Your Choice For A Small Performance Dog

[huski]

LOL Emm they can be a bit of a challenge but I am looking forward to getting another one to see what it will be like to train them as a dog sports dog from the start (I didn't start training Daisy properly until she was two). For me beags tick all the boxes, good size, low maintenance grooming, smart, outgoing, very eager to learn if you motivate them the right way, active and it gives me a challenge which I like. Not for everyone but more than capable IMO.

Eta: not tying to convince you BTW just explaining why they are the small competition dog for me, as I get asked a lot why I would want to train a beagle.

Edited May 3, 2010 by huski

[Henrietta]

LOL Emm they can be a bit of a challenge but I am looking forward to getting another one to see what it will be like to train them as a dog sports dog from the start (I didn't start training Daisy properly until she was two). For me beags tick all the boxes, good size, low maintenance grooming, smart, outgoing, very eager to learn if you motivate them the right way, active and it gives me a challenge which I like. Not for everyone but more than capable IMO.

Oh for sure! Is your next dog going to be a beagle?

[huski]

I'm a sucker for punishment so at this stage probably I would like a breed with a bit more drive but I love beags and I want to know what it will be like to train one for obedience from an early age.

[Kavik]

Thank you - what great responses.

Where do I start...

My thoughts on hair - When I first considered the mini poodle I will admit to freaking out a bit about the grooming. I have the willingness to make the time to maintain a poodle, but the thought of learning the grooming was a bit scary. I'm pretty sure given the right direction I would definitely cope and enjoy the grooming aspect. Shedding isn't a huge issue for me. A Tibetan Terrier would be a lot of grooming as well, something that I will definitely have to speak with owners/breeders about. I don't want to underestimate grooming committments, but I have an open mind in regards to what sort of time I can devote. Equally, I love short coats, in fact my other potential breed is the Hungarian Vizsla (yes on the other end of the size scale).

I think the main thing for me is, given my experience level, I'd be better off with a dog that wasn't as 'sharp'. I don't mind a challenge in training and having to approach things differently perhaps. I am thinking that most terriers are out, as much as I enjoy their spunky attitudes. (Tibetan Terriers are not true terriers).

For example, I love the Schipperke and I find them a very interesting dog. But living with one? I'm not so sure. They aren't terriers, I know.

I do quite like the idea of a papillon, a very athletic little dog and very driven.

Poodles of course.

Shelties, I have seen a couple of shelties doing agility and they were delightful to watch. When you say 'from the right lines' is it safe to say that some lines are producing traits that are undesirable in a Sheltie?

Cavs and Cockers - lovely dogs, but probably not for me.

Daisy - The Queen has Pembroke Corgis and the other type are Cardigans.

Huski - I think it's safe to say a Daisy is a little bit too challenging for me!

Edit - I meant a Beagle, but you know what I mean!

I also love Schipperkes (I had one when I was a kid) and atm they are my personal favs for a small dog, but having spoken to some Schip people they can be more independent than the more common performance breeds.

Also, despite their body shape (which is not exactly ideal for agility) I have seen a couple of Corgis that are great little agility dogs! Vallhunds also sound like they would be good, but I haven't met many of them.

[poodlefan]

Shelties, I have seen a couple of shelties doing agility and they were delightful to watch. When you say 'from the right lines' is it safe to say that some lines are producing traits that are undesirable in a Sheltie?

There's a fair bit of shyness around. You want a more drivey, resilient dog for performance. Good Shelties ARE out there.. you need to ask performance folk where they get theirs.

Edited May 3, 2010 by poodlefan

[Kavik]

My next choice will be a Brittany, pretty much for the same reasons as yours... though probably considered to be a medium rather than a small dog.

Jumping 500, I consider them large!

I think Brittanies are a med-large size breed. My personal fav of the coated gundogs Though if you were thinking of going that size, you would probably be considering the top agility breeds like BCs and Kelpies as well as you will be competing against them.

Even some 'small dog people' are finding it hard/impossible to resist the idea of getting a BC if they are competitive type people

[RallyValley]

Smooth Collie? They are a little bigger but have an easy to care fo coat and 'collie intelligence'.

[RallyValley]

My next choice will be a Brittany, pretty much for the same reasons as yours... though probably considered to be a medium rather than a small dog.

Jumping 500, I consider them large!

I think Brittanies are a med-large size breed. My personal fav of the coated gundogs :D Though if you were thinking of going that size, you would probably be considering the top agility breeds like BCs and Kelpies as well as you will be competing against them.

Even some 'small dog people' are finding it hard/impossible to resist the idea of getting a BC if they are competitive type people

I have a 500 kelpie x (probably stafford) I know that against BC's I will be doing this for fun.

[poodlefan]

Even some 'small dog people' are finding it hard/impossible to resist the idea of getting a BC if they are competitive type people

And some of them are finding out that there's more to being competitive than owning a winning breed.

[FHRP]

Equally, I love short coats, in fact my other potential breed is the Hungarian Vizsla (yes on the other end of the size scale).

Not quite the other end of the scale Vizslas are medium sized gundogs and can make fantastic agility and obedience dogs. The majority will be jumping 600 in agility, however the smaller females can be in the 500 class. They are extremely active dogs though and definitely not small and not for everyone!

Shelties, I have seen a couple of shelties doing agility and they were delightful to watch. When you say 'from the right lines' is it safe to say that some lines are producing traits that are undesirable in a Sheltie?

As poodlefan has covered, there are shy and nervous Shelties around which makes it a battle for dog sports, and not terribly enjoyable for you or the dog. There are plenty good ones out there, but be aware of what you're after

It sounds to me like you really need to do some more meeting of breeds to see what clicks now!

