Dog dreaming

[Building Bridges]

Surely we all must dream about various dog breeds and all the dogs we would have if we could, right? That might just be me.

But I know that for me personally, I am always researching and dreaming about dog breeds and if I could have every breed of dog, I probably would.

I want practically every breed.

And every time I think I have it narrowed down, another breed pops up that I want.

Surely some of you must be similar.

So....

What dog breed(s) do you really want? Which ones would you have if you could?? Or maybe you already have your dream dog but want another? Maybe you just want more dogs?

Personally I would probably have about a million dogs if I could.

This thread is for all things dog dreaming!!

I probably won’t actually get a million dogs or all the breeds I want but we can dream.

I had to impose the "5 year rule" on myself many years ago.....new puppies cannot join the household until the youngest one I have is 5 years old. That way it keeps my pack at a 3-4 dog max. (I've bent that rule a couple times but would never get a puppy until my youngest is at least 3 yr old. This ensures that each young dog has lots of my individual attention....and the older ones are ready to be calm, sensible role models. Then about 20 years ago I decided that going forward I would only have herding breeds. I've had shelties, corgis, GSDs, Aussies and Bcs. As a trainer, I've worked with just about everything...Rotties, Yorkies, Newfies, Pits, Labs (a TON of labs)...and everything in between. I enjoy them all but personally will never own anything other than herding breeds.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I had to impose the "5 year rule" on myself many years ago.....new puppies cannot join the household until the youngest one I have is 5 years old. That way it keeps my pack at a 3-4 dog max. (I've bent that rule a couple times but would never get a puppy until my youngest is at least 3 yr old. This ensures that each young dog has lots of my individual attention....and the older ones are ready to be calm, sensible role models. Then about 20 years ago I decided that going forward I would only have herding breeds. I've had shelties, corgis, GSDs, Aussies and Bcs. As a trainer, I've worked with just about everything...Rotties, Yorkies, Newfies, Pits, Labs (a TON of labs)...and everything in between. I enjoy them all but personally will never own anything other than herding breeds.

That’s a great rule!!

And I personally love the herding breeds!! I love the sporting breeds too and have always had retrievers or retriever mixes but in considering an Aussie or BC for my next dog. It’s a tough decision between them or a Golden though. :/

 

[Building Bridges]

That’s a great rule!!

And I personally love the herding breeds!! I love the sporting breeds too and have always had retrievers or retriever mixes but in considering an Aussie or BC for my next dog. It’s a tough decision between them or a Golden though. :/

So totally different!! Aussies, as herding dogs look to their people....because they are bred for herding and in order to do what they are bred to do...they need a "shepherd". Even as babies, they give so much more eye contact....reinforce that well and you have a dog that never takes his eyes off you. Sporting dogs don't need people to do what they are bred to do. They and their noses can have a grand time without us..... I'm not saying they can't be trained to pay attention...I'm just saying that in my experience, it's a much bigger job to get there. I had a golden....she was an "angel" dog...as sweet as they come....I've had labs too but they are just not my cup of tea. There are dogs for everyone...depending what you want.

 

[chickens really]

All breeds can be trained to different jobs and doesn't need to be breed specific either. My little Silkie is a Chicken wrangler by trade. ...

 

[FortCluck]

That’s adorable.

And that’s true! Good point!! Not really worried so much about the attitude (which I know little dogs have a lot of ) or them not being able to defend themselves but more just them getting stomped on or knocked over or broken bones cause they’re so fragile.

I know the puggle and jolene are quite feisty/sturdy but some breeds seem daintier. Maybe not. Idk. Or maybe I need to stick with terriers and feisty breeds.

Smaller dogs aren't dainty. They actually can take care of themselves. Larger dogs are usually afraid of them because of their complex.

A big dog is always scary so they don't have that drive to act that way for survival. Small dogs HAVE to act tough because if not it could mean life or death. It's built into them to be strong and not give up.

Molly got her skull grabbed onto by a Staffordshire terrier. She didn't give up and just let the dog have control. Molly fought and it was probably the reason she didn't get injured more than she should have.

