huski

Is he food driven Nic? He sounds hilarious!

I think I'd definitely have to meet more SG! I don't know too many purebred ACDs, I actually don't know all that much about them. They are on my list of breeds to learn more about. TSD, Emmy sounds so lovely. I really enjoy reading your posts about her.

Have you got any breeds short listed, Rally? What about wired-haired vizs or GWPs?

They sound just like Daisy (well how she used to be). I used to be able to wave steak under her nose when she was on a scent and she wouldn't even notice it was there. It's not that they are dumb or lacking something but that they are so scent driven they lock onto the scent and aren't aware of anything else apart from what they are smelling. Someone commented recently after seeing Daisy work that she mustn't have much scent drive, but she does, that was our problem, but it has also made her very focused and driven (for a beagle) when you learn to work with it. (case in point excuse all the downs she misses, that was my fault for being so lazy with my hand signal).I would be more than happy with another beagle but I also can't deny that part of me would like something different next time.

Please derail away For me it's all about research, research, research. There are breeds I thought I'd want to own but once I met them, talked to owners and breeders and spent more time with them I ruled them out for various reasons. I also consider what is best for me right now. I don't want a dog as big or bigger than my Siberian because I don't want two bigger sized dogs. If I didn't have a big dog, I'd be more open to getting a bigger sized breed. Finding the right breeder also plays a part in what breed I get. If I find a breeder who I click with and whose dogs I really like that would also sway my decision.

Hey DNM! Thanks for your post I really appreciate all the suggestions everyone are giving me especially as I know how picky I am being! Dutchies look awesome but from what I have heard about them, they would be too full on for me.

Oh I missed that one! I will definitely look into Irish Terriers. Never considered them before, either. Nic I am not a big Sheltie fan, Basenjis may be a bit too much of a challenge for me

LOL Nic are you sure you don't want to change breeds??? I think Brittanys and Springers are still on my top two for potential new breeds. I've never ever considered ESS before but I am really starting to like them! I think I will do some more serious research into PWDs too.

PMSL Seita our cabin is going to be so much "fun" :confused:

That is kind of what I mean Corvus! I glad I am not going crazy and am sort of making sense. I am used to needing to give 150% when I am training Daisy, I have to be very UP for her to be up, it is hard work in some ways, even though I am a naturally up and outgoing person If I go with a different breed, I do want a dog who has a more natural desire to work with me, I definitely want a dog who is more active and drivey. But I don't want anything OTT and I don't want a dog who will be really hard work to train to have an off switch. But anyway this is all just super preliminary research, I can't make any decisions until I meet lots of dogs from the breeds I am considering! I could completely change my mind about what I want once I meet more of the breeds I am looking at.

Yeah I'm sure it's how they are raised too, I just get a bit nervous at the thought of having a new breed I mean you can do as much research as possible and meet heaps and talk to lots of breeders but at the end of the day the ultimate compatibility test comes once you live with them. I am sure I am just over thinking things and will enjoy having a dog who is more people orientated.

Me too :rofl: I regret even bringing it up now because I don't think I am articulating myself very well I definitely do want a people focused breed. When I describe an overly clingy dog, I mean like the ones I described earlier that my grandma owns. I am sure with these particular dogs their behaviour is largely due to the fact that they are almost completely untrained but they are constantly wanting to sit on you, sit next to you, get under your feet, climb all over you all of the time. It makes me feel claustrophobic because sometimes, I don't want a dog glued to my leg. That's all I meant when I said I don't want a clingy dog that constantly annoys you for attention, I am not in any way saying I don't want a people focused dog.

Sorry maybe these comment threw me about you wanting a dog on the fact it was novel and makes you stand out. Sorry if I gave you that impression but that's not what I meant, I just meant I enjoy owning and training breeds that are a bit more uncommon. I like a challenge and I like something a bit different. That's far from my only requirement when looking for a dog, but I am happy to be honest when I say that I don't want something everyone else has. At the end of the day, I won't own a dog that does not appeal to me and the more common breeds are simply not appealing to me. There are plenty of novel/rare breeds that have been suggested to me in this thread but the fact I've ruled them out should really demonstrate that I'm not just going to get a breed purely because it's novel or rare or no-one else has them. Like I sad earlier I will definitely have to meet a lot more dogs of breeds I'm interested in before making a decision, I am not going to get a dog that I would not be happy living with. I've never owned a really people focused breed so I have no idea what it would like living with one, I may like it, I don't know. To give you an example right now Daisy is asleep on the other end of the lounge I'm sitting on, she wants to be around me but she doesn't want to be on top of me all the time, I am sure that is largely how you raise a dog, I love the idea of having a dog who is more people focused but I don't want a dog who is super clingy.

At the moment ESS and Brittanys are at the top of my list. I need to meet a lot more of both breeds though! Yeah corgis are a bit small for me, I've really liked the ones I've met though. They are total ferals! In a good way. A Puli might be a slightly toned down and less obsessive version, but the coat is a big deal unless you keep them clipped short, but then, it's still a big deal to begin with. I think you want a TT. The clipped one I saw appealed to me more in looks than the fully coated ones do. They left the hair on her feet long so she had slippers. It was adorable! I am definitely going to look into a TT more!

I've never heard of Pumi so I googled them and they the funniest looking dogs! How awesome. WOW! They are super fast! Now we just need someone to import them for us :rofl: I know I probably sound really picky, and I really do want a dog to do dog sports with but at the end of the day, my priority will always be getting a breed that I am happy to live with and that suits my lifestyle. I don't want a breed just because it will make a good dog sports dog if I would be miserable living with them. Dog sports will always be second for me, having a dog whose company I enjoy will always be the most important aspect when it comes to picking what breed I own.

