Hmm, Ideas On Breed

[Acacia]

A female Leonberger.

They aren't that big and I have no trouble controlling mine.

[GoldenWei]

I'm gone from about 7:30am until about 5pm. My OH is gone for about 12hrs. I do work from home one or two days a week though. I haven't tested these hours on her yet, the longest I have tested is about 4 hrs because I am on leave at the moment. Having said that I have left her outside for the majority of the day for a couple of days with the two boys and have just brought her in for meals. Just trying to get her used to being outside with them for a long time while I am still at home. She is fine with that, doesn't bark to come in or anything. At the moment she sleeps most of the time. We are on 3/4 of an acre, but we were suburban until April last year. When we were in the suburbs, if Phoenix didn't get enough exercise he'd be climbing the walls. We would also give him a 30-45 min walk daily as well as an offleash run in the off lead park that was above our street, we'd spend about an hour there playing frisbee or him running himslef ragged. When I say playing frisbee we would throw the frisbee and he'd run between the two of us trying to get it, he'd be pooped after 20 mins solid of this. He would still need the walk and his own offlead running and exploring in the park (it was fenced). The other thing is that we would also "train" him while doing the frisbee work. This would be come, or heel, sometimes down and stay... when he does this we'd throw the frisbee and he'd get a chance to get it. Sometimes he'd get it, sometimes he wouldn't. So, we were combing mental exercise with the physical. It worked well. When we were in the suburbs they'd only get the one walk/off lead park time because we would leave by 7am, and not be home until 6pm. I drive to work now as well so it's much easier.

We still do the frisbee/training daily as well as a walk, but they also are able to have their own exercise by running around the acreage doing zoomies or what not. I encourage this by keeping them in a small dog yard and only letting them out for the whole 3/4 of an acre once we are home, so they run around it like an offlead park and sniff away etc. I've been trying to give them two walks a day, one before I leave in the morning, and one of an evening... It's difficult in winter though cause I don't like getting up in the freezing cold weather. Once Willow is older though this will probably be a must.

[corvus]

I still kinda think of Aussies as being more drivey as a general rule than Lappies. I think that Lappies are perhaps a bit more friendly and cuddly, although I only know Aussies as an outsider - never had one in the family. My Lappie behaves much the same way towards people and dogs he doesn't know as he does to us. He certainly likes to hang out with me and will be in whatever room I'm in, but he doesn't fret about being away from me, either. Unless he knows I'm just on the other side of the door/gate probably doing something fun. He is, to put it bluntly, thoroughly lazy. He'll run with a friend, but rarely on his own. He would so not get on a grooming table. Some days he won't even get in the car! But he is without question the mellowest, most clumsy Lapphund I've met to date.

Training-wise, I would guess Aussies are probably quicker to pick things up. My Lapphund is fun and easy to train, but it generally takes him longer to learn things than it takes my Vallhund. Lapphunds are a teensy bit on the independent side. My boy certainly has his spitz moments of "Yeah, I don't feel like it." He is very confident and laid back, though. It makes life with him very easy.

I think you should look at the Belgians some more. Although hey, Aussies are also cool.

[Diva]

A female Leonberger.

They aren't that big and I have no trouble controlling mine.

I've always fancied a Leonberger. If I ever go 'boofy' (no offense) I think they might be it.

[Acacia]

They don't (usually) drool either!

[Guest Tess32]

Wow that's a lot of exercise, prob too much for me. Thanks for that info

[Acacia]

They can be too cute as puppies though

Yes, she is as dopey as she looks.

Our male is the opposite, he actually has a brain.

He is friendly, but would you go in this yard?

Problem can be that no one want's to deliver packages or take the pizza to your door, so you may as well pick it up.

[Guest Tess32]

hehehe.

Leos are gorgeous, I did forget about them, definitely still considering. How are they playing with smaller dogs than them? Obviously they're a lot bigger than my collie.

[SparkyTansy]

Tess, I'd say an English Setter fits your criteria as well... but you have to be willing to get through the puppy stage first, where they can be a little full on. Both of mine seemed to grow up around 14-18 months. They generally have fantastic temperaments, are very calm, gentle dogs. They are called "gentleman by nature" afterall... They don't have a great recall and aren't always wonderful at obedience (they have a bit of a setter attitude afterall) but they are a lot calmer than many breeds and I think people don't realise this because as soon as you say setter, people think of their irish cousins with their rather more energetic attitude to life They don't need regular bathing necessarily but you have to watch out for skin issues... if you get a male you should make sure their feathering is washed more regularly. A healthy English with a good coat and skin will not need regular bathing.

