Pick out a breed for me?

Cloudy

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#1
Hi! I'm currently living in rural Oregon on an acre of land. I'd like to go to a reputable breeder for my dog, but I can't decide on what breed.

I'd like a short hair dog, but I can deal with a bit of coat.
Polite with strangers, but mainly sticks with me. I don't have any other dogs, but we get lots of small mammals around and I don't want to have a dog that is driven crazy by it, but I would like them to alert me to strangers.
Good on around 30 mins-1 hour of exercise per day.
Not prone to separation anxiety.
Ball/frisbee crazy.
Biddable.
Medium size would be nice, but I can go smaller or larger.
Not too unhealthy.
Reliable off leash.
Velcro dog, the kind that follows you too the bathroom!

I was thinking a nice golden retriever or a boxer would fit me well, but I was wondering if anyone else had any suggestions? Opinions appreciated. :)
 

JacksonsMom

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#2
Boxer wasn't the first thing that came my mind at all.

I think a Golden would be a nice choice, but they do tend to be plagued with health issues later on in life.

A Border Collie if you are willing to put in a bit more time possibly on exercise? But I would say mental exercise is more important than physical.

English Shepherd or Aussie?
 

stardogs

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#3
I'd probably go to a shelter and take out a few lab mixes. ;) It can be hard to find a ball crazy dog who doesn't need a ton of exercise, but it is doable. I'd look at retrievers and retriever mixes of various sorts to find an individual that fits your needs.
 

Cloudy

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#5
Thanks for the pointers guys :)

I think Border Collies are cool dogs, though I'd like to meet a few more. I can do a bit more exercise and what not if the dog meets everything else.

I have no clue what an English Shepherd is, but the only aussie I've ever met was plagued with health problems and very flighty, though they probably weren't a good breed example.

Labs are another option. As odd as it seems, I've actually never met a lab, they aren't very common in my neck of the woods.
 

*blackrose

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#6
I think the right Labrador would be a great fit. Second the suggestion of a Lab mix from a shelter - I know you said you wanted to go to a breeder, but there are a ton of Lab mixes that would be just what you want.

And I also agree with the English Shepherd suggestion! They sound close to perfect.

If you don't mind a large breed dog, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever came to mind. They're "more dog" than a Lab or Golden would be...more protective, more willful, less excited about greeting strangers and other animals, etc. But depending on what you're looking for and how much effort you want to put in to a dog, they may be something to look in to.
 

Cloudy

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#7
Chessies are cool dogs :) I'll look into them.

As for Border Collies, they've really sparked my interest. I have a friend with one who she hikes with, and he's a really cool dog that I definitely wouldn't mind having around. They'd probably need more than 30 mins-1 hour, but would an hour and a half (maybe more depending on the day) and some training mixed in would be good?
 

Oko

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#8
Chessies are cool dogs :) I'll look into them.

As for Border Collies, they've really sparked my interest. I have a friend with one who she hikes with, and he's a really cool dog that I definitely wouldn't mind having around. They'd probably need more than 30 mins-1 hour, but would an hour and a half (maybe more depending on the day) and some training mixed in would be good?
I have a Border Collie, I don't think they'd *need* more than an hour of exercise each day, as long as we're talking running/playing and not just an on-leash steady walk. Really, exercising their minds is super important too. But a huge factor in that is what line you're going with (sport, working, pet, show). In terms of people-friendliness, that does vary. Mine has been in love with strangers since she came home, although she is getting a little more selective as she matures (10 m/o now).

Same thing with the little critters, I know some people who have Border Collies who obsess on their birds/hamsters/whatever and can't be in the room with them, mine doesn't care unless they're out of the cage, and then she likes to lick the bunnies/rats, supervised of course. They are very intense dogs, with quite a different vibe than being around a golden retriever. I know some people that hate the way they stare at you all the time and the energy they give off, but if you like them and their quirks and their weirdness and can provide what they need, they are pretty awesome dogs. Feel free to ask me any questions about them.
 
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#9
Depending on what other things you plan to do with the dog, I think an English Shepherd could be a good fit as well.

The coat is somewhere between the working coat of a BC or Aussie & the show coat of those two breeds. My ES, Hudson, doesn't have a super heavy coat, but I know of several with a pretty heavy coat.

Hudson isn't super ball or frisbee crazy, but some are. Hudson doesn't particularly see the point in bringing a ball back if I'm just going to throw it away again. He thinks I'm pretty stupid.

I haven't gone to the bathroom alone since I brought him home. There is a reason that ES owners refer to their dogs as English Shadows

I think the right ES could be a good fit, but it sounds like there are a lot of breeds that could be a good fit for you. If you have any questions, feel free to shoot me a message. I am not as educated as some, since Hudson is my first ES, but I can try to answer any questions that you have.


