Speaking of Koolies

5) Do they have any obsessive quirks like some BCs? Can they handle getting through an agility course without SPINNING AROUND LIKE MAD LIKE THEY ARE ATTACHED TO THEIR HANDLER WITH STRING? lol, so many herders going crazy at the last local trials... but then again, lots of labs there did this too.

1) How are they with non dog-critters? I've read they tend to be good with other dogs, but I have a cat that thinks dogs are her personal hot water bottles, and paws are nice to bat at sometimes... and I have a cockatoo that likes to hang out with me as much as possible. Ideally I won't have to separate out species anymore than I already do (no Poe out with cat, no little birds out with anyone else.)

Mine live in a house with cats, ferrets and a Sun Conure. They interact pretty well with all of them. We've got super weird cats that like to set the dogs off but it's never a worry. Sometimes Didgie wants them to play with her but a "knock it off" works fine.

The ferrets play with them, or did when they were younger. Overall, interested but not obsessed.

Traveler stares at our conure when he's out a lot, doesn't chase or jump at him and doesn't stalk but does fixedly stare. That's a more recent development though and we've been working on it and he's gotten better. But, I can easily have the dogs and the bird out while I'm in the room supervising.

I think most none dog animals are fine with Koolies, especially if you have them when the puppy comes.

2) Is there a difference in temperament between the sexes? When I get a Lundehund, it will likely be a male and left intact if he is healthy. I have to figure this into any other dog plans.

*Speaking in generalities*

Most Koolie owners who do sport or work seem to prefer females for it. They are more serious (about working, not serious as in "Super Serious dog", Koolies overall look at life like one big game) and turned on from the get go. Boys tend to be more empathetic and latch on to how your feeling.

I only have one of each so a lot is probably based on their own personal temperament and how I raised each but I'll share what I can!

Traveler: He's in love with me. Pure and simple. He works for me and would work for a smile from me. He's very in tune with how I'm feeling and because of that a little softer. Sometimes it can be frustrating because when I'm frustrated he feels it. But he also feeds off me being happy. But, he's not soft about environmental stuff, just me.

He can get overstimulated rather fast in some crazy new environments like a new training club with lots of smells. But, I think a decent part of that is him coming out of adolescent male dogism. He's been to a few Disc Dog comps lately and while he is more distracted than Didgie at the get go he's improved leaps and bounds. I think if I had had him in those situations early on it wouldn't have been an issue.

He's a big cuddler, tries to crawl into my pocket. Such a little shadow. He has a "Life is FUN!" attitude and thinks people were put on this earth to love him.

Didgie: She's just fun. She's such a little spunky girl. She doesn't work for me so much as because it's fun, I'm fun and working is fun. She works for the reward more so than me but is very easy to reward with anything be it verbally, toys, food, anything. She's got a lot of...fight to her. Throws herself into things full steam ahead. But, more of a thinker than Traveler. He acts, she plots.

She's less people loving. She loves to be pet but is much more focused on me when out and about and not distracted by people. At the disc comps you wouldn't have known there was anyone else but her and me there.

She is my shadow too but more in a "Hey, we doing fun things now?" way. But she is the best cuddler and I haven't had a night go by where she wasn't sprawled across me.

I would say overall she is more self assured and harder than Traveler. But really, I think they both bring awesome qualities to the table and can't say I prefer one more than the other at this point.

3) How big are everyone's Koolies? Sex/height/weight/girth? My dog apparently has a big chest for her size, and I weirdly judge dog size by girth for some reason. I like the smaller build of the females, but there seems to be a wide range of sizes/builds for the more natural breeds like this. I am looking into smaller sizes because iIt seems better for getting around on technical hikes? Or at least easier to pack them out if injured. And I'd like a dog just under a cut-off for agility rather than just over to go easier on the joints.

Traveler is 22 inches at the shoulder and 40 lb.

Didgie is 33 lb and 20 inches at the shoulder

There is a large variety in size in Koolies from dogs in the 20's-50's pound wise.

