Is it stupid to be set on a color for your dog?

[JacksonsMom]

I know it's wrong to pick a dog or a breed solely on color. I, obviously, want a dog that meshes with me personality-wise first, and healthy.

But with a breed like a Border Terrier, where there is no 'fancy' colors or anything like that... just 3 main colors: grizzle, red, and blue/tan... and when you're not in a huge hurry to get a dog, is it wrong to wait for a dog to be born with the color of your choice?

I'm almost certain a BT will be my next dog. I've just really really got my heart set on a blue & tan male. I love the darker coloring. But they don't come by as much as the other colors. The breeder I'm currently in touch with just had a litter, no blues. She doesn't think her next litter will either.

I mean, I've researched so long, and waited so long, for a second dog, and I can wait longer, and I AM being picky and want what I want. This will be my dog for hopefully the next 15+ years. Is it so wrong to have a specific want for a specific look?

 

[crazedACD]

I've been meaning to make a thread regarding this, I'll be interested to read the responses.

I tend choose dogs that are asthetically pleasing to me. Even if say...a Briard hit every check mark on my list of 'perfect dog', I don't think I would go for one because I don't love how they look. I think it's similar to color for me, although for some colors/breed it depends on if it is a must or a preference. If I went with a Kelpie...it would have to be a red/tan..I'm not so big on black/tan or solid. If I went with an ACD, I would strongly prefer a blue since I've already had red. If I went with a Poodle, I would prefer red or black, but any would be OK.

If I had definitely chosen a breed, was seriously in the market for a puppy, looking for something specific, someone had a once in a lifetime breeding, produced a puppy with the temperament I was looking for, but it was the wrong color..I don't think I would pass it up.

 

[Airn]

I don't think so. As long as you're being responsible about the health of the dog and you want the BREED first and color second, I don't see a problem with it.

There are certain breeds I'm interested in and several of the coat options I dislike. I would wait until one that I liked was available. Like Aussies. I'm not a huge merle or brindle fan. I would probably avoid merle/brindle coat types. I would not want a solid Kelpie or a red one. If I had to choose, I would choose what I wanted. You're waiting and paying for it. (Apart from Fran's Merlin. I have to love that fluff ball ;P)

If you're willing to wait for it, then go for it. It's your dog. You're the one that has to look at it for 15 years.


ETA: I was writing this as crazedACD was posting. The Kelpie comment was purely coincidental.

 

[Grab]

I've never picked on color. In spite of most of our dogs being similar in color, it really wasn't planned that way, lol.

 

[Lyzelle]

I'll always prefer red dogs over black dogs. I'll prefer solid dogs over loudly marked dogs. It's just another preference. An aesthetic preference, but a preference none-the-less. It's just one I don't hold as highly as say....temperament or health.

IF there were two dogs that I thought were perfect in all the ways I wanted, sans color, I would choose the color I preferred.

Especially if I'm paying a couple grand per pup plus shipping. Better bet I'm getting EXACTLY what I want.

 

[Aleron]

Well Groenendaels only come in black LOL I love the darker colors in Tervs and Mals but it would be a deciding factor for me.

When I decided to get a PyrShep, I knew for sure I didn't want a black one and I didn't want a rough faced fawn. Well, I got a rough faced fawn LOL I do like his color it's richer and he has the black mask than the most common fawn color.

So while I do have color preferences, I just can't see turning down the right puppy because I don't prefer the color. Maybe it's from years of living with a bunch of black dogs LOL - never had a choice about what color the next dog would be

 

[milos_mommy]

It depends.

Personally, I think if you're picking a pet and the only reason is you like one color better than the other - I do think it's silly and a bit superficial, but it's your choice.

Reasons like: I don't want two dogs that look SO similar people can't always tell them apart, or a photographer who doesn't want a black/hard to photograph dog....someone who wants to get into breeding and breed a specific color, someone working a dog who wants a color for a specific purpose - they have black sheep and don't want a largely black BC, for example, or someone living in a hot hot hot area and doesn't want a black dog, or lives in a really snowy area and doesn't want a white dog to be hard to spot in snow....even something like you had a dog that was X color as a child and want to be reminded of that...those all make sense.

To me, so does seeing two dogs of very very similar personality, breeding, health, and saying "I prefer red" or whatever. But passing on a litter or compromising elsewhere to get a specific colored puppy because you like the way it looks does seem silly to me.

 

[MericoX]

I personally use color/coat as a choosing factor, dog could have the right personality I'm looking but if its a color I don't care for, I'd pass. No more black dogs for me, ever.

