RallyValley

To me there is a "challange" and there is "idiotic" if I wanted a dog of the latter I would get an English Setter which would suit to a t personality wise but be useless at sports. To me getting a Beagle when I am a noivce trainer that has no interest in putting my dog through a 'drive training' regieme seems like a bad idea. Huski's beagle is awesome! :D But I am not so dedicated a trainer to go through all that when the breed isn't one I partcularly favour... I would not get a boy, I have only had a boy boy dynamic once and it did not work out. Toby is happy to be bossed around, my old bitch who passed away last year did that to him.

I love how dogs do that!!! You get to the vet and you are like "I swear he was limping just before! :D "... well that's Toby's trick

My boy isn't a resource guarder but had issues living with one. I don't really want a Kelpie... I prefer gundogs.

I'll confess to being a big Spinone fan. I'm not crazy about beards either which is why the Bracco Italiano appeals greatly to me. Smooth coated, slightly lighter build (and I'm told slightly more active) but same general temperament. There are a handful of Braccos here now. I've got them down as a 'maybe' dog in the future - just have to accustom myself to drool But that doesn't help RV I suppose. So to get it back on topic, we have Irish Setters who have done well in obedience and agility at our club. Very handsome dogs, that's for sure. Happy for the thread to go off topic It's still about dogs. I think that maybe lets say anything over 35 kilos and over 65cms high is too big.

Well according to Animal Planet these are my compatibility levels: Brittany 99% English Springer Spaniel 99% Field Spaniel 99% Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever 99% American Cocker Spaniel 98% Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 98% English Cocker Spaniel 98% Flat-Coated Retriever 98% Irish Setter 98% Don't know enough to rule these in or out... possibly too big? English Setter 97% I do want one but they are not suitable yet. Golden Retriever 97% Havanese 97% Keeshond 97% Labrador Retriever 97% Vizsla 97% West Highland White Terrier 97% I have put a line through breeds that I would not consider (since this part reflects my wants, not Toby's wants )

Are you sure Valley??? Trixie is 10kg and 400 and I think she is too small for you I remember once at Riverside there was a Vizsla meet with crazy hyper Vizsla's running everywhere, and amongst them was a wirehaired baby, probably about 16 weeks, with a cute little beard, and I was so impressed at how calm and confident he was, just cruising from group to group, meeting dogs and peoplevery politely and getting heaps of pats, it really stuck with me! Definitely look into them! I like Brittany's too but I think the two at Nationals were pretty boisterous weren't they I liked your diplomatic Toller comment too There are some breeds I have been looking into that are around 15 kilos ;) ;) BUT as a preferance around 50cms or larger is ideal for me. Toby has met one Kelpie and they didn't really get on. He has met about 100 BC's and he seems to get on well with most of them to a point (i.e when they are throwing a ball for the group). The best interactions he has ever had with other dogs were my friends special older lab, an Aussie, the neighbours Rotweiller and an English Setter - the common denomonator here is that they are all dogs that aren't "in your face" or dogs he has grown up with. He also quite likes the Irish Terriers he has met and a certain Mancherster. ;)

I was replying to Mason's post So I definately can't see into future posts... if I was that intuitive I would not have even had to create this thread seeking guidence on breeds!

Toby has (and probably will again) go on holidays with Bronson who is a Lab but similar to Mason in that he is not so full on. They happily play tug and fetch together and play chase but Bronson gets bored or tired quite easily and Toby knows to leave him alone then. I love Bronson and he has ruined Lab's for me! I will always be like "well Bronson..." and because I never had to live with him and missed the really naughty things he does he is perfect in my eyes I will definately go visiting at a Vizla club meet Sounds like a breed I have to give some more thought to.

From reading all about Em and seeing Huski's thread she sounds close to perfect only.... I cant show a working lines ES I am looking for a dog I can show cause I enjoy that side of things too! As a personal preference I like medium to large dogs but the right small breed might suit. However anything that weighs less then 10 kilos or would be run in the 400 height class at agility (or smaller ) would just be too small for me. I am not dead against wire coats but I don't find the thought of patting one at all appealing or personally like the look. But if the dog was near pefect in every other aspect I would consider it. There are only Large Munsterlanders in Australia. They are a breed I have been admiring for a few months.. have yet to meet one properly though. I have also been looking into Brittany's Yes but after playing with the full on ones so much a laid back one might seem boring :D

I now one of the breeders really well & her girl is simply gorgeous ,easy going.laid back but once out in the water & playing field dog she is a gem she just hasa great on/off switch I would say they are similar in an English Setters nature being soft & requiring a gentle hand but far less needy & in your face. There are some in Perth but sadly the owners no longer show & they where imports from Italy (unless they have moved again) . A breed that many gundog owners world wide down size to are the Petit Bassett Griffon Vendeen(PBGV) very gundog like but still having that hound attitude. There are a few obedienced titled in Oz & tracking titled This from the DOL breed page: Being a ‘scent-hound’, unless taught from an early age to come on command, they should not be’ let off the lead’ to run in unsecured areas, as once they get their noses on a scent, their natural instinct to hunt, quickly takes over worries me a little. I like to take my dogs for offleash walks through the bushland adjoining my house for exercise... a PBGV may be a bit too houndish Why are all these laid back dogs wire coats or very short coats as well ? Definately does not suit. I want a breed to do sports with...

