Breed suggestions!

Elrohwen

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#1
While going back through older posts, I've noticed a lot of "pick a breed for me" threads and they're a lot of fun. I'm bored and I've never started a thread like this, so I'm going to give it a try. Some of you know me reasonably well from another forum, and some of you don't really know me at all, so I figure I'll get some good suggestions. Let me know if you need any more info.


Here's what I'm looking for:
- size: medium-ish, 20-80lbs

- coat/shedding: I'm drawn to medium length coats, with or without feathering. I would consider a short coat. I'm not interested in anything super-sheddy or fluffy, but can deal with most medium shedding breeds. Can do some grooming, but nothing extensive (like a poodle) that would require a professional.

- energy level: medium to medium-high? I wouldn't call my current dog high energy, but he's higher energy and drive than most pet dogs I know and it seems like a good level for me. I don't want a dog who needs hours of exercise every day, but I can do ~1 hour of off leash running/walking every day, plus some indoor training and fetch. I'm doing about 2 classes per week with my dog as well. Super busy dogs drive me batty, so an off switch in the house is important.

- biddability: medium-high. I at least need a dog who is easily motivated (by food or toys) and interested in working with me. I like dabbling in different dog sports (obedience/rally/agility/nosework) and want a dog who wants to do things with me. Some amount of off leash reliability is important, since I have 9 acres with no fence and it's more fun if the dog can have some freedom when we're outside.

- "easy" stable temperament: I can socialize a lot, and deal with mild reactivity, but I don't want a dog prone to DA or severe reactivity. It doesn't have to be a "dog park dog", but it should be reasonably friendly with other dogs. I'm ok with any level of friendliness towards strangers as long as it's not timid or HA. General spookiness about noises/people/environment is a negative. A dog who can go anywhere and try anything is my ideal.

- misc: I have two rabbits, so something that isn't going to charge through a baby gate and eat them is preferable. It doesn't need to be loose with them, but it needs to be able to co-exist in the same house without losing its mind.



ETA: Apparently my brain wasn't working when I picked a sub-forum for this thread. Hopefully the mods can move it for me!
 
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Shai

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#2
I'd say spaniels or lighter-built easier-going retrievers sound right up your alley. Just would have to watch the breeder/line choice. And start right away on letting them know the rabbits are part of the family and not to be retrieved.
 

Elrohwen

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#3
I'd say spaniels or lighter-built easier-going retrievers sound right up your alley. Just would have to watch the breeder/line choice. And start right away on letting them know the rabbits are part of the family and not to be retrieved.
Thanks! I've been fascinated by FCR for years (though I haven't spent time with one) and I love your posts about Mira. The cancer rate scares me, but otherwise I think they would be a great fit.

So far the rabbits haven't been an issue with my spaniel. He's interested in them, and I don't trust him loose with them, but he can watch them through the baby gate just fine. I used to dog sit for a JRT and that dog would have walked across fire to get at a small critter. That's the kind of prey drive I really don't want.


Also, I just realized I put this in the wrong sub-forum. :facepalm: Can it be moved?
 

Shai

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Thanks! I've been fascinated by FCR for years (though I haven't spent time with one) and I love your posts about Mira. The cancer rate scares me, but otherwise I think they would be a great fit.

Also, I just realized I put this in the wrong sub-forum. :facepalm: Can it be moved?
If you PM a mod they might move it for you?

Mira and most working FCRs have monster prey drive but if you clearly define what is and is not retrieveable right off the bat it seems to stick. Mira for instance has retrieved rabbits and birds for me so she is really keen on those, but won't even try to go after other things like cats or deer or squirrels because she doesn't see them as Retrieveable.

And yeah the cancer rate is scary. The last major 3rd party report I saw said 52% died of cancer with a median age of 9.8yrs.
 

Elrohwen

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#5
If you PM a mod they might move it for you?

Mira and most working FCRs have monster prey drive but if you clearly define what is and is not retrieveable right off the bat it seems to stick. Mira for instance has retrieved rabbits and birds for me so she is really keen on those, but won't even try to go after other things like cats or deer or squirrels because she doesn't see them as Retrieveable.

And yeah the cancer rate is scary. The last major 3rd party report I saw said 52% died of cancer with a median age of 9.8yrs.
I need to work on the deer thing. Apparently Watson thinks his job in life is to flush and retrieve deer. :rofl1: Getting much better with small furry things outside, and he seems to think our bunnies are very small dogs? He gets a little prey drivey with them, but mostly it's barrier frustration because he wants to check them out, vs attack them.

How are FCRs hunted? Do they do water retrieves like labs? I'm familiar with spaniel hunting, but not retrieving as much. Do they flush?
 

Shai

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#6
FCRs are both waterfowl and upland hunters. They should naturally quarter and flush as well as do water retrieves.
 

Elrohwen

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#8
My first thought was golden.
I could totally get along with the right golden. The ones around here are all sweet, but about 100lbs. Ugh. A nice field or performance bred dog would be great though. I do love the "easy" temperament.

Watson is like a small golden in many ways I think, though he has more hunt drive than any retriever I've met. Granted I've only met 2 field bred labs, so I'm mostly comparing to pets, byb dogs, and rescues. Even next to the field labs he has a lot more drive though. I would love to meet some field or performance goldens to compare.
 

Laurelin

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#9
I know some awesome goldens. Most aren't that big- 50-60 lbs and some even smaller. Sporty and drivey and just very well rounded, stable, nice dogs. I covet them some but I'm not sure I'm really suited to them. But I like them a lot.

Your list definitely reads spaniel/retriever to me.
 

Shai

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Yeah it's not uncommon for female field goldens to be in the 50s or even sub-50lbs.

Heck Mira (FCR but they are more similar than different) is in the mid-50s and she's within standard. Her sisters are all smaller than she is, as are many FCR girls.
 

Elrohwen

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#12
I don't understand the purpose of this thread. You know that if you ever want something other than a Welshie it'll be an ES.
Hahaha. Yes, it is definitely a possibility.

Then I will need dogs with Irish and Scottish in their breed names so I can cover the entire UK/British Isles. So, Irish Setter and Scottish Terrier?
 

Elrohwen

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#14
No other suggestions?

I do think it's interesting (and good!) that the general consensus of goldens or spaniels closely matches what I actually have and plan to have in the future.
 

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