Getting a dog!

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Parkranger

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I'm flat sharing in a large flat and the girl who owns the flat has a terrier x. She stays in the flat during the day but is walked at night and morning and is fine with the arrangement.

I've spoken about maybe getting a dog but realise that most terriers need alot of exercise so am a bit anti getting one.

I would need something that wouldn't get trodden on my a horse(!) and would be quite chilled temperament wise. My ideal would be a great dane but not sure that it would fit in the flat (mum used to breed them so always had a soft spot for them!)

Any ideas? xx

PS - not a longhaired dog......
 
Granted I'm not in a flat but I wouldn't rule out a terrier - ok so I'm biased! But my 3 aren't loonies and take as much or as little exercise I give them and are brilliant around Nelson.
 
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Granted I'm not in a flat but I wouldn't rule out a terrier - ok so I'm biased! But my 3 aren't loonies and take as much or as little exercise I give them and are brilliant around Nelson.

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What terriers do you have?
 
I have 3 Jacks!!

To be perfectly honest with you a Jack will keep up fine with a horse. Nelson's an ex racer and unless I push him flat out then my 3 keep up at every pace. And also I dont think any dog would keep up with a flat out horse.

It really was only when Nels galloped that Mouse couldn't keep up, she'll race him in a canter it's dead funny she gets all vocal
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Millie manages but is fat and lazy so prefers to wait at the gate when I canter. Jimmy's only just started coming with me and can keep up but bunny smells are more interesting!!
 
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I have 3 Jacks!!

To be perfectly honest with you a Jack will keep up fine with a horse. Nelson's an ex racer and unless I push him flat out then my 3 keep up at every pace. And also I dont think any dog would keep up with a flat out horse.

It really was only when Nels galloped that Mouse couldn't keep up, she'll race him in a canter it's dead funny she gets all vocal
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Millie manages but is fat and lazy so prefers to wait at the gate when I canter. Jimmy's only just started coming with me and can keep up but bunny smells are more interesting!!

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I did think about a Jack Russell actually......
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i think somethng that's small enough to take everywhere with me but also will enjoy being down the yard and not get under ty's feet (ie not be stupid as some of the great dane's we had once of which got kicked in the head)
 
Mine will run with Nel in the field but I can trust him and they do move out of the way very quickly. They don't tend to run under him, more next to, infront or behind him.

When I first took Mouse on a hack with me she ran ahead a stride(ish) and kept zig zagging infront of him and I could feel him pull himself back so as not to tread on her, though he had his grumpy face on - sort of a "how dare you slow me down in a field"
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It sound totally made up but it is the truth!!!

Jacks are good - all else fails pick 'em up!! Just make sure you get it to know who's boss from a young age, terriers can be little sods too! If left to do as they please.
 
I have a terrier & a black labrador, both bitches. I think terriers are much harder work than labradors, plus my terrier did have her leg broken by a horse which trod on her. All the years she has been around horses she is useless, still gets in there way. My labrador is 15 months and is the most obedient dog I have ever met, she comes running with me, out on the horse with me, never wears a lead as she has never needed one, she is a star, even as a pup. I wouldn't recommend anyone to have any dog if they don't have a garden or are at work all day, as long as they get lots of excersise and are not locked up for hours on end, I think having a dog is a great idea.
 
Staffi x Whippet - dogs homes are full of them and mine keeps up with my TB just fine, she is happy to curl up in the house - thats the whippet, and is soooo well behaved outside she just knew instinctivley to keep away from the horses back legs - being a rescue she wont leave my side when we are out and desperatly wants to please.
Downside - CATS! terriers chase anything that runs and people dont like having a staffi head stuck in their cat flap!
 
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Staffi x Whippet - dogs homes are full of them and mine keeps up with my TB just fine, she is happy to curl up in the house - thats the whippet, and is soooo well behaved outside she just knew instinctivley to keep away from the horses back legs - being a rescue she wont leave my side when we are out and desperatly wants to please.
Downside - CATS! terriers chase anything that runs and people dont like having a staffi head stuck in their cat flap!