I might have to breed stalk the Viz club and have a chat: http://web.mac.com/vizslawa/vizslaperth/Home.html I have met one of the ladies running the club at a show training class and chatted with her. She was very nice!

Vizlas are mad You see them at Riverside a lot on Sundays when they have their meets, they are hyper dogs! But they are good-mad Them and GSP's seem like such happy - crazy dogs...

easy to train, and I'm no trainer not that big, the boys are larger than the girls though. My girl is 36kg. she can do agility etc. and anything else. THey love to please, cannot handle any 'rough' training, her nickname is Baby and she's 4!! she's my Angel. 36 kilos! Thats a considerable sized dog! I always pictures Spinone's as a bit smaller... there are only 4 breeders listed on DOL so I imagine the wait time for a pup, especially a show quality bitch with the right attitude for sports would be considerable wait! (Not that I am in a rush at all, the complete opposite actually )

Longhaired Vizlas! http://www.wirevizslas.com/coats.htm I have met quite a few Vizlas... the description of thier temprament sounds quite similar to that or a Brittany, which is harier....

Spinone are quite big! (I have only met one so I had to double check). I have read that beause they are so placid they can be hard to train, because they don't see the point of doing things. Where are you Monah?

I have met a few that didn't fit that description! Ah, ok. Maybe I met some unique tollers I know of a couple of Tollers that would suit Toby and a couple that wouldn't I would not like to take such a chance because having two dogs that can't live togther and having to rehome one is one of the most awful things anyone can go through. I am not in any rush, and I did even ask if Toby would at all suit living with another dog. We are having an extended playdate later this year as a trial run with a dog that fits this description but is sadly of a breed not really compatible with agility and obedience that I will one day own but is wrong for what I am currently looking for

I don't want to be a winner.. just enjoy time out with friends. Would agility be too much for such a large breed? (Will google newfs also )

With the retriever breeds, they are either "in your face", can be too resource guarding or not a dog that is typically happy go lucky. Plus I don't know that having non dual purpose breed wouldn't frustrate me Will do a bit of Spinone googling and remind myself not to judge a book by it's cover.... (sorry Monah and Spinone lovers) I actually don't mind Vizla's... I prefer fluffy dogs... but again books, cover I will look into it... as well as checking for dual purpose Goldens.

I was going to be totally like suggest whatever but... I need a dog I can do agility and obedience with too.... what are the brains like on Foxhounds poodlefan?

I think everyone else is stumped PF A hound :D I can see how they would work though I am definately getting a bitch next time and definately getting a pup. Toby is 50cms at the wither and weights 20kilos. We suspect he is mostly Kelpie with a dash of bull breed, but he plays like a herding dog. ;) The resource guarding may not be an issue - Toby does not guard himself but has some fears about using resources (like toys waterbowls ect) when other dogs are around.

Ok Toby's awesome behaviourist (who is a DOLer that isn't as addicted as some of us are ) sent me this description of a dog that would ideally suit living with Toby, it is a little bit edited to protect privacy and cut out some points not relevant to this thread: Now in regards to him with other dogs and personality type: If he was my dog I'd be inclined to try and find a happy go lucky "bomb proof" kind of personality to go with him... any other dog that is stressy or anxious is not going to be a fabulous match, as they will often arouse and stress each other. A good, solid, laid back playmate would be really beneficial for Toby to have positive dog interactions with. The other thing not to get a breed that can be "in your face" dogs and Toby might find that a bit over the top, as that's the sort of dog he's inclined to dislike. My addition: A breed that is known to resource guard is not a good match. And also please limit suggestions an ANKC breeds only, I am interested to see what people come up with! I am gundog biased so I find it hard to lookoutside this group and would prefer a group 3 dog. I am not looking at getting a puppy in the near future, it is a long term goal, but I am just researching breeds.. I may have moved out of home by the time I get the next dog so this may not even matter. :D

What date is the seminar in Tassie? Will there be one in WA? And would it be possible post when you have details of the signs, especially if they are in an electonic format and I will PM you my details to get PDF copies I haven't done any Rally work for ages!

Hopefully he is just sulking cause he didn't get best in show on NYE In all seriousness I hope he is ok.

I have unlimited downloads Internet !!!!! Lucky I do cause you all talk so much!!!! Last night I took Toby for a walk with Bronson and we had to loop back and drop Bronson home halfway cause he was getting really puffed it's sad when they get old! :D

Did I met you the same time as Ptolomy? Yes I was the one in the suit playing with the Tollers