7 Manly Dogs.

7 Manly Dogs.

Dog is a mans best friend, everyone knows this. It can be a boy or mans first real taste of responsibility and companionship. A dog can also help you improve who you are as a man by keeping you active, teaching you patience, and showing you unconditional love. Your dog will become your sidekick and a manly man needs a manly dog to keep up with his rugged lifestyle. Just like there are different types of men and different ways to be manly all these dogs are different as well and represent different manly traits. Here are seven of the manliest dogs around, why seven? Because 5 isn’t enough and everyone does lists of ten. First up!
     
   
     

  7.   Labrador Retriever- The most popular dog in America. Labs are manly in the way it’s manly to be a good husband and father showing you don’t have to be the toughest or strongest on the block to be manly. Very intelligent and rugged these dogs are built very tough and are as close to all purpose as you get in the dog world. They are perfect for any hunter, fisher, or outdoorsman in general as well as just a family dog. They love swimming, retrieving, and getting affection from you. You can take this dog hunting all weekend and then bring him home to play with your kids and he will be equally great at both. While he’s not the best watch or guard dog on this list labs can be very protective over their owners especially children. These dogs do struggle with obesity so make sure you can keep them well exercised and fed correctly limit the off the table snacks.  They also happen to be the easiest dogs on this list for an inexperienced dog owner to handle.

6.  German Shepherd- This is very obvious choice for a manly dog. Manly in the same way a firefighter or police officer is these dogs are powerful with a controlled aggression and are built to protect and serve, pun not intended they really are. Police forces all over the world have used these dogs in the line of duty with great success for decades. The German Shepherd is very intelligent and athletic. This makesthem easy to train and  at the same time able to go on long runs with you. As a result of this keen intelligence and athleticism they require good training and exercise frequently to keep them out of trouble and keep destructive behaviors at bay. But that also goes for almost every other dog on this list, these are manly dogs after all and require a strong person to raise them.  Overall the German Shepherd is a great option for someone looking for a macho dog save grooming. This is a very hairy dog that sheds often so if you don’t mind some regular grooming this dogs for you, if you want something a little more low maintenance read on.
 

 
5.     Boxer- The Porsche of the dog world. Boxers are an elegant beautiful exterior surrounding raw athletic interior.The Boxer has won the Westminster Kennel Club Dog show 4 times which is tied for fourth all time for a breed. Manly in the same way an elite athlete is these dogs are majestic just to watch run and play. One of the most athletic breeds in existence, these dogs have seemingly limitless energy. They’re great to run with and for dog agility competitions as well as playing with kids. These dogs were originally bred as hunting and guard dogs and are perfect to protect your house and loved ones. They are very family friendly and become very attached and protective of their owners. While they’re great with kids they can be a little too boisterous and may accidentally knock over small children or elderly people so caution should be taken in those situations. Boxers seemingly never lose some of their puppy tendencies and are always playful and loving.
    

 4.     American Pitbull Terrier-  The All American dog. Pound for pound it’s one of the strongest dogs in the world. One look and it’s easy to see why it’s a manly dog, its powerful muscular build and intimidating look make it maybe the most manly looking dog on the list. Manly like body builder or a crossfitter pitbulls are built tough and strong to work and play through the pain. These dogs can sometimes get a bad rap but with a little education on the breed I think you’ll find it’s more misunderstood than misbehaved. It doesn’t take long to see that with the proper training this is a great all around dog. Commonly thought of as fighting dogs they are actually great family dogs and are very loving and eager to please. In the early 1900’s they were called the nanny dog as they would be commonly trusted to guard over children. During World Wars one and two the Pit bull was Americas mascot and was frequently used in propaganda posters. A famous pitbull named stubby even went into battle and helped capture a Nazi spy and protected his troop from tear gas. These dogs are people pleasers and are very loyal they want to do what ever gets them love and affection. They make great workout partners and have lots of energy and also make great guard dogs. If you decide to get an American Pit bull Terrier you have a responsibility to raise them properly because anything a pit bull does gets amplified and often misunderstood.

