Any other breeds I should be looking at?

[PWCorgi]

Laurelin, these dogs don't look like either of the dogs you posted. They have VERY little coat, almost more like Pap type coat, very thin. And they are larger I think than the pics you posted. They would NEVER be seen in a showring. I know the dog was bred by her, and I will be meeting the father eventually, I've seen pics, but can't really tell if he is quite like her or not. I'll talk to her next Friday at class if I get the chance, and get back to you

Dekka, would most whippet breeders (smooth not longhaired) let a dog go to a home where it would be off-leash? I used to dogsit for a couple whippets, so I'm familiar with the breed, but it just seems to me that a rescue or a breeder wouldn't allow them to go to a home where they would be off-leash just because they are sighthounds...

I'm looking into Tollers more now.

Portuguese Water Dog?

*drools profusely*
I had my heart set on a PWD, even had a breeder ready and everything, but they are another breed that I really am just not ready to handle I don't think. They have quite the independent streak and can be stubborn and pushy as well.

Wheaten?

Never really thought of a wheaten, but just from them being mentioned on this site it seems like a lot of them have temperment issues. I'll look into them a little more, though the fact that they are a terrier makes me nervous.

Paige, I bet if I did come over and meet your two, one of two things would happen: a) I would spend the whole time concocting plans to smuggle them home with me, or b) I wouldn't be leaving

 

[noludoru]

What happened to Greyhounds....?

 

[PWCorgi]

What happened to Greyhounds....?

I still plan on fostering greys, I love the breed, but it was never my intent to do flyball/agility/etc. with them.

 

[Zoom]

I have to say I would honestly never recommend anyone buying a Wheaten unless you've had them before and know EXACTLY what you're in for. They are adorable puppies, they are rocket-fueled puppies on crack until about 2 years old, then they all seem to start getting snappy, cranky and generally develop into giant PITA's.

 

[Romy]

Are you planning on getting this dog as a puppy or older? She's probably a fluke, but there is a gorgeous full grown 35 lb malinois female in Strider's class who has a very soft temperament and is very mellow. Her owner has her doing agility, she'd probably be great in flyball. She's just a really neat mellow dog. A lot less sharp than the 3 aussies in class. Definitely a little off of what you normally find in the breed, but it's something to consider. You can get all kinds of individuals in any breed.

 

[RD]

Aww, PWC, come meet my BCs as well as Paige's. They're definitely not all like that, and mine have been easy for me to own. And I'm certainly not an expert.

I totally understand if you feel the breed isn't right for you and I'm not saying you should consider them if you aren't comfortable with them... but I wouldn't judge the breed based on the flyball/sport dogs you see. The vast majority of flyball dogs are trained (and sometimes bred) to have crazy, frantic drive with very little impulse control. They are, IMO, a poor representation of the drives and behaviors of the average BC, and a terribly poor representation of a well bred, well trained one.

You are correct that a lot of them are more sensitive to handler mistakes, but not all are. I find them to be forgiving - Eve is super sensitive, but I haven't messed her up. Dakota and Dash are far less sensitive, but still tuned in to me and very focused on me.

They're intense, but not wildly so. I actually find Aussies a little more bouncy and barky, more in-your-face intense. BCs are usually very patient, methodical thinkers. Aussies are cheerleaders, and BCs are the ones playing Dungeons and Dragons during the game.

Just my .02! I still think Aussies are awesome for you but I always go off on a tangent when it comes to "all the BCs I know are (or are like) the flyball dogs." Sorry!

 

[Laurelin]

Oh, RD I agree about the Aussie/BC comparison. That's one reason I'm leaning more towards BCs... less in your face. (Though I have met some calmer aussies as well).

I'm curious about the shelties. As far as coat goes a papillon like coat wouldn't be very correct. Paps are single coated with no undercoat which really doesn't work too well keeping away the elements. (Like they would have on the shetland islands) My paps get out in the snow and freeze their little bums off but my shelties are fine.

 

[PWCorgi]

I have to say I would honestly never recommend anyone buying a Wheaten unless you've had them before and know EXACTLY what you're in for. They are adorable puppies, they are rocket-fueled puppies on crack until about 2 years old, then they all seem to start getting snappy, cranky and generally develop into giant PITA's.

