Dog breeds

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May_100

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We sadly lost our 10 year old therapy dog a few months ago, she was with my son from a very young age - before anyone attacks me she was a miniature Australian labradoodle. (Yes she was a certified therapy dog)

We are thinking about another dog, however breed wise I do not know where to start.
Whilst instinctively I’d go for the same dog again I am also reluctant due to the price tag that they now come with.

Due to our lifestyle and how active we are (regular riders, camping, paddle boarding ect) I’m thinking of looking for something a bit bigger. (However nothing too mental as I do work from a home office in the day, so quiet time is a must)

Training isn’t too much of an issue however temperament is key - we can’t rescue a dog either due to other pets we have in the home- (parrot and house rabbit)

I genuinely do not know where to start.

I’d love a Dalmatian however worried about the health issues and excess shedding.

(For note I grew up with boxer dogs however my husband has categorically said no to this breed)

I’d love to hear what breeds everyone has.
 
I'm Dun said:
Mine would love that lifestyle and rarely shed, so a big, working bred whippet, ideally from parents who are failed workers. That way you get the brains without the prey drive, and lots of tough, sound athleticism.
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You are always saying what an insane prey drive one of yours has. 🤪😄.
 
Staffies might be a bit smaller than you’re looking for but they’d keep up with a lifestyle like yours and wouldn’t require poodle maintenance. If you don’t mind the maintenance, poodles are lovely dogs.
 
I have known ex racing greyhounds that lived with house rabbits, guinea pigs and a cockatoo which used to terrorise the dogs, it would land on the dogs back and pluck some hair out before flying to the top of the door and doing a little dance.

Some fail in racing as they just cannot see the point in chasing a lure.
 
Clodagh said:
You are always saying what an insane prey drive one of yours has. 🤪😄.
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The older boys parents were working bred but useless and he's a dream. The younger one wuold wipe out every squirrel, rabbit and deer in Oxfordshire if I let him. His mum is a very good working dog. Hence why you need the failed working parents. Lessons have been learnt 😂 I think anyone who ended up with Cooper as a first whippet wouldn't have another, but Floydy is practically perfect in every way.
 
Another vote for a Staffy here. I've had all sorts of breeds, from Deerhounds to Jack Russells, and now I'm a Staffy owner, I wouldn't have anything else. But if you do go down this route, contact your regional Staffy group for recognised breeders. They are generally a very healthy, hardy breed, but there are some genetic tests that need to be done, and not all Staffy breeders do the full compliment. Genuine Staffordshires are actually smaller than most people think, but they are an absolute powerhouse of a dog, and a genuine delight to own.
 
Not clear what you’re wanting to know? Most dogs that are health checked, vaccinated and properly bred from well established people com3 with an appropriate price tag. You will also have to jump through some hoops in many cases. Dogs from breed rescues require a home check and assessment of your work / home life and will usually require a donation of around £400;to cover neutering / vaccination costs. Most registered breeds also have a rescue side but also usually a waiting list for suitable homes. Maybe worth looking at one of the Labrador rescues for a ‘failed’ working / ex keeper home. You might be lucky although some will be gunshy and therefore react to loud noises etc. Edited to ad. Why is having pets already an issue for rescue?
 
gallopingby said:
Not clear what you’re wanting to know? Most dogs that are health checked, vaccinated and properly bred from well established people com3 with an appropriate price tag. You will also have to jump through some hoops in many cases. Dogs from breed rescues require a home check and assessment of your work / home life and will usually require a donation of around £400;to cover neutering / vaccination costs. Most registered breeds also have a rescue side but also usually a waiting list for suitable homes. Maybe worth looking at one of the Labrador rescues for a ‘failed’ working / ex keeper home. You might be lucky although some will be gunshy and therefore react to loud noises etc. Edited to ad. Why is having pets already an issue for rescue?
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I would say an Australian labradoodle will cost you far more than an appropriately bred, health tested, registered breed. Cos the world’s gone nuts.
 
May_100 said:
We sadly lost our 10 year old therapy dog a few months ago, she was with my son from a very young age - before anyone attacks me she was a miniature Australian labradoodle. (Yes she was a certified therapy dog)

We are thinking about another dog, however breed wise I do not know where to start.
Whilst instinctively I’d go for the same dog again I am also reluctant due to the price tag that they now come with.

