another "future dog" thread

I have decided that my current foster(s?) are going to be my last for a while. While very rewarding, its a lot of dogs in and out, and its a lot sometimes... I have decided that I want something "more" so to speak. Permanent. Mine.

Maddie is going to be 8 in April eek: where has the time gone?!) and I really find myself wanting a... *gasp*... puppy (and those who know me know I'm not a huge puppy person lol). I love cockers, but I realize that I'm never going to find another one just like Maddie (and that's not what I'm looking for ). To be honest, I want something "different". Different breed, different activity level. Different grooming would be great. :rofl1:

This is not going to happen until at least a year or two But its always good to research, or take the time to find a good breeder (or rescue, if I go that route). Plus, I've known a lot of you chazzers a loong time, and I really value your opinion


Anyway...
I'm looking for a medium sized dog. I know that's pretty vague, but similar to cocker sized. Can be somewhat bigger, or somewhat smaller. I'd be afraid for a chihuahua sized dog with our activity level (I'm pretty clumbsy!). I think a GSD sized dog or bigger would be too cramped in the house.
I'm looking for a pretty active dog, with an 'off' switch. Maddie and I love to hike, swim, walk, go camping, etc. I go in the snow or in the rain, as long as the temps, humidity, or wind chill aren't dangerous or anything. But, for example, if I get sick and need to spend a day on the couch I don't want a dog terrorizing the house because they're uber bored.
I'd like a dog that would be more into fetching or a Frisbee or something. Not a requirement, but it'd be nice.

Pretty easily motivated to be trained I do have experience training and whatnot, but I don't want an insanely stubborn dog, that sometimes drives me crazy. I love clicker training, and I enjoy teaching a dog tricks to show off to everybody! I also like to train for a fairly solid recall, because I like to hike off leash sometimes, not always 100% fenced in areas

Grooming isn't a huge issue, and I'm not going to die if the dog sheds a lot. The cocker's don't shed much, so it'd take some getting used to.


A couple breeds I've been thinking about (and these are kind of random); poodle, miniature schnauzer, sheltie.... I LOVE shelties, but still to this day everytime I see one in person I cry I'm hoping I get over that soon..... I am open to mixed breeds, but I've also always wanted to go the reputable breeder route!

TIA!!

How about an airdale? I dont know if they are too big for you wants. But they are great dogs that would do perfect for you. Or pretty much any terriers. I would recommend a westie. But they might be a little to small for what you want, but other than that they would be perfect lol. Or am I just Biased ha ha

You know, I was never really 'into' terriers until a couple of us at work started hanging out with the dogs - one has 2 westies and a scottie. That, and all the awesome chaz dogs. I LOVE her female! But her owner always tells me that she's not a 'typical' Westie because she doesn't have terrier attitude LOL
I don't think I know any airedales. Hmmm....

I was going to say sheltie maybe although a larger sized papillon would be great too. They get up to 12 inches tall which isn't much smaller than a sheltie and the larger ones are pretty darn sturdy. My shelties were 14 inches and Summer is 11 inches. They weigh a lot less but they're just lighter built.

But I would totally look into shelties, they're great dogs.

Airedales have your typical Terrier attitude, but are alot bigger. They are called the king of terriers.

A westie without the Terrier attitude that is just weird? ha ha. Hows is that even possible? ha ha. How is her attitude like?

Either way I think you would like a westie, or a scottie. a Scot is a tad bigger than a westie. The westie's I have owned have been amazing camping and hiking partners as well as very easy to train. They do have a high prey drive. Hence them being terriers. But with my experiances I believe you can work and train around that, and with recall. I have never had a problem with it! I just find my terriers to be perfect! LOL

In the summer I take my teags camping pretty much every weekend and she does great, and this is not your in a campground camping this is your out in the middle of nowhere bush camping ha ha. And she stays put. LOL I just cant say more great stuff about my westies.

lol - Maggie is "too" nice and friendly(her owners words!), somewhat submissive. Hard to explain. She reminds me of a happy-go-lucky beagle or a merry cocker instead of a terrier. Does that make sense? Not nearly as "spunky" as her scottie or her other westie.

How do you think a terrier would do with ferrets, if raised with them? One thing that drove me crazy was one of my fosters who whined & scratched at the cage (or door) constantly because he wanted to get at 'em.

I love shelties, I really do. But for some reason everytime I see one, I cry. I mean, I know I miss Nikki (my childhood dog) very very very much, it just evokes emotions that (embarrassingly enough) I haven't been able to control yet. Maybe because I don't see shelties too often. But I do love them! <3 I don't want to be manicly depressive if I get a sheltie puppy, though lol
Maybe that's the best way to "get over it". 'Flooding'

Great, we actually had ferrets with a Westie "maddie" who died a couple years ago and she was really good with Tika, she was also really good with out Guinea pigs. She would pretend they were her babies.:lol-sign:

Teagan is very good with small animals as well. We have a bunnie and she is great with her. We have a Scottie as well and he is very good with the Bunnie too. He actually loves Bun's and protects her and watches out for her. And followd her around the house. With love in his eyes. Its really cute.

I think if you are prepared to do the traning ect when it comes to owning a prey driving animal then it could work out for you.

I would recommend both the Miniature Schnauzer and Miniature Poodle (not that I'm biased). Both breeds can be on the go-go-go but as soon as you sit on the couch they want to snuggle. The schnauzers are very hardy dogs, and though they are terriers, they're not as hardcore. I used to have mice and rabbits, they would sit and watch them but we're never really all about trying to get them. I never did let them out at the same time, so unsure about that (though if trained as a pup you *may* have better luck). Easy to train, but they can sometimes get that stubborn streak, and then will convince you they need spoiling.

Lincoln, my mini poodle, is a dream (minus the anxiety/SA issue). He is a funny little guy, always into something (usually naughty). He is my best fetcher, catches onto tricks and commands very quickly, and is made with springs and slinkies. LOL.

Lemme know if you have any questions!

If you want something different. Tollers are fun dogs, small for a retriever, have LOADs of energy (rival any herding breed) but specifically have off switches.

If you like terriers minus the real terrierness (though after living with JRTs that tends to be most terriers lol) I would suggest norwitch or norfolk terriers. OMG the cute!

brittany?
GSP?
GWP?

I say go for the poodle! They are amazingly versatile little dogs and Zeke is so much more than I ever expected.

Yeah there's something about shelties named Nikki that will do that to you. I know several people that have had very special shelties named Nikki. They're good dogs but I understand totally not being ready to get another. I don't know that I am ready to get another either.

How about a beagle. My boy has an off-switch when we are indoors.

I immediately though Brittany or Springer Spaniel, if you're willing to stay in the spaniel family.

As for a terrier, it depends on whether or not you're okay with a high prey drive and potentially dog aggressive dog. Airdales are biggish but FUN and usually get along with the other dogs in their families...by "different" grooming do you want "less" grooming? Because that's not an airdale.

A bichon might be a good choice...

I guess I meant different grooming as in... no more cocker cuts :rofl1::rofl1: I do enjoy grooming (most of the time LOL)