Which breed for me?

cfas

New Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2015
Messages
9
Likes
0
Points
0
#1
- High drive
- Moderate energy
- Biddable, handler focused
- Good off leash
- Will swim with me
- 50 pounds or less
- Not SUPER hairy (think no show Aussies) and no poodle hair
- Toy drive
- Not super barky
- Will go on long (10 mile) runs w me
- Will do agility
- Snuggly and affectionate
- People friendly. Doesn't have to be Lab friendly, but no Husky aloofness
- No dog aggression and can be trusted with a cat
- Can thrive in both rural and urban environments and adapt to lifestyle changes quickly
- Not super anxious

Some thoughts are: Springer Spaniel, Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, Field bred English Cocker, Brittany? What am I missing?
 

milos_mommy

Active Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2006
Messages
15,349
Likes
0
Points
36
#3
Border collies are pretty prone to anxiety and probably aren't your best bet for adapting back and forth to an urban environment. Aussies can have a tendency to be barky, but I don't think it's a huge problem in the breed, just be aware they aren't going to be particularly quiet. A lot of the bigger ones are over or close to 50lbs, as well. You could probably find an individual dog or lines to suit you, but Im not sure they hit all your requirements.

The ESS I've known have been pretty aloof with strangers, some to the point of being husky-like or fear aggressive. I'm not sure how disinterested in strangers you'd be willing to accept, but if you want a friendlier dog I'd look at other spaniels.

I think cockers, Brittanys, and welshies would be a good place to start, and I'd maybe suggest tollers.
 

Laurelin

I'm All Ears
Joined
Nov 2, 2006
Messages
30,963
Likes
3
Points
0
Age
37
Location
Oklahoma
#5
Golden was my thought too. There's some awesome, awesome sporty goldens out there.

Maybe toller from the right lines?
 

*blackrose

"I'm kupo for kupo nuts!"
Joined
May 11, 2010
Messages
7,065
Likes
3
Points
38
Age
33
Location
WI
#6
German Shorthair Pointer was a thought. Otherwise, I agree with the other suggestions!
 
Joined
May 11, 2011
Messages
493
Likes
0
Points
16
Location
Fond du Lac, WI
#7
Tollers could work. Both of mine are rather aloof, as far as Marsh is concerned anyone who isn't me or doesn't have a ball is invisible. Pilot is more outgoing, but still likes me best :) Which suits me. Pilot carries comparatively a lot of coat, but it's good quality and not obnoxious. Marsh would be naked as a Chinese Crested if he could. There are heavily coated dogs in the breed, I would say it's more common than lightly coated dogs, but all the dogs I've met have good, working quality texture. And it's certainly less coat than show Aussies.

Mine are vocal, Pilot frustration/demand barks more than Marsh. Screaming is a thing. The noise is controllable if you stay on top of it. There's situations I don't mind noise and times I can't stand it, my two are pretty good about the difference.

You've got to meet them to know if you like them, though. They're great on paper for a lot of people, but the breed personality is just something you click with or you don't, IMO.

I'm in love with field Cockers. Tiny little dogs, but man do they seem fun. A small Golden would be easier to find than the right Toller, and with a Toller you spend your whole life telling people they're not a Golden anyway XD
 
Joined
May 11, 2011
Messages
493
Likes
0
Points
16
Location
Fond du Lac, WI
#9
Any double coated breed is going to shed, though. Every other week is a pretty reasonable cleaning schedule.

If the hair is really that unmanageable, consider grooming more or a diet change.
 

Elrohwen

Active Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2013
Messages
1,797
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Hudson Valley, NY
#10
MAS are double coated, and COVER your life with hair twice a year, so I dont think they would be the best choice. even btw shedding season I have to vacuum and mop every other week.
OP just asked for a dog without a ton of coat and there are plenty of MAS who have moderate coats. OP evening listed BCs and Aussies as possibilities and a MAS isn't going to be any different than either of those.
 

milos_mommy

Active Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2006
Messages
15,349
Likes
0
Points
36
#11
I think most people without pets at all vacuum and mop at least every other week. I have a "hypoallergenic/no shedding" wheaten and a wire haired terrier who sheds very little, and if I go two weeks without vacuuming (which if I'm being honest is very typical), there's a good deal of dog hair on the floor.

Growing up with an eskie when he blew his coat twice a year, my mom vacuumed (or at least swept) pretty much daily, and there would still be hair all over. I'd consider the Aussies I know to be moderate shedders, and I'm under the impression MAS have similar coats.
 

Dogdragoness

Happy Halloween!!
Joined
May 31, 2012
Messages
4,169
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Gillett/Flower Mound TX
#12
OP just asked for a dog without a ton of coat and there are plenty of MAS who have moderate coats. OP evening listed BCs and Aussies as possibilities and a MAS isn't going to be any different than either of those.
It doesnt matter how "much" coat they have, they will still shed. ACDs typically dont have a huge coat and they still shed every bit as much as any aussie or MAS twice a year. Horrid horrid hair twice a year, and they also shed throughout the season.

I know there are those breeding for less coat in the aussie or MAS, and its not to standard, which is wrong, many also shave their MAS and aussies under the excuse that it "makes them cooler" which is a bunch of crap, they do it for their convience, which is also wrong, if they don't want to deal with the shedding then get a short haired dog, you know?

Of course regular brushing can help with every day shedding, but even though I brush my dog once a day or every other day if I get lazy (haha) and bathe him once a week, I still have to vacuum and mop every other day.
 
