Help me brainstorm!

[Southpaw]

I'm really trying to put a lot of thought into what breed I want next, but am having an impossible time coming up with breeds that fit.

I'm looking for -
-Medium size (like 30-50lbs)
-Can safely live with other dogs/cats
-NOT a soft temperament. Cajun is way too soft and it's pretty easy to make her shut down during training or playing. Juno is much more what I like - she is not "hard" but she basically just responds to corrections appropriately, does not shut down, and when she is in drive she pretty much doesn't even notice if there's a correction. I like this.
-Easy to motivate/work with? I don't necessarily mean biddable, but a dog who's eager and likes to work if that makes sense
-Don't mind coat length but I'm not really into keeping up on grooming
-Sport prospect
-Energetic is fine
-I like a little bit of crazy

For like, my entire life I've been drawn to pretty much every herding breed, I'm just not sure which one would actually fit, or if any of them fit. For the longest time I thought a BC would be "it" for me but I think they might be more sensitive than I want and can be a little... weird?

My details are pretty vague, but I kind of feel like I pretty much just described Juno, minus the sports part.

 

[PerformanceDog]

You already know my vote is for a koolie

 

[Ilovedogs56]

I got BC and ACD. BCs are soft though. ACDs can be stubborn too.

 

[*blackrose]

Labrador. Lablablablablab. Black female, so I can live vicariously through you. Doitdoitdoit.


As for herding breeds....Cattle Dog, maybe?

 

[StompinT]

What about an Australian Shepherd? Or ACD.

 

[StompinT]

Or yeah, a Koolie.

 

[LostAndConfused]

20150501-DSC_0603 by Terri Stahl, on Flickr

 

[Ilovedogs56]

20150501-DSC_0603 by Terri Stahl, on Flickr

*grabs and runs away*

 

[Southpaw]

I keep thinking of ACDs, I know they're definitely not a soft breed! One of my hesitations with them is that it seems like every single one that we see at work (vet clinic) needs to be muzzled, and while I get that this doesn't necessarily need to have any relevance to how they are as pets in every other way... it is a little off putting. Not a fan of aggression.

And English Shepherds actually crossed my mind earlier today so yeah I've been looking into them too

 

[Laurelin]

Aussie was my first thought. I don't think ACd or BC would be bad depending on the individual but Aussie was definitely what I thought first.

 

[LostAndConfused]

There is a super great community on FB for ES people, The English Shepherd Society. There are quite a few out ES's out your way too.

 

[Toller_08]

The three Aussies I know fit that description. Those traits are pretty much what I like in a dog as well. However, the one thing that makes me think about a Koolie next time (or a sport bred Aussie if I wasn't so happy with her breeder) is that some Aussies don't seem to have as much of a non-stop work ethic. That said, Journey is still a lot of fun to train and has enough endurance. I just need to know when to quit before I burn her out. She just can't go forever and ever without a break like the Coolie or Border Collies I know can, which is fine with me. I think I ask too much of my dogs accidentally sometimes so it's been a good learning curve.

 

[Southpaw]

Thanks for all the input so far!!

 

[noludoru]

Is a GSD a bad suggestion?

 

[meepitsmeagan]

I would say Aussie.

 

[Ilovedogs56]

I think ACD, ES, BC, and Aussies fit your criteria.

 

[milos_mommy]

ACDs can be pretty prone to SSA, DA, and high prey drive...

Boxer was honestly my first thought, but I guess that's out? I think Aussie is another good suggestion, or even a golden or other "harder" sport breed. Female chessie?

 

[Southpaw]

I honestly would love another boxer, I just don't feel like that's going to get me where I want as far as sports. Juno is the BEST dog and tries at everything... she's just not very good at any of it. Not to say all boxers are like that but I wanna stack my odds a bit.

 

[pinkspore]

Best of both worlds? I just saw this boxer/doberman pup on my local Craigslist: http://santabarbara.craigslist.org/pet/5016014070.html

 

[Southpaw]

Best of both worlds? I just saw this boxer/doberman pup on my local Craigslist: http://santabarbara.craigslist.org/pet/5016014070.html

That is so cool! I've always said that if I could just find a way to combine Juno and Cajun, I'd have the perfect dog.