[Closed] A question about dog breeds

I think with your outlook and planning, any breed would be fine.

Take a walk in your local park and have a chat with owners of dogs you like the look of...no doubt most of them will be happy to chat about their dogs.

A rescue Staffie. My mum's got one. Such a stupid but lovely dog.
Don't give money to breeders, there's millions of dogs out there looking for a home.

Definitely not vizslas. They bond in a big way and won't ket you out of their sight. Leaving one alone will destroy it.

A staf is a great dog and great with people, I would be wary of a rescue one with a six year old though, unless you know the dogs history.

Hungarian Vizslas can suffer from separation anxiety if left alone. Not a reason not to get one but just be aware of it and do some reading into the behaviours before getting one. A guy i work with has one and it pines if you go to the toilet and its left alone.

Thanks all. My wife said the same about a rescue staffie - although I am prepared to look at anything.

The rescue dogs I have known have always been great, but this was pre kids.

I know if I went to the rescue centre I would be coming home with a few of them!

Get two. Two dogs keep each other company and are really not much more effort than one.
I have a labrador and a doodle both are perfect family dogs. Were looking for a third now and I'm quite taken with Wheaten Terriers, good dogs and again great with the family you might be able to sort a deal for a couple of pups together.

Staffie for the win.

We've had Airedales and giant schnauzers etc. bonkers.

No worries with a rescue dog. As long as they visit your home and vet you properly they will recommend a dog that fits your home set up. It isn't in the rescue organisations intersest to get it wrong. Biting dogs don't get placed they end up destroyed. There's more risk with an untried puppy with a family than a properly placed rescue.
The only caveat for a rescue is walk away if a batty old dog lover is running the show, there are fewer of them around these days though.

I would go to a rescue home and tell them what you have written above. The staff have been around the dogs for days or weeks and know which ones are likely to be good with kids and which ones are needy etc.

We went to a Eden Animal Rescue to get a saluki whippet cross and came away with a Patterdale Terrior. The lady we spoke to was a genius as the dog fits so well into our family life.

A rescue Staffie. My mum's got one. Such a stupid but lovely dog.
Don't give money to breeders, there's millions of dogs out there looking for a home.

This. +100

There are loads of great dogs in rescue centres, get 1 or 2 of them.

A lurcher. Will run with you as long as its not regular half marathons and sleep the rest of the time. No inbred health problems either. Just avoid a saluki type longdog and get a dash of collie in it for trainability.

We have a vizsla cross. Absolutely lovely nature, but she has a another dog for company.

Agree with comments about staffs,but I don't want one.

Lots of great lurchers around.

I would never get rescue dog with kids. Get a puppy bring it up in the environment & the people it's gonna live with. Outdoors a lot, got kids like to run. Springer or a working terrier (border patterdale parsons etc). Two dogs equals twice the shit to clean up twice the vets bills. Staffs great dogs & very friendly but certainly not in the breed to run & be outdoors, staffs are pit bulls.

I'm sure my mums staffie would love to be called a pit bull. The cat terrorises her. I've had dogs virtually all my life and I must say, she's the sweetest most loyal companion to my mum. She also gets dressed up on occasion by the grand kids and loves it.

We have a rescue Staffie X Boxer (alongside an older Boxer X Spaniel), and I'd trust him with any kids of any age. Just the daftest, sweetest-natured dog I've ever met - and he came to us with the cigarette burns on his paws still healing 🙁

Because he's not pure Staffie he's a little finer and more athletic - no problems keeping up with me on the bike; in fact, I have trouble tiring home out!

Definitely agree on getting a rescue though.. You can get rescue puppies too you know.

My experience of rescue dogs is mixed. When i was a kid, my parents took an 8month old Spaniel who had been abused by some kids from his previous home. Naturally, it hated me and my two siblings on sight. My hands and arms are covered in scars from bites.

The second rescue was a belgian shepherd puppy. He was lovely and very gentle. No problems.

Don't let people guilt you into getting a rescue. Just focus on getting the correct dog for your family.

Rescue Staff X Lab here.

Really sweet natured dog and brilliant with kids,
will run all day if I wanted her to!

As previously said, rescue centres will not regime a vicious dog.
It's entirely your decision as to what dog you get op but don't rule out those looking for a caring loving family.

As a vizsla owner I can only echo the points above. They are high maintenance dogs that love loads of exercise and many do not like being left. Definitely not a breed to choose because they look nice. Mine is happy to be left for 4 or 5 hours but normally after a good run.

[i]meaning a dog would at worst have 1 prolonged period (5/6 hours) on their own.[/i]

Do you know what dogs do when you're not there? They sleep.

And when you're there, but not doing anything? They sleep.

I wouldn't be worrying over a few hours/days that you're not around.

And we've two Spaniels, neither is crackers and while when out they will chase anything (including each other), at home they pretty much chill.

+1 Rescue Home

Any gundog will be good natured, athletic and very trainable. They will fit right into a family environment.
I would look to buy from a 'working' kennel/breeder as they will only breed from their best stock (usually the sire will be a field trial champion). I would go with a Labrador as the easiest to train. Springer spaniels are a nice dog too. Just do your research on the breed you settle on.

