Discussion
FFS. It's worse than choosing your next car!
I've not had a dog, or pet of any kind for twenty-plus years but feel the time is right as I can make the time required now. Simple I thought... pick one and off we go.
Been trying at local dog rescue centres for a few months but no joy yet so thought I'd expand my horizons and look at buying a puppy. That's when the trouble started...
I'd been looking for something like a jack russell, border terrier or maybe a beagle but further investigation suggested they may not suit my requirements/what I can offer.
Ideal spec list: small-medium sized, intelligent, easily trained, may be left for short periods, healthy breed, low-medium exercise needs, not too demanding grooming/shedding wise, etc.
Shortlist is currently miniature schnauzer or labradoodle, though the mini may have a few breed-specific heath issues and the labradoodle probably larger than ideal.
I guess it's like choosing the car - you compromise and make the best of it - I'll love it once it's on the drive/in the basket.
I've not had a dog, or pet of any kind for twenty-plus years but feel the time is right as I can make the time required now. Simple I thought... pick one and off we go.
Been trying at local dog rescue centres for a few months but no joy yet so thought I'd expand my horizons and look at buying a puppy. That's when the trouble started...
I'd been looking for something like a jack russell, border terrier or maybe a beagle but further investigation suggested they may not suit my requirements/what I can offer.
Ideal spec list: small-medium sized, intelligent, easily trained, may be left for short periods, healthy breed, low-medium exercise needs, not too demanding grooming/shedding wise, etc.
Shortlist is currently miniature schnauzer or labradoodle, though the mini may have a few breed-specific heath issues and the labradoodle probably larger than ideal.
I guess it's like choosing the car - you compromise and make the best of it - I'll love it once it's on the drive/in the basket.
Depends what you class as low to medium exercise... a labradoodle will need quite a lot.
In fact a lot of breeds need/should get a lot of exercise.
Boxers are great characterful dogs and reasonably healthy.
Dogue de Bordeaux's are lovely dogs too, gentle giants from my experience.
My parents had a lovely b
h called Clio for many years from a refuge, such a gentle beast, had been abused for the first couple of years of its life and left on streets, heartbreaking.
But Bulldogs are the best
Ned makes me laugh all day with his waddles, expressions etc. but you might get a vet bill or two.
Now they are dogs that you would class as low exercise, stubborn bugger needs carried to bottom of drive to get motivated.
In fact a lot of breeds need/should get a lot of exercise.
Boxers are great characterful dogs and reasonably healthy.
Dogue de Bordeaux's are lovely dogs too, gentle giants from my experience.
My parents had a lovely b
h called Clio for many years from a refuge, such a gentle beast, had been abused for the first couple of years of its life and left on streets, heartbreaking.But Bulldogs are the best
Ned makes me laugh all day with his waddles, expressions etc. but you might get a vet bill or two.Now they are dogs that you would class as low exercise, stubborn bugger needs carried to bottom of drive to get motivated.
An older dog from a rescue will need less exercise and if you choose the right one will be house trained/know commands already. You also have the upside of being able to see what their personality is like before you choose the dog, something that is much harder to do with puppies as there is always some variance within a litter.
A Jack Russell or Staffie will be fine with less walks than most other dogs but they will want attention or they can play up.
What ever you do, do not get any sort of working breed dog if you want an easy life.
A Jack Russell or Staffie will be fine with less walks than most other dogs but they will want attention or they can play up.
What ever you do, do not get any sort of working breed dog if you want an easy life.
LordGrover said:
FFS. It's worse than choosing your next car!
I've not had a dog, or pet of any kind for twenty-plus years but feel the time is right as I can make the time required now. Simple I thought... pick one and off we go.
Been trying at local dog rescue centres for a few months but no joy yet so thought I'd expand my horizons and look at buying a puppy. That's when the trouble started...
I'd been looking for something like a jack russell, border terrier or maybe a beagle but further investigation suggested they may not suit my requirements/what I can offer.
