Dog breeds known for their health.....

FinnishLapphund said:
Now you've made me confused. I thought we where talking about a potential new puppy, not Zak.

ETA To me, there is a difference between choosing an intelligent puppy, and choosing a naughty puppy.
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Both. We would want a repeat of Zak, preferably without the werewolf attributes! Intelligence is, I think, often misconstrued as naughtiness by novices. You need to know how to direct/train a clever pup when you can't just run them to exhaustion! We'd get 2, a quiet and a lively one, they balance each other out.

I might even look at Keeshonds, saw a little beauty the other day down the road.
 
ponyparty said:
Sounds like you definitely need a MT then ;) bags of “character” - they have a great sense of humour, mostly at their owners expense, I’ve found! But to balance it out they're also highly trainable, loving, will as you say “zoom round the woods on your walk but then snooze on you all afternoon“. Seems the perfect compromise!

There you go I’ve found your next dog breed ?
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I think the MT is a fab breed too :) Very smart little dogs but not easy to find!
 
windand rain said:
My friend breeds Cavaliers her seem to live long acive lives often making mid to late teens still fit and healthy mind you they are all health tested, eyes hearts joints etc even have MRI for syrinx problems so I guess her crusade to rid the breed of ts awful reputation will one day be rewarded
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To be fair that’s what every responsible cavalier breeder is doing - and there are a fair few of them around ? Those sort of health tests are expected in the breed now
 
palo1 said:
This!! My retired trailhound, and most of her relatives in the wider seem ridiculously robust and healthy dogs. My old girl, now 13 is still hugely energetic and apart from greying ears and a few old dog warts looks fab. She did have a mast cell tumour removed at 2 - shortly after I acquired her but that hasn't troubled her since and she hasn't brought any other vet bills at all. She is a lovely dog to live with as long as I remember that she was bred and trained to be a working hound. She has been a fantastic family dog for us tbh and I would happily have another till I remember the youthful recall issues, the youthful 'wandering' tendency, the ongoing stealing habits and the vagueness of response to 'normal' dog/owner discussions about here, now and 'no'!! I do love her very dearly and I may take on another like her in good time. I hope that my Irish terrier is as healthy as he is supposed to be too. Not much 'wrong' in the breed and testing has helped enormously with more general terrier type problems I think.
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I am a herding dog type owner through and through (GSDs, collies, kelpies, beardies etc etc) but there is just something about foxhounds and trail hounds that I love. A couple of times I’ve been sorely tempted to add a rescue hound to my family but have resisted the urge so far. Yours sounds lovely ?
 
Moobli said:
I am a herding dog type owner through and through (GSDs, collies, kelpies, beardies etc etc) but there is just something about foxhounds and trail hounds that I love. A couple of times I’ve been sorely tempted to add a rescue hound to my family but have resisted the urge so far. Yours sounds lovely ?
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Our trailhound is fab :) I am sure that if I had worked harder with her, she may have been easier in some ways but I do love her 'houndiness' :) My girl is a quite petite fellhound that never really made the grade. I am not sure how easy I would find a large male, retired foxhound though tbh!!
 
palo1 said:
Our trailhound is fab :) I am sure that if I had worked harder with her, she may have been easier in some ways but I do love her 'houndiness' :) My girl is a quite petite fellhound that never really made the grade. I am not sure how easy I would find a large male, retired foxhound though tbh!!
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We had one here when he retired, my OH had walked him as a pup and so asked that he came back here when he got old. Sadly he could not cope with life without his pack, our dogs were not enough and he wouldn’t eat and was so miserable. He had to be pts in the end, after much trying.
We had a retired harrier bitch who was amazing, so naughty but a delight to know.
 
By the way, I remember seeing a Swedish veterinarian program on TV many years ago, were a large-ish, around 1,5 to 2 years old crossbreed dog had severe hip dysplasia. It was so bad, the owners was told that their only options was either hip replacement surgery, or euthanasia. And the owners said something along "But, we bought a crossbreed because we can't afford veterinary bills."

They were sent home with painkillers for the dog, to think through the options. Luckily for the dog, that veterinary clinic had some type of donated fund that could help owners pay for treatment, and they were among the owners who got help that year, so the dog got his hip replacement.
 
Cinnamontoast said:
Both. We would want a repeat of Zak, preferably without the werewolf attributes! Intelligence is, I think, often misconstrued as naughtiness by novices. You need to know how to direct/train a clever pup when you can't just run them to exhaustion! We'd get 2, a quiet and a lively one, they balance each other out.

