Moobli
Well-Known Member
Thank you! Your dogs sound lovely
.
Future breed
- Thread starter Moobli
- Start date
.J&T
Well-Known Member
Thank you! Your dogs sound lovely
They really are an amazing breed , the main difference I've found between the 2 is Goldens tend to be aware of their environment more I've never been knocked to the ground from behind by a Golden either my own or others but labs I've been knocked to the ground by my brothers and one I was knocked to the ground that hard I broke my leg in 2 places.
A Golden I follow on YouTube lives with a GSD his names leo fucarev
Pearlsacarolsinger
Up in the clouds
I would never suggest a BC as a first dog!
We rehomed a lovely quiet adult bitch, who had been found tied to a lamp-post outside her previous home, no idea where she came from prior to that.
Her only drawback was that if she escaped from the garden, she had very poor recall. That wasn't a problem here, because we have very good high fencing and she didn't dig/climb. We took her to the beach with the others but always kept her on a longline. She was actually very trainable otherwise but hardly a 1st dog.
Moobli
Well-Known Member
Ouch! I hope you made a complete recovery?!?
Thanks I’ll look the duo up on YouTube.
Moobli
Well-Known Member
I always wonder about the first dog conundrum. Is there enough experience, education and learning to be gained from choosing an “easy” breed such as a CKCS or show Lab or any other “easy” breed when your heart is set on a BC, GSD, GWP or any other ”challenging” breed? Is it really the same as learning to drive in a Vauxhall Corsa over a Ferrari for example? Or is it much more important for first time owners to research breed history and purpose, consider their own lifestyle and what they can offer a dog, and whether it suited to their breed of choice, and then be prepared to make sometimes drastic changes in lifestyle to make it work? Obviously it’s not always so simple and I definitely see the benefits to learning about “generic” dog ownership before choosing a more active and challenging breed.
edit: typo
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J&T
Well-Known Member
Thankfully I did but I'm always cautious around labs now especially young labs
Unicorn
Well-Known Member
I've wondered something similar. I have a gsd x rottie bitch as my first dog. She came from a rescue at 18 months old, described as an ideal first dog!
I don't think they actually knew much about her....she definitely wasn't an easy dog - she was a horrific escape artist along with a lot of territorial and reactive behaviour. She's taught me a lot and I absolutely adore her. But I have no idea if I would have found her any less of a learning curve if I'd had an 'easy' dog first.
J&T
Well-Known Member
I was just thinking and you could look into the Eurasier. My daughter has Baymax who is amazing he's very calm (calmer than my Goldens) he's been easy to train and listens most of the time and I know she said he's very affectionate and sticks to her like glue , he loves others dogs way more than people , he is great with other people but he doesn't love them straight away like Goldens do where they treat everyone like a long post friend. He doesn't he likes to get to know you first and once you make friends he never forgets you. The biggest thing I was surprised by was how quiet he is which they tend to be even though they are in the Spitz family.
Baymax I know doesn't have a high prey drive either but some do.
My daughter looked into the breed after she saw this video and then ended up with Baymax.
Baymax I know doesn't have a high prey drive either but some do.
My daughter looked into the breed after she saw this video and then ended up with Baymax.
Moobli
Well-Known Member
What a lovely dog! I know nothing about them. I’ll do some research. Just wish Spitz types didn’t have curly tails
. I prefer not to be looking at a bum hole 
Moobli
Well-Known Member
I may not need another breed for quite some time though as I’m stealing Nap from my OH. He’s big and friendly, loves people and is very non confrontational with other dogs even other entire males. I’m going to take him to the beach this weekend and meet friends with male GSDs and a female Lab and see how he mixes away from home. I’ve also enrolled us in a fun agility class to help the bonding process away from sheep. He’s very biddable and he should work for me on sheep too, so that’s a bonus.
He’s very athletic for a big dog and so should enjoy agility
He’s very athletic for a big dog and so should enjoy agility
ArklePigInBlanket
Well-Known Member
I wonder about this too! I think it depends on expectations and commitment to be totally honest and being willing to seek advice (which I have spent £££ on). My experience into first time dog ownership is well documented on Fodhla's thread so I'll not bore people with the details. The heart wants what it wants, and I love my dog, but if I was advising someone like me I'd probably tell them to get a show lab.. Which is what I did originally go looking for tbf...!
paddy555
Well-Known Member
never heard of them but I could seriously get to like them a lot. (bum hole as well
)lovely video and lovely dogs. Off to do some more research.
