[drexigordiche]

I've been pet sitting what seems to be some kind of hound x lab mix for the past week. She is around 6 years of age and she is total athlete. Her owners keep her pretty chubby and I am sure she is barely walked or exercised at all simply by her physical shape. However, the damn dog is so freaking athletic, she is so smart and I have been teaching her a few things and she picks up so quick. She responds to the commands with such enthusiasm and performs what I ask quickly. She jumps super high and has a lot of ball/tug drive. Meanwhile I have my Bernie on excellent food and supplements he is also 3 years younger than her, I also have him in pretty good shape and it's like looking at a hummer and a corvette lol Bernie is much bigger and stronger, I am going to also say that he is faster because so far he can beat her running but I will test it tonight when I make them race in a straight line. But Bernie's super lazy and he is very obedient but he performs what I ask super slow. He also can't keep up with her energy levels, she wants to be chased all day and Bernie just wants to lay down lolol This morning when I let them out in the yard before work, she wanted to initiate play and he just ignored her and looked at me with Agony to please let him in....

Is there such thing as athletic ability without hyperactivity? I know a lot of people have their own definition of drive and what not. I am most likely going to get another dog in the upcoming year and I wonder if there is such a thing as a sturdy, strong, athletic type dog that will not be a complete hyper active mess but can perform and work/play when needed?

I know a lot of you own different types of bulldog breeds and other breeds so I want to hear your observations on the differences between types. I know it's all about the individual dog and what not, but I am seriously impressed with that dog. I am also thinking maybe I don't feed him enough and this is why he lacks energy? I mean I think he is pretty good shape, light spine shows but no hip bone and he has a pretty big rear.

Here are a couple of cell phone pics of them :

[agrismhig]

Is there such thing as athletic ability without hyperactivity? I know a lot of people have their own definition of drive and what not. I am most likely going to get another dog in the upcoming year and I wonder if there is such a thing as a sturdy, strong, athletic type dog that will not be a complete hyper active mess but can perform and work/play when needed?

I know a lot of you own different types of bulldog breeds and other breeds so I want to hear your observations on the differences between types. I know it's all about the individual dog and what not, but I am seriously impressed with that dog. I am also thinking maybe I don't feed him enough and this is why he lacks energy? I mean I think he is pretty good shape, light spine shows but no hip bone and he has a pretty big rear.

You're pretty much describing my dogs. All of them (IMO) are pretty freaking athletic, can run for miles, yet will sleep all day if I let them. Sako runs circles around the others, but he gets winded faster (probably because I keep him heavier due to showing him) than Wilson does.

[drexigordiche]

Maybe Bernie goes out hard and gets winded fast? The hound dog is a freaking maniac she can probably catch Frisbees and dock dive because she gets some air. The thing is she is fed crap food, never exercised and she has more energy than my fit looking Bully lol

[fotochicaes]

All my dogs are like that. Especially Lucy and Dumbass. Those two could lay around and sleep for days, but put a leash on them for a walk or bike ride, or take them to an open area and they can go for HOURS.

I wonder if some of that is environmental. My house is pretty laid back and quiet, and my foster dog (who when I first had was a hyper bag of nerves and dumbness) is now just as selectively lazy.

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[drexigordiche]

Maybe separation anxiety and nerves are making that hound girl go nuts. That's a very good point that I did not think of.

[avaiguite]

Sounds like that hound girl has SO much potential, shame she doesn't have an owner like you.

[drexigordiche]

Sounds like that hound girl has SO much potential, shame she doesn't have an owner like you.

thanks, honestly I could see her dock diving, she flies in the air for the ball like she has springs on her paws. I love the fact I tell her to get in the crate and she flies in there. I tell Bernie to get in and he slowly makes his way there lololol

[artofeyyy]

Looks more like some sort of herding dog, Kelpie/Labish rather than hound. Most herding breeds were bred to run for hours every day, sometimes the whole day depending on what needed to be done.

Is there such thing as athletic ability without hyperactivity? I know a lot of people have their own definition of drive and what not. I am most likely going to get another dog in the upcoming year and I wonder if there is such a thing as a sturdy, strong, athletic type dog that will not be a complete hyper active mess but can perform and work/play when needed? I haven't really met too many breeds like that, that I can think of off the top of my head. Depending on how busy you keep them, there are some dogs that you can somewhat be couch potatoes when they get a break. Dakota often sleeps in the house during our more active days, after a long week of practices, etc. But he can definitely bring it physically.
But if we weren't active he'd be bugging the heck out of everyone trying to get them to do something.

I'd talk to breeders about their experience with their own dogs in those situations rather than looking at breeds as an overall. Some may have calmer stock than others.

[maxfreemann]

Peanut is super fast (especially cornering) but she is a burst of energy dog when she is running around. She hardly ever just runs and runs - a few zooms laps around the yard and she is done zooming. She can swim for hours though so I think she might just get hot faster than her German Shorthair pals who like to run longer than she does. She will play chase with them but she starts panting well before they do. She does get walked every day and isn't overweight - she weighs around what the GSPs do but her legs are much shorter.

[deethythitoth]

you know i really think it is just in canines to be natural athletes. the way they use their ability is just different.

[OnerePeepsy]

Look at everything my dog does- flyball, agility, lure coursing- and she will literally sleep on the couch all day if I let her.

IMO, dogs that are all GO and don't have an off switch are annoying. I like my dogs to work when they need to work, and chill the fuck out when they're not working.

[Ingeborga]

Look at everything my dog does- flyball, agility, lure coursing- and she will literally sleep on the couch all day if I let her.

IMO, dogs that are all GO and don't have an off switch are annoying. I like my dogs to work when they need to work, and chill the fuck out when they're not working.

