Vote now! American Shepherd/Mini Aussie VS CKC Spaniel!

[Everose]

Curious to know which of these two (very different) breeds would fare best on a farm. They don't have to be friendly with every animal but just smart enough to learn to leave them alone.
I adore both breeds and cannot decide. Vote if you are familiar with them, even if only through research, friendly encounters, or if you've just heard great things about them.

Also, no pressure I'm not getting one anytime soon . Maybe in like 1-2 yrs. If you have any other long-medium haired, medium-high grooming requirements, smallish, low-medium prey drive, Velcro personality type dogs to recommend I'd be happy to hear your suggestions!

 

[ShrekDawg]

You already have an Aussie, right? Mini American Shepherds are extremely similar so I would go with something totally different like the CKCS LOL only trouble with them though is the health issues but a good breeder should minimize those. Or you could go for a Golden. They’re fantastic too lol

 

[Everose]

You already have an Aussie, right?

Yep, Rose my first ever dog. Lately she's been lashing out at other dogs for no reason and her age has been showing more and more. She's almost 13 and she really shouldn't even be here still since she got shot in the head 3 years ago (probably has something to do with her mental decline). I hope she makes it to 13 (honestly 15 would make me happier) but it's not looking too good atm.

Mini American Shepherds are extremely similar so I would go with something totally different like the CKCS LOL

Yeah the similarities are what make them so endearing to me though
My Aussie is a confused dog, her mom looked more like an Anatolian than a "lab" and her dad was pure Aussie, so she's always been torn between wanting to chase and wanting to protect my animals. She hasn't done too well on the farm but it's not her fault, she wasn't raised around the animals and she didn't have a job because I didn't know how to train her as a kid.
Ideally I'd train my American Shepherd to herd the ducks and goats. Plus it'd go to work with me so I feel like a lot of the problems that I have with Rose just wouldn't occur.

only trouble with them though is the health issues but a good breeder should minimize those.

I think they're prone to some of the same things as my shitzus. Luckily I found some pretty good breeders when looking for them, but even then one of them did have eye problems, you're never guaranteed anything with animals

Or you could go for a Golden. They’re fantastic too lol

I LOVE those. I'm sure Aslan would also love one, a golden would be big enough to play with him.
My parents bought a lab lgd mix to be a farm dog and they're best buds. Mufasa is almost exactly like a golden.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Yep, Rose my first ever dog. Lately she's been lashing out at other dogs for no reason and her age has been showing more and more. She's almost 13 and she really shouldn't even be here still since she got shot in the head 3 years ago (probably has something to do with her mental decline). I hope she makes it to 13 (honestly 15 would make me happier) but it's not looking too good atm.

Yeah the similarities are what make them so endearing to me though
My Aussie is a confused dog, her mom looked more like an Anatolian than a "lab" and her dad was pure Aussie, so she's always been torn between wanting to chase and wanting to protect my animals. She hasn't done too well on the farm but it's not her fault, she wasn't raised around the animals and she didn't have a job because I didn't know how to train her as a kid.
Ideally I'd train my American Shepherd to herd the ducks and goats. Plus it'd go to work with me so I feel like a lot of the problems that I have with Rose just wouldn't occur.

I think they're prone to some of the same things as my shitzus. Luckily I found some pretty good breeders when looking for them, but even then one of them did have eye problems, you're never guaranteed anything with animals

I LOVE those. I'm sure Aslan would also love one, a golden would be big enough to play with him.
My parents bought a lab lgd mix to be a farm dog and they're best buds. Mufasa is almost exactly like a golden.

She got shot!?!??!?!?

And oh wow that’s interesting about the confusion and behavior lol

They are super prone to heart problems unfortunately.

And that’s awesome!!! I would recommend a Golden then!!! Hahaha

 

[Everose]

She got shot!?!??!?!?

Yes, she ran off with our beagle and she came back with seven gunshot wounds in the abdomen, spine, chest, anus, and that last one was going up through the roof of her mouth. The vet was shocked that she had lived since he could stick his finger up the hole and feel the back of her eyeball. They said she would probably act different and she really hasn't been the same since, but in a goofy way.

