Choosing a dog breed, help please?

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NellRosk

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My mum has decided to buy herself a pup and needs help with deciding on a breed, it must be small and NON-terrier. Also our garden backs on to a woods which has a public footpath running through it, my current dog has access to these woods but we are worried with a 'designer' breed it may get nicked. So that rules out French bulldogs/ pugs. The dog must be active as it will be coming up to the yard every day so nothing too soft or sensitive. Any suggestions?
 
go to the local rescue centre and look at the adults then speak to staff about puppies, any time soon they will be inundated with the Christmas rejects and a lot of them will be young puppies still
 
Border Terrier. My dog is the most unterrier terrier you can get. At home he is a lapdog and sleeps all day on the sofa. He comes to the yard with me and runs about off lead, he's respectful of horses and pays no attention to free range chickens or cats. He has never gone awol at the yard, much preferring to be around people and he doesn't get led astray by others. He will happily rough and tumble with larger dogs and in the same breath will be very respectful of toddlers. He enjoys long walks or is quite happy to chill out indoors.

I cannot fault him!
 
twiggy2 said:
go to the local rescue centre and look at the adults then speak to staff about puppies, any time soon they will be inundated with the Christmas rejects and a lot of them will be young puppies still
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She wouldn't pass the home check as the garden isn't fenced in and is almost impossible to fully enclose so that's why she wants to go to a breeder
 
Dizzle said:
Border Terrier. My dog is the most unterrier terrier you can get. At home he is a lapdog and sleeps all day on the sofa. He comes to the yard with me and runs about off lead, he's respectful of horses and pays no attention to free range chickens or cats. He has never gone awol at the yard, much preferring to be around people and he doesn't get led astray by others. He will happily rough and tumble with larger dogs and in the same breath will be very respectful of toddlers. He enjoys long walks or is quite happy to chill out indoors.

I cannot fault him!
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Our old dog Minnie was a Border and passed away last Summer at 14 years old. She was a great little dog but was a nightmare until she calmed down when she was about 3. I have a little JRT x and she is also nuts so my mum doesn't want another terrier!
 
i really wouldnt reccomend doing that with a dog....what if it gets nicked or attacked in the woods?!

id be really annoyed if i met a dog wandering on its own like that with no owner - friendly or not and tbh id pick it up and take it to the dog warden if no owner....


mine dont even go in the garden unsupervised....! (fully fenced..)
 
My BT is 2 next week and he really is a dream to own. First year he was a rascal but then any dog is going to behave like a puppy for the first year unless you end up with a toy breed who aren't going to fulfill your active yard dog requirements!
 
noodle_ said:
i really wouldnt reccomend doing that with a dog....what if it gets nicked or attacked in the woods?!

id be really annoyed if i met a dog wandering on its own like that with no owner - friendly or not and tbh id pick it up and take it to the dog warden if no owner....


mine dont even go in the garden unsupervised....! (fully fenced..)
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We've lived in that house 20 years (and had dogs all this time) and never had any problems. We live in a rural area. Anyway the question is not about how we keep dogs, not everyone has enclosed gardens. How come yours don't go out unsupervised?
 
Dizzle said:
My BT is 2 next week and he really is a dream to own. First year he was a rascal but then any dog is going to behave like a puppy for the first year unless you end up with a toy breed who aren't going to fulfill your active yard dog requirements!
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My mum would absolutely love to have another :) Will chat to her and see how she feels about another terrier!
 
NellRosk said:
Aren't they prone to that thing where their skull is too small for their brain? What would you suggest?
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Have no idea what the above means but our 12 year loa cavi is great, she is up the yard every day, goes on hacks, easy to train and has just gone round the local woods with us and the horses.
 
SlightlyChristmassy said:
Have no idea what the above means but our 12 year loa cavi is great, she is up the yard every day, goes on hacks, easy to train and has just gone round the local woods with us and the horses.
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I'm sure it was cavaliers but I read something that as a breed they can get this condition where their skull presses on their brain! Think it was something to do with the Kennel Club.

ETA just found this link about it: http://cavalierhealth.org/syringomyelia.htm
 
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SnowOnSnow said:
How about a small poodle or a sheltie? Both active clever breeds :)

(Ps my dogs live free range too, I think it's the best way to keep dogs if you're in the right place for it)
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I will get researching! I do like shaggy little unclipped poodles, not a fan when they've been trimmed.