4) Just how bad is the barking? Like how often/in what circumstances?

I'm not the right person to ask this too. I've been made for loud animals. I don't mind it, don't hear it and do very little to stop it.

They are frustration barkers in my experience. They also make a lot of noises (that I don't mind) such as groaning, moaning, whining and so on during play, petting, stretching etc.

Traveler isn't as barky as Didgie, he does it when he gets worked up when someone comes home, when we're training and he's stumped or when he's just super excited.

Didgie is her bark. She voices any and all things through it though she's gotten better as she's gotten older she's still louder.

At the second Disc Dog comp they've been to though both were silent in their crates the whole time. Which was awesome.

But again, I don't mind it. I think if you stayed on it from day one and worked against it you would have relatively quiet dogs. But they are still a herding breed and they are never going to be silent.

5) Do they have any obsessive quirks like some BCs? Can they handle getting through an agility course without SPINNING AROUND LIKE MAD LIKE THEY ARE ATTACHED TO THEIR HANDLER WITH STRING? lol, so many herders going crazy at the last local trials... but then again, lots of labs there did this too.

Again, they tend to show their frustration by vocalizing it, at least mine do. So they don't spin, they bark. But one of the big reasons I went with Koolies was overall as a breed they seemed less prone to nerve, reactivity and OCD issues that I saw in some of the other herding breeds.

But, I could see if they weren't worked, trained and exercised things could pop up.


6) Could a Koolie do Schutzhund? I've recently become interested in this sport, but I can't see a Lagotto or a Lundy making the cut. I know that would generally be the bigger dogs into that, but hypothetically do Koolies seem like they'd fit the sport?

I don't do IPO so I can't really answer that but I don't see why they couldn't play at it. They've got drive, they tend to be a nice mix between hard and soft, they are biddable and view life as a game. I don't know how competitive or how far you could go with one but it could be fun!

Thanks so much, everyone. I am looking for future dog to be a hiking, running and biking partner, and want to get into agility, rally, and who knows what else.

Ungh people stop talking about Koolies it makes me want.

I didn't want to hijack the other question thread.

Every time I narrow down my future dogs, the Koolie seems to come along and snag my attention. On paper they look pretty perfect for what I want, but I have actually met a Lagotto Romagnolo, and really like them. And they seem pretty quiet.

I am 100% set on having a Lundehund some day and getting deep into the research/recovery efforts with them, but may hold off on that for nextdog. It's hard to say, as it will be a while before I get my next dog anyhow (hopefully a long while, since it won't be while I have Zoe.)

So like I said, I think I have future breeds figured out, then Koolies keep showing up and stealing the spotlight. But I've never met one and am trying to get a better idea of them.

1) How are they with non dog-critters? I've read they tend to be good with other dogs, but I have a cat that thinks dogs are her personal hot water bottles, and paws are nice to bat at sometimes... and I have a cockatoo that likes to hang out with me as much as possible. Ideally I won't have to separate out species anymore than I already do (no Poe out with cat, no little birds out with anyone else.)

My dogs have only been around cats. They like to chase the cat, but that's because the cat eggs them on. They both will recall or leave it if I ask them too.

2) Is there a difference in temperament between the sexes? When I get a Lundehund, it will likely be a male and left intact if he is healthy. I have to figure this into any other dog plans.
Zip Tie is goofy and will do anything for a "good boy". Zinga works hard. She's goofy but has more edge than Zip Tie does. When she's working, she's working and doesn't want to be messed with.

3) How big are everyone's Koolies? Sex/height/weight/girth? My dog apparently has a big chest for her size, and I weirdly judge dog size by girth for some reason. I like the smaller build of the females, but there seems to be a wide range of sizes/builds for the more natural breeds like this. I am looking into smaller sizes because iIt seems better for getting around on technical hikes? Or at least easier to pack them out if injured. And I'd like a dog just under a cut-off for agility rather than just over to go easier on the joints.

Zip is 9 months old, 29lbs and probably close to 20". Zinga is 16 months old, 24 lbs and 18.5".

