Breed Suggestions Please?

[Guest RosieFT]

I will also add that what you see isn't what you get. Their idea of a terrier is based on a snap shot.

Until my parents' looked after Rosie for the first time, they were worried she would be full on and too much (they have had bichons for many years), but they were more than pleasantly surprised by her nature and now think she is just the most wonderful dog ever. We went on a huge family holiday down south and brought Rosie and Lily (bichon). Again, many of my family commented on how they had had completely the wrong idea about her. She was/is so amazing with my nephew who has autism and he just adored her.

The thing is, is that when there is something new/exciting going on (like people coming for a visit) she is super excited and hyper - give her 5mins and she is back in her bed relaxing. Bring out a ball, toy, hose and she is super excited and brain goes into prey drive and she jumps, and runs and hypes up. Take toy away, she switches off and chills.

Take her somewhere new, and she is super wriggly and excited.

Terriers have a true zest for life that makes them such a joy to own (but also such a pain in the butt at times!), but they do have an off switch and are amazing dogs to have as part of the family. IMHO.

People often cannot see past that, or give them the time to see what the rest of the package is really like :-)

Also, people quickly defend all the staffies, saying the ones we see on the street are BYB, badly bred, not a true representation blah blah... how many dogs are claimed to be 'jack russels' ..

Edited February 24, 2012 by RosieFT

[Baileys mum]

I don't understand why people say terriers are such hard work to train. All dogs have their difficulties and it saddens me that they've been given such a bad rap by idiot owners who don't understand them.

People are always commenting about their stubbornness but all the Aussies I've owned are so willing to please that they're easy to train. And they don't bark a lot either.

I know the poor JRT gets a hard slog because of their hyperness but in the right hands they're gorgeous dogs and not at all as bad as their reputation states.

If you wouldn't suggest a terrier for this family based on the fact they're "hard work" maybe no dog is suitable as IMO they're all equally hard work -- just in different ways. If the family isn't willing to take the time then maybe they should get a fish.

I don't understand either R-A

I can't speak for other Terrier breeds, but my Aussies are so easy to live with, have all been easy to train & do have an off switch. As I said in my other post, my dogs aren't overly yappy, but will bark to announce visitors.

I have placed quite a few of my pups with novice dog owners with no problems, & I stand by what I said before & believe they make perfect family dogs. I wouldn't recommend my breed if I didn't believe this.

Edited February 24, 2012 by Baileys mum

[rajacadoo]

Primitive" breed temperaments are very interesting. The Basenji and the Pharoah Hound are quite different to any other dogs I have met. I hear Shibas are similar.

Very feline in some aspects and with a ton of prey drive .. or the ones I know are. Definitely a breed for fanciers only IMO.

+1

Showed one for a friend once Raja... it was "interesting"

Classic case of "you're not the boss of ME"!!!!

Yeah INTERESTING is possibly one way of describing them :laugh: ...

Ive had my 'most humiliating' moments in the ring with these little buggers, and I wouldnt hand over any of mine to unsuspecting handlers ;) ... Ohhhhhhh except the day I had a wardrobe malfunction showing my ACD boy, but I wont go there, makes me blush just thinking about it now ...

[jr_inoz]

Corgi or a sheltie (from the right breeder.... lots of friendly, easy going shelties around now but a couple of breeders still have some 'nervous' ones)

Sheltie coat is very easy to manage - so much easier than people think. Only shed once a year if they get a boy - or a girl that they desex....

Family orientated, good with kids, loyal, easy to train, intelligent.

eta: - also very 'pretty' and 'fluffy' which I think were two of the original requirements....

Edited February 24, 2012 by jr_inoz

[Ausvarg FL]

Try this girl....She is being fostered by one of our very own at the moment :-)

http://www.petrescue.com.au/view/144447

Cassie

[Sayly]

I adore terriers and I hope no one took my post to mean things it didn't. I think the right terrier in the right family home is a wonderful match and my childhood was filled with memories of growing up with terriers.

I think you have to be a special kind of person to truely appreciate a terrier, and from the sounds of the first post, this family doesn't say terrier to me.

ETA: Aussie Terriers aren't a terrier breed I have had much to do with, but they sound like they may well be suitable for this family. My post was mainly in response to the suggestion of a Fox Terrier.

