Looking For Our Future Companion

[Loving my Oldies]

So many choices! Wish I was looking. I love getting a new dog. I like getting different breeds, like there r so many I want to try.

Haha its enjoyable researching but also scary. :)

We have only ever owned 2 breeds - Rottweilers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers - both lovely breeds that we will always have soft spots for.

Its really hard trying to settle on a new breed ...one we do the right thing by and can fit to our current lifestyle.

Not too big, not too small. One we can do some obedience and endurance with, maybe some showing, take away on holidays, something the public isn't generally wary.

Also one that has an easy care coat or one that we can learn to properly clip

Scroll through PetRescue and you will find a squillion to fit your requirements :) :) :)

[brittany13]

If you don't mind the public oohing and aahing over your dog all the time there's always the Dalmatian. Zig just makes heads turn. The cost is very easy care....just sheds all over your house :laugh:

We have stayed at a friends house for a while with a lovely Dalmatian.

She was lovely with a really nice nature, however we were constantly coated in copious amounts of her white hair - and that really put us off.

[The Spotted Devil]

If you don't mind the public oohing and aahing over your dog all the time there's always the Dalmatian. Zig just makes heads turn. The cost is very easy care....just sheds all over your house :laugh:

We have stayed at a friends house for a while with a lovely Dalmatian.

She was lovely with a really nice nature, however we were constantly coated in copious amounts of her white hair - and that really put us off.

Yes it's one of the first things I tell people. You can either live with it or you can't!

[brittany13]

What about a Lab? Golden Retriever?

Or on the smaller side, Whippet? Italian Greyhound? Boston Terrier, French Bulldog?

Thanks cazablanca for your suggestions :)

[Cosmolo]

Standard schnauzers are not for the faint hearted IMO- need plenty of excellent quality, early training and socialisation to ensure they are lovely adult dogs. They can be very protective and somewhat territorial and much sharper in temperament than the mini schnauzers or lagotto's.

From what you're describing, i'd suggest a well bred Lagotto.

[brittany13]

After my staffy I got a westie. They may be a bit small (up to 10kg, 10") for what you are after. I found a young cocker spaniel to be his buddy. Cockers are around 15", 15kg. To be honest, side by side there isn't a huge difference between them height wise. The cocker seems to be a similar size to other cockers I see, so she isn't a midget :)

We get a lot of "aren't they gorgeous" on our walks :D

I groom them myself and it isn't too hard. Hair grows back if you make a boo boo LOL

Thanks karen15 :)

Yes Westies are nice but would prefer bigger.

A Cocker could be a possibility to add to our short list :)

[brittany13]

Standard schnauzers are not for the faint hearted IMO- need plenty of excellent quality, early training and socialisation to ensure they are lovely adult dogs. They can be very protective and somewhat territorial and much sharper in temperament than the mini schnauzers or lagotto's.

From what you're describing, i'd suggest a well bred Lagotto.

Thanks for your advice Cosmolo

[Sheridan]

What about Soft Coated Wheatens? What are they like?

Hi there, before I tell you about wheatens from my point of view, what interests you about them?

[brittany13]

What about Soft Coated Wheatens? What are they like?

Hi there, before I tell you about wheatens from my point of view, what interests you about them?

Hi Sheridan :)

From what I have gleamed so far, the SCWT's seem to tick many of the boxes for us for a future possible breed.

They seem to have a good all round temperament if properly socialized growing up. Be very people orientated. Can live inside with us, enjoy a cuddle on the couch, but still enjoy daily walks, car trips, trips to the lake for a swim or play, holidays trips away with the family, suitable for some obedience trialing and endurance - which we have enjoyed with our previous dogs.

The general public would not be put off by the appearance of a SCWT. Having owned Staffords and Rottweilers for many years, we are tired many peoples apprehension even before they met our nice natured dogs.

