What breed would you suggest.....

jules9203

jules9203

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www.pensdellequestrian.org.uk
I am finally this spring going to be in the position to look for a dog and would like some suggestions on what breed people would suggest (I'm not looking for a puppy necessarily) I've always had Jack Russells and love them however I am aware there are a lot of other breeds out there and thought that if I describe my situation someone could suggest a breed that might be better.

I work from home - a small livery yard and freelance teaching. Most of my teaching is done at home as well. I have 19 acres of land and my time is spent on the yard and riding. However there are two main things to consider - we are by a very busy road and also have a shoot run on the farm land behind us so lots of pheasant and partridge around.

My feelings are I need something that will be very obedient and fairly calm as I would hate to have to have a dog on the lead all the time. It would initially be an only dog but that could change. I have a secure yard I can leave it in if necessary but I would far rather it came around with me as much as possible.

Probably asking a lot of any breed and a glass of wine to anyone who has read this far and not rolled their eyes or shrugged their shoulders!!!

Your suggestions please.....
 
A labrador. They are the ultimate working and family dog, they work with you, laugh with you and just always love you. Easy to train - after JRTs you will think you have gone to doggy heaven!
They do need agood bit of exercise, so not suitable if you are not planning on walks as well as knocking around the yard. My young lab is my shadow.
 
jules9203 said:
……..

My feelings are I need something that will be very obedient and fairly calm as I would hate to have to have a dog on the lead all the time. ……..

Your suggestions please.....
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Your dog will be what you make of it, mostly! There will be those breeds which will have a propensity to a mind-of-their-own and will **** off as soon as your back's turned, and those which may well be amenable, but the bottom line will be your input, and from the outset. The ideal, though I'm generally opposed to them, may be a rescue, something reasonably young, say 12 months-ish which is already aware of how to behave, but research is always the way! :)

Alec.
 
Spaniels are much busier than labs, and tend to follow their noses. I cannot think of any spaniel of my aquaintance that would knock round a yard without sodding off somewhere.
Flatcoats - hard to train and goldies would get filthy! (Sorry AM).
 
A Rottweiler - loyal, like to be with their people. Dark colour hides mud. Very bright - can hide that well though - and trainable. I'd look for one over 2 years though, the Kevin months are hard work. Much easier than a JRT :)

In the interest of full disclosure I'll admit that rotties are my very favourite breed in the whole world...
 
ive taken on a beautiful Merle Collie, I think part Aussie and she's wonderful. She's just turned 2 and had spent most of her young life in a back yard but she's blossomed with us. She comes with me evrywhere and she's always happy, obedient and friendly. She learns quickly and became horse savvy overnight so if I wanted to ride with her running along side I'm sure she would do it. I always said that being a JRT, Dobe and long dog owner I would never have a Collie as they look like such hard work but I'm left eating my hat, so much so I wish I'd had one years ago!
 
I have rescue greyhounds and they can make lovely pets and though mine are out anything up to 4hrs a day, depending on weather etc, if I don't have much time they are content with a much shorter outing especially if it's very wet as they can't be arsed with the rain!

With the amount of land available what about a working dog that didn't quite make the grade, they would already have had a lot of training and though it might not be up to working may be great as a pet or as already suggested, a lab.
 
cbmcts said:
A Rottweiler - loyal, like to be with their people. Dark colour hides mud. Very bright - can hide that well though - and trainable. I'd look for one over 2 years though, the Kevin months are hard work. Much easier than a JRT :)

In the interest of full disclosure I'll admit that rotties are my very favourite breed in the whole world...
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another vote for the rottie,mine comes to do the horses every day,as did he predecessor. read about them,great stock dogs.
all weather-all terrain dogs :)
 
I would recommend a dalmation...one of the most loyal animals ever. I had one and she was amazing. So good around animals and people she particularly like men. Would never run off just trot happily beside me and with the short coat when she got muddy just a quick hose off and dry within in a hour. I am def goin to get another when the time is right. She had a natural sense around horse i brought her up the stables when she was 4 never seen a horse before and she was perfect from the word go.
 
