How Did You Choose?

Question:
 How did you choose your breed of dog that you either Handle/breed/ect?
I would like to choose a breed that I can learn about and see and some day own :) I would like to choose one and learn in depth about that ONE(or two) breeds.
How do you choose? I mean some of the breeds that really stand out to me are....Newfie(I just LOVE this breed), Golden, and the Border Collie.
I would love to some day breed/show(well not the BC)/compete with one of these breeds.
But I can't choose! :o
Help/suggestions, please?

Answer:
Anyone? :)

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Just start reading EVERYTHING about them. Breed sites, books, go to shows and talk to people there in those breeds.
Myself, I've always had an eye for Border Collies and herding breeds in general. I knew that I wasn't quite sure if I could handle a BC right off the bat though, so I went with the less intense "version"--The Aussie. And the looks caught my eye of course. Webshots had a handful of Aussie pictures for my screensavers and I would just stare at them and want one. So from there I went and started reading, reading, reading, making sure that I would be prepared for the behaviors, the coat type and care and the exercise requirements. Plus, I also knew I wanted a "velcro" dog. I love everything about this breed, there isn't a single thing I would change. Except for the "control barking" but that's a manner of getting the training to sink in. :)

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You need to go to an AKC show and ask different people about different breeds. Go up to the Newfie people and ask them about their breed, same with Goldens & BC's.
If there arent any shows around where you are, try to find a RESPONSIBLE Newfie breeder or a golden breeder or a BC breeder online.
I can tell you BCs are extremly active and "need a job". So if you like sitting on the couch, this breed is not for you.
Dont pick a breed based on looks, and please find a responsible breeder for a mentor.
http://www.jlhweb.net/Boxermap/reputablebreeder.html
If you have any ?s on if a person is a responsible breeder or not, post it on here, and I am sure we will let you know.
ETA-oh yeah and please take your time, dont rush into anything. Do it the right way.

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I met a bunch of paps at shows and rapidly fell in love. <3

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I agree. Learn as much as you can, through trying to meet the dogs at shows, etc. read, read, read, stuff like that.
Though it's not the right time for another animal, I have my mind set on a Border Collie. At first I was interested in them and then researched them and read about their temperaments and saw that they would be a great match for me. When you're researching breed characteristics, make sure to look at all the aspects of their temperament.
BCs- I love their looks, intelligence, temperament, everything. I already have a Border collie mix but I want to get a purebred eventually, either through a recue oir working lines.
I have acreage and we live in a rural area, here tons of people have BCs, aussies, cattle dogs, etc. They thrive here with lots of room.

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Reading is a great, easy way to learn more about dogs. Not simply the reference books or "Your Gordon Setter and You" books, because, let's face it, these never see ANYTHING wrong with their breeds, just with the lazy bastards who don't deserve them :). The problem areas of breeds are usually under-mentioned, aka "The Border Collie is an energetic and athletic dog suited to an active owner." True, but er, how many people truly look at themselves and think "Yeah, I'm a slug, gimme a basset"?
I like memoirs for getting more insight into a breed. These are also unreservedly positive about their breeds, but reading 120+ pages on exactly what living with a dog entails can give you some hints.
I googled around, looking for this book I'd once read, and found this website:
http://www.newfemporium.com/store/index.ihtml
and these books:
Great Balls of Fur-Life with Newfoundlands and Other Critters by Nita Jager
For The Love Of Puppies by Dan Montague
Ninety-Nine Newfies by Pat Seawell (Editor)
In the Company of Newfies: A Shared Life by Rhoda Lerman
The Lerman memoir is the one I read; it's interesting, a bit fanciful. She breeds Landseer Newfies, and is deeply involved with the dogs.

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I fell in love with the pug when I was around 12 years old and always promised myself I would have pugs someday. My parents never gave into my begging and pleading. A pug was the first thing I bought myself the second I moved out. Very irresponsible at the time, but I couldn't wait any longer!
To me, there was no question. This was the breed that captured my heart the minute I met my first pug. I still remember him, his name was "Gizmo."