RosieFT - apparently everything small, white and brown is a Jack Russell. :rolleyes: A well bred Jack is a gorgeous little dog, but there's so many BYB ones with crappy personalities and health issues.

Rosie sounds like a lovely dog to live with, our Ruby is on the mellower side of the terrier spectrum and is quite an easy dog to have around, however we know there's plenty of Irish on the other of the spectrum too, Mum's first Irish that we had when I was a kid was a very full on dog and wouldn't suit many families, the Irish Dad had growing up was smack bang in the middle between the two. I am always hesitant to suggest an Irish to someone who couldn't cope with the more full on end, especially those getting a puppy rather than an older, retired dog, as their puppy may well be on the full on side.

Edited February 24, 2012 by Lyndsay

[Guest Clover]

I don't understand why people say terriers are such hard work to train. All dogs have their difficulties and it saddens me that they've been given such a bad rap by idiot owners who don't understand them.

People are always commenting about their stubbornness but all the Aussies I've owned are so willing to please that they're easy to train. And they don't bark a lot either.

I know the poor JRT gets a hard slog because of their hyperness but in the right hands they're gorgeous dogs and not at all as bad as their reputation states.

If you wouldn't suggest a terrier for this family based on the fact they're "hard work" maybe no dog is suitable as IMO they're all equally hard work -- just in different ways. If the family isn't willing to take the time then maybe they should get a fish.

I would not suggest a fish either, they are hard work ;).

Terriers are not for soft sooky people, they need a firm but fair owner and the training to match. I dont think i'd suggest any Terrier for first time dog owners but that is just my opinion.

[Greytmate]

I don't understand why people say terriers are such hard work to train. All dogs have their difficulties and it saddens me that they've been given such a bad rap by idiot owners who don't understand them.

People are always commenting about their stubbornness but all the Aussies I've owned are so willing to please that they're easy to train. And they don't bark a lot either.

I know the poor JRT gets a hard slog because of their hyperness but in the right hands they're gorgeous dogs and not at all as bad as their reputation states.

If you wouldn't suggest a terrier for this family based on the fact they're "hard work" maybe no dog is suitable as IMO they're all equally hard work -- just in different ways. If the family isn't willing to take the time then maybe they should get a fish.

People are not saying terriers are bad dogs. They are saying that they have a full-on temperament compared to most other dogs.

Dogs are not all equally hard work. They have different requirements for stimulation and exercise which means that different families suit different dogs. Many dogs don't require a lot of training or special management at all. Dogs like these are more common in some breeds than others.

A terrier would not suit every home. A good terrier is alert and reactive and always up for some fun. It would be exceedingly hard to train that out of a dog. A family that is new to dog ownership will usually be safer with a dog that is less demanding of their attention. A family new to dog ownership is more likely to make mistakes than an experienced dog owner, and some terriers can be prone to aggression if not managed authoritatively. They can be feisty. This is less likely to happen in some other breeds.

Willing to please and easy to train do not translate into easy to own. The dogs that are the easiest to train can often be the dogs that need it the most. Enjoy your terrier if that is the type of dog you like, but I find it easier to cope with five greyhounds in the house than one terrier. I'm a different sort of dog owner.

[Guest RosieFT]

I do agree that not everyone loves a terrier - that is obvious.

BUT i have to say that having read threads on DOL over the years I have also been *put off* from owning breeds like GSP, doberman and dalmatian (for example) - purely based on what owners have posted about regarding their own dog's antics and the difficulties they have had. In my mind, NOW, these are full on, hyperactive dogs that need a firm hand and lots of stimulation and like to destroy things LOL.

However, I do understand where you are coming from, and you will say that you would not suggest these breeds either, but a more malleable, softer type of dog.

Personally, as sweet as my parents' bichon is, she would bore me to tears if she were mine as she is more like a white slipper LOL.. gorgeous though she is. Although, their first bichon was a more independent, feisty guy and I adored him and his personality, he is what made me recommend the bichon far and wide, but I don't think he is the norm.

So I agree, horses for courses :)

We wanted a small/medium sized, short coated family dog that would be up for a game. I will completely agree that it has not all been sweet as roses and we have had our ups and downs, and the terrier zest can be a bit annoying at times, but show me a dog that is perfect all the time. You do need a sense of humour to own a terrier :-) , but i see that as a positive.

