Why did you pick...

[ladyjubilee]

Either the breed or if you did pick the first, your dog?

We pick Bramble because she has energy and just assumes everyone loves her.

Unlike a lot of dogs, she wasn't cowering, but wasn't jumping at the gate either. She was at the gate bowing ready to play. Once she came out of the kennel, she just assumed my son loved her and wanted her.

[kalinoodlesoup]

We actually picked out Kali online (petfinder). We wanted an older dog and she was so cute, we had to meet her! When we met her we knew it was meant to be.

[ladyjubilee]

Was Idna a rescue or from a breeder?

[montecarlogirl87]

I didn't so much as pick Shylah, as fate put her in my path... I had lost my previous dog (border collie) and had finally decided to start looking for another dog, I was looking for a shepherd/mix but they're rare and go fast in the shelters around me...
left work one day and there she was, running thru 5pm traffic, she kept trying to follow/go up to any and everyone that was on the sidewalks, but everyone ignored her
I pulled over and she ran right up but was so scared she immed. flopped over and showed her belly, I had to physically pick her up and put her in the car... stopped at Petsmart on the way home to have her scanned, no chip
her behavior convinced me she had been abused wherever she came from, and given the area of town I found her in, I can't say I made an effort to find her previous owner(s)

[ladyjubilee]

I don't have a tag on Bramble. She's chipped, and I even paid for an extra cute tag when I got her Tactipup "Service Dog" collar. But she has chewed off 3 tags already. I put the last one on her and within minutes she was tugging on it (she contorts her neck to get to it.) The trainer said his Mal does the same thing. Ultimately I decided to leave them off when she isn't working. The risk of her checking is just too high.

Which may be how she ended up a stray.

[ladyjubilee]

I have..but she uses a 1.5 inch collar due to the trachea defect. I haven't seen one big enough

[TimL_168]

I picked the breed. I use my dogs for trailing wounded game, and general utility on jobsites and around the house. I lucked in to finding Endeavor on the rehoming FB page. Exactly what I was looking for. I got a little bit of guff from some folks that are/were trying to be protective of the breed by discouraging,or at least deeply questioning my reasoning. I'm the same way...I just know myself in a way that others online really can't.

[Mark77]

I got my first Dutchie because I was looking for a trainable dog to maybe one day do protection sports with but also for an active sidekick type dog. I then somehow ended up with a second Dutchie a couple years later then a Malinois a few years after that for a total of three very active dogs.

[Tim91118]

I’ve rarely ever had one dog and when my Dutch was nearing a year, and having had a good experience, I decided that I could easily handle another. This time I got a Malinois.... though my Dutch is nearly half Malinois. It has been a great experience and I got another great dog as well. They are best buddies, but I’m their best buddy. Couldn’t ask for a better pair. Don’t think I could go with three though.

[kalinoodlesoup]

I’ve rarely ever had one dog and when my Dutch was nearing a year, and having had a good experience, I decided that I could easily handle another. This time I got a Malinois.... though my Dutch is nearly half Malinois. It has been a great experience and I got another great dog as well. They are best buddies, but I’m their best buddy. Couldn’t ask for a better pair. Don’t think I could go with three though.

how long did it take them to get along?

[Tim91118]

They got along instantly. My Dutch is very patient with her.

[ladyjubilee]

That makes me think, so what does someone do if they are interested in a Dutch Shepherd or even a Malinois, but it will be their first Dutchie or Mal so a rescue won't adopt out to them? There are a couple breed specific rescues here and it's very unlikely they would adopt out a Dutch or Mal to someone without experience. So then the only options for the person would be to maybe find one at a shelter and adopt or get a dog from a breeder? I understand and agree that many of these dogs should go to someone that has experience. But how do you get experience if you can't get a dog?

I think some dogs do require an experienced hand. I'm not experienced enough for Bramble.....and she is mild, and I've had dogs and worked with large animals. She may or may not be a DS, but she's not a bichon either. Had I not gotten real training for her, she had the potential to be a dangerous dog. Plus, as you know well, some rescue/shelter dogs have needs. Even now I try to picture having a Causcian Mountain dog.....and I'd be so up a creek.

I don't know. It's an issue all around, though I think potential owners could gain experience through interaction with DS and training activities.

[Tim91118]

Bite the bullet and get a DNA on Bramble.

[ladyjubilee]

I will when I have unplanned $$. Right now, playing for training trumps DNA test. Practical over non practical. DNA won't really change the dog I have that looks and acts like a DS. I'm curious, but cheap

[TimL_168]

That's something I forgot to mention; I did go sit in on a couple training sessions with DSs and Make, so I could see them and their personalities first hand