which breed? Can't make up my mind!

We have a blue heeler (Australian Cattle Dog) that we chose after a fair bit of research as a highly trainable dog, good recall, suitable for training to hack out with horses (so fit for a reasonable pace / distance), good with other animals (i.e. not liable to chase / eat them), easy coat, medium size. Our pup is 5 months old now, and is coming on great (hopefully once we crack the toilet training!). She is a bit different from our old GSD but I think we made a good choice.
 
thats an interesting choice Lucyad! they are braw looking dogs-woud have thought they might have a high chase drive though?!

I have some experience with kelpies-ex-OHs wanted to kill me and local farmer has them for working sheep.neat little things, hard as nails.
 
ester said:
:eek3: :mad:



MoC iirc schnauzers have very few health issues too.
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I think a ( medium)schnauzer would be perfect for your set up...I've got a mini,who lives in full country environment ..gets a strip every week and is then wash and wear..
The medium size is perfect for you..great guards,very loyal and trainable...the Giants are at risk for hips and thyroid...

The st poodle? I'm on my third...huge coat care required,not wash and wear..lf I don't blow dry after every wet outing you are in matting extreme...mine wears a coat,but legs ,head tail need at least twenty mins drying time after every wet walk.
 
I worried about them chasing next door's cattle, and our horses, but was assured that you could train it out of them if they did start rounding things up - so far ours hasn't even tried to chase the cat! She does trot along beside the horses nicely so far (obviously a lot of training to be done before we set off on the roads - took about a year or more for the GSD...). Good natural recall - 'blue glue' apparently a saying. I ruled out scent hounds / sight hounds / sledge dogs / terriers when we were looking, and anything with reputation for being bonkers - didn't leave a lot!
 
Bellasophia said:
I think a ( medium)schnauzer would be perfect for your set up...I've got a mini,who lives in full country environment ..gets a strip every week and is then wash and wear..
The medium size is perfect for you..great guards,very loyal and trainable...the Giants are at risk for hips and thyroid...

The st poodle? I'm on my third...huge coat care required,not wash and wear..lf I don't blow dry after every wet outing you are in matting extreme...mine wears a coat,but legs ,head tail need at least twenty mins drying time after every wet walk.
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I am definitely going to look up the schnauzer, thanks for your info. tbh that is what puts me off the poodles and indeed the setters again, especially if you neuter one.
 
Lucyad said:
I worried about them chasing next door's cattle, and our horses, but was assured that you could train it out of them if they did start rounding things up - so far ours hasn't even tried to chase the cat! She does trot along beside the horses nicely so far (obviously a lot of training to be done before we set off on the roads - took about a year or more for the GSD...). Good natural recall - 'blue glue' apparently a saying. I ruled out scent hounds / sight hounds / sledge dogs / terriers when we were looking, and anything with reputation for being bonkers - didn't leave a lot!
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ha, I am surrounded by cattle too-well I am in the summer and the cows certainly give any dogs the eye when they have calfs and you're out and about with them or they are out in the garden.
 
just by chance-seems as though the Scottish KC have their championship show on the 21st, so should be able to see examples of nearly everything I want to! Although its hard to tell because its the worst website I've seen in ages. They have Australian shepherds and cattle dogs so will be sure to take a look! I am not so interested in watching dogs in the ring but have never been to this sort of dog show before, is it possible to wander about?

Plus have a bouncy walk with 3 IRAW setters this sunday and some vizlas to meet next week. Have also found a WH vizla breeder who also keeps Irish setters so will be good to get a comparison from them. (I am consoling myself for having raging tonsillitis in the best weather Scotland is likely to see this year).

So shortlist atm in no particular order:

Setter

WH Vizla

Standard Schnauzer

Beagle

Smooth collie

Standard Poodle
 
MotherOfChickens said:
now they do look interesting! can't find assured breeders north of Newark though.
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They are a lovely dog, a friend breeds at Newark OT and has had some beautiful litters. Have you tried Edinbarnet Nova Scotia, Ayrshire? I always wanted a toller, OH doesn't like their little brown noses and certain similarities to the collie. I have a golden retriever, she is the most biddable and loyal dog I've ever known - I was absolutely dead set against them prior to OH pleading with me, I doubt I would ever go back to ESS having had a retriever, although they may be too similar to labs for your liking.
 