Nice to hear! My dog is a lot happier mooching around the garden, she'd hate to be cooped up in the house. When I can afford to move back out she will go to 'grandmas' in the daytime when I'm working :)
 
Oh dear..... yes cavaliers do get syringomyelia, that is why you go to a reputable breeder who has had their stock MRI scanned and the stock is known to be clear.

I couldn't recommend any breed for your situation based on my own experience unfortunately.
 
NellRosk said:
We've lived in that house 20 years (and had dogs all this time) and never had any problems. We live in a rural area. Anyway the question is not about how we keep dogs, not everyone has enclosed gardens. How come yours don't go out unsupervised?
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All of the breeders I know would expect a puppy to have a safe and secure area to play in - unless the woods are secure and enclosed you or/and your mother will be putting the puppy at risk and the fact that you know a rescue centre wouldn't approve of these circumstances suggests that you haven't got the best interests of a puppy in mind.
The kennel club has an interactive page on its web site which may help you, you put in details about your lifestyle, size of garden, exercise requirements etc and it will come up with a list of suitable breeds and their characteristics.
 
gallopingby said:
All of the breeders I know would expect a puppy to have a safe and secure area to play in - unless the woods are secure and enclosed you or/and your mother will be putting the puppy at risk and the fact that you know a rescue centre wouldn't approve of these circumstances suggests that you haven't got the best interests of a puppy in mind.
The kennel club has an interactive page on its web site which may help you, you put in details about your lifestyle, size of garden, exercise requirements etc and it will come up with a list of suitable breeds and their characteristics.
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When we've had previous pups we've enclosed a small 'play pen' on the only flat bit of lawn we've got, the rest of the garden is a hilly nightmare. Then when they have sufficient training/ recall this is extended. What possible reasoning would my mum have to get a dog if it's best interests weren't in mind?! :confused3:
 
Can't say that I like to hear about dogs that is out loose and unsupervised in a garden that is not fenced, but I haven't been there, so maybe it is better than it sounds.

Personally, if I wanted a smaller breed than Finnish Lapphund, then I would maybe be tempted to get myself a Tibetan Spaniel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_Spaniel, www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?621442-Tibetan-Spaniels-anyone-have-one.

I ditto the previous suggestion of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavalier_King_Charles_Spaniel, but also want to add King Charles Spaniel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Charles_Spaniel, and Havanese http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havanese.

E.g. in general, Havanese are considered to be a healthy breed, but even they can have a few serious health issues. With a healthier breed, maybe the risk is smaller for that they inherit a health problem, but personally, what matters to me is that the breed have health programs which good breeders can follow, so that I can check if they've tried their best to minimise the risk for that known health problems should occur. After that the breeders have done their best, I think that it is still up to nature's lottery if your dog is healthy or not.

I prefer that, rather than buying from one of those designer breed/mongrel breeder, who too often seems to think that innate hybrid vigour, magically will make all "bad" genes disappear. But it doesn't matter if the parents are of the same or different breeds, if they e.g. both are carrying the same gene for the eye disease Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), the gene can be duplicated and the puppies can inherit the disease, no matter if they're supposed to have innate healthy hybrid vigour or not.
 
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NellRosk said:
She wouldn't pass the home check as the garden isn't fenced in and is almost impossible to fully enclose so that's why she wants to go to a breeder
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You may well find that breeders would be reluctant to go to a home where the dog is allowed to roam free in a public area. Would it not be possible for your mother to fence a small area for the dog, I think it would increase your options as to where you get your dog from. I have 1.5 acres which is all fully fenced in, so it is possible to do.
 
Another who would recommend a cavalier. I had four and they were great active wee things. One we got when I was 5 and she died when I was 20, grew up with her she as amazing, fit right up until her kidneys gave out then we said goodbye.

