thinking of getting a puppy

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mybaycob

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i am thinking of getting a puppy and not too sure what to go for i want a small dog that has a good temperment and that i can take to the yard with me do any of you have yard dogs that are good around your horses my friend has a collie and he is always at her side and he keeps all the chickins on the yard in shape just not sure if all collies are that good or if she lucky i was thinking of a terrier type!!
 
I am just about to get a patterdale terrier - all the ones I know are lovely and the mum of my puppy is a beautiful dog! I can't wait!!
 
I wouldn't suggest getting a patterdale as a first terrier. They are a relatively new 'breed' of terrier (though still not yet KC recognised) bred for their working ability, i.e. they are bred to kill rabbits etc. and not all adapt well to life as a pet
 
I have a patterdale too!!
He is lovely! He comes to the yard with me every day, never runs off and loves kids!!
Obviously you have to bring them up to be like that and you have to also remember that they are terriers so they have got that kill everything nature, but their not all aggressive or anything!! Its just the breed!! Obviously their not KC registered as they're considered as a 'cross breed' but you get what you pay for!! If you wanna spend £450 on a pedigree dog thats fine but I think £140 well spent on my little pooch!!
He's my first dog and I wouldnt change him for the world!!
 
Sorry, I have to disagree.

I had a Patterdale x Border terrier cross for 14 years and he was the sweetest natured, happiest, most friendly dog I could ever have asked for, the only thing he hunted and killed were trees, he had a bit of a fixation about them, he was bred to be a hunt terrier but wouldn't work so was given away. My brother has also had a Patterdale for over 10 years and his little dog is fabulous, goes everywhere with him and is the perfect housepet. I couldn't have cared less if they were registered or recognised by the KC or not, as pets the ones I have known have been fabulous companions.

Just because a dog is originally bred with a purpose it doesn't mean that they can't be good companions too. The only breed I have had dealings with that truly live up to their original purpose in life are sighthounds, specifically greyhounds, and after spending 10 years with Rescue hounds I understand their limitations ("Oh look! It's small, hairy and running...........let's chase it!"
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) and worked around that. Oh and beagles, the less said about them the better!!!!!!!!
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What would be your suggestion of a suitable breed in this instance?
 
Oh! I had a Patterdale Terrier when I was a child - this dog died aged 17 years old about 20 years ago. She was an absolutely fantastic little dog! I used to dress her up in dolls clothes (can you all see where Megan gets her talents from
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) and she was SOOOO obedient and loyal. She never ever ran off or left my side.

I also had a collie growing up, she was lovely too (but she did chase and kill rabbits and wouldn't always come back to me!), but our little Patterdale was just fantastic as a family pet.

Having said that about my childhood collie, to give her her due, she was a rescue dog with some issues. As an adult I have always had collies and I adore them! I have a fantastic old collie, she's 13 years old now and has never caused me any trouble whatsoever in all that time. I have a SpringerXcollie too, wouldn't advice these as although they are great little dogs and are also very obedient, they have soooo much life about them!
 
I am glad you have all said this!! I am so excited about getting my puppy! I know the mother and father and are both lovely dogs, every Patterdale I have known has been sweet and friendly - with lots of character which I take to be a good thing! I will let you know how I get on with her when I get her but so far when I have been to see her they are beautiful!!!
 
Hey I LOVE terriers but all the yard terriers I know have not been the type to 'stick close by you'. They are quite independant little critters who like to go off and do their own thing in my experience.

I've two whippets and they are usually pretty good at staying close by but as soon as my boss lets her terriers out all the dogs are off and away and we don't see them for ages!

Patterdales are lovely though. Have fun with yours!
 
I didn't claim that Patterdales NEVER make good pets, I just said that due to their working background they don't all adapt well to a family lifestyle, especially if from strong hard-working lines. I'm just saying to err on the side of caution and preferably see first hand the temperament of both parents before buying a puppy from a working breed. I've had 1st hand experience of a patterdale I took on as a young dog because I made the mistake of falling for him instantly when I saw him and not using my head to think it through logically...unfortunately my mother has the scars to prove that he wasn't suited to a pet lifestyle. I loved the little guy to pieces and having him put to sleep was one of the hardest things I had to do, but he couldn't be trusted as he'd fly into 'rages' with no warning. (Before anyone says...yes I did seek behavioural advice and I am myself an experienced dog trainer).

Just a note to bear in mind...terriers are one of the most common types of dog with reported behavioural problems.
 
Border Collies all the way!!! They go with me everywhere and they are brilliant with the horses. However, they need A LOT of exercise and they get bored easily if they are kept in.

I love terriers to though, never met a bad one yet!
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Aussie Terrier every time---bred as a good family working farm terrier and if you meet any shakes they'll tackle those too
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why not consider some other breeds ? go along to Discover Dogs at Crufts and meet all the breeds available in the country ! - you never know you may fall in love with a Petit Bassett Griffon Vendeen or a Swedish Vallhund or a Shiba Inu or a........the point is that there are LOADS of alternatives to either a collie or a terrier
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- write down a list of the attributes you want from your dog and the lifestyle you can offer then take some time to find the perfect breed for you - after all it will be a member of your family for 14+ years !
 
BORDER TERRIER without a doubt, fantastic little dogs very cute, hard as nails when need to be. Full of fun and mischief. We have 5 kids a lab and a cat and she is never a problem. Deffinately deffinately recommend
 
I'm looking into dog breeds too at the mo, getting jenned up for when I'm able to have a pup. I think it all depends on your circumstances and what time you have "free" as to what breed of dog would suit. I also believe that how you bring a pup up influences how they are as an adult.

My brothers collie who my parents ended up with was great but would not tollerate being shut up for too long. She spent nearly 24/7 outside but would not go outside the yard. The terriers I've had (litter brothers) were like chalk and cheese. Bred from working/pet parents, one wanted to be hunting and the other was a lap dog. It is very difficult I think to really characterize breeds but you can certainly rule some out over others by understanding what they are "usually" like.

I'm looking for something that is relatively quite and a companion. Personally I wouldn't go for a spaniel for instance as I don't want something as fizzy, I'm looking at a whippet. I have known working terriers to be the most loyal obedient dogs you could wish for. It is really difficult to "know" what they are going to be like.

From what you've put I would look at a terrier type, whippet or lurcher. Any dog will be good round horses if it's brought up with them the right way and the horses are used to dogs.
 
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