 

[ShrekDawg]

So totally different!! Aussies, as herding dogs look to their people....because they are bred for herding and in order to do what they are bred to do...they need a "shepherd". Even as babies, they give so much more eye contact....reinforce that well and you have a dog that never takes his eyes off you. Sporting dogs don't need people to do what they are bred to do. They and their noses can have a grand time without us..... I'm not saying they can't be trained to pay attention...I'm just saying that in my experience, it's a much bigger job to get there. I had a golden....she was an "angel" dog...as sweet as they come....I've had labs too but they are just not my cup of tea. There are dogs for everyone...depending what you want.

This is very helpful!! Thanks!! I do love the retrievers and Goldens really are so sweet but I really think I would like to try a herding breed. Especially because I love training so I think it would be perfect.

I do sometimes worry I wouldn’t be able to handle one but I think I’m just second guessing myself maybe because with as much as I train and all the areas we have to exercise around here (plus the huge yard), I think it would be fine.

I want to certified as a trainer eventually but I’m not yet but do dog walk/pet sit and have read and watched tons of stuff and always finding more to learn ha

I want to try agility and/or nose work or possibly rally or other sports with a future dog too but if they don’t want to, that’s fine too, but I do think it’d be fun, along with trick training. And the sporting breeds and mixes are fun but I feel like the herding breeds are a whole different level haha

 

[chickens really]

Smaller dogs aren't dainty. They actually can take care of themselves. Larger dogs are usually afraid of them because of their complex.

A big dog is always scary so they don't have that drive to act that way for survival. Small dogs HAVE to act tough because if not it could mean life or death. It's built into them to be strong and not give up.

Molly got her skull grabbed onto by a Staffordshire terrier. She didn't give up and just let the dog have control. Molly fought and it was probably the reason she didn't get injured more than she should have.

Lucy attacked a Fox and chased it down the driveway as it stole a young Cockerel. She had her belly torn open by a coyote also! She is a tough little dog with so much heart to protect her belongings..
She has had puppies twice and she is a Momma that no one messes with her pups either.

 

[FortCluck]

Lucy attacked a Fox and chased it down the driveway as it stole a young Cockerel. She had her belly torn open by a coyote also! She is a tough little dog with so much heart to protect her belongings..
She has had puppies twice and she is a Momma that no one messes with her pups either.

Smaller dogs to me are smarter than larger dogs. I've owned both and smaller ones always learned quicker. Jolene is fast and very attentive. She knows how to open the gate and she's very sneaky.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Smaller dogs aren't dainty. They actually can take care of themselves. Larger dogs are usually afraid of them because of their complex.

A big dog is always scary so they don't have that drive to act that way for survival. Small dogs HAVE to act tough because if not it could mean life or death. It's built into them to be strong and not give up.

Molly got her skull grabbed onto by a Staffordshire terrier. She didn't give up and just let the dog have control. Molly fought and it was probably the reason she didn't get injured more than she should have.

Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend or upset or anything.

Smaller dogs are great, I love them, I was just meaning like the bones and stuff when I was saying dainty. Like they’re smaller and could get hurt more easily. Maybe not the ones with thicker/stronger bones like terriers or puggles or whatever but some of like the papillons or tiny little dogs have super small/thin bones and stuff.

But maybe they can defend themselves? Idk.

Just even with the attitude, they could more easily get hurt if they accidentally got stepped on or squished whether by a human or a bigger dog is more what I meant.

But maybe that doesn’t happen as frequently as I am thinking it does???

I love the small dogs, nothing against them at all, and I would love to own one, probably will have several eventually, but I just worry about them getting hurt or injured which is a big thing holding me back. Not that I don’t think they’re great. Just that I wouldn’t want one to get hurt. Especially as little babies.

The adults probably have more attitude but little tiny puppies wouldn’t necessarily have that yet and Libby and Franklin play extremely rough. Body slams and wrestling and the like. But maybe they would adapt their play style for a smaller or younger dog. Don’t know. Never been around them.

But oh wow that’s amazing she survived that!!

Maybe they are tougher than I am giving them credit for.

 

[chickens really]

Smaller dogs to me are smarter than larger dogs. I've owned both and smaller ones always learned quicker. Jolene is fast and very attentive. She knows how to open the gate and she's very sneaky.

Yes...Lucy is always amazing me! Same with my Poidle Darla. Quick thinkers and nothing gets past them. I tried teaching Darla to wrangle chickens but she gets too scared of them. The Ducks chased her when a smaller pup she hasn't gotten any bravery...