Sprout
Well-Known Member
I am starting the process of considering our next canine family member, and have been drawn to this breed. I have been reading up about them, but not met one yet. Any advice would be very helpful.
Oh Sprout have you given up thoughts of a Flatcoat? Ofcourse not a guard dog but perfect in every other way!
OMG Sprout - I now have two flatcoats! DON'T GO THERE - complete mentallists compared to a lovely chilled Swiss dog. Seriously, they are nuts but adorable.
I have just lost my second boxer. Both were castrated males living with other dogs. Both had similar guarding traits, patrolled the boundary and woofed if anyone approached. Once I let someone in both were friendly quiet house dogs.
I currently have 2 flatcoats, lily is Maya's daughter and she is very bright and loving. She competes in breed and obedience. Unfortunately due to s GDV at 2 her trials and agility careers were cut short. She is now retired from obedience as she is nearly 9 and I'm busy training Tiva. Tiva is just 2 and she competes in breed and is training for obedience. Tiva is a sweetheart and very bright but I am taking her training slowly. I have entered her in the obedience at the flatcoat open show next month so watch this space to see how we do.Satinbaze, thanks for telling me about your Flat Coat, she sounded truly amazing. You obviously gave her plenty of variety to stimulate her mentally and physically, and they really do thrive on that life style.
I am really appreciating hearing from everyone, it helps in the long process of finding the right breed and then the right breeder.
What about a Black Russian Terrier?
My parents have one, great guard dog, a fab bark on him but I think I've heard him bark all of 5 times since the beginning of the year, we call him ninja, he creeps up on you silently, one minute you're stood in the doorway signing for a package, and the next he's right there next to you, staring at the postman, not growling, not barking, just stood square, staring.
But if we say that it's okay, he is then fine with the person walking into the house/garden, he just needs permission to let them in first.
He is a fantastic family dog, so happy, his tail never stops wagging, he loves to play, go for walks, he wants to play with all the dogs, but he's equally as happy to walk past them if that's what you want him to do, he's also equally happy to stay home all day and sleep.
He is so so intelligent, learns things very very quickly, and is eager to learn, but a training session has to be short and to the point, he's not the type of dog to repeatedly ask him to sit for 30min, he does get bored, and just lies down, turns onto his back and pulls silly faces at you! he does need boundaries, and does like to know what's expected of him though
He does love to be close to you, if you go to the toilet he won't come in (he would if you let him; he's tried to climb into the shower with me before so he's now not allowed to go in the bathroom!) but it's guaranteed he will be waiting right outside the door.
His best friend is my toy poodle, they love each other, one won't go out for a pee unless the other comes along too! (he knows not to do his business in the garden so will ask to be taken out when he needs it)
Oh and they don't shed
Unfortunately the colour choice is very limited, they only come in black
Most people don't have a clue what he is, so no stigma attached, he's just a happy fluffy bear trotting towards them wagging his tail with his tongue hanging out