Breeds with crazy endurance (help me pick future dog?)

Okay, this turned out SUPER long, but if anyone wants to read any or all of it and basically tell me which breeds can gogogo all day and still be reasonable to live with, you get a cookie!

I was talking to a local trainer about a future breed for me and I am still undecided. I don't plan on getting a pup until Zoe is gone, but want to know what I am getting into ahead of time. She was rather horrified at my love of sighthounds and terriers, as she is into herders herself.

I really want a dog that can accompany me on any adventure. Biking all day, hiking super difficult terrain all weekend (it's not a hike to me unless it involves climbing a mountain,) running all... afternoon. :-D You get the idea.

When looking at potential future breeds, I tend to be able to find the other traits I want, but then realize that breed may not have the endurance I want. Breeds that have the endurance I want end up having other traits I DON'T want.

For example, Malinois have crazy endurance, but are too much dog for me. Dalmatians have endurance in spades, but I want to avoid getting a pup when doing so means it probably had siblings euthanized for deafness. Border Collies don't quite have the right "feel" from a temperament perspective for me, though I could maybe find the right one. Koolies sound perfect, but I would like to be able to get into conformation, plus my understanding is that a non-AKC breed would have to be neutered to even do AKC agility trials.

I want a handler-focused dog that can become competitive in agility, but isn't necessarily super biddable (off breeds sound like a fun challenge so long as the structure is there, though I would like a dog I can let off leash safely in certain places.) I want a dog that can do pretty much any dog sport. I really, really, really don't want to deal with DR/DA issues. It needs to be big enough to not be eagle food, but small enough that I could carry it off a mountain if injured and take it kayaking without tipping over every five minutes. Say 20-40lbs?

The dog would need to be able to handle a bit of cold or rain or snow or heat, though I'm fine with one that needs a sweater/coat moreso than one I have to worry about overheating. Zoe has little tolerance for any temperature extreme. Basically I don't want a dog that is afraid of getting icky. I also nee a kayak buddy, so water aversion would not be cool.

I personally don't care for most breeds in the sporting group. Retrievers, spaniels, etc. just don't really do it for me. I know they probably are the dogs that fit much of this, but I can't help myself. They seem to be too stranger oriented and... just something. lol... I think they care too much about what their owners think/feel. A little stubborn or willful/independent is good.

I don't like long poofy coats (like most Aussies) and I need tails on my dogs (though a natural bob might be doable.)

Yeah, I realize how picky I am, but I figure if I can pick from ANY breed, I may as well be picky. That's not to say a rescue won't show up and take over all my plans, but I do want a purebred some day.

I'd really like to get into Earthdog, and the Standard Manchester seems to be a lot of what I love. I'm looking more into them as well as the Cirneco Dell'Etna. I'm just curious if there is a better fit out there, and what other people have to say about which breeds could go all day pretty much anywhere.

I lovelovelove bully breeds, but again with the DR/DA potential. Mini Bull Terriers can do Earthdog, and they seem pretty fantastic, but I don't see one going on a bike ride over hills and through the woods for an hour.

Basically - I need a list of dogs with insane endurance so I can check them up against all my other standards.

Oh - longevity is a HUGE priority for me. I want a dog that can do the gogogo thing for many, many years.

You want a wirehaired pointing griffon. They seriously fit every. single. thing. you require.

Ridgeback? Potential for DA and a little large, but I think they hit everything else.

I'm not sure if griffs do earthdog or not. They're extremely versatile, and it's really awesome that they point all kinds of game because you end up seeing a lot of wildlife on hikes that you'd otherwise just walk past.

Despite your trainers' misgivings, I think a sighthound sounds right... probably a Whippet if you are looking for a "sport" dog. It would just be a matter of locating the right breeder or right dog (breeder rehome). You didn't list this as criteria, but the only problem I would foresee would be an adjustment from a harder working type dog to a (somewhat) softer, meeker dog.

I've met exactly one Manchester, and I liked him a lot, but he was a bit nervous and soft.

ACD would actually fit except the possibility of DR/DA. I find they have more problems with interhousehold dog aggression than random dog aggression.. or more likely to pick a fight, not necessarily out to kill another dog.

Toller? Brittany?

Pointer. Quite a bit more aloof than the average spaniel or retriever. More common in rescue than a Dalmatian.

Some run fairly small in size.