Due to our lifestyle and how active we are (regular riders, camping, paddle boarding ect) I’m thinking of looking for something a bit bigger. (However nothing too mental as I do work from a home office in the day, so quiet time is a must)

Training isn’t too much of an issue however temperament is key - we can’t rescue a dog either due to other pets we have in the home- (parrot and house rabbit)

I genuinely do not know where to start.

I’d love a Dalmatian however worried about the health issues and excess shedding.

(For note I grew up with boxer dogs however my husband has categorically said no to this breed)

I’d love to hear what breeds everyone has.
Click to expand...

If you use campsites, bear in mind a lot don't allow any bull breeds, inc Staffs and also guarding/fighting breeds or anything on DD list.
 
I've got an English Setter, there's not many of them around but she's such a lovely dog. Sheds a fair bit though so probably not what you're after but she can go for miles and also will just chill on the sofa when I'm working. Loves a cuddle too. Very smart and picks up training instantly however is currently still in the puppy stage so hearing is fairly selective!
She lives with our cat too and whilst she is interested in him she's not a chaser. She tried when she was very young but I put a lot of training into it and she knows not to chase him now.
They're really great dogs and I don't think enough people know about them!
 
gallopingby said:
Not clear what you’re wanting to know? Most dogs that are health checked, vaccinated and properly bred from well established people com3 with an appropriate price tag. You will also have to jump through some hoops in many cases. Dogs from breed rescues require a home check and assessment of your work / home life and will usually require a donation of around £400;to cover neutering / vaccination costs. Most registered breeds also have a rescue side but also usually a waiting list for suitable homes. Maybe worth looking at one of the Labrador rescues for a ‘failed’ working / ex keeper home. You might be lucky although some will be gunshy and therefore react to loud noises etc. Edited to ad. Why is having pets already an issue for rescue?
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Unless rescues have changed a lot they used to be very strict about rehoming with other dogs or pets. I had guinea pigs who were kept indoors in a cage and I was turned down for a rescue dog. If you go on to many sites and put in that you have a dog, it cuts the dogs available down by more than half, so I would think having a house rabbit would make even more difference
 
For a sturdy family adventure dog that you can commit to with training 100 percent I'd get a lab or a pointer(English, all the GSPs I've known have been completely daft) if shedding wasn't such an issue for you. If heavy shedding is such an issue I'd get a standard poodle.

Left field if you change your mind completely and go for something wee, I'd get a bischon. Any I've known have been hardy enough for big walks while being great house dogs and have the bonus of being portable.

I only mention portable because I have a springer x pointer so she's a bit bigger than a springer and smaller than a pointer but I really underestimated how much space herself and her 'luggage' take when we go on trips.
 
@splashgirl45 there are lots of rescues and more and more dogs coming in every day. Most people who haven’t rehomed through a rescue aren’t aware of the way they work AND they’re all different. It’s certainly not the case that you can roll up and go home with a dog these days. The ‘rescue’ l volunteer for which is a breed specific reviews each applicant and creates a profile so they can be matched with a suitable dog. Some dogs require the company of another dog others are best alone. Dogs come into ‘rescue’ for many reasons and so it’s not a one size fits all.
 
Probably not as big a dog as you are thinking, but apart from size a Manchester might fit the bill. They are generally either on or off - mine is very active outdoors but inside essentially lives to wrap himself up in a blanket and sleep! They are more than content for zero exercise in awful weather but otherwise can go for miles. Super coat for cleanliness. Get from puppy and will be adaptable for house pets. Mine has a fairly high chase drive outside so not livestock proof, so stays on lead if we are in a risk area!
 
We have a Hungarian Vizsla who would fit the bill perfectly. Loads of energy, an absolute athlete but lovely and calm in the house. My only word of warning being he was the most demanding puppy I have ever known, super intelligent and trainable but his brain needed constant stimulation. We put the work in and were rewarded with the most fabulous adult dog you could wish for. Not a big shedder, bombproof around all livestock, will run all day, no need for a lead, he's just an all-round lovely person.
 
Labrador. Mine is working line, she’s only 21kg so you can easily pick her up as a pp mentioned above.
Her shedding isn’t that bad, she does get groomed once a month.
She’s ‘on’ when you want her to be on but spends all day sleeping while I work from home.
 

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