Dog breeds.....what could I have next.....

[FestiveSpirit]

I visited a friend tonight who has working cockers, and I was really impressed with their size and the fact that they can be let out off the lead without disapearing into the distance to murder the local wildlife

But they are far to frenetic for me, I would go mad if I had one around all the time, so I was wondering if there is a good compromise between a greyhound and a cocker?

Something the size of a cocker (or slightly bigger, say whippet size) which is obediant and stays close, but is relaxed and laid back like a greyhound at home? It must be a 'proper' dog not some stupid little toy breed

and should have short hair like a greyhound...

Any thoughts?

PS - actually it has just occurred to me that I have just described Talisker

Yes he did murder things but he wouldnt disapear into the distance and not respond and he was a joy to have around at home. Poo

 

[Blue-bear]

erm...lab?not really short haired tho.........
I have a parson jack russell who is basically a miniture whippety....too small? He gives fabby cuddles.

Erm...

 

[mattilda]

Errr how do you fancy a slightly (well extremely) manic rotty. Very affectionate, would like to murder wildlife but hasn't got a snowballs chance! Recall excellent....unless there is something more interesting going on. Great house dog unless you have valuables at dog level. Yours for free but label attached that says 'Non returnable'.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Whippy? Staff? Standard Schnauzer (needs stripped out though)?

 

[FestiveSpirit]

[ QUOTE ]
erm...lab?not really short haired tho.........
I have a parson jack russell who is basically a miniture whippety....too small? He gives fabby cuddles.

Erm...

[/ QUOTE ]

Labs are OK but (whispers quietly....) they are a bit thick for me really

Every one which I have known doesnt seem to have much about it really

(runs and hides from all Lab owners....)

I like PJRT but terriers always seem a bit 'sharp' to me? Not sure whether that is a misconception of mine

 

[MurphysMinder]

Is a whippet too obvious? They fit the relaxed and laid back at home bit to a tee, and although they like to run most of the ones I have known are reasonably obedient. Have had an old friend of my mums staying for the past week with her 2 whippets, had forgotten what easy dogs they are to have around the place. Love to play, fetch a toy and generally run like mad things, but for the majority of the day are fast asleep. I will miss them when she leaves, if only because they are keeping the mad Evie exercised, she thinks they are great fun

 

[FestiveSpirit]

[ QUOTE ]
Errr how do you fancy a slightly (well extremely) manic rotty. Very affectionate, would like to murder wildlife but hasn't got a snowballs chance! Recall excellent....unless there is something more interesting going on. Great house dog unless you have valuables at dog level. Yours for free but label attached that says 'Non returnable'.

[/ QUOTE ]

I love rotties but they are so HUGE

Well, when you are used to greyhounds they are

You kind of dont sell him that well really

with all the 'except for' and 'unless' comments you know

 

[FestiveSpirit]

[ QUOTE ]
Whippy? Staff? Standard Schnauzer (needs stripped out though)?

[/ QUOTE ]

I had two whippets and they had exactly the same recall problems as the greyhounds, in fact one was worse the little madam

Unfortunately I am not a Staffie fan, I cant take their front end confirmation

although I do like English Bull Terriers...

Could do a Schnauzer, Mum would do all the stripping/clipping for me...hmmmm...

 

[CorvusCorax]

Yes, late friends of ours who bred GSDs (The McKenzies, MM, if you remember them) had a whippet as a house pet and she was delightful, so calm, they took her to shows and our big hairy yobs didn't know what to make of her, but she was so serene and took everything in her stride.

One of the dogs I help handle had an encounter with a whippet at the weekend, she was playing chase and couldn't keep up with it in a park and she got so frustrated, apparently she sat down and howled the place down

 

[CorvusCorax]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]


Unfortunately I am not a Staffie fan, I cant take their front end confirmation

although I do like English Bull Terriers...


[/ QUOTE ]


I love English Bulls too

 

[FestiveSpirit]

[ QUOTE ]
Is a whippet too obvious? They fit the relaxed and laid back at home bit to a tee, and although they like to run most of the ones I have known are reasonably obedient. Have had an old friend of my mums staying for the past week with her 2 whippets, had forgotten what easy dogs they are to have around the place. Love to play, fetch a toy and generally run like mad things, but for the majority of the day are fast asleep. I will miss them when she leaves, if only because they are keeping the mad Evie exercised, she thinks they are great fun

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL, I do love whippets too MM (Cala did send me a link to one which needed a home, luckily her PM arrived when I was feeling low so didnt do anything about it

)

I had two whippets about 20 years ago (OMG really that long

) and one was an absolute terror for not coming back, far far worse than the greyhounds even

Having said that the other was a complete automaton and would would trot around after me everywhere without ever considering doing something on her own initiative

 

[Blue-bear]

the only whippet i know is a fluffy hunter and will chase anything that moves?!

My PJRT is very laid back and probably the easiest dog i have ever owned, but i may have been lucky!

I also have to disagree about labs.....mine has alot about him, and is generally far too intelligent for most people

He has been easy to train and recall was pretty simple,very food orientated! but hes fab in the house and is a great gaurd dog

 

[mattilda]

How about a heinz 57? I feel quite rebuffed that you turned down my lovely rotty!! In all seriousness they tend to be lovely dogs (mutts) and don't have the health problems pedigrees have.

 

[FestiveSpirit]

Well I must admit I was very slightly concerned about the 'non returnable' label which came with him

Mmmm I guess Tal was essentially a Heinz 57 - he was quite a lot greyhound but goodness knows what else he had in him, and he seemed to pick up the best bits of everything

I am now sitting looking at my beautiful greyhounds and feeling ashamed that I could ever contemplate anything other than them

Maybe I could keep Flick and just send back TBBT

(only joking, of course I wouldnt/couldnt. she stays for ever

)

 

[haycroft]

i think you ought to stick with the hounds,,,whippet/lurcher...i have two and their recall is pretty good..unles theyre chasing a bunny!!!but they'l do anything for a piece of cheese

what about a viszla ..short haired..sorry dont know much about the breed, so not sure what their temperments are like

 

[toomanyhorses26]

we have a flat coated retriver but she is small for her breed who is an absolute angel ,fab temp and good recall but she is quite hairy

 

[FestiveSpirit]

[ QUOTE ]
i think you ought to stick with the hounds,,,whippet/lurcher...i have two and their recall is pretty good..unles theyre chasing a bunny!!!but they'l do anything for a piece of cheese

what about a viszla ..short haired..sorry dont know much about the breed, so not sure what their temperments are like

[/ QUOTE ]

I do love vizlas, all the ones I have known have had fabulous temperaments

But there is something about sighthounds.... they are so beautiful, even if they do go off randomly chasing things on occasion

Soooo after all those suggestions it seems that a whippet/lurcher might be next

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

A friend of mine has three hungarian wire haired vizlas, and they are delightful.

 

[camilla4]

Splotchy - shame on you! Why my darling Lab has an IQ that is pratically in double figures!!!