stripedsocks

I don't have any hurt feelings. I really want to thank you. I think it's super cool of you to take the time. Also you didn't just go "EWWW NO GO AWAY" you were able to explain what your concerns were. Not turdy. It does give me a lot to think about. I think the fit might not be right. A few jumps too far from known territory on the energy/sensitivity levels, if you know what I mean. I appreciate your honesty.

Thanks everyone. I can totally see the argument for a breed that's biddable but not as "on" but I don't see myself going down the Retriever road. It's something about the temperament. I don't mind other people's, but I don't click with them on a personal level. It looks like in addition to lurking on boards I should start lurking at dog sport/training stuff IRL? I always have this image of really creeping people out, accidentally, kind of the canine equivalent of a crazy lady lurking around the daycare going "your babies... I love your babies..." But it won't offend people? I kind of thought I needed to HAVE a dog to justify showing up to that stuff, lol.

Yes, I'm open to an adult rescue. Mix would depend on mixed with what, really. I really appreciate your honesty, arf and flamincomet. That is why I love breed forums more than talking to breeders. I have spoken to some breeders in the past who were very much trying to sell me a dog and that's not what I'm looking for yet.

I grew up with rescue Akitas. Lovely dogs in their way, but all wrong for my life now. Had a rescue Bouvier that had brain-damage, not really looking for another but he wasn't a fair example of the breed in any case. Had a rescue staffy, good little thing but not clever (in either the Border way or the Akita way... which are very different...) and my husband doesn't like staffies. I'd like a dog that doesn't blink at me like a cat and go "I know what you said, but I'd rather take a nap." My husband is not very dog-experienced at all and I think an Akita or Chow is too hardheaded for him. Possibly, though, I'm going from one extreme to the other? I'd like if I didn't have to tie it to a skateboard and drag it to get more than one mile of happy walking. I mean one day it will be very old and that's okay, but I've talked to some people with lazy breeds and they said it would be mean to ask their breed to do that much walking every day. (Of course I've also been begged to get a Cavalier anyway, just because "It would be the fittest in the state!") I also like the BC sort of medium size and fairly physically together with no nose mashed up between its eyes or anything like that. What I would do with it really depends on the particular dog to some extent. I like beaches and hiking and walking around the city (don't I sound exciting, not). I've never had a dog-sports dog. I'd like to teach tricks. I do have cats, and may have other pets in the future. I'd be training a lot of socialization and going places without flipping out, but that doesn't really count as training by BC standards does it? I'm basically trying to sift out how much of the stuff I've heard about Borders from people who don't have one is true.

Hi everyone. I'm a newbie. I've been lurking though. About the title, my dad is a grumpy old dog man. More fond of dogs than people, he'd tell you this to your face. What he always said was the worst, scummiest thing you could do, was get a dog of a breed because its cool/cute/on tv/in the shop and then get rid of it or hurt/punish it for doing a completely predictable thing for the breed. Dropping terriers because of digging/barking, Danes for being big and clumsy, things like that. In his view most dogs end up in pounds because lack of diligence in research. My needs/wants are different than his though. I need more trainability, a smaller size, (I'd like to be able to lift my dog if its hurt, which caps me out at about 75 lbs at the max) and more heat tolerance. I like to do 3-5 miles of walking every day, would be willing to work up to more. I still don't own any sheep though. Borders are one of the breeds that appeals, but I worry about letting the dog down on exercise/energy needs. I don't have a yard. Was told Borders need more exercise than Dobermans or Poodles (two other athletic breeds I'm researching)? But is BC endless hyperactivity like pitty lock-jaw, not strictly true? I'm willing to look at dog sports but have no yard and no experience w/ agility so it would be a slow and probably very stupid-looking process. I'd like to be told the unvarnished truth about whether I'm being a jerk to even think about BCs, as a pet home. Yell at me if you want. I won't get offended. I've been warned away from a couple other "hyper" breeds as too much for me. I've never had a herding breed. In the past I've lived with rescue Akitas, and a rescue staffy with separation anxiety. Very, very different. And only adult dogs. They needed exercise and people around, and they were strong dogs, but their brains aren't the same. I've also talked to a Rough Collie person and an Aussie breeder, and each said I'd be better off with what they had instead of a Border, but honestly I worry about the physical health of Roughs/Smooths and am still researching Aussies. What do y'all think? Like the topic says, am I a scumbag? Just staring at collie pics going "oooh they're so cute I want one of THOSE!"? Great site by the way. Thanks in advance for any thoughts, even "go back to lurking, noob!"