   
 3.    Rhodesian Ridgeback-  This dog and the next one really gave me fits over which was the manlier breed because they exemplify the term in every way. Rhodesian Ridgeback sometimes called “The Lion Dog” is a big powerful breed that literally kept lions at bay to protect their owners while they hunted them. Manly like Evel Knievel these dogs are downright fearless. Bred in Africa and mixed with the wild native dogs there became great tools to help their owners in hunting and guarding. It’s undeniably manly to stare down and lion and fight with it until the lion can be killed or scared off entirely. These are also one of the most durable breed of dog with very tight padded feet to protect them from the harsh african ground. They also have very high endurance and a high tolerance to temperature variance. All this pure athleticism and viscousness while still remaining to be a good family dog and being able to differentiate the hunt from family life. Now while helping hunt Lions in the harsh African desert is pretty manly there is another that I think exceeds it.

2.     Dogo Argentino- This is the manliest breed of dog in the world. The Dogo Argentino gives every other dog on this list a serious run for their money in everything that they excel at and everything that makes them manly and for some it outright beats them at their own game. It’s a great looking, tough, fast, powerful, hunting dog thats great with kids and family. While the Rhodesian Ridgeback came close I put the Dogo ahead for a few reasons. One the Dogo is on average a few inches taller and 15-20lbs heavier which I think shows if you had them face the same opposition 9/10 the Dogo would beat his foe more handily. Two the Dogo has a very strong family bond and is great with children, while the Rhodesian is also good with families thats not what it was bred for and the Dogo was specifically bred to have these traits. The final reason the Dogo Argentino beat out the Rhodesian Lion Hunter Ridgeback was a news story about the dog. Two little girls who lived in a rural area on a big property were playing around climbing some trees when to their terror they saw a cougar the little girls climbed down from the tree and began to run and scream, the cougar gave chase. The family dog a Dogo Argentino heard this commotion and ran to their aid this distraction helped the girls get to their father safely. When he to went to go see dog it was very badly hurt and needed immediate attention, the cougar however was dead. While fending off a lion while your owner kills it is brave and tough, killing a cougar yourself to protect your owners is another thing entirely and it’s why Dogo Argentino beats out the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

(Scout my dog pictured above is a Boxer/Lab/Pitbull mix… so I’m biased. )
1.  Mixed- While all those breeds are very many dogs the manliest of all dogs isn’t a breed at all. The manliest dog is a mixed dog, best case scenario you get a dog mixed with some of these bad ass breeds. This is is much easier than it may seem. You can easily adopt a mixed breed lab/german shepherd or boxer/pitbull and get the best of both worlds and have a crazy awesome manly dog hybrid and at the same time you help an animal in need. You also avoid the expensive cost of a good purebred dog which can be upwards of one thousand dollars. Mixed breeds are also shown to have less medical problems than purebreds as they have a wider genetic pool to pull from increasing the likely hood that recessive gene health problems get weeded out. So get down to your local shelter and save a life and get yourself a manly dog in the process. I case you were wondering poodle mixed with anything even the mighty Dogo instantly makes it a girly dog, sorry. There you have it the manliest dogs on earth. 

Being a One watch guy.

   

   Watch collecting seems to be having quite the renaissance as of late. The internet has taken full advantage and exposed a whole new generation to this great hobby of collecting and appreciating the mechanical works of art we call watches. Sites like Hodinkee and Ablogtowatch help break everything down into layman’s terms and can take someone from total novice to connoisseur. That being said as much as I love to see other peoples collections and admire many different watch brands and models I got into watches for one reason. To find one watch, the watch. The more research I did educating myself on everything watch related I could get my hands on I noticed that I was not alone in this pursuit and that a lot of watch collectors wish they could find one watch and stick to it and often envy others who have done this. Today I wanna talk about being a one watch guy.
     All men should have certain trademarks. Unique things about you that others always associate with you specifically. It’s a good way to help people remember you and it’s what people will remember most when you’re gone. For example I can remember the way my grandfathers cigarettes smelled along with his cologne and the comb he always had with him to fix his slicked back greaser hair do.  I’m sure you can relate with people in your life, picking your one watch and always wearing the same one will make it a “trademark” of yours where co workers and family members will remember the one watch you always had on your wrist. 
     It becomes a partner in life. A great sturdy watch that fits almost all occasions becomes a trusty sidekick that goes on all your adventures with you. As you age and scar so does it and it becomes a story on your wrist. A story of a life well lived. You see it in pictures of you  in a wedding and on the beach, you’ll look back as it always being there to count on. With more longevity than almost all of your other possessions it will probably be one of the few things that stays with you as long as it does, even an amazing pair of shoes will have their day but a great wristwatch will likely outlive you. With these watches becoming companions in your life sharing all your memories they become great heirlooms.
     A great watch that shows scars of your life and was with you more that your closest friends can have a lot of sentimental value to your loved ones. When your gone they will have so many memories of you that will include your watch it will be remembered as a defining piece of you. Your trusty sidekick will get to live on as a small piece of you. 
     Mostly owning that one watch is about making a machine have real meaning and making it more than the sum of its parts. It’s not just a watch, it’s your watch. You can’t get that experience and relationship with a quality time piece when you have 15 watches and are selling and flipping them constantly. Not that being a watch collector and seller is a bad thing, its not. But it is a very different type of passion and relationship with watches.