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Do you mean you have a Staffi x Whippet or a staffi and a whippet?
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We used to have a lovely English Bull Terrier - she was perfect size and short haired.......I'm definately getting another one when I get a house
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Not quite along the lines of a Jack Russell but they're nice little dogs :-)
 
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We used to have a lovely English Bull Terrier - she was perfect size and short haired.......I'm definately getting another one when I get a house
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Not quite along the lines of a Jack Russell but they're nice little dogs :-)

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I did think of them - I like the minature Bull Terriers too - parents nearly brought one years ago......needs to be small and compact so that it can come everywhere with me. Good thing is he'd could come up the stables with me every evening so would get lots of exercise......
 
You are going to hate me, but have you definitely thought all this through? How permanent is your flatsharing arrangement? Is there any chance you may end up having to find another place and find it difficult to find one where you can have a dog? How much time does your work and singing commitments take up? Do you definitely have time for a dog?

Although your friend's dog is happy to be left all day, some aren't and you don't always find that out until they start chewing the place to bits, barking the flat down or messing on the floor.

I'm not saying don't do it, but just be 100% sure that it is going to work out - it would be horrible if you had to rehome it for some reason. I'm sure you are sensible and have already gone through all these concerns - but I just thought I'd flag them up anyway. Don't be offended, because obviously you know you own situation much better than I can glean from what I have read on the forum.
 
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You are going to hate me, but have you definitely thought all this through? How permanent is your flatsharing arrangement? Is there any chance you may end up having to find another place and find it difficult to find one where you can have a dog? How much time does your work and singing commitments take up? Do you definitely have time for a dog?

Although your friend's dog is happy to be left all day, some aren't and you don't always find that out until they start chewing the place to bits, barking the flat down or messing on the floor.

I'm not saying don't do it, but just be 100% sure that it is going to work out - it would be horrible if you had to rehome it for some reason. I'm sure you are sensible and have already gone through all these concerns - but I just thought I'd flag them up anyway. Don't be offended, because obviously you know you own situation much better than I can glean from what I have read on the forum.

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I don't hate you!!! It's only a thought at the moment and you're right, I need to see where life is taking me first.......
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I live in an apartment and my dog (a Boston Terrier) does just fine. I do have the luxury of walking her for an hour-and-a-half every morning, and for an hour in the evenings, all off the lead. I work from 9-3 and take her out for ten minutes when I get home, but she is still tired from her morning walk at that point. She is a very happy little dog -- as you can see from these photos I posted yesterday
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You just have to put in that much more effort, in my opinion, if a dog is going to be living without a garden, but it can be done -- just choose your breed wisely. Here's a list of breeds that do well in apartments.

My dog loves horses, and is very chilled around them (cats, too).

Have you thought about rescuing a slightly older terrier (say, two and above) so that you can choose something on the calmer side?
 
If you have room for a sofa you have room for a Dane.....only place ours (family dogs, sadly not mine) are found!
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Good luck,and avoid Severnmiles at all costs...those BI's of hers are too tempting!
 
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If you have room for a sofa you have room for a Dane.....only place ours (family dogs, sadly not mine) are found!
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Good luck,and avoid Severnmiles at all costs...those BI's of hers are too tempting!

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What's a BI - don't laugh!
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Agree
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severnmiles' dogs look gorgeous...

hers are British Innuit I think x

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I read that as British Innit? I thought I don't know, issit?
 
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What about going to a rescue and seeing what's on offeR?

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Yeah that might be an idea - need to make sure it's defo the right thing to do though first. If i continue to stay local then definatley but if I have to work up town then it might be a bit of a nightmare.... x
 
Get a lurcher you cannot beat them..... love to run out with the horses and also like to be couch pototoes.......... if you get a whippet cross it will be smaller.
There are loads in the rescue centres that will be great companions.
 
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What about a whippet? Need something that will keep up with Ty haa haa xxx

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LOVE them, they are my absolutely favourite breed. SUCH friendly little souls, with so much to give, and yes, they will keep up with TY - infact, he would probably have to pick up the pace if he wants to beat a whippet in a race
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I would like to put in a word for whippets as well. They are v fast of course and would easily keep up with you and Ty out on a hack but they are also total couch potatoes and don't usually mind being left alone as long as they have somewhere warm and soft to sleep. Mine sleeps most of the day, often with one of my three cats. They all move round the house with the sunshine and the whippet often uses the Burmese as a pillow. I should take a photo really!
 
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