I would like to get a companion dog for my unknown mixed breed 6 year old. She seems to have some herding instincts - - - and I've been told she may have some border collie in her genes. She exhibits no aggressive tendencies except for jumping up on people to beg for attention.

I live on a farm - - secluded. . . . and would like a dog that will alert me to strange persons or vehicles approaching. I have many types of fowl which range free- - and the fence around my yard is not effective in keeping them out of my yard, nor off my porch and railings, and since I also have cattle. . . . an animal with herding genetics is of interest. I've read breed characteristics for border collies,and Aust. shepherds and cattle dogs. . . . . but they leave the impression that these herd dogs tend to become territorial about their owners and their areas, and that nipping/biting can be a problem. Since I have young grandchildren, I don't want a dog that might bite.

I would sure welcome some suggestions from those with experience and knowledge as to breeds that might work for me.

Thanks

-- Judy McFerrin (JMcFerrin@aol.com), August 25, 2001

Answers

Judy, You could find an aussie that won't nip the children. Have you looked into the farm collies? I'm partial to the aussies myself and golden retrievers. You shold be ble to find a mx that would suit you. I guess a retriever/aussie cross would be nice. anythng with herding o one side and sorting (such as a lab or golden) on the other. Good luck in your search. Gloria

-- Gloria Mullinax (mullinaxclan@webtv.net), August 25, 2001.

Judy there are a lot of breeds in the "Herding" group,and some are more territorial than others. Get a good dog book and go through it and read about the breeds. And some herding breeds are not registered with the AKC. The Louisiana Catahoula Leopard dog comes to mind. Little Welsh Corgies are loved by some and we do see them working well in herding trials(also pit bulls and rottwielers) . No matter what breed you get, proper training is the key. If you are sloppy with this you will not be happy with your choice. I have a cattle dog,he is a wonderfull, all around dog, but they are not for everyone. Of all the herding breeds a Border Collie is less interested in people(as for as nipping) and a lot more interested in herding critters. Still, it's the training that makes the difference. Pick a breed you like the looks of, and in the size range you are comfortable with and start reading. Then write to a number of breeders, look for webpages on that breed from their national and local breed clubs and do your homework. good luck. :)

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), August 25, 2001.

A good mix breed dog from the pound is the best all around dog.

-- Gary (gws@redbird.net), August 25, 2001.

I think you may want to much in one dog .I have an Australian cattle dog , german sheperds and golden ret"s .All are very different .If you get a herding dog you MUST have a job for it to do , otherwise you are asking for trouble .Our cattle dog is protective and will alert me to strangers or animals out of place .She lives with 4 children ages 15-2 .After the puppy stage she has not bitten them , it is NOT an option .Kids are off limits , end of story .My sheperd will herd some , she is out of all german lines .She will also let me know when someone is here ,she would not bite for no reason .Now the goldens may lick you to death and also let the livestock eat there food .Sounds to me like herding is low on the list so maybe a nice sheperd puppy from some decent german lines.

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), August 25, 2001.

Judy, We have a border collie mix that we got at the dog pound. She has been about the best dog we have had. She loves our grandchildren and gets along well with our other 'critters'. She is territorial in that she has never left our place. She lets us know when someone has driven up.... but she has never in any way acted as she would harm anyone. She is smart and loyal, as well as loveable. It may be just her personality, but if anything ever happen to her, another Border Collie we would get. I have had Labs, Irish Setters, Curr, and just about anything in between.. and I'll stick to the Collie.

-- Rett Clark (gravehunters@aol.com), August 25, 2001.

German Shepards from the old German bloodlines are about the best rural farm and protection animal you can get, raised from a pup, they bond to you and your family, after all they all smell like you, and, like the other's said, they do not bite for no reason, only good reasons! They are big enough (get the 100 pound size) to fend off the most fearsome of predators, mountain lions included, and are an excellent deterant for two-legged predators as well.

Most other breeds of dogs are either too aggressive around small children, or exhibit a lack of protectiveness, the labs and retrievers are liable to lick a trespasser to death.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), August 26, 2001.

I understand that in Germany a German Shepherd cannot be registered as breeding stock until it has bitten a human being in a performance trial. Not something I would be looking for in a family dog, IMHO.

-- Laura Jensen (lrjensen@nwlink.com), August 26, 2001.

