We had to learn a lot about different types of dogs to determine which breed would best meet our requirements.  We had no idea so many different breeds existed in the canine world!

Although we were both relatively young at the time (late 20s), worked from home, and already had a backyard and plenty of space in the house to adopt a pup as a new family member, it wasn’t as easy as just walking into a pet shop and picking up the first pup that would catch our eye.

This was a serious decision: a responsibility that we would have to assume for at least a decade, not only emotionally but also financially.

For us, introducing a young soul into our lives meant signing a life-long contract of giving unconditional love, care, training and commitment, not just providing food and shelter.

We wanted to make the right choice, for us and for the pup, to minimize the risk of any incompatibility issues down the track.

After many days and weeks of research and discussion, we managed to narrow down the candidates to four breeds.

GERMAN SHEPHERD

[Pros] My partner (Ms. S) had grown up with an Alsatian, so she knew what it would be like to have one: big, strong and agile, highly intelligent and trainable, extremely loyal and alert.  Needless to say, their proven track record as a  police/guard/search dog around the world reflects their reliability as a working dog.  I have always loved their big fluffy face!

[Cons] Although the breed met most of our criteria, they tend to have a longish coat depending on the lineage, and may be too routine-oriented for our lifestyle.  Its high energy/intelligence levels also meant that without strict training, loads of exercise and socialization, behavioural problems could easily get out of hand.

ROTTWEILER

[Pros] I always considered the Rotty as the Rolls Royce of the canine world.  I love their massive buff-head, muscle-packed body and black & rust/tan coloring!  This breed has been around for centuries; in addition to being police dogs, they have played various roles in WWI and WWII.

[Cons] In addition to challenges in training and socialization, our concerns included “couch-potato” syndrome (i.e., with age, they have a tendency to slow down, although not as rapidly as Labradors) and  “slobber-chops”.   Also, we worried that our older relatives might be intimidated by its massive body, not to mention its sheer power.

GREAT DANE

[Pros] If the Rotty is a Rolls Royce, the Great Dane is a Gulliver to me.  One simply cannot ignore its towering physical presence!  Compared to the other three candidate breeds with superior intelligence, the Great Dane seemed less challenging and more laid-back (in some ways even comical due to its sleepy expression).  Their puppies make my heart melt…

[Cons] The possibility of older relatives not being able to handle such a mountain of a dog, and its relatively short life span, were drawbacks for us.  Another issue that came to our mind was logistical: how on earth could we fit it into our car once fully-grown, or pick one up in the event of an emergency?

DOBERMAN PINSCHER

[Pros] Watch any movie/TV show with a guard dog in it and more often than not, it would be a Dobermann.  The American cropped-ear version makes them look more aggressive, alert and taller, giving them that fierce look.  Despite the “bad-ass killa dog” image in the media, we learnt that they are in fact quite versatile, highly trainable and family-friendly.  I always loved their mean & lean appearance… to me, they are the slim & speedy version of a Rotty (Dobes have also served as police and war dogs).

[Cons] Similar to German Shepherds, our major concern was that poor training, lack of attention/exercise could lead to destructive and dominant behavior due to its high energy/intelligence levels.

All of these breeds are exposed to some sort of genetic health risk, as large purebreds commonly are.  It was difficult weighing the respective pros and cons of these breeds, but eventually, we became increasingly inclined toward the Dobe, simply because of its sleek appearance, physical presence, agility and versatility.

And the more we looked into the breed, the more strongly we felt that THIS IS THE ONE!