They are a good medium size for us, have a minimal shed coat (one I could learn to maintain and clip)

[Purdie]

These guys look interesting.

http://lowensque.webs.com/about-the-lowchen

[The Spotted Devil]

These guys look interesting.

http://lowensque.webs.com/about-the-lowchen

Not for the faint of heart!!! Lovely dogs though.

[Sheridan]

What about Soft Coated Wheatens? What are they like?

Hi there, before I tell you about wheatens from my point of view, what interests you about them?

Hi Sheridan :)

From what I have gleamed so far, the SCWT's seem to tick many of the boxes for us for a future possible breed.

They seem to have a good all round temperament if properly socialized growing up. Be very people orientated. Can live inside with us, enjoy a cuddle on the couch, but still enjoy daily walks, car trips, trips to the lake for a swim or play, holidays trips away with the family, suitable for some obedience trialing and endurance - which we have enjoyed with our previous dogs.

The general public would not be put off by the appearance of a SCWT. Having owned Staffords and Rottweilers for many years, we are tired many peoples apprehension even before they met our nice natured dogs.

They are a good medium size for us, have a minimal shed coat (one I could learn to maintain and clip)

All that sounds good. Now, here's a caveat because a lot of people are interested in wheatens because they're low shedding. Wheatens require daily brushing and combing out to the skin. Not clipping and maintenance but actual brushing and combing. Your best friends when you have a wheaten are a slicker and a fine-toothed comb. There is a period I call the 'Oh, FFS, I just combed out that bit' and it goes on for months. I posted on FB that my Roo had reached the 'orange fuzzies' and received much sympathy from fellow wheaten folk because all of us have wept during this time and all the times afterwards. If not brushed and combed out they mat and mat badly. Clipping doesn't do it. I noticed an earlier post about you preferring a dog that's easy to maintain. That is not wheatens. Not remotely.

But if you're not put off by weeping and daily grooming let's talk some more, like about the digging (do you like your garden? Too bad!), the thievery (all wheatens are thieves), the psycho dog running around (no one knows why they do this but all of them do it), how they won't do anything they don't think is their idea (stubborn), the couch cuddles (top marks), the kisses (gold star), and how they're the best breed ever! Aside from kerry blues, of course (but don't go there).

[brittany13]

What about Soft Coated Wheatens? What are they like?

Hi there, before I tell you about wheatens from my point of view, what interests you about them?

Hi Sheridan :)

From what I have gleamed so far, the SCWT's seem to tick many of the boxes for us for a future possible breed.

They seem to have a good all round temperament if properly socialized growing up. Be very people orientated. Can live inside with us, enjoy a cuddle on the couch, but still enjoy daily walks, car trips, trips to the lake for a swim or play, holidays trips away with the family, suitable for some obedience trialing and endurance - which we have enjoyed with our previous dogs.

The general public would not be put off by the appearance of a SCWT. Having owned Staffords and Rottweilers for many years, we are tired many peoples apprehension even before they met our nice natured dogs.

They are a good medium size for us, have a minimal shed coat (one I could learn to maintain and clip)

All that sounds good. Now, here's a caveat because a lot of people are interested in wheatens because they're low shedding. Wheatens require daily brushing and combing out to the skin. Not clipping and maintenance but actual brushing and combing. Your best friends when you have a wheaten are a slicker and a fine-toothed comb. There is a period I call the 'Oh, FFS, I just combed out that bit' and it goes on for months. I posted on FB that my Roo had reached the 'orange fuzzies' and received much sympathy from fellow wheaten folk because all of us have wept during this time and all the times afterwards. If not brushed and combed out they mat and mat badly. Clipping doesn't do it. I noticed an earlier post about you preferring a dog that's easy to maintain. That is not wheatens. Not remotely.

But if you're not put off by weeping and daily grooming let's talk some more, like about the digging (do you like your garden? Too bad!), the thievery (all wheatens are thieves), the psycho dog running around (no one knows why they do this but all of them do it), how they won't do anything they don't think is their idea (stubborn), the couch cuddles (top marks), the kisses (gold star), and how they're the best breed ever! Aside from kerry blues, of course (but don't go there).

