Dogs- which to choose!!

youngfarmer said:
Unfortunately (or fortunately) that link won't work on my laptop, and their website doesn't seem to want to work either (usually an issue with my internet connection). A rescue puppy will definitely be considered first before looking into buying a puppy. Again, I will definitely be getting written permission from my landlord, regardless of if I rescue or not, as this means they wouldn't be able to tell me I can't have a dog after getting one.

Thanks everyone for your advice on this, certainly lots to consider! :)
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Lol they are 2 x 13 week old labrador x gsd pups!!!
 
milesjess said:
Rhodesian Ridgeback ... Stunning, very outdoors and full of stamina, hard working dogs but quite lazy too. Very clever and protective (in a good way!) and fab around people, horses etc... I can't rate them enough and far too many people overlook them.
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Exactly this - I have two...

youngfarmer said:
My ex and an old employer had this breed- and I absolutely loved them!! Old employers dog was my first experience, and although he was very much a guard dog, he was extremely soft when he got used to you being around. My ex's dog was the total opposite- extremely cuddly, very bouncy and playful and yet you knew you could rely on him when if anything ever happened. His favourite past time was climbing onto the sofa and lying on top of you and going to sleep- not fun when he was a fully up to size and weight ridgeback haha. My ex was also epileptic and his dog knew when he was going to have a fit and would keep everyone else away, but was never nasty with it (he was never trained to do this either, it was just instinct). He could also be trusted to play nicely with his 4 year old daughter. I really do love them!!
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Well - there you go, then... Why look any further...? :p:D
 
Molasses said:
Rescue centres are full of collieX dogs that come in all shapes and sizes but universally love the active life and can be wonderful dogs to have around
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Best dog in the world was my collie/lab from a rescue centre, we spent 13 happy years together and I still miss him 4 years after he died. He didn't go beating (the GSPs did that), but he could have, and he came out with the horses.
 
I have a different slant on this for you to consider, think of the type of dog you want before the breed. For instance the pastoral dogs will be completely different to gundogs, and again to terriers, sighthounds (I know you don't want either of those types.) So, if you want a dog that will always only be a few feet from you, even when you're working all day and can't watch it the whole time, you probably wouldn't want (for instance) a hound. This might help you narrow down your choices.

We have three spaniels, a red Lab and my lurcher, supposedly pure whippet but oversize. You couldn't lose any of the gundogs if you tried, they are all working dogs, eager to please and delighted to be with you. My lurcher is also a delight, but he is easier to lose! He's also the only one allowed in the house - being short coated, he doesn't smell. I wouldn't let any of the spaniels through the back door - they are generally covered in mud, horse ****, and anything else smelly and incompatible with carpets! The Lab is okay, but is confused by being inside and doesn't settle - the lurcher heads straight for the fire, and doesn't move! Oh, he also beats, delicately, without going into cover too much, and retreives beautifully to hand, but he's a little unusual in that. Many different dogs will beat and pick up - this year my husband has seen a team of two Chihuawas (no idea how to spell that correctly) and a Rottie out beating.

Good luck with your search, I hope you find your perfect dog.
 
What about a "gentlemans gundog" a flatcoated retriever. Able to beating and picking up, easily trainable, a fabulous companion and above all a dog with a real zest for life... Oh and stunning looks too..... I am so biased
 
Standard poodle! Our dog would suit you perfectly! Great size, non moulting, very very friendly but has a great bark on him and the postman is petrified of him but once he sees who it is and that all is fine he just wants fuss so I do feel very safe with him when alone. He is great with the horses and I ride out with him. He does love a good run but he is happy snoring on te sofa too. He just has an all off haircut so nothing fancy and when people meet him after hearing he is a poodle are normaly pleasantly surprised. Also have a 10 month old baby who he is lovely with and he is scared of our chickens!
 
youngfarmer said:
So I'm thinking ahead by a few months, but soon I will be renting a barn conversion (only 1 bedroom, but fairly spacious, house not a flat) on a farmers land. I will, hopefully, be permanently working on a yard by May as well. However, I'm looking into what breeds are best to suit this purpose.

