help me find a dog breed that will be a good match. Also obedience or agility in OH

[csaper58]

what about a Shiba Inu

[S1969]

I think defining “low grooming needs” would help too. E.g. poodles don’t shed a lot but they require regular grooming - every 4-6 weeks, perhaps.

In contrast, something like a Cavalier has a lot of hair, probably sheds a lot, but doesn’t need any grooming other than occasional brushing. (In fact, even show Cavaliers shouldn’t be clippered or cut at all).

Obviously if you simply prefer a short smooth coat like the Min Pin or Boston, a Cavalier probably seems like a horrible hairy monster to you.

I had thought I would prefer a short hair (was interested in German Shorthair Pointers and Viszlas) but ended up with a Brittany. I am told that they all shed, and the cleanup of the hair just requires different techniques. (E.g. Brittany hair forms rolling dustbunnies through the house, and GSP hair forms short, spiky little hairs that stick in the couch.). LOL. It’s all about what you can live with, I guess.

[Houndhill]

[QUOTE=Parrotnutz;8460710]
Are any of the litters within driving distance of NJ that may have an available dog? Curious minds want to know.
There is room at this inn!![/QUOTE]

Georgia. PM me if that isn’t too far and I’ll give you the breeder’s number.

Greg Strong, prof handler in MD breeds them too.

[vxf111]

True, I didn’t think of clipping as grooming but that might be what the OP meant. If so, a poodle might be too much trouble. That being said, if you can clip a horse you can easily do a 1 length “puppy cut”— but it is some work. Tradeoff for no shedding I guess!

[shea_smom]

I’m of the Adopt don’t Shop mindset. I got a Border Terrier at the local shelter. Smart, willing to please. The shelter’s are full of dogs that will want to please you.

[Magicboy]

My corgis are under 30 pounds , great at agility, very smart and trainable but not really high energy like a BC. As to shedding, I feed salmon oil and a good diet, send them to a groomer 2x a year when they blow their coats and otherwisr, spen 3-5 minutes with a furminator a couple of times a week. They love that so it counts as dog time with treats and cuddles included

As to barking, they are great alarms but easily learned quit commands to silence them.

[S1969]

[QUOTE=shea’smom;8461015]
I’m of the Adopt don’t Shop mindset. I got a Border Terrier at the local shelter. Smart, willing to please. The shelter’s are full of dogs that will want to please you.[/QUOTE]

Yes, but if someone is looking for a particular breed, or has a particular desire to compete in certain types of events - looking at breeders makes sense because you are more likely to find the qualities you are looking for, and the temperament/physical ability/health to do it.

It’s frustrating to hear people reject the idea of seeking out good breeders in favor of shelter dogs – especially since most good breeders don’t produce dogs that end up in shelters!

I love rescue too, but I don’t know why people think looking at breeds/breeders is a bad thing.

[Marshfield]

[QUOTE=shea’smom;8461015]
I’m of the Adopt don’t Shop mindset. I got a Border Terrier at the local shelter. Smart, willing to please. The shelter’s are full of dogs that will want to please you.[/QUOTE]

You got lucky. There are not many young, small dogs available in many shelters. Ours are full of hound/hound mixes and pit bull types.

There is also a lot to be said for getting a purpose bred puppy. I start clicker training mine at five weeks of age. They go home with a solid foundation in sit, down, recall and solid learning skills.

[gloriginger]

[QUOTE=Where’sMyWhite;8460584]
FWIW, and not that I would recommend the breed as I think they may not be checkmarks for all you are looking for but my old trainer has the #1 Scottie in the country He has opinions but he also loves agility (and he has his MACH). So much of doing well is the individual as much as the breed…[/QUOTE]

Absolutely terriers can do agility, that wasn’t what I was saying at all. Having competed myself, I found that new to agility owners with terriers had a lot more challenges keeping their dogs focused because of their desire to sniff and their independent minds. Had one in my class that would take up so much time because he would run off away from the owner and she would spend 10 minutes just trying to get his focus back. Not saying it can’t be done, just that it might not be the easiest first choice. And Boston’s have the added challenge of a short snout that makes it harder for them to breath.

Hounds are also a little more challenging because of their sniffing desire, again not saying it can’t be done- but they are more challenging. Had a friend with a greyhound that eventually ended up giving up because of the dogs desire to zoom!

