German Shepherd, Border Collie, Labrador or Golden Retriever?

Question

Family is considering a dog between these 4 breeds. Some things about us-

-We have a medium sized house with quite a big garden.
-Youngest is my 12 year old sister, she's very responsible and mature, oldest sibling is my 20 year old brother (I'm 17).
-My dad is experienced with German Shepherds.
-Me and my brother and sister are out at least 8 hours a day. My dad works for himself, being gone a few hours at a time. My mum doesn't need to work (we collect rent) so will be home mostly.

Just a few questions :3

We might be getting our kitchen done up soon, would it still be smart to get a pup?

Which dog would you personally choose and why, and what dog do you think suits us?

I personally like Border Collies and German Shepherds more, but they are both more energetic, dominant, etc. Me and my sister are the only ones who haven't lived with dogs before, I've researched both breeds a lot, do you think we could handle one?

If I think of anything else I'll add it :P Please answer in as much detail as possible! thanks x

Answer 1

I would definitely go Labrador and here are my reasons:



A german shepherd or border collie, although you are saying you want a "more energetic" dog, will not really suit you. Being gone for 8 hours won't work for those breeds. They need daily intensive exercise - daily - and not just a walk around the block. Although your mom will be home all day, I don't think it's fair to make her do most of the work, because if you are gone for 8 hours she will be doing most of the work. Not to mention if she is home all day a german shepherd will most likely bond solely to her, meaning even when you're home it might prefer to be with her. It tends to be a shepherd thing.



Border collies, being energetic, have the dark side of possibly becoming neurotic if not stimulated. These dogs don't just need a walk, they need a run, they need a job, -every- day. So I would not recommend this dog for you.



Golden Retrievers and labs are basically the same in temperament, but golden's have a dense coat which is sometimes a hassle.



Labs are just great dogs. They still need exercise but not as much as the german shepherd or border collie. They are happy go lucky and want to do what you want to do, and will love everyone and not really pick favorites. Plus they are as energetic as you want them to be. Wanna go to the beach? A lab is right there with you. Want to just stroll around town? Lab is right by your side ready to go. Wanna stay at home all day? Your lab is okay to hang around and play.



That's just my take on it ! Good luck

Answer 2

Honestly I have not had had any of these breeds except a labrador/german shepherd mix, and a chihuahua. Just to say right away.



"We might be getting our kitchen done up soon, would it still be smart to get a pup?" Well, depending if you have another puppy safe area for it and if someone is constantly with/watching the puppy. I think it would be ok, but if the kitchen is the area you were planning on keeping the puppy most of the time, then you should wait till after the kitchen is done.



"Which dog would you personally choose and why, and what dog do you think suits us? " Well I love border collie's but I have never had one before(or seen one personally). Well I would personally choose a border collie, because its my favorite breed and well I don't really know. Sadly though, I am not going to get a border collie till I can get a larger yard.



If most/some of your family hasn't lived with or experienced taking care of a dog for a while, then I would suggest getting a more family safe dog like the labrador or Golden Retriever. Which both of those breeds are perfect pets for families. They are easy to train and they don't need as much of a running space.

A German Shepherd is a working dog so they will need constant exercise, training, and socialization. Socialization is a must because they may be very protective over their family and can be aggressive towards strangers. They are also a lovely family dog but they can be a bit much too. (I don't know much about this breed, but if your dad is experienced with them, then it should be ok.)

I honestly wouldn't recommend a Border Collie to a family that hasn't had much experience with dogs.



So personally I would recommend the Labrador or Golden Retriever as the best bet for your family.

Answer 3

If you and your sister have not lived with dogs before then I would NOT recommend either the Border Collie (my personal favorite breed but I am a very experienced dog owner) or the German Shepherd. They are too smart for first time dog owners. Yes, your dad has experience but it sounds like the dog is more for you.

Between the Lab and the Golden....personal choice...very alike in temperament, very unlike in coat. One (Lab) is short coated but sheds like the dickens and it's hard to vacuum up (I know, I have one) and the Golden is long coated. They shed in easy to pick up "clumps".

Both require brushing.

I wish you the best of luck....but don't "push your luck" with the Border Collie or the GSD.

If you keep the pup out of the kitchen while the renos are being done. it will be fine. They will get used to strange and loud noises and that is a good thing.

Answer 4

I have a personal love of border collies, but they are not for first time dog owners. They also need loads of exercise, not just walks but mental stimulation like herding, frisbee, agility, etc. I see many families with dogs like this where the mum is driven crazy by the dog during the day when everyone is out. German sheperds can have problems, but if your dad is experienced and you socialise and train properly then you should be okay. Labs and goldens are great family dogs, but for someone with a love and experience of high energy breeds like GSDs, and no young children to worry about, I think a GSD is the best fit for you. With 5 family members, you should be able to keep the dog entertained.

Please don't buy from a breeder, though, without thoroughly checking them out. With such popular breeds there are thousands of irresponsible breeders out there. The best thing you can do is find a breed specific rescue - you could still find a puppy, but save a life too.