4) Just how bad is the barking? Like how often/in what circumstances?

Zinga barks when she's frustrated. Neither of mine alert bark or bark for any other reason. Zip really doesn't bark a whole lot other than when he's in his crate (going through a rough patch in crate training right now).

5) Do they have any obsessive quirks like some BCs? Can they handle getting through an agility course without SPINNING AROUND LIKE MAD LIKE THEY ARE ATTACHED TO THEIR HANDLER WITH STRING? lol, so many herders going crazy at the last local trials... but then again, lots of labs there did this too.
I really believe 9 out of 10 nervous ticks can be worked out with training. No my dogs don't have weird quirks, but then again neither have my borders. I watch for those things and I make sure to eradicate them before they become a problem.

6) Could a Koolie do Schutzhund? I've recently become interested in this sport, but I can't see a Lagotto or a Lundy making the cut. I know that would generally be the bigger dogs into that, but hypothetically do Koolies seem like they'd fit the sport?

I really think Zinga would kick ass at IPO. I call her my mini-mal. She's pushy, drivey, confident and focused and has a killer bite. I wish I had the time to pursue it with her. Zip Tie wouldn't be so great. LOL

Thanks so much, everyone. I am looking for future dog to be a hiking, running and biking partner, and want to get into agility, rally, and who knows what else.

Didgie and Traveler bark because we're all HAPPY! And things are happening! And we're TRAINING! and that stuff JUST doesn't bother me. Alert barking? God yes. Kill it with FIRE. But life barking? Not so much.

Your description of Didgie reminds me a lot of Cohen. She can be SO LOUD when she's excited and working. And it barely registers with me.

Last time I was at an agility trial someone came up to me afterwards and laughed about how Cohen barked the entire time she was running the course. ...I hadn't even noticed. I was like, "oh, really??"

:rofl1: Isn't it funny how much you get used to it and don't even hear it? I never noticed the barking after discs until I had people at the comps point it out! You just don't hear it!

The only time I don't like it is when it's from over stimulation and ups the excitement rather than acting as an outlet for frustration.

Also, the fact that you don't mind Cohen's barking means you need a Koolie! That's how it works don't you know.

Your description of Didgie reminds me a lot of Cohen. She can be SO LOUD when she's excited and working. And it barely registers with me.

Last time I was at an agility trial someone came up to me afterwards and laughed about how Cohen barked the entire time she was running the course. ...I hadn't even noticed. I was like, "oh, really??"

6) Could a Koolie do Schutzhund? I've recently become interested in this sport, but I can't see a Lagotto or a Lundy making the cut. I know that would generally be the bigger dogs into that, but hypothetically do Koolies seem like they'd fit the sport?

I didn't want to hijack the other question thread.

Every time I narrow down my future dogs, the Koolie seems to come along and snag my attention. On paper they look pretty perfect for what I want, but I have actually met a Lagotto Romagnolo, and really like them. And they seem pretty quiet.

I am 100% set on having a Lundehund some day and getting deep into the research/recovery efforts with them, but may hold off on that for nextdog. It's hard to say, as it will be a while before I get my next dog anyhow (hopefully a long while, since it won't be while I have Zoe.)

So like I said, I think I have future breeds figured out, then Koolies keep showing up and stealing the spotlight. But I've never met one and am trying to get a better idea of them.

1) How are they with non dog-critters? I've read they tend to be good with other dogs, but I have a cat that thinks dogs are her personal hot water bottles, and paws are nice to bat at sometimes... and I have a cockatoo that likes to hang out with me as much as possible. Ideally I won't have to separate out species anymore than I already do (no Poe out with cat, no little birds out with anyone else.)
I have no experience with non dog critters.

2) Is there a difference in temperament between the sexes? When I get a Lundehund, it will likely be a male and left intact if he is healthy. I have to figure this into any other dog plans.

No experience with males. My coolie if female as are my other two dogs.