I'm 22 years old, fairly fit and healthy and have always loved dogs. My partner regularly goes beating (during season) and attends cockdays, so would be good to have something that meets his needs for this too. Not specifically looking for a working dog, but something that could potentially be dual purpose. I've always liked bigger breeds (GSD, rottie, husky etc etc) but realise these may not be the best types to have for these purposes. I don't particularly like smaller breeds (as in toy breeds, and even some Jack Russell's) although I realise terrier breeds are good dogs for beating and shoots(not that kind of beating :p). Neither of us like greyhound, lurcher, saluki etc type dogs too.

What breeds do you all have? What breeds would you recommend? Spaniels/ collies seem to be an obvious choice, but what other less obvious breeds are there?

(Sorry for the long post, brownies and ice cream for anyone who got this far):)
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I would say a NI or GS. Personally I like a dog to be a dog, not a dog or ( rat) which is smaller than a cat
 
TheoryX1 said:
Advice here from a letting agent - TELL YOUR LANDLORD FIRST, GET PERMISSION IN WRITING, DONT TRY AND PULL THE WOOL OF YOUR LANDLORD OR LETTING AGENTS EYES. You can lose your home if you do, believe me I have seen it happen a few times.

Lots of good advice here, and I do feel that finding the right dog is like finding the right horse. I have had a number of GSDs in the past and loved them. Lovely looking dogs with fantastic temperaments and great fun to be with. I thought I would never want another breed again. How wrong was I. I am now the very proud owner of a Staffie! Never in a million years would I have thought I would have had one. They are the most loving, fun little dogs you could find. Totally brilliant with children and ours is great with other dogs. He is easy to train, very sociable and very clean as well. He is a bit scared of our horses and thats a bit of a pain, but we havent had him long and he will get over himself.

Staffies can be a bit full on, extrovert dogs, which I actually dont mind in the slightest. We are lucky with ours as he will calm down if you want some peace. Their reputation really is undeserved.
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hmmm.... did I miss something... weren't you supposed to put up some PHOTOS of your new boy??!!!!
 
What about an Airedale Terrier? They are the largest of all terriers (so not a rat), are brilliant working dogs (mainly catching vermin but I've seen quite a few on shoots before), and have a good balance between being energetic enough to "help out" on a yard all day but still aren't so hyper that they will then need walking for another couple of hours before they finally sleep.

I have a Lakeland Terrier, my absolute favourite breed, but they are probably too small for you (about mid-calf height). They are also naughty :D
 
I have a cocker and a springer. The cocker just wants to be a lap dog he is the soppiest sweetest thing, very clever but sometimes uses that in a stubborn way, the springer is wired, she is go go go all the time. But she's only a pup and she will work do hopefully that will keep her mellow enough!! You sound like you will have an outdoor lifestyle so could suit a springer. Both are lovely but she is far more naturally switched on to retrieving and hunting, the cocker just wants to sniff in bushes and doesn't care for retrieving!
 
Weve a chocolate lab, English Springer, Boxer, Cairn x & a Blue Merle Collie. Would choose the collie over the others anyday, intelligent, loving & extremely loyal. Wonderful dogs.
 
I agree that a lab would be a good choice by the sounds of it. Don't even consider a husky if you don't want a dog that runs off! German Shorthaired pointers are wonderful (i have two) but not sure they'd make a good first dog. I saw a pointerdor somewhere for rehoming recently (GSPxlab) - now that would be interesting!
 
I have just reread your first post and I see you will be working on a yard .
I always let my girls bring their dog but I much prefer that it's a bitch as its less worry about fighting ( one of mine is a dog ) .
I would also choose a non controversial breed not a staffy ( I have nothing agaisnt them BTW) or anything that has a reputation .
You need to get a dog that very steady with strangers if it's to be loose on someone else's yard.
 
The horrible little toad that shoots anything that moves near one of my fields has a sprocker,seems to do a good job for him.If you can call assisting him killing anything with a pulse a good job anyway:rolleyes:
Cute little thing though (the dog that is not the horrible little toad that shoots;)),seems very intelligent and full of life but also very obedient and sensible when needed to do a job.
Not sure if that's representative of sprockers in general though??