Rosie was my first dog as an adult, although I grew up with a lab, and later a mixed breed, and later on had alot to do with training my boyfriend's kelpie cross - which was a breeze incidently.

I am not disputing the fact that it pays to know what you are getting into with a terrier - socialisation is important as is establishing firm but fair boundaries, but i am sure there are many other breeds where that is true too.

[Guest RosieFT]

I adore terriers and I hope no one took my post to mean things it didn't. I think the right terrier in the right family home is a wonderful match and my childhood was filled with memories of growing up with terriers.

I think you have to be a special kind of person to truely appreciate a terrier, and from the sounds of the first post, this family doesn't say terrier to me.

ETA: Aussie Terriers aren't a terrier breed I have had much to do with, but they sound like they may well be suitable for this family. My post was mainly in response to the suggestion of a Fox Terrier.

RosieFT - apparently everything small, white and brown is a Jack Russell. :rolleyes: A well bred Jack is a gorgeous little dog, but there's so many BYB ones with crappy personalities and health issues.

Rosie sounds like a lovely dog to live with, our Ruby is on the mellower side of the terrier spectrum and is quite an easy dog to have around, however we know there's plenty of Irish on the other of the spectrum too, Mum's first Irish that we had when I was a kid was a very full on dog and wouldn't suit many families, the Irish Dad had growing up was smack bang in the middle between the two. I am always hesitant to suggest an Irish to someone who couldn't cope with the more full on end, especially those getting a puppy rather than an older, retired dog, as their puppy may well be on the full on side.

I must admit I did alot of reading up on terriers and the over all information i got was that Airedales were the ones with the most attitude and perhaps fight, and also irish terriers seem to get a bad rap for dog aggression. But talking to people who own these breeds, will completely dispute this. Fox Terrier - wire were *allegedly* more dog aggressive than smooth and definitely got a bad rating overall. My dad grew up with a wire fox terrier and he apparantly would bite anyone that he felt was a threat to anyone in the family. He was a wonderful dog (apparantly) but very, very protective of the family. I actually fell in love with the wire terrier first, but decided it wasn't the dog for us - temp. and grooming wise. My OH had always loved the smooth but i was hesitant as i had read so much about dog aggression. The breeder I spoke to completely pooh poohed that, but I still did my best to socialise her in obedience classes and the like.

But i have known people with lakeland terriers that were just gorgeous and apart from the selective hearing on recall, never had any major issues with the dogs.

Anyway, way off topic. I just find it interesting! :)

[Cougar]

Hi all OP here!

Thanks for all the constructive suggestions, I'm going to pass them on. I will say that maybe my post has give the wrong impression about the family, they are really excited about the prospect of having a dog. Circumstances have meant that they have never been able to do this before, this has changed and they are really keen. I believe they will put the time in to be good owners, its just that some breeds are easier to own first up i think. I understand that there are compromises in owning any breed, but I love looking at and learning about different breeds, others don't necessarily share this interest!!

To be honest I'm just happy that they're willing to listen and take on some advice - they knew nothing of puppy farms etc so they've already learnt some stuff.

That pic of the wire hair fox terrier is gorgeous! What a face :D

With the size thing, the bigger dogs are out mostly because they're more expensive to feed and maintain. Curly coats come with clipping costs, so these are all things they are considering BEFORE buying, which has to be a good thing.

As to the terrier debate - I love the look of some of the terriers but would be reluctant to own one myself, and the general feeling seems to be that they are really, really busy dogs. A lot of people aren't prepared for that - like me! I like my dogs big and kinda dopey :laugh: I know that a well bred Jack Russell is an awesome little dog, but geez I've met some shockers too...

Anyway, I'm struggling now because their budget isn't really going to stretch to a purebred pup. Please don't flame me for that, its just how it is. I'd love to steer them to a breeder re-home or older rescue (like Ilvari she's gorgeous) but they really, really want a pup - understandable when they've not owned a dog before. So yeah, still stuck!

Anyway, thanks heaps for the suggestions and discussion - its been really interesting. :)

[Salukifan]

I think you can admire breeds, even wistfully contemplate them but know they aren't for you or for some situations described in the "what breed for me" threads we see here.

As a volunteer dog trainer I see a lot of smaller terrier owners (or dogs that are mostly JRT) frustrated by their inability to hold their dog's attention and wondering what they've taken on when other dog owners can gain and hold their dogs undivided focus. Can dedicated dog folk get that type of attention from their terriers? Hell yes. We had a lady at our club put a UD on TWO Parsons.