Laura you do not apparently unstand the breed or trials .A german sheperd is taught to bite for shutzhund work , just like a dog is taught to fetch a ball .They do not bite to be aggressive , they bite because they are given the command.I would rather have a shutzhund trained dog than the rottie my neighbor bred to his buddies dog to make a few fast bucks .The dogs in Germany also have to pass stict testing for hips .They also have to jog a long distance{most us dogs would drop before they finished}, have to to able to track and also complete an obedience course.

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), August 26, 2001.

German Shepherds are not the only dogs that are taught to bite on command. Most herding dogs are also taught a bite command to use on stock when necessary. We have a rescue dog that AKC ILP'd as a White Shepherd. He is very friendly, does therapy work, but I don't know of anyone that would just walk on our property (he will bark and he is a good size (75#)) - little do they know he wouldn't hurt you unless you where going to do something. He is very protective of our baby goats, will run down to the barn when they are being born and lick them off. We put them in a playpen in the basement for the first day and he will lay down beside them and curl his lip when my other dog comes by, he will not leave them even to go upstairs. Again, you need to buy any breed of dog from a respectable breeder and check out the dam and sire if possible or references for previous buyers of their puppies.

-- Leslie in Western WA (sundaycreek@gnrac.net), August 26, 2001.

Get a nice mixed breed puppy, check the newspaper as some are advertized in there.lab, sheppard,golden retriever ect are good mixes. Find one who seems mellow and likes you. Your older dog will except a puppy easyer then a adult dog.

-- kathy h (ckhart55@earthlink.net), August 26, 2001.

AS FAR AS BITING GOES THE MOST LIKELY DOG TO BITE IN ALL REPORTS COVERING NORTH AMERICA AND BRITAIN IS THE GERMAN SHEPHERD OR PART GERMAN SHEPHERD.THERE WAS ONE NEAR ME THAT ALMOST ATE A YOUNG CHILD GETTING OFF A SCHOOL BUS.THE DOG TRIED TO EAT HIM LITERALLY. THE CHILD WAS SMART OR LUCKY ENOUGH TO PULL HIS BACK PACK OVER HIS HEAD AND PROTECT HIS THROAT. THE DOG BELONGED TO A FRIEND OF MINE WHO ALWAYS CALLED HIM A WIMP.THE DOG WAS VERY PLACID UP TO THIS TIME AND NO ONE KNOWS WHY THE ATTACK.BUT ANIMAL WORKERS AND VETS HAVE NEVER EVEN SEEN SUCH A VICIOUS ATTACK.THIS NEVER MADE THE NEWS.BUT IF IT WAS A YOU KNOW WHAT [PIT BULL]IT WOULD HAVE MADE THE PAPERS AROUND THE WORLD. THE SHEPHERD BEING ALSO KNOWN AS A POLICE DOG.THE ONLY BREED THAT THE RCMP WILL USE OFFICIALLY IN CANADA.SEEMS TO BE PROTECTED BY THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.HOW THE RESULTS CAN BE OVER LOOKED IS BEYOND ME. I FIND THAT SHEPHERDS ARE A ONE MAN DOG.A FRIEND WHEN I GREW UP RAISED THE DOG,FED IT,WALKED IT,PLAYED WITH IT,CLEANED UP AFTER IT.HER MOTHER SLAPPED HER AND THE DOG ATTACKED THE MOTHER. CORDWOODGUY PS:THE RESULTS I`M TALKING ABOUT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FROM THE SPCA. THEY SHOULD HAVE A LIST OF THE 10-25 DOGS MOST LIKELY TO BITE.ANOTHER SUGGESTION IS TO READ A BOOK CALLED THE PUPPY REPORT BY A FAMOUS VET. HE TALKS ABOUT FAULTS IN PUREBRED DOGS AND ADVANTAGES OF MUTTS.THE TWO MOST SOCIAL/FRIENDLY DOG BREEDS I CAN THINK OF ARE LABS AND BEAGLES.

-- cordwoodguy (cordwoodguy@n2teaching.com), August 30, 2001.

It's not the breed you have to worry about , it's the breeding and breeder behind it !

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), August 30, 2001.

THANK YOU all so much! ! Time is always in short supply and I appreciate the time each of you took to reply to my question! I learned a lot ! !

I'm going to purchase a mixed breed pup from a member of the forum.

Thanks again!

-- Judy McFerrin (JMcFerrin@aol.com), September 01, 2001.