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Hmm. I didn't really choose at first. The stepfather brought home a stray dog, some kind of Pit Bull mix. And in the years that followed -- as well as the years preceding -- I gained experience with other breeds, but kept coming back to Pit Bulls. I think the best knowledge is gained in person, by hands-on and eyes-on contact. When you come to the right breed, its going to have a very natural, "right" feel.

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I don't breed, or handle/show any breed. That being said, I would like to get into showing one day - but I think choosing a breed to own for the rest of your life is much the same as choosing a breed to handle and such for the rest of your life. Perhaps there are a few differences, but probably not many.

I never did have more than one breed that I felt exactly the same about. It never was too hard of a decision to say "I want to get a Toller as my next dog". The Toller is the breed I feel the most comfortable with in all aspects, and the breed I am most knowledgeable about. They just feel "right" to me. There are a couple other breeds I feel almost the same about, but not quite. I think everyone out there has a breed that they just somehow connect with. As said above, you'll know what it is when you come to it and being with that breed will just feel right. For now, I'd try to meet as many good representatives of the breeds you're truly interested in as possible and learn as much as possible about all of them by spending time with, reading about, etc. Most of my knowledge about Tollers came from my Toller book/s - not the internet (though this can be of help sometimes). The rest of my info came from Toller owners.

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The way weimies choose me... ;)
I was helping out my inlaws show their collies at a show in Kalamazoo, MI back in '98. We, my husband and I, were walking around the show rings watching and my eye caught a ring with a bunch of gray dogs with striking eyes. I immediately had to know what breed that was. So I got out our show book and looked them up. I tell ya it took me all weekend long to pronounce the name correctly! We met with a breeder before the weekend was done and the best advice she told us was, "I would love for you to buy one of my dogs but no matter what breed you choose make sure that you do your research first to make sure the breed fits your lifestyle." I still give that advice to everyone I meet.
It was from that point forward that I fell in love with the breed. I did my research and they did fit our lifestyle and what we were looking for in a pup. And I tell you I couldn't be happier with anyother breed. I'm sure there are others out there but I'm smitten!
:D

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Newfies and Goldens basicallly have the same type of personality . So I would narrow it down between them and a BC. If you go with them ...then you can decide between the 2 .

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I had always loved Labs because a friend of mine had one, but when I started working at a vet a few years ago, I actually fell in love with Goldens. A lot of the Labs were neurotic, annoying, and hyper. I still loved the breed but didn't want such a hyper dog, so I started researching Goldens. I really fell in love with the breed and asked my parents if we could get one. They weren't really keen on the idea. I ended up stumbling upon a litter of Lab puppies and my parents said yes to letting me have one. Of course this was a BYB and I've learned since then but I've also fallen in love with this breed because of this dog (Nova). I've learned that most of the neurotic Labs are from bad breeders and that a "real" Lab is the absolute perfect dog for me. :) I research this breed, it's genetics, temperment, structure, etc. on pretty much a daily basis. I can't imagine not having a Lab now ... or several ;)

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Thanks everyone, I guess I would just like to find that one breed I "click" with, you know ;)
Grammy, I looked at their personality and they are a lot like the Golden in temperment.
I have seen Newfies in shows before and they are so magestic and graceful. And so full of personality...I love that about them.
But then the BC, they are very smart dogs and I love that about a dog, they LOVE to work, they are very loyal to there owners, they WANT to please.I lvoe that about them. And they are not big, but not small
And the Golden, what's not to love about them?! They genlte, loving, loyal, sweet, dogs
I think I am leaning torward the Newfie, I just really like everything about them. ;)

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They are magnificent dogs . The only thing I'd question is your ALA weather . There would be a lot of drool with the heat . Also , they would be more expensive of the 3 breeds and the live expectancy is shorter . Believe me , I'm not knocking them . It's a breed I would love to have owned ( along with my Goldens , of course ! )