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paddy555
Well-Known Member
I found it very simple. At 19 decided I wanted my first dog, decided a longcoat GSD bitch, looked up local breeders and by the end of the day 6 week old Sheba came home. Perfectly simple.
. For the next 10 years where I went she came as well including my wedding reception..(I was probably lucky in that the first breeder I contacted was Jutone and Mr Trant ran GSD classes)
MurphysMinder
Well-Known Member
I found it very simple. At 19 decided I wanted my first dog, decided a longcoat GSD bitch, looked up local breeders and by the end of the day 6 week old Sheba came home. Perfectly simple.
(I was probably lucky in that the first breeder I contacted was Jutone and Mr Trant ran GSD classes)
Yes I would say you were very lucky as Tony was an excellent breeder. It could have gone very differently if you had picked the wrong one.
MurphysMinder
Well-Known Member
I would never have sold a GSD puppy to someone who hadn't owned a dog before, maybe I was over cautious but rather that than a pup going to the wrong home. Yes maybe an "easy" breed isn't the same as a GSD but at least someone who has owned one will have gone through house training etc and realised a pup isn't a cuddly toy.
blackcob
🖖
I went in at the deep end and it worked out ok, but I was in my early twenties with almost no responsibilities and could completely change my work and lifestyle to suit the dog’s needs. Bit of a different prospect having to mould yourself to a challenging dog if you’ve got kids/career/mortgage and whatnot.
Then I remember that my OH’s work colleague is getting a puppy and OH asked what they’d be doing with it while at work, as they’re all back in the office so many days per week now. They had assumed that you just go to work and leave the 8 week old puppy to it.
Then I remember that my OH’s work colleague is getting a puppy and OH asked what they’d be doing with it while at work, as they’re all back in the office so many days per week now. They had assumed that you just go to work and leave the 8 week old puppy to it.
paddy555
Well-Known Member
yes and no. (This was 50 years ago.)
Things were very different. It seemed to be assumed that people would be able to work out house training and all the rest. One training class we went to was around 20 GSDs. Training was easy, (not all were Trant dogs) the dogs behaved, the owners behaved. I don't remember any treats, we had choke chains and dogs walked to heel. Another class I went to was mixed dogs and again everyone behaved.
I contrast that to classes I went to just before lockdown. Dogs didn't behave, owners also seemed to have forgotten responsibility and the dogs were constantly stuffed with treats to achieve anything.
We didn't have endless owners scared to walk their dog because another dog was going to be off the lead and eat their dog or the endless attacks we seem to see almost weekly in the newspapers.
Jutone was a well known breeder they obviously spoke to me for a while when I went to look at Sheba (and came away with her) I remember asking to see her mum but that was not possible. They made no checks, we had had a mongrel when I was a child and perhaps I answered any questions to their satisfaction.
Now we seem to have endless checks and just about endless everything else and far more dog problems. Whilst I can see the point about breeder's checking owners etc for their part breeders (with all breeds) we do seem to be breeding some pretty poor specimens, a lot more health problems and some poor temperaments.
The other point is that back then I don't think people getting puppies (all breeds) thought they were cuddly toys. That seems to be very different now especially with lockdown.
Titchy Reindeer
Well-Known Member
I see your point. My first dog as an adult is a malinois cross that I got as a rehome after he killed a cat. Probably not my brightest idea, but he's still here 3 years later, still not "perfect", but I love him to bits and we're continually working towards better (though I doubt the neighbourhood cats will ever be safe if they stray into my garden). I am no dog expert, but I had already had my pony for a while and knew the commitment necessary for any animal. I had a good theoretical grounding in animal training, if no real practical experience with dogs (I was 10 when my last dogs, an oops litter, were born, so we just sort of muddled along as best we could) and was prepared to find the people who could help me and read as much as I could on the subject and watch endless youtube videos of professionals whose work I liked. I've learnt a lot from my monster (to the point were some people are starting to ask me for dog advice - they must be crazy!) that I wouldn't have learnt from an "easier" dog (though at times I've wished for one!). I doubt I could have coped with a more "difficult" dog either though. I think the main point is to be prepared and able to take advice, commit time and money to your dog, and be willing to make your life revolve around them.
