Breeds that don't make good pets/family dogs?

galaxy

galaxy

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I was REALLY bored yesterday (have a nasty virus and house bound, which drives me up the wall!!) so did a search on German Shorthaired Pointers (Harley's breed) and was surprised at some peoples comments that they didn't make good pets/family dogs! When I researched the breed I was told they did and H is fantastic in the house, with kids etc etc.

So made me think... Do you think there are some breeds that just don't make good pets/family dogs?
 
I have 2 GSP's and they have made great pets, are excellent with the children and always have been.

I have heard that Border Collies aren't good with children, what fact that is based on, I don't know.

My mother has had a Giant Schnauzer and now has a Standard Schnauzer. The Giant was horrendous with other dogs, to the point of putting a Westie in the vets for extensive stitching and I wouldn't trust the Standard she has now with people, dogs it is fine with.
 
I think this topic is very subjective, IME borders do not make good house pets, next doors BC was never properly exercised and spent days scratching at the gate to get out until one day my mum spotted blood and we hopped over the wall to find her with her paws cut to ribbons from digging and obsessing about getting out.

I think she working breeds don't usually make good house pets (thats not to say they are bad with families) but I think a brain thats made to work doesn't always do well in a small household environment.
 
It depends on a lot of things.

Lineage, upbringing, the characters of the parents, routine, all make a difference.

There are thousands of examples of all breeds, to say one whole breed is not good for X or Y, is silly IMHO.
There is a poodle in the UK competing in Schutzhund FGS!!!

And it's up to the purchaser to have a bit of wit. Going out and buying a working bred dog and expecting it to like sitting in a tiny garden all day and a ten minute walk around the block or buying any breed of dog, not training or socialising it and then wondering why it goes spongo at dogs/kids/cars/bikes is just dumb.
 
CC - that was my thoughts really. But I'm no dog expert so was interested in peoples opinions!

Quirky! Come back! Another comment they made about GSP's is they never sit still for 2 secs! I know mine is only 7 months, but he is quite lazy a home, and he can be a stroppy monkey in the evenings if I take him out and he thinks he should be curled up in bed!! What are yours like?
 
Mine are mad bonkers and always have been.

We nick named them Bouncy and Twirly because that's exactly what they do when they see you. One bounces on her front paws whilst the other twirls around.
Mine are 9 now and although they have quietened down at home, they still dive into the brook on the hunt for ducks or the like whilst out.
They are much admired wherever we take them, they are very handsome dogs.
Here they are a few years ago now, after a good run about.

Picture1486.jpg
 
I have heard constantly since I got my basenji that they dont make good family pets. They certainly make challenging pets in general, they need very sympathetic training and are unlike any breed of dog i've ever owned or trained and I can see how they would be unsuitable for many homes. However, one thing I have noticed about my own basenji is that she adores children, completely!! If she sees a child she will always go over to see them and is SO gentle and they can do anything with her. She often joins in the kids football games in the dog park and they love her! I live nextdoor to a family of 6 young kids and they all love Maya and always want to play with her :D

So... i think the problem is that you cant rule ANY breed out as a family pet as there will always be some people who have had bad experience with a breed and others who will swear that they are the perfect family pets :D
 
Any dog that is underexercised, poorly trained and poorly socialised will make a bad pet IMO.

**looks with satisfaction at the exhausted spangle flopped on her knee who has had his paws walked off and been complimented on being a lovely soft mush of a dog today**:D

Generally though I think gundog breeds are great family pets if they are looked after right - at least the ones I have known have been!

**waits to be deluged by comments about vicious killer child-eating gundogs**:rolleyes:
 
Spudlet I am here to disagree with you!!:eek::D:D:D

Both of my gundogs make appalling pets :D:D:D- largely due to their penchant for rolling in stinky minging things*gag*:p......both are currently crashed out on the dog sofa and I get the occaisional whiff of dead rabbit and sheep poo:rolleyes::rolleyes: - deffo need another wash before going to parents........:D:D:D

I got shouted out on our walk yesterday by a couple on the bridleway to keep my dogs away:eek::eek::eek: - both had their heads shoved down a bunny hole at the time :rolleyes::rolleyes: - because 'my wife is scared of dogs' at no point did either of my gormless overfriendly dogs go near them!! :o( I also restrained myself from pointing out I was on private land and nowhere near them:rolleyes::D) I can only imagine the hysteria that would have broken out if your dogs had been around CC!!:eek::D:D:D
 
IMO the problem isn't the breed, but how it's bred.
A Gundog with hundreds of FTCh in it's lines is likely to be a highly driven, sharp, flashy dog. To stick it in a 2 bed flat with no one around all day and half-an-hour round the block each night and you are going to have issues.
However, same breed, bred from a long line of dopey soft gets who like sleeping in the sun isn't likely to have a problem :D

As long as you know what you're after, research and take advice then there shouldn't be a problem with any breed that someone chooses.

Although I stand by the comment that Working-Bred Spaniels are not for the first-time owner, faint-hearted or lazy! :D :D
 
Aha but you see that is why they are so great - they boost the immune systems of small children by being so minging and they build character:D

I have to say I would have probably just replied 'Don't worry - they're very friendly' and let them get on with it:eek::D
 
I just ignored them and took the mutts of down the field looking for hares to chase!!:D:D:D Was her problem not mine!!:rolleyes: Mind you screaming and practically climbing on your OH's back is almost guaranteed to grab the attention of most mutts:eek::D:D:D - good job St Sweep is as deaf as a post and The Moo more interested in bunnies, hares etc when out and about!!:D:D:D

Talk about an over reaction - we were the other side of a hedge in a different field!!:D
 
Well AKITA springs to mind, even though I own one:rolleyes:, they are not typical family pets, they are naturally dominant they are solem, like to spend time alone, and have little tolerance for disturbance when they are not in the mood, they also have little tolerance for over bearing irritating kids and have a one track hunt mode when out doors, so when someone says to me what would you recommend as a family pet, I certainly would not say "akitas".:p
 
CAYLA said:
..., like to spend time alone, and have little tolerance for disturbance when they are not in the mood, they also have little tolerance for over bearing irritating kids..
Click to expand...

Hang on a minute that's me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just wish more people would do their research and pick a breed and type suited to their situation and lifestyle rather than what they like the look of!
 
I disagree with the comments about border collies. I own a working line bred, 1yr old collie she is sharp as a knife and very very driven. She is a wonderful pet, and absolutely fantastic around my 3yr old son- the reason? because she is exercised and has a great deal of mental stimulation each day, she is crazy when out free running, but in the house you wouldnt even know she was here.

I think the reason collies are not overly recommended for homes with children, is because so many people go out and buy 'the cute puppy' dont give them enough socialization/training/exercise and stimulation that they require, and because they are bred to work, some can get into the habit of 'herding' children and occasionally nipping (as they would do on sheep)

I also own a GSD from strong working lines, she, like my collie is very driven and needs mental stimulation aswel as a fair amount of exercise, she is also my 3 yr old sons(who is autistic) trained support dog-which speaks volumes in itself.
 
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