But unless you go in with your eyes wide open, it can be frustrating for owners. We have a pretty ordinary combination in the class I'm attending at the moment of a young (i'm guessing 12ish) owner with a JRT that's interested in the other dogs, what's happening in other classes etc and who lacks the patience to really work on focus. She gets frustrated. Did that family acquire the dog with their eyes wide open?? Nope, bought a cute pup and are now finding out what owning a dog bred and developed to make decisions for itself and to react quickly to changes around it brings to the training paddock. If you can't grasp that your dog is never going to just lie down and submit to being dominated by several large dogs in the offead park (yes, seen this too) then maybe a softer breed suits better also. I agree that some breeds can be so soft they're boring.... more dogs that I'd not be interested in owning.

Are there novice owners I'd recommend a terrier to? Yes, of course there are. But when one of the specifications given is "quiet", there are a range of breeds I'd steer them away from... including Toy Poodles.

Edited February 24, 2012 by Telida Whippets

[Cavamum]

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel!

[Guest donatella]

I don't understand why people say terriers are such hard work to train. All dogs have their difficulties and it saddens me that they've been given such a bad rap by idiot owners who don't understand them.

People are always commenting about their stubbornness but all the Aussies I've owned are so willing to please that they're easy to train. And they don't bark a lot either.

I know the poor JRT gets a hard slog because of their hyperness but in the right hands they're gorgeous dogs and not at all as bad as their reputation states.

If you wouldn't suggest a terrier for this family based on the fact they're "hard work" maybe no dog is suitable as IMO they're all equally hard work -- just in different ways. If the family isn't willing to take the time then maybe they should get a fish.

We had tenterfield terriers as teen/primary aged kids and they were a lot less work then my current pom!

[Guest RosieFT]

I think you can admire breeds, even wistfully contemplate them but know they aren't for you or for some situations described in the "what breed for me" threads we see here.

As a volunteer dog trainer I see a lot of smaller terrier owners (or dogs that are mostly JRT) frustrated by their inability to hold their dog's attention and wondering what they've taken on when other dog owners can gain and hold their dogs undivided focus. Can dedicated dog folk get that type of attention from their terriers? Hell yes. We had a lady at our club put a UD on TWO Parsons.

But unless you go in with your eyes wide open, it can be frustrating for owners. We have a pretty ordinary combination in the class I'm attending at the moment of a young (i'm guessing 12ish) owner with a JRT that's interested in the other dogs, what's happening in other classes etc and who lacks the patience to really work on focus. She gets frustrated. Did that family acquire the dog with their eyes wide open?? Nope, bought a cute pup and are now finding out what owning a dog bred and developed to make decisions for itself and to react quickly to changes around it brings to the training paddock. If you can't grasp that your dog is never going to just lie down and submit to being dominated by several large dogs in the offead park (yes, seen this too) then maybe a softer breed suits better also. I agree that some breeds can be so soft they're boring.... more dogs that I'd not be interested in owning.

Are there novice owners I'd recommend a terrier to? Yes, of course there are. But when one of the specifications given is "quiet", there are a range of breeds I'd steer them away from... including Toy Poodles.

You make some very valid points and I totally agree. :)

I went in expecting an independent dog, a yapper and a digger with a feisty temperment and yet i STILL got frustrated at obedience classes as she was perfect at home, and i did put the work in with the sits/drops/recalls/waiting at doors for me first/waiting for dinner etc, but when at the classes she was just so super keen to look around at everything and everyone, was not interested in food (even bbq chicken) and i got sick and tired of people saying 'oh here comes the crazy foxy!'.

The trainers were not much help, but i don't blame them, the classes were HUGE. I admit to leaving in tears a few times. I stayed for a few terms and was super happy as to how good she was at home and with my family. HOWEVER, I started agility training purely to try and work on her focus in busy surroundings, and guess what? change food for toys, give her something fun to do and she is fantastic :-) . I completely admit that with a more experienced trainer, she may have become an obedience super star but not with me. So, yes you do have to have done your homework.

I accept my dog who is perfect with my kids, wonderful and easy around the home BUT who will be an eager beaver and super happy if something new is going on - yes, sometimes to the point of 'crazy foxy' LOL ;)

:)