breed suggestions for my parents please!

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amycamycamyc

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My mum and dad have FINALLY decided to get a dog (but waited until i'd moved out, gutted!).
Need to come up with some breed suggestions based on the following needs/desires - any experts out there willing to help??

- must be ok with our 87 year old live-in granny (so nothing toy/tiny she could trip on, but nothing boisterous and massive which is difficult to train not to jump up)
- Requires a light/moderate amount of exercise: Big garden available and probably one decent walk per day
- Would rather medium/large size
- Ok to be left alone up to 4 hours? would be rare
- easy to toilet train if puppy
- relatively intelligent
- nothing that moults like crazy!



some barking ok
doesn't need to live with cats
doesn't need to be a guard dog
must be ok in city/country as would be somewhat co-habiting!
 
A greyhound! I've been doing lots and lots of research into them at the moment, and I'm off to see one at my local retired greyhound trust branch tomorrow - my requirements are really quite specific as they need to be small dog and cat friendly too.

However, from what i've read, and previous experience with a greyhound i used to walk, they only generally need two 20 minute walks a day, so fit the bill there, are large enough that you're unlikely to trip over them, are described as 40mph couch potatos, short thin coat that has minimal mess when moulting, very loyal, trainable too i believe.
 
Hedwards said:
A greyhound! I've been doing lots and lots of research into them at the moment, and I'm off to see one at my local retired greyhound trust branch tomorrow - my requirements are really quite specific as they need to be small dog and cat friendly too.

However, from what i've read, and previous experience with a greyhound i used to walk, they only generally need two 20 minute walks a day, so fit the bill there, are large enough that you're unlikely to trip over them, are described as 40mph couch potatos, short thin coat that has minimal mess when moulting, very loyal, trainable too i believe.
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Ditto this!! My greyhound only has 1 20min walk a day .. sleeps for the rest ;) Hes brilliant with my nan as she doesnt have to bend to stroke him and she cant trip over him. Hes very calm and quiet indoors and only barks when the doorbell rings. He doesnt really moult as such (just a tiny bit of fur loss) and was incredibly easy to house train :D

Hes not amazingly intelliegent but tries so hard to please and hes happy in town or out in the countryside with the horses :)
 
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Third vote for greyhound. My retired mum had one from rescue, two short walks a day and spent the rest of the time on the sofa :). Think you'll find plenty in rescue - we did when we looked.:(
 
Greyhounds seem to be pretty popular!
The only negative comment I've had about greyhounds is from my vet who said that if granny were to fall on a greyhound it would bite as a first reaction....

any thoughts on this? Also i've heard they are a nightmare off the lead as will chase anything/everything on walks.. this true?

Sorry for ignorant questions, i've never known any greyhounds well!
 
amycamycamyc said:
Greyhounds seem to be pretty popular!
The only negative comment I've had about greyhounds is from my vet who said that if granny were to fall on a greyhound it would bite as a first reaction....

any thoughts on this? Also i've heard they are a nightmare off the lead as will chase anything/everything on walks.. this true?

Sorry for ignorant questions, i've never known any greyhounds well!
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I think that the bite thing is dog by dog not breed. If you fell on my Bryn he would probably bite you but if you fell on my mums Brittany he would scream and hide from you for about a week.

I don't know people on here's experience but from they greys i know they do fine of leash with good training.
 
Greyhound can be great dogs & any dog can snap if you hurt it!

I have a dog here at the moment that ticks most of the boxes. George is a five year old Basset Hound whose owner has gone into a home.

He is good with kids & house & lead trained.
 
amycamycamyc said:
Greyhounds seem to be pretty popular!
The only negative comment I've had about greyhounds is from my vet who said that if granny were to fall on a greyhound it would bite as a first reaction....

any thoughts on this? Also i've heard they are a nightmare off the lead as will chase anything/everything on walks.. this true?

Sorry for ignorant questions, i've never known any greyhounds well!
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So, so untrue .. please shoot your vet as MissUnderstood said :D
I have fallen over barney, squished him and my mum trod on his paw and he just yelps hes never ever snapped even in play hes the gentlest dog ever!!
My boy is good off the lead so long as you keep his attention (other dogs, toys ect) he even has perfect recall now :)

ETA - Barney is currently lying on the sofa while he has his pedicure, most dogs i know get stressed when they have their claws trimmed/cut Barn just lays back and lets you get on with it! :p
 
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I would say greyhound too. As far as the vet saying a greyhound may bite if someone falls on it, well any dog "may" bite, some will, some won't. I could as near as dammit guarantee my old GSD would not have bitten anyone who fell on her, a small child did just that at a show, parents had hysterics, dog just moved. Evie has a lovely temperament with people, but I suspect might snap if someone fell on her and hurt her, she is just that bit more reactive. You just can't make sweeping statements about any breed.
 
Tibetan terrier :D Mine is so laid back its not even true. She is a proper couch potato, doesn't shed too much (meant to be non shedding but she leaves little curls of hair all over the house) and intelligent. She does suffer from some seperation anxiety but I think thats due to her own individual issues and baggage she's carrying round rather than the breed in general
 
another greyhound vote.

They are taught from a young age to walk nicely on a lead, so no pulling worries.

Shed very little (once they've got rid of their kennel coat).

Some cant go offlead safely, however if your parents have a large garden that
would suffice for it to burn off some energy.

I dont think they would regret it!
 
Whippet every time - not as big as a greyhound. Non moulting, need one good run a day and will then spend the rest of the day either asleep or rootling around in the garden on their own.
I am sitting here with a six month old and a ten week old (yes, we are mad!) fast asleep. Veru easy, affectionate and fun dogs.
 
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