What met expectations and what didn't?

[BlackShadowCaneCorso]

After reading a rather heated thread it made me think of what I expect and what I got when it came to my dogs, based on what others told me and what the standard says.

Just curious about the differences you noticed about the dog that you all have ended up with.

Ex: I have rotties... heard they were protective, potential to be aggressive, social with family but aloof with strangers, not for the first time owners, etc.

After owning 3 of them they were more social than I expected them to be (could be because we EXTENSIVELY socialized them), they wouldn't know what aloof meant if they tripped over it and I didn't find them particularly difficult to handle. They were intelligent as I had been told and easily trained and bonded very quickly. They were/are a little clingy and generally want to be sitting in your lap if you let them (currently not possible in my lap )So over all we were happy with what we ended up with and to this day they will remain one of my favored breeds

We now have 2 adult corsi and some puppies... super protective naturally, aloof, loving with family aloof with strangers, dog aggressive, etc.

What we got were 2 outstanding girls that didn't get the aloof memo but don't go ga-ga over strangers either. They go for a quick pat and then back to our side, they will not go out of line of sight and are always sure that we can be checked on when required. One is generally at my feet and the other watching from a nearby location. They are protective when strangers show up at the house, one barking in advance then sitting and waiting, one standing her ground beside me with a watchful eye. We haven't had any issues with dog aggression (we show them so not acceptable), they will move out in front to block us if we are with them but then look for direction to know what their next step should be.

Overall I feel very blessed with the dogs we have been lucky enough to own and the breeders of these dogs have both become very good friends since getting puppies from them.

At some point I would like to have a couple of different dogs so would like to hear from people with experience owning them if possible, SA Boerboel, Bordeaux, Dogo, Harlequin GD, Chinese crested (I know...where did that come from ) as well as a few others.

 

[Dekka]

Fortunately I got to meet a number of JRTs (though the horse world) before I heard all the bad stuff.

Since then I have heard, they are hyper, nasty, stubborn, hard to train, bite all the time, very destructive, won't settle/no off switches and more.

The reality has been far different. Yes they have their 'bad sides' But I only have one destructive one (dekka) and she only destroys allowed things like toys. None have been hyper. In fact they are VERY chill around the house and when out and about and only turn 'on' when there is a reason.

They have been more clingy than I had anticipated. Mine are always within arms length. They are independent thinkers, but not independent dogs. SA is relatively common in JRTs I know (usually very mild, but not what you would expect in a breed that people say is highly independent) I find them easy to train as they are easily motivated.

I really find them easy (except for how fast they an turn on aggression when they feel slighted by another dog, and the potential for extremely high prey drive, but neither of these is an issue for me) to live with. They are calm relaxed dogs in the house, and on the street, obedient and well mannered. LOL I don't get why most people say nasty things about them

In fact today we are going to get our nails done and Dekka is coming with me. She just lies quietly even in a busy salon and just chills till its time to go.

 

[Sit Stay]

English Shepherds are still so rare, at least around here that unlike poor JRTs they don't come surrounded by a bad reputation. I read a lot about them on the internet, and then talked to Quinn's breed a lot about the breed. I was expecting them to be intelligent, loyal, eager to work with you and just a good all purpose farm dog. Quinn wasn't a big shock - I got all that for sure. Her fondness for children and animals I'd read stories about but wasn't really expecting, but that was definitely a bonus. Another bonus is how well she's turning out doing some sport stuff - I knew that she had some agility titled relatives and that her breeders were ACC judges, but when I got her I didn't intend to do any sports with her except maybe obedience and possibly stock work. Big maybe. Those plans just kind of progressed since I've got her. We've tried our hand at tracking, go to obedience class weekly, go to agility weekly and we'll probably swap out agility for stock work this winter. My obedience trainer loves her and thinks she's a dog I can do anything with. Again, I knew she had relatives that were titled in rally, agility and tracking but I didn't go out looking for a dog I could do these things with but I'm glad I ended up with one that could.

