What’s your favorite dog breed…

German Shepherds are great, my grandparents were breeders and sent several to the military.

My last dog was a Brittany, which are great hunters that are also really calm in the house and with children. They have 2 speeds, hunt in which they are highly energetic and chill. They are not great kennel dogs, they don't like to be alone so if you get a Brittany, expect a lap dog in the house and a relentless assassin in the field.

I am fond of most all of the bird pointing breeds: German Shorthair, German Wirehair, Weimaraner, Viszla, Setters, Pointers, Munsterlanders, and as MAS said Labs are just all around great.

Speaking of labs, we need to do more to shut down the puppy mills. They are inhumane and are ruining many pedigrees. People need to either go rescue or buy from a responsible breeder, IMO. Don't buy from a pet store.

Also IMO, people need to choose breed based on behavioral traits and needs rather than looks. You can't buy a coon dog and then drop.it off at the shelter because it barks too much and goes psychotic when there's a squirrel outside the window.

And a shout out to the mutts, one of my buddies has a (he thinks) part pit bull, part lab and part border Collie. He's ugly and not particularly smart, but he's a great companion that would literally die for you. When we're camping and gathering sticks to start a fire, he goes and finds sticks too. When I'm fishing he's right there observing and gets the same dumb surprised look on his face every time I catch a fish.

with kids and people in general. Terrible guard dogs, will let a burglar clean the house out. Awesome guardian guards. If they think there is danger to one of their people, the perp is likely not leaving in good shape. I also love labs or lab mixes. Sheps are fantastic dogs.. Just don’t have the time and energy to train one right now.

Heart wrenching for all of us when we had to put her down…

was like our first child. Made the trip to Florida with us when we made the move. Made it to 13 before cancer got her. Years later I started traveling for work and wanted a dog here so got a black lab, followed by a yellow lab shortly after from the same breeder. Typical labs - loving, loyal and extremely protective of the family. Couldn't ask for a better dog with the kids growing up.

Right now, we have 2 Pyrenees/Anatolian shepherd mix. They are actually sisters from different litters. We got them 2 years apart. 1 is an old soul who likes to chill and the other is a crackhead. I really cannot say I have had a favorite as they all have been different but all great.

Followed closely by Romanian Wolfhound, of course Rumor has it they can pulverize an Orange Man mannequin to bits in less than 30 seconds. True story.