house. Fabulous breed.

I would tend to agree with you about the Aussie.Although I have had other breeds i've really liked & that show loyality{labs & BC} but would have to say My Aussie shows the most loyalty.Has to be with you all the time,Comes running when called,loves people.I work shift work & he knows the routine/shedule of when I sleep & get up,following it along with me.Can't even go to the BR without him following me.

[fable]

Shetland Sheepdog. (American, I believe - the bigger of the two types). When I was we went out to a farm to look at puppies. One of them just followed be aboslutely everywhere, but she was already spoken for. Ended up the owners wouldn't finish paying for her, so the breeders went back, called her name and she ran up to them, brought her back, called us. Let us know that puppy that wanted us and we wanted was available to us. So, I guess it was "meant to be". However, she is "selectively" faithful. I'm her human. Anytime my dad and I would play fight, she would go absolutely crazy. We'd always have to stop, because it got to the point where we knew she'd go after him thinking she was protecting me. She goes crazy if someone comes to the door, just barking and getting our attention. If a cat gets out that is an indoor cat, she'll book it outside and "herd" them back inside. However, she's very well behaved - if our door is open and the cats are locked up, she won't step out front (it's not fenced in) unless we go out and call her out with us. If a door is left open that isn't supposed to be, she'll whine until we get up and close it. So, I'd say they're really more of a one-person kind of dog, but I feel 100% safe with her around. No doubt in my mind if someone dangerous came at me she would "take a bullet" for me. Everyone who meets her just love her... she's just one of those everyone loves kind of dogs. We've had other dogs, and none compare to her.


ETA: She is in her senior days now... hip displasia, hot spots. However, she LOVES going for short walks, acts like a puppy. And even with her horrible hips and aches and pains, when I'm home she follows me everywhere, even if I'm just going to the bathroom. She climbs up and down the stairs multiple times a night to watch the house and sleep where I sleep at the same time.


ETA x2: She'll let anyone do anything to her. Pull her ears, tail, dress her up, do whatever. She'll take it.

[pennyrain]

My most faithful among a great group of dear dogs over the years was the weimaraner I had as a young girl. She loved to go with me when I was riding and when anyone came up to us would put herself between them and my horse. She was awesome at keeping up with my horse for several years but when it started to get hard on her my mom chained her up and she howled until I came back. So we took our rides at a slower rate and tried not to go so far. My brother did not dare pick on me after we got her. I don't think I ever realised how much I depended on her until she died. I was 15 then and walking along the side of our pasture where I walked every day and tripped hard on a rill and fell. I suddenly realised I fell because she was not there, she had always been there for me to catch my balance before. I've had a lot of wonderful dogs since but she was the most special of them all.

[DancinintheDark]

Oh I must vote for the Mini Dachshund! As some of you know I just lost my girl this week...I have owned several and they are the most loyal dog ever!! I have never owned even one that had to have a leash or didnt follow me everywhere I go...I have three that all follow me every where I go and my husband calls me Ellie Mae. One time my Jellybean and I were on a speedboat at the lake and I was riding on an innertube that was being pulled by the boat having a good ole time.....they ended up throwing me off the innertube and I screamed very loudly and poor beanie thought I was drowning so she lauched off the boat at warpe speed thinking she was gonna save me. I of course had to save her becuase it was such a far swim from the boat to the tube!

[Jess6092]

I don't think it has anything to do really with breed but more with how you interact with the dog and how they are raised. My husband Jon had a blue heeler since he (jon) was 5. That dog was so loyal he traveled about 15 miles home after being accidently left at the rodeo grounds. He would do anything for Jon. But it only came after lots of time spent together just going about life. He never did any "training" with him but expected JoJo to behave and listen to him.

I think if you treat your dog with respect and consistancy then they will be loyal. I have seen all different breeds be loyal or not loyal. I also don't think it has anything to do with the dog being outgoing or not. If the dog chooses to be with you over someone else that is loyalty.

Jon's Aussie that he has now, Hank would literally jump off a cliff to be with him. But he also loves people. I think he is a VERY loyal dog to Jon but again I have seen lots of aussies that were not so much.

Ok now I'm rambling! Just my thoughts on the subject!

[Sirita_88]

Before I got an aussie, I heard they were a one-man dog. And they definately are.

We have 4 of them, Bijou and Congress are my mom's dogs. They will follow her to the end. Yes, they love me but if my mom walks off they leave me in the dust

My new puppies are the same way, Lucy is very attatched to me. The other one I hope will follow me, but he loves everyone right now...

These are actually all toy aussies, but they have the same heart as the big dogs.

[singing tree]

Originally Posted by Jess6092

I don't think it has anything to do really with breed but more with how you interact with the dog and how they are raised. My husband Jon had a blue heeler since he (jon) was 5. That dog was so loyal he traveled about 15 miles home after being accidently left at the rodeo grounds. He would do anything for Jon. But it only came after lots of time spent together just going about life. He never did any "training" with him but expected JoJo to behave and listen to him.

I think if you treat your dog with respect and consistancy then they will be loyal. I have seen all different breeds be loyal or not loyal. I also don't think it has anything to do with the dog being outgoing or not. If the dog chooses to be with you over someone else that is loyalty.

Jon's Aussie that he has now, Hank would literally jump off a cliff to be with him. But he also loves people. I think he is a VERY loyal dog to Jon but again I have seen lots of aussies that were not so much.

Ok now I'm rambling! Just my thoughts on the subject!

Have to respectfully disagree here. It has alot to do with breed. Did you read how many faithful Aussies, Shelties, Heelers were mentioned in these posts, in addition to the Great Danes? These are all breeds that were bred to protect either animals, and/ or humans. Though I am sure someone could come up with a Terrier who was faithful and would stick by you no matter what (in fact, I could come up with one myself) , as a rule, terriers were bred to dispatch the varmit by themselves. And that is what they do.

[Cash/Honey/Thomas]

I am hooked on American Staffordshire Terrier! I don't know if I would own another breed after having them. Very faithful and loving, very attentive to their surrondings and would protect me to the end!