Answer 5

It's really up to your mom and dad--they are the ones who will be home with the dog most of the time. However, the Border Collie is probably not a good choice unless your folks have some "job" for him to do (herding, agility training, etc.) They have WAY more energy than most breeds and must be kept busy. So chances are the best candidate would be a Lab or GSD. Be sure to get one from a *responsible* breeder who does the appropriate health testing on their dogs (hips and elbows X-rayed normal, eyes checked by a certified ophthalmologist, etc.)



Good info on pros and cons of various breeds can be found here:

http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/germanshepherds.html . Click on the links on the left side of the page for health info.



" Me and my sister are the only ones who haven't lived with dogs before, I've researched both breeds a lot, do you think we could handle one?"



No, at least not without a lot of guidance from experienced owners. Neither GSD or BC's are good for a first-time owner, while a Lab is.

Answer 6

German Shepherd- Can be very well trained fun dogs. Can also be mischievous and messy. Also very beautiful.

Border Collie- Unlike the Australian Shepherd Border Collies are more forward when it comes to herding. I personally own an Aussie. Both breeds tend to be shy. Aussies are a little more reserved and laid back so I would recommend them over a Border Collie.

Labrador and Golden- Both tend to be high energy, easy to train, and loveable. It all comes down to the hair. Both are big shedders but Goldens have hair that sort of floats and Labs have hair that never goes away.

I would choose a Golden because they're easy to train and very loveable. Make sure you start leash and house training as soon as you get your puppy though! I highly recommend Choke Chains or Martigale Collars because they teach that pulling is bad and that's important with larger sized dogs. Hope this helped!

Answer 7

I recommend Labs or Goldens to most families. The Golden is somewhat less active and dominant than the Lab. Both are physically affectionate, friendly dogs & natural land & water retrievers which makes them fun to play with. Both are good obedience dogs & fairly easy to train. In some lines, Goldens are the TOP obedience breed, in the US. Labs probably have the easiest care coat.



All of the above breeds do have health problems & you need to know what screening should be done by a breeder on the parent dogs, before they are bred, & ONLY buy from breeders who do genetic testing recommneded for their breeds.



GSD are protective, smart, assertive, dominant dogs & are not normally recommended for first-time dog owners or novices. While your dad has had experience with them, they may not be what MOST of the family needs or would do best with. I've lived with the breed and HATED the TUMBLEWEEDS of dog hair they shed (daily) twice per year for 2-4 weeks. I'd never have one again, for that reason.



BC are NOT a good family pet. They are bred to be working (herding) farm dogs. They get neurotic if not worked, HOURS on end, HERDING. They HAVE to have a JOB, they need to have unbelievable amounts of exercise daily, plus a true working JOB. (They are not "wired' to be a suburban or city pet.) Please drop them from the list. Too many BC family pets, end up in rescue, for those reasons.

Answer 8

go for German shepherds, as your father is experienced with them, and theyre an option if you dont want the fully energic ones, you can get a "show" lines german shepherd, instead of the "working" lines german shepherds which are the more aggressive ones..



the youngest sister is 12 now, get the 5 months puppy, soon the puppy grow and your sister is old enough for the dog

Answer 9

I would have to go with the Labrador, I had one when I was little and he was a very good dog. I also had a border collie but he was very energetic and always got excited around my little sister (that was learning to walk) and knock her down. If you have a lot of time on your hands to train a border collie then I would recommend one.

Answer 10

Golden! german shepherds and border collies are great watch dogs, but can snap on little kids. Goldens are the nicest dogs ever and love children. I know from experience because my family has had two goldens.

Answer 11

Being a vet tech I work with all types of dogs. All are very hyper. Shepards tend to be more aggressive if not socialized right from a pup. I would say a lab. I just like them better out of all the breeds you choose.

Answer 12

If you’re thinking you want to start training your dog properly, but aren’t sure how, then you’re in the right place. Learn more https://tr.im/HHIpy



The thing about proper dog training is that the more you know, the more you can use towards training your dog. If you have gotten a new dog or puppy, you should work on training them right away. If they are going to be indoor dogs, you can start crate training them . This prevents bathroom accidents or your items being chewed on. Start off with the right sized crate, so that they have enough room in the crate to move around a bit.



If you are trying to crate train your dog or puppy you must understand that you can not expect them to be able to hold their bladders for extremely long periods. You must provide times for them to go to the bathroom. They don’t want to go in their special place. So it is up to you to take care of them. If they have a accident don’t get mad at them, it wasn’t their fault it was yours.



When teaching your dog discipline, regardless of what training method you use, you should always apply it with speed and consistency. Not correcting your dog for bad behavior every single time, sends him mixed signals that may only make the problem worse. Likewise, not correcting your dog immediately, may make it hard for him to understand why you are punishing him.

Answer 13

GSDs and Labs suffer skeletal problems such as hip dyslapsia and arthritis - even in young age.

Borders are working dogs really and need almost constant mental and physical stimulation.

GRs are very susceptible to genetic illnesses - again hip dyslapsia, but also blindness, and cancer.

Please just go to a shelter and rescue a dog on death row.

You will be able to meet plenty of dogs and choose which one is best for you.

The staff will be able to advise on which dogs behavior suits you the most.

Answer 14

Labrador

Answer 15

German Shepard because they are great guard dogs and they are loyal use to own one died of old age rip king