JoannaC
Well-Known Member
As other's have said you've just described a Labrador, they are the perfect dog after all well apart from the hair
MurphysMinder
Well-Known Member
I have just horrified myself by counting back and it is 45 years since I bred my first litter. You are right, we probably weren't as fussy then but I did always ask questions of prospective owners. Also I think in far more families the mum was at home at least part of the day so there maybe wasn't the same issue with pups being left all day. Absolutely agree re check chains being used, I still walk my shepherd on a large link check chain, but at her training class I have to use a half check as the KC stipulate that for classes. Ironically the trainer has had Shepherds for years and has no problem of me taking my girl in on her check chain and then swapping collars. She runs several classes and myself and my pups breeder with her litter sister are the one GSDs she has attending. So it would seem a lot of people just don't bother training any more.
I think one of the reasons so many people are breeding now with poor specimens is because puppies have become silly money. I can't remember how much we charged for pups back in the 70s but I do know that in early 80s I sold puppies for £150. Now they start at £1500 for a pup from a good breeder, and somewhat ironically are a lot more from breeders just in it for the money.
paddy555
Well-Known Member
you and me both. I am totally horrified by how long it is since I got Sheba. I didn't pay silly money (cannot remember how much she was) but I simply couldn't have afforded silly money.
Sadly things have changed badly overall in dog ownership (all breeds)
People never used to cross the road to avoid Sheba like sadly they do now to avoid a GSD.. When I took her into the office people were all over her.
paddy555
Well-Known Member
it seems OH likes bum holes!!!What a lovely dog! I know nothing about them. I’ll do some research. Just wish Spitz types didn’t have curly tails
He is not that overfond of most dogs, obviously GSDs excepted. I showed him the Eurasier video above, I expected him to say how cute and ignore most of it. It seems he has fallen seriously in love. He has trawled youtube for them and now tells me we will have one when we want another dog idc.
Thanks for posting this thread. I would never had known about them without it.
stangs
Well-Known Member
Was thinking about this the other day, looking at ads of various guardian breeds for sale and adoption. The good breeders and rescues always seem to insist that you have experience with the breed, or at least with a similar large breed, or else they won't give you the dog. Of course, the dodgy breeders couldn't care less. Now given that no inexperienced owner in their right mind - or indeed any prospective owner - should buy a large powerful dog from a dodgy breeder, what do you do? Just go to the good dealer and tell them that you'll be having a knowledgeable trainer with you every step of the way, but presumably they've heard that before? Or do you start with a Goldie, then move to a GSD, and then move to a Boerboel, building up your dog experience but also owning two dogs that you don't really want?
Moobli
Well-Known Member
That’s fab!it seems OH likes bum holes!!!
He is not that overfond of most dogs, obviously GSDs excepted. I showed him the Eurasier video above, I expected him to say how cute and ignore most of it. It seems he has fallen seriously in love. He has trawled youtube for them and now tells me we will have one when we want another dog idc.
Thanks for posting this thread. I would never had known about them without it.
paddy555
Well-Known Member
We have had 2 serious incidents out riding. OH in front and me 100 yards behind. He went round a corner on a bridle path (which did have walkers) at a walk. By the time I had got round the corner I saw his horse in the air all 4 legs off the ground, and a goldie attached. No idea what dog those owners should have started with.
a pekinese perhaps? next one was a staffie, far more worrying as they couldn't get his mouth open. Again not what is regarded as one of the large guardian breeds. Seems they also needed the pekinese.
Chucho
Well-Known Member
Full disclaimer upfront: boxer lover here! Just wanted to add a little balance to some of the comments upthread for anyone who is not familiar with the breed but interested in the perspective of someone who has now been owned by 5 boxers.
We love them for their sense of fun, larger than life personalities, and affectionate natures. Oh and they have beautiful tails. They love nothing more than to be on the go with you all day and then curl up with (read: on top of!) you on the couch in the evening. Ours are incredibly versatile, they hike mountains with us in the summer and skijor through the winter. We train at nosework and agility, which are both great for their busy brains. I know of one who trained as a working sheepdog.