Dive Watches.

It's that time of the week again. Im going to be bringing you guys a weekly list of watches that will hopefully help you settle on the "one" watch that will suit your lifestyle. While watch collecting is a great hobby and passion most of us don’t have thousands of dollars to consistently spend on watches but I do think every man should have one great watch to accompany him through life and maybe one day pass on. These lists will help with that. 

Last week we did Iconic watches in the watch industry which is most definitely a topic we will return as there are many more than three. This week we're going to dive into divers watches (pun intended) but we're going to skip the Rolex Submariner as we covered it last week and its very well known.

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms-The Original

While most people assume because of the Rolex Submariners popularity that it was the first dive watch, incorrect Blancpain introduced what we now consider the first modern divers watch which had a number of innovations now considered standard on dive watches. Such as a rotating bezel, automatic movement, and screw down case back. It was used in the french and american military as well as by the famous diver Jacques-Yves Cousteau. These are great reliable watches with a lot history and credibility, plus they have a classic look which has been copied countless times that with the bracelet on goes well in most settings. The one drawback of this watch is that it is very expensive at around $12,00 and another thing that could be a plus or a minus depending on the person It most likely won't get noticed by someone who doesn't know much about watches. 

Omega Seamaster Professional. Bond, James Bond. 

One of the most recognizable watches of the modern era because of it's association with a certain MI6 agent. The Omega Seamaster Professional is a great all around dive watch. Rugged enough to be used on fake secret agent missions or just some casual diving while on vacation has a very solid build with a workhorse 2500 coaxial movement. But as tough and durable as it is it dresses up just as well. The polished center links and ceramic bezel give it just enough bling to go well with a suit. Just ask Prince William, he wore one on his wedding day. It's also one of the more affordable dive watches around and arguably carries the most bang for buck in the category with a retail of $4,400 but it can easily be found for around $3,000 if you shop smart.

Tudor Heritage Black Bay- Vintage love.

Now this watch is a little unique as it's technically a dive watch based on looks and capabilities but It is definitely more of a dressy diver. With classic lines based on the old Tudor and Rolex dive (Tudor is a sister company of Rolex) watches this watch is gorgeous and just a versatile as it's cousin the Rolex submariner. I think the midnight blue version looks the best and can be used in the most situations but thats just me. With this watch you get a great wear anytime watch with a solidly built Rolex caliber case and sturdy ETA movement. Most of the bite and none of the bark of a Rolex at about half the price $3,400

Summa Shades On.

Here are some great classic sunglasses that look good on most face shapes to get you prepped for summer. 

Rayban Wayfarer.

enough said.

American Optical aviators.

Classic, sturdy, confident. The first sunglasses on the moon and also Don Drapers first choice. Can’t go wrong with these bad boys a little more dressy than the wayfarers and at about $50 on amazon they’re by far the best bang for the buck out of all sunglasses…ever. 

Rayban Aviators.

Tom Cruise. Top Gun. Volleyball. Perfect for summer they won’t fall off your head when spiking the ball and they’ll also never go out of style.

Oakley Gascan.

