I've never owned any of these breeds, but some of my reasons for wanting/getting a Koolie next year is that the breed:
- Does not seem prone to dog reactivity or aggression at all
- Is known for a stable temperament and thus should not be spooky with noises, things or people (or anything else) and if spooked, should recover well
- Is known to be friendly with strangers (after Dance, I am trying hard to avoid having another shy dog)
- Is not quite as creepy crouchy in their herding style (doesn't really matter, but my preference is for more upright)
- Is high energy with seemingly good off switches
- They live to have fun and appear to have a huge zest for life
- Does not seem to be as prone to neurotic, OCD behavioural tendencies when compared to certain other herding breeds
And there are probably more reasons that I just can't think of right now. At home I had a document that I made to compare what I'd learned about Aussies, BCs, Koolies and Kelpies when I was trying to decide which one would fit me best, and Koolies came out on top. I knew I wanted a herding breed, but there was always just something that didn't quite fit until I decided to look into Koolies more. They all seem to have a lot of similarities also, and to be honest, I could see myself with all four of those breeds, but right now there are certain behavioural issues I am trying hard to avoid. Koolies just seem to fit the bill perfectly from everything I've read and been told about them. I am so obsessed with the breed. I never thought I'd be as obsessed with another breed as I was about Tollers, but I think Koolies might have almost surpassed that now, haha. It's taking everything in me (and a strict mom) to wait a year for my Koolie puppy.