Basically I haven't had any surprises - just happy little "bonuses" about how well this breed, and specifically Quinn, fits my lifestyle and my "wants" in a dog. I was very fortunate though to talk at length with a responsible breeder who has an uncanny ability to match pups to their owners.

 

[Renee750il]

I've got to say that Filas were everything "as advertised" plus a thousand times more. There is so much about them that either can't be put into words or sounds too "out there" until you've bonded with one.

Tallulah is also very much what I expected from an APBT, but I had very good sources of information; people like Breeze and Miakoda, and I've had Terriers before and knew what intelligent, clever dogs they tend to be.

 

[Linds]

I think the biggest thing that I expected and wasn't how it ended up was Traveler and water. Everyone I talked to said Koolies were huge water dogs from the get go and Traveler wasn't. Most of his puppyhood he spent barking at the other dogs like an annoying pest from the shore.

BUT he's become a huge water dog with exposure and his drive growing so that chasing the toy into the deep water was instinct rather than stopping to think about it. So now I have a dog that jumps head first into water and won't leave it until I climb in and drag him out. Just wasn't instant like I had read a lot of others were.

Also, the noises he makes. I read they were vocal but my brain just kinda went Herding Breed=
Barking. But when people said vocal they meant they talk. They make strange noises and have conversations with you. Just wasn't expecting that but it was a pleasant surprise, at least for me.

But pretty much everything else I had an idea about and he pretty much came as advertised.

 

[NicoleLJ]

When I got Sheena(WGSD) I was not surprised with her bonding so strongly to me and the children. I had read about their intelligence, their aloof behaviour with strangers(Sheena didn't get that memo either), their desire to learn and want to be with their owners all the time. I had only ever worked with mixes of GSD's or abused cases that were from back yard breeders. So getting Sheena was a real joy. She learn more quickly then any dog I have ever worked with and her desire to learn more all the time was amazing. Her uncanny ability to sense danger was amazing as well. I was not prepared for her total devotion to children and babies but I love that about her. And her mothering instinct for anything small is interesting.

All in all she taught me many things about this breed and I realized that this is and always will be the breed for me. I will have others but I will always have a WGSD. She also showed me that this was the perfect breed for my dream of breeding and donating Service Dogs. Sheena has changed many lives and hopefully will continue to for many more years to come.

 

[JacksonsMom]

I remember my grandma telling my mom that "Oh, those are the dogs (yorkies) that are really bad with kids!" when I told them I was getting a yorkie the next week. Then, a few days before I picked Jackson up (not from a good breeder, just a persons house who had her dog get pregnant), I joined a yorkie forum and started getting scared! I started seeing all these people with dogs who didn't walk, only wanted to picked up, and lots of sick/injured/etc, and I seriously almost did not pick up Jackson lol. But I fell in love the day I saw him.

He is nothing like I would have expected him to be (to my pleasure) but I owe a lot of that to the socialization and training that I did with him too. He is 16lbs, not tiny by any means, he can gogogo all day long, he loves to run, he LOVES other dogs, he's really well behaved, he loves kids and is great with my young siblings, he's not a yappy anklebiter, LOL.

 

[MandyPug]

Well i wanted a Border Collie or Cardi, but i got a Pug (mum's peace offering so i didn't bring home the Border Collie) and i was bummed because hey it's a Pug. However she doesn't really meet the Pug stereotype of couch weight who can't breathe or walk more than 10 steps without taking a rest. She's not stubborn, she uses the bathroom outside 365 days of the year without problem, and she shaping up to be a pretty **** good agility, obedience, and rally dog.

Though it's probably all in how i raised her, trained her, and keep her fit.

