OMG did you see the YouTube video on this site for the 'photo of the month'? It was so neat to watch this huge dog surf!
What breeds do Shelties get along with?
- Thread starter Becky1
- Start date
OMG did you see the YouTube video on this site for the 'photo of the month'? It was so neat to watch this huge dog surf!
sailor_titan
Forums Regular
What I am sick to death of is poodle and poodle crosses! You can't go anywhere anymore around here without running into them (My Aunt Lisa has eight of them, my Uncle Dave has one, My Aunt Judy has two...they are everywhere)
The standards are nice, but they can be jumpy (not in a scared way, a hyper way) I would never own one because of the work that goes into the hair. None of my relative's dogs get along with Aztec real great - but they sure love the other poodles. (You can just imagine all the curly coats at our get togethers.)
I really can't imagine not owning a herding breed.
Have you looked into Welsh or English springer spaniels? The Welsh Springers are perhaps the sweetest tempered dogs I have ever met.
Aztec is right...I grew up with a springer, and they are SO SWEET. I have never met such well-tempered dogs. A woman who owns a bead store nearby has one too, who is also a doll, and one of my best friends grew up with them and adores them. Great dogs.
labgirl
Forums Sage
Oh now I really must protest!
My choccie lab is the sweetest floppy-lipped dog you can meet and trust me, he is smart, gentle lovely and gorgeous!A bit of a softy, but has a wicked sense of humour (ask my trainer!)
To pick up on another comment, he is indeed bouncy, however as a young pup he happily ran around with a sheltie and he never played roughly with her or squashed her - he seemed to know she was not a lab and so would not appreciate 'wrestling'. Her owners had another older sheltie that didn't like to play. If Cadbury went up to it, it would give a quiet growl and Cadbury would wander off and leave it be.
Its all about socialisation. If you could see Cadbury with a small puppy you would realise how gentle a lab can be. The other week he met a staffie puppy, only about 10 weeks but full of beans, it wanted to meet Cadbury and he laid down so the puppy could sniff his nose, then he rolled on his side and rubbed his head against the pup and the pup rubbed back and then he started bouncing on Cadbury's head, and Cadbury let it and just laid there.
The only thing with a lab is they are so so stubborn! Sometimes people think this makes them stupid, but that's not the case, they just need to know that what they are doing is worthwhile.
Well, I've stated my case for a lab - tbh, I think any dog breed from a good breeder, with socilisation and training should be able to mix with any other dog breed, and I think shelties are fully capable of looking after themselves with big dogs
sailor_titan
Forums Regular
Oh now I really must protest!
A bit of a softy, but has a wicked sense of humour (ask my trainer!)
To pick up on another comment, he is indeed bouncy, however as a young pup he happily ran around with a sheltie and he never played roughly with her or squashed her - he seemed to know she was not a lab and so would not appreciate 'wrestling'. Her owners had another older sheltie that didn't like to play. If Cadbury went up to it, it would give a quiet growl and Cadbury would wander off and leave it be.
Its all about socialisation. If you could see Cadbury with a small puppy you would realise how gentle a lab can be. The other week he met a staffie puppy, only about 10 weeks but full of beans, it wanted to meet Cadbury and he laid down so the puppy could sniff his nose, then he rolled on his side and rubbed his head against the pup and the pup rubbed back and then he started bouncing on Cadbury's head, and Cadbury let it and just laid there.
The only thing with a lab is they are so so stubborn! Sometimes people think this makes them stupid, but that's not the case, they just need to know that what they are doing is worthwhile.
Well, I've stated my case for a lab - tbh, I think any dog breed from a good breeder, with socilisation and training should be able to mix with any other dog breed, and I think shelties are fully capable of looking after themselves with big dogs
LOL, I'm not surprised you have strong feelings on the matter, "labgirl" ;-)
I don't believe that labs are stupid, rough, or any more annoying than any other sporting breed--I was mostly commenting on the commonness of the breed, and how everyone feels the need to have a lab, and often not for any particular reason except that it's what other people have. If shelties were as common as Labrador retrievers, you can be sure that I would get something else--no matter how much I liked them, lol--like a Belgian shepherd or a Icelandic shepherd...I've been known for a tendency toward Hype Aversion. I should also mention that I tend not to find sporting dogs very appealing in general; my mother's Gordon setters, even if they're nicer looking imo, have that same stubborn streak and they drive me nuts--as well as the super-friendly attitude that, while most people like it, I tend to find off-putting. I think the sheltie breeder was surprised when I was interested initially in a female dog because they were less outgoing and friendly.
