I had a RatTerrier who lived into her 20s. Rattys have just gotten into AKC recently. Before they were also known as Feists. That is basically a mixed breed. A small terrier-like mutt, who was hardy and tough. They made good companion dogs and hunters liked them for treeing small prey, as in squirrels. Of course they were ratters in barns and fields. So the Rat Terrier could be a experiment to see whether pure breeds or mutts live the longest.
Thanks for these answers, very interesting
Well, the very things that make them awesome sheep herders can make them terrible house pets. They’re extremely smart and energetic, always looking for stray sheep (or cats or kids!) to round up. If you don’t give them a lot to do, they’ll LOOK for things, and you might not like the results.
Yups to all this! It was a tragedy that people rushed out and got BCs after seeing “Babe,” so many ended up in shelters. Beautiful, smart dogs, but they need an experienced owner and lots of activity. As I said, I ended up with Scout as a stray rescue and wouldn’t get another. We have a huge yard and have given her a good life, but she’s obsessive and single-minded. She flunked out of two obedience schools and didn’t do well in Herding 101(chased horses in next field instead). The other BCs were embarrassed for her.
I’m keeping to lab and pit mixes.
I would never recommend a herding breed dog to an inexperienced owner, too much potential for a bad outcome there. Especially border collies, who do have a bit of a tendency to neurosis when kept in suburban conditions. Too much noise and activity they can’t control, not enough exercise or demanding jobs to keep their little nuggets occupied.
I lost my border collie/Jack Russell cross this last summer. He was all kinds of an outlier–two super energetic hyper smart genius breeds came together to produce a happy little couch potato with plenty of energy to have fun and accompany me on any activity I cared to engage in but otherwise a pretty calm dog. He was, unfortunately, also an outlier health wise. BC/JRT should have produced a long lived healthy dog, but he got arthritic at nine and then got nailed with a huge liver tumor that proved to be his undoing. By contrast, my lab/husky/whatever mix who outweighed Widget by 25 lbs is ten now and aside from a little sprinkle of grey in his muzzle and a little bit of a tendency to be stiff after a day of super strenuous activity you’d have NO idea he’s a senior dog. The only health problems he’s ever had have been self inflicted damage–like the sprained tail and the great big flap of skin he tore off his chest that nobody has any idea how it happened. No sign of arthritis, skeletally perfect, impeccable bloodwork, just a damned healthy dog.
So yeah, it’s a crap shoot. My junior dog is a red heeler cross–I think she’s part whippet or greyhound and those are both long lived breeds so we’ll see how she does.
As someone who only has huskies because there are so many in rescues and I know how to work with their typical personality I need to get on a soap box. But please note that this post is directed at readers and not a particular thread poster.
I merely want to share the information for current owners suffering from challenges and potential new owners.
NEVER pick a dog on appearances.
ALWAYS pick a dog based on it’s personality and needs. Working dogs in general require a lot of time, and the selection process wasn’t primarily concerned with the companion use case. It will greatly increase the chances that your kids will suffer, your property will be destroyed and most likely the dog will be killed if you do not make this a primary consideration.
Working dogs can be great pets, but mix in a lack of exercise and a epidemic scale problem with pop-pseudoscientific training myths have filled shelters with these dogs.
- Pack theory is bunk, even the original researcher has issued multiple retractons
- High energy dogs need lots of exercise, if I wake up late for work I do not have the option of skipping our morning walk, I will always need to take that half an hour walk.
- While not as pronounced in herding dogs as sled dogs, these animals were intentionally bred to have a certain level of independence. if you use alpha roles, negative training methods and other remnants of pack theory they will end up fearful and neurotic. You have to interact with them as partners, maintain trust and make them feel safe and allow them to predict your behavior.
Human knowledge and understanding mitigates the negatives significantly, but it will require a commitment of time and a willingness to learn to do so.
A study from 2004 showed that dogs trained with more rewards showed higher levels of obedience.
A 2008 study showed that dogs trained using positive reinforcement were less likely to show aggression.
A punishment was associated with higher levels of fear and aggression.
A 2010 study revealed a correlation between more frequent use of punishment and excitement/aggression.
Also do not assume that a dog in the shelter is broken, people always comment on how friendly and good my dogs are, but they didn’t look that way at the shelter. In fact they didn’t think my current Husky was even potty trained, and she was 5. But just by changing the social dynamic was all that was needed and she has never had an accident in the house. In fact my largest “challenge” today is preventing her from kissing strangers.
Stress and anxiety increase mortality for both humans and dogs, and the above link can help with extending everyone’s lives.
Whoa nellie, that is so spot on regarding working breed dogs. Independent as a hog on ice and get even more so as they age–their innate selective inability to hear anything they don’t want to hear just merges with their age related deafness and if you’re not experienced with them they can be infuriating. My dogs have been about half herding dogs and half snow dogs–Bear’s a husky mix and my previous dog was an enormous Malemute. I’ve reluctantly decided that I’m just too old to deal with the snow dogs any more, they’re just too big and strong and independent for me to handle physically. Their temperament isn’t a problem for me, though, I expect them to be notional and opinionated and annoying–but funny and tricksy and silly to go along with it.
I think I’ll stick with the herding breeds in the medium size category–Shoga’s forty pounds and that’s just right.