How Did You Choose?

[Lizmo]

Originally Posted by 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.

Well, I was more thinking on the lines of going to schools and visiting the elderly for the therapy work I wanted to do. I really love the happiness the elderly get out of being around a dog and they just forget all of there pains or worries

[oc_spirit]

I picked the breed that was most compatible with ME and my lifestyle. As for the next breed I plan on owning, I chose because of how I admire them and love everything about them from their temperment to their looks to their history. I could sit for HOURS listening to people telling their experiences with these particular dogs from the balkans. From heroic tales to simple training excercises, they all facinate me. By the way my next breed is going to be a Sarplaninac. Yes, i FINALY decided LOL and after that...who knows...maybe CO?

[Lizmo]

I have been thinking about it and a Toller, well just some thing about it that I don't like...I'm not sure what it is, but I am just not feeling "that" thing that I felt with the BC.

But, what about an Aussie? They are a LOT like the BC. But how do they do in shows and Therapy work?

[~Jessie~]

How did I end up with chihuahuas? Well, when we moved into our first apartment, my boyfriend and I wanted a dog. We wanted something small, and I have always wanted a chihuahua. We bought Madison from a BYB (he doesn't act like a chihuahua should). After that, we wanted another chihuahua and we bought Rylie from a responsible breeder. After Rylie, we wanted another chihuahua, and bought Chloe from another responsible breeder

[Baxter'smybaby]

our first family dog is a pure bred lab (who is now 11 yo)--which we chose when our (then young) son was begging for a dog after reading the book Call of the Wild. After doing lots of research re: breeds, and young children, we decided on a lab. She has been the best family dog anyone could ask for--she is so loyal and tolerant!! The funny part to this story is that we planned to surprised our son with this lab. puppy, had it all figured out, etc... So the next time he pleaded for a dog--I asked what kind of dog would he pick if he could--and his reply(after careful thought) was ....a chihuahua !!! lol!
Our other dog sort of chose us--went to visit a local shelter, walked several dogs, and when I went to take Baxter back in to the shelter, he turned around, put his paw on my chest and gave me a look like "please, not back in there!" I fell in love (love my hound dogs anyway since I had a beagle as a child)--so he became ours!! Sorry this is so long--took a trip down memory lane since my son will soon be 20!!

[Lizmo]

Awww that was beautiful, Baxter!

[RD]

Originally Posted by Lizmo

I have been thinking about it and a Toller, well just some thing about it that I don't like...I'm not sure what it is, but I am just not feeling "that" thing that I felt with the BC.

But, what about an Aussie? They are a LOT like the BC. But how do they do in shows and Therapy work?

They're two very different breeds. I'm with you, I prefer BCs, but I generally do prefer herding breeds to sporting breeds.

Aussies are marvelous dogs, Dakota romped with one this morning. This boy was from working lines and is very energetic and intelligent, but more low-key than Dakota and not quite so intense. I *really* liked him, would've taken him home if I could!

[Lizmo]

Okay, thanks, Grace

I would love to learn more about the Aussie though.

[Laurelin]

I agree with both of you there. I've had both gundogs and herders and you just can't beat a herding dog personailty. They're so cool. The herding group is by far my favorite group.

Liz, have you looked at other herding breeds? You seem to lean towards that type of dog. BCs are probably the most intense breed you could find, and that could be tough if you really want to do the things you want to do with your dog. Also, if you want to show, then I personally wouldn't pick a BC as the breed to try to get into showing with. There's too much of a split in the breed. Other herding breeds are also very smart, easily trained, beautiful, but a little less intense than BCs. I know I couldn't handle a dog that's the size of a BC and as active as Beau. O.o

There's also a pretty decent split in Aussies too.

But these splits wouldn't really matter unless you were wanting to do some herding with your dog. You seem to want to show and do therapy work which wouldn't really require a working bred dog.

[Lizmo]

Originally Posted by Laurelin

Liz, have you looked at other herding breeds? You seem to lean towards that type of dog. BCs are probably the most intense breed you could find, and that could be tough if you really want to do the things you want to do with your dog. Also, if you want to show, then I personally wouldn't pick a BC as the breed to try to get into showing with. There's too much of a split in the breed. Other herding breeds are also very smart, easily trained, beautiful, but a little less intense than BCs. I know I couldn't handle a dog that's the size of a BC and as active as Beau. O.o

There's also a pretty decent split in Aussies too.

But these splits wouldn't really matter unless you were wanting to do some herding with your dog. You seem to want to show and do therapy work which wouldn't really require a working bred dog.

Yeah, I would love to show dogs, but I love the drive the BC and Aussie have.

These are the things I would like to do with my dog/s

Showing(if possible)
Therapy Work(mostly with the Elderly)
Agility
Rally
and I would love to own some Sheep one day and do Herding

And I would love to breed...but I am not sure.

And yes, I have looked at other breeds, but I don't know, they don't have that thing that the BC's or Aussies have. And I DO NOT want to settler for some thing less really.