 

[Sit Stay]

English Shepherds are still so rare, at least around here that unlike poor JRTs they don't come surrounded by a bad reputation. I read a lot about them on the internet, and then talked to Quinn's breed a lot about the breed. I was expecting them to be intelligent, loyal, eager to work with you and just a good all purpose farm dog. Quinn wasn't a big shock - I got all that for sure. Her fondness for children and animals I'd read stories about but wasn't really expecting, but that was definitely a bonus. Another bonus is how well she's turning out doing some sport stuff - I knew that she had some agility titled relatives and that her breeders were ACC judges, but when I got her I didn't intend to do any sports with her except maybe obedience and possibly stock work. Big maybe. Those plans just kind of progressed since I've got her. We've tried our hand at tracking, go to obedience class weekly, go to agility weekly and we'll probably swap out agility for stock work this winter. My obedience trainer loves her and thinks she's a dog I can do anything with. Again, I knew she had relatives that were titled in rally, agility and tracking but I didn't go out looking for a dog I could do these things with but I'm glad I ended up with one that could.

Basically I haven't had any surprises - just happy little "bonuses" about how well this breed, and specifically Quinn, fits my lifestyle and my "wants" in a dog. I was very fortunate though to talk at length with a responsible breeder who has an uncanny ability to match pups to their owners.

Ugh, just noticed this now. Uh derrrr - I meant AAC. My brain goes faster than my fingers, LOL.

 

[Beanie]

I was surprised at how ballsy Auggie was. Kota doesn't really care about much one way or another, he's very steady and middle-of-the-road, but Happy was kind of a wussy and VERY soft. It took a LONG time before I finally realized that I could shout at Auggie all I wanted and he did. not. care. He is very much the opposite of soft.

It really just drove home how important it is to find the right breeder. That and reading in Sheltie Talk about the kind of temperament that Auggie has and how that is what the authors of that book call normal and what they demand, and how ummm harsh they were towards the kind of temperament that Happy had. It changed how I thought about the breed and what I expected out of my dogs.

That was really it. I guess you could say Auggie exceeded my expectations more than anything else. I honestly haven't been disappointed in anything with him or Payton.

 

[Moth]

I did a lot of homework before we brought Watson home... I knew to expect him to be extremely smart. I was aware that basenjis are supposed to be very independent and at times aloof.

I was surprised because while he is independent he is not aloof with us at all. He is by far one of the most wonderfully affectionate dogs I know. He is everything I expected and so much more. I love this breed!

Menchi was not a surprise. I have had lots of exposure to shar peis. She is adorable. A bright, little girl with her own opinions already, and a clown

Maeve is one of the softest dogs I have ever had...she is a big bowl of mush and will not do well if handled in any way harshly. I expected her to be sensitive...but holy cow I will probably not get another collie after she goes...

 

[Red.Apricot]

Elsie is shaping up to be exactly what I was hoping for. She's only 10 months old, so we'll see how it goes, but I've seen signs. ;]

She's actually slightly less crazy-with-energy than I was expecting. She doesn't get tired, and she's willing to go until she drops, but when we're in the house, as long as she's gotten a reasonable amount of go-time the last few days, she isn't a pest. 4 mile walk around the lake, with swimming breaks + 45 minutes of unbroken in the water fetch time + 30 minutes of top speed zoomies = What's next?

I've never lived with a cuddler before--I wasn't expecting that. When the alarm goes off in the morning, my boyfriend turns it off and I have to roll onto my back to prepare for impact. She launches herself (gently) up to lay on my chest to have her morning cuddle with me. She was sleeping on the bed every night, before it got hot. Now she sleeps next to my side of the bed, on the tile. I have to be careful if I get up in the middle of the night not to step on her.

I'd heard about the one-person dog thing, and she is... sort of. She follows me from room to room, and doesn't do that to anyone else. She won't let anyone but me cut her nails (although she'll let anyone that she'll let pet her pick her feet up and manipulate her toes), and she doesn't like to let my boyfriend brush her (which we're working on). She really, really loves her family (which to her means me, my sister, my mom, my dad, my boyfriend, my roommate, my best friend and that's it). Other than that, she'll stand and let strangers pet her, provided I ask her to, and they're polite about it, but she doesn't seek them out, and doesn't enjoy it. She's perfectly fine around strangers, she just doesn't want them touching her.