3) How big are everyone's Koolies? Sex/height/weight/girth? My dog apparently has a big chest for her size, and I weirdly judge dog size by girth for some reason. I like the smaller build of the females, but there seems to be a wide range of sizes/builds for the more natural breeds like this. I am looking into smaller sizes because iIt seems better for getting around on technical hikes? Or at least easier to pack them out if injured. And I'd like a dog just under a cut-off for agility rather than just over to go easier on the joints.

Rue is 20 inches, 39 lbs, female, with a 25 inch girth. Perfect if you ask me
4) Just how bad is the barking? Like how often/in what circumstances?

Rue barks when excited. She announces our arrival anywhere, will bark excitedly when she wants to do something and is being restrained. She barks when a stranger approaches our property. With the stranger approaching she will quiet when I tell her to. The other situations I have given up trying to correct.

5) Do they have any obsessive quirks like some BCs? Can they handle getting through an agility course without SPINNING AROUND LIKE MAD LIKE THEY ARE ATTACHED TO THEIR HANDLER WITH STRING? lol, so many herders going crazy at the last local trials... but then again, lots of labs there did this too.

Rue does fine with agility as long as I don't mess up my part. If I mess up she will bark at me, if I run well, she runs well. She and I are still a new team so time will tell how we turn out

6) Could a Koolie do Schutzhund? I've recently become interested in this sport, but I can't see a Lagotto or a Lundy making the cut. I know that would generally be the bigger dogs into that, but hypothetically do Koolies seem like they'd fit the sport?

I would think so! They are tough, confident, obedient, intelligent, and athletic

Thanks so much, everyone. I am looking for future dog to be a hiking, running and biking partner, and want to get into agility, rally, and who knows what else.

1) How are they with non dog-critters? I've read they tend to be good with other dogs, but I have a cat that thinks dogs are her personal hot water bottles, and paws are nice to bat at sometimes... and I have a cockatoo that likes to hang out with me as much as possible.
She wants to mug and be friends with everything it seems. When she sees cats at a vet clinic (either running around or crated) she pulls toward them wagging her tail, trying to lick them. She was a bit startled by my roommate's Nile monitor but now just pretty much ignores her, even when she's failing around up the glass.

3) How big are everyone's Koolies?
Circus right now is just under 17" and 21lbs. She's only 25 weeks old though, so I'm thinking she might gain under 5ish lbs?

4) Just how bad is the barking? Like how often/in what circumstances?
The first week I had Circus I was living in a house with these 2 Maltese dogs that Circus was in love with, so she was really really barky during this time because she'd get excited chasing them around. Then I spent two months living in an apartment with a strict "no barking" policy, I made sure to immediately end all play between Circus and Lugia after a single bark and she quickly learned to be a really quiet puppy in general (it helped that I was on summer vacation at this time and spent quite literally *all of my time* with Circus teaching her good habits).

THEN I moved to this really dog-friendly house and got a lot lax with her barking - she has a best friend (Pablo, an 8-month old lab-mix) who loves to bark while playing, I mean, she's NEVER had a more rambunctious playmate. She started barking HELLLAA while playing with him, and she plays with him so often, that now she'll be a bit more vocal in certain situations where she's frustrated (I won't throw a toy for her, Lugia is running faster than her, the ball goes too deep in the water, she's crated and Lugia is outside staring at her).

So, yeah, I think it depends on being really consistent with teaching her that being quiet is a Good Thing, I slacked off on that, now I'm paying for it!

5) Do they have any obsessive quirks like some BCs? Can they handle getting through an agility course without SPINNING AROUND LIKE MAD LIKE THEY ARE ATTACHED TO THEIR HANDLER WITH STRING?
One of the first tricks I ever taught Circus was to stand underneath me and follow me as I walked around... now she has a habit of trying to be directly underfoot if I'm about to throw a ball.

6) Could a Koolie do Schutzhund? I've recently become interested in this sport, but I can't see a Lagotto or a Lundy making the cut. I know that would generally be the bigger dogs into that, but hypothetically do Koolies seem like they'd fit the sport?
Not Circus! I think she'd be too soft for bitesports in general