Not very religious, but I give a huge amen to that!!

[drexigordiche]

Look at everything my dog does- flyball, agility, lure coursing- and she will literally sleep on the couch all day if I let her.

IMO, dogs that are all GO and don't have an off switch are annoying. I like my dogs to work when they need to work, and chill the fuck out when they're not working.

I think that's a great piece of information I was hoping to find. Many people claim their dog has all this drive because they eat through a crate or eat half the house or escape their kennel because they are so hyper. In many cases, I do not believe this is drive rather anxiety and this is what dogs do to calm them selves. The mix girl's last day at my home is today and I can see her energy levels are starting to level out and she is not acting like she is on crack. Which I assume part of it has to do with her getting used to my house and the pack. She was barely eating for the first few days but all that running around got to her and she cleaned her bowl last night. She is ready to play at any time and she will try to initiate play with Bernie at any time of the day, specially at 6:00 AM in the morning lol

I think fly ball bred dogs are probably one of the best specimens in my opinion. The sport requires athletic ability, coordination and control.

[CHEAPPoem]

When Renee was on crate rest after her spay she was relatively calm in the crate. When I let her resume normal life yesterday she was like a dog on meth! After blowing off some steam she is starting to level out. Maybe your visitor figured out she could exercise at your house and was blowing of some steam from being kept cooped up for so long.

I have Owen, the Basset, and I will admit I wasn't expecting much from him in the way of drive and energy. He sure surprised me! He is prey driven and much more athletic than I ever expected. He has no problem keeping up with the bullies. He wasn't bred from show lines but from hunting lines. He's not quite as thick and heavy as the show bred Bassets and I'm sure that makes a big difference.

You mentioned getting another dog in the future and that you want one that is athletic and capable of being lazy. I'd suggest an American Bulldog. Ike is a Johnson/Scott style hybrid. He is very athletic although not quite as fast or agile as the Pit Bulls, but he's close. It's impressive to me how close he is considering he is a bigger built dog than they are. But he is also quite happy to laze around the house. When it's time to train and play he lights up, but when it's time to slack he's all about the napping.

[drexigordiche]

I guess it's hit or miss with certain breedings. I guess the more I think about it the specimen will behave a lot like the parents and the more generations in the blood with sport/work test the higher chance you get something sturdy and athletic. I am a big fan of American Bulldogs, my brother had one that die of heat stroke but he was an awesome dog. He was goofy as hell with the family and we couldn't take him serious but he had a lot of prey drive and was very reserved with strangers. Health testing is so important to me simply because I don't want to end up with another porcelain dog, I love my Bernie to death but I just want a dog that will do whatever, whenever and I don't have to baby his joints.

I am waiting for a career opportunity and if that materializes I will not be able to get a dog next year or for a while. However, if that doesn't work out for me I am pretty sure I am getting another dog in the spring. In fact, I am on the waiting list for one of these guys The liter will be born in the spring of 2013 and I am pretty sure I will get second pick at least.







The Alano Espanol is an awesome breed, I met two of them in person and they are just awesome dogs. They were bred to catch, and dog aggression was culled on the spot. The stock I met hasn't been hunted yet but they descend from working dogs in Spain. In fact, I know someone who worked with the kennel where the mom came from and he told me very good things about them. The source breeds working Neapolitan Mastiffs so I know he has no incentive to make up stories.

I also like Olde/Renaissance bulldogs and I am in touch with a couple of breeders that work them in protection/weight pull and guarantees health and temperament on the dogs. I also like American Bulldogs but I like specimens with more pigment since white dogs get sunburned easily. Last but not least, Staffords and Amstaffs are also on my list. Staffords may be too small to keep up with my Bernie, most legit amstaff breeders health test like crazy so it's a good possibility. The only issue is knowing that DA is a big possibility. I have a very solid pack structure at home and we can easily assimilate any dog into our pack given the fact that it has the traits that will match our pack. That is why it is very critical to meet the parents of the puppies and analyze their personalities/behavior to make sure it will work out.

[CHEAPPoem]

I haven't had any problems with Ike and sunburn, but we don't spend too much time in direct sunlight because I burn very easily. I haven't had any problems with him breathing and handling the heat, either, but knowing there could be a problem due to them being a brachycephalic breed is why I went for a hybrid. I wanted the ability to perform with the bully look and build.

As far as temperament, AB's tend to be a bit emotionally sensitive. Training is a tad different that with an APBT. APBTs tend to forgive anything, but if you damage your bond with an AB it will take a lot of time and effort to restore it and the AB will be a bit aloof until then.

When Ike was a pup we socialized the hell out of him and he was very enthusiastic about people. Now that he's older and fully mature, he still likes people but he is suspicious of new people he meets on the street and has to check them out before he gets all marshmallow with them. Usually, he gives a once over with his eyes and nose and then gets wiggly and waggly. Like most of his breed, his enthusiasm is a lot more subtle that an APBT's. He'll lean against a leg, maybe give a lick if he really likes you, and allow petting. Sometimes he will sit near you and lean his head against your chest. That type of behavior is a show of enthusiasm for him.

Being a larger breed, they don't mature until they are about 2 or so. Lots of puppy hijinx and behavior until then.

Ike didn't get territorial or guard anything until he was mature. My other dogs will bark their fool heads off when they see something out of the ordinary. Ike will quietly and calmly go investigate and only react if there is actually something really wrong.

I haven't seen any athletic and capable Olde English or Renaissance Bulldogs, but that's due to lack of opportunity. There are a lot of shitty BYB's of them around here and I haven't had the chance to see any bred to work.

I haven't had the chance to see or hear much about Alano Espanol's, but they look like neat dogs. I love the mastiffs.