What were the reasons you chose your dog(s)

[P3LH]

Gosh think I’m boring compared to some of these quit poetic and romantic reasonings here!

Breeds:
- Rough collies because I had always liked them and they’re in my blood. I wanted a medium sized, trainable and sociable dog relatively free of genetic issues. Plus let’s face it, they are the best looking dog aren’t they! Their kindness transcends that though.

-Pembroke Corgis. Years ago I didn’t really like them, then one day at crufts a swarm of tri colours walked past me. I was besotted. Spending time with them and others was odd as they are a breed of dog that are just so self assured. When I lost my last terrier I had space for a smaller dog to compliment the two roughs and wanted something trainable, sociable, and who took as much or as little life as possible.

Individuals:
-My eldest rough collie was purely fate. I wanted a blue Merle and wanted a bitch. I had visited quite a few breeders before finding one I liked. Then when I did, I was besotted with everything she bred. It was on one of my many visits I walked past a pen of rather rotund sable and tri puppies. During that visit, helping with grooming, I fell in love with an older shaded sable dog. He was the sire of the pups. Sue felt what I was looking for was in there, in the shape of the dog puppy she had planned to keep - after discussion she was willing to let him come to me on the agreement he would go back for dirty weekends. It didn’t happen as sadly she passed away when he was still young.
-my Pembroke bitch, well it was rather dull. I wanted a tri colour and I wanted one from a very specific breeder - she was the only tri in her litter.
-my Pembroke dog, I wanted one nothing like the first in bossiness. He was the quitest.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Amymay, I remember remarking when you 1st posted about him that he and P dog were very similar!
1st photo 4 months after we got her, aged anything between 3 and 7.
Below, with E cat, sunbathing....

 

[TheresaW]

Just for you Ester!

Need to get pics of all 4 together soon.

Toby

 

[AmyMay]

Amymay, I remember remarking when you 1st posted about him that he and P dog were very similar!
1st photo 4 months after we got her, aged anything between 3 and 7.View attachment 100620
Below, with E cat, sunbathing....
View attachment 100621

It’s quite remarkable ?

 

[AmyMay]

And my Doo (Daisy)

 

[The Xmas Furry]

It’s quite remarkable ?

Absolutely! ?

 

[millikins]

A slightly worried Polly when she had to come to work as dog sitter let me down.

 

[CinnamonChristmasCookie]

Springers are my OH’s childhood breed. Mine is a Keeshond, but I didn’t fancy the grooming. We wanted an energetic busy breed. We looked at a house, bought it based on the kitchen and garden because they were suitable for dogs. I wanted l/w, my OH wanted b/w. 2 months later, we picked up Jake and Brig. Brig:

We lost Jake aged 7 and got Zak and Bear 2 weeks later.
Zak:
Bear:

We lost Zak last summer and swore we’d have Bear as an only dog, but then the OH saw a Zak lookalike and drove 4 hours to Devon. We‘ve always got 2 and there were 2 left, the l/w was a booby prize aka mummy’s boy. ?

 

[ester]

Very pleased to come back from swimming in the river (gentleman parked next to me to his 2 WCS 'look this lady isn't worried about getting in, while they looked at the 2 floating tennis balls ? not being entirely convinced) to find that you have all been doing much better with your pictures, thank you!

Yours, person who'd love a dog but can't really make it work ?

 

[Unicorn]

So many lovely dogs!

I'd always wanted a GSD, so when I was finally in a position to own a dog, I trotted off to the local GSD rescue and came away with an18 month old GSD x Rottie who I was assured was an ideal first dog!



She's been way more of a challenge than I'd bargained for (and I've probably been a hopelessly incompetent owner) but 6 years in and she's finally got me almost trained. I absolutely adore her ?

Might be nice to have one with slightly less prey drive next time, but I have a feeling there's always going to be a GSD in my life from now on.

 

[skinnydipper]

Thank you all for taking the time to reply to this thread.

You must be sick of hearing about my dogs so I'll just tell you the reasons for choosing the one I have now.

I wanted another rescue. A good natured companion who wouldn't kill the cat, dog neutral or dog friendly, people friendly. Not high energy.
The big girl is all this and more.

Breed on her paperwork 'mastiff x', I'll go along with that - she's definitely not a Chihuahua

 

[AmyMay]

Thank you all for taking the time to reply to this thread.

You must be sick of hearing about my dogs so I'll just tell you the reasons for choosing the one I have now.

I wanted another rescue. A good natured companion who wouldn't kill the cat, dog neutral or dog friendly, people friendly. Not high energy.
The big girl is all this and more.