I think a lab sounds like a good choice for a first dog and an excellent all rounder so to speak.

Just don't get an Irish Red Setter,beautiful to look at but impossible to train and guaranteed to be bounding around everywhere except the one place you want it to be:rolleyes::p

I have heard that they are gundogs and can make excellent working animals,no idea what idiot started that rumour off though:confused::D

ETA:just to say love pointers,have only had an english one so no experience of the the GSP's.Mine did not run off,in fact she was quite neurotic and liked to be welded to my side,which was not always convenient but at least I knew where she was lol.Not sure if that was typical of the breed though or just her??
Have promised myself another pointer one day,fabby dogs!!
 
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I have a Standard Poodle (rescue ftom St. Poodle welfare) who has been out beating a few years ago...he also ised to come out with the Hawks :D I also have a black Newfoundland pup who is 6.5 months and 6.5 stone..!! (from a recommended breeder) and have just aquired a 4 year old Brown Newfoundland boy from Newfie Welfare who is 12.5 stone...!!!!! Newfies are my biggest love when it comes to dogs :) But no good for what you are after. I would say Lab or Spanoel type.
 
Huskies are a wonderful breed!!!! Lovely characters, but prey animals and love escaping! But so funny and loving, and smart...

I would also go for a poodle.. Or a pointer... Both really smart breeds..

And as others said, please adopt one from a shelter..

Mine is from a shelter and he is such a loving character...
 
Goldenstar said:
I have just reread your first post and I see you will be working on a yard .
I always let my girls bring their dog but I much prefer that it's a bitch as its less worry about fighting ( one of mine is a dog ) .
I would also choose a non controversial breed not a staffy ( I have nothing agaisnt them BTW) or anything that has a reputation .
You need to get a dog that very steady with strangers if it's to be loose on someone else's yard.
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This a very well made point.
If I were to get a another dog I would get a bitch. Our boy is lovely but sometimes dominant and that is not ideal on someone else's yard.
We have many dogs coming up our yard but I have to say that the most obedient and even-tempered ones are a black lab bitch and a tan and white springer spaniel. I know both these breeds can have 'mad moments' but are generally straight characters and both breeds are suitable (in fact, perfect for) beating.
Good Luck

Oh, and...please be aware that many go through a 'What have I done?' stage when they realise the responsibility of having a dog and the time involved in training one properly- a bit like having kids;) - but it is worth it :).
 
Sidney said:
Agreed with the rescue centres, and are plenty of breed specific ones when you have decided what you want.

Our lab is a rescue.
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Agree with this too. Although we got our pure-bred Australian Cattle Dog (definately NOT a breed for the first-time dog owner! although we were, I had been around her when she was a puppy, so had an idea of how to cope!) a friend got a beautiful boy (not sure on breed) from a rescue after his owner died.

Fabulous dog, friendly, and does as he is told....mostly!

I'd be heading for a rescue if I were to get another dog. :)

...and yes, our ACD is ace, she was meant to be 'my' friend but seems to prefer OH! In fact, recalls to him everytime, me? when she feels like it... :p
 
I've got a German Shorthaired Pointer and they definitely take a lot of exercise.

They love being with their human and part of the breed description is actually that they can get very attached and can suffer from seperation anxiety- mine loves being with me and can be loosed anywhere as he always likes to be within whistling distance and wouldn't dream of running off.

Very loyal, VERY high energy, very intelligent, no real breed specific health issues; mine has always been very trainable but he can be hard work purely due to his energy levels- you won't tire one out!
Whether I'd say they are a suitable first dog, I'm not sure... mine would need 'proper' exercise as well as being loose on the yard but he would be happy hacking out etc with the horses.
 
I've got a collie x jack.... rescue (she was 5 months when I got her). Not what I planned to get in any way shape or form in fact she's ridiculous to look at as she has the biggest ears ever. However, she's fab, very loyal, was very trainable and is very savvy around the horses however, if I didn't have the life style I do i.e. at the yard, out hacking etc I expect she would be a complete nightmare as she's like a duracell battery and never stops unless completely shattered!
 
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