All ours have been extremely sensitive to their handler - they don't thrive on 'my way or the highway' type handling, in fact they will usually send you a load of calming signals and if that doesn't work ignore you altogether - but when you approach training with positive energy they are really eager to please it's easy to teach them anything. They absolutely walk on a loose lead. Usually I'm one handed as they're walking next to a pram/buggy. We've been able to install solid impulse control with all of them in spite of varying prey drives. We live in bear country, so it is essential that they are responsive. In our current home they share a big garden with wild grouse, various ground and tree squirrels, and deer live next door. They hang out with all of them, no bother, no fuss, no barking or chasing. They are fabulous with our baby daughter, just so gentle and patient (always supervised of course). Now at 15 months she has amazing confidence, calmness, and gentleness around dogs and cats a result.
None of ours have particularly liked going into water above their ankles. They are independent thinkers who have their own opinions about things and if you're used to working with dogs with collie-type obedience then I can see that they might be a bit alternative. For context, though, I don't think they are any more opinionated than, e.g., the dobermans I've known. Do they need appropriate socialisation when young? Yes, as do all of the guard breeds. Are they suitable for a first time dog owner? As much as a GSDs/rotties/dobes are. They are velcro dogs who like to follow you into the bathroom and bedroom (and bed given the opportunity). And did I mention they take up all the couch...? Again, that's not everyone's cup of tea. That's ok, we're all different and if we weren't the world would be a boring place!
We love them for their sense of fun, larger than life personalities, and affectionate natures. Oh and they have beautiful tails. They love nothing more than to be on the go with you all day and then curl up with (read: on top of!) you on the couch in the evening. Ours are incredibly versatile, they hike mountains with us in the summer and skijor through the winter. We train at nosework and agility, which are both great for their busy brains. I know of one who trained as a working sheepdog.
All ours have been extremely sensitive to their handler - they don't thrive on 'my way or the highway' type handling, in fact they will usually send you a load of calming signals and if that doesn't work ignore you altogether - but when you approach training with positive energy they are really eager to please it's easy to teach them anything. They absolutely walk on a loose lead. Usually I'm one handed as they're walking next to a pram/buggy. We've been able to install solid impulse control with all of them in spite of varying prey drives. We live in bear country, so it is essential that they are responsive. In our current home they share a big garden with wild grouse, various ground and tree squirrels, and deer live next door. They hang out with all of them, no bother, no fuss, no barking or chasing. They are fabulous with our baby daughter, just so gentle and patient (always supervised of course). Now at 15 months she has amazing confidence, calmness, and gentleness around dogs and cats a result.
None of ours have particularly liked going into water above their ankles. They are independent thinkers who have their own opinions about things and if you're used to working with dogs with collie-type obedience then I can see that they might be a bit alternative. For context, though, I don't think they are any more opinionated than, e.g., the dobermans I've known. Do they need appropriate socialisation when young? Yes, as do all of the guard breeds. Are they suitable for a first time dog owner? As much as a GSDs/rotties/dobes are. They are velcro dogs who like to follow you into the bathroom and bedroom (and bed given the opportunity). And did I mention they take up all the couch...? Again, that's not everyone's cup of tea. That's ok, we're all different and if we weren't the world would be a boring place!
ArklePigInBlanket
Well-Known Member
I like boxers too @Chucho yours sound great! They always seem so full of fun.
I am always intrigued when people say the dog they'd never have, I'm so interested in why people are so against certain types I nearly started a thread asking what others are, but I didn't want to start a fight
Mines huskies... *runs for cover*
I am always intrigued when people say the dog they'd never have, I'm so interested in why people are so against certain types I nearly started a thread asking what others are, but I didn't want to start a fight
Mines huskies... *runs for cover*
Moobli
Well-Known Member
There are many more breeds I wouldn’t have than would have
But a definite no for me are any and all bull breeds.
But a definite no for me are any and all bull breeds.
Titchy Reindeer
Well-Known Member
I won't say what breeds I wouldn't have as that would be tempting fate and I'd probably end up with one!
Clodagh
Playing chess with pigeons
I’ve always thought that it would be interesting, too. But probably become a bun fight!I like boxers too @Chucho yours sound great! They always seem so full of fun.
I am always intrigued when people say the dog they'd never have, I'm so interested in why people are so against certain types I nearly started a thread asking what others are, but I didn't want to start a fight
Mines huskies... *runs for cover*