With a LH wei, like Goldenwei says, they can generally be more laid back than their SH cousins.... but don't let that be your only deciding factor... they need a lot of work to ensure they dont get separation anxiety. They bond VERY well to their owners, some more than others. All the years I have had weis we have only had females, and I find that they, in relation to friends with males, seem to become more attached. Other things you have to keep in mind with weis - high energy, high preydrive, can be protective of their families... I have a LH bitch here at the moment and she is probably higher energy than my SH weim, so dno't assume getting a LH will cement your chances of a laid back temperament.

sorry i didn't read the entire thread sorry if someone else has already suggested.

Edited February 26, 2010 by SparkyTansy

[GoldenWei]

The Leo's are gorgeous too.

We looked at a lot of breeds, in the end it really came down to the Dally, LH Wei, and an Aussie. IF I didn't want to show the choice may of been different. I looked at the Aussie, and I think from what you have said they would be a good choice. I didn't want anything with too much grooming, preferably none but I do like the coated breeds. There is very little grooming to the LH Wei's, basically the feet, tidying of the tail & thinning on the neck IF they need it (which some don't), and that's it. I ruled out setters due to the grooming, same with Brittany's and springer spaniels. Actually what about a springer? Not sure if its been suggested or not. I also ruled out the Bernese Mtn Dog due to grooming. We ruled out the Husky's and Mal's due to their tendancy to jump fences, especially if they can see through it, like the fences we have.

[Guest Tess32]

Springers? Too full on for me.

Grooming doesn't worry me, obviously used to it with Collies. Though it would be nice to have a little less. Thankfully Noah has a very easy coat anyway for a Collie.

Some I love the look at I've ruled out totally forever because they'll never suit me, is depressing, hehe.

[Acacia]

hehehe.

Leos are gorgeous, I did forget about them, definitely still considering. How are they playing with smaller dogs than them? Obviously they're a lot bigger than my collie.

We didn't raise the male, we got him when he was older. He wasn't socialised with other dogs so I wouldn't trust him with little dogs, he doesn't realise he is big.

I raised my girl from a puppy and socialised her a lot with dogs of all sizes. She will play well with all dogs, including very small dogs and she is very gentle with them. If they are really small she will lie down to play.

I think as long as you socialise them they will be fine. When we got Acacia we had a 20kg dog and he was fine.

Leos seem to play with each other differently to how they play with other/smaller dogs. I never realised until we got our second. They sound like two lions wrestling.

Also, Leos don't bark very often.

Acacia is small for the breed and Talon is big for the breed. Keep in mind he is a bit closer to the camera than she is.

Edited February 26, 2010 by Acacia

[SmoothieGirl]

Hehehehe, go the smoothie...

Nah, if you want a change, you should have a change. I've PM'd you with some observations of Bronte and her interaction with other breeds.

[Guest Tess32]

Thanks everyone, I've decided on an Aussie

[newfsie]

If you want quiet inside and social dogs..............Newfoundland. We have a nearly seven old pup and a fully grown and life is so peaceful. Playtime outside, Zoomies when it is cool. No chewing, obedient, happy and very loving/. we have had newfs for nearly over thirty years now, love them. Went to a newf day with twenty plus newfs last weekend at a of leash beach and not one incident. Most had never met before and were off leash and enjoying the picnic

Some of the newf at little Austinmer Beach on Sunday

Newfies everywhere

Edited February 26, 2010 by newfsie

[newfsie]

And I can add some more to show their social side

Teddy, Katy's uncle with his cavalier friend

Annabelle meeting the very small

And this is a whole lot of newf with people at another day

[Guest belgian.blue]

What I like:

Generally long hair

Laid back inside

Able to live happy on 40-60 min walk a day

Low incidence of dog aggression

Soft temperament

Medium sized up to giant, no little dogs

Sounds like you're after a Belgian Shepherd to a T

[Gayle.]

Thanks everyone, I've decided on an Aussie

Cool, now you have to decide on a colour and a breeder! I can highly recommend black tri's, they are extremely pretty, but then the merles are nice too, and the red tri's are divine.

Dusty's breeder has some black tri's right now, they are almost the same mating as Dusters.....same sire (Gr Ch) and the dam is a generation from Dusty's dam. Impresslive looking litter and I can highly recommend the lines, they are LOVELY dogs, sweet temperaments, highly intelligent and very cruisy to live with.

[Colliewood]

I know what you mean about getting something other than a Collie. It's not easy. And that is not being rude to other breeds. It's just that once they grab your heart, well that's it.

I have had three Roughs and a Border, but I think if you went an Aussie you would not be disapointed. I love my Border, he is a delight. He is the most loyal dog I have had.

My sister has an Aussie, along with a few others, and he is the clown of the family.

I have not read all the post so you may have already said. What colour were you thinking???

Good luck.

[kirst_goldens]

Dsam i missed the boat lol i was going to say a Leo as well they are great with other dogs as long as they are socialised and being a dog person u would have known that already lol The loe i know is about 7 mths now i think and close to full grown in height and she plas with a little french bulldog and a JRT and it is so cute she has to lie down sometimes cause she is so big hehe i love her to pieces