Best Breed for Competitive Obedience?

[Renee750il]

A lot of the perception of Borders not being terribly affectionate has a lot more to do with the owners than the nature of the breed. A good BC shouldn't be animal aggressive either - that would be real trouble in a herding dog! When you look for your dog, try to stick with working lines and stay away from conformation lines.

You might want to keep Australian Shepherds on the look-list too. They have a lot of the same qualities as the Border Collies and haven't been as popular - or overbred. They're very affectionate with their owners as well.

 

[Fandogg]

re

yeah but lets face it the aussie just cannot compare to the border collie

 

[Renee750il]

Gotta say, I prefer the Aussies. Those muscular hindquarters give lots of power and cutting ability. If you think about it, cats - the hands-down winners at being quick and agile, are built on the same principle: the 'push' is in the back - hindquarters are larger and more muscular than the forequarters. I didn't put it together directly until I lived with the Filas. They hunt jaguar in their native habitat, and also work the wild cattle that are raised in Brazil. They've got to be supremely agile to do that, and agility is just something you don't expect in a dog that weighs over 100 pounds! But they're built like cats. They even have the same gait as a cat. And those hindquarters give them unbelievable power and thrust. I've thought about training Shiva for agility - but her idea of dealing with obstacles is to go straight through! Kharma's actually quicker and more agile than Shiva, which makes sense because she is from purely working lines, where Shiva is show dog on her father's side. No one would be able to beat Kharma because she'd just bully them into submission before they could make their runs. She's a real prima dona

You just don't see the Aussies as often as you do the BCs, and they do tend to be used for serious work more often than for play. One of my Aussie friends, Roscoe, was a rodeo clown dog. Not only did he do the intermission shows, he did real rodeo clown work, distracting the bulls when a rider was down.

 

[Fandogg]

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http://www.usdaa.com/awards_usdaaStanding.cfm?type=usdaa_life

check that out...

Border Collies are just flat better at it.

anyone else have anything to offer into this b/c if you could persuade me that the aussie is better than the BC or just as good I'd appreciate that b/c i really do like the looks of the aussie better.

 

[bubbatd]

Wouldn't you be happy with just finding a great friend and then see what he/she would like to do ??? Pick a breed you like for the breed, and then go from there. Sorry, but you're starting to sound like a woman wanting a sperm donor for a perfect child .

 

[Fandogg]

no thats okay i'll take the one that will win and be easiest to train. that's what will make me happy. (companionship comes with all breeds dummy)

 

[blue]

http://www.usdaa.com/awards_usdaaStanding.cfm?type=usdaa_life

check that out...

Border Collies are just flat better at it.

anyone else have anything to offer into this b/c if you could persuade me that the aussie is better than the BC or just as good I'd appreciate that b/c i really do like the looks of the aussie better.

What those stats arent giving you are the total numbers of BC and Ausie dogs enterred, or even registerred. Check the stats by breed, youll get allmost the same stats but there are allmost twice as many BCs registerred.

 

[bubbatd]

O.K. ,,,,,I'm a dummy now ....good luck to you and your poor dog.........I'm out of here !

 

[RD]

A dog that learns quickly does not equal a dog that is easy to train. If you want a dog that is *easy* to train I would look elsewhere, BCs are anything but easy.

Their pack mentality and communication is stronger than that of any other breed I've seen. They are impressionable, some young BCs learn how to herd correctly simply by watching an older dog at work. They are also VERY selective about who they choose as their handler. If you know your stuff and te dog knows you have all the answers, you have a dog that will devote itself to working for you. If you don't prove yourself worthy of that respect, you're going to have a dog that will not work to it's full potential.

In having one and talking to other BC owners, I've come to realize that they are really more like a species all their own. It's not like owning any other dog, it's a totally different experience. They're not content to be just pets, they are your partner..

I would suggest, before you decide on a BC, that you talk to as many Border Collie owners and breeders as possible. NO Border Collie book has been able to accurately describe the breed to me.

Aussies are definitely another option, don't rule them out. They are bred more for show than herding, they are not as dead-serious as BCs, they will play just for fun's sake. (An Aussie will fetch the ball because it's fun. A BC has to know WHY they are fetching this ball, and what good it will do him/his handler/the world. The same goes for agility.. You have to get it through to the BC that the objective is to run through as fast as they can, and they will DOMINATE. If they don't know that, it is pointless and a waste of time, and you don't have their full focus or determination. An Aussie would be easier to train for agility IMO.)

 

[blue]

My boy is half Aussie but Rip"s points deffinently hit the nail on the head. Agility with my dog isnt the answer, this dog allready can pull.