Joined
May 11, 2011
Messages
493
Likes
0
Points
16
Location
Fond du Lac, WI
#13
Every double coated dog is going to do a season coat blow.

OP didn't even say anything about shedding, they asked for "not SUPER hairy" and not poodle hair. EVERYTHING without poodle hair is going to shed at least somewhat.

How much coat a dog carries absolutely influences how much they shed. Pilot carries quite a bit more coat, Marsh typically has very little undercoat. Pilot sheds more than Marsh, because he has a greater number of hairs that have to be periodically replaced. Amount of coat is a separate metric from coat length. Volume of coat is genetic, and in most breeds there is a range of acceptable types. Look at border collies - they're all double coated, but some are short and dense, or long and sparse. Or even show Goldens, which I pick as an example because I've seen enough to make statements about them. All double coated, long haired dogs, but some dogs have longer hair, but less undercoat. Some dogs have shorter coats, but are very dense with undercoat, and you can have dogs that have very long coats and very dense undercoats. That last case is going to give you a very hairy dog that sheds a ton. In addition, whether that shedding is daily or just seasonal depends on genetics, nutrition, and environment. ****'s complicated.

tl;dr All double coated dogs shed, some breeds and some individuals shed more than others - but OP didn't give any opinion on shedding, just "not SUPER hairy"
 

Elrohwen

Active Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2013
Messages
1,797
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Hudson Valley, NY
#14
It doesnt matter how "much" coat they have, they will still shed. ACDs typically dont have a huge coat and they still shed every bit as much as any aussie or MAS twice a year. Horrid horrid hair twice a year, and they also shed throughout the season.
So? The point is that the OP never asked for a non- or low-shedding breed so it's not an issue. If the OP is fine with the amount of shedding on an Aussie or a BC, then a MAS is fine. You're reading requirements into the OP that weren't there.

I don't think there's anything wrong with not wanting a dog with a ton of coat. I wouldn't want to deal with a show line Aussie coat either and it has nothing to do with the amount of shedding.
 

Dogdragoness

Happy Halloween!!
Joined
May 31, 2012
Messages
4,169
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Gillett/Flower Mound TX
#15
So? The point is that the OP never asked for a non- or low-shedding breed so it's not an issue. If the OP is fine with the amount of shedding on an Aussie or a BC, then a MAS is fine. You're reading requirements into the OP that weren't there.

I don't think there's anything wrong with not wanting a dog with a ton of coat. I wouldn't want to deal with a show line Aussie coat either and it has nothing to do with the amount of shedding.
I dont like the show line aussies, either but it has nothing to do with coat, I dont like their temperaments, they had bred the suspicious and aloof nature out of them to make them show ring acceptable.

And the OP did kind of mention not wanting a ton of hair:

- High drive
- Moderate energy
- Biddable, handler focused
- Good off leash
- Will swim with me
- 50 pounds or less
- Not SUPER hairy (think no show Aussies) and no poodle hair
- Toy drive
- Not super barky
- Will go on long (10 mile) runs w me
- Will do agility
- Snuggly and affectionate
- People friendly. Doesn't have to be Lab friendly, but no Husky aloofness
- No dog aggression and can be trusted with a cat
- Can thrive in both rural and urban environments and adapt to lifestyle changes quickly
- Not super anxious
 

milos_mommy

Active Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2006
Messages
15,349
Likes
0
Points
36
#16
The point is, not wanting a ton of coat and not wanting a lot of shedding are two different things. I'd consider a breed like afghan to have a ton of coat, but they barely shed. Labs shed horrendously but definitely don't have a lot of coat.

If the OP is considering Aussies, clearly they don't consider them to have a ton of coat, unless they have a full show coat, which I'd consider pretty accurate.
 

Laurelin

I'm All Ears
Joined
Nov 2, 2006
Messages
30,963
Likes
3
Points
0
Age
37
Location
Oklahoma
#17
I know there are those breeding for less coat in the aussie or MAS, and its not to standard, which is wrong, many also shave their MAS and aussies under the excuse that it "makes them cooler" which is a bunch of crap, they do it for their convience, which is also wrong, if they don't want to deal with the shedding then get a short haired dog, you know?
My short haired dog sheds WAY worse than any of my longhaired dogs. Double or single coated. Just throwing that out there. I've talked to tons of dog people that say the same thing. Short hair =\= low shedding.
 

yv0nne

Vizsla mom
Joined
Jan 22, 2013
Messages
1,152
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Cape Breton
#18
Yeah Penn sheds like a psycho ..I brush her every day& sometimes multiple times a day. Each time, it looks like a baby Vizsla is laying on the floor. But no. Just hair.

Also short hair might be worse because it just weaves its way into everything and you can't pick it off. Sometimes I feel like the washer can't even remove those little hell furs from my clothes.
 

Elrohwen

Active Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2013
Messages
1,797
Likes
0
Points
36
Location
Hudson Valley, NY
#19
I dont like the show line aussies, either but it has nothing to do with coat, I dont like their temperaments, they had bred the suspicious and aloof nature out of them to make them show ring acceptable.

And the OP did kind of mention not wanting a ton of hair:
I don't understand what you're not getting here. The OP is fine with BC and Aussies, but does not want a lot of coat to the point of a fully coated show line Aussie. So BC and Aussie coat = fine. Huge fluffy coat = not fine.

No mention of shedding and obviously all of the breeds the OP likes are breeds that shed.

But some how you think MAS would be a horrible fit. Ok.
 

Members online

Top