Hi Sheridan

Thanks for the great feedback on the Wheatens, its appreciated

What you have told me doesn't totally put me off them so to speak. I will however need to investigate the grooming side of them alot more.

We are planning to go to some shows soon to try and meet up with some breeders and their dogs and chat face to face so we can get some first hand experience with the breeds we have short listed. :)

[Kavik]

The Wheatens I have met have been lovely, but yes one did have a coat that would mat if you looked at it!

[brittany13]

I have another breed of interest in my short list - what do people know about Brittany's?

They sound pretty good :)

[The Spotted Devil]

If you like the Brittany an ESS could be another option. I have field-bred Springers - lots of energy, limited coat, definitely need a mental outlet (not just running) but are amazingly sweet, snuggly house dogs. One of my puppy buyers also has show-bred Springers and there's pics and descriptions of both on my website (in my signature but thornfield.com.au in case you're on a mobile device).

Edited September 6, 2016 by The Spotted Devil

[cannibalgoldfish]

Nova scotia duck tolling retriever? :D (for some weird reason when I think of Brittanys, I always think of Tollers... I have no idea? they are nothing alike! )

[Sheridan]

What about Soft Coated Wheatens? What are they like?

Hi there, before I tell you about wheatens from my point of view, what interests you about them?

Hi Sheridan :)

From what I have gleamed so far, the SCWT's seem to tick many of the boxes for us for a future possible breed.

They seem to have a good all round temperament if properly socialized growing up. Be very people orientated. Can live inside with us, enjoy a cuddle on the couch, but still enjoy daily walks, car trips, trips to the lake for a swim or play, holidays trips away with the family, suitable for some obedience trialing and endurance - which we have enjoyed with our previous dogs.

The general public would not be put off by the appearance of a SCWT. Having owned Staffords and Rottweilers for many years, we are tired many peoples apprehension even before they met our nice natured dogs.

They are a good medium size for us, have a minimal shed coat (one I could learn to maintain and clip)

All that sounds good. Now, here's a caveat because a lot of people are interested in wheatens because they're low shedding. Wheatens require daily brushing and combing out to the skin. Not clipping and maintenance but actual brushing and combing. Your best friends when you have a wheaten are a slicker and a fine-toothed comb. There is a period I call the 'Oh, FFS, I just combed out that bit' and it goes on for months. I posted on FB that my Roo had reached the 'orange fuzzies' and received much sympathy from fellow wheaten folk because all of us have wept during this time and all the times afterwards. If not brushed and combed out they mat and mat badly. Clipping doesn't do it. I noticed an earlier post about you preferring a dog that's easy to maintain. That is not wheatens. Not remotely.

But if you're not put off by weeping and daily grooming let's talk some more, like about the digging (do you like your garden? Too bad!), the thievery (all wheatens are thieves), the psycho dog running around (no one knows why they do this but all of them do it), how they won't do anything they don't think is their idea (stubborn), the couch cuddles (top marks), the kisses (gold star), and how they're the best breed ever! Aside from kerry blues, of course (but don't go there).

Hi Sheridan

Thanks for the great feedback on the Wheatens, its appreciated

What you have told me doesn't totally put me off them so to speak. I will however need to investigate the grooming side of them alot more.

We are planning to go to some shows soon to try and meet up with some breeders and their dogs and chat face to face so we can get some first hand experience with the breeds we have short listed. :)

Whereabouts are you? I can let you know who to speak to.

[brittany13]

Hi Sheridan

Thanks re the offer to help out.

I just noticed my profile says I am from Queensland though, where you are listed.

I just fixed it. I am actually from Victoria not Queensland.

Don't know when that changed

[The Spotted Devil]

Hi Sheridan

Thanks re the offer to help out.

I just noticed my profile says I am from Queensland though, where you are listed.

I just fixed it. I am actually from Victoria not Queensland.

Don't know when that changed

I suspect QLD is the default.