gusgem Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 I am contemplating getting a puppy to eventually train in agility and obedience. I have my name down at two breeders (of two different breeds) as an "prospective buyer", but I am absolutely torn between 3 different breeds! I haven't even set out to investigate the third breed as I know which breeder I would like to get a pup from and know they have litters coming up in the next year or so. So how do you decide? I've done countless pros/cons lists but still can't decide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumabaar Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 Sometimes multiple breeds suit and it comes down to 'which comes first' :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 This is my dilemma, I'm just delaying getting another one as I can't choose :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 OK I'm curious - which breeds? :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gusgem Posted May 7, 2012 Author Share Posted May 7, 2012 The breeds are another lab (they really are the perfect dog for our family, but I would really like a change after havin them around for all but maybe 5yrs of my life), a gsp and a gsd... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 Cool! Have fun with deciding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alkhe Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 If you’re anything like me, you’ve already decided deep down… :) Sometimes you just have to go with your heart, when all other things are equal (sappy, I know). Like when you can’t decide between 2 things, someone holds them behind their back and you choose one, and then realise that actually, you DO have a first preference after all .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gusgem Posted May 7, 2012 Author Share Posted May 7, 2012 Lol I will definitely have to get my DH to hold the different breeds behind his back so I can choose that way ;) He is no help as he said "that's fine" (his highest level of compliment/agreement) to all of them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gusgem Posted May 7, 2012 Author Share Posted May 7, 2012 What would you choose If you had 3 kids, and two older labs? Does either of those factors really make that much difference when choosing a breed ????? Cool! Have fun with deciding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixie_meg Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 What would you choose If you had 3 kids, and two older labs? Does either of those factors really make that much difference when choosing a breed ????? Cool! Have fun with deciding don't know too much about the breeds but given you already have gun dogs in the lab, the GSP would probably be the most compatible. but it probably doesn't matter too much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 I think any of them would get along with older Labs and kids, though youngsters of all those breeds are exuberant and bouncy. They are different, and I would decide based on breed characteristics - build, temp, health, shedding (GSD shed a lot), what you like, how competitive in sports you want to be, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuffles Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 As already mentioned, for me it came down to the right litter being available from the right breeder at the right time :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gusgem Posted May 7, 2012 Author Share Posted May 7, 2012 The one thing stopping me from a GSD is that- I know this is going to sound bad, but I want to be able to take the dog EVERYWHERE, including kids soccer games, to the park etc and I think other people would be more accepting of a lab or GSP than a GSD... oh its all too hard! :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 If your aim is agility and obedience, go to some trials and watch the different working styles, talk to the owners of successful dogs. For obedience any of those 3 breeds would be fine. For agility I would probably lean towards the GSP as being the best build for speed and less injuries. Of course the ferrari of agility dogs is the Border Collie :D but lots of other breeds do agility very well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gusgem Posted May 7, 2012 Author Share Posted May 7, 2012 I think any of them would get along with older Labs and kids, though youngsters of all those breeds are exuberant and bouncy. They are different, and I would decide based on breed characteristics - build, temp, health, shedding (GSD shed a lot), what you like, how competitive in sports you want to be, etc. I don't have any ambitions to go out and win every single trial I enter, but I would like to aim for qualifications. I wont be able to try every weekend or all weekend, so first and foremost the dog has to be a family pet. Not saying it wont be exercised everyday and just kept in the backyard, but it will need to be happy to just go with the flow. IYKWIM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wantsapuppy Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 What's a gsp ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 What's a gsp ? German Shorthaired Pointer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 There are some really nice GSP's around doing agility. I would worry about some of the labs as they seem a little to solid - some aren't but a lot are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gusgem Posted May 7, 2012 Author Share Posted May 7, 2012 There are some really nice GSP's around doing agility. I would worry about some of the labs as they seem a little to solid - some aren't but a lot are. The lab breeder I have my name down with has field labs so are a lot "finer" boned than the usual show lab. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Fox Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 Choose based on the temperament. They are very different breeds. A smaller, lighter, (perhaps female) working line GSD might be more suitable for agility than a larger show line too, so that's worth considering. It all comes down to what you can live with I guess. As far as taking the dog everywhere with you? As long as it is well behaved and under control it shouldn't matter what breed it is. People who are wary of large dogs will be wary of either breed IMO. Good luck with your decision Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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