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Breed club websites are very helpful, because I find a lot of them list the GOOD along side the BAD traits of the breeds. For instance, the JRTCA has "bad dog talk" which lists all the downsides of owning a Jack Russell Terrier ... my favorite breed, but which needs a list like this for people who are not ready to take on the huge responsibility of owning one.
I went with what I liked from when I was very young. I had lists of dogs, read books, watched shows on TV etc. and when the time came, I picked a dog in my list, and it was a Jack - excellent choice for myself.
Newfies, as I have witnessed, are very laid back, can be stubborn, but yes, over all have that "loving golden" personality. Although, I gather that they can be a little more trying during training as they were bred for different jobs from the retrievers. If you are looking for high intelligence, problem solving, and over all a dog that could work on your books, choose the border ... but be prepared for lots of activity. My dads family is a border collie family, and have nothing but praise for these dogs. My grandma and three of my aunts all have one, great with kids, easy to train, but energetic. My other aunt has a newfie, who she is having some training issues with, but from our converstation i believe it is her own fault more or less. Newfies do drool, shed highly, and require more food. Borders are exceptionally active, get board easily and can get destructive if not given enough to do.
Hope this helps somewhat. Good luck in your search! :)

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I'll go deeper into my story. My family was looking into a third dog, and I was perfectly happy with our two shelties and wanted another, however I was only allowed a dog if it was a toy for some reason. (My mom had loved toys) So we went looking and I loved cresteds, but the rest of the family ended up liking papillons, so we ended up with Beau. (Long story made really short, but I'm so glad it worked out the way it did) I'm the kind of person that loves any kind of dog, so I was okay with it. I would have been the first person to tell you that papillons were NOT on my list of breeds I'd want to own, however. Growing up with herders and retrievers, I always said I liked a 'functional' dog. However, I realized my bias really soon and quickly learned papillons are by far the neatest dogs I've ever known. ;)
Beau is so incredibly smart and very in tune with his people. He's a problem solver, he's insanely athletic, and intense. He's more energetic than the retrievers, the gsd x, and the shelties combined probably. He's small and easy to handle and take places. He is much more playful and picks up on tricks faster than any dog I've ever known. He learned to retrieve and 'drop it' a ton faster than the field bred lab we had. His only drive is to please. Papillons are truly 100% companion. That's their reason, and they're great at it. All the paps I've known minus one rescue have been sweet dogs who love everyone. They're not a one person dog like many toys. They don't act like toys at all, nor do they really act like spaniels. A well bred papillon is also quite beautiful, which only added to my love. Then we ended up with Harry as a puppy for my sister, and he's equally wonderful, although he's much more serious. Like I've said all the paps I know are the sweetest dogs. There isn't an aggressive bone in their bodies. In 2 1/2 years, I've still yet to see Beau growl at anything. Plus papillons are very elegant and I just adore their ears. They're the perfect small dog for a big dog lover.
I may have dogs of other breeds, but I just can't imagine life without a little spunky papillon with me. :)
So the moral of this story is: Don't have prior conceptions. Your breed will probably find you when you're not even looking at it. Dog shows are really good places to look too. That's where we met Beau's sister's owner who eventually put us in contact with his breeder.

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Grammy, that is some thing I was worried about too :( But I am not sure if I want to stay in AL. But that is some thing that, well we will have to see what comes ;)
But I think you know if I have a pool, lake, beach time for the dog/s he/and she will be fine ;)
But I really like the black newfies! Aww they are VERY cute! I have seen pics and I like the colour better than the browns.

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How I got my breed...I used to have Rotties (I love the stocky look) and they broke my heart because I couldn't get one to live past 11. I thought I would try a smaller version. I went to a bunch of dog shows and talked to Amstaff breeders. I then went to a couple of rescues that the breeders put me in touch with. I went to just learn about the breed and I encountered a little fawn and white puppy that had the pretty little brown eyes and......(sniff sniff) the rest is history :o
So with that in mind...I would check out some rescues and maybe volunteer to help out if they are looking for help. You will get to learn a lot about a breed from helping at a rescue.
Good luck.
PS all the breeds you mention are great but I really like Newfies, they are truly gentle giants.