Hi! I'm currently living in rural Oregon on an acre of land. I'd like to go to a reputable breeder for my dog, but I can't decide on what breed.

I'd like a short hair dog, but I can deal with a bit of coat.
Polite with strangers, but mainly sticks with me. I don't have any other dogs, but we get lots of small mammals around and I don't want to have a dog that is driven crazy by it, but I would like them to alert me to strangers.
Good on around 30 mins-1 hour of exercise per day.
Not prone to separation anxiety.
Ball/frisbee crazy.
Biddable.
Medium size would be nice, but I can go smaller or larger.
Not too unhealthy.
Reliable off leash.
Velcro dog, the kind that follows you too the bathroom!

I was thinking a nice golden retriever or a boxer would fit me well, but I was wondering if anyone else had any suggestions? Opinions appreciated. :)
 
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Cloudy

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#10
I looked a bit at ES, they sound very nice too. :) I found a breeder in Oregon who's dogs I may go to see.

I don't need a dog that has an I LOVE EVERYONE attitude, and honestly, being politely reserved with strangers is completely fine with me.

I really like Creekside Border Collies (a working breeder), though they are super far away so I'd have to either fly there or have the puppy shipped.

Contact Point BCs look really nice too, though I'm not sure if going to a sports breeder for my first BC would be wise?
 

Sekah

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#11
I looked a bit at ES, they sound very nice too. :) I found a breeder in Oregon who's dogs I may go to see.

I don't need a dog that has an I LOVE EVERYONE attitude, and honestly, being politely reserved with strangers is completely fine with me.

I really like Creekside Border Collies (a working breeder), though they are super far away so I'd have to either fly there or have the puppy shipped.

Contact Point BCs look really nice too, though I'm not sure if going to a sports breeder for my first BC would be wise?
As much as I love border collies, I'm not sure that getting one with the expectation that it'd be okay with ~30-60 mins of exercise a day would be ideal... especially if it's your first dog. It's doable, but they're a breed with a great deal of quirkiness. Some dogs are stellar and steady and wonderful. Some are nervous OCD messes. For what it's worth, Creekside has a great reputation in the BC community. I'm not familiar with Contact Point but I don't think that a sports bred BC for your first dog is a good idea. If you're genuinely thinking about a BC as your dog, this is a great online community. Be warned, the community is founded on the basis of the working border collie. If you mention sport/show dogs, they'll let you know why they think you're wrong. http://www.bordercollie.org/boards/index.php?act=idx

When I read your OP I did think that a herding dog might be a good fit. I'm a herding breed nerd, so it's not uncommon to see 'your breed' when people describe what it is they're looking for. I have an Aussie as a sport/performance dog (out of pet/show lines). She's a firecracker and loads of fun. My last Aussie was my family dog and he was so laid back and relaxed. Aussies can be awesome, but more and more I'm seeing a lack of play drive/handler focus, and some members of the breed have quite the stubborn streak. Honestly, it again boils down to the individuals and the lines within the breed. Getting to know the sire/dam, the lines the breeder breeds from, etc will go a long way to helping you find exactly what you're looking for.

Or you can go to a shelter and find a cool ball-obsessed lab mix and have a great companion.
 

BostonBanker

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#12
I know a fair number of the Creekside dogs, and was in fact at a trial with at least four of them this weekend, including one run by the breeder. Every one I've known has been a fantastic dog, and I can't say enough good things about them. However, every one I've known has also been actively worked in agility and/or herding. I'm not sure if they would be as wonderfully delightful if they weren't well exercised mentally and physically (they may be, just can't say).

I agree that, while I think the border collie "oh my gosh they are so unique nobody can own them but me" mystique is a little over done, they may not be the ideal dog for someone looking for a great companion who will be fine on a moderate amount of exercise.
 

Sit Stay

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#13
Just piping in to say that I would recommend being super up front about your exercise limitations if you go to an ES breeder (or any breeder really!) so that they can hopefully set you up with a suitable puppy. My ES would not be the type of dog to do well with 30-60 minutes a day, for instance. She does fine on 30-60 minutes a day of active training/hiking/playing, but that's coupled with her getting a few hours to poke around outside while we do farm chores every day. I think if those 30-60 minutes were her main time outside or interacting with us she'd get stir crazy pretty quickly. She has a fantastic off switch and is a super adaptable girl, but after a couple of days without doing something she gets a little sharp! However, there are lots of ES out there that are more easy going.

Also be aware that ESs should have a good bit of hunting instinct, so if you'd be disturbed by those small mammals maybe being dinner once in awhile, just be warned lol :)
 

Laurelin

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#14
I know a few contact point dogs. Mostly I just notice flashy colors and petite build. They are pretty typical sporter collie, imo. Very high drive, very busy, reactive, super fast.

I know a lot of BCs and pretty much all of them are sports dogs. I really think most of them do need sports homes or homes that work them quite a bit.

