which breed? Can't make up my mind!

Luci07 said:
They aren't as active as say a working cocker and my friends haven't had much issue with teaching recall. They seem to work very happily with the same amount of exercise as my Staffords. All the ones I know are very very good tempered dogs, does seems to be a big difference in natural intelligence though! . Like every breed it does come down to the training although from my limited exposure, the bitches have been noticeably easier than the boys. For about 6 months, my friend and her dally bitch lived with me and my 4 Staffords and we had no problems, though my house did seem to shrink with the addition of a further (and bigger!) dog. There is a dally rescue too. Is there any sort of "discover dogs" event near you? So you can meet the dogs and talk to the owners. Problem with a show as such is that people will be focusing on their competition and it will take a while to try to get around to see your breeds of interest.
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interesting, thanks. Not sure about the discover dogs thing, I doubt it tbh but there are lots of Ag shows that will have dog events.
 
MotherOfChickens said:
yours were beautiful, they are beautiful but I guess I've been put off by the rep of needing endless galloping and I have no idea what their recall/prey drive is like?
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They don't need endless galloping IME, though they do need a decent amount of exercise.
We found the bitch was better than the dog, who took quite a bit of training but that could well be down to our inexperience as we got the dog first. The bitch was great, Dad took her beating and she was well behaved if a bit ineffectual since he didn't know how to train her properly. She could be taken anywhere, on or off the lead, never ran away, always came back, always eager to learn, very intelligent, wasn't bothered about chasing things, didn't run off after other dogs.
 
ok, added to the list :) have always admired them! I know one of our directors has one but she doesnt bring him to work.

I currently have a bitch, I don't tend to have bitches tbh and have never had two together. What are people's take on having two bitches? Current dog is assertive and has occasionally gone a bit OTT when playing (a staffy thing ?) with other dogs (but they have all been male now I think of it). She has been fine with younger and older bitches thats she's been with.
 
You should prob talk to more people than me as my sample of 2 isn't exactly representative, of course! ;) There is bound to be a Dalmatian forum out there so might be worth asking on there for people's experiences.
There are issues with deafness in the breed but the pups should be tested before sale so you'll know you're OK.
 
chestnut cob said:
You should prob talk to more people than me as my sample of 2 isn't exactly representative, of course! ;) There is bound to be a Dalmatian forum out there so might be worth asking on there for people's experiences.
There are issues with deafness in the breed but the pups should be tested before sale so you'll know you're OK.
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oh please, I sometimes collaborate with welfare 'scientists', they dream of n = 2 lol!

I will look about. When I googled 'behaviour problems, beagles' I found a lot of people who shouldn't have a pet at all..
 
MotherOfChickens said:
oh please, I sometimes collaborate with welfare 'scientists', they dream of n = 2 lol!

I will look about. When I googled 'behaviour problems, beagles' I found a lot of people who shouldn't have a pet at all..
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My parents had beagles when they were in their 20s (parents, not the beagles!) and said both were v naughty and would never have another. Also worked with a guy who had one which he needed a professional dog trainer to help him sort out, but TBF he (man, not dog) was a bit dim so not sure he helped the situation.
If I ever get the time for a dog I would go for another Dalmatian, for sure. Or a Whippet!
 
I like the noise lol! I like a chatty dog, (not a yappy, reactive barky type). Setter would talk to us all the time but rarely barked. Nova talks too but that does generally end up in barking-she's quiet when told though :)

most of the problems I saw with beagles were people trying to only have the one (they need dog company), not exercising it enough (one poster proudly said her beagle got long walks of 30mins a day) ,leaving it alone for hours a day, not teaching bite inhibition as pups and thinking locking it in a yard or spare room with some toys was adequate stimulation :(

I have chatted with various breeders and have recently met some owners and their beagles. I'm not sure I could stand that much food obsession-that and a high wandering instinct and ability to climb has made me think again. I do find a certain level of naughtiness funny though (please note-that doesnt mean I let them away with it!) and I like a dog to be a bit a clown. I think most of them are though!
 
If you like the smooth collie, have you thought about a Welsh collie? Ours loves to run for hours and has mad moments of dashing about, but generally happy to stay inside and sleep. Very affectionate, friendly dog with a nice bark but not noisy. Not destructive in the house and behaves brilliantly with our blind grandfather - never gets in his way and is very gentle. Loves titbits but doesn't beg for them or steal food.