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Thanks Everyone! :) I am going to check out the Breeds Club Page.
And I mean there are so many pros and cons to each one and that is why it is so hard to choose :(

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That's a good idea ---foster . Problem is , you may get a problem child that is not norm of the breed .

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Honestly, I didn't get "into" BCs until after Dakota was older. When I got Dakota, I was getting Dakota and not a Border Collie. I didn't pay much attention to the breed (though I had researched it and admired it prior to getting him) until I realized that Dakota was something special, and that the qualities I liked so much in Dakota (loyal, very responsive, attentive, biddable and capable of a very deep level of understanding and communication) were typical of the breed.

Out of the three, I am partial to Border Collies but something to keep in mind with the Newfoundland is where you will be living in 4-5 years. If you are anything like the majority, chances are you will be DIRT POOR when you move out, and finding a place within your budget that will also allow a 100+lb, drooly, hairy dog will not be a small feat. Not trying to be the little black cloud, I just think it's something that you need to think about. I've gone through it already and called places where I might consider living in the future. I think I made over 100 calls in the Idaho/Washington area alone and only two places were willing to consider me (posing as an 18 year old) when I said I had a Doberman. Most said the Dobe was "too big" - imagine what they'd say about a Newf.

I think of the 3, the Border Collie is the most "landlord friendly" provided the dog gets plenty of stimulation - but there's a problem too. In order to be not broke, you're going to have to work and leaving a BC alone in the house or crated all day isn't exactly fun for the dog. A less handler-oriented breed might work better in that situation. That being said, I'm going to be moving out with my BCs and I expect they'll do fine; I'm just prepared to spend a lot of extra time with them when I get home from work, if I can't find a job where well-mannered dogs are allowed.

Also, sorry, but I don't think fostering is the best way to get a feel for the breed. 99% of the dogs in rescue are from irresponsible breeders, and well bred dogs of the same breed may act completely different. My BYB Papillon does not act like the well-bred Paps I know. My friend's BYB Border Collie doesn't act like a Border Collie.

If you're interested in Newfs and Goldens, I'd go to shows and meet the dogs, meet some breeders and get involved. If you're interested in BCs, I'd go to stockdog trials and meet some sheepdogs. Can't speak for the show ring since people are different in every breed (in Border Collies for example, I met one nasty person after another) I've found the people in the trial circuit to be very polite and helpful, and most are more than willing to share information with newbies.

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I love everything about the GSD. I like the TRUE GSD temperament (not the fearful, needy, agressive, unstable ect, GSD's we typically see), their looks, abilities and adaptability (is that a word??). The only thing I dont like is their size. They tend to be very stocky (well at least the german lines) and big therefore compromising their agility. That is why my second favorite breed is the Dutch Shepherd. They pocess all the qualities I like and I love their high-energy. And they have a smaller frame making them quicker and more agile.

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I agree with a lot of what RD said. =)
I fell in love with Border Collies when I was about 8 or 9... I have tons of relatives in Texas, and 3 of them have multiple Border Collies (2 of them have large horse/cattle farms). I LOVED those dogs so much, and it was my dream to have one since I was that young. My Mom still has pictures of BC's that I used to draw for art classes and everything. I didn't think I could get a BC, because my Dad said they were too active, and when I was 13 I was actually set up to get a GSD from an awesome European-line breeder... but then I found out about Gonzo through a rescue friend, and I begged my Dad, and he gave in because he knew I had wanted a BC for so long.
My advice is DEFINITELY don't go to shows to check out Border Collies & BC breeders!!!!1 No offense to show breeders, but the majority do not own real working BC's, and for many show BC's you might as well just look at the Golden's personality and apply that ;]. The best place to see REAL Border Collies is at herding trials, farms, agility & flyball tournies, Obedience, etc. A well-bred BC literally wants to work all the time. You will see awesome examples of just how into their jobs these dogs are, how much energy & drive they have, how freakishly smart they are, and how hard their handlers do have to work. Some people do not realize how true this is, and just think "active" means 30 minutes of fetch a day. Nooo. Their mental & physical energy is definitely manageable for some people, but it's impossible for most (hence the tons of neglected/neurotic BC's in rescue).
Gonzo actually just lazes around the house for much of the day, but that's because he gets 2-3 long walks, 1-2 hours of intense exercise, at least 20-30 minutes of training, plenty of stimulating toys/games, and playtime with Fozzie, everysingleday. For me, I love playing with him & training him, but it has absolutely taken a while to get used to and to set a schedule. When the weather is really bad or I don't have time for a few days, and he gets less exercise, I can tell he's getting on edge.

