Whipitgood Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 I dont lurk in here much as i am mainly in the breeders and show section! I have tried agility with the Whippets before, they enjoy it and physically - they are suited to it, but they get bored quick for some reason and lack concentration and are quite stubborn. Thats hounds for you! Well mine do anyway! I would like to get into dog sports at some stage and was wondering what breeds of dogs people think are particularly suited to this type of activity. Those that have the drive, enthusiasm, intelligence and willingness to please. I realise that ANY breed can do sports, but im curious to know which ones really enoy it and are best suited to it? Particularly obedience and agility. My guess is Border Collies are one breed .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huski Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 (edited) I guess any of the working breeds like herders or some of the gundogs can be a good place to start. I think for most dogs though if you get the training right you will have a dog who really enjoys it and can excel at it. My beagle is obviously not a "typical" obedience breed but she loves to train and really enjoys it. She has the drive there it's just a matter of harnessing it in the right way. I would look at what breeds suit you and your lifestyle, and narrow it down from there. Edited January 23, 2010 by huski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSoSwift Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 (edited) Breeds I have seen that have very successful Are Border Collies Aussie Shepherds Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers Kelpies. Standard Poodles and Mini's Quite a few gundog breeds as well Oh and Lewis If I was getting a dog with dog sports in mind it would be a toss up between three; Border Collie, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever and a Poodle. Edited January 23, 2010 by Rommi n Lewis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 The most obvious answer is Border Collie But other breeds that are routinely successful are: Kelpies Koolies Belgian Shepherds German Shepherds (Obedience mostly) Australian Shepherds Golden Retrievers (obedience mostly) German Shorthaired Pointers Vizslas If you like little guys Papillons Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Cocker Spaniels Mini Poodles Mini Schnauzers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pie Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 There's an Agility Champion Tenterfield Yes the obvious breeds are BC ad Kelpie. Surprising that there aren't more Belgians around really. I'd agree with Huski, first consideration should be if you can live with the breed and if they suit your lifestyle. Personally I'm not sure I could meet all the needs of some of the common breeds for dog sports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Got Spots Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 I have the exact same problem I would like to do more in agility and obedience but as a leaner my whippets are a little on the thick side sometimes Also would LOVE to have a dog that i could take to the beach and throw a ball - i went today and threw the ball the whippets would run round where the ball landed then back to me without looking at it. BAH They did enjoy the water though it was very warm, but Bella only goes in up to her belly and that is with 12 mths of practice I am thinking of a Viszla - but am nervous cause I know they can be high energy My partner wants a border collie but I don't think our lifestyle suits - I am a doctor and he is almost an fulltime ambo We love our 2 whippies but ...... i don't know, just suppose I am left wanting....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingduster Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 (edited) Definitely poodles do well in all dog sports, and not as neurotic as border collies (as much as I love 'em!) but just as smart and fast!! And so pretty.... I am a little biased though. Edited January 23, 2010 by flyingduster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 Hey Whipitgood if you haven't watched them already the Patty Ruzzo dvds are a must watch and feature her Whippet 'Flyer'. Just goes to show what a great trainer can achieve with any breed of dog. http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=DTB931 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 Neats - any particular reason why your partner wants/is attracted to the idea of a Border Collie. Border Collies can be very adaptable and like all breeds you still get a mixed bag of temperaments - both high energy and low energy couch potatoes. I know plenty of people who have full time lives and families and own Border Collies - they aren't mutually exclusive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ons Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 coolies are really adaptable to their owners lifestyles and my understanding is do well in obedience training, agility and dog sports they just want to please their owner. i have never owned a more loyal obedient dog than my Flash. There just isn't anywhere to take him for any training though where i live Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zug Zug Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 Also Jack Russell Terriers, Shetland Sheepdogs, German Shepherd Dogs (or did someone already mention these?) I've always wondered about other collie breeds other than the border collies (e.g. beardies, OES, Polish Lowland Sheepdogs etc.) - does anyone know how they like dog sports? I reckon they might love it. But I have no evidence either way... Kelpies work really, really well. You don't see lots of them in the ring, but when you do they are often very impressive. I'd rank them higher than BCs even. Not that I'm trying to start a riot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Got Spots Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 (edited) I grew up with a BC - Ella aka Whoopie she is 8 this year - with heart failure adn going deaf. She charmed him while we were home at christmas time. I love the dogs and aim to get one, just worried I won't do the dog justice and be a good enough owner for the dog. Whoopie is certainly an awesome dog - despite her terrible heart and given 