agilebasenji
Posted : 3/29/2007 6:38:46 PM
I think you sound like most of us here. You acknowledge that there's a pet overpopulation problem, but that there is also the place for a well bred purebreed.
As far as getting a rescue dog vs breeder dog for agility. I think it depends on what type/breed of dog you want. I felt confident getting a rescue Malinois to do agility with. BUT I just picked up my new basenji puppy from my breeder to do conformation/agility/coursing/therapy. I'd get another rescue mal in a heartbeat to do performance, but probably will never get a rescue basenji for agility. (Although, that being said, I did foster a basenji that had a good deal of potential for agility. Since there are so few people doing agility with basenjis, however, I'd be reticent to take someone else's word on the potential of an individual basenji to do agility.) I think there are enough lab's, bc's, goldens, shelties, etc in rescue that you could pick and choose and get a good agility dog from there. Additionally you could probably find a rescue person who knows what makes a good agility/obedience prospect in these breeds.
Now as far as the breeds you mentioned, I've seen several ESS's doing agility and while I have seen a few nice ones (dare we count the one at the Agility Invitational?), I think they tend to be incredibly difficult dogs to do agility with. (keep in mind that I'm running basenjis.)
The latest unusual AKC breeds that have turned my head (agility-wise) that might fit your criteria would be the Pyrenean Shepherd.
[link
http://www.akc.org/breeds/pyrenean_shepherd/index.cfm]http://www.akc.org/breeds/pyrenean_shepherd/index.cfm[/link]
The one at the Invitational was incredible in an event full of outstanding agility dogs. Won his class. Additionally there's one in my area that's doing a wonderful job in agility. The European agility people have known about these dogs for years and they are just starting to be seen more in the US.
Tollers are also making a splash in the agility arena. Nice dogs, but I've heard there are some problems with temperment in some lines.
Feel free to pm me if you'd like to pick my brain some more on this.