1st post here - Which breed?

SmartieBean09

SmartieBean09

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Hi,

My boyfriend and I have grown up with dogs but since growing up and moving out we havent had one for many years and so for some reason have become very weary around dogs we dont know.

We have a 13 month old daughter and would love to get a dog for a number of reasons. Those being:

To regain confidence and trust in mans best fried
For our own child to grow up with a fury friend
So that I feel safe in our home when my boyfriend is away on work
To take away with us on our caravan holidays to enjoy our walks etc

The only problem is, we live in a flat above a shop. We have our own garden and the dog would be walked once a day as well as coming to the stables with me 1-2 times daily.

Which breed would you recommend? I love Border Collies and German Shepherds but not sure they would cope with life in a flat despite being walked out and exercised.

OH loves the idea of a guard dog while he is away but am a bit aprehensive about the guarding with such a small child around...??

Any advice?

Thanks in advance :)
 
Labrador! They have great barks and sound scary so will make you feel safer, and they are perfect family friends. I'm sure a lab would fit in your family very well. I would definately discount Border collies from your list...CC and MM will tell you more about whether a gsd would be suitable, my gut feeling would be not.
 
I would say a smaller dog eg JRT-ideal for a flat and quite vocal so good for the impression of guarding. Most burglars are out off by the sound of the dog, regardless of size.
 
wouldnt recommend a jrt, the fact they are mongrels means they are very much pot luck as to temprement, I've met and owned many lovely ones that would be fine with a young child around but I've also met alot that are snappy and growly. Not to mention toilet training a jrt in a flat...they aren't overly easy to toliet train in my experience, you need a lot of patience and easy quick access to the garden. How about a border terrier? Better in all respects and more likely to know what you are getting, easy to pick a decent breeder etc. Very loyal family friends.
 
Usually I would say a lab but how big is your flat? If you would prefer a smaller dog a mini schnauzer would be fab! They are big dogs in a little dogs body, huge personality, good with kids, can take or leave exercise, don't cast and are just fab!!
 
Our flat is big so we are lucky there and direct access to our garden down the stairs (although this is only partially fenced as it also provides access to the other flats).

We live near 2 large country parks which is where I would exercise the dogs each day.

Something that is intelligent would be preferable. My mother in law has a Border Collie and he is very obedient and when he comes over he will bark at the door, do his business and is back up in minutes. Have grown up with Border Collies as well as GSD but I know that if I can not devote my time to them young then I am likely to have no flat left (more so with the BC).

Also forgot to mention, we have a cat. Not sure if this poses a problem as my mum always had cats, dogs, birds, rabbits...hippos, elephants and giraffes......ok, forget the last 3...all together and they were fine :D

My time will be split between daughter and dog so one that is easily trainable would be prefered. Would love to do a bit of obedience too.

Love Border Terriers and Labs!

Thanks everyone
 
I think a lab would be a lovely idea, but do you really need to go down the pedigree lines? There are some beautiful, noble needy dogs out there in UK rescue who would LOVE to be in your lovely home with you and yours. A lot of rescues are stupid about rehoming, but some aren't.
Is there any chance you'd consider a rescue pup?
www.manytears.co.uk are always worth a phonecall.
 
Kitsune said:
I think a lab would be a lovely idea, but do you really need to go down the pedigree lines? There are some beautiful, noble needy dogs out there in UK rescue who would LOVE to be in your lovely home with you and yours. A lot of rescues are stupid about rehoming, but some aren't.
Is there any chance you'd consider a rescue pup?
www.manytears.co.uk are always worth a phonecall.
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I can offer a three year old yellow lab bitch. Lights are on, but usually nobody home. A bit special, but aims to please. Has been known to take the entire hide with her while going to retrieve birds, which she puts down every few feet to spit feathers out.

