Need help finding breed of dog that is right for my family UPDATE #43

[HEChicken]

Well, I wanted to update on this for any who are interested. We adopted our current dog from a local rescue four years ago and I saw on their website that they were having a showing of all their foster dogs at a local pet store yesterday so we decided to go visit. Our dog's former foster mom was very pleased to see him again and to have the chance to say her own goodbye to him. And, while we were there, we met a girl we think will work out for us. She is a little Border Collie/Black Lab cross. Cute as a button - all black with just a little white patch on her chest. She is currently 37lb with a projected end weight of about 45, as she is 8 months old now. She has been in foster care for two months during which time she has learned a little obedience and been exposed to the foster family's multiple dogs and 3 cats. She ignores the cats and gets on great with the other dogs. The foster family also keeps ducks but as they are penned up, this dog has had no exposure. When I mentioned my concerns about the chooks, she said she would go home and walk the dog past the duck pen to see how she reacts. Anyway, it is early days yet. First step is to see how she does with the foster family's ducks and then to have her come visit our house and see how she does with our chickens and cat. I talked to them about a trial period and they are 100% on board with that so we can have her stay with us for a few days to a couple of weeks and if after the initial excitement of the new place she settles down and fits in, she can stay, but if there are any problems, she will go back to her foster family and we will keep looking. I have a good feeling about her though.

 

[itsmechrissy]

Sounds like you found a winner!!! Thanks for keeping us posted (and be sure to share pictures

 

[HEChicken]

Another update (last, I promise and I'll try not to use the word "perfect" too many times

) We did a home visit with our potential new dog last weekend (see post #41). By the end of the weekend, we were absolutely ready to proceed and finalized her adoption on Tuesday evening. This little girl is the perfect dog - for us! She is 9 months old and absolutely has the energy you would expect of a 9-month-old Border Collie/Lab but isn't at all hyper. Around the house she walks/trots, doesn't jump on people or furniture and is generally just good company. But when we go out to the barn, she easily keeps up with the horses and in fact, goes about twice the distance they do, since she runs back and forth, smelling all the smells and so on. She doesn't try to chase the horses - is just content to stay with us as a group. Everyone at my barn fell in love with her almost immediately and couldn't believe we found the perfect barn dog on the first try! The most amazing thing was that one of my barn sisters has an approximately 10-year-old female dog who doesn't like other dogs. She tolerates them as long as they leave her alone, so my only hope was that she would tolerate my new dog. Instead, she actually LIKES my new dog. My barn sister (her owner) cannot believe it! Instead of the raised hackles and warning growls we anticipated, all we got was a wagging tail and a happy smile on her face. She seems to consider my pup her protege and proudly runs around showing her the "barn ways".

Around the chickens, she is doing great. The first few days we kept her on leash in the backyard but she doesn't really like to potty on leash so eventually we tried her off leash but staying close to her. She actually showed no interest in chasing the chooks. At first they were alarmed by her and would run away screaming and flapping whenever they saw her so that was really the most critical period since I thought if anything was going to trigger her prey drive, that would be it. They have now calmed down and wander calmly around her, just as they do with our old dog. I would not send her outside by herself yet but while we are there she shows no inclination to go after them so I tend to think it won't be long before we feel we can trust her to go out and potty alone. In the summers we go outside each morning to sit in lawn chairs and drink our coffee and the dog(s) and cat usually join us. She has become part of our morning routine and while the chooks mill around eating the handful or two of scratch I throw for them and occasionally jumping in my lap, she wanders among them, hoping they'll share some scratch with her

Anyway, here is a pic of her. Thank you so much to everyone for your input. I hemmed and hawed about border collie because although I've always admired them, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to keep such an energetic dog busy enough but so far, so good.

 

[dainerra]

it can take a few months before she settles in completely for you to be sure that she is safe around the chickens.

 

[itsmechrissy]

Ohhh... she is adorable, and happy to have a new home...just look a the smile on her face

 

[teach1rusl]

She has a very sweet face

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

Awww!

She is adorable! Congratulations! I am so happy for you!

 

[miraclz5]

Quote:
Oh my goodness....she looks almost EXACTLY like a dog we had when I was a kid....her name was Satin...could be twins. I will see if I can find a picture and post it! Enjoy....she is adorable!!!

 

[Dutchgirl]

Congratulations!

For the future I would have to recommend a Standard poodle. I know you said no professional grooming and whatnot... we shave our dog at home.

He does bark at strange noises... but unfortunately goes absolutely crazy when a guest enters the house or even when someone drives up the driveway.

He does not dig. He dug a few times at first and hasn't since then. Absolutely zero interest in it, except if you count lightly scratching at the ground when he smells something strange.

He mingles with the chickens and does not bother them whatsoever... he couldn't care less that they are there. He's terrified of the duck and gets out of her way. He does, however, eat chicken feed when he gets the chance.

He is rather large but keeps himself out of the way most of the time, on his bed, for instance.

He was very easy to train. Only a few times did he have to be told NOT to go upstairs or in the master bedroom. He also is not allowed on the furniture and, albeit the extremely rare times we catch him lounging on a bed, he doesn't break the rules.

He doesn't eat anything alive. Not being much of a hunting dog, he has never caught a mole or rat or such. I have to admit he drools at the pet rabbit...

To be honest at the beginning he was a little bit wild, but he was little more than a puppy then. He dug a bit and jumped on the furniture and was nearly impossible to groom. But now he's one of the best dogs you could ask for.

 

[drdoolittle]

I love your new dog! I am dreaming of the day I can get my own BC-----a friend of mine has 5, and they are all great with the chickens, ducks, goats, sheep and everything else.