And oh wow that’s interesting about the confusion and behavior lol

Yeah she freaks out if any animal is outside of its pen, at one point she pooped in the house and tore up a mattress in frustration, she potty trained quickly and has never been destructive so she was definitely acting out.
If I bring a goat into the house she whines and obsessively licks it but then nips its heels. Even if I correct her and tell her to go away she'll walk in circles and keep coming back.

They are super prone to heart problems unfortunately.

Aw

And that’s awesome!!! I would recommend a Golden then!!! Hahaha

A golden would probably love going to work with me too

 

[ShrekDawg]

Yes, she ran off with our beagle and she came back with seven gunshot wounds in the abdomen, spine, chest, anus, and that last one was going up through the roof of her mouth. The vet was shocked that she had lived since he could stick his finger up the hole and feel the back of her eyeball. They said she would probably act different and she really hasn't been the same since, but in a goofy way.

Yeah she freaks out if any animal is outside of its pen, at one point she pooped in the house and tore up a mattress in frustration, she potty trained quickly and has never been destructive so she was definitely acting out.
If I bring a goat into the house she whines and obsessively licks it but then nips its heels. Even if I correct her and tell her to go away she'll walk in circles and keep coming back.

Aw

A golden would probably love going to work with me too

Oh wow that’s amazing she lived!!!!!

And wow that’s such strange behavior lol

And yeah it’s sad but less common with good breeders lol still happens even with them though. It’s just really common in the breed sadly.

Goldens would love that lol and a lot of people even in the breeds say CKCS are like mini Goldens soooo you can’t go wrong LOL

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I wouldn't recommend the CKCS. They are prone to a lot of health problems, especially heart problems, and those big swoopy ears and droopy type eyes will scoop up every kind of thistle, foxtail, and thorn on the property if you truly mean a dog running on farm property.

You've already dealt with a mini-Aussie, and know the energy level required for them, and you've got the property, so I'd stick with that if you love the breed, of course going to a good breeder to avoid their mini health issues.

Otherwise, a short haired general mutt can be a good addition. I currently have a rat terrier mix that is excellent at ridding the coops of rats (and is trained to leave the chickens alone). His very short coat, clean feet, and upright ears keep him out of the thistles and thickets well. He has energy when I want him to and is a good couch potato when I want him to be.

Ratties and rattie mixes are excellent farm dogs. They actually are the quintessential farm dog type, imho, unless you are looking for livestock guards.

My 2 cents.
LofMc

 

[Logar]

as someone who isn’t a fan of small dogs and really hates CKC spaniels, I am going to say go with an English mastiff. How can you say no to that face?

Obviously I am joking but if I had to pick, I would choose one of the mini shepherds

 

[Everose]

as someone who isn’t a fan of small dogs and really hates CKC spaniels, I am going to say go with an English mastiff. How can you say no to that face?View attachment 3859741Obviously I am joking but if I had to pick, I would choose one of the mini shepherds

This is actually my DREAM dog. I absolutely plan on having a couple in the future, but only once I have a good iron fence, and I'd like to get in contact with a good professional trainer just to ensure that everything goes well, I'm super confident that I could train one since I already have two mastiffs but I'm only 4'6 so there's no way I could control a mastiff with brute strength should training go wrong in any way.

 

[Logar]

This is actually my DREAM dog. I absolutely plan on having a couple in the future, but only once I have a good iron fence, and I'd like to get in contact with a good professional trainer just to ensure that everything goes well, I'm super confident that I could train one since I already have two mastiffs but I'm only 4'6 so there's no way I could control a mastiff with brute strength should training go wrong in any way.

He has been by far the easiest dog our family has ever had. Super easy to train and everything. He had a single accident and that was it. He isn’t very bright but he is great. He is also extremely healthy. I think it helps that he comes from a smaller and leaner linage as he is only 160 pounds at 3 1/2 years old. I have taken him on 10 mile hikes (like making your own path hard type of hiking) and he does great. But the GALLONS of slobber are not very fun.