Ideal spec list: small-medium sized, intelligent, easily trained, may be left for short periods, healthy breed, low-medium exercise needs, not too demanding grooming/shedding wise, etc.
Shortlist is currently miniature schnauzer or labradoodle, though the mini may have a few breed-specific heath issues and the labradoodle probably larger than ideal.
I guess it's like choosing the car - you compromise and make the best of it - I'll love it once it's on the drive/in the basket.
Frenchie? Very popular these days but super expensive.I've not had a dog, or pet of any kind for twenty-plus years but feel the time is right as I can make the time required now. Simple I thought... pick one and off we go.
Been trying at local dog rescue centres for a few months but no joy yet so thought I'd expand my horizons and look at buying a puppy. That's when the trouble started...
I'd been looking for something like a jack russell, border terrier or maybe a beagle but further investigation suggested they may not suit my requirements/what I can offer.
Ideal spec list: small-medium sized, intelligent, easily trained, may be left for short periods, healthy breed, low-medium exercise needs, not too demanding grooming/shedding wise, etc.
Shortlist is currently miniature schnauzer or labradoodle, though the mini may have a few breed-specific heath issues and the labradoodle probably larger than ideal.
I guess it's like choosing the car - you compromise and make the best of it - I'll love it once it's on the drive/in the basket.
I've just got a Westie but doesn't quite fit the easily trained bit as they are notoriously stubborn.
Once you have decided on breed you might have some joy at the breed specific rescue centres.
tankplanker said:
An older dog from a rescue will need less exercise and if you choose the right one will be house trained/know commands already. You also have the upside of being able to see what their personality is like before you choose the dog, something that is much harder to do with puppies as there is always some variance within a litter.
A Jack Russell or Staffie will be fine with less walks than most other dogs but they will want attention or they can play up.
What ever you do, do not get any sort of working breed dog if you want an easy life.
This exactly. I recently took a 6 year old JR as a rescue, she's an absolute delight. A Jack Russell or Staffie will be fine with less walks than most other dogs but they will want attention or they can play up.
What ever you do, do not get any sort of working breed dog if you want an easy life.
Keep on plugging away at the rescue centres, OP. Which part of the country are you in?
Have 2 Miniture Schnauzers, lovey breed but do your homework on them, very affectionate but a bit bossy, easy to train though they can also be a bit stubborn. They need brushing once a day for 5-10 mins to keep their coats knot free but they dont shed which is a bonus, it does mean that they need grooming every 6-8 weeks, otherwise they look a scruffy mess.
As for frenchies that have been mentioned, dog of the month, have horrendous health issues and a high theft rate
As for frenchies that have been mentioned, dog of the month, have horrendous health issues and a high theft rate
Sounds like you need a cat instead. Cats groom themselves and will exercise themselves. Most dogs will need regular walking and exercise. . Even short haired dogs can require "coat stripping" and bathing regularly. All dogs are big commitments and practically all pedigrees have specific health issues.
Also, try harder with the rescues or use Gumtree search for "free to a good home". Please don't buy a puppy. Or at least be sure it didn't come from an Eastern European puppy farm. For the money you would spend on a puppy you could adopt a street dog from Asia which would otherwise end up in dog meat trade. I visited Thailand and after seeing all the street dogs have since decided once I own my own property I will be adopting a street rescue - and I prefer the mixture of breeds out there.
https://www.soidog.org/adopt-a-dog
Also, try harder with the rescues or use Gumtree search for "free to a good home". Please don't buy a puppy. Or at least be sure it didn't come from an Eastern European puppy farm. For the money you would spend on a puppy you could adopt a street dog from Asia which would otherwise end up in dog meat trade. I visited Thailand and after seeing all the street dogs have since decided once I own my own property I will be adopting a street rescue - and I prefer the mixture of breeds out there.
https://www.soidog.org/adopt-a-dog
Aphex said:
We have two cockapoos and they're fantastic dogs. Not only behaviorally but also in that they don't moult (same as the labradoodle). You can spot a frenchie owner a mile away from all of the little hairs on their clothes 
Yours may not moult, but a poo or doodle is no guarantee of hypoallergenic or no/low moult coats. If the pups' coats take after the non-poodle parent, they may moult just as much as a lab or a cocker.bexVN said:
You need a whippet.