That all being said, i knew plenty of people that had high drive border collies as a first dog and got very frustrated- the dogs end up spinning because they are frustrated that the handler didn’t give commands fast enough.

And yes, an experienced agility handler is a whole different ball of wax, especially a trainer.

The thing about agility though, is that really anyone can do it with any breed, there are different venues that cater to different people- CPE is a great place for the less competitive people to go and have a good time with their dogs. It has a lot of different levels and options that allow people to go out and have a great weekend with their dogs. USDAA is more competitive but has less competitive divisions too.

[vxf111]

[QUOTE=csaper58;8460837]
what about a Shiba Inu[/QUOTE]

I would guess this breed would be quite a challenge for a first time agility trainer/owner unless it was a very atypical-for-the-breed individual. Very very independent dogs don’t necessarily make for easy-to-train dogs period. If you look at what does well across the board in agility, you see a lot of dogs more known for trainability-- herding breeds, some of the toys (papillion, poodle), and some of the “easier” small terriers (toy rat terrier, etc.) You don’t see loads of spitz type dogs with first time owner-handlers doing well because they’re a bit of a trickier dog to train. My trainer has 3 Finnish spitz, including the top one last year. Her next puppy is a sheltie.

[Where_sMyWhite]

[QUOTE=Houndhill;8460611]
the terrier I would pick for obedience and agility would be a Border Terrier, many excell at this and they are not quite as intense to live with as some other terriers.[/QUOTE]

Don’t know about the definition of ‘intense’ although my BTs are definitely focused. But they are also both snuggle bunnies. After dinner, we all rest on the couch and I am usually at the bottom of the pile

Bedtime means I am the meat in the BT sandwich

But yes, of the terriers, the BTs are probably the most laid back. My younger one learns very quickly once he understands what I am asking. He is very treat oriented which helps. He’s also great at telling me when he doesn’t ‘get it’ so I need to re-explain what I want

[french_fry]

[QUOTE=S1969;8461174]
Yes, but if someone is looking for a particular breed, or has a particular desire to compete in certain types of events - looking at breeders makes sense because you are more likely to find the qualities you are looking for, and the temperament/physical ability/health to do it.

It’s frustrating to hear people reject the idea of seeking out good breeders in favor of shelter dogs – especially since most good breeders don’t produce dogs that end up in shelters!

I love rescue too, but I don’t know why people think looking at breeds/breeders is a bad thing.[/QUOTE]

Except the OP doesn’t want a specific breed, she just has general criteria. Criteria that half the small dogs that come through my rescue would fit.

I don’t storm onto threads where people are seeking a specific purebred dog from a reputable breeder for a breed-specific purpose shouting ADOPT DON’T SHOP YOU HEATHENS!!! but in a case like this, it bears consideration.

As for “frustrating,” I think it’s much more frustrating to see perfectly wonderful dogs put down every day than it is to see someone recommend rescue as an option on an internet BB, but YMMV.

[cowboymom]

I think checking the pounds and rescues is certainly worth a mention in this case. I spread it around with my dogs, some are purebreds that I got as puppies for a reason and some are down-on-their-luck giveaways one step away from the pound. My agility prospects, if I were to do such a thing, are in my giveaway section. Two BC crosses and my little chi/something.

There are lots of small to medium dogs in the Montana shelters. In the bigger towns they go faster but there are always a few. :yes:

[dnv]

Great discussion. The input is much appreciated. Many great suggestion of breeds to look into and some great food for thought.

I am certainly not opposed to adoption - every dog my family has ever owned in my entire life has come from a shelter.

I am seeking input on breeds, as I am also considering showing confirmation if I were to end with an AKC dog and because I am less familiar with small dogs since my family definition of “small” is 50#
I have and will read all posts.

[Simbalism]

I have enjoyed working with my mini aussie. She is about 31lbs. They do come smaller. I think minis run weight wise from about 15lbs to about 30lbs. They also have toys. She is brave about the obstacles and pretty fast. She is good with obedience and does therapy dog visits. The thing I like about her though is that she is not high energy at all. She goes to the barn with me several days per week, runs around with the other dogs, maybe a trail ride. Then she is a couch potato for the rest of the day. She does not have a very thick coat and I rarely groom her. She blows her coat about 2x per year which results in some fur bunnies around the house, but not a constant shedder.