Alec Swan said:
Your dog will be what you make of it, mostly!
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I have always believed this :)
We have some Labs at the yard and they are AWFUL for buggering off. Luckily we're pretty safe where we are. There is a Retriever, who is the softest, biggest dope you could ever ask for, I love him! My CollieXLab was almost canine perfection, as far as just being kind and loyal goes, she was intelligent too! But, a Collie attacked and almost killed YO. I know a Staffy who is fabulous with kids and everyone else!
I have just got a Tamaskan and I've heard so many things about them, so can't tell you about them yet :P though I do know of a lady who rides out with hers and does obedience etc with it.

Good luck with your search! :)
 
Flatcoats - hard to train and goldies would get filthy! (Sorry AM).[/QUOTE]

I beg to differ, flatcoats are not hard to train. Mine compete in breed and obedience and I've previously trained flatcoats to compete successfully in working trials and agility. You just can't force train them but give them a reason for working. Flatcoats respond brilliantly to clicker training. I love training my girls
 
i'd definitely recommend a golden. energetic enough to have a good time walking them, chill enough to sit quietly with you whilst you teach etc. the boys are particularly devoted but i've never known one with separation anxiety.. as for dirt; my boy, unless he's really going for it in deep wet ground, gets a slightly muddy belly and legs but its no harder to clean than it would be on a lab or a cocker?
 
satinbaze said:
Flatcoats - hard to train and goldies would get filthy! (Sorry AM).
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I beg to differ, flatcoats are not hard to train. Mine compete in breed and obedience and I've previously trained flatcoats to compete successfully in working trials and agility. You just can't force train them but give them a reason for working. Flatcoats respond brilliantly to clicker training. I love training my girls[/QUOTE]

I only two and both are appalling, mind you the owners (both sets) have vile children as well so it is quite possibly not the dogs fault!
 
Rather than consider the ideal breed, perhaps it would be best to consider those breeds which may be less than ideal. There are, without question those breeds of dog which can be a trifle thick, or just plain bloody stubborn, and no, I'm not going to list them! :p :) I've been told off previously for making 'generalisations'! The fact remains though that there are certain breeds which are rarely seen in any form of competition work and for the simple reason that they 'tend' to be less than amenable.

OP, have you given any thought to the gender of your dog to be? The ladies of most breeds 'tend' to be a bit more amenable. Also and as Clodagh has suggested, those dogs with 'full' coats tend to carry an awful lot of dirt around with them, and generally transport it in to the house.

Alec.
 
Staffies. Plenty of them to choose from in rescues so not difficult to find one with the right temperament. All the ones I know are incredibly friendly. A friend of mine does agility with hers too.
 
tbh if you are in and out of the car alot etc I would not go for something very big (speaking as someone with a 33kg setter and a van!). It does make life easier when they are smaller. It sounds like a fab home but if your attention is sometimes elsewhere, spaniels (with gamebirds about) might be a bit more difficult. Its hard to recommend or disagree with breed choices without upsetting people. I like labs well enough but wouldn't particularly want one-I wouldnt want a pure bred staffie either-unless you can find one of the good old fashioned types.

I've been amazed at the number of slightly older dogs available-dogs with no issues, stock proof dogs etc etc
 
I know some absolutely lovely rotties, and although it's not a breed that attracts me personally they could certainly suit you.

Another friend has Australian shepherds, super tempered versatile dogs that could be something to investigate. I'd have one if they didn't have so much coat!!

Can't go far wrong with the right lab
 
I was doing similar research a short while ago, looking for a replacement for our GSD - something that would be as straightforward as possible to train for off lead in a rural environment (so ruled out sight hounds, scent hounds, sled dogs etc.). Our GSD was amazing, though the long double coat did bring in a lot of dirt. She was great with the horses and had absolutely no prey drive to speak of (mothered our cat, chickens and guineapigs). Very easy to train and glued to you at all times, so no straying problems. However we have chosen an Australian cattle Dog (Blue Heeler) for a change, after struggling to get a young rescue GSD because of our small(ish) daughter.

