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Finding A Dog Breed For My Dad


parrotpea
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So my parents want a medium to large dog. They would prefer low grooming needs - but my parents have had schnauzers before so are capable of doing grooming(Mum used to clip and groom schnauzers herself). They want something loyal and responsive to training. They are not first time dog owners, but a breed that will be easily trained would be best.

They live on property so exercise is not an issue. Something that will chase and catch rabbits is a bonus(but they do already have a Jack Russell who catches rabbits)

Hit me with your ideas :D

Edited by parrotpea
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I was going to say Aussie Shepherd as well - would sound like a great fit, although I'm biased :D Very trainable, Lottie loves to chase rabbits (although she's never caught any!), and she doesn't need a whole lot of grooming either!

Edited by LuvLottie
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Do Aussies really not need much grooming? I'm considering them myself but I've read some info that says they need brushing a few times a week, stripping, trimming etc.

They don't need much at all. I have 4 here and I'd spend maybe an hour a fortnight grooming them, in between they get a quick two minute brush if we're going somewhere. It's only if I'm showing that I put in a huge effort but on the whole they look good with minimal grooming.

They don't "need" stripping but if they are dropping coat which they do from time to time, it's a quick way to be rid of it and they only need trimming occasionally......feet and ears.

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So my parents want a medium to large dog. They would prefer low grooming needs - but my parents have had schnauzers before so are capable of doing grooming(Mum used to clip and groom schnauzers herself). They want something loyal and responsive to training. They are not first time dog owners, but a breed that will be easily trained would be best.

They live on property so exercise is not an issue. Something that will chase and catch rabbits is a bonus(but they do already have a Jack Russell who catches rabbits)

Hit me with your ideas :D

Inside or outside dog?

Will it leave the property for socialisation and training?

What sort of fencing/containment will there be?

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How do lappies go on the other qualities?

I've only had one Lappie and she's only 11 months old, so take my opinion with a moderate grain of salt ;)

We have found her exceptionally trainable, she's very smart and eager to please so she's always looking to be taught new things. We take her to obedience training once a week and she is doing very well (am yet to figure out how to train her not to eat the cat though). She needs a bit of grooming to prevent knots, but surprisingly little considering her coat. We wash her about once a month - dirt more or less falls off, but she occasionally rolls in something disgusting ;) We don't have any rabbits, but she has caught the odd rat! She LOVES to chase and will run for as long as we let her, but is also happy to crash on the couch for hours.

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A cattle dog with a softer nature - with the added bonus of no coat to catch burs, farmers friends etc.

Innately snake savvy, visual deterrent to intruders, loyal to an inch of their lives, lots of drive for training but just as happy chilling on the couch, oh.. and did I mention almost zero grooming :D

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German Shepherd. Simple.

lol but again, I am also biased. They LOVE chasing (both my dogs have caught NUMEROUS birds - all minors - and my older boy killed my rabbit..........) - also, I have a furminator brush and brush them about once a week just to get the stray hairs out - they do malt (is that how you spell it) A LOT but a quick vacuum does the job.

The are extremely intelligent and VERY VERY loyal.

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WA - lappies would spend all day chasing rabbits if they were allowed! LOL

Oh yes, they definitely would. And birds. And mice. And any other small animal you might let them chase. :laugh:

I was thinking though on property they'll pick up more burrs than in a normal yard, and you'd have to groom a little more often than you'd normally have to. Halo obviously still has puppy coat, but whenever we take her to footy the burrs are a nightmare. Akira doesn't pick them up though, so it's hopefully only a puppy coat thing.

Parrotpea, my lappie is extremely trainable (though I have a Husky who is not, so anything else is more trainable! :laugh:) and grooming isn't bad at all - once again, the Sibe gets a lot more grooming, but even she is only groomed once a week. They are working dogs, so their handlers in Finland wouldn't want to be dealing with a coat that needed to be groomed every day. And Spitz are fairly clean dogs, their coats drop out most of the dirt that they pick up (Akira can roll in the mud and a few hours later be nice and clean again) and they don't have a doggy smell unless they've rolled in something feral.

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Do Aussies really not need much grooming? I'm considering them myself but I've read some info that says they need brushing a few times a week, stripping, trimming etc.

My 'pet' Aussie gets brushed probably once a fortnight :o

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WA - lappies would spend all day chasing rabbits if they were allowed! LOL

And Spitz are fairly clean dogs, their coats drop out most of the dirt that they pick up (Akira can roll in the mud and a few hours later be nice and clean again) and they don't have a doggy smell unless they've rolled in something feral.

Should also note so are GSD. I never wash my dogs - unless they have literally been rolling around in mud. The dirt just falls off them and they are once again clean - I think it is quite spectacular... they are like self cleaning... if only everything else in the world was self cleaning, a lot more people would be happy! lol

but it does come in handy. :)

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Do Aussies really not need much grooming? I'm considering them myself but I've read some info that says they need brushing a few times a week, stripping, trimming etc.

They don't need much at all. I have 4 here and I'd spend maybe an hour a fortnight grooming them, in between they get a quick two minute brush if we're going somewhere. It's only if I'm showing that I put in a huge effort but on the whole they look good with minimal grooming.

They don't "need" stripping but if they are dropping coat which they do from time to time, it's a quick way to be rid of it and they only need trimming occasionally......feet and ears.

Do Aussies really not need much grooming? I'm considering them myself but I've read some info that says they need brushing a few times a week, stripping, trimming etc.

My 'pet' Aussie gets brushed probably once a fortnight :o

Thanks for the info! Do they drop a fair amount of coat between brushings?

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Thanks for the info! Do they drop a fair amount of coat between brushings?

I think this probably varies a bit between individuals... my girl is only 18 months and is desexed. She does shed a fair bit, but I only ever find her white furs, not her black ones... so get a dark dog if you don't want the hair to show up :laugh: She doesn't lose big clumps like my other dog (who has a coat similar to a GSD and is a shedding demon), it is more individual wisps of white fur.

In saying that, no doubt she would shed less if I brushed her more often!

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A Whippet or Deerhound would take care of the rabbits.Also Kelpie or Border collie will train very well. take a look at pounds and shelters;there are always working dogs there that would do well on a property.

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Border Collies are very trainable might be worth a look in.

Some one else can fill you in on the grooming, but there are a fluffier dogs as well as smooth coated ones so grooming would vary accordingly.

Or what about a smooth collie.

:laugh: I think there are numerous breeds that could suit.

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