Which dog breed?
Discussion
Hello,
Not sure of the best forum so trying the lounge...
We are looking at getting a dog but we have no idea what breeds to consider. Our circumstances are a little unusual and so don't really fit with the online "What Breed" Q&A sites.
Our circumstances are:
Our home is a pub! Moderate to small living area (2.5 bedrooms) with a large garden (1 acre). Always someone around near enough (maybe a couple of random hours a week where there isn't).
Dog must be comfortable with other dogs/safe around children/docile enough to leave people alone - think classic pub dog, we won't just let it wander anywhere but if it's out in the garden it needs to be comfortable around strangers. We have plenty of time to give it exercise - including the huge garden for it to run around.
We'd like it to bark when, for example, our private front door goes (to alert us to strangers) but obviously with being a pub, it shouldn't bark for every single disturbance.
We've got two children 7 and 9.
No allergies or anything. Grooming shouldn't be a problem but we'd prefer short haired dogs.
My current thoughts are a chocolate lab but that's pretty much only because I've seen one! We've just lost a dog (well, my parents dog who lived with us) who was a staff/boxer cross and she had most of these qualities - apart from being a bit too territorial and therefore not good to leave out with other customers' dogs.
We're happy to have a rescue dog but would need to really know what we're looking for first. We'd prefer a puppy too so we can train from an early age.
Any suggestions peeps?
Thanks!
Not sure of the best forum so trying the lounge...
We are looking at getting a dog but we have no idea what breeds to consider. Our circumstances are a little unusual and so don't really fit with the online "What Breed" Q&A sites.
Our circumstances are:
Our home is a pub! Moderate to small living area (2.5 bedrooms) with a large garden (1 acre). Always someone around near enough (maybe a couple of random hours a week where there isn't).
Dog must be comfortable with other dogs/safe around children/docile enough to leave people alone - think classic pub dog, we won't just let it wander anywhere but if it's out in the garden it needs to be comfortable around strangers. We have plenty of time to give it exercise - including the huge garden for it to run around.
We'd like it to bark when, for example, our private front door goes (to alert us to strangers) but obviously with being a pub, it shouldn't bark for every single disturbance.
We've got two children 7 and 9.
No allergies or anything. Grooming shouldn't be a problem but we'd prefer short haired dogs.
My current thoughts are a chocolate lab but that's pretty much only because I've seen one! We've just lost a dog (well, my parents dog who lived with us) who was a staff/boxer cross and she had most of these qualities - apart from being a bit too territorial and therefore not good to leave out with other customers' dogs.
We're happy to have a rescue dog but would need to really know what we're looking for first. We'd prefer a puppy too so we can train from an early age.
Any suggestions peeps?
Thanks!
German Shepherd, would be my vote.
Can be trained to a high degree, especially if well socialised as a puppy.
Also, and don't take this the wrong way, some dogs would be fantastic front of house, happy to be fussed over and mild mannered. Beagle, bulldog etc
But even Labs like downtime and can get stressed if they are always in the crowd.
A GSD will be friendly, but not everyone will be approaching it to find out !
Can be trained to a high degree, especially if well socialised as a puppy.
Also, and don't take this the wrong way, some dogs would be fantastic front of house, happy to be fussed over and mild mannered. Beagle, bulldog etc
But even Labs like downtime and can get stressed if they are always in the crowd.
A GSD will be friendly, but not everyone will be approaching it to find out !
I've not owned either myself, but I would agree with the suggestion of Lab or Golden Retriever as pretty 'bombproof' dogs. From what I've heard, though, some chocolate labs can be quite a handful (compared with yellow or black labs).
Labs and GRs do come up in rescue, but you may struggle to find a puppy of either breed in rescue.
It might be worth posting in 'All Creatures Great and Small' as there are lots of dog owners in there....
Good luck
Labs and GRs do come up in rescue, but you may struggle to find a puppy of either breed in rescue.
It might be worth posting in 'All Creatures Great and Small' as there are lots of dog owners in there....
Good luck
A flat coated retreiver would be my choice. Like this http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://uploa...
If you do get a Lab, chocolate ones can be a bit iffy temperament-wise unless from a reputable breeder - yellow and black Labs are much more placid.
With small kids I wouldn't get a rescue dog unless the rescue centre was very sure of its background/history. Dogs that need rescuing have usually not been treated well, and that may have an effect on temperament.
With small kids I wouldn't get a rescue dog unless the rescue centre was very sure of its background/history. Dogs that need rescuing have usually not been treated well, and that may have an effect on temperament.
moorx said:
I've not owned either myself, but I would agree with the suggestion of Lab or Golden Retriever as pretty 'bombproof' dogs. From what I've heard, though, some chocolate labs can be quite a handful (compared with yellow or black labs).
Labs and GRs do come up in rescue, but you may struggle to find a puppy of either breed in rescue.
It might be worth posting in 'All Creatures Great and Small' as there are lots of dog owners in there....
Good luck
I have a chocolate lab he is absolutely nuts but has been the best dog I have ever had and I have had many. Chocolate lads are the daft ones whilst the golden ones are the clever ones hence why you mostly see golden lads as guide dogs. Black labs have a little nasty side.Labs and GRs do come up in rescue, but you may struggle to find a puppy of either breed in rescue.
It might be worth posting in 'All Creatures Great and Small' as there are lots of dog owners in there....
Good luck
I was told that a few black labs do train to be guide dogs but no chocolate labs do as they are completely nuts and to be fair after having one for 8 years I can see why
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