Sports people- Choosing your dog

[release the hounds]

Ok round 2.

How important was meeting relatives of your dog in person to you? (Well for those that went with a breeder?) Or did you go based on video and reputation?

can I skip to part 2 if I didn't do part 1

It is important, but not a deal breaker. I never met the sire of one of my dogs or any offspring of his. He's been dead for a long, long time but i trusted the people I got her from.

Unless it's coming from someone I know personally and they know what I want in a dog as much as I do, then I absolutely want to meet relatives. If I haven't worked relatives, chances are i'm not even looking at that litter anyway.

If it's young adult, 12 months or so, then I just judge the dog in front of me. I don't get dogs with breeding in mind, so the dog that's in front of me is what matters. but if i'm looking at puppies, then knowing the mother, father, half brothers/sisters, grandparents, etc is important. Like I said if I haven't worked more than a few dogs from those lines, I'm most likely not even looking at it.

 

[Oko]

Well, right now I just have a babyFeist. Originally I wasn't really planning on doing dog sports with her before I got her, but what the hey. It certainly wasn't out of the question. She loves training, I love sports.

How important was doing well in your chosen sport to choosing your dog? How would you rank sporting ability vs other desired traits in your dog (size, looks, other companion qualities)
In choosing her, I wanted a working bred border collie, hopefully on the smaller side, that I found aesthetically appealing (good structure) and came from parents whose temperaments/energy levels I liked. A lot of what I wanted in a pet dog, I would want in a sport dog, but sports were not on my mind in choosing her.

Did you choose a breed or line well known for competing in your sport?
Well, border collies! I know waaay too many of her relatives. Of course her relatives are the sheepherding bomb, but we aren't doing that. A lot of them compete in agility and do nicely as do a lot of dogs her breeder has bred, some of her half-siblings are in training for flyball (not something we're interested in, but sports). Haven't seen any disc dog players. But having relatives doing well in agility wasn't and isn't important to me.

Was it important for you to get 'the best' breed/line/whatnot for the sport or did you get a breed known to do well enough but maybe not the perceived 'best'? Or was that not a factor at all and you just chose a breed you liked regardless of sport ability?
Well, once again border collies! I originally just chose border collies because I like them (I know, what a horrifying thought). I chose the breeding that produced Feist because I thought her dad was a really cool looking dog, I loved the description of him, and her mom was also awesome and super sweet. Considering my main goal was 'good companion', they fit the bill.

What level of sport was/is your goal with your dog? For fun? Casual competition? Specific titles? Nationals/worlds?
No idea, we'll go with the sky is the limit opcorn:

I got Feist without meeting any of her relatives, I just met them when I made the six hour trip to get her. I met her sire and dam, some half-siblings puppies, an older full sibling of hers they owned, and quite a few more relations. All the dogs were fabulous, outgoing, and sweet. Which pretty much sealed the deal. Her breeders have been involved in border collies for a very long time, and are knowledgeable, trustworthy people that are very well known in the working border collie community. In talking with them on the phone, they were very honest about their dogs flaws and upsides. The only Border Collies I'd met up until then, were DA/DR, aside from the ones at the sheepdog trials I went to, and those dogs were working and not up for saying hi. I just talked with a lot of people online about their experiences, and figured that I was getting what I wanted. And I did!

 

[sassafras]

I wouldn't be a deal breaker for me and if I do get washout Alaskans it's not likely to be possible anyway (although I may be able to get information on their lines), but it's nice.

I thought it was cool to meet Squash's mom when I went to pick him up and I love seeing updates about his siblings.

 

[SpaceMutt]

How important was doing well in your chosen sport to choosing your dog? How would you rank sporting ability vs other desired traits in your dog (size, looks, other companion qualities)
I'm grappling with this right now a lot. I have a couple breeds I'm interested in that are much more well-known as sport candidates, and a few that are definitely NOT known for their athleticism or sport prowess. It's definitely not my top priority, but I do like doing things with my dog and I think I'm more competitive than I admit to myself sometimes...

Did you choose a breed or line well known for competing in your sport?
Um, well, I'm interested in agility, dock diving, obedience and rally, and maybe nosework and barnhunt. And two of the breeds I'm looking at are Bull Terriers and Shar Pei. Soooo....:rofl1: (Everyone, take a moment to imagine a dock diving Shar Pei.)

