Forgive me if this in the wrong section but I figured it was probably a fairly general question and one that's likely been asked a few times!

I've been browsing this forum and posting occasionally for a while as well as researching the various working breeds mainly used in Sch./Mondio/French Ring. I have a lot of hands on experience with many different types of dogs (work in a shelter as an adoption counselor/obedience instructor). Most of my experience personally is with APBT's and terrier types. I've done tracking with a couple of mine who enjoy it as well.
I'm also looking forward to taking some of the classes at Michael Ellis's school that he's opened up out here.

I would like to get more involved with learning more and training my own working dogs one day is my ultimate goal but I am in no rush. Eventually I may try my hand at it with terrier types if they happen to be suitable for it but for my first few I'm thinking it would be a good idea to go with a breed that is of course, bred for this work. Everyone has certain things they really enjoy about their own dogs and I'm just curious out of your own experience which breeds you prefer and what you might recommend for a beginner in the sport? Would you recommend a puppy or a bit older who may already have some legs under them?

Thank you to any and all for your responses. I tried to explain my goals as best I can so if I left anything out feel free to ask. Thanks again!

My Dobe is my first working line dog and I can say he has endless energy and drive which is good because I can practice the skills I'm learning without a fear of having him get bored. The downside is it takes a lot to challenge him, if you don't keep him physically and mentally stimulated he will go nuts in a short amount of time.

If you would rather a lower energy dog, Rottweilers require a bit less exercise, but also tire quicker during training. Granted my Rotty isn't working line but i have heard that even the working line ones don't have the stamina of the Dobes, Malinois.


That's my experience, there are more experienced people who will respond

Rob

German Shepherd

They tend to be more suitable for a first time working dog. I find them more 'forgiving' to mistakes made during training, fairly biddable and normally not as drive 'crazy' as mals or dutchies.

A good german shepherd will be suitable and eligible for just about any activity and organization that your interests take you to. A lower drive dog out of a well bred litter might be good for a first dog. If you decide that it takes too much time and money the dog can just become a very active companion dog.

Hi Susan,

A few things to throw into your mental hopper...

I think the first thing that is critical is to make sure you go for a breed that really appeals to you a lot. You will be living with this dog for a long time, after all, and the majority of your time together won't be spent on your sport. So, the size, looks, and general temperament of the dog will be important, IMO.

Deciding which sport you want to pursue may make a difference for you, too. If you go the Schutzhund route, well, GSDs are king of it. They are bred with the kind of grips that are rewarded, and many clubs are very preferential towards the breed. Some clubs are more open-minded about working off breeds, so it's a good idea to find the club you want to work with and see what kind of variety they have in their club, breed-wise. If you went with a Mal, for example, and joined a club that doesn't have any experienced Mal people, well, you could find it on the frustrating side.

The ringsports tend to reward the lighter-framed dogs (Mals tend to rule here, and Dutch shepherds, to a lesser degree). The kind of grip that's rewarded is different than in SchH, which is reflected in the breeding tendencies. Their temperaments are definitely different from a GSD, which circles back to what your preference will be in living with and training your dog.

I think it's also important to consider how competitive you are. If doing well in competition matters to you, that will impact your decision. If you're more along the lines of just wanting to have fun and explore a new venue, then it won't matter as much which breed you choose.

I agree that with working lines, for a first-time owner, it may be easier to go the medium-drive route, but this is another area in which you really need to consider your own skills and preferences. The higher drive dogs, while a definite challenge to live with and keep happy, to me, are easier to train. They are highly motivated. Building drive and motivating a lower-drived dog can be a lot of work. So, you have to know which trade-offs you want to make in this regard (and it's not like you're inexperienced in dogs, so you should be able to do an honest self-assessment here).

Whichever breed you decide on, as I'm sure you know, there will always be a range of drive levels in litters, and depending on the lines you choose, you can also lean towards how sociable, easy to handle, and liveable your dog is likely to be. Doing your research here is critical.

There is no substitute for meeting the dogs...visit some clubs, check out the different breeds, see what really appeals to you.

Personally, I'm a sucker for the herding breeds.

I sure envy your proximity to ME's school! You also have a lot of protection sports options out there, in terms of clubs and such. Check out Mondio if you can.

leih

Thank you everyone for your input! Very helpful!

Leih, I've heard Mondio is awesome but have yet to find a club close enough to my area to travel to on a regular basis. I'm hoping in some of the classes (ME's) that I will be able to get some connections there and meet some people. French ring has caught my eye the most so far.

I'm quite used to high drive dogs and enjoy it very much. I have more traditional line APBT's that are go-go-go and are quite sensitive to handling. I tend to fall in line with the positive reinforcement/shaping types of training and feel comfortable dealing with a high drive sensitive dog. Part of the reason I'm excited about the ME classes as well as we share many of the same ideas. I have a rescue also who has medium drive that I am constantly building drive with and it's a bit of a pain. But I also know each breed varies in the ways they are sensitive and the way they carry themselves,ect.

I would certainly like to compete and would like something that I could take in that direction. I'm not worried about cleaning up or winning, certainly not with a first dog in these sports but one that has good potential. I definitely agree with checking out litters/clubs/and competitions and assessing all the variables.

Thanks everyone for your replies.