That is all
Nb. lots of whippet rescues that will help you as lo g as the dog won't be left alone for more than 4hrs in one go.
This all day long. That is all
Nb. lots of whippet rescues that will help you as lo g as the dog won't be left alone for more than 4hrs in one go.
I had never even considered a whippet till the wife started looking 6yrs ago we now have two. Brilliant dogs unbelievably affectionate, mine were very easily trained, only a small amount of shedding don’t suffer with strong pet odours. If your busy and can only manage a short walk make it a field and they’ll come back and happily sleep for hours.
tonyb1968 said:
Have 2 Miniture Schnauzers, lovey breed but do your homework on them, very affectionate but a bit bossy, easy to train though they can also be a bit stubborn. They need brushing once a day for 5-10 mins to keep their coats knot free but they dont shed which is a bonus, it does mean that they need grooming every 6-8 weeks, otherwise they look a scruffy mess.
As for frenchies that have been mentioned, dog of the month, have horrendous health issues and a high theft rate
We have a Miniature Schnauzer and two Springers. The Schnauzer is a lovely little dog, very well natured, good manners etc. As mentioned doesn't shed. which is a big bonus. As for frenchies that have been mentioned, dog of the month, have horrendous health issues and a high theft rate
She is very easy going, but will tell the Springers off, if they start play fighting near her. She barks when people come to the door, which is good.
The Schnauzer is more my wifes dog as the other two work with me during the shooting season. Ours isn't groomed with the traditional beard as my wife wanted her to look more girlie.
I'm a part time postie, and have met hundreds of dogs in my travels. The nicest, friendliest dogs I've come across have been Staffies. Easy to look after too, like exercise but don't need massive walks, don't shed hairs everywhere, and unfortunately the rescue centres seem to be full of them .
I've always had working collies and as much as I love them, I wouldn't recommend one to someone who wants a pet and an easy life.
I don't need a working collie anymore so my next dog will probably be a staffie.
I've always had working collies and as much as I love them, I wouldn't recommend one to someone who wants a pet and an easy life.
I don't need a working collie anymore so my next dog will probably be a staffie.
People are mentioning Cockerpoo's, the OP wants "low-medium exercise needs", every cockerpoo that I've encountered has needed tonnes of exercise and stimulation, they are part Spaniel FFS!
Good shout on the Staffie though and I'd steer clear of a Frenchie; great friendly dogs but can be naughty and stubborn, destructive if not stimulated, health issues, suffer in the heat and as mentioned further up, they are a theft risk; just yesterday the wife caught someone trying to coax ours out of the garden through a broken fence panel!
Good shout on the Staffie though and I'd steer clear of a Frenchie; great friendly dogs but can be naughty and stubborn, destructive if not stimulated, health issues, suffer in the heat and as mentioned further up, they are a theft risk; just yesterday the wife caught someone trying to coax ours out of the garden through a broken fence panel!
OP- blatant plug for the re homing /rescue centres. I went into one with one particular dog/breed in mind. It was a bit of a problem dog, although of the right pedigree. Then one little dog spotted me and made eyes. She wasn't certain, but the look was there. She wanted to check me out . I asked to see her in a greet room and slowly she came to me. Next visit, she made her intentions clear, by jumping on my knee. She's chosen me. She's coming home to get spoilt, and get the love she didn't get in her former home.
My advice- head down ,midweek to a rehoming centre and see what is there. But be aware that Small dogs can need a lot of exercise that something like a retired Greyhound or a whippet do not. Basically -see if any dog choosesyou.
My advice- head down ,midweek to a rehoming centre and see what is there. But be aware that Small dogs can need a lot of exercise that something like a retired Greyhound or a whippet do not. Basically -see if any dog choosesyou.
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