Not to mention the slobber...and slobber...and more slobber. -.-;; if a dog was very attractive and stubborn, I'd probably be willing to put up with it...or if a dog was less attractive but tractable, I might be willing to put up with it...but a dog who is both stubborn with big, floppy lips just won't do it for me.
Ultimately, my dislike of labs (besides said hype aversion, though like I said, I tend not to like sporting dogs in general) is just a matter of personal preference.
BarbV
Forums Celebrity
Like Sailor Titan, I'm not a fan of sporting dogs either in general (with the exception of spaniels), but individually, I know of some very sweet dogs.
I would be inclined to stay within the "working group" which I think the Newfie, bernese, etc. are in. Like meets Like. I'm also partial to Belgian Shepherds. I believe they tend to be less dominant than Germans. And they are beauties!
One of my neighbours has a Sheltie and a Belgian. They look terrific together!
http://www.europuppyusa.com/images/dog_breed_info/68_1.jpg
Are you overwhelmed with options yet?
I would be inclined to stay within the "working group" which I think the Newfie, bernese, etc. are in. Like meets Like. I'm also partial to Belgian Shepherds. I believe they tend to be less dominant than Germans. And they are beauties!
One of my neighbours has a Sheltie and a Belgian. They look terrific together!
http://www.europuppyusa.com/images/dog_breed_info/68_1.jpg
Are you overwhelmed with options yet?
I love the Great Pyrenees
One of my old business partners had two of them, male and female. The male, Mozart, was 160lbs & a huge baby. I took him home one day to play with the kids that my wife babysits. The kids adored him & he loved the kids. He would tip-toe gently around the young ones, and rough house playfully with the older ones.
After that visit, whenever Mozart was at the office and I was leaving, he would come out and jump in my jeep- filling the back seat completely- and wait for me to tajke him to the kids again. I did this many times, with many different kids, over the years. What a wonderful dog.
One of my old business partners had two of them, male and female. The male, Mozart, was 160lbs & a huge baby. I took him home one day to play with the kids that my wife babysits. The kids adored him & he loved the kids. He would tip-toe gently around the young ones, and rough house playfully with the older ones.
After that visit, whenever Mozart was at the office and I was leaving, he would come out and jump in my jeep- filling the back seat completely- and wait for me to tajke him to the kids again. I did this many times, with many different kids, over the years. What a wonderful dog.
Thanks so much for all the suggestions! I'm not too sure about Newfies myself but Bernese Mountain Dogs could be a possibility...... tho the drooling would put me off!! I've been researching Pyrs and they tend not to drool although all dogs are different.
I've also spoken to a few Pyr owners online and they say go for it... they are apparently gentle giants and very sensitive. So looks like this is our #1 choice! Although the rarity of them, especially in NZ, may mean we'll end up considering something else. Belgian Shepherds are on that list! Herding/ working dogs definitely appeal to me the most....
Thanks again guys, this is turning out to be a really interesting thread!!
I've also spoken to a few Pyr owners online and they say go for it... they are apparently gentle giants and very sensitive. So looks like this is our #1 choice! Although the rarity of them, especially in NZ, may mean we'll end up considering something else. Belgian Shepherds are on that list! Herding/ working dogs definitely appeal to me the most....
Thanks again guys, this is turning out to be a really interesting thread!!
sailor_titan
Forums Regular
Like Sailor Titan, I'm not a fan of sporting dogs either in general (with the exception of spaniels), but individually, I know of some very sweet dogs.
I would be inclined to stay within the "working group" which I think the Newfie, bernese, etc. are in. Like meets Like. I'm also partial to Belgian Shepherds. I believe they tend to be less dominant than Germans. And they are beauties!
One of my neighbours has a Sheltie and a Belgian. They look terrific together!
http://www.europuppyusa.com/images/dog_breed_info/68_1.jpg
Are you overwhelmed with options yet?
Ah, a Groenendel! They are fabulous looking dogs! I love the Tervurens, too.
If I ever get another dog, I may get a Belgian--though I've heard they need a lot of stimulation, sort of like a border collie. Old English Sheepdogs have grown on me a lot, too, though....
OntarioSheltie
Forums Celebrity
Sadie has a friend who is a Newfoundland also. She is such a wonderful dog. So incredibly calm! She's very sweet and loving and amazing with children and other animals. She's always been great with Sadie, very gentle.
I have to say though that I've never noticed large quantities of drool hanging out of her mouth. I'm not saying that she doesn't, I'm sure she definitely drools more than some breeds but I haven't noticed it much or been turned off by it. I wouldn't discount Newfs yet!
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/newfoundland.htm
This is a great web site for learning about dog breeds. There is some info about the Great Pyr. as well.