1 year at 4 she has defied all odds and still goes hunting (we live on large acreage) and takes down wallaby. When we had chooks she used to have standoffs with them beak to nose over the rotting animal and the flies - gross but funny. She would spend some of her day rounding them up and then jumping in the middle of them to scatter them so she could round them up again. Her other prowess is that she could tell the difference b/w chook and the native hen in Tassie - loved the native hens for a good hunt. I would like to wait a little until I finish these exams and we get a bigger place for a BC Edited January 23, 2010 by Neats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corvus Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 I'd be considering a Puli. I just like those cords flying when they jump. I think maybe temperament is more important. My little Vallhund, Erik, throws himself into everything he does and is troublingly intelligent. I'm planning to get him into agility because he's so easy to focus and so easy to train and so easy to do just about anything with because he's small and athletic and has plenty of get-up-and-go. But my mum has a Vallhund who is the complete opposite. Lazy as sin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whipitgood Posted January 23, 2010 Author Share Posted January 23, 2010 Thanks for the replies! I wouldnt go with a BC or Poodle because i dont want a coated breed or breed with coat maintainance! However i LOVE some of the BCs in the ring and they are so impressive in dog sports. I would looooove a red cloud Kelpie, i have always loved the Kelpie, maybe i could show and do dog sports with a new Kelpie baby!! Ive tried doing both with the Whippies without success (success in the ring but nowhere else!). i went today and threw the ball the whippets would run round where the ball landed then back to me without looking at it. BAH Yes Neats, my guys are just so damn lazy and wont even retrieve a ball .. yet they will quite happily chase and hunt down my cat We live on 5 acres so maybe a Kelpie is my next breed choice!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whipitgood Posted January 23, 2010 Author Share Posted January 23, 2010 red cloud Kelpie Woops Just looked up the standard, its red and tan, not Red Cloud apparently!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSoSwift Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 red cloud Kelpie Woops Just looked up the standard, its red and tan, not Red Cloud apparently!! No you do have both Red or Red cloud is solid red, then you get red and tan or brown and tan. They also can come in Black and tan, black,Blue, Blue and tan, fawn or maybe a cream sort of colour. Generally in the show ring you see mainly Black and Red. Not many of the Bi-colours in show lines mainly in the working lines. I also really like Kelpies but am not into the the build of the bench Kelpie these days so would have a working line Kelpie. - yes I know others will disagree! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zug Zug Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 (edited) I love Kelpies too. Allergic to dog hair so I can never get one, but can only admire them from afar. But I love that 'fawning kelpie' thing where they wiggle and suck up to you. Very endearing. Close friend of mine has them. The builds in this breed vary enormously, as do the temperaments. She has working kelpies and they are lovely and I agree nicer builds than the bench kelpies. Also great brains. Very active as puppies but you have whippets so that is nothing new Keep it busy, don't let it get fat, give it lots of work to do, and enjoy the ride. Remember - very smart dogs can learn to train YOU, so be on the watch for the dog trying to take over. Of course I'm not always good at this myself: I've let my poodle x take over the reins from time to time without realising it - then have to wrestle the alpha status back to reestablish order in the home. So I've learned this one the hard way - several times Edited January 23, 2010 by Zug Zug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrsdog Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 The Lagotto is relatively new to dog sports but seems to be doing remarkably well. Kiss has placed in Agility and/or Jumping at the Sydney Royal the last two years and placed at the State Obedience Titles last year. She also has her FMX (flyball master excellent). There are more Lagotti competing now that the breed has been in Australia just over ten years. They seem to be quick learners and willing to take on whatever you want them to. They love to swim and are ball mad. Jolie is now old enough to compete so it will be interesting to see how she goes this year. More drive than Kiss so more of a challenge initially but lots of potential. Guess I will have to get my act together!! Noels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingduster Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Also Jack Russell Terriers, Shetland Sheepdogs, German Shepherd Dogs (or did someone already mention these?)I've always wondered about other collie breeds other than the border collies (e.g. beardies, OES, Polish Lowland Sheepdogs etc.) - does anyone know how they like dog sports? I reckon they might love it. But I have no evidence either way... Kelpies work really, really well. You don't see lots of them in the ring, but when you do they are often very impressive. I'd rank them higher than BCs even. Not that I'm trying to start a riot I know of a beardie down here who LOVES aglity; she used to do obedience a lot more too, but the dog just loves to jump and finds obedience boring! lol. I only have a pic of her jumping in the rally class the other week rather than in agility, but it's still a happy beardie jumping! she has another beardie who is coming over from Oz soon too. OES seem a bit heavy in the body to be much good at jumping, but I do know of a couple of rough collies who do agility too, and of course other generic 'working dogs' and huntaways too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piper Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 If you don't want a coated breed what about a GSP or Visla? They do well in dog sports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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