Narrowing down dog breeds (retriever, terrier, or Aussie)

[MissChick@dee]

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,what an adorable little pup.

My mother hates when I do that to Mindy. My father passed my Mom (she’s 87) saw Mindy on line and just HAD to have her (not even knowing the K9’s history). Mindy is a angel sent from heaven. Perfect! My mom’s best friend

 

[Ruralhideaway]

My rough collie was calm until there was something to do. Incredibly smart dog. Perfectly kind and honest natured. Fairly good with all stock although she had some urge to chase things. The coat was hell though. Smooth collies are nice. Bearded collies are gorgeous but hard to find.

While I love Aussies I'll suggest caution. I've known about a dozen well. Family members, best friends etc. Only 2 were what you could consider truly safe and not inclined to bite. One of those was probably the best dog I've ever known. These were dogs that went everywhere, had farm time for exercise, kept busy with sports or work. Ideal lives really.

My cousins dogs idea of "just playing" nearly cost his owner an eye. They are intense dogs and like many Australian breeds not 100% reliable. My understanding is that working dogs on Australian farms are partially selected for lack of pet qualities. Takes many generations to change dogs bred to work aggressively and not seek human approval.

 

[ShrekDawg]

View attachment 1499357
I haven’t read all the post so I don’t know if it’s been suggested but I absolutely Love Love my mini poodle. Before her I’ve had a Chinese crested, smooth collie, lab and yorki.

The lab coated my house with hair to the point I couldn’t take it. There was hair in my food. That plus the fact that she was aggressive towards other dogs and my horses. She was very aggressive towards the smooth collie that my FIL had. He was a very non confrontational dog that got along with all dogs. She acted like she was going to kill him. I was worried about her going after my horse if she was let out on accident while I had my horse out. So I rehomed her with a lab rescue. The positive was that she was great with kids.

The smooth collie came from several states away from a show breeder and he was a beautiful dog. Very very very vocal though. You know the show lassie when the dog was whining at Timmy. Yup that was him ALL the time. Shedded like crazy also but not as bad as the lab. We ended up giving him to to my FIL who had him until he passed. The main reason for not keeping was because he wasn’t happy being an indoor dog (would pace and whine all day around the couch) and he kept flipping the Yorkshire terrier over. We had just found out she was sick.

My yorki was my baby . When she was two she was diagnosed with a liver disease and finally at 8yrs that is what took her. Very vocal ( loved to bark ..it was her joy), very sweet, very big dog terrier in a tiny package, loved to hunt and there was no stopping her, very very stubborn and very hard to potty train.

Our Chinse Crested we got as a companion for our yorki after we rehomed our smooth collie. She was a great cuddler and heat warmer. Very cat like. Sweet but stupid (kinda reminds me of my silkie). She was quiet until my yorki taught her the joy of barking at everything. She would follow right behind my feet and then scream at me if she thought I move too fast. Screamed during baths. Very timid with people but not with dogs. She passed away shortly after my yorki passed when she ran away from a pet sitter into the road.

My next dog is my current poodle. She’s a large mini at 15 1/2 inches and 17lbs. Everyone I asked told me not to get a poodle. Well I did and I can’t imagine not having one. Soooo smart, friendly, active and did I say smart? She loves going to check on the chickens, loves swimming, loves car rides, loves my kids, loves to play,learns tricks in one session. Doesn’t have a doggy smell or sheds. She was hard at puppy stage as she was very mouthy but after growing out of that she was great. She’s will put herself in her kennel and shut the door behind her if she knows that we are leaving and it’s time for her to go to bed . Only negative is she has separation anxiety when we leave the house and she thinks taking stuff out of the trash is the best thing ever, and she will raid the table for food if no one watches. The separation thing was solved by keeping her in the kennel when we are gone, trash problem solved by getting a tall outdoor trash can with a top, and food table raiding stopped by putting her up during meal times. I’m searching for the next poodle to add to our family.

Wow that was long lol. Did I say I love my mini poodle ?

The fun thing with poodles is you can change how they look. You can go from show dog to a doodle look just by cutting hair. I do all of my own grooming.
View attachment 1499359
View attachment 1499358 View attachment 1499360

I hadn't considered poodles because I thought some of the minis could be tempermental but yours sounds amazing! I may have to reconsider or maybe get a doodle?

How odd the Lab was aggressive! Theoretically they shouldn't be but sadly I have heard of aggression problems occurring in Labs and Goldens more often lately, likely because of all the people breeding them, including BYBs and mills. And all the doodles.

I don't think I could handle a vocal dog, to me that's worse than shedding haha I don't mind shedding but constant barking drives me crazy. I like having the occasional "conversation" with a dog, like mine sometimes grumbles and play growls and talks back and stuff and it's funny but he also tends to bark a lot lately or at least, doesn't shut up when he barks, and it gets very annoying lol

Anyway, I did know a standard poodle that was very sweet and smart but thought minis and toys were aggressive but may need to reconsider. Maybe they are simply allowed to be that way and training would stop it?

I love retrievers! I currently own a black lab and she is so sweet, obedient and easy to train, gets along with all animals too! Which is important because she needs to be trusted around my chickens without me having to watch over them.