One thing both the GSD and ACD have in common is that they can be a bit standoffish with new people, so that might be the only thing if it is a busy yard with lots of visitors.
 
Every dog is what you make them if you get them young enough.

For trainablility though I don't think you can beat a border collie - ours came to us a couple of years ago as a 4yo trained working sheepdog. She had never lived in a house before and wasn't well socialised with people or other dogs. She has been brilliant in the house, she now lets strangers approach without any fuss, is brilliant around the horses, leaves the chickens, ducks and cats alone and is a nice happy dog.
 
Clodagh said:
A labrador. They are the ultimate working and family dog, they work with you, laugh with you and just always love you. Easy to train - after JRTs you will think you have gone to doggy heaven!
They do need agood bit of exercise, so not suitable if you are not planning on walks as well as knocking around the yard. My young lab is my shadow.
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This, I've had 3 labs, now down to two, and I love them. Calm, trainable. My old boy who passed away was the ultimate working / yard dog. Never let you out of his sight, calm, didn't bark, horse savvy, LOVED new people! :D
 
If you want another JRT then get one, especially if its from someone you know... We have had one who was perfect in every way, and another (even though nervous with strangers) was a brilliant family pet.

My dad, SiL etc have all had black labs and my understanding is that the girls have all been fab pets with no problems whatsoever, but the boys my SiL bred from her own perfect bitch were all a bit looney (one bit the postman etc) so even labs can have their moments if not properly raised.

We're getting a fox terrier/lakeland pup so can let you know how that goes...

Fiona
 
The problem is that we will all, promote "our" breed!. I would take Alec's suggestion and perhaps work backwards. I will put my hand up and say I am a Staffie person and agree that you could really take your pic at the rescues now. Mine are proper staffords so are all small dogs, all like exercise ( a lot do agility now), all love human company and all are good yard dogs. As they (as a breed) are quite fixated on "their" humans, they do tend not to wander very far from your side, so the road wouldn't be too much of a problem. Would need training not to chase pheasants as would any breed. Shorthaired so while not escaping the mud we are having, I am considerably luckier than my friend who has a working cocker and a flat coat. Mine are pretty dog social although I don't take it for granted. Used to be able to hack out with the younger of them but I have to go on busy roads so can't do that now. If you want a bigger dog, bear in mind things like the space they take up in a house, and car if you are used to something smaller. The worst behaved dog I ever knew was a revolting black lab, one of the loveliest and easiest.. was a black lab. Difference? the training the different owners put in when the dogs were pups although I do think entire male labs can be quite wilful.
 
We have a Lab x Rotti cross and she is the perfect in the yard or out riding with horse or bike. An all round good dog with the added advantage of zero prey drive so steady with yard cats, chickens, ferrets, deer and the unexpected. We seem to have got the best of both breeds.
 
twiggy2 said:
the one at the rescue that catches your eye closely followed by your heart
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You said you don't necessarily want a puppy, so go to your local rescue and tell them exactly what you want (avoid RSPCA, they'll have conniptions about the acreage being unfenced or something equally ridiculous :rolleyes3:) and see what they suggest.
 
like others have said- although breed has some influence, training and individual personality has an equal if not bigger part to play.
I have a GSD, got him 2 years ago as a 2yo. he actually does sometimes like to chase, but with my horses he is perfect- keeps out the way & they can bomb around the field he can just stand and watch. he is great with all people, no problem with strangers (useless if he was a guard dog!) however, he is bad with strange dogs- which is something to consider if you have lots of comings and goings. but again these things are individual to him, other GSD can be the complete opposite!
personally, i prefer larger dogs, but I also want to always try and re-home rather than buy, so am pretty sure at some point we will end up with a staffy as there are so many of them, and any that I have met are chunky bundles of happiness! loyal & friendly.
 
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