What's new
By:

New Dog, need opinions!

velviita

velviita

Senior Talker
PF Member
Messages
365
Highlights
0
Reaction score
0
Points
402
Location
Minooka
Peak Coin
0.000000¢
DB Transfer
0.000000¢
Our dogs passed away recently and my Dh has been bugging me to get a new one. Now every dog I find on petfinder.org, I find something wrong with. They look too mean, too tough, too little, too big, a biter. My husband likes different dogs. Not the normal lab or retriver. He likes something no one else has!

Then then I saw her. She has a very sweet face and looks like she would be nice
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/21703793

Does anyone have any experience with the Australian Cattle Dogs? My DH went and met her. She is very well behaved & crate trained. But I've read stories where they may nip at your heals b/c they try and herd you.

I really think I am being overly cautious, I don't trust any strange dog around my kids. But according to the dog's foster mom, they are great with kids and are well behaved.

Then I found him and think he has the cutest face in the world!
http://www.tlcanimalshelter.org/animals/detail?AnimalID=4079819

What do you think? Which one would you take?
 
Barb09 said:
Are you guys REALLY REALLY active? a cattle herder would require lots of actvity...running...room to chase and play.

I believe being well exercised helps with behaviour in most dogs.
Click to expand...

No, but we have a big fenced in yard and go outside alot. I've been explaining this to my DH. We had a weimaraner before and they are very active. But we were young when he was young, before kids. So I don't know if I can keep up with an active dog again!
 
I have two friends with Australian Cattle Dogs, they are beautiful, well behaved dogs. I will add though, that both of those friends live on farms, and the dogs are very active.
 
Barb09 said:
Keep in mind too that a 6-7 month old is still a puppy....so probably a chewer for another 6 months or so.
Click to expand...
]

Yeah I know. But I am home all day and I think the kids would keep him pretty well entertained. We rarely all leave the house at the same time, so we can keep a pretty good eye on him.
 
I would advise in a dog a couple years old. That's when we got our girl. I looked for one that was in a foster home so that I could ask about specific behavior, etc. I got exactly what I wanted..............a beautiful, sweet, gentle, good walker, well trained, non chewer, etc..............the perfect dog.:cartwheel::hiphip:
 
Not a fan of the Jack Russel Terriers.

You are in my area and another place to look that I adopted both my dogs from is Cache Creek Rescue. They have adoption events in the Petco on 59 and Black every other weekend usually. you can search them on Pet-finder. Flat fee of $250 for the adoption including all the usual shots, spay, neuter and microchip. Nice people and very reputable. I know alot of people that adopted from them,
 
Barb09 said:
Are you guys REALLY REALLY active? a cattle herder would require lots of actvity...running...room to chase and play.

I believe being well exercised helps with behaviour in most dogs.
Click to expand...

Barb is right they need lots of activity. My co worker has one and it's a great dog and wonderful with her 6 grandkids. BUT dog and owner take a 1 mile run each morning. Plus I know a long walk in the afternoon. Dog is probably 3 years old but tons of energy, but is well trained.
 
The Jack Russell is a mix of some sort. He is cute. We have a Jack Russell mix, we adopted, and she has been perfect for my family.

Btw, I am not anti ACD... I absolutely adore the breed, and would have one myself, if I had the time & energy to keep one stimulated and properly exercised.
 
Ha! I knew you'd get a dog quickly! I know nothing about the cattle dog. I am not a fan of Jack Russels.

No matter what pup you get, it'll be active IMO. Our Basset Hound was one of our most active dogs! Right now our Schipperke is most active but she's not even a year yet. I'd be too nervous adopting an older dog with small kids because you don't ever truly know their history. But remember that puppies nip and innocently bite, so be prepared with the kiddies. Have fun! I'm excited for you!

Petco in Shorewood had the CUTEST pups there last weekend from that Cache Creek place. I soooo wanted one of them...But 3 dogs, a cat, and a tortoise...DH would have left.
When I grow up, I want to run a shelter!
 
mrsmom said:
I would advise in a dog a couple years old. That's when we got our girl. I looked for one that was in a foster home so that I could ask about specific behavior, etc. I got exactly what I wanted..............a beautiful, sweet, gentle, good walker, well trained, non chewer, etc..............the perfect dog.:cartwheel::hiphip:
Click to expand...

I totally agree on this! (Learned my lesson the hard way. :giggles: )
 
As usual, I didn't read all the posts (well, I skimmed them, lol)...but first of all, THANKS A LOT!!! Now I'm on petfinder looking in MY area (I will resist...I will resist...).

