How do you guys...

Toller_08

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#1
decide between breeds you love equally? Or maybe I'm the only one really awful at making these types of decisions, haha. I was pretty dead set on getting a certain breed, and am still 99.5% sure that that's the breed I want. But there is another part of me that knows I should also be able to find exactly the dog I want in another Toller. Both breeds share similarities that I love, with enough differences where I go "I like this trait better about this breed, but I like that trait better about that breed".

On one hand, I am terrified of getting another lazy, spooky Toller, but on the other hand, with the other breed, I think my biggest hang up is fear of the unknown. I know Tollers, I know I'll enjoy living with one and I am confident enough that I should be able to find a breeder that will be able to produce and match me to the right puppy for me. The other breed I love I've never lived with and have to go by what other people tell me. And I want to meet the breed, but even so, that's still different than actually living with one.

I guess the biggest thing would be trying to decide which cons to each breed outweigh the other. But even the cons really aren't that big a deal. With one breed the biggest cons are the possibility of a screamer and grooming and with the other the biggest one would be barking I think. The biggest perk to another Toller is that I would be able to compete in CKC sports (I love Obedience), but that's not a deal breaker. I'd be perfectly happy with a fun pet also that I couldn't compete in anything with.

It's so frustrating. I hate big decisions like this! I just want a healthy, active dog that I will be happy living with for hopefully the next 12+ years and both breeds suit what I want as long as I find the right individual.
 

Lyzelle

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#2
When I can't decide on a breed, I let opportunity and fate decide, mostly. If it wasn't meant to be, it wasn't. But if you get a perfect dog/breeder land right in your lap and under your nose...seize the opportunity and take the chance of getting exactly what you want...even if it wasn't where you thought you would find it.

Over the last 6 months, we've had a lot of dogs fall in our laps, and I thought "this is IT, that is the ONE", but it never worked out, and sometimes it was for a good reason. And now we are moving to Italy, and I sort of see the bigger picture on why those opportunities could have never worked out.

I'm a big fate/karma person, though. It's never steered me wrong.

I'd say dip your hand into more than one cookie jar. Then you have all the great chances of getting what you want! :D
 

Laurelin

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#3
At that point, I'm looking more at breeders and lines than anything. If the right Aussie or pyr shep or sheltie or whatnot falls into place instead of a BC, then that's what I'll get. I really do plan on a BC but I think there comes a point where finding the right individual and breeder is more important.
 
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#6
You come visit me and that way the unknown is a little less unknown!

But seriously I honestly can't help. I'm horrible with decisions and if I hadn't had the perfect breed fall in my lap I don't know what I would have done if it became an actual choice between breeds
 

MandyPug

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#7
I think the biggest thing if i got a non CKC breed would be what I want to do with the dog. Would it be a heartbreaker to have the dog turn out awesome in rally or obedience or herding or whatever but never be able to trial because the breed can't even get a PEN? If I want a dog for competition I want to be able to actually compete.
 

crazedACD

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#8
I think the biggest thing if i got a non CKC breed would be what I want to do with the dog. Would it be a heartbreaker to have the dog turn out awesome in rally or obedience or herding or whatever but never be able to trial because the breed can't even get a PEN? If I want a dog for competition I want to be able to actually compete.
The CKC doesn't have anything like the PAL/ILP program in the AKC?
 

Kilter

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I actually considered Tollers at one point, then was around a few. Including this weekend, having to demat one while it had tantrums the whole time and separate another from the other dogs because he's a humper.

The border collies have quite similar attitudes and drive, maybe a bit more, same size and no screaming. Kilt is a bit quieter than Ticket but is still quite responsive and loves to work, so I'm happy with the show line borders.
 

MandyPug

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#10
The CKC doesn't have anything like the PAL/ILP program in the AKC?
You can get a miscellaneous listed number if the breed is in the miscellaneous class and registered with the breeds governing body. Then there's the Performance Event Number but the dog is supposed to be a rescue and be or look enough like a recognized breed and be altered to get that. CKC does not have a program for crossbreeds.
 

Laurelin

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#11
One of the big reasons koolies are out is that you'd have to neuter to get an AKC PAL/ILP. Doing AKC is important to me as I live in the middle of nowhere and AKC is the primary venue. I'd be really disappointed if I couldn't compete in AKC.
 

SarahHound

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#12
For me, the next dog will be a Springer or Cocker. I really cannot decide between the two, so I will just keep an eye on the rescue centres and free-ads, and see which one comes up first :)
 

Fran101

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#13
I just go with breeders and specific litters/dogs. I had a few breeds that I loved in general but at the end of the day there was a litter planned from two dogs who I LOVED from a breeder I loved and so.. the choice was made! lol
 

PWCorgi

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I just go with breeders and specific litters/dogs. I had a few breeds that I loved in general but at the end of the day there was a litter planned from two dogs who I LOVED from a breeder I loved and so.. the choice was made! lol
Speaking of which, when is that baby being borned?!
 

Fran101

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#15
Speaking of which, when is that baby being borned?!
Puppy fever is burning like 10000 suns LOL
The dam of said litter has decided that coming into heat when she is supposed to is totally over-rated. So.. we wait. IT'S SO FRUSTRATING!!

haha speaking of... the thing about the "choose the breeder/litter" policy.. is that the wait feels like it AGES you it takes so long. There are so many things between "Oh they are planning a litter between x and y" that can go wrong it's enough to drive a person mad.