RunToEarth said:
They are a lovely dog, a friend breeds at Newark OT and has had some beautiful litters. Have you tried Edinbarnet Nova Scotia, Ayrshire? I always wanted a toller, OH doesn't like their little brown noses and certain similarities to the collie. I have a golden retriever, she is the most biddable and loyal dog I've ever known - I was absolutely dead set against them prior to OH pleading with me, I doubt I would ever go back to ESS having had a retriever, although they may be too similar to labs for your liking.
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ahh, thanks for finding that for me! not horrendously far from me :)

I like the goldens and have them in the back of my head. There is a lovely old goldie at work-he's a huge boy though! they are on the heavy side of the sort of dog I tend to like for myself.
 
I know they aren't on your final list but I have to disagree with ther person who recommended a blue heeler, I had them in Oz and you saw a lot about. Reknowned biters, hard dogs and difficult to train. Lovely though, gorgeous colour - who doesn't like roan - and great fun. Never tired.
 
Clodagh said:
I know they aren't on your final list but I have to disagree with ther person who recommended a blue heeler, I had them in Oz and you saw a lot about. Reknowned biters, hard dogs and difficult to train. Lovely though, gorgeous colour - who doesn't like roan - and great fun. Never tired.
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Eeek, sorry to sidetrack OP, but interesting to get feedback from someone who knows more of the breed...I have to say the parents and brother of our pup were all very nice natured, and have a similar environment to ours (kids and animals), and the few others we have met or heard about in Scotland seem the same - but your feedback seems to be similar to another Ausie contact's (feedback we got after getting our pup, I might add!). Oh well, hopefully she will grow up to have as nice a nature has her close relatives. Certainly she is super easy to train so far (apart from the toileting as she still has the odd accident at night, but probably because we don't crate - when confined more she is fine).
 
I think with most breeds, socialisation and training is key. I only know of the heelers through Aussie friends so I know their reputation. The kelpies I knew were pretty hardcore. saying that, they were all working dogs, not socialised with anyone much outside of family and lived under utes year round. The kelpies I know here work but are also kept in the house and are really friendly to visitors/strangers off/on the quad. farmer says they must work daily though, or they get self destructive.
 
I wonder if the heelers over here are more 'show-lines' so a bit softer that those in Aus where they would be a bit more widespread.
And kelpies, yes well, collie on speed? :p
 
Your list seems very coherent except the random beagle in the middle!

If you're willing to work the dog you buy and are looking for a competent trainer i really fail to see why anyone should be bashing you by PM!
 
ha, yes the beagle seems odd. I have met some recently and I'd say they are probably on the low end of the list. I am really looking forward to meeting the new breeds :) and this thread has been great for suggestions.

I do have reasons for some of the dogs on the 'never' list. I don't wish to post them as I don't want other people put off the breeds, after all its just my personal experience. Some of my 'don't wants' are on aesthetic grounds and yes, I realise that's shallow. I will not rule out a right rescue dog and will continue to check the sites.
 
gunnergundog said:
Bavarian mountain hound? There's a training centre if you are interested in working a dog in Kershope Forest - not sure how far that is from you.

http://www.bavarianmountainhoundsociety.org.uk/

Was also going to suggest a bracco, but guess that they will be too heavy for your taste based on a comment above.
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Those Bavarian hounds are stunning! Will have read up tomorrow.about them.
 
MotherOfChickens said:
ahh, thanks for finding that for me! not horrendously far from me :)

I like the goldens and have them in the back of my head. There is a lovely old goldie at work-he's a huge boy though! they are on the heavy side of the sort of dog I tend to like for myself.
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Working bred Goldie are much smaller and sleeker, less hair too.
 
Vizslas are one person dogs.

I had a vizsla when I was in my late teens and left her at home when I went away to college. In her mind, she was "my" dog (or I was her human) and every time I went back to college, she would stop eating for 3 days. My mother walked her, fed her, cuddled her - did everything to look after her as though she was hers..... but she was mine.

They are velcro dogs - they are also great doctor dogs - they like nothing better than to make you feel better when you are stuck in bed with flu, by sitting on your chest and gazing earnestly into your eyes.

With reference to an earlier comment on flatcoats, my OH has had more dogs over the years than I've had the proverbial hot dinners - from working pointers, setters, and cockers (which he worked and trialled). He used to have flatcoats - he adores them but won't have another one. He said the last one he had broke his heart - she died of cancer aged about 4. There was a dreadful incidence of cancers in the breed at the time.
 
Just to throw in a completely random one (and I haven't read the full thread)... both of our Dalmatians were fantastic dogs. Very trainable, great around horses, I used to take them on the gallops riding when I had M.
 
chestnut cob said:
Just to throw in a completely random one (and I haven't read the full thread)... both of our Dalmatians were fantastic dogs. Very trainable, great around horses, I used to take them on the gallops riding when I had M.
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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?
 
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 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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