If you get a staffie it probably won't walk to heel they always pull (not much fun after 100 yards) and to be honest they aren't the brightest of dogs so trying to train a fully grown rescue might prove a challenge.

Do you know what dogs do when you're not there? They sleep.

Yes, you only have to read the "the ****ing next door neighbour's ****ing dog is barking all ****ing day and it's driving me ****ing nuts" threads that crop up occasionally to see this is always the case. 🙂

[i]Any gundog..[/i] - apart from those mentioned above and pointers, which don't like being left alone (or take years to get used to it). Speaking from experience.

[i]If you get a staffie it probably won't walk to heel they always pull [/i] - IME, again, in-laws staffie never leaves their side. Doesn't need a lead. Sometimes it's literally been "Where's the dog?" "Right there by your feet!".

Thanks again everyone, loads to think about.

We are talking to as many people as possible, and sending emails to breeders and rescue homes.

Wife still hooked on Welsh Terrier!

A dog thread without a single photo. Points finger and one and all, puts on stern judging face and muttering 'for shame, for shame'

Rescue dog of some sort?

Our lab/springer X. Excellent temperament, will run all day or sit by the fire all day.

[img][url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/761/20939754932_865c72e9e8_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/761/20939754932_865c72e9e8_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/xUnHBs ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/126516346@N08/ ]Phillip Dalton[/url], on Flickr[/img]

Ours is Lab / Springer X too. As above, it's a great mix. Intelligent, lovely temperament, bags of energy when out and about but chilled at home.

I work full time, my wife works 3 days - he's left on his own on those 3 days for up to 3 hours without any problems provided he gets a decent run in the morning (I get up around 6 to do this). We have a local dog walker look in on him and let him out if we can't get back to let him out at lunchtime - she charges £5 a time. It works really well - he basically just sleeps when we are not there and someone is always home for the school run at 3:30.

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As others have said, consider a rescue dog. A good rescue centre will be very honest about the suitability of a dog to live with children. They will be very cautious and not rehome an unsuitable dog. Be clear about what you want and be prepared to wait for the right dog.
We've got a rottie cross from Battersea. Great with other dogs and children but a bit of a plodder as a running partner. We had a setter/retriever cross before - a lovely dog but very excitable!

@sandwicheater - I've met that Brown Dog of yours when Mr Clark was looking after her.
Lovely dog, but try as hard as we could, couldn't knacker her out when we took her for a walk

@spawnofyorkshire, hahaha, we need to sort a ride with Nick (though I think her permanent state is 'a bit broke' so no idea when).
We tired her out once walking the three peaks. With all the back and forth she must have done it three times over. Fell asleep sitting up in the car park while I looked for the keys in about 10 seconds flat.

DO NOT visit a rescue centre unless you are 100% positive you want a dog, because if one chooses you; that's it.

Looks like a lab/springer is favourite so far...

Emails have been sent...now to think about names!

Inspire me, what's yer dog called?

Looks like a lab/springer is favourite so far...

Sometimes referred to as a Springador or a Labdinger <shudder>. Quite a common "happy accident" in the shooting community.

Ours was originally named Derek which I think rather suited him but I was over-ruled. My son is a massive Star Wars fan so he became Lucas (Luke / George Lucas).

Inspire me, what's yer dog called?

Just make sure it's something you can shout and not feel like a bellend

"TICKLES! TICKLES GET BACK HERE!"

@sandwicheater
Hopefully she and her bike will be in one piece for once and we'll get this ride sorted!

Definitely consider getting 2 as you can nip home to let them out and find guilty faces like this

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As you can see, there are 2 beds but they always jump into 1

Inspire me, what's yer dog called?
Just make sure it's something you can shout and not feel like a bellend

"TICKLES! TICKLES GET BACK HERE!"

Yeah, my yellow Lab is called Echo and I often have people saying " Oh you've called him the right name " when he doesn't listen to me.......

Inspire me, what's yer dog called?

I to was overruled, 'brown dog' or 'Dave' weren't catchy enough, we settled for Bramble.

[i]Inspire me, what's yer dog called?[/i]

Hope.

She was named by the previous owners cos she was a sickly pup and needed hope to survive. Her brother died 🙁 I rather liked it as it obviously has a bikey connection. Only trouble is, shouting for her sounds a little bit tourettes "HUH! C'mere!"
Photo needed for ID.
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I'd also advise that you have a look at the free ads - Gumtree, Pets4homes etc. You get a lot of people rehoming nice dogs because they can't have them anymore. Many have been brought up with kids and you can go and see the dog with the kids in their current home.

When we got our last dog, we saw one that couldn't be kept due to a babys allergy, one that had to be rehomed due to a catering business being started in the house, and the one we chose - their daughter was autistic, and changed her mind about wanting a dog after they'd got him as a pup.

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Many of them are balanced, obedient, well brought up dogs that are just unlucky and need to be rehomed. Don't support the puppy farms! 🙂

Ponyo came to us a around 6 weeks ago, 14 weeks old now, lovely "little" Old English Sheepdog.