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Didnt choose by breed I just saw two dogs, about 2 years apart that I didnt wanna see wind up in the pound.
Maybe someday Ill get a Newf.

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I was lucky enough to have been in Rottweilers in the womb! lol
My mother was in the breed, not so much as breeding/showing but just loving/owning the breed when she was in her younger years and has always loved the breed. She had Rotts on and off, and then my aunt got into the showing/breeding/owning of the Rotties 13 years ago. So I have always grown up around them, and loved the breed. I can't see myself without this awesome breed, & I hope I never will be without a Rottweiler to warm my feet at night. They are truley my *heart* breed and I will do everything within my power to preserve this wonderful breed.

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Honestly, I didn't get "into" BCs until after Dakota was older. When I got Dakota, I was getting Dakota and not a Border Collie. I didn't pay much attention to the breed (though I had researched it and admired it prior to getting him) until I realized that Dakota was something special, and that the qualities I liked so much in Dakota (loyal, very responsive, attentive, biddable and capable of a very deep level of understanding and communication) were typical of the breed.

Out of the three, I am partial to Border Collies but something to keep in mind with the Newfoundland is where you will be living in 4-5 years. If you are anything like the majority, chances are you will be DIRT POOR when you move out, and finding a place within your budget that will also allow a 100+lb, drooly, hairy dog will not be a small feat. Not trying to be the little black cloud, I just think it's something that you need to think about. I've gone through it already and called places where I might consider living in the future. I think I made over 100 calls in the Idaho/Washington area alone and only two places were willing to consider me (posing as an 18 year old) when I said I had a Doberman. Most said the Dobe was "too big" - imagine what they'd say about a Newf.

I think of the 3, the Border Collie is the most "landlord friendly" provided the dog gets plenty of stimulation - but there's a problem too. In order to be not broke, you're going to have to work and leaving a BC alone in the house or crated all day isn't exactly fun for the dog. A less handler-oriented breed might work better in that situation. That being said, I'm going to be moving out with my BCs and I expect they'll do fine; I'm just prepared to spend a lot of extra time with them when I get home from work, if I can't find a job where well-mannered dogs are allowed.

Also, sorry, but I don't think fostering is the best way to get a feel for the breed. 99% of the dogs in rescue are from irresponsible breeders, and well bred dogs of the same breed may act completely different. My BYB Papillon does not act like the well-bred Paps I know. My friend's BYB Border Collie doesn't act like a Border Collie.

If you're interested in Newfs and Goldens, I'd go to shows and meet the dogs, meet some breeders and get involved. If you're interested in BCs, I'd go to stockdog trials and meet some sheepdogs. Can't speak for the show ring since people are different in every breed (in Border Collies for example, I met one nasty person after another) I've found the people in the trial circuit to be very polite and helpful, and most are more than willing to share information with newbies.
Oh this dog would come AFTER College and all that ;) Since if that is the breed I choose(or any of the 3 for that matter) I want it to come from a GOOD breeder, either of very good show quality or of working lines. I would like to have a house and acreage before I get any one of these dogs. I want to be able to spend a good amount of time with the dog for training and getting it ready for the show ring or working. And have School BEHIND me :p

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I was raised with pits and mastiffs from the womb too. They were pets and working farm dogs and all the pits were hog dogs. I cant imagine my life without one.
and coonhounds because all my friends had them growing up all i could do was sit back and admire. They are jsut the best dogs in my opinion.

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Way to be thinking ahead!

