Ok. *sips coffee* I tried to do this yesterday but my browser froze and it ate my post.
Re the snark: Hmm. Well it's complicated, at least in my dog. She's DR to varying degrees depending on the situation, but I have no issue managing her and taking her to agility classes, shows, etc. As far as RG goes... yes and no. Not amongst household dogs. She doesn't guard things unless a dog is actively trying to take them. If she has a kong in the living room, and my roommate's dog walks by, she doesn't hunch over it and start growling, but if he were to stick his nose in and try to take it, she would snark at him. Same with food, etc.
She doesn't RG with people at all. You can take whatever you want from her without worry. Granted I play fair so she doesn't feel the need to guard her stuff from people. I'm sure if somebody picked on her she'd eventually get nasty with them.
Now, with strange dogs or ones she doesn't know well... yes, she's guardy. Even at work, when she's been running with the other dogs (and doing just fine), if I let her get in my lap and another dog sticks its nose in, they get told off. Keeva doesn't really do the big display with the hunched neck and growling. She just gives them a hard stare and then snaps at them (but it is a snap, and not a bite). At agility class, we were sitting outside the ring while another team ran a sequence, and this lady was not minding her Dalmatian at all. Keeva was getting cheese for playing LAT and the Dal wanted some too... I got the owner's attention before it became a problem but Keeva was not going to share (which is what I told the owner afte she said, "oh haha, mine loves cheese!") But at home, she shares a water dish no problem, will clean off a plate with another dog with no issue, etc. I don’t find her a difficult dog to have in a multi-dog household.
With people, she's a steady dog. Ignores strangers (like they're not even there) unless I ask her to say hi, in which case she kind of goes through the motions of letting them pet her while she looks bored LOL. She LOVES kids, though. She was more of a socialite as a puppy but has gotten more aloof as she ages which is nice. But she definitely remembers people she likes, like my immediately family that we see 1-2 times a week, or the one client at work who ALWAYS wants to see her and Keeva now likes enough to get excited about, etc. When I dragged her to a UKC show, she had no problem with the judge’s exam and I really didn't train her for it LOL.
I would say that she’s less snarky than what Welsh Stump describes in her dog. Snark is reserved for when she deems it necessary. Like strange dogs who won’t respect her space, etc. Honestly, I don’t know that she’s any snarkier than many BC’s tend to be.
AFA sports/performance go, she’s a pretty nice little worker. She has good toy and food drives and just likes doing stuff. She gets hilariously “herdy†when playing with toys, and will freeze, get really low, fix them with the eye, and then creeeeeep up. LOL. Especially the flirtpole. She plays with toys to have fun for sure though. I don’t leave toys sitting around, but sometimes they’re out when we go to my mom’s and she doesn’t obsess over them. If I move them, however, and indicate that there’s a game to be played, she’s all about it.
She’s seriously GREAT at shaping and shaped behaviors tend to be the strongest for her. Very, VERY smart dog, who in typical herder fashion thinks she knows what you want before you do. Not a dog that works to please, but finds activities like agility rewarding enough to do “just because†– they’re fun! With that said, I find her extremely biddable and easy to train, but I’ve stay extremely positive with her. She’s not “soft†(although she’s never had a collar correction), she’s heard me yell for various reasons and doesn’t care, doesn’t get squishy. However, I strongly suspect that if you messed around on her, she’d just flip you the paw and leave. She’s not the kind of dog who’s going, “Oh but I want to make you happy!†She’s more like, “Hey, whatever, I don’t need you so if you’re going to act like that… see ya.â€
On that vein, she’s weirdly independent and yet somehow handler focused. Hard to explain, honestly. You get the feeling she could take care of herself without anybody’s help, but she’s very responsive to my voice and aware of where I am. The other day I caught her waiting outside the bathroom door while I showered and I was like, “*gasp* Keeva… were you… waiting for me?!†and I swear she was like, “Well, ok now, don’t get any ideas! I was just… making sure you didn’t drown in there.â€
They’re… funny little dogs, with big personalities and excellent senses of humor. If you want one for performance, do be extra aware of where it’s coming from because not all Cardis are created equal in that arena. True for every breed but esp this one, IMO. Of course, if I were you, I’d just ask the people you train with where theirs are from, for a start! I’ve spent a lot of time researching performance lines in Cardis so you can PM me any time if you want.
Also, FG, your girls look GORGEOUS! It's sooo nice to see other Cardis at sport weight! Plus the Ziggyman, of course.