I might even look at Keeshonds, saw a little beauty the other day down the road.
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To me, a naughty puppy is for example not that interested in humans, and about as difficult as a shy puppy. Fortunately for those puppies, there is people who falls for those types of puppies, and please note that such puppies might be lovely personalities, but for me, they're just too much work.

Wanting an intelligent puppy, because you enjoy working with your dog, is another matter.

Personally, I think I'm like Levrier, I enjoy an easy dog owning life, where I don't need to do more work with them than necessary.
 
CorvusCorax said:
There's actually no training you can do with a truly intelligent dog. Trust me. They know it's all bullshit. Give me a bit of stupid all day ???
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I know that as a Labrador owner I am despised in dog training circles as an idiot, but I have to agree! Tawny is a clever dog and so much harder then Tim Tim nice but dim Ffee!
 
I am thinking what a nice experience it must be to be able to select a puppy from a litter on temperament, my last puppy buying experience in a numerically small breed with tiny litters was bizarre by comparison. I did eventually get a choice of just two! Adult rescue again next time, far less stressful. :oops:

The spaniels will do anything you ask of them just because they love you, which is gratifying but dare I say it a little bit boring (sorry boys!) - I do prefer spitzy/nordic type thing negotiation tactics.
 
Clodagh said:
We had one here when he retired, my OH had walked him as a pup and so asked that he came back here when he got old. Sadly he could not cope with life without his pack, our dogs were not enough and he wouldn’t eat and was so miserable. He had to be pts in the end, after much trying.
We had a retired harrier bitch who was amazing, so naughty but a delight to know.
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Oh that’s sad, but understandable about the hunt hound.
 
I have grown to love my various lurchers' different types of intelligence. Dylan could go all day but will keep begging you for brain games and laps up any training (he is exhausting!). Sophie is far too clever for me, I have never done any formal training with her, she has learnt most things from watching me or Dylan, will do anything you ask exceedingly well if she fancies doing it but will ignore you whenever it suits her. Rosie is dying to please but has a hard time overcoming the intense concentration she brings to bear on anything her feral dog brain thinks may be a threat (a smell, a noise, a speck on the horizon). It served her well when she lived on her wits but is a real drawback for domesticated life. She is mostly saluki, definitely very clever and has done well with behaviour shaping when being clicker trained. The cleverest one: definitely Ollie terrier who loves learning new things and who has also trained us remarkably well while keeping the lurchers under his paw.
 
FinnishLapphund said:
To me, a naughty puppy is for example not that interested in humans, and about as difficult as a shy puppy. Fortunately for those puppies, there is people who falls for those types of puppies, and please note that such puppies might be lovely personalities, but for me, they're just too much work.

Wanting an intelligent puppy, because you enjoy working with your dog, is another matter.

Personally, I think I'm like Levrier, I enjoy an easy dog owning life, where I don't need to do more work with them than necessary.
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Zak is not interested in humans unless he knows them, then he’s bonkers affectionate. I love working with Zak, he learns very quickly. I like the easy dogs too, Bear is one, easily pleased, does as asked, rarely pushes boundaries. Both of the workers were easy, trained very easily, never took the piss.

I dunno, maybe as I get older, I’ll want an easy dog only but then where’s the fun?!
 
Funny I have always had a quirky view of dog intelligence surely the stupidest dogs are the ones that do everything they are told the most intelligent being those that say on your bike I aint doing that. I keep being told that collies are the top of the intelligence scale but it is pretty dumb to follow every instruction given even to the point of lack of self preservation. Collies going over cliffs to get sheep being a classic example
 
My male GSD is the smartest dog I've ever owned. He is also very biddable. COVID 19 has really thrown a wrench in our competition plans. I'm guessing it will be a year before dog competitions return here in the States.
 
windand rain said:
Funny I have always had a quirky view of dog intelligence surely the stupidest dogs are the ones that do everything they are told the most intelligent being those that say on your bike I aint doing that. I keep being told that collies are the top of the intelligence scale but it is pretty dumb to follow every instruction given even to the point of lack of self preservation. Collies going over cliffs to get sheep being a classic example
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We have some slower to learn sheepdogs who take an age to learn their commands and never seem to entirely grasp their left/right and others who learn very quickly and are a breeze to train. The exceptional ones (and I think where intelligence really comes into it) are the ones who can work out of sight, independently , without command and still know what’s required of them.
 
My “best” dog to date (meaning the one who ticked all my boxes in terms of personality, drive etc) was from health tested, very long lived lines, which gave me a false sense of security in terms of how long I’d have him. He died last summer of lymphoma at just 8 years ?. Nature sometimes throws curve balls.
 