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Oh and I really DO NOT want to fostermy first dog of any of these breeds, I would LOVE to take in Dogs from shelters and foster them/train them and then find there forever home :) I know, I want to do a LOT!

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I have to disagree with Newfs and Goldens being alot a like, maybe in personality, but the two breeds are VERY different. I think that all three breeds need special consideration because all three are very different from one another. Goldens and Newfs may share the same happy-go-lucky type of personality but one is a sporting breed and the other is a working breed. Sporting breeds and working breeds are quite different from one another. A Newf will want to have a job to do, that is what makes them such wonderful water rescue dogs or SAR. The other major difference between a Newf and a Golden is their size. A Golden is big, but a Newf is much, much bigger. And living with a giant breed is a whole different story than living with a large breed! The number one reason that people rehome their giant breeds is because they get too big. Vet bills are much higher for a Newf, food bills are higher for a Newf. Newfs require more grooming. Health problems are a very serious reality when owning a Newf. Have you considered living with a drooly dog? And I don't mean a drop here and there, I mean the shoe laces hanging out of the mouth and then painted on your walls with a simple head shake!! I am not trying to discourage you from a Newf (this is the breed I would pick out of your 3 choices!), but that they are very different from a Golden. Everyone has already given you great advise, but again I want to stress the importance of being around all three of these different breeds and getting a hands on experience! Contact local breed clubs and find out when they are having get togethers or specialty shows and go check them out. Don't just spend an afternoom together, go back time and time again! You will know when you have found the right bred for you, it will get under your skin and you will have to have one!

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Oh this dog would come AFTER College and all that ;) Since if that is the breed I choose(or any of the 3 for that matter) I want it to come from a GOOD breeder, either of very good show quality or of working lines. I would like to have a house and acreage before I get any one of these dogs. I want to be able to spend a good amount of time with the dog for training and getting it ready for the show ring or working. And have School BEHIND me :p
:hail: You have way more self control than me! though I have a feeling Eve will be my last for quite a few years unlesss i move to Mexico. :D Good choice, though.

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I'll make the decision easy for you, Goldens!! Jk jk lol :D.
My parents chose a golden because we needed a dog just like a golden, it had to be sweet, friendly ect. And now, yes I have fallen for the breed. I adore Casey and couldn't ask for a more perfect dog. She is so friendly but at the same time will protect me if I need it. I will always have goldens in my life no matter what.
I have also fallen for Leonbergers. They are stunning dogs and when I move out and go to Scotland I will be getting one.
All I can say is follow your heart, go for which breed you feel a connection with.

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I didn't choose the border collie. Spanky was a birthday present. I had told my mom I was not getting a new dog till my elderly dog passed, but she thought it would ease the passing of the elderly dog if I had another dog there to lick away my tears when she left. When she handed him to me I looked into his little eyes, fell in love, my sheltie started barking at me, and then I handed him back and told her to take him back to where she got him from. My mom said no and god am I ever glad she did. When my sheltie died I was greatful I had him there with me. It didn't make it an easier but it was nice to have another k-9 friend.
Bandit is Spanky's brother. My moms' boyfriend gave him to his daughter. They already had a golden retriever puppy at the time and another dog. Bandit was being destructive but hey. He was just a puppy! His owners went on vacation and asked if I could wathc him. I said sure. They came back and didn't come pick him up. I got him a home with my friend, but then his owners said they wanted him back so I said they could come pick him up whenever. They never did. I couldn't give up that puppy after that. He had latched himself onto my heart and there was no way I could let him go.
I totally have adapted myself to my border collie life. They are around then months old now and are the most energetic dogs I've ever met. We run, we play, we train, and we laugh every day. If you can handle a border collie then get one. I have fallen head over heels for this breed. I wouldn't change a thing about any of them. Every moment with them is rewarding.

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:hail: You have way more self control than me! though I have a feeling Eve will be my last for quite a few years unlesss i move to Mexico. Good choice, though.
Hahah, self control! It's called PARENTS! If I could I would already have another dog ;)
Just wondering, but, I know that most Show BC breeders are breeding for Beauty, but are there any breeders that breed for Show and Working? Because I reallly want to show dogs, but I really love the BC, to be honest, they really fit my life style the best conpared to the Newfie and Golden.