Vizsla?

Well I thought gsp or vizsla.... Strangely enough :rofl1:

Some would not be small enough to pick up and carry off a mountain, but actually some lines (especially bitches, there is a gender difference in them) would definitely be carriable! Fred's sister, who is perfectly in standard (he's on the large side) is the perfect pocket size

They are not stranger orientated... They're good with strangers and some can be total doofuses, but most are wary till introduced. I think there's a difference.

Fred doesn't care about the cold or wet, but does suffer when he stops moving (he shivers) but is totally happy once he has an extra layer on (single coated).

DR/DA is not a desirable trait, these dogs are bred to work alongside other dogs. Fred loves dogs, especially small ones. He's not so keen on other young males (he's an intact young male himself) but I don't think it's a trait if you know what I mean. Just circumstance.

No problems off lead at all, even called him off a very very pretty ridgeback bitch the other week, who he REALLY fancied. They do need training as soon as they set foot in your home though.... No training = a very very naughty dog they are mischievous and get bored.... Plus they can be prone to SA. So that's something to think about. They love love love their people. Fred moped when I went away for 2 weeks, even though he's perfectly happy with his other people too!

You're gonna struggle finding a breeder who doesn't dock there though... Not a problem here (apart from the working lines... Which kind of sucks for me).

I know many who compete in all manner of sports and activities (from canicross to agility to service dogs).

In the home, they are UTTER snugglebugs. They're total clowns, love to please, ooze character! Outside they can literally go all day... Bred to work

I'm not sure on griffon size, but I think they're smaller than GWP, but gwp can be fairly large dogs (bigger than gsp). My own personal preference is as much as I love the look of the wires, they always feel a bit greasy to me!!!



However...... Writing all that, and knowing you want to do earthdog.... What about a JRT?

Maybe a Border Terrier, Airedale, or Kerry Blue Terrier (I've only met one, but I LOVED that dog. So gorgeous, disinterested in strangers and dogs but nice about it, not sure about endurance, though as a terrier, I'm sure they'd love all that)

Sighthounds are more sprinters than endurance runners, but I'm sure they can adapt. The main issue with sighthounds like whippets is that they tend to have thin skin, and would likely get cuts and such during your hikes.

Another dog to look into would be a standard poodle, but doing AKC conformation with a poodle is really really really hard. The coat upkeep with all your activities would be a full time job.

A friend of mine has a Manchester Terrier that she runs about 10km with quite frequently.
Great little dog, very happy and friendly.

Just might not be big enough, as the top side of the standard is 22lbs.

I know you said you didn't like retrievers, but I totally thought Chessie. They certainly aren't stranger oriented and certainly do have their own opinion about certain things. LOL A bit large for what you want, though. My husband can pick Abrams up and carry him, but I certainly can't.

I guess in my mind, how important are certain traits to you versus others? Koolies do sound like a good fit, so is competing in AKC conformation shows *really* that important in the long run?

And I could be 110% completely wrong, but in my mind, endurance comes from good structure, proper conditioning, and the love of being active with their human. It seems like a lot of breeds could have "endurance" for what you want to do as long as the structure and drive is there.

How do you feel about some of the medium sized hounds?

Decker Rat Terrier!

My first thought was vizsla!

Oooh, good thought. I was thinking of a Rat Terrier, but they seemed too small. A Decker is a good idea.

Decker Rat Terrier came to mind immediately, or a Feist of some sort, but I don't know how easy it is to do confo with a Feist as they seem to be more of a type than a breed. UKC does register them, however.

Sighthounds would be out for the most part - they are def sprinters as someone else said and I know many that get injured quite easily.

I will second what has been said prior as well: a dog with good structure can be conditioned to handle many situations safely and with pleasure. My Corgi/JRT mix likes her hikes just as much as my Mal.

Do keep in mind that you will need to build endurance gradually, especially with a puppy. I did a lot of off leash stuff with my dogs as pups so they could control their activity fully but was prepared to carry them out if they tired out before we got back to the car.

My first thought was Alaskan Husky.

Thanks for all the awesome input! I love these threads, because they push me to look into breeds I may not normally, and maybe I will find a hidden treasure.

They do seem pretty awesome. A bit bigger than I am looking for, but I doubt I will find perfection in any event. There are a few around here, but they don't do dog sport stuff. I assume they are used for hunting, so I never see them other than the one that goes out jogging with its lady.

