Help me find dog breeds

[SpotTheCat]

I am not sure how to find dog breeds and Black_cats thread seems to have done well so here we go
very important
I have a indoor cat who has mild Cerebellar hypoplasia, which means she can be unsteady some times and can’t get away from dogs as easily as other cats, most of the time she is on the floor. I have 2 other cats as well 1 indoors 1 outdoor.

What I want from a dog
At some point hopefully in the nearish future we will be moving out in to the country side with space for sheep and cattle like things. we want one dog as a guard dog (NOT livestock guard) and one as a herding dog. I like intelligent (That does NOT mean easily trainable) independent (maybe? Not sure if it describes what I want correctly) dogs
Guard dog

• My mother wants something she says about Alsatian, size smaller might work if they are very good guard dogs.
• must be able to live out doors in cold wet weather
• currently on the list of breeds is Rhodesian Ridgebacks

Herding dog
I do Not want border collies, I am looking for a breed of herding dog which does not need me tell it what to do constantly.

• Don’t what it too big, 21kg is about the maximum weight
• Must be able to work both sheep and cattle
• Breed so far on the list Australian kelpie

If you have any experience with the breeds already listed I would like to hear about it
thank you

 

[Willowhisp]

I have had experience with Alsatians, I have one currently. But not the other two. It sounds like a good dog for you would be a Rottweiler or Rough Collie. I have both and my rough collie Fenrir is incredibly smart. They are good dogs and have coats that were designed to help them against wolves. If you get one, make sure to get one from working lines NOT SHOW LINES. The show lines are not as intelligent and definitely not as useful. Rottweilers were originally breed as herding dogs and are very smart and loyal guard dogs as well. Another dog you might consider is a heeler or australian shepherd.

 

[SpotTheCat]

I have had experience with Alsatians, I have one currently. But not the other two. It sounds like a good dog for you would be a Rottweiler or Rough Collie. I have both and my rough collie Fenrir is incredibly smart. They are good dogs and have coats that were designed to help them against wolves. If you get one, make sure to get one from working lines NOT SHOW LINES. The show lines are not as intelligent and definitely not as useful. Rottweilers were originally breed as herding dogs and are very smart and loyal guard dogs as well. Another dog you might consider is a heeler or australian shepherd.

Thank you!
I will definitely be getting the dogs from working lines. I didn’t know Rottweilers were original herding dogs I would never have guessed that.

 

[Willowhisp]

Yeah, my rottie, Missy, likes to try and herd things all the time

 

[Willowhisp]

it's best to get a young pup so you can train it about the cats too

 

[SpotTheCat]

Yeah, my rottie, Missy, likes to try and herd things all the time

Rottweilers are on the list now, but I can’t find much information on them as herding dogs , can’t find anything on Australian shepherds at all.

 

[Willowhisp]

 

[SpotTheCat]

View attachment 2570459

I like them but my mother doesn’t and I don’t think I will be able to find somebody who breeds them for herding
Thank you for the information!

 

[BGcoop]

I am very partial to German shepherds, but they are bigger than you are looking for. One super cool aspect is that people are sometimes afraid of them just for their looks (even if they wouldn’t hurt a fly) People will walk right up to my lab and are wary of my German Shepherd even though my lab has much more aggressive tendencies and even I trust her less in certain situations.
also whichever type of dogs you get training! training! training! will be the key to getting what you are hoping for behavior wise. Breeding only plays one role in how the dogs eventually turn out, and should be looked at as a generalization of temperament only, as each dog is an individual and will have its own personality.

 

[SpotTheCat]

I am very partial to German shepherds, but they are bigger than you are looking for. One super cool aspect is that people are sometimes afraid of them just for their looks (even if they wouldn’t hurt a fly) People will walk right up to my lab and are wary of my German Shepherd even though my lab has much more aggressive tendencies and even I trust her less in certain situations.
also whichever type of dogs you get training! training! training! will be the key to getting what you are hoping for behavior wise. Breeding only plays one role in how the dogs eventually turn out, and should be looked at as a generalization of temperament only, as each dog is an individual and will have its own personality.

Aren’t german shepherds Alsatians? At least they are about the same size I think. What is your experience with with german shepherds? Did you get yours from a breeder? German Shepherds all was look very friendly to me
thank you