Caveat: ours is not to be trusted off lead with livestock. However, he was a rescue we got at age 2, he'd never been walked or socialised with other animals - if we had him from a puppy I think he would be fine as he's so trainable for other things.
 
smja said:
If you like the smooth collie, have you thought about a Welsh collie? Ours loves to run for hours and has mad moments of dashing about, but generally happy to stay inside and sleep. Very affectionate, friendly dog with a nice bark but not noisy. Not destructive in the house and behaves brilliantly with our blind grandfather - never gets in his way and is very gentle. Loves titbits but doesn't beg for them or steal food.

Caveat: ours is not to be trusted off lead with livestock. However, he was a rescue we got at age 2, he'd never been walked or socialised with other animals - if we had him from a puppy I think he would be fine as he's so trainable for other things.
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no I haven't actually. I am wary of collies in general because (I had one lol) I have disabled step kids that have quite severe tics, mostly they present as hand flapping.They can also be very loud with no warning and have very poor control of their limbs generally. They are very tall now too (both are taller than me and although I call them kids they are 21 and 16). Kids and dogs are never left alone but its handy if the kids can relax around the dogs and the dogs around them (another reason for not getting a very large dog, the kids are quite worried by large dogs). My setter grew up with them and was fab and Nova is very good too (Nova is a big hit with SD!).There's a strong likelihood both kids will be in chairs at some point as well.

My understanding is many smooth collies are used as PAT dogs and have a very low herding instinct (mostly!). So I've spoken to a couple of breeders about this and they have the smooths around their young kids with no issues. If the Welshes are similar I will certainly consider them if I can find any close-ish.
 
gunnergundog said:
Would that include the long haired variant too? (Lighter build than the shorthair - more like a working goldie , little hair and better temperament in my experience.)

http://www.dogworld.co.uk/product.php/59674//Readers-Photos/WEI-Tohme
http://dogoftheday.com/archive/2004/August/14.html
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didnt know you could get a long haired one :) I do prefer the look of those but have had not great experiences with normal types (ex YO had one that was a liability and I've dog sat a couple more).


any links/contacts of working goldie breeders anyone?
 
Search out gundog for sale sites on FB. The pedigree gundog page is quite busy. I know of a planned litter. Pups probably ready early 2017 as mating failed this year so fingers crossed. A pup for me. In Herts though so a long way from you.
 
MotherOfChickens said:
will I get in trouble for that one ;) ? I have seen one or two I think, and they would be the sort of build (and hair quantity) I can cope with. Will need to do some searching, its not always easy to find what I want up here.
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Mine is a working bred goldie and is much lighter in build to a lot you see around. She loves her job, but she is just as happy lounging about being your friend as she is working. I think some breeds absolutely need to be working, whereas other working breeds not so much - my friend has a vizsla who loves her job, but if it is raining? Absolutely not, no way, she's an indoor dog on those days.
 
you've ruled out sight hounds, i haven't read the entire thread but why? They can be stock broken and live side by side with small furies without having to cause death and destruction, my lurcher is a rescue i worked him hard for 4 seasons and he will kill my mums chickens but that is because he wasn't bought up with them He used to ride out with me all the time along the roads across fields etc and had the best days ever with him, he is about 11 now and spends his days asleep but as soon as i pick up the leads or the spaniels whistle he is wide awake. I've had two lurchers one very easy (in the end ;) ) and one wild nut case who belonged to my exhusband. I would highly recommend a lurcher with collie in it , I love the challenges of the saluki type i have and i will eventually have a pure bred saluki- really wanted an Afghan hound and mums a dog groomer and is wanting one to groom daily but where we live is red tinny mud and I couldnt cope with the mess. Whippets are lovely dogs, with the right amount of energy and an edge to them imo . Border collies are all so different, my mums had two pure breds and they are both so different, y grandad had the brother of the first one we had and he was crazy and huggggggge where as mollie was dainty and beautifu, a gaurd dog like no other and so highly intelligent, the poor ducks would be put to bed at least 5 times a day. Working gun dogs imo need work, we have an ess and hes so gorgeous and lovely and will be pushed in a pram and carried like a baby, but without gundog training i think he would be out of control the stamina is crazy with him !!
 