I'm wanting a working cocker or a lab as my next dogs something active, trainable and that I can take away places with me :)
 
Mmmm, as an owner of 2 borders I'd say your dog is pretty untypical of a border! Yes, agree both of mine are lapdogs and love to sleep, also good around horses and OK with a cat they know, even ducklings as they know they'd be for it if they dared to touch them BUT although well trained they do have selective hearing if off the lead and "hunting". I wouldn't trust either of them in an unfenced area, they would be off in a shot if they got the right sniff. Just love them though, fab breed!
Dizzle said:
Border Terrier. My dog is the most unterrier terrier you can get. At home he is a lapdog and sleeps all day on the sofa. He comes to the yard with me and runs about off lead, he's respectful of horses and pays no attention to free range chickens or cats. He has never gone awol at the yard, much preferring to be around people and he doesn't get led astray by others. He will happily rough and tumble with larger dogs and in the same breath will be very respectful of toddlers. He enjoys long walks or is quite happy to chill out indoors.

I cannot fault him!
Click to expand...
 
FinnishLapphund said:
Can't say that I like to hear about dogs that is out loose and unsupervised in a garden that is not fenced, but I haven't been there, so maybe it is better than it sounds.

Personally, if I wanted a smaller breed than Finnish Lapphund, then I would maybe be tempted to get myself a Tibetan Spaniel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_Spaniel, www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?621442-Tibetan-Spaniels-anyone-have-one.

I ditto the previous suggestion of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavalier_King_Charles_Spaniel, but also want to add King Charles Spaniel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Charles_Spaniel, and Havanese http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havanese.

E.g. in general, Havanese are considered to be a healthy breed, but even they can have a few serious health issues. With a healthier breed, maybe the risk is smaller for that they inherit a health problem, but personally, what matters to me is that the breed have health programs which good breeders can follow, so that I can check if they've tried their best to minimise the risk for that known health problems should occur. After that the breeders have done their best, I think that it is still up to nature's lottery if your dog is healthy or not.

I prefer that, rather than buying from one of those designer breed/mongrel breeder, who too often seems to think that innate hybrid vigour, magically will make all "bad" genes disappear. But it doesn't matter if the parents are of the same or different breeds, if they e.g. both are carrying the same gene for the eye disease Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), the gene can be duplicated and the puppies can inherit the disease, no matter if they're supposed to have innate healthy hybrid vigour or not.
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No well you couldn't possibly comment without seeing it :)

Thanks for this, very helpful. Will look these breeds up and pass the message on!
 
MurphysMinder said:
You may well find that breeders would be reluctant to go to a home where the dog is allowed to roam free in a public area. Would it not be possible for your mother to fence a small area for the dog, I think it would increase your options as to where you get your dog from. I have 1.5 acres which is all fully fenced in, so it is possible to do.
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Not really, it's a 3 acre garden of woodland and would be hell to fence with all the trees, shrubs etc. Not to mention the fact that we don't really know in places where the boundary to the garden is because it's so dense. As I said before, with pups before they've had a little nursery bit that they stay in until they're trained. If she got a dog that was a wanderer it could be kennelled in the garage (Provided it got on with cats!).
 
Christmas Kia said:
Another who would recommend a cavalier. I had four and they were great active wee things. One we got when I was 5 and she died when I was 20, grew up with her she as amazing, fit right up until her kidneys gave out then we said goodbye.

I'm wanting a working cocker or a lab as my next dogs something active, trainable and that I can take away places with me :)
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Definitely think about one of these! I've met a few and they were all sweet little dogs.

I love labs! And remember pics are compulsory if you get a new dog!
 
oldie48 said:
Mmmm, as an owner of 2 borders I'd say your dog is pretty untypical of a border! Yes, agree both of mine are lapdogs and love to sleep, also good around horses and OK with a cat they know, even ducklings as they know they'd be for it if they dared to touch them BUT although well trained they do have selective hearing if off the lead and "hunting". I wouldn't trust either of them in an unfenced area, they would be off in a shot if they got the right sniff. Just love them though, fab breed!
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Our old border was very 'terrierish' as well, she was a fab little dog but the first few years were challenging! And now she's getting older she wants to settle for the easy life!
 
Our dogs free range and the border terrier was never any trouble. I cannot say it enough times though - get a show bred one! They are as different to the working strains as a greyhound to a pug. My OH has always had a border as a pet to knock around the farm with him and they have all been fine. I think the bitches are much easier than the dogs.
 
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