Breed Suggestions!

[JessLough]

I have a few ideas, but I figured I'd see what y'all come up with

Some things I look for/can think of, feel free to ask questions!

*Fur/Grooming: Not a fan of hairless dogs, at all. As long as there is fur, I'm good. I don't mind grooming, but would prefer to stay away from excessive grooming needs at this time. As long as any "professional" grooming only needed to be done every month or two, it's fine. Fine with brushing out. Not a fan of bearded breeds.

*Relatively healthy. Good life expectancy.

*Energy. I want it. I need a dog that will force me to get out daily and do something. Plan to do sports with the dog, along with doing plenty of hiking and swimming.

*Not known for DA. Doesn't have to like other dogs, but needs to be able to exist and focus around other dogs.

*I like biddable, and would like to do obedience/rally with the dog. Blind obedience is not a necessity, however.

*Size... Rosey was a little under 24" and around 50lbs in her prime. I think I'd like around there or a little smaller, but could go bigger for the right breed. Would prefer between 10-45lbs, ideally, for this go round.

*Don't mind barking, don't mind talking, don't mind screaming.

*Doesn't need to be protective, don't mind being aloof to strangers.

[LostAndConfused]

ES. Definitely. ES. Then you can come visit and our dogs can play

[SpringerLover]

Golden Retriever.

[JessLough]

I don't even know HOW I forgot to mention, but the ferrets. The dog has to be able to, at the least, ignore them when they're in the cage/not be obsessive about them. Watching them is fine. Whining and trying to constantly get at them is not.

Originally Posted by LostAndConfused

ES. Definitely. ES. Then you can come visit and our dogs can play

Seriously considering. Though, are you saying I can only visit again if I have an ES?

Also, how do you think Hudson would be if there were caged animals there? Would he ignore the cage?

[AdrianneIsabel]

Rough or Smooth Collie?

GSP?

Are you interested in another herder or trying something else? Your description is really open, basically an awesome dog. :P

[LostAndConfused]

Originally Posted by JessLough

Seriously considering. Though, are you saying I can only visit again if I have an ES?

Also, how do you think Hudson would be if there were caged animals there? Would he ignore the cage?

Maybe....:P

I think he could be taught to. He terrorizes the cat, but that's (I think) is mostly because sometimes they are playing.

I know that they are different than ferrets, but Hudson's sister, I've been told, loves the baby goats they bring into the house and a few of his littermates live with chickens.

[crazedACD]

Funny, I was thinking Collie too. Or Australian Shepherd.

[Saeleofu]

Collie, smooth or rough (depends on how much hair you want to put up with). Size-wise, a smallish bitch. They're quite a bit smaller than the males, shouldn't have to look too hard to find one under 50 pounds. Logan's 68-70 pounds, but he's a HUGE collie. They're not typically as tall, and thus as heavy, as he is (though he is within standard...barely).

Logan LURVES the chickens and thinks I ought to take one upstairs so he can cuddle with it. He does sit and watch the mouse (and was SO EXCITED when he first discovered her that he had to jump on me and wake me up to point it out), but he doesn't try to chase, and doesn't whine. Just watches. He doesn't even seem to notice the gecko. He dose catch starlings out of the air, but would never dream of chasing a chicken. He likes to stand in front of the chicken run and just watch, and chases starlings only when they invade. An adult with the right temperament ought to be able to adjust to ferrets pretty easily, but certainly a puppy raised with them would be no issue at all.

[Laurelin]

I agree, very open description.

My first thought was sporting dog of some sort.

[Muttkip]

Sounds like a small Golden fits the bill or a nice rescue.