What dog breed?
Discussion
We are thinking of getting a family dog. We have 3 kids aged 7 to 14. Live in a detached house with small to medium sized garden but in a small village surrounded by fields and footpaths. We also have a cat who is about 12 and enjoys a quiet life indoors mainly.
My wife works 2 days a week and 1 of these is quite often at the weekend, so there is usually someone at home.
I think we want a puppy, as would like to go through the whole training etc from start but also because I am working on the basis that it is goning to be easier to introduce our cat to a puppy that is in a crate (at least at first), than introducing a rescue dog perhaps not used to cats.
If I could choose some characteristics I would say nothing too large, short coat with minimal shedding. Ok on 1 hour of exercise a day and it would potentially be good if I could bring it on my 5km run loop I do 2-3 times a week. We would be first time dog owners (I had a few as a kid) so nothing too difficult to own (happy to do/learn training etc) and nothing that is going to bark all day long.
My wife and daughter lean more toward 'cuteness' as a factor (im being a bit flippant here), whereas I am more concerned about getting a well behaved dog who will thrive in a busy family house, add to the fun and be a great companion.
The next door garden has a lot of rabbits (ours doesnt have any at all) so I have been rightly or wrongly discounting terriers and others with high prey drive? my wife does like welsh terriers.
My research so far has led me to labradoodle, cockapoo, boxer, schanuauzer, schnoodle, wiemaraner (probably too big), beagle (too howly?) springer spaniel, hungarian vizsla?
Any help would be appreciated. I appreciate we cant have it all, but I just want to get as much as advice and research as i can before we do anything.
My wife works 2 days a week and 1 of these is quite often at the weekend, so there is usually someone at home.
I think we want a puppy, as would like to go through the whole training etc from start but also because I am working on the basis that it is goning to be easier to introduce our cat to a puppy that is in a crate (at least at first), than introducing a rescue dog perhaps not used to cats.
If I could choose some characteristics I would say nothing too large, short coat with minimal shedding. Ok on 1 hour of exercise a day and it would potentially be good if I could bring it on my 5km run loop I do 2-3 times a week. We would be first time dog owners (I had a few as a kid) so nothing too difficult to own (happy to do/learn training etc) and nothing that is going to bark all day long.
My wife and daughter lean more toward 'cuteness' as a factor (im being a bit flippant here), whereas I am more concerned about getting a well behaved dog who will thrive in a busy family house, add to the fun and be a great companion.
The next door garden has a lot of rabbits (ours doesnt have any at all) so I have been rightly or wrongly discounting terriers and others with high prey drive? my wife does like welsh terriers.
My research so far has led me to labradoodle, cockapoo, boxer, schanuauzer, schnoodle, wiemaraner (probably too big), beagle (too howly?) springer spaniel, hungarian vizsla?
Any help would be appreciated. I appreciate we cant have it all, but I just want to get as much as advice and research as i can before we do anything.
Shambler said:
Look past the short hair and get a springer spaniel
+1 for Springer. They are mad, but much fun, great with kids. They are bred for a soft mouth and can't bite hard even if they wanted to, which they wont. They do need a lot of exercise though. We take ours running, she pulls so much when running and dragging us she has developed enormous delt muscles.This is our 3rd springer. We have never had a puppy, always rescue. They can be hard work from a rescue. One of ours had attitude problem with other dogs and that took a lot of work. Our current one was 2 when we got her and not house trained. That has been hard work, and we pretty much now need a new lounge carpet.
The Kennnel Club breed selector suggests a Kerry Blue Terrier...
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/b...
Have a play on:
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/f...
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/b...
Have a play on:
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/f...
We have a Cockapoo who is brilliant and would recommend to anyone. Loves people and dogs, great with kids and loads of fun as just wants to play games.
Our neighbors have a vizsla and while he is a soppy sod he is huge.
What about a bog standard lab? A springer would be a good shout as well.
Our neighbors have a vizsla and while he is a soppy sod he is huge.
What about a bog standard lab? A springer would be a good shout as well.
Bavarian Mountain Hound
Calm natured and loves being around people.
Start off cute
https://youtu.be/hVUDmRRcVJc
Has some endearing qualities
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlU8F77G5y0&fe...
End up handsome
Bit of a bugger with recall when his nose is on the ground mind you!
Calm natured and loves being around people.
Start off cute
https://youtu.be/hVUDmRRcVJc
Has some endearing qualities
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlU8F77G5y0&fe...
End up handsome
Bit of a bugger with recall when his nose is on the ground mind you!
1. Puppies are hard work and time consuming
2. Adopt/rescue dogs are fab (maybe hard work and time consuming too)
I was looking for miniature schnauzer or similar but ended up adopting a pair of Yorkies. When you meet the right one(s) you'll know - they all have the potential to get under your skin in no time.
2. Adopt/rescue dogs are fab (maybe hard work and time consuming too)
I was looking for miniature schnauzer or similar but ended up adopting a pair of Yorkies. When you meet the right one(s) you'll know - they all have the potential to get under your skin in no time.