Yes, being trustworthy with the chickens and cat is definitely important! Labs are great.

View attachment 1499355 Did someone say DOG’s

Lol adorable!

That coat on a rough collie

Very true haha but then again Labs have very thick double coats even though it looks short and shed tons so maybe collies don't shed as much despite the fluff? But it is still a lot of brushing and bathing because they would likely drag mud in or get matted lol

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,what an adorable little pup.

Agreed! Love the mohawk lol

 

[ShrekDawg]

My mother hates when I do that to Mindy. My father passed my Mom (she’s 87) saw Mindy on line and just HAD to have her (not even knowing the K9’s history). Mindy is a angel sent from heaven. Perfect! My mom’s best friend

Awwwww

 

[ShrekDawg]

My rough collie was calm until there was something to do. Incredibly smart dog. Perfectly kind and honest natured. Fairly good with all stock although she had some urge to chase things. The coat was hell though. Smooth collies are nice. Bearded collies are gorgeous but hard to find.

While I love Aussies I'll suggest caution. I've known about a dozen well. Family members, best friends etc. Only 2 were what you could consider truly safe and not inclined to bite. One of those was probably the best dog I've ever known. These were dogs that went everywhere, had farm time for exercise, kept busy with sports or work. Ideal lives really.

My cousins dogs idea of "just playing" nearly cost his owner an eye. They are intense dogs and like many Australian breeds not 100% reliable. My understanding is that working dogs on Australian farms are partially selected for lack of pet qualities. Takes many generations to change dogs bred to work aggressively and not seek human approval.

Hmm, I may have to look into collies!! They sound great. Was yours anxious at all?

And wow that's kinda scary. Were they working lines or show lines or what?

And I thought Australian Shepherds were created in the US?

 

[Ruralhideaway]

I hadn't considered poodles because I thought some of the minis could be tempermental but yours sounds amazing! I may have to reconsider or maybe get a doodle?

How odd the Lab was aggressive! Theoretically they shouldn't be but sadly I have heard of aggression problems occurring in Labs and Goldens more often lately, likely because of all the people breeding them, including BYBs and mills. And all the doodles.

I don't think I could handle a vocal dog, to me that's worse than shedding haha I don't mind shedding but constant barking drives me crazy. I like having the occasional "conversation" with a dog, like mine sometimes grumbles and play growls and talks back and stuff and it's funny but he also tends to bark a lot lately or at least, doesn't shut up when he barks, and it gets very annoying lol

Anyway, I did know a standard poodle that was very sweet and smart but thought minis and toys were aggressive but may need to reconsider. Maybe they are simply allowed to be that way and training would stop it?



Yes, being trustworthy with the chickens and cat is definitely important! Labs are great.



Lol adorable!



Very true haha but then again Labs have very thick double coats even though it looks short and shed tons so maybe collies don't shed as much despite the fluff? But it is still a lot of brushing and bathing because they would likely drag mud in or get matted lol



Agreed! Love the mohawk lol

Collies shed piles always. Then shed triple piles a few times a year no matter how much you brush.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

My mother hates when I do that to Mindy. My father passed my Mom (she’s 87) saw Mindy on line and just HAD to have her (not even knowing the K9’s history). Mindy is a angel sent from heaven. Perfect! My mom’s best friend

Aw, some dogs I truly believe are angels sent to help us.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Hmm, I may have to look into collies!! They sound great. Was yours anxious at all?

And wow that's kinda scary. Were they working lines or show lines or what?

And I thought Australian Shepherds were created in the US?

Aussies are an American creation.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I hadn't considered poodles because I thought some of the minis could be tempermental but yours sounds amazing! I may have to reconsider or maybe get a doodle?

How odd the Lab was aggressive! Theoretically they shouldn't be but sadly I have heard of aggression problems occurring in Labs and Goldens more often lately, likely because of all the people breeding them, including BYBs and mills. And all the doodles.

I don't think I could handle a vocal dog, to me that's worse than shedding haha I don't mind shedding but constant barking drives me crazy. I like having the occasional "conversation" with a dog, like mine sometimes grumbles and play growls and talks back and stuff and it's funny but he also tends to bark a lot lately or at least, doesn't shut up when he barks, and it gets very annoying lol

Anyway, I did know a standard poodle that was very sweet and smart but thought minis and toys were aggressive but may need to reconsider. Maybe they are simply allowed to be that way and training would stop it?



Yes, being trustworthy with the chickens and cat is definitely important! Labs are great.



Lol adorable!



Very true haha but then again Labs have very thick double coats even though it looks short and shed tons so maybe collies don't shed as much despite the fluff? But it is still a lot of brushing and bathing because they would likely drag mud in or get matted lol



Agreed! Love the mohawk lol

Labs are the worse shedding dogs ever I believe.

Oh and Australian shepherds bark a lot.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Hmm, I may have to look into collies!! They sound great. Was yours anxious at all?

And wow that's kinda scary. Were they working lines or show lines or what?

And I thought Australian Shepherds were created in the US?

She really was a great dog.

Well you got me there lol, I've only known many aussies, never learned about them beyond what I was told. And my personal experiences, which were just all over the place. The homes were all similar, horse farms with active involved owners. Oddly different outcomes. No show lines I'm sure. Working dogs.