The great thing about just picking a breed and just going hunting when you are ready is that chances are, there will be a litter on the way or on the ground that you like.

If x and y decide to not make the puppehs.. I am probably going to have some kind of nervous breakdown lol
 

~Dixie's_Mom~

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#16
I agree with just letting the right DOG fall into your lap instead of obsessing over which breed. If BOTH fit you, then what could go wrong? I'm 99% sure I am getting a Whippet as my next dog. But if a rescue (or an Alaskan Klee Kai!!) were to come along at the right time, I would go with that. I have many years to be a dog owner, and many years to acquire the breeds I want.
 

Toller_08

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#17
I wish I could just get both, haha. But I'm smart enough to know that that is a terrible idea. And also, my family would want to kill me.

I ask Denis. LOL I am horrible at making decisions...
I tried that and it wasn't much help. I asked my mom the other day which breed she thought was better and all she said was "I thought you had your heart set on a Koolie? Only you know what you want". And to be honest, she is right in that I do have my heart set on a Koolie. But the chance to get a real toller (sorry Dance) is hard to pass up too.

You come visit me and that way the unknown is a little less unknown!

But seriously I honestly can't help. I'm horrible with decisions and if I hadn't had the perfect breed fall in my lap I don't know what I would have done if it became an actual choice between breeds
Yes! Just have to figure timing and things out (with work).

And yeah, I am probably the world's worst decision maker sometimes. I've never had to make a choice between breeds before and it's harder than I would've thought. I just knew which breed I wanted when I got Dance. And really, if Dance had turned out to be what I think a Toller should be, then there really wouldn't be a choice to be made. I'd go for a Koolie, since I already have a Toller. And that's my other argument. I do already have a Toller, and eventhough she might take the crown for the laziest Toller there ever was, she's still a Toller and it might be nice to have something else. I like having a variety.

I think the biggest thing if i got a non CKC breed would be what I want to do with the dog. Would it be a heartbreaker to have the dog turn out awesome in rally or obedience or herding or whatever but never be able to trial because the breed can't even get a PEN? If I want a dog for competition I want to be able to actually compete.
That is something for me, but I am not a serious competitor and am happy enough just training my dogs for me and my enjoyment, and playing games with them and having fun without having to compete in anything. One day I will have an Obedience dog as that is something I really do like a lot, but whether that's the next dog or a dog years in the future really doesn't matter that much to me right now. And at least with Agility you don't have to have a CKC breed depending on the venue, so that is something I could do with either breed.

I actually considered Tollers at one point, then was around a few. Including this weekend, having to demat one while it had tantrums the whole time and separate another from the other dogs because he's a humper.

The border collies have quite similar attitudes and drive, maybe a bit more, same size and no screaming. Kilt is a bit quieter than Ticket but is still quite responsive and loves to work, so I'm happy with the show line borders.
See, and my experience with Tollers has been that they're quite tolerant and well mannered and easy (for me) to live with, but many are a bit boring for me after having my Toller/Border Collie mix. But to get all that I do love about the breed (I've never had a dog I've over all enjoyed more than Dance) in a dog with higher drive and energy and is friendly would be great and is something I can't help but think about. They are my breed and I know I'll have many more, but just not sure whether the next should come now or later.

I just go with breeders and specific litters/dogs. I had a few breeds that I loved in general but at the end of the day there was a litter planned from two dogs who I LOVED from a breeder I loved and so.. the choice was made! lol
See, that's kind of the thing. I know of two litters (one in each breed) that will likely produce the type of puppy I want. And I like both breeders for different reasons. And I don't want to let multiple breeders know I want one of their puppies, because then if I decide to go with the other puppy, then the other breeder now has to find another home for their puppy when she thought she already had one. I feel like I'm being disloyal or something. I want to be able to tell a breeder "yes, I want one of your puppies" and be done with it. But in doing so, I feel like I might miss out on my perfect puppy.



Decisions and I just do not get along sometimes.
 

SaraB

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#18
One of the big reasons koolies are out is that you'd have to neuter to get an AKC PAL/ILP. Doing AKC is important to me as I live in the middle of nowhere and AKC is the primary venue. I'd be really disappointed if I couldn't compete in AKC.
This is my biggest hang up with the breed. Luckily, there is a big USDAA crowd where I train so that will be Zinga's primary agility venue.

BTW, I already told Linds, but let me know when you go to visit her, I'll see if I can bring the Zinga down too!
 

Laurelin

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#20
This is my biggest hang up with the breed. Luckily, there is a big USDAA crowd where I train so that will be Zinga's primary agility venue.

BTW, I already told Linds, but let me know when you go to visit her, I'll see if I can bring the Zinga down too!
If y'all ever figure out a way around that let me know. I really do love the sound of them and have often thought how neat it would be to bring over a solid colored one to kind of 'help out' with the breeding purposes (lol) but.... almost all shows are AKC around here and that cancels out the keeping them intact thing. My trainer runs her Welsh sheepdog in the mixed breed category but I just can't see importing a dog and then having to neuter it to run it in agility. I really hate that AKC policy.

If any koolies end up around here in TX/OK/KS area let me know. I still would like to meet some.
 

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