*scatches Wheatons from list*

Are you planning on getting this dog as a puppy or older?

It really depends on the breed, some breeds I'd just really rather get from a breeder, and others I definitally want from rescue. If I get a Sheltie or Golden it would be from a breeder. But if I get an Aussie it will definitally be from a rescue. If I did decide to get a breed like a Malinois, a breed that I wasn't quite sure about, it would be an older dog from rescue so that I can make sure that they are the right dog for me and I would be able to handle the dog.
I never even considered a Mal, but I think I'll look into them a little more, though I doubt I'll find much about them that doesn't say they're too much for me.

They're definitely not all like that

Oh, I definitally know that! Your dogs and Paige's dogs have convinced me of that!

So, I went back and read these two threads:
http://chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67300
http://www.chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44640
And when I read the border collie posts I want a border collie, and when I read posts about the Aussies I want an Aussie.
It's a good thing I have a lot of time to decide

I'm curious about the shelties. As far as coat goes a papillon like coat wouldn't be very correct.

I don't know if it's actually the same as a papillon coat, I've never actually had the opportunity to feel a papillon (or the sheltie for that matter!) coat, it just looks like that.

 

[PWCorgi]

Darn you Romy, lol:
http://www.malinoisrescue.org/nerescue.shtml#Wolfgang

 

[Dekka]

Mals are one of the least mellow breeds I personally have met. If you rescue an adult you could get lucky, but all the ones I see make BCs look boring.

(still think you should look at LHW, single coats, have good work ethics, good with people, cats and other dogs. And really should have to greater issues being off leash than herding breeds...just my 2c)

 

[PWCorgi]

(still think you should look at LHW, single coats, have good work ethics, good with people, cats and other dogs. And really should have to greater issues being off leash than herding breeds...just my 2c)

Would you be able to point me in the direction of good resources to get started looking at the LHW? I remember you saying that a lot of dogs that are advertised as LHWs actually aren't, so I don't want to end up reading a bunch of wrong information on crosses. Do you know if the LHW yahoo group is good?

 

[Dekka]

I have no idea if that group is good or not. I can look into it (dang you like I need another yahoo group to join)

www.longhairedwhippet.org is a great starting place.

 

[Dekka]

this is from the breed description:

The Longhaired Whippet Association does not recognize, nor recommend dogs that are referred to as any "Percentage" of Longhaired Whippet. The LWA does not recognize, or endorse any Whippets of a longhaired variety called by any other name than Longhaired Whippet. Only purebred Whippets exhibiting the recessive longhaired gene may be called Longhaired Whippets. Any persons breeding dogs with a mixed breed background and calling them Longhaired Whippets or registering them in alternate registries under the breed name "Longhaired Whippet" is falsely representing the breed.



GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Beneath it's protective, yet decorative coat, the Longhaired Whippet is identical to the smooth Whippet, except that its skin has greater substance and suppleness to support the longer hair. This small, very athletic and graceful sighthound expresses its competitive spirit in its alert demeanor, and can race, course and hunt in a wide variety of terrain and weather because of its size and coat. Never aggressive with its own kind, it also should display a love for and devotion to its human associates. An aloof, undemonstrative temperament is not typical.

 

[PWCorgi]

LOL, you're telling me?! I am on more than my fair share of Yahoo! Groups, lol.

EDIT: You answered my question with your last post.

 

[Dekka]

what was your question lol?

 

[PWCorgi]

Whether the LHW and the smooth coated whippets were the same breed, just different coats

 

[Dekka]

ahh lol.

They cross back a lot to reg (AKC/CKC) whippets to keep the genetic diversity.

 

[PWCorgi]

When they cross a LHW with a regular whippet, are most of the puppies long haired or short haired?

 

[PWCorgi]

Laurelin, this is more like the sheltie I was talking about:

Taken from http://dianelewisphotography.com/blog/

 

[Dekka]

When they cross a LHW with a regular whippet, are most of the puppies long haired or short haired?

All the pups look smooth but have thicker skins and denser coats. These pups are known as WLHD or whippets of long haired descent. They are then crossed to long haired whippets. Those pups should be mostly long haired. Long hair to long hair crosses (like Dash and Bounce's litter) all pups are hairy.