Breed on her paperwork 'mastiff x', I'll go along with that - she's definitely not a Chihuahua

And a picture……??

 

[palo1]

I have had hounds of various types, all rescues, for many years. I always thought I would be a hound or lurcher person forever. I love their speed, grace, purity and temperament; but I saw an Irish Terrier at Crufts several years ago and was completely struck by the information about rare native dog breeds. I love the coat, the size and racy profile and I found the breed history quite compelling. Hounds and lurchers can be...single minded and I fancied having a pup as well as an unusual native breed. My Irish is brilliant - not as fast or graceful as a sight hound but much, much cleverer!! (sorry sighthounds). He is sensitive in the same way as some hounds I have had, as clean as a cat and a complete clown. I love the size, the wiry coat and think I may be a terrier convert now. Even 10 years ago I would have thought having a wiry, bearded terrier was not 'me' yet I really love so much of the practical bits of having a wiry terrier. Red, Irish Terrier is just simply the best dog I have had all round and I hope I have more of his type to come!! My reasons were both, sort of, practical and romantic lol.

 

[DabDab]

Dee the jrt x I found in a box near work one morning along with three others. She and one of the others were pretty sickly so I took them home to look after just for a few nights....Dee is still with me 15 years later.

Eira the westie was advertised for rehoming at 9 months old. The pic in the ad was of the filthiest, most miserable looking terrier I had ever seen, so I enquired about her. When I went to see her she was obviously quite distressed by the children in her first home, so I figured that if I took her I could at least give her a bit of peace and quiet.

Phoebe was a puppy advertised on Preloved. We had been wanting another dog and I was torn between terrier and Spitz. Then one morning I was cruising Preloved innocently looking at pictures of puppies (as you do), and saw a couple of jrt x Pomeranian puppies for sale, and just loved what strong, athletic little builds they appeared to have. I showed my OH the pic and he agreed that they were nice looking dogs, and then we got on with our day and I thought no more about it. Later OH comes in from work and says "are we going to get that puppy then?" So off we went to fetch the puppy

Pics for Ester
Dee


Eira

Phoebe

 

[EventingMum]

I was given a lab as my Birthday present when I was five, he was a fabulous dog, we lost him when he was 14 so he saw me through all my teenage years. I went to the rescue centre and came home with a black and white mongrel who was 12 weeks old and was very different but equally fantastic. without any specific training, he became my registered blind Grandmother's guide dog stopping at kerbs, avoiding obstacles etc when she was out walking. When I left home my parents said I couldn't take him with me!

Six months after we got married Mr EM, unknown to each other, had been looking at puppy ads. Mr Em's family were terrier people and we decided a JRT would be a good lorry dog for taking to shows with us so Henry duly arrived. Since then we have had Harry, Harvey, Hector, Herbie and Hobson and our son has Hugo - you can see the theme! All have been wonderful dogs, full of character and very definitely individuals, we still have Hector (11), Herbie (5) and Hobson (1). In the midst of the terriers we also had Digby a spaniel/collie type from an unplanned litter who was the most devoted dog ever, who just lived to be told he was a good boy - I miss him every day.

 

[Cortez]

Dee the jrt x I found in a box near work one morning along with three others. She and one of the others were pretty sickly so I took them home to look after just for a few nights....Dee is still with me 15 years later.

Eira the westie was advertised for rehoming at 9 months old. The pic in the ad was of the filthiest, most miserable looking terrier I had ever seen, so I enquired about her. When I went to see her she was obviously quite distressed by the children in her first home, so I figured that if I took her I could at least give her a bit of peace and quiet.

Phoebe was a puppy advertised on Preloved. We had been wanting another dog and I was torn between terrier and Spitz. Then one morning I was cruising Preloved innocently looking at pictures of puppies (as you do), and saw a couple of jrt x Pomeranian puppies for sale, and just loved what strong, athletic little builds they appeared to have. I showed my OH the pic and he agreed that they were nice looking dogs, and then we got on with our day and I thought no more about it. Later OH comes in from work and says "are we going to get that puppy then?" So off we went to fetch the puppy

Pics for Ester
Dee


Eira

Phoebe
View attachment 100652

Oh gosh, he could be the twin of my Sammi, the rescue did say they thought he was a Pomeranian cross, and I can really see that now.

 

[SAujla]

Are we doing pictures? Any excuse

 

[CinnamonChristmasCookie]

Someone up thread said they don't like wide flashes, but for me, that's what I want in a springer. Weirdly, my OH prefers a minimal flash.

