Breed suggestions?

Breed specific discussion of your favorite breed.

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Erica
Posts: 2697
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2011 9:35 pm
Location: North Carolina

Breed suggestions?

Post by Erica »

Hey y'all! I’m daydreaming about puppies so I’m starting to research for next dog, even though it's probably a year or so until I should get them. I want to do SAR or human remains detection so that changes the picture from previously when I wanted a chill smaller dog.
Requirements:
-high endurance, can work for hours
-willing to work hard for a toy once trained in the game
-low instance of SSA in the breed/cross
-short coat or a coat that can be trimmed short
-preferably under ~55lbs
-no labs or goldens or doodles (great dogs, they just aren’t my type)
-no dobes, rotties, bully breeds, gsds (a lot of breed restrictions in local apartments)
-smart
-tolerates warm and cold weather
-preferably can find good breeders who don’t dock/crop/remove dewclaws
-some natural instinct to search/smell/follow scent trails
-doesn’t need every move dictated to them but will follow instructions when working
-I have a flexible schedule and can and will spend a good amount of time exercising and playing every day, and I am happy to spend time grooming. We get a lot of mud and hitchhiker seeds in this area so I’d prefer no excessive leg feathering.
-I prefer pointy dogs to chunky ones but that's low on the priority list. Still a consideration, but not a priority.

Right now I’ve got working poodles on the list. I like the looks of curly coat retrievers but haven’t actually met any IRL so need to do some research on that. Several different people have suggested German wire or shorthaired pointers. I'll have to meet some well-trained and cared for ones, because the ones I know don't get enough exercise or enrichment and don't make the breed look good lol.

Any suggestions?
Delta, standard poodle, born 6/30/14
mansbestfriend
Posts: 301
Joined: Mon May 20, 2013 7:35 am
Location: Queensland, Australia

Re: Breed suggestions?

Post by mansbestfriend »

Hi. Depending if you're looking primarily for a dog for the job, or primarily for a pet dog, my suggestions would be
1. Spaniel (whichever variety)
2. Beagle
3. a mixed breed with the most suitable behavioural 'fingerprint'

Maybe google Steve Austin dog trainer for some ideas.
Cheers.:)
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single Sit.
Erica
Posts: 2697
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2011 9:35 pm
Location: North Carolina

Re: Breed suggestions?

Post by Erica »

Now I'm imagining the confusion when I tell people my poodle and my Irish water spaniel are two different breeds...lol! I'll look into the spaniels, though most have leg feathering. I imagine working lines wouldn't have as much as show lines, so maybe they're an option! I don't really care for beagles to own myself, though I love all the ones that come through our classes. I admire them but wouldn't want to live with one! :)

I am looking into some crossbreeder groups to see if anyone's got plans for a suitable sort of dog; crossbreeds/mixed breeds are fantastic dogs, though if I want a working dog I want to be sure of their health, or I'd not mind just going to the shelter one day and seeing if any of the bully breeds could be passed off as a lab. (We get bully breeds, beagles, and huskies in shelters around here; huskies and beagles aren't my cup of tea. ;) )
Delta, standard poodle, born 6/30/14
JudyN
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Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 1:20 pm
Location: Dorset, UK
Contact:

Re: Breed suggestions?

Post by JudyN »

I sometimes bump into someone with an adolescent (a bit over a year?) GWP. He's bouncy and full of life, but no more than you'd expect for an adolescent male. He's unneutered, but responded well to Jasper telling him 'Don't mess with me, mate,' not being bothered by it but not pestering J to play (J is fine with him now they've sorted that out :wink: ). She often gets her daughter to hide in the woods and then asks him to track her.

I'll keep an eye out for her and interrogate her if I bump into her :D
Jasper, lurcher, born December 2009
Lotsaquestions
Posts: 646
Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2017 6:06 am

Re: Breed suggestions?

Post by Lotsaquestions »

I am a bit bias to Spitzs BUT the Finnish Spitz seems to fit most the bill. They were bred to follow scents / trails independently of their handler, but then bark at the birds for the hunter to find them without engaging. They're really smart, love to work, love to be around you, have a medium/short double coat, their legs aren't feathered, are medium sized and can handle most weather. Also the way their fur is dirt literally just falls off them, and though they shed it is mostly limited to certain times of year.

The only thing is they do have a HIGH prey drive, so if they're not worked they might take off after things. They're also fairly sensitive and need good steady socialisation with people and animals.
Suzette
Posts: 1518
Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2011 6:45 am

Re: Breed suggestions?

