Border Collie or Dalmation??? HELP

briteday

As far as those two breeds...

Every BC I've met were high energy and needed work

I've met a few nice dals, but a well-bred dalmation is not cheap. We have a dalmation breeder in town who does a great job. But I could buy a used car for what she charges for her puppies. I think the breed started to have temperment problems in a big way after the dalmation movies came out and everyone wanted one. We saw dalmations in the shelter for 3-4 years after that. Now we see one every now and then.

And I too am curious, OP...what attracts you to the dalmation and border collie breeds? Maybe we could help you figure out something that might be a better fit for your family, schedule, ...also, are you in a cold climate or temperate? I might also suggest that when you find a dog that you get involved in your local 4H dog club, if there is one. My daughter had a great time with other kids and their dogs, made incredible training progress with the first dog of her very own because the trainers know how to teach techniques to young people, and that dog is still the best behaved in our house!

Good luck!

Sebastian_Doggs

Yeah I know. If you buy Dal from a breeder its about $1000-$1200 bucks Canadian. Ya, I heard about that too. After that movie came out everyone went crazy and many of them didn't even know what they were doing. What attracted me to these breeds was their intellegence, size ( I prefer medium sized dogs), don't shed as much etc. I live in Toronto so in the summer the temperature can go up to 35 degrees celcius, and in the winter can go all the way down to -20 degrees celcius. I've actually started thinking about getting a lab retriever, but am still reserching on it.

Thnx for you help!

tirluc

mine aren't out working all day long, but they are kept stimulated in many different ways.....you don't need livestock for them to work but they do need a job of sorts...that can be anything that will work the brain and give them exercise....everyone of mine is perfectly sane...

BarclaysMom

Someone may have led you astray there - they shed EVERYWHERE Little black and white short hairs that get stuck down into the weave of fabrics so they don't easily come back off.

Our dog was one of those bred by bad breeders to cash in on the popularity of the movies. He was sold to a family that obviously couldn't handle him, and they beat him badly. Then they dumped him out in the woods to fend for himself. He suffered all sorts of health problems, some from bad breeding, some from abuse, for the rest of his life. But even after all that he never had a mean bone in his body, and everyone who met him thought he had the biggest heart a dog ever had.

Attached Thumbnails

 

Laurelin

Lol, was going to say that. My friend has three dalmatians. Lots of hair.

Puppy & Dog Forums

 

melgrj7

Labs shed like crazy too! Instead of thinking about breeds for the moment, how about you list different things you would like in a dog.

energy needs (a dog that can be happy with a daily 30 minute stroll, or ?)
trainability (do you want a dog you can teach a couple tricks and be happy, or do you want a dog that needs to learn, daily)
grooming (quick once a week brush down, or daily brushing)
long or short hair
shedding amount
temperment (do you want a dog that warms up quickly to strangers, or one that is more aloof and tends to require extra socialization)
health concerns (do you want a breed with minimal health issues, or are you prepared to handle possible major health problems)
looks/size

tirluc

and hair from a Border?...we won't even go there.....

Sebastian_Doggs

Energy needs: A dog that would be happy with an hours lenth of walking
trainability: Somewhere in between. A dog that wants to learn new tricks but not daily
grooming: A dog with grooming needs once a week or something like that would be nice
shedding amount. A dog that does not shed a lot
temperment: a more social dog, warms up to strangers more easily.
health concerns: A breed of dog without any health problems that occur very frequently
Size: Medium
Looks: Anything but black colored ( I was once chased by a black dog down a street )

SMoore

Hmm what about a corgi? I've heard they are great first time dogs. I've never had one but my boyfriends uncle does and his dog is so calm and gentle. Didn't beg at the table during Thanksgiving either! The only thing is im not too sure about their shedding.



Another breed I thought of is a giant schnauzer, i believe they are light shedders, they might need grooming appointments if you want them in their standard schnauzer cut but the ones i've met have been friendly dogs and easy to approach. I haven't met very many though.



They are a bit smaller but another breed that came to mind for you to maybe consider is the West Highland Terrier, they are cute little dogs and don't seem to require much grooming and would probably be happy with an hour walk or so a day. They might need brushing to keep from getting tangled, but i dont think they shed too much.



Just research breeds that fit what you mentioned, and if you are at a shelter you might just find a cute mix of some of the breeds you read about and would be able to give a homeless a home. All of my dogs are rescues or were in need of a home and I got lucky with Max and Pandora as I love german shepherds and happened to find two that needed homes. You can also find breed specific rescue groups which is how I got Pandora. There are plenty of mixed breeds and pure bred dogs alike that need forever homes.

I can spend hours just browsing petfinder.com you should try it, you never know who you might meet!

Also go out and meet several dogs, not the first cute one you find. Take the dog for a walk, interact and see if you fit well with one another. It's not just about you finding the dog you want but also finding a dog that wants to be with you as well. If you do your research i am confident you will find a dog you can bond with and hopefully have many years to share together.

Lonewolfblue

Well, here's my opinion. While both dogs normally shouldn't be a first dog, I would say if you are only interested in these 2, then go with the Border Collie. Dalmations, if not given the proper care and training, may end up being something you really don't want. Like mentioned earlier, they are bull-headed and can bite. Border Collies on the other hand are very people oriented. Every BC that I've met, and currently own one, love people and other dogs. Mine just happened to live on a farm where she wasn't properly socialized when she was young, so she's shy of most men, but is great with most females and all kids. She had never seen a grown man before til I went to pick her up, and I got her at 11 months. Other than that minor training issue I'm working on, she's a total lovebug.