Some of the other breeds on my list are at least moderately well-known in sport venues, though. I see a handful of speedy and reliable Dobes at every agility trial I go to. Springers do all right for themselves too. The Bracco, I'm not sure is even common enough to have a sport presence...it's pretty much purely a working dog.

Was it important for you to get 'the best' breed/line/whatnot for the sport or did you get a breed known to do well enough but maybe not the percieved 'best'? Or was that not a factor at all and you just chose a breed you liked regardless of sport ability?

It's not important to me at all to get the best breed for the sport. I grapple with just how much I want to stack the deck in my favor, but I don't care enough about it to go all the way and pick based on what's "the best."

What level of sport was/is your goal with your dog? For fun? Casual competition? Specific titles? Nationals/worlds?
Casual competition, I'd say. I don't train just for fun, I do it with the goal of titles, but I'm also not aiming for the stars. My ideal dog is one I could have as a sort of "jack of all trades," one that could reliably do a few things to a moderate level, but it doesn't need to be crazy talented in any one venue. With agility especially, I don't think I'm an experienced enough handler (plus, I'm working with a chronically injured leg) to justify going for the racecar, when I'd be just as happy with the funky hatchback.

How important was meeting relatives of your dog in person to you? (Well for those that went with a breeder?) Or did you go based on video and reputation?
Now, this one to me is vital. As much as I research the breeders and talk with them, I still won't ever take home a pup from the breeds I'm looking at without getting to meet some of the dog's relatives. That's non-negotiable to me. There are some traits in the breeds I like that I'd be scared to death to wind up with. It's definitely a little inconvenient (why does one of my favorite breeders have to be in Canada, and another in Michigan?!), but it's how I feel.

 

[Torch]

I chose an Amstaff first and foremost because I love their temperaments. I love a good bulldog. That he has confo and sport potential is icing on the cake. He was chosen for me by the co-breeder who owns his mother. I honestly didn't know much about his mother's pedigree because I am good friends with the co-breeder who owns his sire and followed her dogs more closely. His mother's bloodlines are mostly conformation, but many of the dogs in her pedigree have been drivey enough to compete in sports. Rhys's mom is a successful courser.

Now his father's pedigree is a great mixture of confo and sports titles. His breeder does EVERYTHING with her dogs. Rhys has siblings, uncles, aunts, cousins that show, weightpull, hog hunt, dock dive, do rally and obed, course, you pretty much name it.

When Rhys was picked for me I expressed to the co-breeder how much a stable, confident, outgoing dog was important to me. Sure, I wanted to do confo, but I was primarily interested in a dog that would love working and that I could title in a sport or two. Rhys was chosen over his brother, who is structurally nicer but I think a little quieter in temperament. So far I am very pleased with how he is coming along.

Rhys is technically show quality and we are plugging along in confo. For a young dog with an inexperienced handler he's not done badly. Maybe in a year or two I will be able to champ him out.

 

[meepitsmeagan]

Ok round 2.

How important was meeting relatives of your dog in person to you? (Well for those that went with a breeder?) Or did you go based on video and reputation?

With working bred, I was happy with videos of them working stock, talking to the breeder and following a few siblings. With conformation lines, I'm very glad I have been able to spend ample amounts of time with both parents to assess drive and temperament.

In the future I think it just depends, honestly.

 

[momto8]

How important was doing well in your chosen sport to choosing your dog? How would you rank sporting ability vs other desired traits in your dog (size, looks, other companion qualities)
I wanted a dog that I could show and course. And hopefully go on to breed if I desired, however had the dog not been able to, that would have been okay, I would have altered and kept my dog as a pet.

Did you choose a breed or line well known for competing in your sport?
Well I chose my breed because I love them. I changed lines after waiting 3 years and did go with a line that was known for lure coursing, that has had alot of the top running dogs in our breed, has had NLCC winners, and ASFA II winners and a huge amount of multiple best in field winners.

Was it important for you to get 'the best' breed/line/whatnot for the sport or did you get a breed known to do well enough but maybe not the percieved 'best'? Or was that not a factor at all and you just chose a breed you liked regardless of sport ability?
I chose a breed I love, and was able to go with a line that produces top running dogs in the country.