Post by Suzette »

My first two thoughts were belgian Malinois and springer spaniel. Border collies have a great 'work ethic' and could probably get the job done pretty well too.
My avatar is Piper, my sweet Pembroke Corgi. b. 5/11/11
Erica
Posts: 2697
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2011 9:35 pm
Location: North Carolina

Re: Breed suggestions?

Post by Erica »

I was originally thinking of malinois, but talking to people who have experience with them, the breed may be prone to same-sex aggression. I don't want to do an early spay, and I don't want to keep Delta and a ***** in heat separated in a fairly small apartment, so I am probably looking to get a male dog.

BCs are a good idea! I have a friend who knows someone in HRD with border collies, and she'll be breeding her HRD dog next year, so may be a good possibility.

I've also stumbled on a local Berger Picard breeder who seems fantastic -- great website with good info, very active in multiple sports with her dogs and getting titles on them. I've sent an email asking about the Picard's suitability for this kind of work, but was wondering if anyone has any experience with them? They're fairly rare so I don't think I've met any in real life!
Delta, standard poodle, born 6/30/14
JudyN
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Location: Dorset, UK
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Re: Breed suggestions?

Post by JudyN »

I'd never heard of Berger Picards, but they are flipping gorgeous! I think you need to do your bit to protect such a rare breed, sharing lots of photos online :wink:

I'm sure you've already seen this, but one website mentioned that they tend to stare to communicate, which other dogs sometimes interpret as aggression, which could be a PITA at times.
Jasper, lurcher, born December 2009
Erica
Posts: 2697
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2011 9:35 pm
Location: North Carolina

Re: Breed suggestions?

Post by Erica »

That's fine with me, honestly. I could use a starey dog to have as a "rude" decoy dog for dogs who are doing well with Delta. (Delta also stares, but his hair is often drooping over his eyes so the other dogs don't notice :lol:)

The breeder I emailed will be about half an hour away from me next week when she gets a few of her dogs' eyes tested. So guess who's going to meet some rare shepherds? :D I really adore this breed so far, and I think they may be a great match. One of her in-breed contacts does HRD and SAR with their Picards in Finland.
Delta, standard poodle, born 6/30/14
ZaraD
Posts: 577
Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2017 10:06 am
Location: Staffordshire, UK

Re: Breed suggestions?

Post by ZaraD »

Erica wrote: Tue Oct 31, 2017 12:07 pm That's fine with me, honestly. I could use a starey dog to have as a "rude" decoy dog for dogs who are doing well with Delta. (Delta also stares, but his hair is often drooping over his eyes so the other dogs don't notice :lol:)

The breeder I emailed will be about half an hour away from me next week when she gets a few of her dogs' eyes tested. So guess who's going to meet some rare shepherds? :D I really adore this breed so far, and I think they may be a great match. One of her in-breed contacts does HRD and SAR with their Picards in Finland.
I was going to say rough or smooth collies or the Berger Picard ( a woman across from me has one and she shows hers) beutiful dog Loves to be out working either herding or search and rescue is the other thing she does with hers. She owns a border terrier too both dogs get on great and there both males. She finds him easy to train and are great family dogs.
Erica
Posts: 2697
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2011 9:35 pm
Location: North Carolina

Re: Breed suggestions?

Post by Erica »

I love smooth collies but couldn't find a good breeder within 500 miles of me, sadly! They are also usually a bit lower intensity than I'd be looking for, from what I've heard and seen.

Meeting was rescheduled as the vet will be out of town this week. :cry: 23 days now...but the more I learn about Picards the more I love them. :P Her next litter isn't until winter 2018 so the timing is great on that, and the planned dogs for that breeding seem fantastic.

On my backup list are now Finnish Spitz, working poodles, and border collies. I know of someone in SAR who will be breeding their working BC late next year, so that's a good timeframe as well. :) If none of those three pan out, I'll consider GSP/GWP, but I'm not enamored with them.
Delta, standard poodle, born 6/30/14
Lotsaquestions
Posts: 646
Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2017 6:06 am

Re: Breed suggestions?

Post by Lotsaquestions »

Yay for the Spitz! There is also the Norwegian Buhund but I think they're a little rarer. It's a breed I considered myself (and am sort of still considering for dog two!). Hard workers, more outgoing and friendly than the sensitive Finnish Spitz (but still mostly Spitzy aloof with strangers), but they were bred for herding so they won't have a natural search and sniff drive that the Finn has but are definately smart enough to learn. They are also quite keen to please... For a Spitz. :wink:
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