Second of all, you'll need to buy a herd of cattle for that dog. :giggles:


As most everyone knows, we adopted our old lady, Sheena three years ago. She was 12 at the time and even though it was a 'no-kill' shelter, she'd been there for months and months without any possibility of parole (lol).

She's still with us and other than a few 'stinky butt' issues, she's very happy with us in her golden years.

So, I guess I'm saying that old dogs could be a way to go. :)
 
I have a Jack Russel/ Rat Terrier mix. If I had to do it again I'd go with something bigger. I think bigger dogs tend to be better with kids. I'm always afraid the kids are going to accidentally hurt him rough housing. Also, I didn't see where it said how old he is, but ours didn't start to clam down and loose that puppy energy until he was about 4.
 
I'd go with Carlton, only because I think that cattle dog is going to need A LOT of running exercise & with 3 (or is it 4?) tiny kids, you are busy enough.

Pretty much I would go with ANY dog that doesn't need to be 'jogged with' twice a day. :lol:
 
bargainfiend said:
As usual, I didn't read all the posts (well, I skimmed them, lol)...but first of all, THANKS A LOT!!! Now I'm on petfinder looking in MY area (I will resist...I will resist...).

Second of all, you'll need to buy a herd of cattle for that dog. :giggles:


As most everyone knows, we adopted our old lady, Sheena three years ago. She was 12 at the time and even though it was a 'no-kill' shelter, she'd been there for months and months without any possibility of parole (lol).

She's still with us and other than a few 'stinky butt' issues, she's very happy with us in her golden years.

So, I guess I'm saying that old dogs could be a way to go. :)
Click to expand...


Aw, Sheena and her anal glands. :giggles:

I would love to adopt an older dog, as I know they're very difficult to find homes for, but I just don't know that I could stand losing the dog within a few years. I hope one day to overcome that and rescue an older pooch - maybe an elderbull. (never even heard the phrase until Facebook - old pitbull)
 
Joan I wanted to get an older second dog, but DS12 begged me not too.............he said he couldn't handle it if it died shortly after getting it. :pout:
 
An Australian cattle dog is going to be unhappy/underexercised in a typical suburban yard, even if fenced. Not only do they need vigorous exercise, they also need human direction and a "job" per se, which is why they herd people if kept in a small home.

I would suggest any adult mutt from a shelter. When they are adults already you already know what size they will be and what their energy level is.

We got our doggie from a rescue, she was about a year old and has stayed at 12lbs. We thought for a long time that she was a Yorkiepoo, but recently have decided she is a Schnoodle (after seeing a different confirmed Schnoodle). She is very friendly, too hyper when visitors come (but she does calm down after a bit). She is AWESOME with the kids, very loving and snuggly, just the right size. She doesn't beg for food, loves us to play with her & her toys, and is very smart & can do many tricks. The boys are going to start teaching her agility routines in the spring now that we fenced our yard. She has hair, not fur, so the dander is no issue and she does not shed. She does need a bath every 2 weeks or so or she smells like BO :lol:

Anyway we always had larger dogs (lab size) and I am SO happy with our little baby doggie. Little poops to pick up, too, I don't miss picking up the giant nasty cow-pies in the yard :)
 
mrsmom said:
Joan I wanted to get an older second dog, but DS12 begged me not too.............he said he couldn't handle it if it died shortly after getting it. :pout:
Click to expand...

I don't blame him. Every time I've lost a dog it absolutely broke my heart. I think no matter how much I tried to prepare myself before hand, trying to tell myself this would be a short term relationship :giggles: I'd still feel just as bad as if I'd had her for 12+ years.

I think it takes a special person to adopt older dogs as well as to foster dogs.


Oh and...second dog???? Don't think that got past me - how's about a middle aged pooch? :cartwheel:
 
Kathy I had to google Schnoodles (that sounds funny) and they're adorable!

schnoodle8.jpg
 
The last dog we had before this one was a senior rescue. We went for a puppy (nephew was about 6-7yo), and left with a 14yo yellow lab with only one eye. She had her issues, could not walk on a leash, etc. Apparently she had been found chained to a tree where they figured she had spent most her life.

But she was a lovely dog and was always very good at expressing how grateful she was that her golden years could be spent in comfort with a warm home, good food, and people who were nice to her. We had her for 5 years before she died (nothing especially wrong with her, just one morning she had passed).

She was lovely. I never regret having adopted her :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top