Chihuahuas,Australian Cattle Dogs and Boston Terriers!

I can't say I know an excessive lot about any of those breeds, but I've been told that Australian cattle dogs are pretty stubborn. Since they're herding dogs, I would assume that they need a good bit of excercise and may be prone to nipping as well. Our vet told us once that 9 out of 10 chihuahuas they see will bite him or his assistant. The few Boston terriers I've met were very sweet. Not much help, I know. [linkhttp://www.dogbreedinfo.com]www.dogbreedinfo.com[/link] is a good place to start doing more research, though.

My step-brother has a Boston Terrier that he and his wife refer to as their "first born." The dog is very sweet, super trainable, and great with their kids. When the kids were learning how to walk/crawl, the dog (JuJu) would grab them by the diaper and drag them away from dangerous things like the fireplace or the stairs. Good doggie!

(One of the kids, now 5, turned to me over Christmas and said, "You know, I really love JuJu. She's a really good dog. I wish she were a human.")

TexasDaisy-thanks so much. I have read[color="#000066"] all the breed infos (websites and books) that I can find(even at the library!). Hearing what you have heard about chi's and acd's helps [color="#660000"]alot. I like to hear that the boston is good.
Cita- thanks for your info too.I really like what you have said about JuJu. We do need to consider the factor about kids b/c in a few years we will want to have kids.

But doesn't Bostons have bad health problems?
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I haven't had a purebred but I had a Chi/Terrier X, she was a wonderful dog, never nipped but she peed in the house exspecially when it was cold outside and she didn't want to go out.
I have had a ACD and many crosses.As a kid I grew up with an ACD and she was they best dog for a kid to have.  These dogs need excersise and training to keep them from mischief. I have never been nipped at by one of my ACD's but they might nip other people that they are not used too. They love to chase so any games that they can chase frisbees or balls is excellent.  They can be stubborn in the fact that they may not leave chasable animals alone.  I love ACD's, they are an excellent family dog and can be very much a lap dog. But they are very protective of their family so you do have to watch them around other people.
As for Boston Terriers, I have never had one, but my mom went and stayed with her sister and they have a BT and my mom loved it as it was very well-mannered and great in the house.

I have 2 Boston Terriers and the main problems that afflict Boston Terriers are Juvenile Cataracts, Luxating Patellas and deafness. All 3 of these things can be tested for and good breeders do test for them.
 
Boston Terriers in general are good with children and other dogs although they can be a bit dog aggressive and may not back down when challenged. They seem to think they are big dogs in little bodies. They can be energetic and they can be laid back. Some are barky and some aren't. Other than that, I think they're a great breed.

meilani-thank you so much for the very useful infomation!!

I have an ACD mix and he is very one person orientated, he is aloof, but velcro at the same time. Very obedient, doesn't play with other dogs, he prefers to be with the humans.His herding instinct is pretty strong. Overall, he is a wonderful dog.

thanks [color="#000066"]tiffy your infomation helps! do you have any photos? he grew up with ACD's and is really taken by them,but I grew up with a collie and haven't[color="#006600"] had any of those dogs he woud like to have one day.[/color][/color]

Plenty of ACDs around here..... I've never had one, though. They are totally awesome dogs in the right hands, but can be disasters in the wrong hands. I'd say they're about the most loyal breed I've ever come across. They are VERY gutsy and were bred to be the kind of dog you'd want beside you when trying to move large, angry bulls in the middle of nowhere all on your own. Very smart and easy to train. They do have a tendency to be nippy and can be very aggressive if not socialised. I know of a little girl that had two fingers bitten off by an ACD. I know a lot of people that have been bitten by them, but it's generally the way they're brought up rather than the temperament itself, and a lot of people forget that they need a lot of exercise, which I think contributes to the elevated aggression I see a lot in ACDs. In my experience, they can be such great dogs, but if I come across one I don't know, I'm very, very careful until I can judge whether it's friendly or not. They have a more fearsome reputation over here than GSDs or mastiffs, probably because they're so common and pretty bad news when they aren't properly looked after.

So, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to a dog lover. You couldn't be happier if you want something loyal and devoted, and they really excel at obedience. However, you should be aware that they can be dicey in certain circumstances and be careful where you get one from and make sure you give it plenty of direction, time, and exercise. An ACD properly cared for would take a bullet for you.