Yet Another What Breed Thread...

[Verdant Amphibian]

I'm in no hurry to get a dog and this question probably could have waited but my other thread seemed to be moving this way and my OH keeps wanting us to discuss this so I would really like some input. Also I understand that some people may have strong feelings about my not having gone through with the adoption of a wei, however I ask that if you want to comment on that you go to my other thread.

First about us. Couple with two little girls 2.5yrs and 11mo and two female birman cats. We have a small yard but are quite active, I walk a lot, my OH loves taking a dog for a walk or play when he gets home from work and we go on a lot of trips on weeks (dog friendly ones to the family holiday house at the lake or up camping in the high country). I'm a part time uni student but I'm home the vast majority of the time.

What we might like in a dog

Size - small to medium. I would love a large dog one day but I don't want to get in a situation with a large dog where I find a behavior problem difficult to deal with because the girls are too little.

Good with the kids (supervised of course), Ava is quite gentle she pats softly and she doesn't know you can pick animals up, since our cats hate it and all the dogs she knows are too big - but she is only 2.5 so can do silly things for no apparent reason. Nina is still of the opinion that everything should go in her mouth. So you can see supervision is a must. I have no problem with this though, I watch the girls all the time anyway to make sure the big one is playing nicely with the little one. I'm home most of the time and have plenty of time to spend with a dog so long as it doesn't have to be time without the girls in it.

Intelligent/quick to learn - I want to go to obedience and possibly do agility. Having watched my parents-in-law bash their heads against a wall for the last two years doing obedience with their beagle I would prefer something that would not only respond well but most importantly enjoy it.

More clingy than aloof - having grown up with dogs that just want to be near you I think I would be unhappy with an aloof dog.

Exercise - happy to do an hour to two hours but if something happens and they can only get 30 min they wont be horribly unhappy. We have a small yard but a special doggy sandpit and there will be plenty of doggy toys

Friendly with other dogs - we go up bush a lot and there are several dogs up there, all friendly or kept separate and they have a grand time playing together and sniffing all the smells. It would be a shame to have a dog that couldn't enjoy this. We would of course be putting effort into socialization.

Watchdog - not necessarily a guard dog at all but I definitely want a watch dog.

The cats like the idea of a dog that starts smaller than them but I'm not so fussed about that.

Below is a list of dogs that have been mentioned either by my OH, DOL people or myself. Several are probably inappropriate and there are probably many more than could be added to the list. I haven't gone into much depth of research into these breeds yet so I would love some input

Shetland Sheepdogs

Miniature Poodles

Miniature Schnauzer

Papillons

Aussie Terriers

Corgi's Pembroke (the OH doesn't like them much though, he thinks they look silly so he would take a lot of convincing)

Jack Russells

Cocker Spaniels

shar pei

Keeshond

[Guest Ams]

Generally Shar Pei are an aloof breed and I'm not sure they would be up to 2 hours of activity at any time, especially in summer. They are also very stubborn. They are smart and know what you want them to do but will more often than not choose NOT to do it.

Also unless socialisation is kept up then shar pei can be funny with other dogs as well. They are not a dog for the faint hearted and you need to be a VERY strong personality to keep them in check.

I would not recommend a shar pei with children so young if you have not had one before.

[Verdant Amphibian]

Shetland Sheepdogs

Miniature Poodles

Miniature Schnauzer

Papillons

Aussie Terriers

Corgi's Pembroke (the OH doesn't like them much though, he thinks they look silly so he would take a lot of convincing)

Jack Russells

Cocker Spaniels

Keeshond

Thanks Ams

[Bjelkier]

How much grooming are you willing to do?

Some of the breeds you have on there needs quite a bit and they leave a lot of hair around the house when dropping coat.

[Verdant Amphibian]

I have two birmans so I have no problem with hair around the house - it can't get much worse Grooming time, a couple of hours a week mostly consisting on 10-15 minute snuggly time sessions in the evening.

[Kirislin]

Please dont get a fluffy or long coated breed unless you are prepared to groom it.

Edited April 26, 2010 by Kirislin

[Verdant Amphibian]

I have never experienced the grooming of a long coated dog breed however before I moved out of home it was my responsibility to groom the Himalayan cat (who hated it) so I understand the amount of commitment a long coated animal can be. The birmans need regular grooming but their single layer coats don't mat so it's not such a bit deal.

With long coated dog breeds how early should they be introduced to a brush to get them used to it? Grooming an animal that hates it is not a pleasant experience and not something I really want to repeat.

[Monah]

Poodle definately, ticks all the boxes!!

[t-time]

With long coated dog breeds how early should they be introduced to a brush to get them used to it?

Breeders should be grooming their puppies from an early age. Not saying the puppy will be *used to it* but a long-coat breed should definitely have the experience of grooming well before going to a new home.

What about a Tibetan Terrier?

[Bjelkier]

I have never experienced the grooming of a long coated dog breed however before I moved out of home it was my responsibility to groom the Himalayan cat (who hated it) so I understand the amount of commitment a long coated animal can be. The birmans need regular grooming but their single layer coats don't mat so it's not such a bit deal.