As a Beagle owner, I would discount a Beagle. Beagles are HARD work.
Some can howl, but ours never does. In fact, I don't think I've ever heard him bark.
Beagles are very intelligent and very trainable, but extremely mischievous. They are driven by their nose and are always hungry. They are totally food driven. Training is with treats. Without a treat, they will ignore you.
Our Beagle NEVER stops searching for food. This is somewhat true of all dogs, but he is relentless. This gets very tiring, as you cannot leave food out anywhere. He will smell it and will try to get it. This is where his intelligence comes into play. For example, he has learned to open the oven door, use it as a step to get on the work top, and then walk along opening the cupboards looking for food. This means we cannot leave him in the kitchen overnight. Also, we had to swap all our door handles for round knobs, as he learned to open the doors by pulling on the lever handles.
Recall is poor in Beagles, as they will always follow scents. They can be trained to come to you, but if they discover a more interesting scent, they will investigate that first. We will let ours off the lead in relatively enclosed fields or parks, but he is not the sort of dog to walk to heal off the lead.
He is very lovable, but almost cat-like in his disdain sometimes.
Beagles are not aggressive and will put up with any amount of poking and pulling by small children, but this also means they are rubbish guard dogs. Ours barely lifts an ear when the postman comes, for example.
Some can howl, but ours never does. In fact, I don't think I've ever heard him bark.
Beagles are very intelligent and very trainable, but extremely mischievous. They are driven by their nose and are always hungry. They are totally food driven. Training is with treats. Without a treat, they will ignore you.
Our Beagle NEVER stops searching for food. This is somewhat true of all dogs, but he is relentless. This gets very tiring, as you cannot leave food out anywhere. He will smell it and will try to get it. This is where his intelligence comes into play. For example, he has learned to open the oven door, use it as a step to get on the work top, and then walk along opening the cupboards looking for food. This means we cannot leave him in the kitchen overnight. Also, we had to swap all our door handles for round knobs, as he learned to open the doors by pulling on the lever handles.
Recall is poor in Beagles, as they will always follow scents. They can be trained to come to you, but if they discover a more interesting scent, they will investigate that first. We will let ours off the lead in relatively enclosed fields or parks, but he is not the sort of dog to walk to heal off the lead.
He is very lovable, but almost cat-like in his disdain sometimes.
Beagles are not aggressive and will put up with any amount of poking and pulling by small children, but this also means they are rubbish guard dogs. Ours barely lifts an ear when the postman comes, for example.
My partner has a Weimaraner which while she is a lovely dog, is an absolute little sod for stealing food. Nothing is safe, anywhere. She has a lot of energy and needs a lot of exercise, but is so mild mannered and great fun. Also, she does not moult or shed hair and is not a smelly dog.
Is this type of thread where everybody says get their breed 
Oh ok no so much for a change
But I’m going to buck the trend
Everything you’ve said bar one thing is saying ACD
The 1 hour excercise a day would be problematic. If you could make that 1 hour morning and and evening you’d be fine.
Running with you would be fine, in fact they’d love it but you’d make a fit dog fitter that would always want more.
Very easy to train but you have to be consistent and so does all the family. These are smart dogs. Too smart.
Love humans but you have to do lots of familiariseation with other dogs from puppy to avert aggressiveness towards none pack members.
Whatever you choose, buy books, watch YouTube go to classes.
Have patience and know that it takes time and won’t always be easy.
Acd
Shedding low
Loves family
Loyal
Needs excercise two one hour sessions with ball throwing
Will run with you all day
Not barkers* unless there is something to bark about.you will know if somebody is thinking of commingled to your house.
Easy to train
Great pets
Love people
Can be agressive to other dogs if not familiarised
Need to know you’re the boss they are like velociraptors always looking where the line is
18-20” so lower medium size
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koq1G5eDDEE
Oh ok no so much for a change
But I’m going to buck the trend
Everything you’ve said bar one thing is saying ACD
The 1 hour excercise a day would be problematic. If you could make that 1 hour morning and and evening you’d be fine.
Running with you would be fine, in fact they’d love it but you’d make a fit dog fitter that would always want more.
Very easy to train but you have to be consistent and so does all the family. These are smart dogs. Too smart.
Love humans but you have to do lots of familiariseation with other dogs from puppy to avert aggressiveness towards none pack members.
Whatever you choose, buy books, watch YouTube go to classes.
Have patience and know that it takes time and won’t always be easy.
Acd
Shedding low
Loves family
Loyal
Needs excercise two one hour sessions with ball throwing
Will run with you all day
Not barkers* unless there is something to bark about.you will know if somebody is thinking of commingled to your house.
Easy to train
Great pets
Love people
Can be agressive to other dogs if not familiarised
Need to know you’re the boss they are like velociraptors always looking where the line is
18-20” so lower medium size
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koq1G5eDDEE
Edited by Pesty on Monday 19th August 21:34
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