Moobli said:
We have some slower to learn sheepdogs who take an age to learn their commands and never seem to entirely grasp their left/right and others who learn very quickly and are a breeze to train. The exceptional ones (and I think where intelligence really comes into it) are the ones who can work out of sight, independently , without command and still know what’s required of them.
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My mother used to live in Durham and the collies were amazing. You'd see a man turn to his dog and mutter about three words and maybe swing his arm up and three dogs would vanish and come back with the sheep from another fell. Amazing. He obviously hadn't said enough, even in high speed Geordie, to have explained every step. I love collies and if I did more dogging in/beating rather than picking up I would get a short haired border or a kelpie. I couldn't have one as a pet though, reading about the problems people have with them on here make me feel tired!
 
Moobli said:
My “best” dog to date (meaning the one who ticked all my boxes in terms of personality, drive etc) was from health tested, very long lived lines, which gave me a false sense of security in terms of how long I’d have him. He died last summer of lymphoma at just 8 years ?. Nature sometimes throws curve balls.
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I've liked that, although it seems inappropriate. I hope his son is filling the gap left behind.
 
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And another thing, sorry I'm off work today and don't feel well enough to do anything constructive!
I know people diss labs but I would so much rather have a dog I can take anywhere and do anything with than a more exciting dog that I couldn't. I like FL's post about just doing more with training so you aren't bored! I love having a dog that actively strives to understand what I am teaching them, and one that I know if they don't get it it is entirely my fault.
 
Clodagh said:
My mother used to live in Durham and the collies were amazing. You'd see a man turn to his dog and mutter about three words and maybe swing his arm up and three dogs would vanish and come back with the sheep from another fell. Amazing. He obviously hadn't said enough, even in high speed Geordie, to have explained every step. I love collies and if I did more dogging in/beating rather than picking up I would get a short haired border or a kelpie. I couldn't have one as a pet though, reading about the problems people have with them on here make me feel tired!
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It’s poetry in motion to watch a good shepherd and his dogs working as a team. I never tire of it. I can’t abide watching most trials though as the poor dogs are commanded all the way down the field and never given a chance for independent thought. Many of the old school of shepherding believe it’s not helping the breed.
 
Moobli said:
It’s poetry in motion to watch a good shepherd and his dogs working as a team. I never tire of it. I can’t abide watching most trials though as the poor dogs are commanded all the way down the field and never given a chance for independent thought. Many of the old school of shepherding believe it’s not helping the breed.
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You see it with trialling trained labs. I go to a training group occasionally and hate watching the over trained dog sent out to do something whos legs are all stiff as he is waiting to be stopped/redirected, rather than going with joy and enthusiasm. I'm not capable of sharing the video I put on FB the other day on here but it was my youngest just running out to do her thing with 100% verve and confidence. You do wonder if you will end up breeding sticky dogs who can't think and you can't always be there with them to say what to do next.
 
Clodagh said:
And another thing, sorry I'm off work today and don't feel well enough to do anything constructive!
I know people diss labs but I would so much rather have a dog I can take anywhere and do anything with than a more exciting dog that I couldn't. I like FL's post about just doing more with training so you aren't bored! I love having a dog that actively strives to understand what I am teaching them, and one that I know if they don't get it it is entirely my fault.
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I totally get that. My little collie, named Rip, was the easiest, most biddable dog I’ve ever known. He never put a paw wrong and always tried to do the right thing (but not in an annoying, constantly appeasing sort of way). I could take him anywhere, and did, and he never let me down. He was a breeze.
A few of my friends own GSDs and we are often moaning and laughing in equal measure about why we make our lives difficult by owning the breed, who can be quick to react to things other dogs would ignore (usually other dogs!) and who require very careful socialisation if they are to be the “take anywhere” dog. Genetics play a big role in that too, but you never really know what you’re getting until they are 2 years or more.
I sometimes think an easygoing Lab would be a lovely contrast.
 
Clodagh said:
You see it with trialling trained labs. I go to a training group occasionally and hate watching the over trained dog sent out to do something whos legs are all stiff as he is waiting to be stopped/redirected, rather than going with joy and enthusiasm. I'm not capable of sharing the video I put on FB the other day on here but it was my youngest just running out to do her thing with 100% verve and confidence. You do wonder if you will end up breeding sticky dogs who can't think and you can't always be there with them to say what to do next.
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i missed that, so just went for a look. I just love her happy enthusiasm. Great to watch.
 
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