So if I were you and only had those choices, I would prefer the BC.

Now, how about a dog from a shelter? There's lots of great dogs there, and are usually quite a few BC mixes, as well as BC purebreeds there. At the Humane Society here, they had a beautiful male BC, purebreed, that the people could no longer keep for one reason or another, and he ended up at the shelter. I met him today, and there was a guy that had driven all the way from Seattle just to meet him, and was struggling with a decision. After our talk, I believe he went in and started the adoption process. He was a beautiful 2yo male BC.

Another option you have is look for a breed-specific shelter if you are only wanting that particular breed. There's many BC Rescues out there. Not sure on the Dalmations, but I kind of recommend staying away from them unless you have had experience with them, or are an experienced dog owner. My Nell came from a gal that just needed to rehome her. She wanted to do herding classes with her, but just didn't have the time. Then she decided to go back to school, and that took even more of her time, and contacted the breeder that she got Nell from to help her rehome Nell. So the breeder contacted me because she thought Nell would do well with me, and gave me the gals email and number if I was still interested in a BC. So I took her in. And really glad I did, Nell is awsome.

Another option is to contact a breeder, if you have time and not looking at getting one immediately, and ask them if they could contact you if anyone that got a pup from them contacts them reguarding needing to rehome the dog, like what happened with my Nell. Many (not all) breeders, like the one Nell came from, really cares about their pups and where they end up.

Marsh Muppet

The depth of knowledge on this site is astounding.

Willowy

OK, you do not want a puppy of any breed. Puppies need hours of attention every day, for about 18 months, at least. I would say a dog that's at least 2 years old would fit your need much better.

And definitely not a Dalmatian. They do shed like maniacs, and your temperment and heath requirements don't fit a Dal, either.

Border Collies are VERY high-drive. You might think you can handle that, but most people can't.

I would recommend going to a shelter or contacting a rescue agency, and finding an adult dog that you like. Don't make it about the breed; make it about the dog's personality. There are a lot of dogs out there that need homes, so you should be able to find one that fits for your family.

Have you ever actually MET a BC or a Dal? If not, you need to meet some before you decide you can live with one. A dog show or a dog park (or a shelter) would be good places to start.

BarclaysMom

I would recommend a rescue where the dogs are in foster homes. That way the foster parent can help you figure out if their dog fits, because they are already living with it they will know best. Plus rescues really want to place their dogs in forever homes, so they will work with you to make a good match. If it turns out to be a bad match, they will take the dog back, no guilt necessary, and help you find the right one. We had to do that when we had a lab that was nice, but too much for our elderly dog to deal with, plus he chased our cats. So they took him back and found him a better match.

pamperedpups

There are A LOT of BCs around here. I groom many of them. They do shed, but dogs who don't shed as much usually need more frequent grooming and haircuts. I actually know quite a few BCs who weren't raised right and who aren't anything you want to be around, just as Dalmations were described here as having the potential for turning out badly if raised incorrectly. I honestly think that goes for any dog.

Most of the BCs I know have WAY too much energy and smarts for the average pet owner. The best behaved ones who aren't working as intended are very involved in a high energy sport, such as Agility, Flyball or Frisbee. These dogs are almost always super smart, super high energy, very driven, and sensitive. The various Dals I've known have also been high energy, strong and a bit more independant.

To be honest, I think you'll be better off if you keep researching before venturing into either or any breed. Volunteer with your local shelter or rescues, contact reputable breeders (go to the AKC breed clubs for referrals), go watch some dog shows and dog sport trials, go to training centers, etc. and really prepare yourself for the commitment. There is so much to learn and you'll no doubt find the perfect dog for you along the way.

Sebastian_Doggs

I'm acutally looking to babysit a BC or Dal. My friend has babysitted a BC b4, and says their full of energy and are hyper as heck. But all dogs are different even if they're the same breed.

I''ll keep that in mind, thnx for the advice

tirluc

also, consider the fact that i have worked w/ a few BC's w/ aggression issues for lack of "a job"....they were bored, were "disiplined" for being destructive and were teetering on the edge of major aggression.....and they are one of the hardest breeds to bring that out of if it gets going....i think i'd rather work w/ an aggressive Pit (no "slam" to the Pits, guys, the just seem like more of a "baby" to me....)

zimandtakandgrrandmimi

you know...I've been wondering about this....a lot of what you post about your Borders reminds me very much of how my pit bulls are.

I've never been a fan of most of the herding breeds but the more I read your posts the more a Border almost sounds like a fuzzier pit bull in some respects...needs a job, high high energy, agile, strong, can become aggressive and destructive if neglected....hmmm....

Laurelin

The main difference I've found between herder and pits are that pits seem to be more people friendly, and herders are generally more dog friendly (Though some ACDs are very DA). Most herders in general are pretty aloof around strangers. The herders are just the best though to me. They're very discerning and sensitive dogs.

zimandtakandgrrandmimi

Herders think I taste good it seems LOL...most of the bites I have received were herders...so that kinda makes sense..

though technically the Pit Bull is a variant of a sort of herding dog..

Laurelin

Most of the bites I've received are from herders. They can be kind of nippy, lol. A lot of times, it's just misplaced herding drive or a bored dog, like tirluc said, with no job who becomes a big problem. Really, in a lot of breeds, they shouldn't be overly friendly to strangers, but they shouldn't be aggressive. Shelties in particular are known for being very wary and actually quite judgmental until they know you. Trey's only warmed up to two strangers immediately in his 12 1/2 years. Once the bond's there though, it couldn't be stronger.

Puppy & Dog Forums