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Just wondering, but, I know that most Show BC breeders are breeding for Beauty, but are there any breeders that breed for Show and Working? Because I reallly want to show dogs, but I really love the BC, to be honest, they really fit my life style the best conpared to the Newfie and Golden.
I know you really love Border Collies, but if you want an active dog that hasn't gone through a working/conformation split, would you take a Toller into consideration? Almost every Toller I've ever met has been very drivey, are excellent working dogs, and do very well in conformation too. They're just as active as a Border Collie (some are more active, some are about the same, and some are a bit less). The females seem to be more energetic than the males a lot of the time, but not always. Very loving, devoted, eager to please, relatively easy to train dogs, etc. Of course, they and Border Collies have their obvious differences, with one being a herding breed and one a sporting breed and all but they do have tons of similarities too. Anyway, just thought I'd throw the idea out there as I think they may be a good match for you.

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Hahah, self control! It's called PARENTS! If I could I would already have another dog ;)

Just wondering, but, I know that most Show BC breeders are breeding for Beauty, but are there any breeders that breed for Show and Working? Because I reallly want to show dogs, but I really love the BC, to be honest, they really fit my life style the best conpared to the Newfie and Golden.
There are some breeders out there who breed for versatility, but IMO they never breed excellent working dogs. They may breed dogs that aren't totally clueless on stock, but unfortunately when appearance is taken into consideration, the ability to produce the best working dogs possible is usually diminished. I think you'd have better luck getting a rough-coated working bred dog and showing it successfully in conformation than you would by getting a 'versatility-bred' dog and trying to do stockwork with it.

I agree that a Toller might be a good bet for you too, they're really neat dogs. Quite different from BCs, but an awesome breed in their own respect.

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Okay :)
Toller, I may just look into the that breed. Do some searching around and looking at personalities ect... :) They sound like really good dogs.
How do BC do as Therapy dogs?

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Dakota failed to get his official TDI certification. He's pretty intense, not to the point of being badly mannered but he's a little too much dog for very ill people in the hospital. However, he's welcomed with open arms at the nursing home here, as well as at after-school programs at the local elementary school. He's very sociable and polite, and knows when to be gentle.
I think Eve naturally has the right temperament for it. She's friendly to people, but she waits for them to initiate contact and then allows them to pet her without demanding all of their attention.
Some BCs are more wary of strangers, and while I think they could be trained to do therapy work, I'm not sure they'd enjoy it.

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Kase ... you and I are prejudice ...even though my Ollie isn't a pure bred ...he's basically a Golden at heart . More hyper than what I bred but he has filled what was an empty heart . I'm glad I gave him a chance of a happy life .

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Dakota failed to get his official TDI certification. He's pretty intense, not to the point of being badly mannered but he's a little too much dog for very ill people in the hospital. However, he's welcomed with open arms at the nursing home here, as well as at after-school programs at the local elementary school. He's very sociable and polite, and knows when to be gentle.
I think Eve naturally has the right temperament for it. She's friendly to people, but she waits for them to initiate contact and then allows them to pet her without demanding all of their attention.
Some BCs are more wary of strangers, and while I think they could be trained to do therapy work, I'm not sure they'd enjoy it.
Well, I was more thinking on the lines of going to schools and visiting the elderly for the therapy work I wanted to do. I really love the happiness the elderly get out of being around a dog and they just forget all of there pains or worries :)

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I picked the breed that was most compatible with ME and my lifestyle. As for the next breed I plan on owning, I chose because of how I admire them and love everything about them from their temperment to their looks to their history. I could sit for HOURS listening to people telling their experiences with these particular dogs from the balkans. From heroic tales to simple training excercises, they all facinate me. By the way my next breed is going to be a Sarplaninac. Yes, i FINALY decided LOL and after that...who knows...maybe CO?