 

[Gypsydals]

Not really if you are picking a dog for the right reasons. Lets face it we all have a preference toward somethings. Just as long as you are not forgoing other things for color. I'm waiting for my liver girl. I know the right one will come along. Who knows when the time comes to get your puppy, you might not end up with the color you had orginally wanted. Ivan was supposed to be a lightly marked, liver, show quality with lightly marked ears. When the time came I had to decide between him and his brother who had the coloring and spotting I wanted but was not show quality. When I got up there, I spent time with all the puppies and Ivan was the one who was drawn to me and me him. His brother never gave me the time of day. His breeder gave me the choice, the show quality pup or the pup with the coloring I was wanting.

I will say when you are wanting a color that isn't as common be expected to wait a bit longer if you are set on that coloring. BUT the right breeder will be there for you and with you.

 

[AdrianneIsabel]

Not wrong at all. I pick dogs with looks in mind as well as temperament and health.

Will you PM me the breeder you have chosen to go with? I'm still a bit up in the air...

 

[Shai]

As long as you're waiting for the right dog that will match you in personality, etc., adding a color requirement just makes your wait longer...nothing wrong with that. Your call.

 

[Catsi]

You've chosen a breed that suits you. You will still factor in temperament and health in the final decision. So you are not really choosing a dog 'solely' on colour.

If you want to wait, wait.

I do have colour preferences, but I'd choose a dog with health foremost in mind and then the best personality for me. If it were a colour that I wasn't a preferences, I'd still take said dog. But I can't see the problem in waiting for what you want.

Edit - If someone wanted a laid back type, yellow lab (a mere example here) and upon meeting a litter found that the black lab was much more suitable, personality wise but still went for the over the top yellow pup just because they wanted a yellow... I'd question their wisdom. But then again, some people are very adaptable I guess. And hopefully in this hypothetical situation it all works out for the best!

 

[MandyPug]

I prefer black FCRs over liver.

I also prefer black/tan kelpies over red/tan or solid.

Black Pugs over fawn but I love Izzie's colouring as its very defined.

Tri border collies over every other colour.

Bi black Shelties over all other colours.

Bi black and tri papillons.

Black poodles.


It's not a deal breaker for me, but I do have colour preferences.

 

[release the hounds]

No, we all like what we like and gravitate towards what we want. I'd say if a specific color were your only criteria you're going about things incorrectly, but if you pass up dogs of a certain color and temperament till you find a dog of the color and temperament you want, then who's business is it but your's ?

 

[Southpaw]

No. If I'm going to have a dog for 15 years, I kind of want to enjoy looking at it lol.

I mean, it's only silly if the dog is the complete wrong fit for you and you are sacrificing everything that is important JUST because you like a certain color. But when I get another boxer, I totally want to hold out for a pretty brindle.

 

[Linds]

I don't think it's wrong at all. Especially if you have a good breeder you like and are wiling to wait.

For me personally? I mean look at Didgie. The color I wanted was a solid (A solid red to be exact) and some people think I should have waited. But, I wanted a dog from a certain breeding (structure and temperament wise) and a certain time frame so color took back seat. But, had the circumstances been a little different I could have seen me waiting it out. And, it's not like I don't like how merle works, so there is that.

 

[sassafras]

All else being equal (healthy pups, good temperaments, breeder(s) you like) I don't think there's anything wrong with it going into the decision.

 

[Jenne]

I don't think there's anything wrong with it. I like pretty dogs, and if you are paying for one, you should get to chose the color/temperament/other trait that you'd like. I don't even think it's wrong to chose based on color alone. As long as you're willing and able to deal with the personality "faults" or breed traits that may arise on making that decision.

 

[Oko]

I don't think there's anything wrong with at all, as long as you know it may not go according to plan! I like black and white border collies, and secondly red and white, then tri. The breeder I'm looking at happens to have a blue merle, and if she uses her merle stud in the breeding, I may end up with a merle puppy. I won't be looking for color, I'll pick my favorite puppy personality-wise and female, so conceivably I could end up with a merle dog. Is this my top color, do I even like merle? No, not really, but I love the breeder and I will love my dog and how she looks and that's all I care about. I do want a smaller sized medium dog (25-35 lbs) with a compact frame that is aesthetically appealing, and both breeders I'm looking at have smaller females-the puppy they have could be larger, but I am hedging my bets that way.

 

[Saeleofu]

I don't think it's "wrong." If color matters to you that much and you are willing to wait for the perfect dog in the perfect color, that's up to you.

For ME, personally, I probably wouldn't wait. I love all the colors both collies and koolies come in, so I'd be happy with anything. I would wait for a smooth collie rather than accept a rough if I were in a position to wait, though. I could handle a rough if I really needed to, but I'd MUCH prefer a smooth.