Bull breeds are definitely not my cup of tea, I'd like to know more about Harriers though as I quite like their size. I've never heard of Pumi so I googled them and they the funniest looking dogs! How awesome. Thanks Rysup! I love the look of TTs and Beardies but I think that loooong coat would be too much for me. Though will have to check out what they are like clipped I think.

I really want a PBGV Gayle! I don't know how they'd go with agility? Although I think if I am going to go a hound though I'd just get another beag.

Ohhh gsdog2 so glad we'll be finally able to meet you and Indi

I don't see what is wrong with competing with a beagle, sure it's a challenge but it's not that hard once you find the right methods. My beagle does alright and loves to work. I couldn't train her in drive if the drive wasn't there in the first place. BCs, labs, goldies etc just don't appeal to me. It's not that their common, it's just that they don't interest me enough to want to own one. There are HEAPS of other less common breeds out there that do well in dog sports. It's not that I don't want a people orientated dog, I just don't want a clingy dog. I'm sure that's mostly how you raise them but I don't want a velcro dog. I'm hardly after a dog just because it's novel and rare I want something that suits what I am after but still appeals to me. I don't find breeds like BCs, labs, goldies etc appealing. Surely not every breed appeals to you or is the kind of breed you'd want to own??

LM, I know what you mean but the lappies I've met were definitely not drivey dogs, they were up for a walk and a run around the yard but it was definitely a lack of drive rather than an off switch. Which is great for most people, if I was after a pet they would be perfect. Then there are lappies like Soaks which I would be quite happy with for a dog sports dog, but with such variance in a breed it's just too much of a gamble for me and I would rather just get another beagle. I think if I'm going to go with a new breed, I want something that is definitely going to be exactly what I'm after in terms of having a dog for dog sports. I have always wanted a lappie though so who knows what will happen in the future!

I don't mean common in a bad way, they are all great breeds just not dogs I look at and go "I want one!" We have stacks of labs at our obedience club, though I agree they aren't as common as BCs etc. I know the lady who breeds Hammies, but I'm not sure she is still breeding them. Oh don't get me wrong, I have seen some great WL GSDs in the ring and know a lady who does really well with hers so I know they can be drivey and fast, but I have just seen so many GSDs in the ring now that just look so slow it has put me off a bit. Even my beagle works with more attitude and drive. I would definitely consider a WL, but probably bigger than what I am after for the moment. Noooooo I just know I well get my heart set on a breed and then I'll want it sooner rather than later which is just not going to happen right now But I also enjoy thinking about these things and want to give myself time make sure I am making the right decision if I go with a breed I've never owned before. I've never bought a dog FOR dog sports, Daisy was bought as a pet, we didn't even start training probably till she was two so I know the next dog will be different from the beginning. I will have to look into Beardies, a bit more coat than I normally like, but I do find them appealing. I like ACDs too just not sure if they are really for me. Will have to meet some more I think

She sounds lovely TSD. Very different from the beagle in a lot of ways from the sounds of it! One thing I really like about Daisy is that generally, she is not very soft. I have made SO many mistakes with her but she is very forgiving. She is very stubborn and strong willed. She can withstand a bit of stress and pressure when I push her too far (because I am such a novice handler and am constantly stuffing things up). I think I would find it hard to live with a very soft and sensitive dog which is why I like dogs with confident, outgoing natures. Not sure if ESS are very soft but they do sound like quite outgoing dogs.

Although I'm sure you'd regard my dogs as clingy, this does annoy me also, and I do know the type of dog you mean. My needy gundogs are not like this but a few Goldies I know spring to mind acutally Glad to know I am sort of making sense My grandma has two small fluffies and they are both super clingy, I am sure a lot of it is how you raise them, but I find I can only spend so much time around them before my head explodes They constantly want to be on top of you, next to you, near you, as close to you as possible ALL THE TIME. It is probably worsened by the fact they are poorly behaved and annoying in general

Sure as long as you can be my insect swatter again too ETA: Steve did actually tell me that I should try a ring run out after a couple of wines so blame him for encouraging me

Thanks FHRP. I will definitely have to meet a lot in person before making any decisions. I don't mind people orientated, I just don't want a dog that wants to be all over me all the time - I want a dog that can cope with being on its own and enjoy its own company if it must. I know hounds are typically pack orientated, both Daisy and Micha like to be around us but like their own space too. It would be nice to have a dog that really valued having a pat, Mish does to a certain extent, but he'll happily put himself outside and spend the day on his own when he wants to. ETA: The thought of a velcro dog makes me feel a bit claustrophobic though at the end of the day, it's probably just what I am used to as well. Part of me does like the idea of a more people-focused dog but it's hard to know what you would be happy living with when you are used to independent spitz/hound breeds! I remember when we bought Daisy home at eight weeks, it wasn't until she was at least 18 months old that she actually wanted to be pat or cuddled. Up until then, she refused to be picked up and never wanted to be pat, she had no interest in having pats at all. I can actually distinctly remember the first night she ever curled up on one of our laps. We just about died from shock, we even had to take a picture because it was so unusual On the totally opposite end of the scale I've met dogs who you just need to look at out of the corner of your eye and they just about explode at the thought you might pat them. That seems a bit annoying to me