With long coated dog breeds how early should they be introduced to a brush to get them used to it? Grooming an animal that hates it is not a pleasant experience and not something I really want to repeat.

As soon as you bring them home.

And some will still fight you every step of the way.

EDT, T time is correct a good breeder should start out with the pups before they come to you too.

Edited April 26, 2010 by Wolfsong

[lilyandjazz]

My vote is for shelties.

We have 3 shelties and I see them with play with my 18 month old niece and they are great but in saying that Shelties can be hard work and you do need to make sure they are socialised and really research their bloodlines and look for a more outoing pup.

My shelties also live with cats and never chase them and they are the best of friends.

As far as grooming goes if you brush for 10 mins every couple of days you will not have a problem with coats.

Good luck with your search

[Verdant Amphibian]

What are Tibetan Terriers like to train? They're not that high on coren's intelligence scale. I know that's only obedience intelligence but I would like to do obedience.

Is it hard to find miniature poodle breeders that aim more towards energetic family dog than lapdog? Also are they dominant? Most of the toy poodles I know have been (but I think they were from a byb) and none of them were treated like dogs. The same family vs lapdog question applies in regards to papillons as their seems to be a huge range in the size of papillons.

Your shelties sound wonderful.

There are so many lovely breeds, how do you pick when multiple ones tick all the boxes?

[aussielover]

How about a Cavalier?

They suit most of your requirements except maybe watchdog, but any dog can be trained to bark at the approach of strangers.

I've found many Jack Russells to be "independent" and they also need a lot of exercise.

I also think mini poodles and shelties would be ok for you as well.

Have you heard of the Japanese spitz- they look like small samoyeds, I met 2 the other day and they were really lovely dogs- great with kids, and other dogs.

Not sure about how hard they are to get though.

[~Shepherd~]

Whippet bitch. Mine is ver obedient and gentle, but full of energy as soon as she leaves the house.

A friend has Border Terriers and they seem like fantastic little dogs. They are great with my kids anyway.

[Nik]

I'll put a vote in for Aussie terriers. I had a few growing up, and they are great little big dogs (they think they are big). I really liked the fact that they are closer to medium than small, and are nice sturdy dogs.

Ours were great around kids. We got 2 brothers when I was 12, then we got a female when one of the brothers died. I had my Aussie (Kelly) trained quite easily. I always wanted a horse growing up, but mum and dad would let me, so I trained my dog to go over jumps and around obstacles like in a gymkana. I didn't know there was such thing as agility then, but I'm sure he would have excelled at it!!!

He lived for a bit over 17 years. I had my first child when Kelly was 9. He was soooo good with him, and would lie at the entrance to his bedroom and guard it when my son was asleep. Our female wasn't quite as even tempered, but none of us put as much time into her as I did with my Kelly.

I would definitely describe them as watchdogs... they would bark when people came to the gate/door, but wouldn't bark unneccessarily.

They are long coated, but weren't that hard to look after. Our female had a rather silky coat, rather than the harsh coat which our boys had, so my parents had her clipped in summer as she would get covered in burrs that were very hard to get out.

[sparkycat]

A Finnish Lapphund would be perfect

[mumof3]

golden retriever , lab or brittany. Maybe boxer.

[grace]

I say go for a poodle. They are a great dog and do tick all your boxes. They are smart, easy to train, very loyal good with kids. I can't fault them and mine were always treated like a dog. If not a poodle I would go for a papillon next.

[Nic oh lah]

If you're prepared to brush and groom, want a snuggly clingy dog and a smart dog who responds well to training, and are active, i'd think you can't go past a Border Collie, and I think they fit in your size requirements too.

[poodlefan]

What are Tibetan Terriers like to train? They're not that high on coren's intelligence scale. I know that's only obedience intelligence but I would like to do obedience.

Is it hard to find miniature poodle breeders that aim more towards energetic family dog than lapdog? Also are they dominant? Most of the toy poodles I know have been (but I think they were from a byb) and none of them were treated like dogs. The same family vs lapdog question applies in regards to papillons as their seems to be a huge range in the size of papillons.

Your shelties sound wonderful.

There are so many lovely breeds, how do you pick when multiple ones tick all the boxes?

You have to get out there and meet breeds before you'll know which one is for you.

Miniature poodles tend to be a bit softer than toys. Provided you're up for professional grooming or learning to do it yourself, I'd say a Miniature Poodle would suit your situation very well, provided you're prepared to have it be inside with the family. Go for a common colour - black or brown - IMO they tend to be more bombproof than some of the rarer colours. You'll need a breeder testing for PRA. If you tell us where you are, we could have some breeder recommendations.

A well bred, well trained healthy Mini can do pretty much anything you ask of it athletically. Obedience and Agility will be easier with a Mini than a Whippet - I have both! One of my Minis has his Endurance Title.

Minis tend to be velco dogs, they learn quickly and can do well at agility. Being a bit larger than the Toys, they are a bit less fragile too. Toys are tougher and tend to have more drive but either can do well.

If you go the Shetland Sheepdog route, look around carefully for outgoing temperaments - the breed tends towards shyness.

Mini Schnauzers and Cockers would tick those boxes but again, neither are low maintenance breeds.

Edited April 26, 2010 by poodlefan