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We didn't want a rescue as we already have a rescue cat and two rabbits, the dog needed to be part of the family and we couldn't risk destroying the home vibe with a dog that hated cats/small furry things. She has however destroyed a PS4 and a TV, who said dogs sleep when you're out of the house...

A14w/o puppy would be in its crate whilst I was out of my house. He would still have destroyed those items when I was there though!

Yeah she managed to get out of the crate and the extension we built. Crate is a learning curve for her, she'll go in when super tired or grumpy but she wont sleep in it, prefers the sofa.

When I get a dog i'm going to call it "Deefur".

Deefur dog. 😀

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Doodles are pretty cool IMHO but my Labrador is fantastic too.

Why have one when you can have 2. Or why not 3. Or even a pack like ours 🙂

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^^ Is that not two dog by a mirror?

Scrap that. Don't get a dog. One of mine just farted next to me. I think I am going to be sick 🙁

^^ Is that not two dog by a mirror?

🙂 Mum and dad (Merle) on the right, son & daughter (merle) from same litter on the left.

Ive got a labradinger too....he's nearly 8 and very awesome, although a complete wimp. Someone said their's would be happy sitting by the fire all day, but mine has never been happy doing that unless he's been out for a monster walk/run.

Also a lot of the feedback from people has been when the dog is settled in, whereas when they are a puppy, they can't be left much at all....it takes time to leave a dog for hours and it has to be done bit by bit.

My Dad used to come and dog sit when we had to work, but now he's 8 he gets a half hour walk and will happily sleep until lunchtime. So you need to get it right in the first six months and it will all fall into place.

Free vets advice (from my partner) if you would like to give the best chance of reducing your vet bills and having a healthy dog, get a cross. Not a cross of weird little dogs with loads of health problems but a cross of healthy dogs will generally be fitter and longerer lived than a pedegree.
I have past a good hour looking at a list of inhereted illnesses in pedegree dogs, it was shocking how long some of the lists where. Obviously that's not to say you can't have a healthy pedegree and an unhealthy cross but you do lower the odds. And when we are talking crosses, I mean a mongrel not a fancy new breed cross that are all the range these days, they have just the same problems.

Saying all this, those who do have pedegree or new crosses, I don't mean to offend, all dogs are ace!

And morally a rescue dog should always be the first point if call, a good rescue centre will be able to find you one that will be OK with kids...sadly I know its a lot harder and some will turn you away due to having children which is poor, some dogs yes but not all rescue dogs.
Hope that's of some use.

All breads have good and bad points.

We have a Border Collie, a Border Terrier and a Black Labrador.

The Collie is my dog, she is very loyal, was very easy to train, very healthy, loves running, running along by a bike and being busy. They are quite mad though, they dont really have an off switch until they are quite old and chew a lot until 1 year old.

The Labrador is my daughter's dog, she is happy to chill out, but still likes going on lots of walks, she was easy to train and has a very good nature. Labs can have a few health problems though, it is sore ears just now, they really want to eat anything as well.

The Border Terrier is my Sons dog, he is great fun, very affectionate and gets on very well with the other two dogs. He is a typical terrier, wants to do his own thing, not so easy to train and can't be trusted near my Mother in Laws hens!

As for names, we have always picked human names, they are all part of the family, so it seems better that way.

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I know a few have said it, but rescues are a good option. Here's a snapshot of the pups we fostered for the Blue Cross in 2013.
We've had a few this year but haven't added them to the rogues gallery yet!

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All bar one have gone on to be healthy well adjusted pets. One unfortunately went to the wrong home and was mistreated and as a result had to be euthanised.

Depending where you are in the country I may be able to help, certainly in finding any rescue pups that are in the system but may not be ready to home just yet. Email is in profile.

Thanks again everyone. We're in the West Mids, and are off to a rescue place on Saturday to have a chat.

Love the look of the labradoodle, my mate has one and he's a great dog.

Totally accept the point about being around for them during the first year, we will make sure this is the case.

Huxley, so called because it was a brave new world for him. Named by my literary daughter, thankfully he answers to Hux on a walk.
He likes the pub
[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/683/21287286281_2e6e322f07.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/683/21287286281_2e6e322f07.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/yr5Uzg ]Walberswick[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/mycams/ ]Mike Hams[/url], on Flickr
And a bit of a cuddle
[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/744/21252977416_13ef01401b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/744/21252977416_13ef01401b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/yo44K7 ]A Bit of a Cuddle[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/mycams/ ]Mike Hams[/url], on Flickr

I have nothing useful to add.

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and tonight:

[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/762/21253216246_9408e99c00_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/762/21253216246_9408e99c00_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/yo5hJS ]Chilled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/evilgoat/ ]Evil Goat[/url], on Flickr

Our is called Fin, she is recovering at the moment from a rear rotor interface and 11 stiches.

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Sounds like a good situation for a dog. I'd urge you to go and visit rescue centre before breeders. Puppies are over rated in my opinion. They look adorable but are so much work. I feel quite guilty that I got my dog from a breeder and I much prefer her now she's older. Next dog will definitely be a rescue and I'm volunteering at the local dogs home as penance for buying a dog when there are so many who need someone decent to look after them.