Getting a puppy? Decisions to make.

[Rusty Hills Farm]

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I agree with this! I do NOT agree with a terrier, tho. I have a rat terrier. He's a love. But he is THE most hyper dog I have ever known. And while he is very smart, his hyperness undermines his smartness. Good example yesterday: Power is out. We are trying to start up the generator and hook up the friges and the freezer to it. Jack is racing around underfoot, gets tangled up in the wire to the fan, knocks it over. It hits the bird cage, which pops open when it lands on the floor, and now I've got a pair of lovebirds on the wing--and the big glass doors are wide open. Do I really have to tell you what happened next?!? Out they flew onto the screened porch with Jack hot on their little tails. It took longer to get Jack and the birds sorted out than it did to get the generator set up, and the whole time Jack is racing around. He was jumping over furniture like hurdles and crashing into stuff. Meanwhile my Dobies and GSDs are sitting attentively and watching the chaos.

I have had schutzhund dogs for more than 30 years. They are beautifully behaved always. Jack is chaos always. It's like he has springs on his feet and cannot be still. He's had a good bit of obedience work but the minute anything "interesting" happens, Jack is bouncing off the walls. I've never dealt with anything like it before.

I have friends with Corgis and they seem like great little dogs.


Rusty

 

[SarahFair]

I had a Jack/Rat terrier... LOVED HIM!
He would have been perfect for a farm.

Unfortuantly he loved to ride in the car so much hed sneak in and hide. Well one day he snuck in my car but instead of riding in my car we rode in my sisters...
It was a hot 103 degree day and he wasnt discovered for 2 house, dead.
Little Jas...

 

[Lacey1988]

My Rat Terrier/ Chihuahua mix is fixing to have puppies...The puppies are gonna be mostly chihuahua with a splash of rat terrier in them. so my vote is a RatChi....They are very smart and playful

 

[Fawkes]

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I agree with this!

Small, cute, smart, not super hyper like terriers are. I think they are one of the best for your situation.

 

[animalpro24]

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Around horses, I don't think so!! Any small, hyper dog around horses isn't the best idea. Why not a medium dog?
American Water Spaniel

Basenji

Basset Hound

Bearded Collie

Bedlington Terrier

Belgian Malinois

Belgian Sheepdog

Belgian Tervuren

Border Collie

Boston Terrier

Brittany

Bulldog

Bull Terrier

Clumber Spaniel

Dalmation

English Springer Spaniel

Field Spaniel

French Bulldog

Glen of Imaal Terrier

Harrier

Irish Terrier

Keeshond

Kerry Blue Terrier

Manchester Terrier

Norwegian Elkhound

Parson Russell Terrier

Pharaoh Hound

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

Plott Hound

Poodle

Portuguese Water Dog

Puli

Samoyed

Siberian Husky

Smooth Fox Terrier

Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Standard Schnauzer

Sussex Spaniel

Tibetan Terrier

Welsh Springer Spaniel

Welsh Terrier

Whippet

Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Here's a list I found of SOME medium dogs, there are many more! Watch Dogs 101 on Animalplanet.com and do some research on a dog that you would like and consider if they would do well around horses and the environment you live in.

 

[animalpro24]

Also you can go to Wikipedia.com and search "List of dog breeds" and they will give you tons of dogs!

 

[punk-a-doodle]

I would stay away from breeds with high prey drive and energy levels that express as hyperness (and that is on an individual level too, even if the breed is known for being good for your situation, a particular dog from that breed may not be). Since you want a dog that is devoted to you, look for that trait either in mutts or specific breeds.

I forgot to mention that I also suggested ACDs because they have a short coat of a very different texture most people are used to. It is very sleek, so no grooming required except when they blow their coats. They will blow their coats one to two times a year, and are known for their low maintenance yet gorgeous coats. ACDs are typically extremely quiet dogs without a lot of barking, though I have seen some lines which bark constantly, so you would want to look into that. Our current ACD is eerily quiet, and only barks when she feels there is an immediate threat. She does not bark at other animals even. You absolutely would have to be willing to put in the training though, especially with a heeling breed around a horse. Otherwise, you run the risk of a heeler taking a nip and getting its head kicked in. I think the suggestions of using a breed quiz type website to start narrowing down your options might help.

 

[bagendhens]

you said you want a SMALL breed...dont let anyone deter you from that, everyone has their favorites but you knwo what you want.

i have a friend with 13 chihuahuas, they live quite happily on a 125 acre farm with goats, horses dairy cows ect...
its NOT about the breed, its how the dog is raised, socilized ect. a chihuahuas is no more at risk than a border collie would be getting under foot of a horse...both could be killed with a kick, so from day 1 puppy is trained to respect the horses space, puppy isnt left to just wander aroujd in the horse paddocks ect and youl be fine.

toy breeds are no more "naturally" high strung than any other breed of dog, the key is breeding, and training and socilization...

if you want a smal breed thats a great companion and can be easily transported will folow you to the ends of the earth and back, active enough to keep up...you might want to look into the chihuahua (a little dog with a big reputation, but i can tell you from expereince, they are wonderfull when properly socilized, have no idea how tiny they are and ive never met a breed more devoted to thier people...)
papillion (another little dog with big attitude, these guys excel at agility and fly ball. and again are very loyal to thier people.
id happily suggest a powderpuff chinese crested to anyone..i love my cresties, again enough energy to keep up but when its time to settle down they are incredibly snuggle bugs but i think a crestie would be a little too much maintennce for you...

