Labrador or Border terrier?

[KAE1]

Well my last dog, a little whippet/lurcher, died two years ago and we decided to have a breather before getting another.In the past we've had a lab, two lurchers a JR terrier and a Dobermann and have naorrowed our choice between another Labrador or a Border terrier.
We currently 'share' my in laws lab and he's a great countryside companion. He will stalk beside me or I can drop him if I need to get in closer and he will await my command.
Borders are great little dogs and their size would be easier for canoeing and camping???? Just can't decide. Help.

Heres my current 'borrowed' country companion.

 

[john scrivy]

he is a fine looking dog > I suppose you could decide what are you going to use the dog for . PET or WORKER or both which of your choises suits your need do you have children are terrier or labs good with kids > I have an 11 year old border collie she still thinks shes 11 months a very demanding active dog

 

[Tengu]

Terriers are great fun and quick learners (if in the mood)

Labradors are dull in comparison and prone to inbreeding (in particular avoid at all costs the chocolate coloured ones, as they have a very small gene pool) try a labodoodle or labrdor retriver cross.

something old fashioned like a bloodhound, pointer or rhodesian ridgeback might be another option.

another small dog `might` be a traditional toy breed like a peke or a shizou. these can be inbred, weak and ill tempered, but a good one is full of life and very sporting, also could be canoe trained.

(I have a lot of reservations about small dogs, having met many uninspired examples, but some seem to be a bit more inspired. I guess its in part how you treat them, small dogs often get treated with disrespect, and so are disrespectful themselves.)

 

[john scrivy]

my late father had a jack russel what I remember of him > a non demanding very gutsy freindly dog I think they are classed as terriers used as working dogs of a sort they make good pets

 

[Lurch]

It'd be a border for me, full of character.
Nowt wrong with a lab, but a bit dull somehow?

 

[familne]

Border Terrier all the way although I'm biased!!

Tremendous character, very friendly with other dogs & humans (even the postie)!

 

[Fin]

Difficult decision and it would depend entirely on what you want the dog for.

Is it purely a companion animal or do you want to work it and if so, to what extent.

I have always had an aversion to small yappy type dogs and my prejudice has encompassed most terriers - willful and hard to train in some opinions (including mine) - feisty and independantly spirited in the opinions of those who like them (my neighbour has two Jack Russells who never shut up - I harbour secret fantasies of shooting them both! No offence to john scrivy or his late father - plenty love 'em! ). Having said that; the Norfolk is probably the most appealing of the terriers IMO (loads around me own them). All of the one's I have met, so far seem less "manic" and more intelligent than some of the terrier breeds.

For a general outdoor companion I would consider firstly the HPR breeds (Hunter, Pointer, Retriever) such as Viszlas, German Pointers (short or wire haired), Small or Large Munsterlander et al.

Next I would consider one from either the Spaniel or Hound groups (and I agree with Tengu, not only on his choice of Rhodesian Ridgeback, but on his remarks on terrier temperament and human cause/ reaction to it.)

However, your choice is Lab or Norfy and despite my first paragraph it's...Norfy for me. Labs have had too much docility bred into them IMO and can be lazy and prone to obesity - especially later in life. The Norfolk is the first small dog that I can see what others see in them - if that makes sense!

All of this is generalised, of course - the Lab in your photo looks to be quite an oldie - but still pretty fit - so it depends on the individual, but you have to generalise when you're starting from a breed standpoint.

Good Luck!

 

[KAE1]

Doh, Familne you're not helping, that hound is really cute. In answer to your questions, it will be family pet/country companion first, must be calm or small enough to travel in our 17ft canoe and calm enough round the camp. May use him/her for deerstalking depending on temperament, as they need to be really steady at heel and not give you away.

Thanks for comments so far.

 

[sxmolloy]

I have a Lab, she's 9 years old and doesn't have a dull bone in her body.

IMO anything smaller is of no use to ME. I need a dog that barks and will see off any intruders, but at the the same time be a good, gentle family pet. My Lab fits the bill to a T . She loves to be outdoors, although she's not keen on open fires for some reason, but everything else she is fabulous, a great outdoor dog on land and in water.

Of course this is just MY opinion. ATB....Stu

 

[Dingo]

Get yourself a Cattledog, medium size, extremely intelligent, you can get red or blue, they are almost undetectable at night, full of character, faithfull to the last and excellent guard and watch dog, cute pups to.
they are agile and robust, really good fun, and love to please, the downside is they have a lot of energy and if not exercised and trained even simply will become a problem as they are intelligent workers, but if you love the outdoors and want a true companion, they are tough to beat.