lurcherlu said:
you've ruled out sight hounds, i haven't read the entire thread but why? They can be stock broken and live side by side with small furies without having to cause death and destruction, my lurcher is a rescue i worked him hard for 4 seasons and he will kill my mums chickens but that is because he wasn't bought up with them He used to ride out with me all the time along the roads across fields etc and had the best days ever with him, he is about 11 now and spends his days asleep but as soon as i pick up the leads or the spaniels whistle he is wide awake. I've had two lurchers one very easy (in the end ;) ) and one wild nut case who belonged to my exhusband. I would highly recommend a lurcher with collie in it , I love the challenges of the saluki type i have and i will eventually have a pure bred saluki- really wanted an Afghan hound and mums a dog groomer and is wanting one to groom daily but where we live is red tinny mud and I couldnt cope with the mess. Whippets are lovely dogs, with the right amount of energy and an edge to them imo . Border collies are all so different, my mums had two pure breds and they are both so different, y grandad had the brother of the first one we had and he was crazy and huggggggge where as mollie was dainty and beautifu, a gaurd dog like no other and so highly intelligent, the poor ducks would be put to bed at least 5 times a day. Working gun dogs imo need work, we have an ess and hes so gorgeous and lovely and will be pushed in a pram and carried like a baby, but without gundog training i think he would be out of control the stamina is crazy with him !!
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ok, this sort of thread is always difficult because everyone loves 'their' breed and gets a little bewildered as to why someone else might not want one. I appreciate that the majority of dogs, taken from a young age and properly socialised would do the job I want. My breed is setters, I've been obsessed with them all my life. I fully appreciate they may not be the right for the home I can offer right now, hence this thread.

I've owned BCs, I do not want another one. I do not want a sight hound-I have typed out several times why I do not want one but then deleted it as I don't need a pile on. Its enough to say, I do not want a sight hound.
 
ester said:
nothing a good coat can't resolve ;)

RTE do you have any recent pics of your girl? How old is she now?
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remind me to send you a picture of what our place can look like in the middle of a low :D what I actually want is one of those sailing overalls we were given in Iceland to go whale watching (with the built in buoyancy!).

RTE's girl is beautiful, I will be adding them to the list and I've even had a thought as to someone I know who might well know some breeders. (thanks for the tip as well Thistle)
 
ester said:
nothing a good coat can't resolve ;)

RTE do you have any recent pics of your girl? How old is she now?
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I did send one to MoC last week via PM - didn't want to bore the whole forum :D

She will be two in September, she has been shooting this season and has shown a lot of promise, retrieved almost everything asked of her, ducks off of the pond and two or three difficult woodcock. She sometimes gets too excited and her action is so different to a Springer, she has those really hapless moments where she bounds past quite obvious birds and can't find things.

at home she's my best friend, she is very well behaved in the house but basically is spoilt to death and is usually squished on the same piece of furniture as one of us!

At work:
12524190_10156584617455438_8871848802830746032_n.jpg

At rest:
13220985_10157054583600438_4075896966935313337_n.jpg

At play:
1914576_10156817571510438_490361743385826161_n.jpg
 
MotherOfChickens said:
ok, this sort of thread is always difficult because everyone loves 'their' breed and gets a little bewildered as to why someone else might not want one. I appreciate that the majority of dogs, taken from a young age and properly socialised would do the job I want. My breed is setters, I've been obsessed with them all my life. I fully appreciate they may not be the right for the home I can offer right now, hence this thread.

I've owned BCs, I do not want another one. I do not want a sight hound-I have typed out several times why I do not want one but then deleted it as I don't need a pile on. Its enough to say, I do not want a sight hound.
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Have you considered a sighthound MoC *IHWrunsawayquickly*
A good working retriever would be super. As would a toller - they aren't dissimilar.
 
There is a poodle x rottie pup on preloved, I thought that looked quite nice, but it is in middlesex so not terribly convenient! It is a sensibel price too, and not listed as a rottiepoo!
 
Update: OH and I had a long chat. He's no longer that keen on another setter but we've not completely ruled them out (well I havent-the IRAW were lovely and not as loopy, pup will also not be an only dog).He doesn't want another 'difficult' dog and the rescue has made him appreciate an easier one (puppydom excepted) I have been reading up on dallies and it seems bitches are way easier than dogs but again, not ruled out. I am a bit concerned with the MRD1 problem in the smooths but again, not ruled out although there are no breeders in Scotland. We go to the SKC show on saturday to have a look at those breeds we aren't familiar with-including tollers.

However, after doing much online searching, I can honestly say nothing has made me quite as excited as the setters apart from the working GRs and I've been in touch with a breeder (who is even in the same country lol) who knows of a litter expected in June. So we'll see how the next few days turn out-I've still no real idea on size of the working GRs-height and weight RTE? (ball park!). We'd be wanting a bitch.
 
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