[csaper58]

[QUOTE=vxf111;8461238]
I would guess this breed would be quite a challenge for a first time agility trainer/owner unless it was a very atypical-for-the-breed individual. Very very independent dogs don’t necessarily make for easy-to-train dogs period. If you look at what does well across the board in agility, you see a lot of dogs more known for trainability-- herding breeds, some of the toys (papillion, poodle), and some of the “easier” small terriers (toy rat terrier, etc.) You don’t see loads of spitz type dogs with first time owner-handlers doing well because they’re a bit of a trickier dog to train. My trainer has 3 Finnish spitz, including the top one last year. Her next puppy is a sheltie.[/QUOTE]

Perhaps she just got lucky, but a neighbor has two Shiba Inu, they are devoted, obedient, athletic, and agile as cats.

[gloriginger]

[QUOTE=csaper58;8461558]
Perhaps she just got lucky, but a neighbor has two Shiba Inu, they are devoted, obedient, athletic, and agile as cats.[/QUOTE]

There is a couple in Maine that has a bunch of Shiba Inus. The breed them, I think there may also be a sister that is involved as well- they did well with the dogs, and they were all that you said- however they were unpredictable in agility- mainly spooky. When they were on, they did well, but if there were many times they would have to pick up their dogs and leave the ring.

Again, it can be done. But I wouldn’t think it would be the best breed for a novice handler.

[Houndhill]

[QUOTE=Where’sMyWhite;8461241]
Don’t know about the definition of ‘intense’ although my BTs are definitely focused. But they are also both snuggle bunnies. After dinner, we all rest on the couch and I am usually at the bottom of the pile

Bedtime means I am the meat in the BT sandwich

But yes, of the terriers, the BTs are probably the most laid back. My younger one learns very quickly once he understands what I am asking. He is very treat oriented which helps. He’s also great at telling me when he doesn’t ‘get it’ so I need to re-explain what I want :)[/QUOTE]

Yes, that’s what I meant! I really love Border Terriers. Quite a few IW people have one or more, and I’ve known many that are terrific in Obedience, agility, and are great to live with, especially in a multi-dog situation.

I just didn’t want to seem critical of the more…terrier-like traits of some other terrier breeds that might make them less than ideal for obedience, agility, or living quite as peacefully and quietly, especially in a group, as some owners might prefer…if you get my drift!

[Houndhill]

[QUOTE=dnv;8461412]
Great discussion. The input is much appreciated. Many great suggestion of breeds to look into and some great food for thought.

I am certainly not opposed to adoption - every dog my family has ever owned in my entire life has come from a shelter.

I am seeking input on breeds, as I am also considering showing confirmation if I were to end with an AKC dog and because I am less familiar with small dogs since my family definition of “small” is 50#
I have and will read all posts.[/QUOTE]

I missed that you are also interested in showing in conformation. In that case, you might add to things to consider whether the breed is “amateur-friendly”, as far as how easy it is for an owner-handler to groom and finish one.

Some breeds are so difficult to groom that professional handlers have quite an edge, and others are so fiercely competitive that you almost have to have a professional handler, especially for the majors. Others are so rare (i.e. Lowchen) that it would be difficult to find enough competition to finish one to a championship, unless you happened to be in a pocket of breeders and owners who could coordinate efforts. I don’t think Ohio is an area that would be easy for that particular breed.

For example, Bostons are a breed where it is quite possible for an owner-handler to learn how to groom (there is more to it than you might think!) and show, and very possible for an owner-handler to finish.

So if you become interested in a particular breed, one question to ask breeders is “How possible is it to finish a championship without a professional handler?”

[S1969]

[QUOTE=french fry;8461261]
I don’t storm onto threads where people are seeking a specific purebred dog from a reputable breeder for a breed-specific purpose shouting ADOPT DON’T SHOP YOU HEATHENS!!! but in a case like this, it bears consideration.[/QUOTE]

But that’s exactly what the post said.

A better response would have been “would you consider a mixed breed?” in which case the OP might have said “well, I am thinking about doing conformation as well, so no, that’s not what I’m looking for this time.”