New Puppy Ideas?

[sheena]

Papillion ....small, robust, pretty, smart. Great little agility dogs

[halfthewords]

Second Miniature Poodle or Papillion. There was a Pap at my agility club and he was just stunning to watch (and a little stubborn :laugh:)

[TigerJack]

I am currently waiting for my new little agility dog. She is almost 7 weeks old now so about another month to go. I run kelpies but I also run a yorkie who is now 9 and a half and recently had hernia surgery. I don't know if she will continue competing or retire soon and that got me thinking about how much I enjoy running the tiny dog as well as the 500 heights. So, I decided to plan the next one and went looking for breeders. I wanted a pup in time that I could be starting her training while Bella (my 9 1/2 year old) was getting close to retirement. I know yorkies are not the fastest out there but they are single minded little terriers and a load of fun. I also though long about going for a slightly larger dog and competing in the 300 height group. In the end I decided to stick with the very little breed and stay in the 200's. Its a nice little group. Can't wait till she's home. She is one of these three.

[Solo pup]

Wow, so many good breeds to choose from.

Been looking at heaps of sites at heaps of different breeds, just making it harder to choose one I think.

Hoping to get to a few shows and trials to see some dogs.

I do love my working dogs, don't think I will ever want to be without a gsd. I love my old boy but know how hard it would be with a young one with my young kids now. Keep looking at the border collies to, miss my girl Cara. Again she was ten before the kids came along. I remember my 3 hour walks and runs every day when she was younger and I know I could not do that now with the kids.

Got to stop thinking about border collies before I start crying again.

[sheena]

Wow, so many good breeds to choose from.

Been looking at heaps of sites at heaps of different breeds, just making it harder to choose one I think.

Hoping to get to a few shows and trials to see some dogs.

I do love my working dogs, don't think I will ever want to be without a gsd. I love my old boy but know how hard it would be with a young one with my young kids now. Keep looking at the border collies to, miss my girl Cara. Again she was ten before the kids came along. I remember my 3 hour walks and runs every day when she was younger and I know I could not do that now with the kids.

Got to stop thinking about border collies before I start crying again.

You could always get a border collie breeder to choose a pup especially to suit your circumstances. I couldn't live without my BC's & wouldn't go for any other breed. I like Paps, for a small breed.

[ness]

I would also say if your heart is set on something like a border collie what about looking for a young adult rehome (something that hasn't quite made the grade for showing purposes) but has a temperament (and energy level) that is well established.

Or what about considering something like an aussie?

Edited February 2, 2013 by ness

[amw]

I'm going to vote for something very different, an English springer spaniel. I have to admit I have not done agility before and we have not started training ours yet as he is still a pup (7 months), so we are purely focused on general obedience for now. However,he loved going through the tunnels and over the (very very little) jumps at puppy school and I am looking forward to when he will be a little older and we can start training him for agility also.

As a puppy he is beautifully behaved with my niece (4 years) and nephew (6 years) who are both rather timid around dogs. He adapts and modifies his behaviour around different people and dogs (my husband thinks he has great EQ). His breeder also has a one year daughter so he was exposed to children as part of his early socialisation.

His temperament is gorgeous and loves being with his family. He is active and fun (without being overwhelming and demanding) and with lots of personality. He is very trainable, food motivated and eager to please.

He is medium sized and his coat is very manageable. He is also sturdy and plays well with all sorts of dogs at the park (if they get too growly he can usually outrun them!)

Good luck with making a decision. It sounds like you have lots of great choices.

[piper]

Second Miniature Poodle or Papillion. There was a Pap at my agility club and he was just stunning to watch (and a little stubborn :laugh:)

Those 2 and sheltie would be my suggestions. Possibly Mini schnauzer too.

[piper]

I should have read to the end before posting. Given your most recent reply, I would say chat to some BC breeders. They are not all that high drive and you may well find something that fits into your current life style. There are many many BCs living happily as members of families and with young children and not needing hours and hours of exercise every day.

None of mine have ever needed the amount of exercise that people assume they need. Mental stimulation yes, but not hours of walking and jogging. And mental stimulation can be multiple short training sessions across the day in 3 to 5 minute blocks.

[emilymarston]

I've got a cocker spaniel. She's a great little dog, loves kids and is very smart. I've been training her in obedience for a few years, we got up to class four then stopped. She's learnt a lot of tricks, over 100 now, and we're just starting agility. She's pretty tolerant with kids and other people but loves being cuddled by me. I couldn't be happier with a cocker. They're very good family dogs and respond surprisingly well to training.

Good luck finding your puppy.

[KJJ]

whilst it does not have the certainty of a pure breed (especially one from a good breeder who can match the temperament of the dog to your family) - I'll put a vote in for a rescue x of a breed you like. I love BC's (and can never see myself without one as a family member), my current BCx is a rescue (he took some finding because at the time I was looking for a small BCx) and he is what I was looking for - all the biddability and drive of a BC in a smaller package :)

I would also agree with piper - they do not necessarily need the huge amount of exercise that is often assumed, my heart girl was from working BC's and was happy with a walk and a play (in saying that though - she always had another dog as companion and was with me for the majority of every day)

[Justrace]

I was in the same position as you last year & we decided on a Brittany, I knew nothing about them before November last year & now am totally in love. The other one at the top of our list was the Lagotto.

[smisch]

lowchen :) had you been looking a few months ago I would have said I know of a perfect pup as we were looking for a sporting home for him.

There are a HANDFUL doing sports in Australia 2 living with me (my girl ella who has a few agility passes under her belt but I haven't done alot with her in recent months, Leo our male who's starting out slowly)

there is one I know has its UDX and another with dancing with dogs titles.. people who own this breed tend to not realise how versatile they are.

they're happy intelligent companion,guard dogs with great personalities, great with kids (ours opt to sleep with the kids when they visit and leos best friend is my neice)

coat is easy to keep if you just want it pet styled. I keep ella short all over now she's done showing ehere as our other 2 are in show coat. they have alot of good points and they're something different that's for sure:)

[luvsdogs]

It's been a few months since you started this thread solo pup, so I am interested to know if you have chosen a breed & if so do you have a dog?