Rough collie or dalmatian - views please!

[Cloudtree]

Right we might be taking the plunge and getting a puppy. This is the first time we've had a dog although DH always had dogs growing up.

I have two DSs 14 and 12. Two cats who have been with us for 8 years since they were kittens. 5 free ranging chickens...(I'm aware this could be an issue)

House is large and we have 5 acres of garden/woodland. I am a little concerned since it effectively isn't fenced off at the bottom of the wood. It has a post and wire fence only in that area, but it only backs onto unused woodland belonging to an absent neighbour.

I must admit I like my house to look nice and am a bit worried about it getting trashed. I am home a lot though since I work from home so hopefully that minimises the chance of a puppy going bonkers/getting bored and ruining the place.

Any thoughts on which might be a better fit for us. I like rough collies. DS2 favours a border collie although we have explained that they are generally happier when they are working. DH wants a husky which is obviously out of the question given the other animals. DS1 doesn't really mind.

I have spotted a beautiful dalmatian puppy and a litter of rough collies..

No, I'm all for people getting puppies, the good way. You still haven't said if the pups are endorsed and the parents health tested though.

As I have said they are from the collielife puppy page from a reputable breeder.

Parents checked out by a MNer who knows rough collies , sire is one of the most in demand in the country. Good hip score. Puppy's eyes checked, vet checks, vaccinated, microchipped, kennel club registered etc.

You don't have to justify to anyone cloudtree

Enjoy your new puppy.

So far as I can tell, there is not actually a consensus amongst what you might call 'serious' dog owners about endorsements. I was listening to owners (and some breeders) of working dogs chatting the other weekend; one said she was generally happy to lift endorsements when asked; one owner said he felt endorsements were not entirely justified. And certainly, I can see some breeders using them as a way to maintain a lockdown on 'their' lines in a breed, which is not good for genetic diversity (they use the sire they have kept over and over again, while his siblings and half siblings are never allowed to pass on their genes).

I certainly do not regard the placing of endorsements on puppies as a box a 'good' breeder has to tick. And breeders certainly exist who put endorsements on every puppy they breed, and pretty much refuse to ever lift them, but have some outrageously high COIs.

As far as I understand it, most international kennel clubs do not have an endorsement system.

Please rehome a Dalmatian, they don't need a lot if exercise and are Intelligent and easy to train.

If you will consider adopting, please look at the Dalmatian rescue Society, I volunteer for them. You'll be so rewarded by having a beautiful spot in your life

When referring to endorsements, it's usually the term for the contract that included the endorsements, I should have been more specific. One of the major red flags would be if there was no part of the contract that stated that if there were any issues, the puppy had to be returned to the breeder, not sold/passed on. No matter the age of the pup/dog. That's one of the main things that should be written and signed when purchasing a dog IMO.

Pah, every Dally I know needs lots of exercise. It’s what they were bred for. They pull your arm off if on lead unless you have a figure of eight lead or no pull harness. Run for twenty miles easily. Ours is on his third home because they are quite hard dogs to manage.

Cherry you've been unlucky. I've had Dalmatians since I was a kid, I have 2 and 2 that I'm long term fostering. They are all chilled.
They have a good couple of hours at the stables with me every day, the rest of the time they sleep, snore and fart

I've got a Dalmatian and he does love a good walk but happy not to go out on the odd day if too hot or wet whatever. I do think in an ideal world you would walk them for a good hour every day - I ran 3 hours with mine Fri and he was full of beans again Saturday (7 years old). 7 miles today and he's fast asleep now, they were carriage dogs traditionally. I've had a Border Collie too, different ball game altogether!

I don’t think we’re unlucky as my husband likes having a dog to run with but he’s fidgety without both exercise and brain time. All those I know are similar. He’s good looking though!

Fair enough, Supermassive, I've no argument with breeders wanting to take a puppy back (I've known 2 do it, both 'backyard').

I'd buy a puppy endorsed for breeding, provided the breeder had clarified in writing what I had to do to get those endorsements lifted and I thought that was fair.

We are just looking for a family dog. No interest in breeding at all.

Whatever you decide to do, it's always good to do lots of research and to get in contact with other owners of similar types of dogs.

Endorsements are not regularly used by Rough Collie breeders - in fact, the only ones I have known use them did it for their own purposes', not the dogs', and I wouldn't have touched them with a bargepole.

Use of endorsements is a breed specific thing, I have found. In any case, they don't protect any dog from the bucketloads of unregistered litters that can be found on any of the selling sites.

Definitely a crate. No bedding in it, they only chew it or piss and shit on it.

Lordy, why on earth would you not allow the poor dog to have bedding. Absolutely disagree with this (mind you, I prefer a small puppy pen to a crate anyway, with room for some bedding and some newspaper. Roughs are a very clean breed and easy to housetrain.

Grooming set, a rough collie is going to need a professional groom every 6 weeks or so though I would have thought.

No, Roughs don't need professional grooming at all. There is excellent grooming advice on Collielife.com, and there is a list of breeders who are very happy to help new owners out with learning to do the relatively basic grooming, which is not onerous if done little and often.

a nail grinder NOT nail clippers!

I don't disagree with this, as such - I use a Dremel on most of my Roughs, but clip one as he hates it - but unless puppies have been trained to the Dremel it is a very gradual process.

Gah, I hate that I can't edit m typing errors on this site!

“Definitely a crate. No bedding in it”

Eh? You can’t just leave it in a bare crate...

“Roughs don't need professional grooming at all.”

People seem to take even short coated dogs to groomers nowadays...but I’d have assumed rough collies just need brushing essentially? (I mean a lot of brushing, but nothing complicated)

Seem to have upset people with my bedding comment.

My dog as a puppy had bedding at first but it was just constantly chewed, ripped up and messed on, I have a video of her as a baby running round the house ragging it and throwing it about, which is all she ever did with it!

She had the sofa to nap on in the day but her favourite sleeping spots were the bottom shelf of my bookcase and wedged in between the shelves of the TV cabinet (both hard and smooth) so I eventually chose to abandon it until she was better behaved.

If you want bedding use bedding, j just personally wouldn't because they just chew it and mess it but up to you.

And on the grooming, I don't have a rough collie but my old neighbours does, she shows hers and they go to a professional groomer every 6 weeks.

I just would have assumed that with such a dense, thick double coat a professional groomer would be required.

As long as the owner brushes daily and doesn't allow the coat to get matted, no need to go to a pro unless you're nervous abut nail clipping. Show dogs might be different.)

I have several (and show them), and no need for daily brushing either - a run through once a week with particular attention behind ears and elbows, and to feathering, keeps them ticking over nicely. Minimal trimming to tidy feet/back legs.

When they moult, a couple of good baths is the best way forward.

Well, we've had Dalmatians for the last 11 years. Was mulling this thread over and idly asked OH which he would chose and he's opted for the collie!! Read into that way you will. Good luck with puppy

I just wanted to update this thread. We collected Cloudpup on Saturday and he is a joy. Really chilled but also loves to play. Sleeps well with no crying and really prefers to go to the toilet outside so will go to the door and ask to be let out. We are all smitten.

Here he is on day 1

and another

He is beautiful OP!