Help me choose a breed? (Border Collie or Whippet or Other!) General Chat

toadvillage · Mar 26, 2013

We haven't decided yet! The name she has at the moment is the same as my OH's cousin's name, so we're trying to think of a new one. Hopefully we'll have decided by tomorrow, and I'll let you know!

zoeyvonne · Mar 26, 2013

Oh fantastic news and great she didn't have long to wait in rescue either, lots of pics when you can please x

Pookin · Mar 26, 2013

Excellent news! I'm a bit jealous of all the dog shopping you are now totally justified in doing

Bones68 · Mar 26, 2013

Yay! Soooo happy for you, can't wait to see some pics :-D

SneaksyWhippet · Mar 27, 2013

How exciting for you. Can't wait to see some pictures of your new girl!

toadvillage · Mar 28, 2013

Here she is! Her name is Luna. She had a good first night and just a couple of accidents in the house so far. Everyone loves her because she's so friendly - she just wants a cuddle from everyone. Really she's just the perfect dog!

Bones68 · Mar 28, 2013

Omg! She looks beautiful & so lucky to have a new home

Gemini54 · Mar 28, 2013

toadvillage said: ↑

Hi there, I'm hoping for some honest advice! Sorry this is long but there is a brief summary at the end...

Ok, so, we've just heard from our landlord that we can get a dog. I'm over the moon! Problem is, we can't decide on a breed. At the moment we're thinking we'd really like either a whippet or a border collie - and yes, I'm aware that's like choosing between two different lives...

So here's some background. Firstly, I work from home so the dog wouldn't be left alone for long periods. But secondly, we live in a second-floor flat in the city, with only a communal garden - though the flat does back onto a park which is always full of dogs, and we're also a short walk away from lots of other parks and a 20 minute drive from rolling countryside.

I've kept a dog in a gardenless flat before - a black labrador back when I lived with my mum - so I'm experienced in the joys of house training with the added 'fun obstacle' of a few flights of stairs, and in the bedtime and breakfasttime bathroom break rituals that it requires. My lab got plenty of exercise and when we registered with a new vet she actually asked us if Jess was a working gundog, she was in such good condition. We're not getting a labrador this time because my partner isn't a huge fan of them, which is fair enough.

My partner has had springer spaniels before, so he knows about (and loves) high energy breeds, and we're both doing as much research as we can so we know what we're letting ourselves in for.

My question is: do you think we could give a good home to a border collie? I wouldn't be keen to do agility or flyball (I'm quite shy and just not that sort of person) but happy to go to obedience classes and do lots of training at home, and plenty of fetch with tennis balls and frisbees. I also love running, and would like to take my dog on long runs once it's old enough. I think BCs are just beautiful dogs and love that intelligent focused glint in their eye when you're teaching them something new.

On the other hand, whippets are beautiful, cuddly dogs, and I get the feeling they might be the more sensible option for our lifestyle - quiet and loving around the house, and not too demanding exercise-wise. I'm sure I could fall in love with a whippet pup. But I'm not sure a whippet would cope as well with coming on my long runs, and my partner and I have both always wanted a BC. What do you think? I've never owned either a whippet or a BC before, so it's all a bit new.

TL;DR summary: we are active and keen people who love to run and play fetch, but live in a flat and wouldn't do agility or flyball. Could we make a BC happy? Or would a snuggly whippet be more up our street?

Thanks in advance for your help. I'm trying to learn as much as I can before we make a decision - I know how big a responsibility it is, so I'd like to have all the facts and advice from you all, especially if you have kept a BC or a whippet in a flat before!
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Hi I would go for a greyhound they are loving and do not need massive exercising,and very biddable crystalgirl

catrinsparkles · Mar 28, 2013

She's lovely, and I was only saying yesterday how much I liked the name Luna!

Gemini54 · Mar 29, 2013

Hi i am thrilled she looks a real calm dog,you will have lots of fun,but when she is used to you,she willshow other sides to her nature once she is settled,you will have to start training her all good fun crystalgirl

toadvillage · Mar 29, 2013

Thanks crystalgirl, I think you are absolutely right that she will probably start to get a bit naughtier and test her boundaries in a week or two - I'm going to ring up someone our vet knows who does local training classes this afternoon and get her all booked in she already seems to know sit, stay and paw but I'm sure there's lots more we can teach her, especially as she's a BC!

Gemini54 · Mar 29, 2013

toadvillage said: ↑

Thanks crystalgirl, I think you are absolutely right that she will probably start to get a big naughtier and test her boundaries in a week or two - I'm going to ring up someone our vet knows who does local training classes this afternoon and get her all booked in she already seems to know sit, stay and paw but I'm sure there's lots more we can teach her, especially as she's a BC!
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Hi yes they can run rings around us,you have to keep the stimulation up even a kong filled with something that will keep her amused crystalgirl

Help me choose a breed? (Border Collie or Whippet or Other!) General Chat

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