How Did You Choose?

[Saintgirl]

I have to disagree with Newfs and Goldens being alot a like, maybe in personality, but the two breeds are VERY different. I think that all three breeds need special consideration because all three are very different from one another. Goldens and Newfs may share the same happy-go-lucky type of personality but one is a sporting breed and the other is a working breed. Sporting breeds and working breeds are quite different from one another. A Newf will want to have a job to do, that is what makes them such wonderful water rescue dogs or SAR. The other major difference between a Newf and a Golden is their size. A Golden is big, but a Newf is much, much bigger. And living with a giant breed is a whole different story than living with a large breed! The number one reason that people rehome their giant breeds is because they get too big. Vet bills are much higher for a Newf, food bills are higher for a Newf. Newfs require more grooming. Health problems are a very serious reality when owning a Newf. Have you considered living with a drooly dog? And I don't mean a drop here and there, I mean the shoe laces hanging out of the mouth and then painted on your walls with a simple head shake!! I am not trying to discourage you from a Newf (this is the breed I would pick out of your 3 choices!), but that they are very different from a Golden. Everyone has already given you great advise, but again I want to stress the importance of being around all three of these different breeds and getting a hands on experience! Contact local breed clubs and find out when they are having get togethers or specialty shows and go check them out. Don't just spend an afternoom together, go back time and time again! You will know when you have found the right bred for you, it will get under your skin and you will have to have one!

[RD]

Originally Posted by Lizmo

Oh this dog would come AFTER College and all that Since if that is the breed I choose(or any of the 3 for that matter) I want it to come from a GOOD breeder, either of very good show quality or of working lines. I would like to have a house and acreage before I get any one of these dogs. I want to be able to spend a good amount of time with the dog for training and getting it ready for the show ring or working. And have School BEHIND me

You have way more self control than me! though I have a feeling Eve will be my last for quite a few years unlesss i move to Mexico. Good choice, though.

[Kase]

I'll make the decision easy for you, Goldens!! Jk jk lol .

My parents chose a golden because we needed a dog just like a golden, it had to be sweet, friendly ect. And now, yes I have fallen for the breed. I adore Casey and couldn't ask for a more perfect dog. She is so friendly but at the same time will protect me if I need it. I will always have goldens in my life no matter what.

I have also fallen for Leonbergers. They are stunning dogs and when I move out and go to Scotland I will be getting one.

All I can say is follow your heart, go for which breed you feel a connection with.

[Paige]

I didn't choose the border collie. Spanky was a birthday present. I had told my mom I was not getting a new dog till my elderly dog passed, but she thought it would ease the passing of the elderly dog if I had another dog there to lick away my tears when she left. When she handed him to me I looked into his little eyes, fell in love, my sheltie started barking at me, and then I handed him back and told her to take him back to where she got him from. My mom said no and god am I ever glad she did. When my sheltie died I was greatful I had him there with me. It didn't make it an easier but it was nice to have another k-9 friend.

Bandit is Spanky's brother. My moms' boyfriend gave him to his daughter. They already had a golden retriever puppy at the time and another dog. Bandit was being destructive but hey. He was just a puppy! His owners went on vacation and asked if I could wathc him. I said sure. They came back and didn't come pick him up. I got him a home with my friend, but then his owners said they wanted him back so I said they could come pick him up whenever. They never did. I couldn't give up that puppy after that. He had latched himself onto my heart and there was no way I could let him go.

I totally have adapted myself to my border collie life. They are around then months old now and are the most energetic dogs I've ever met. We run, we play, we train, and we laugh every day. If you can handle a border collie then get one. I have fallen head over heels for this breed. I wouldn't change a thing about any of them. Every moment with them is rewarding.

[Lizmo]

Originally Posted by RD

You have way more self control than me! though I have a feeling Eve will be my last for quite a few years unlesss i move to Mexico. Good choice, though.

Hahah, self control! It's called PARENTS! If I could I would already have another dog

Just wondering, but, I know that most Show BC breeders are breeding for Beauty, but are there any breeders that breed for Show and Working? Because I reallly want to show dogs, but I really love the BC, to be honest, they really fit my life style the best conpared to the Newfie and Golden.

[Toller_08]

Originally Posted by Lizmo

Just wondering, but, I know that most Show BC breeders are breeding for Beauty, but are there any breeders that breed for Show and Working? Because I reallly want to show dogs, but I really love the BC, to be honest, they really fit my life style the best conpared to the Newfie and Golden.

I know you really love Border Collies, but if you want an active dog that hasn't gone through a working/conformation split, would you take a Toller into consideration? Almost every Toller I've ever met has been very drivey, are excellent working dogs, and do very well in conformation too. They're just as active as a Border Collie (some are more active, some are about the same, and some are a bit less). The females seem to be more energetic than the males a lot of the time, but not always. Very loving, devoted, eager to please, relatively easy to train dogs, etc. Of course, they and Border Collies have their obvious differences, with one being a herding breed and one a sporting breed and all but they do have tons of similarities too. Anyway, just thought I'd throw the idea out there as I think they may be a good match for you.

[RD]

Originally Posted by Lizmo

Hahah, self control! It's called PARENTS! If I could I would already have another dog

Just wondering, but, I know that most Show BC breeders are breeding for Beauty, but are there any breeders that breed for Show and Working? Because I reallly want to show dogs, but I really love the BC, to be honest, they really fit my life style the best conpared to the Newfie and Golden.

There are some breeders out there who breed for versatility, but IMO they never breed excellent working dogs. They may breed dogs that aren't totally clueless on stock, but unfortunately when appearance is taken into consideration, the ability to produce the best working dogs possible is usually diminished. I think you'd have better luck getting a rough-coated working bred dog and showing it successfully in conformation than you would by getting a 'versatility-bred' dog and trying to do stockwork with it.

I agree that a Toller might be a good bet for you too, they're really neat dogs. Quite different from BCs, but an awesome breed in their own respect.

[Lizmo]

Okay

Toller, I may just look into the that breed. Do some searching around and looking at personalities ect... They sound like really good dogs.

How do BC do as Therapy dogs?

[RD]

Dakota failed to get his official TDI certification. He's pretty intense, not to the point of being badly mannered but he's a little too much dog for very ill people in the hospital. However, he's welcomed with open arms at the nursing home here, as well as at after-school programs at the local elementary school. He's very sociable and polite, and knows when to be gentle.

I think Eve naturally has the right temperament for it. She's friendly to people, but she waits for them to initiate contact and then allows them to pet her without demanding all of their attention.

Some BCs are more wary of strangers, and while I think they could be trained to do therapy work, I'm not sure they'd enjoy it.

[bubbatd]

Kase ... you and I are prejudice ...even though my Ollie isn't a pure bred ...he's basically a Golden at heart . More hyper than what I bred but he has filled what was an empty heart . I'm glad I gave him a chance of a happy life .