 

[Fandogg]

interesting, interesting... I don't need a breed that is EASY to train. I've trained 2 SHIH TZU's in AGILITY!! these dogs are the most stubborn cautious dogs ever. You can't bait them with food because they are so picky... try giving them steak and they will sniff it and walk away. I have to give them bottled water to drink!! (just kidding about the bottled water...) anyway I'm up for the challenge and I am going to read tons of books and gather loads of information before getting one. I will build a full agility course, buy some herding sheep for my back yard, get set up for competetive obedience and everything... i'm going to give this dog EVERYTHING.

 

[Fandogg]

.

Okay someone figure out the math.

there are 2744 aussies registered for agility...133 are masters in agility

there are 4118 border collies registered for agility...494 are masters in agility


i'm bad at math... which dog has the higher rate for becoming masters in agility?

 

[Fandogg]

plz someone figure it out!!

 

[RD]

Fandogg...
What I don't think you're looking at is that agility will take up a very small part of your day. The dog will be with you the rest of the day. A BC is a fulltime partner, not just for agility. If you go to the bathroom, your Border Collie is NOT ONLY going to follow you in, but hand you the toilet paper and flush for you. (Just an example, my dog doesn't do that. ) Having a Border Collie goes beyond agility, it is a lifetime commitment. If you don't want that dog constantly at your side, watching over you 24/7, do not get a BC. If you want a dog that can go off and amuse itself for a good part of the day, do not get a BC. (You see, a Border Collie "Amusing itself" is usually at the expense of furniture, the yard, small animals or children.)

Think of what it would be like to LIVE with that dog constantly, instead of just doing agility for a TINY part of the day. You'd better love the dog you get, because if it turns out to have a physical problem that prevents it from competing, what are you gonna do? Turn into one of the low-life cowards that just dumps their dog off at the shelter because it wasn't perfect?

Make sure you want a dog for the right reasons....

 

[oriondw]

I can tell you for sure its not CO

 

[Renee750il]

no thats okay i'll take the one that will win and be easiest to train. that's what will make me happy. (companionship comes with all breeds dummy)

You owe an apology for that crack, Fandogg. I've stuck up for you when I've thought people were being too hard on you, but that was uncalled for and reflected badly on you.

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

Fandogg...
What I don't think you're looking at is that agility will take up a very small part of your day. The dog will be with you the rest of the day. A BC is a fulltime partner, not just for agility. If you go to the bathroom, your Border Collie is NOT ONLY going to follow you in, but hand you the toilet paper and flush for you. (Just an example, my dog doesn't do that. ) Having a Border Collie goes beyond agility, it is a lifetime commitment. If you don't want that dog constantly at your side, watching over you 24/7, do not get a BC. If you want a dog that can go off and amuse itself for a good part of the day, do not get a BC. (You see, a Border Collie "Amusing itself" is usually at the expense of furniture, the yard, small animals or children.)

Think of what it would be like to LIVE with that dog constantly, instead of just doing agility for a TINY part of the day. You'd better love the dog you get, because if it turns out to have a physical problem that prevents it from competing, what are you gonna do? Turn into one of the low-life cowards that just dumps their dog off at the shelter because it wasn't perfect?

Make sure you want a dog for the right reasons....

Exactly!! Well said, Grace. Say I'm sitting in the living room, reading a book. I can't get up and go outside without Tippy following me there and asking to come with me. My bedroom is near the bathroom, and if I get up to go to the bathroom, either Tippy will go and wait by the door, or she'll wait on her bed in my room. She is constantly following me. She may be napping one second, another she'll decide she wants attention and she'll come and nudge me.

A Border Collie needs to be by it's owner as much as possible. Tippy is with me almost 24/7.

 

[Renee750il]

Exactly!! Well said, Grace. Say I'm sitting in the living room, reading a book. I can't get up and go outside without Tippy following me there and asking to come with me. My bedroom is near the bathroom, and if I get up to go to the bathroom, either Tippy will go and wait by the door, or she'll wait on her bed in my room. She is constantly following me. She may be napping one second, another she'll decide she wants attention and she'll come and nudge me.

A Border Collie needs to be by it's owner as much as possible. Tippy is with me almost 24/7.

ROFLMAO! At least Tippy's a small dog! Try having two Filas following your every move and jostling each other for position to be the one closest . . .

Honestly, after these two - everything else is a vacation! I can guarantee you'll never see a Fila in competitive obedience trials!

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

ROFLMAO! At least Tippy's a small dog! Try having two Filas following your every move and jostling each other for position to be the one closest . . .

Honestly, after these two - everything else is a vacation! I can guarantee you'll never see a Fila in competitive obedience trials!

LOL, Renee. Yep, Tippy's around 65 lbs. at the moment...big enough, but not huge (she thinks she is). I imagine having two Filas following you around the house must be pretty interesting, LOL!!

 

[Renee750il]

Not only do they follow - they think they're cats! You should see them perching on a shelf that sits under one of the bedroom windows. They jump up on a trunk, then across a three foot span to the shelf, then sit and watch out the windows, twitching the tips of their tails.