 

[falcon]

If you want it for stalking then It would be best to investigate the trainability of a Border to walk steadily to heel and drop on command.......and while a Lab will unboubtedly be OK I'm not sure about a Border. I love 'em and they're undoubtedly trainable but I'm not sure about the fine tuning you'd need for stalking. I've two labs and a springer which are used for game shooting but that's somewhat diferent. Good luck....

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

Lab - it's a water dog
Lab - as you said it's well disiciplined
Lab - good in a canoe

Nick

PS or a New Zealand Send Away ?

 

[KAE1]

I think 'Josh' my borrowed lab made my mind up for me yesterday. We were in the woods, sitting on a log, enjoying a brew when I thought I'd see if the roe twins were about, it was 3pm so they may have been couched down.
We stalked over to their area, scanned with the bins, and after a short while I spotted one on the edge of the wood.
I dropped to a crawl and edged closer. I made my way to a log pile about 30 metres from the pair, by which time mum was with them.After a few minutes watching them playing I turned round to see where Josh was, he was patiently laying down at the spot I started crawling from 5 minutes earlier and about 40 metres back.He had instinctively dropped and waited.
I do love Borders though.

A walk along the tow path in June

 

[Tengu]

Nope, I dont like labs at all.

I have seen several lab puppies, as laid back as an elderly dog, docile to be sure, but is this behaivior really seemly or desirable in a `puppy`??

 

[CLEM]

Border Terrier all the way although I'm biased!!

Tremendous character, very friendly with other dogs & humans (even the postie)!

Marvelous dogs Borders,he's a cracking looking little faella mate

 

[KAE1]

Nope, I dont like labs at all.

I have seen several lab puppies, as laid back as an elderly dog, docile to be sure, but is this behaivior really seemly or desirable in a `puppy`??

Know what ya mean Tengu but I've also witnessed labs battling a strong estuary current on a foul October dawn to retrieve a goose.When not in action they will sit patiently by your side and I think its those sort of attributes that I am after.
I do love Borders though.......maybe its a lucky dip.

 

[Tengu]

And they will be in anything bigger than a teacup...

A nice old fashioned allrounding dog is the Japanese akita, used for hunting anything from ducks to bears, as guide dogs and in the police, and is the special protector of children.

 

[Bushcraft4life]

Akitas are nice, but you have to be careful when choosing to make sure the temperament is right otherwise your going to havea hell hound on your hands.

Terriers no matter what breed will always chase things, whether it be foxes, birds, rabbits whatever.

Labs can be quite dull sometimes but they are nice dogs and make good companions, very loyal.

I have a wheaton terrier and a German Shepherd and they always come out with us when we go camping, although if i am out on my own the GSD comes along her own, no nasty forestry commision to worry about

 

[Pippin]

For me, the Springer Spaniel is the Platonic Ideal of dogs - the essence of dogness wrapped in 45 lbs of skin and bone

 

[Jedadiah]

peep's but i take exception to the comments about Lab's, their tempremant and particularly the comment about the size of the Choclate lab gene pool.

Dog's are individuals. Infact, as individual as their owners. Because of this, they will behave and develop as much by nurture as nature. To say that Lab's are fat and boring is like saying all bushcrafters want to be like Ray Mears! This is just not true!

Granted, if Lab's are not exercised and fed correctly they do tend to run to fat, but surely that is the case for many dog's (and their owners!)

Some say that terriers are fantastic around children. I've been told that English and Staffordshire Bull terriers are wonderful companions for kid's; protective and accepting, yet some people teach them to be aggressive and spiteful. This is not the breed's fault, merely the owners.

Tengu, you mentioned Akita's. In my experience, Akita's have proved stubborn, snappy and arrogant. However, i would never claim that ALL Akita's portray these behavioural characteristics. If you find Lab's lazy and boring, may i suggest that you have not stimulated them sufficently? Some Lab's may be lazy and boring, some may be active and outgoing, but then, some people are like the former and some the latter. That is why individuals select the puppies from the litter according to their behaviour.

I personally like all breeds of dog without exception. Some i would own, some i would not, but all have positives and negatives. All are suited to individual needs.

Finally, if you do not like Lab's (and yes, you are entitled to your opinion and to express it) may i suggest you stick to Ferrets!