Her redeeming feature? Well, isn't she just the cutest? :D (and yes, they are mud socks :D)

090914_120939.jpg
 
Labradors rock at that kind of thing - they are bouncy pups and teen dogs though so you will need to be prepared for that (remove all your breakable objects basically :p)

They are sweet with children, but will look after their peeps. Ours would put up with anything but he wouldn't let people over our fence when we were out (my friends all used to do this and he was fine when we were in) and he was also protective of us from aggressive dogs etc. He had a fab bark, and certainly gave a few fishermen on the far bank of the canal heart failure - he thought they were hiding and up to no good, so he woofed at them:D

Lab rescue would be worth a call, as they have all sorts looking for homes for all sorts of reasons:)
 
Kitsune said:
I think a lab would be a lovely idea, but do you really need to go down the pedigree lines? There are some beautiful, noble needy dogs out there in UK rescue who would LOVE to be in your lovely home with you and yours. A lot of rescues are stupid about rehoming, but some aren't.
Is there any chance you'd consider a rescue pup?
www.manytears.co.uk are always worth a phonecall.
Click to expand...

There are some gorgeous Dogs on this website and some very sad stories.

Will have a chat with OH tonight but have seen a couple that may fit the bill.

Thank you Kitsune x
 
Thank you. Me too. We have both really missed having a dog. Its just such a shame we are becoming so fretful around them. It makes no sense really.

Lets hope our daughter enjoys having a dog and grows up with trust in them like we both did.

:D
 
I agree that a Lab would be good for you! I will be getting a lab next :)

Border terriers are brill little family dogs, we grew up with one and he had the patience of a saint with my little brother... (he is now 14 and his patience has pretty much gone!) I think a border would fit well into your family as long as you dont pick the gobby puppy like I did! My Border pup is 5 and a half months old and is always on her best behaviour when my god daughter(1 year old) is here, she gets lots of kisses but puppy is far less bargy and naughty around my god daughter. They are obviously never left alone.
 
Bichon Frise. Wonderful temperament, doesn't need huge amount of room or exercise and will fit nicely in to your flat!
 
spaniel said:
Rescue a greyhound!!!!!

http://www.greyhoundrescue.co.uk/



Please, in all seriousness, dont get a collie, it will go mental.
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I wont be getting a Collie dont worry. Just saying that I love the breed. My Mum had three when I was younger. 2 did obedience and one did fly ball. All 3 were nutcases and if she hadnt have kept them busy then she would have been in serious trouble.

Would a greyhound not take off? If I am walking the dog and pushing a buggy, I want something that is either well behaved on a lead or trustworthy enough to waddle along side me off the lead.

AmyMay, I guess I could clip it but I know OH will say NOOOO to anything small/fluffy/girly ;)

If it was up to OH we would have a Staff/American Bull Dog/Rottweiler etc
 
Well if you are willing to put the exercise in, and socialising and training a staff are def a good choice for a family pet and cover the guard dog criteria (not that they are a guard dog) but they look the part, and you are going to feel secure.
But don't forget they are bouncy little beggars, and although they are fab family pets they are good at the old "out of my way, Im going through, and Im likely to take u down":rolleyes: and "up's sorry did I just nut you there":o:D

whichever breed you go for I would recommend
Crate training (esp as you have a young one and live in a flat)
Socialising (esp if u are going for the breeds above)
Training classes
A routine asap to maintain good behaviour.
 
Rescue a staffie..there are hundreds in rescue at the moment,and they`re wonderful with children,in fact they are wonderful dogs unlucky with a bad and undeserved press.:mad:
 
EAST KENT said:
Rescue a staffie..there are hundreds in rescue at the moment,and they`re wonderful with children,in fact they are wonderful dogs unlucky with a bad and undeserved press.:mad:
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Now this is the only thing that puts me off Staffs!

Staffs as dogs I think are gorgeous but unfortunately around here they are attached to every chav in the neighbourhood.

Because I am small and look young for my age and have a child, if I was to walk down the street with a Staff then I would proabably fit in with the "chavs" (although I dont dress or act like one!)

If it wasnt for the fact every rough family around here had one then I would jump at the chance and I feel very sorry for the breed for what has happened to it! People making the breed aggressive when it certainly isnt intended that way. Around here I am likely to walk down the street with my staffy and get some idiot come up with theirs trying to provoke a dog fight.

As Cesar says "its the people not the breed" and so true those words are!
 
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