Like Clodagh, I like a good looking dog. Brig, Bear and Goose were/are very much mummy's boys, all were/are good looking (imo,) and had/have the big flash.

 

[Emilieu]

Size! Husband is super house and car proud so he wanted the smallest dog possible. Not sure it has really had the intended result of reducing mess but we adore every tiny bit of him.

 

[Moobli]

My two GSDs



Photos of the current collie team.


Plus two beardie/border pups

 

[AmyMay]

Beautiful dogs, Moobli. Strike and Tay are simply stunning!

 

[Moobli]

Beautiful dogs, Moobli. Strike and Tay are simply stunning!

Thank you

 

[Boulty]

Because I'm an idiot? My mum agreed we could get a dog to share when she retired which happened earlier than expected. She was adamant said dog had to be a Cavalier as we'd had one before. I'd been ringing the breed club puppy person on & off for about 6 months but due to hold ups with health testing due to COVID (& certain things in the breed needing a regular testing interval & dogs to be above a certain age when first tested) there was more demand than puppies & couldn't even tell me of anyone whose waiting list I could go on so when they said they actually knew of someone with a puppy nearly ready to go we thought we ought to at least investigate & after a nearly 2 hour phone interrogation decided to take him. Not quite what I'd envisaged (was originally just trying to get on a waiting list for a potential puppy that hasn't been born yet). I don't think if fate had granted him 2 descended testicles instead of none he'd have been available to a pet home but there we go. He's still bloody hard work (& being the breed he is he really has no right to be as challenging or frustrating as he is sometimes) but mostly worth it. He doesn't have a job other than annoying the cat & being mother's walking buddy although am trying to introduce him to agility but he's still not fully convinced at the moment!

 

[Boulty]

This is what the hooligan looked like as a puppy... Someone I work with actually cried when I showed him to her. Sadly he has always known exactly how cute he is & used it to get away with murder!

 

[P3LH]

Obligatory photos even though everyone knows what my motley crew look like.

 

[scats]

I love a crossbreed. JD ended up at my friends kennels awaiting a home through a local rescue. I had told my friend I was on the look out for a small dog and to keep her eye out, so when she messaged saying she had a Great Dane x in, I did wonder what her motive was! But she recognised that this was the loveliest dog you could ever wish to meet and so I took her home for a day to get to know her, and that was it. 13 and a half years later and I still have the best dog in the world.

Bess was an out of the blue purchase made by my mum when we went to collect Polly. We came home with a horse and a puppy!

Then I decided I wanted a Shih Tzu, having fallen in love with one when I did my grooming training. Started looking at adverts and found a Shih Tzu x JR, last one left of a litter. Told them I’d have her without even visiting her ? She’s the most hilarious, sassy little monkey in the world and I love every bone of her.

 

[Spot the Merry Risk]

Here you go Ester!

there is a right mix in here
Red lab, sadly missed, and her yellow daughter, still with us.
Black cocker, worker and stud dog, has just sired a litter for Devon and Cornwall Police as sniffer dogs. Black lab came to us as a rehome aged 4.
Brindle lurcher was my first, bought as a pup (the gun dogs are OH’s), I always liked whippets and he was a pure bred but over height. He was a lovely dog and left aged 14 and a half, in my mind I was never going to have another as I was devastated.

Rew, blue lurcher is whippet x (greyhound x whippet)x(whippetxbedlington). He was bred by OH’s cousin, was pick of litter but not collected as somebody thought they wanted two from the same litter but came to their senses! I adore him, and he is absolutely my dog, OH comes a poor second. We have our first agility competition this weekend!

 

[Spot the Merry Risk]

This is about twelve years ago, my lurcher loved puppies.

 

[paisley]

I thought a skinny, self harming, expensive and speedy hound was a good choice. Possibly something to do with 20 years looking after event horses ?

 

[P3LH]

A well established rough collie breeder is hoping to breed a more traditional looking rough - less coat, more working ability - and crossing roughs with Welsh sheepdogs. I’m following the developments with interest and there have been some lovely dogs produced so far. I think for the working ability a rough/border cross might be good too.

Some of them have gone into working homes, and proper working homes not a herding test with six tame sheep as seems to be a fashion! I’ve heard a few have gone on to work cattle successfully too. It’s funny, she and I discussed it years and years ago when I shared with her similar programs in the states with the use of English shepherd as an outcross - most prominent show breeders would have been really against, but she really is dedicated to the survival and betterments of ‘dogs’ as opposed to breeding something that wins.