Most versatile dog breed - Page 1

Just abit of fun but interesting to see peopples views.

What would you say is the most versatile breed, not necessarily than excels at everything but can generally do most tasks for example:

Protect the home / individual
be calm docile companion when indoors
Go and assist in hunting, retrieving (water and land)  etc
control vermin
Round up livestock
Go everywhere without problem - agile. ( for example some breeds may not be able to jump/climb over certain obstacles if on a hike etc)
Be a playmate for children.

and any other everyday potential occurances. You would be pretty busy if you did all of the above daily i imagine.

I would say GSD, collie and maybe even to some extent springers - Just a couple to start off the thread.
 

Honestly, I think some pit bull type dogs (not the gangster kind but the really athletic kind).  I don't know about their ability to herd, but they pretty much excel at everything else - agility, flyball, dock diving, disc.  Ones with good temperament are great with kids and family, more moderate size makes them a dog that travels well, coat is "wash and wear".  I have rescue dog that is either an oddly bred pit or a pit mix (she looks very pit but is more lean and narrow style) and she ticks all those boxes except rounding up livestock. I was not real familiar with the breed, but adopted her and was willing to take on the challenge.  She's extremely athletic and agile.  With no training she cleared 44" jump.  She LOVES flyball, would be fantastic at disc/frisbee except I have no clue what I'm doing.  She's a very hardy, tenacious dog.  Great prey drive, hunt drive, tug drive, through-the-roof food drive.  In the home she's like a cat, she just curls up and sleeps.  She's got a bit of a protective streak that could be tapped into (I've taken her to Schutzhund twice).

Malinois
 

Other then the German Shepherd...which I think is the most versatile dog on earth...I think the Australian Cattle Dog is a great dog...I've had a "Heeler" and is a super nice dog to have around to help with almost anything...

~Bob~

agree with bob......german shepherd first, then australian cattle dog or australian shepherd.
pjp

Since i have no use for a shepherd. Nice dogs but only way over there at your house. :D
I'd say American bulldog or pit bull terrier. And when i say American Bulldog i mean the performance type bred dogs. Not the grossly over done lump of fat bully/Johnson type dogs.
Working bulldogs have been used to herd wild cattle, catch feral hogs, bring in the chickens, control varemts like opossum, coon, rats and feral cats. They are agility as hell. My little 22" female easily jumps 40" high jump.
They can guard, ride in the truck, carry heavy loads, good hiking buddies, back down a bear, tree a panther. Mine does retrieve the squirrels i shoot, and has also brought me unharmed baby possums.
They have great noses and can find drugs, lost people and track their own game.  Most of the performance typs swim well, but we do get a few sinkers.
They are great with family and serious about strangers. Love kids, safe out in public. Mine does demos and gets petted by hundreds of people at the state fair.
We have dock jumping, agility, lure coursing, schutzhund, obedience, hog catching, and championship dogs all over the country.
I just a tad prejudice of my favorite breed. Oh and we shed a lot less then any pointy headed herding breed.
But i bet i cna do just about any of this stuff wth the average pit too.
:D
Fry

Oooo yes I would also agree on the Heeler!  The GSD...as much as I love them and they are my breed of choice, there are some performance events they aren't good at, a few they just shouldn't even do.  If I could get the temperament of my GSD in the body of my pit mix, then absolutely.

Well I would also consider the old style German Drahthaar (German Wirehair Pointer). They were bred to be versatile hunting dogs as well as protectors of home, land and livestock. They could point, track and retrieve feather or fur. In the early trials in Germany they were required to do an "object guard". The hunter left his dog with gun, jacket and shot game and dog was required to prevent theft of same. They also make great companions for wilderness trips or social visiting.

 

Lets classify what a versitle dog is.............would you say it is  a dog that might not exceed to be number one in ever venue - but can do all venues?

German Shepherd Hands Down!!!.   This is the only breed you will see in ANY VENUE........They might not be number one in all venues - but they can do "ANYTHING".....

I would say that is versility...............   These other breeds that are mentioned in this thread - you wont see them in all venues - only a select......but not in all of them.............

Now that is what I am talking about.....
Yogie

GSDs are not real good in frisbee.  I suppose they COULD do it, but personally with a dog that is the size of a GSD and conformation that is longer-bodied, I would not do it. I can lift and carry my GSDs if I have to, but for sport I would want a bit smaller, more compact dog.  Some sports involve body "vaults" or skills where the dog is perching on the handler in various positions.

I think a versatile dog should be able to be a top dog in all or almost all venues.  There are breeds or types that can make the cut so why water it down?  Some of the breeds/types already mentioned are top dogs in plenty of these venues.  If we're looking for a dog a bit more like a GSD, then I'd say Malinois.  They will be much easier and more appropriate for the frisbee/freestyle stuff and better for flyball and agility (because of their shape and how they stride, I'm not saying they are always superior in drive and speed).  Also some of the best dock jumping dogs are Mals.  Obviously they would be able to herd and can excel in Schutzhund and protection sports.