Breed reccomendations for a friend

[JessicaR]

This is a pretty open question.....

There are a few questions to be asked and answered.

Fundamentally, how much time are you willing to spend in training and grooming? Do you want a big dog, medium or small?

Samoyeds are not an easy breed. They are definitely not for everyone. Neither are Shelties. Both are hearding breeds with double coated fur. They do require excerise and handlingling. Samoyeds are know to be particularly stubborn. Lovely dogs to look at, but require a firm hand.

I am just passing along the info she gave me.

I don't know about training time, she is a stay at home mom, so I would imagine she has a lot of time to train. But we do have a good trainer around here that trains obedience, tracking, and personal protection. For size I know she doesn't want a small dog, at least nothing smaller than a sheltie.

She doesn't want a mal. She says she has read to much negative about them. She does like PWD's but says that show grooming would probably be beyond her skill level.

Right now she is thinking GSD or Collie or Doberman.

 

[tofu pup]

Right now she is thinking GSD or Collie or Doberman.

All nice choices, especially if she's careful and gets one from the right breeder.

My only thought on GSDs and Dobes is that they are very competitive conformation rings... the entries are large (especially in Dobermans) and the competition is fierce. She would probably end up hiring a handler. If she's fine with that, that's great! But if her heart is set on owner-handling her dog, they would be tough breeds.

What about a Smooth Collie? All the Collie with less of the hair, and they're even easier than the Roughs to finish.

 

[trini]

My votes on bigger dogs would definitely be either a Sammie (Samoyed) or a collie. I have owned 3 Sammies...one pulled from animal control and 2 adopted from breed rescue. All three were super intelligent, active, fun loving, obedient and did great with humans of any age including toddlers and seniors. One of my Sammies, Sunshine, became a therapy dog and her happy smile and upbeat personality brought joy to more people than I can count. Sammies are very people oriented (in their natural home they slept in the tents with their nomadic people and provided warmth to them)and also typically do great with other pets... although being a northern breed some have high prey drive with small animals.

Collies are also typically wonderful family dogs...I have had 2 and both were great with everyone and with other pets. My Kinnon, who came from collie rescue but we think is a smoothie mix, is the world's best babysitter...whether it be a human baby or a tiny doggie...he is gentle and protective of anything small.

Trini

 

[JessicaR]

All nice choices, especially if she's careful and gets one from the right breeder.

My only thought on GSDs and Dobes is that they are very competitive conformation rings... the entries are large (especially in Dobermans) and the competition is fierce. She would probably end up hiring a handler. If she's fine with that, that's great! But if her heart is set on owner-handling her dog, they would be tough breeds.

What about a Smooth Collie? All the Collie with less of the hair, and they're even easier than the Roughs to finish.

I will pass that on to her! I believe she is wanting to show herself. She is wanting an activity to do since her kids are getting older and starting to leave the nest.

 

[k9kreationz]

I just thought of something. You said your friend wants to start showing. If she got a GSD, does that mean it has to look like the show dogs with their messed up rear legs? Because to be honest (and no offense to anyone here), but I couldn't buy a dog that looked like that, just for show. And if she buys a GSD that doesn't have that issue, would it hinder her showing? Something to think about.

Maybe go for the Collie instead? Or I know, the newest "designer" dog, a BMD/Golden mix. No, I'm not really serious, but the one I saw was cute....and humongous!!!

I know some of you mentioned the Malinois, but what about the Tervuren? I have no clue about them, but Belgian made me think Terv.

What about a Malamute (not quite the crazed independent Husky?)?But that's a lot of fur with the Shelties too. I would suggest an Akita, but they can be stubborn and may eat the Shelties.

A lot of the other breeds I'm thinking about are too much guarding as in very territorial. And with lots of people coming and going, that'd be rough on the poor dog not to want to eat everyone.

 

[Laddie's Mom]

How about either an English Setter or Irish Setter. They are both great with kids, have a lovely coat, and are not too big or small.

 

[Justicemom]

I just thought of something. You said your friend wants to start showing. If she got a GSD, does that mean it has to look like the show dogs with their messed up rear legs? Because to be honest (and no offense to anyone here), but I couldn't buy a dog that looked like that, just for show. And if she buys a GSD that doesn't have that issue, would it hinder her showing? Something to think about.

Maybe go for the Collie instead? Or I know, the newest "designer" dog, a BMD/Golden mix. No, I'm not really serious, but the one I saw was cute....and humongous!!!

I know some of you mentioned the Malinois, but what about the Tervuren? I have no clue about them, but Belgian made me think Terv.

What about a Malamute (not quite the crazed independent Husky?)?But that's a lot of fur with the Shelties too. I would suggest an Akita, but they can be stubborn and may eat the Shelties.

A lot of the other breeds I'm thinking about are too much guarding as in very territorial. And with lots of people coming and going, that'd be rough on the poor dog not to want to eat everyone.

Cheryl I laughed out laugh about the Malamute. Rachel has/had them before she got shelties. Independent does describe them. They need a firm hand and direction and then still do as they please. Rachels malamute Jewel was high in trial in obedience the nationals in 2001. Kiva is in excellent agility now. So I have seen them work not an easy breed to break into the performance sports.

 

[Caro]

It's not long hair, but I fell in love with a Belgain Mallinois in my class. Bred on the lighter French lines, I was told. She was just amazing in personality and movement. Loved agility, loved obedience, stunning.

I agree with the Belgium Shepherd, but rather than a Mallinois (which has a shorter coat) maybe go for the Tervuren or the Groenendael, they both have a double coat and the Groenendael has a beautiful black coat. I know a Groenendaels that do agility and obedience and do really well, and they can also handle the rough and tumble of teenage boys.

She might also want to avoid the more popular breeds if she wants to get into showing as I imagine the competition with GSDs and Goldens would be pretty fierce.

 

[Cyllian]

That video reminded me a lot of my german shepards to be honest. Mine were not show dogs and yes they loved their family. Great at being intimidating and a sweet heart to those that were theirs. I am not one that would suggest gsd to those that do not know how to socialize and train dogs well. They are very smart and can be trained if people will take the time to do so. This is only an opinion but I would not want the show version of the gsd personally. That odd over emphasized slope to the back and the weird way the legs seem to be would deter me.

 

[Tagg]

I have been owned by Belgians since 1979 and hubby is a director for the Canadian club. We currently have a Terv but used to breed Groenendaels. My 3 kids grew up with them and my Terv is best friends with my nearly 15 year old grandson. They are fabulous dogs but you do have to socialize them really well as they are cautious by nature. I don't know what you mean by wrestling with the dog. We didn't allow physical rough housing between dogs and kids but they played with them all the time. Belgians love to learn, love to perform and their grooming needs are easily met. There is a lot of breeders that are breeding "for performance" and so you are seeing a lot of high energy dogs out there. There is a definite difference between European lines and American lines. The former is a more elegant dog that should still carry good bone but it's look is lighter in frame. The latter is more like a working dog with good shoulder angulation and better movement. I have had both and appreciate both types.
Malinois and Laekenois are tougher in temperament and I agree, should be for an experienced owner. They are still great dogs but seem to have more prey drive than the long haired varieties of this breed. Having said that, I know of two dogs that are very like their counterparts and each of them live with seniors.
I love Berners too but couldn't have a dog that has such a short life expectancy. They can be droolers too which breeders have told me that they can seldom predict in a puppy.