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I have been thinking about it and a Toller, well just some thing about it that I don't like...I'm not sure what it is, but I am just not feeling "that" thing that I felt with the BC. :)
But, what about an Aussie? They are a LOT like the BC. But how do they do in shows and Therapy work?

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How did I end up with chihuahuas? Well, when we moved into our first apartment, my boyfriend and I wanted a dog. We wanted something small, and I have always wanted a chihuahua. We bought Madison from a BYB (he doesn't act like a chihuahua should). After that, we wanted another chihuahua and we bought Rylie from a responsible breeder. After Rylie, we wanted another chihuahua, and bought Chloe from another responsible breeder :D

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our first family dog is a pure bred lab (who is now 11 yo)--which we chose when our (then young) son was begging for a dog after reading the book Call of the Wild. After doing lots of research re: breeds, and young children, we decided on a lab. She has been the best family dog anyone could ask for--she is so loyal and tolerant!! The funny part to this story is that we planned to surprised our son with this lab. puppy, had it all figured out, etc... So the next time he pleaded for a dog--I asked what kind of dog would he pick if he could--and his reply(after careful thought) was ....a chihuahua !!! lol!
Our other dog sort of chose us--went to visit a local shelter, walked several dogs, and when I went to take Baxter back in to the shelter, he turned around, put his paw on my chest and gave me a look like "please, not back in there!" I fell in love (love my hound dogs anyway since I had a beagle as a child)--so he became ours!! Sorry this is so long--took a trip down memory lane since my son will soon be 20!!:yikes:

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Awww that was beautiful, Baxter! :D

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I have been thinking about it and a Toller, well just some thing about it that I don't like...I'm not sure what it is, but I am just not feeling "that" thing that I felt with the BC. :)

But, what about an Aussie? They are a LOT like the BC. But how do they do in shows and Therapy work?
They're two very different breeds. I'm with you, I prefer BCs, but I generally do prefer herding breeds to sporting breeds.

Aussies are marvelous dogs, Dakota romped with one this morning. :) This boy was from working lines and is very energetic and intelligent, but more low-key than Dakota and not quite so intense. I *really* liked him, would've taken him home if I could!

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Okay, thanks, Grace :)
I would love to learn more about the Aussie though.

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I agree with both of you there. I've had both gundogs and herders and you just can't beat a herding dog personailty. They're so cool. The herding group is by far my favorite group.
Liz, have you looked at other herding breeds? You seem to lean towards that type of dog. BCs are probably the most intense breed you could find, and that could be tough if you really want to do the things you want to do with your dog. Also, if you want to show, then I personally wouldn't pick a BC as the breed to try to get into showing with. There's too much of a split in the breed. Other herding breeds are also very smart, easily trained, beautiful, but a little less intense than BCs. I know I couldn't handle a dog that's the size of a BC and as active as Beau. O.o
There's also a pretty decent split in Aussies too.
But these splits wouldn't really matter unless you were wanting to do some herding with your dog. You seem to want to show and do therapy work which wouldn't really require a working bred dog.

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Liz, have you looked at other herding breeds? You seem to lean towards that type of dog. BCs are probably the most intense breed you could find, and that could be tough if you really want to do the things you want to do with your dog. Also, if you want to show, then I personally wouldn't pick a BC as the breed to try to get into showing with. There's too much of a split in the breed. Other herding breeds are also very smart, easily trained, beautiful, but a little less intense than BCs. I know I couldn't handle a dog that's the size of a BC and as active as Beau. O.o
There's also a pretty decent split in Aussies too.
But these splits wouldn't really matter unless you were wanting to do some herding with your dog. You seem to want to show and do therapy work which wouldn't really require a working bred dog.
Yeah, I would love to show dogs, but I love the drive the BC and Aussie have. :)
These are the things I would like to do with my dog/s
Showing(if possible)
Therapy Work(mostly with the Elderly)
Agility
Rally
and I would love to own some Sheep one day and do Herding
And I would love to breed...but I am not sure.
And yes, I have looked at other breeds, but I don't know, they don't have that thing that the BC's or Aussies have. And I DO NOT want to settler for some thing less really.