What level of sport was/is your goal with your dog? For fun? Casual competition? Specific
Well, we course for fun, but we are always working towards titles. In 3 weekends of AKC coursing Vanna is 2 points away from her AKC Field Champion. Quinn has only coursed 2 days, and is around halfway I think. Vanna has 2 Best In Fields already as well. We will finish our Field Champion Titles and just keep going, because we love it!

 

[Finkie_Mom]

Ok round 2.

How important was meeting relatives of your dog in person to you? (Well for those that went with a breeder?) Or did you go based on video and reputation?

When I got Kimma, I wanted to meet family, and I did. It sold me on getting her, really. For Jari, I met the sire, but I honestly don't remember much about him besides that I liked how he looked and he had a sweet temperament (I met him when I went to pick out Kimma). I trusted Bubbles' breeder to make the match, and I can honestly say that it worked out. Jari is turning out to be a nice looking dog, and he has such a wonderful personality.

I think any future Finkies it would just depend on the circumstances surrounding my acquiring the dog (my breeding vs. someone else), and for other breeds I would really want to meet all the family I can if possible.

 

[Toller_08]

Ok round 2.

How important was meeting relatives of your dog in person to you? (Well for those that went with a breeder?) Or did you go based on video and reputation?

I definitely feel more comfortable meeting a breeder and their dogs, but I would buy a dog sight unseen also and almost did because there were people I trusted who had given me a ton of information. But, because I also own a dog from someone who is often recommended but I would never recommend myself, I am more comfortable meeting dogs and a breeder in real life as well as talking to their puppy people if possible.

 

[Locke]

Just wanted to say thanks for starting this thread.

I would like to add a new dog in a few years, and having a dog that likes (and is good at) disc is rather important to me.

I had disc dreams in mind when I adopted Smiley, but he's proving entirely disinterested and I think he'll do much better in agility.

I REALLLY want a long-haired whippet (from Aurai Sighthounds most preferably), and while probably not the "go to" breed, I'm pretty confident that with the match, and lots of disc fun from a young age, breed won't matter.

For me, a dog is a companion first and foremost, so even if disc doesn't pan out, I will still have an awesome dog.

 

[Fran101]

I chose Merlin based on being a SD prospect...hope that's ok.

How important was doing well in your chosen sport to choosing your dog? How would you rank sporting ability vs other desired traits in your dog (size, looks, other companion qualities)

SD potential was placed third on the list of priorities... right after health and temperament. First and foremost, I wanted a companion, which is why general temperament was before SD potential... I knew SD was a long shot so other qualities came first. Everything else physically (size, color etc..) had little significance. Her aussies are beautiful, I wanted an aussie, I knew I wouldn't be disappointed.


Did you choose a breed or line well known for competing in your sport?

Nope. Aussies certainly aren't the goldens/labs of the SD world... but I looked into herding breeds because they tend to have more handler-focus (great for epilepsy type SDs) and then found the right breeder and that was that

Was it important for you to get 'the best' breed/line/whatnot for the sport or did you get a breed known to do well enough but maybe not the percieved 'best'? Or was that not a factor at all and you just chose a breed you liked regardless of sport ability?

I know little about lines. I wanted a lot of things breeding stock wise (temperament/health), I wanted versatility, I wanted a certain kind of breeder I could trust

Breeder also came before breed as for which to choose. Narrowing down breeds just didn't work for me, too much variation within lines/breeding programs

I know I had SOME constraints breed wise (right size, fewer health issues etc..) but other than that, it was all about finding a breeding program that focused on traits I needed

I've heard of people looking for lines/dogs with seizure alerting genes but Merlin as totally unexpected honestly.

What level of sport was/is your goal with your dog? For fun? Casual competition? Specific titles? Nationals/worlds?

A working relationship is the goal really lol no ribbons or anything but we missed the CGC by a few points so I guess you could say we are pretty casual lol it's a learning process

Relatives question

I knew that I needed a breeder I could trust and I did trust her to do temperament testing and pick the right puppy for me. That said, I did want to meet family/relatives and get a feel for the whole idea. I could've and would've bought Merlin sight unseen but I really wanted to meet the dogs

His breeder performed a few tests of my own and was very patient and listening to the traits I needed in a dog, she did a wonderful job

 

[Tortilla]

Ok round 2.

How important was meeting relatives of your dog in person to you? (Well for those that went with a breeder?) Or did you go based on video and reputation?

It was important for me, I met like five of Paris' relatives before I even put down a deposit.