honestly sounds to me your a prime candidate for a pappillion or a chihuahua (long or short haired) dont be put off by the long haire on either of these breeds, they are wash and wear and other than a quick comb on the feathering once in a while realy dont require any more work than any other dog.


for a colloege student who also works i wouldnt suggest a terrier breed unless you never go out in your free time, there high drive and high energy, they are great farm dogs as terriers are bred to hunt rats, but because of what they were bred for they tend to need to go go go, they arnt realy as "cuddly" as many of the companion breeds simply because thats NOT what theyve been selectivly bred for.


people tend to discount the little breeds as "froo froo" and "too delicate" but dont let their size fool you, these little guys have no idea there small and ive got a 3lb chihuahuas that goes on 5 mile hikes on a regular basis...they are not out of the question simply becaus eyour outdoorsy or work in a stable!
given you work around horses id look for a slightly older dog whos a little more laid back and not easily spooked...
but dont give up on the little guys simply because you work at a horse barn

not to mention small dogs are MUCH easier to travel with, they dont take up a whole seat, they can fly in the cabin should your travels ever take you by air, most buss and coach companies allow small breeds because they dont take up much room and can easily stay in a carrier, and packing their food and such takes up alot less space, a large ziplock of food will last a chihuahua a weekend...try doing that with a large breed...

not to mention no worries about a dog tiring out at an event, on a hike or trail ride ect because with the little guys you simply pick em up put em in a back pack or sling type carrier and no worries...(though most will happily keep up)

 

[ChestnutRidge]

Australian Cattle Dogs (ACDs) are awesome. My DH's family bred them when he was a kid, and we have a rescue now. They often end up in shelters because of their high energy level. They are working dogs, so they need something to do, and they want to be with you all of the time. If you don't have activities for them such as herding, walks, ball playing, etc., they will dig, chew, and so on. Our dog "herds" the cats and chickens, plays ball, and hikes in the mountains (sometimes carrying her own water in a cute backpack), which is enough for her. If you don't know how to handle a dog by setting rules and boundaries and being the leader then they will take charge. They are strong, resilient, and brilliant. Our ACD understands - that is, she responds with appropriate action - to more than 80 words and phrases (we counted them up one day.

) She even breaks up neighborhood cat fights on command, without even a nip. They are not only used to herd cattle but as police dogs in Australia because of their intelligence. Cattle dogs are great for agility competitions, so some people train them on that to give them work.

Having had a cattle dog, I will never have any other type of dog, and we rescued her when she was already 3. So, if you chose to have an ACD, just make sure that you have the time and energy to commit to setting boundaries and keeping it challenged.

 

[DelcoChix]

It's a very personal decision and you are very wise to think this out as you are--wish everyone would do the same before getting a dog, it should be a lifelong comittment.
My personal vote goes for the herding dogs, namely Australian Shepherds, only because I've had them for over 25 years, from the time I was a college student, through marriage, kids..etc..not the same dog though I've lived in apartments in the city, in the suburbs and in the country, so having to have lots and lots of space (which you will see in just about every dog book regarding Aussies) is not the truth from my perspective. What is required is a lot of time, especially the first year, spent on training and scoializing. They, as most dogs in the herding category are, are way too smart, if you don't channel that intelligence and give them something to do, they will come up with something to do on their own...can spell trouble. The awesome benefit is you have a dog that you can take anywhere with you, you don't have to worry about them 'getting loose,' etc...we have never had a fenced in yard (apartment life, home in the subdivision, or 150' off the busy road) because I spent the time to train each of them the limits of the yard, and they come when called. They are fine on a leash, or tied up if necessary (which isn't often), but I can also let them go anywhere and not fear they will run off. Since they don't have the sporting dogs prey drive they don't tend to get distracted by the scent of a bunny...etc.
I'd have to disagree the previous posting about the Chihuahua and Border Collie in the "...a chihuahuas is no more at risk than a border collie would be getting under foot of a horse" as the herding dogs have the natural instinct to avoid the hooves of livestock, that's what they were bred to do. My kids had a heckuva time learning to walk with two Aussies underfoot--the dogs can't walk a straight line, their instinct is to go right, then left, and so on, to dodge a hoof--whether they are used to herd or not. Mine have never been the strong herding lines as I want them for pets, not workers, and they still had the natural instinct to avoid my horses. I am not saying a Chihuahua (or any other small breed) can't learn their way around live stock, just saying they do not have the natural instinct, which means more watchful time in the learning process....which should be the case no matter what breed you decide upon. And, the previous poster is 100% right in that any dog can be kicked, killed by a horse (or any livestock), but the herding dogs,being a bit larger and having the instinct, have a much better chance of coming through something like that.
Downside of Aussies would be their longer, beautiful haircoat--they should be brushed regularly to avoid the tumbleweed hairballs on the floor, no pro grooming necessary, but should be done. They are called 'velcro dogs' for a reason, once you are bonded, you will never be alone...don't expect to go upstairs or to the bathroom without a shadow, a trail ride, a trip to the bank...no matter, there's always a willing buddy. Anything worth having is worth the 'work,' pays off in the end.
Besides...Aussies can be really entertaining...especially if they happen to enjoy snow...and snowballs