[pie]

Most of the breeds I was going to suggest have been said.

Shelties - Tiakina is a common prefix on the agility shelties over here and there are a few Ag Ch Tiakina dogs. As PF said can be nervous / shy

JRT's - a bit easier on the leggier ones rather than the very short ones

Mini Poodles - there were some awesome ones at the nationals, very clever dogs and speedy

Cocker Spaniels

I would also suggest a Tenterfield, there is an Ag CH one, but there are a lot of nervous ones around (including mine, but we're getting there slowly!), they are fast learners and very agile.

Of course I will also say Manchester Terrier, they have almost no coat, our local Agility Mannie Foxwood Gatekeeper became an Agility Champion over the weekend! They need a lot of socialisation (but I say that for all dogs anyway, terriers more so).

I personally prefer dogs with a bit more leg for agility as you can probably tell.

The most important thing to consider is whether or not you can live with the breed in every day life. I agree with FHRP, you should really meet some representatives of the breeds first and speak to some people who do agility with them.

[Kavik]

Even some 'small dog people' are finding it hard/impossible to resist the idea of getting a BC if they are competitive type people

And some of them are finding out that there's more to being competitive than owning a winning breed.

Oh for sure! I see plenty of BCs blasting around the course minus handler You have to be a good trainer and a good handler to handle a very fast driven dog.

[RallyValley]

Even some 'small dog people' are finding it hard/impossible to resist the idea of getting a BC if they are competitive type people

And some of them are finding out that there's more to being competitive than owning a winning breed.

Oh for sure! I see plenty of BCs blasting around the course minus handler You have to be a good trainer and a good handler to handle a very fast driven dog.

Not to mention fast and fit! I am so glad Toby is a bit of a slowpoke!

[Kavik]

Kaos is fast and driven but he is a sensible dog and not a 'Ferarri'

[megan_]

What about a mini schnauzer? Mine seem to be smart - they cope with my awful handling. I don't compete in agility or obedience, but if I put in the effort I think they could do well. both also have a great prey drive. when my firl is focused on something she can be very quick - even with those stumpy MS legs.

[Guest *Pixie*]

My personal choices would be-

Miniature Poodle

Miniature Schnauzer

JRT

Papillon

I'm going to put it out there that grooming a Poodley is not THAT difficult to learn if you're not hugely fussy on what the end result looks like (i.e. you're not grooming for the show ring). A good groomer could show you how to use the clippers in one or two sessions and then it's just a matter of practice - Poodles live for yonks so you've got heaps of time to learn

Alternatively you can get them groomed professionally - we have a 12 year old Miniature Schnauzer as a family dog and we just get the groomer out 4-5 times a year to clip her. It's a nobrainer... groomer comes to our house on a Saturday, washes her, clips her, plucks ears, trims toenails, etc. In between it's a really simple matter of brushing legs/face and trimming feet if needed - honestly she's no more trouble than my bigger hairier dogs. :cool:

Just something to consider!

[corvus]

Hehe, as I said in your last thread, I think Shelties would be a good pick. I met a Tibetan Terrier recently and thought she was freaking awesome. Very agile and fast and quite outgoing. I chatted to her owners (while she played chase with Erik, my Vallhund) and they said she was quite full-on and could be a bit independent, but otherwise lots of fun and quite sweet.

I also think Pulis are really cool, but the coat care is a bit daunting. And I don't think they are as friendly.

Erik is starting agility training in June. He's done his pre-agility course and ran rings around most of the dogs there in terms of drive. He would be ace at obedience as well. He is ace at anything, really. He is very easy to train and stupidly confident and outgoing. And game! Geez, he will try anything. He throws himself into everything he does and he is fast. I love him as a small dog because he is very strong and robust for his size, but he's still a herder and he's a hardcore little thing. He's a cattle dog as far as he's concerned.

Mini Poodles seem like a pretty fun small performance dog as well. If I wasn't getting a Vallhund for some reason, I'd go for a Tibetan Terrier. I was very taken with the one I met. I hate terrier personalities, but I think I could cope with a TT. Then again, I doubt a TT would give cuddles that are anywhere near as good as Erik's cuddles. :cool: He's like a child! It's madness!

[mirawee]

Small dogs (200 and 300) that competed at the National Agility Trial:

Mini Poodles

JRT

Cavalier CKS

American Cocker

Tenterfield Terrier

Scottish Terrier

Small White Fluffy (and yes that is what his "breed" has been put down as on the associate register He is most likely a Maltese cross)

Scruffy terrier crosses

Pomeranian

Shelties (smaller ones)

Mini schnauzer (very cool dog!)

Beagle

In the 400 range we had:

NSDTR

Border Collie

Kelpie

Manchester Terrier

German Pinscher (sp)

Finnish Lapphund (but they are generally not that high drive and being Spitz can decide they won't play that day!)

Coolie

Mini Poodles (larger ones)

Shelties

And that is all I can think of without looking at the catalogue

Edited May 4, 2010 by mirawee

[Kavik]

That is amazing if you are going on memory!

Those would be some small Kelpies and Border Collies to be in 400!

[W Sibs]

I have a Japanese Spitz that I want to do agility with. She is only 10 weeks, but she is already incredibly fast and she is definitely a jumper (not that i encourage her to jump right now... but she is a tiny little thing and can already jump on the couch and bed!). Should be fun training her!

I love watching Mini Poodles doing agility though... they do things so dainty and are so light on their feet. It's so cool to watch.