They are beautiful! My brother-in-law knows a guy that runs with his, including taking it to races. That thing can run forever! They are a bit big, though, and I just want at least a break from DA potential... though I can see myself saying "screw it" to that requirement.

Whippets are super fantastic, but I'm not sure they could handle the rough terrain and weather I'd be getting us into. I really don't care for the idea of a soft dog, honestly.

I like ACDs other than the DR/DA stuff, and would go with a Koolie over them.

I met some Tollers at an agility trial last year. They were nice dogs, but definitely in-your-face with strangers. Not sure if that's typical.

The Brittany is one gun dog I do really like. There are some nice ones around here, but like with the WPG, they hunt rather than do dog sports, so I don't get to really see/meet them.

I definitely prefer pointers over retrievers and spaniels. They seem to have an edge I really like.

A bit big, but definitely fit most of what I like. Not sure about longevity, though? I just really like the idea of breeds that work hard well into what most consider old age.

I know a couple that used to have a GSP. I thought he was fantastic, but he drove them nuts! He didn't get near enough exercise, and nothing for his brain, so he counter surfed and destroyed things and they called him stupid. Funny how the dogs that get called stupid are usually the most intelligent. Poor guy.

I appreciate JRTs, but I'm not sure about them with my cat.

Border terriers are definitely up there on my list. I like the look of Manchesters more, but the Borders have great temperaments and are one of the breeds that can do Earthdog.

I have looked seriously into Poodles. I don't think I'd do conformation if I did get one, though.

I think the size would be fine for me with them. I love their build and their looks, and much of what I've read about them, but there aren't any for me to meet around here. My main concern is whether or not they'd keep up with everything, and whether or not they'd be willing to do the cold/mud/rain/snow/lake thing. They are pretty thin-furred.

Being able to do conformation isn't vital, but something I'd like to do with some future dog. My big thing is - unless I am misunderstanding the rules - it appears you have to spay/neuter a non-AKC dog before being able to do things like AKC agility with it. It wouldn't be a big deal for a non-comformation bitch, which I'd probably spay at around 2 years old, but I would want to keep a male intact or do a vasectomy.

AKC is the only local AKC venue for me. I'm in Alaska, so I'd get like one trial a year several hours away if I couldn't do AKC.

I've honestly not really looked into them much. Can't really say why. Possibly because my parents never cared for them when I was growing up, so they haven't really sparked my attention. I'm sure they have the endurance, though. There's a guy up here that did agility with Otterhounds and it was... anticlimactic. :rofl1: They just wanted to smell the course.

I have looked into them for sure. Can they do Earthdog like other Rat Terriers? I do prefer the look of Manchesters, but between them it would come down to which one was able to get down and dirty in nature more. I know the Deckers can hold their own in that sense. Manchesters just don't seem common enough for me to get a feel for them in mucky/roughing it situations.

Conditioning will b a big thing. I actually want to get some equipment to help Zoe build muscle for her arthritis, and figure it will be useful later on to help develop balance and muscle control in a pup. It will be hard not overdoing it for sure, but the last thing I want is to hurt future dog's joints.

I live in an area of Alaska with lots of mushers, so AK Huskies are pretty much the norm. They certainly have the endurance, but not so much the desire to follow one's lead on an agility course.

Brittany? Like you I'm not generally a fan of gundog personality. Our French Brit is not aggressive with people and happy enough if someone wants to pat her but she doesn't have that "everyone is my friend and I must say hi" kinda personality that as a Border Collie owner I dislike. She would not run up to dogs or people she doesn't know because they are of no interest to her. She is a very good alert watchdog too. She adores her family and she is extremely loving and loyal.

My husband hunts with her and she will do multiday hunting trips with him easily. At home she is a couch potato. Very lazy and likes warmth. With me (on the odd occasion she isn't off doing hunting trips or field trailling) she does agility and rally and I think she enjoys it. Her sister went to someone who doesn't hunt or do any kind of dog sports and wanted a tireless running buddy and she has a good life too.

A note on Viszlas: I think they would fit okay into your size requirements, as I've met a few around 45 pounds. Not what I'd consider large dogs!

And for what it's worth, I know a GSP who is 9 years old and still goes hunting every season in the mountains with his dad. He hasn't slowed down a bit. I imagine a Viszla would be much the same.