I wasn't prepared for the number of games she'd invent, or her sense of humor. I guess from the outside, since all the Tervs I've met have been a little closed off with strangers, it's hard to see, but she's a goofy, goofy dog when we aren't working. She thinks its funny to play pranks, and likes it when pranks are played on her, too. She drops mouthfuls of water on my boyfriends feet, and likes it when you pop out from behind the wall and say, "Boo!" She interacts with the fish in my fish tank, and tries to get them to play with her. She takes toys over to the glass and taps the catfish with them, and barks when he swims away.

I wasn't prepared for how soft she'd be. I've never had a dog that actually cared if I was upset or not. She's extremely sensitive, and I think that's making me a better person, because I need to be aware of my mood and of the impression I'm sending.

She's a quirky, goofy dog, and she's very smart. I didn't think that she'd have all of the indoor-doors in the house figured out by 10 months, or that she'd learn how to get ice and water from the fridge.

I was told she wouldn't like water, and she can't get enough swimming. I was told she might not be safe with cats, and that might end up being true, but so far, she thinks cats are best buddies.

I do wish she were a little less vocal about other dogs when she's on leash. Offleash, she could give a flip, but once she's on leash, she does her Gremlin impression, and warblegarble-barks at them until they say 'hi,' and then she's fine. That's getting better with more outings, and we're working on it. That, and pulling on leash when she's excited are really her only two flaws, if you ask me.

Ask my boyfriend, and he'd have a few more. ;]

 

[HayleyMarie]

Teagan my westie is pretty to the standard temperment wise.

I've had other Westies before growing up, but they were not socialized. My first westie growing up hated children, even her own. She also had very hight prey drive. Maddie my second westie was pretty much perfect to the standard wise, but she was not socialized as a puppy and had DA issues. Which is common to the breed.

And one thing they do live up to is that they talk ALOT!! You also hear that they are very independant. Teagan is independent, but more so confident in what she is doing, being it games or work. She likes to be with me and will follow me around all day if allowed.


I did expect that she might be aloof with strangers, which she can be. She is a snob. Strangers do not exist in her world. And I did expect that she might end up being DA or DR. She is more on the intolernet to rude behavour by strange dogs. And I did expect that she would have good prey drive, which she does

She is quite the drama queen when she wants something. She acts like the world is going to end if she does not get what she wants..

Mostly I am very happy in my little terrier and dont think I could ask for a better dog

Im planning on meeting a Boerboel breeder about 5-6 hours away from me. That shall be interesting. I have never met the breed, but have been talking lots with Jen (pitbullpony) and other breeders about the Boerboel. What she tells me and what I have learned they will be perfect and exactly what I am looking for, but my expectations might be differnt when I meet this breeders dogs, although I know these dogs might not be the right standard of the breed. I have talked to them and their dogs do not sound personality wise, what the standard of the boerboel is. Meeting the breeder will be a good experiance either way. I will get to see the size of the breed and maybe they will suprise me. You never know

 

[AdrianneIsabel]

My malinois are everything I was promised they would be, variations of such but very true.

I feel very similarly about my apbt as well.

 

[Gypsydals]

Ivan is pretty much what I had expected to have. But he is my 3rd dal. The only thing I was a bit surprised at is how sharp he is. And I don't know if thats his breed or upbringing, because I haven't met any of his family that is as sharp as he is. I expected him to pick a favorite from the family. And he did.

I grew up hearing how bad Dalmatians are, how horrible they are with kids, how hyperactive they are, blah blah blah. But with having a Dalmatian since I was 2, I've known better.
The one thing I've noticed is the females I've had tend to be more child oriented VS. my male who would prefer children to fall off the face of the earth.

 

[monkeys23]

My Alaskan sled dog mutts are just what they should be. Lily I would consider just about my perfect dog, except for her eating disorder from her street days. Thats literally the only thing I'd change. I've loved sled dogs since I was tiny, especially the stories/movies about the suposedly wolf hybrid ones that were obviously sibe/gsd mix alaskan sled dogs.
I had been around purebred Sibes before getting my own dog, but this was my first foray into the breed type. Exactly the right everything for me. I adore them, but I wouldn't recommend them for most people. I'm sure I'll probably always have one around.