Definitely the newest model on the list but these are well built stylish glasses that are perfect for most summer outings. They fit well so they’ll stay on your head but they are also very casual and wont do well in more formal settings.

3 watches worth saving up for.

Top 3 watch icons worth saving up for.

Every week I’m going to make a 3 watch list to help guys sift through the vast world of watches to find their one watch. While watch collecting is a great hobby and passion most of us don’t have thousands of dollars to consistently spend on watches but I do think every man should have one great watch to accompany him through life and maybe one day pass on. These lists will help with that. 

This week I chose “Icon” watches watches rich with history and solid reputations in the watch world all good enough to a mans “one watch.”

3. This watch is for the Artist. The Tag Heuer Monaco

The Tag Heuer Monaco was originally designed to be a watch for people with an eye for design architects, artists, ect. But later morphed into a racing icon when Steve Mcqueen wore the new square faced watch in the film Le Mans about the race of the same name. Along with it’s connection to Mcqueen this was also the first automatic and square cased chronograph watch forever cementing is place in watch history. This watch really works for artists and racing enthusiasts alike. It’s a great classic piece that will also stand out in a crowd. People who know nothing about watches will appreciate it’s avant garde looks and people who love watches will instantly appreciate it for the icon it is. It’s slightly dressier than the other two watches on this list and most versions of it come on high quality leather straps rather than the sportier more robust metal bracelet. Don’t be fooled though, this is still a well built tough watch that can take you from work to the weekend depending on your lifestyle. As long as you’re not wearing it while working construction or playing water polo you should be ok. The piece pictured above (steve mcqueen edition) goes for $6,300 direct from Tag Heuer but it can be had for much less with some shopping around and there are also other less expensive versions of the watch. 

2. For the Old Soul. Omega Speedmaster Professional.

This watch easily has the most storied history of any watch in the history of watches and like the watch above became something different from what it was originally designed for. Introduced in 1957 it was originally intended as a sports and racing chronograph watch and included a tachymeter scale on the bezel to help determine speeds the helped add credibility to Omega as the official time keeper of the Olympics. That all changed in 1962 when NASA needed a watch to go to space. NASA tested a variety of watches from many different respectable brands including Breitling and Rolex to see what if any watch was up to the task. After a number of very vigorous tests including extreme vibration, temp. variation, and pressure the Omega Speedmaster Professional was chosen as the only watch suitable and later became the first and only watch on the moon when Buzz Aldrin wore it with him. This is a watch lovers watch and is instantly recognizable by those with a passion for horology and history. If it’s tough enough for NASA it’s tough enough for you. This can easily be an everyday watch and wears perfectly with a suit or shorts and a tee shirt and looks just as good on a bracelet as a leather strap. Being that it is a chronograph it’s not the most water resistant so unless your just lounging and casually swimming in the pool I’d take it off. On dry land as well as space however this watch is very tough. It’s also the least expensive watch on this list. It can be had for about $4,000 from Omega directly and less from other dealers. 

1. For a guy whose always ready for anything. Rolex Submariner.

The Rolex Submariner may be the most recognizable and copied watch in the world. A solid dive watch the Submariner has been used for many different oceanic expeditions as well as in the Royal Navy. More famously it has been worn in a number of James Bond movies and has become synonymous with the older versions of the secret agent. It’s classic looks will never go out of style and it is considered by many to be a “perfect watch” it can literally be worn with anything and still look amazing. It’s solid Rolex construction make it near indestructible and will last you a lifetime. You can put this watch on go do some heavy duty work on a construction site, then slip it over your wetsuit and so some super secret dives and finish up the day in a tux with a martini shaken of course and this watch will never fail. While working hard labor with a Rolex on isn’t really recommended the point is it can take it. With this amazing versatility and icon status comes a hefty price tag. This is by far the most expensive watch on the list with a retail price starting at $7,500 and Rolex watches are a lot harder than the other two on this list to get at a discount. But their are great examples of used watches in near new condition to be had.

Here are some useful links to help you find one of these watches at a good price from some reputable dealers. Of course you can always search online for an authorized dealer near you. 

http://www.bobswatches.com/

http://www.jomashop.com/

http://www.authenticwatches.com/