I think you could find what you want in a much less intense dog.
 

meepitsmeagan

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#15
When I read your OP I did think that a herding dog might be a good fit. I'm a herding breed nerd, so it's not uncommon to see 'your breed' when people describe what it is they're looking for. I have an Aussie as a sport/performance dog (out of pet/show lines). She's a firecracker and loads of fun. My last Aussie was my family dog and he was so laid back and relaxed. Aussies can be awesome, but more and more I'm seeing a lack of play drive/handler focus, and some members of the breed have quite the stubborn streak. Honestly, it again boils down to the individuals and the lines within the breed. Getting to know the sire/dam, the lines the breeder breeds from, etc will go a long way to helping you find exactly what you're looking for.

Or you can go to a shelter and find a cool ball-obsessed lab mix and have a great companion.
Add me to the herder-brain club. A few of your points did strike me for a herder. I will caution towards the exercise needs as well, however. Just be very honest with your breeder. You will have to watch prey drive with these guys though... just saying. IME, they will be attracted to all of the small animals. I know several live with small animals and are fine, but you get a squirrel running and you are going to have to have a decent recall.

Also, jobs are important to these dogs. So if you are just looking for a companion without giving them something specific to do it may not be the right fit. I know that is super helpful. :p

May be worth looking into a general or breed specific reputable herding breed rescue. I know it's a ways out, but HeRD of Wyoming is a great resource and they may have some leads for you.

Also be aware that ESs should have a good bit of hunting instinct, so if you'd be disturbed by those small mammals maybe being dinner once in awhile, just be warned lol :)
Just emphasizing the prey drive again.

I have a Boxer as well (and have met PLENTY more). They weren't the first thing that popped into my mind while reading your description, but I don't think they are a bad fit persay.

They fit your bit of "judging strangers" pretty well. Mine is a pretty good judge of character. With that said, the socialization is super important. You want to make sure they meet several people and yadda yadda, otherwise you may end up with that instinct going the wrong way. They are definitely watchful of their home and she will alert to things that are weird long before my herder will.

They are loyal to their person. Even though I put all the training on my girl, she's my husband's dog through and through. She would do anything for him. She's kind of middle ground on velco-level (though you have to remember I live with ACD's :p my judgement may be off). She likes to be around, but doesn't HAVE to be. They are dogs that like to be doing things with you. She loves plowing snow in the winter with Josh. One of her favorite activities. Not super prone to SA, but it can happen.

She's not a wanderer at all. She likes to stick close to the house and to us when we go hiking. However, biddability isn't there. She will work for super awesome treats, but to just work because she wants to? Nah. Most Boxers I meet don't have the best recall, either... mine included. She's offleash if we are in a rural area because she stays close, but other than that she's on a lead. She's got no interest in small animals and no prey drive. Toy drive is something that is touch and go. I think most prefer tugging to fetch. I think your exercise limits are pretty reasonable for a Boxer if you go with the right lines. Health-wise, I'd definitely go with health tested lines. Dog reactivity is something to watch for in the breed, as well.

I know this is long winded. I'm sorry! Just trying to help. I think with the right moderate conformation, health tested line Boxer you would find a nice dog that fits most of your needs.
 

Cloudy

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#16
Hi again :) After looking a bit more into BCs, I've decided they probably aren't my thing.

I took a few breed quizzes, but I don't think they were very...accurate.

Pedigree's gave me:
Shar-Pei (nope nope nope.)
Finnish Spitz (nope)
Australian Cattle Dog (probably not my thing)
Border Collie (already crossed out)
Bulldog (???..Why this suggestion.)
Canaan Dog (nope)
Cardigan Corgi (not a fan of dwarfed breeds)
Glen of Imaal Terrier (..no idea what this is)


Iam's:
Whippet (cool dogs, but there is a lot of things about them that don't make them ideal)
Staffordshire Bull Terrier (maybe? not sure if i want to deal with da)
Cirneco dell'Etna (no idea what that is)
Puli (looord no)
Basset Hound (nope)

SelectSmart's:
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever (maybe?)
Polish Lowland Sheepdog (don't know anything about them)
Sussex Spaniel (nope)
Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen (nope)
German Pinscher (no)


I found the fact that Pedigree gave me a Shar-Pei really, really amusing.

I don't mind my dog getting a catch once in a while, but I don't want a dog that is always on alert barking at them or just getting spooked by it.
 

Romy

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#17
What about a collie collie? Like a rough or smooth collie? It sounds like smooth is something you'd be more into. They have herder brains, but are more of an all around good farm dog type that can be just as happy being a family companion or working stock.

They will also totally alert you to people. lol

Some are more varmint oriented than others. I know of some that will get possums. But then a lot of them aren't bothered by squirrels and stuff.
 

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