What did surprise me is how much I loved the shepherd traits and how it got me into researching the GSD, Malinois, and Dutch Shepherd.

I thought for sure I wanted a well bred working line GSD next until I finally met a well bred working Malinois. I'm probably totally insane, but I love the look and characteristics even better than well bred working GSD. I'm not opposed to getting a good GSD, but I want a Mal or a dutchie next. Purists say what they will, but Mals and Dutchies are pretty similar breeds.... I've been lucky to meet a wide variety of amazing and not so good dogs from a huge variety of backgrounds and breeds through doing PP training.

I really like Dobes. I almost got one when I was dog hunting for my first dog. I'm glad I got Lily because god knows she's from a healthier breed, but I love the look, drive, and personality of a well put together Doberman.

I would really like to meet a Boer Boel. I'd love a molloser someday and they are at the top of my list because of how athletic the working bred ones can be. Corso is second on the list... followed by Fila... Might be a nice offset to the crackheads I normally prefer.

I grew up with BC's and I have to say that I don't like whats happened to the breed since the AKC acquired them in the 90's. I grew up with/around working ranch bred stock dogs so these really temperamentally soft dogs just don't do it for me. There are still some good ones out there if you know where to go, buts its such a **** shame seeing how different they are now. Its pathetic that Lily has more and better herding drive than my parent's current well bred, fully trained BC.

 

[Aleron]

My Collie was exactly as I thought he'd by and as it turns out, not all that typical of the breed. He had nice drive over all, strong natural retrieve, a lot of prey drive, great toy drive and loved to do stuff. Very active, exuberant dog while out and about and many people had the idea that he must be very hard to live with. But at home, he was a great house dog. I tried for quite awhile to find another Collie like him but while they were all nice dogs, they didn't have the "Ommph" that he had.

My first GSD was everything I had expected in a GSD - super smart, super devoted, serious but exuberant, bold, totally sound, protective but level headed and drivey. I didn't expect the same sex aggression, although I should have. The other two GSDs weren't so much what I expect a GSD to be, not that they were/are bad dogs. They either lacked drive, soundness, protectiveness or level headedness.

I had no expectations of the Belgians, I got into them accidentally LOL If I listened now to what people told me about them, I'd expect them to be total monsters and would probably not want one. Either such freaks that they can't do anything or so soft they will shut down at the drop of a hat or so wound up they can't ever settle down or so reactive that everything is a constant struggle or....

The PyrShep surprised me by how bold he is. PyrSheps are sort of portrayed by many as being these dogs that are super easy to turn off of things because they are so sensitive. He's actually one of the boldest dogs I have had, other than the first GSD. He doesn't hesitate to go over, under or through anything in his way. He doesn't worry about stuff moving under him or crashing when he hits it. With Savvy it's always full force ahead!

 

[Kat09Tails]

The papillons surprise me only in their accepted variation even within the show ring. Every single one is different in appearance, temperament, sharpness, shyness, and all are considered within standard.

 

[SaraB]

Great danes are NOT couch potatoes or gentle giants. I have more dog related injuries (black eyes, bruises, etc) from my danes than any other dog, ever. My danes are also high energy and busy. As they are maturing they are slowing down a bit, but the first 3 years are insane compared to the "lovable, lazy dog" I was promised. Not that I'm complaining, I am so glad I have dogs that love to run agility with me even if they arn't a typical breed for the sport.

 

[*blackrose]

Blackie and Sadie were pretty much everything you hear about Labradors. Active, goofy, chewy, food obsessed, they shed all over the place, loved water, friendly, loved kids, etc.

They weren't, however, people friendly to the point of ignoring us, wild, crazy, unmanageable, and dumb.

They both also had some guarding instinct. Blackie tried to run off someone that walked into our backyard without mom knowing he was there and Sadie would put up a very good show at the window - big flashy teeth and hackles raised - if someone came up to the house. Both would immediately greet any person with wagging tails and we never once had to worry about them biting anyone (Blackie would sit for a cookie from the gas man), but they were perfect watch dogs and put on a good show.