I want a dog...

[CorvusCorax]

[ QUOTE ]
CC yeah sort of, they were crossed and then bread together (if that makes sense?)

[/ QUOTE ]

That's what I thought, they are relatively 'young' and still essentially crossbreeds of crossbreeds until they are recognised by the KC (not that I have any great love for that organisation) and forgive me if I am wrong but to me they are still a bit of an unknown quantity in this country.

I know that sounds stupid coming from me, GSDs are still only 100 years old and still seem to be a work in progress

 

[monochroma]

A husky? He wants a husky?! -shudder-

My best friend's aunt has 4 and dear lord in heaven they are the most ill-behaved, noisy dogs I have ever known! Non-stop barking and howling, indoors and out. They don't get nearly enough exercise because IMHO they need to be WORKED and not WALKED. Dig in your heels, they are not a breed for the home unless they are worked. hard. all day. every day.

Further to the 'other Spitz' types - I have to say that Samoyeds are the cutest, sweetest, funniest, liveliest, most-huggable, wonderfully clownish Spitz dogs I have ever known...but then I am biased because I used to have one

 

[diamondgeezer]

I love doggies!! we have a 2 yr old jackrussell who i love but my sister got a german shorthaired pointer the week before christmas and he is just addorable.
Heres a couple of pick. one of our jackrussell too so she doesnt feel left out!!

He He

 

[blackcob]

You're all just torturing me with photos now. You wouldn't wave baby booties in the face of an infertile woman, would you?!

Ugh, I don't even know. I'm keeping an eye out in the local small ads, Pre-Loved and so on, I'm sure something will come up eventually.

 

[numptynoelle]

Blackcob, I feel your almost-puppy-stealing pain!

Apologies for slight thread hijack BUT.....

[ QUOTE ]
Well if we're posted cute puppy pics.....

[/ QUOTE ]

Why do I not have a corgi in my life?

Corgi and a spangle can't be THAT bad a combo to have around, can it?

Blackcob I am holding you fully responsible if I steal a corgi soon!

 

[CorvusCorax]

Argh, sorry to piss on your chips again, but stay away from a lot of the ads on free websites and the papers, a lot of these people advertise there because it is free and that is not a good sign - with purebreds, these are the pups from animals least likely to have been tested for hereditary conditions. A sweeping statement again, but be careful.

Try Many Tears, Dogs Trust, reputable rescues/breed-specific rescues, breed clubs/websites

 

[Ranyhyn]

That Pointer is divine!!!

 

[CorvusCorax]

Where's Viszlak or Alison? Do vizzies make good pets? You'd have the 'striking factor' - know little about them though.

I have met a couple of Weimys and they seemed a bit bonkers....

 

[FinnishLapphund]

But spitz fur are great, they doesn't absorb mud the way other dogs fur do!

I still remember a dog walk around 18 years ago, two Bearded collies ran through a big mud patch, went in black, grey and white and came out soaked and some sort of grey-beige, owner shouted to me "Watch out your dog is going through too!" and I looked like a question mark, meanwhile my now late, first Norwegian Buhund ran straight through the middle of the mud patch, went in yellow, came out looking slightly soaked and some sort of grey-beige, stopped for a shake and voila, was dry and yellow again! The owner of the Bearded Collies actually gaped in awe.


But if some small spot of mud does get stuck on the spitz fur of my Finnish Lapphunds, once it dries, it usually falls off by itself. And if you take them swimming, they can have a good swim (though my 3 FL's are firm believers in sea monsters, so they only swim under protest), their fur looks soaked when you come out of the water but if you dig your fingers through the fur down to the skin, the skin is dry because their fur is water proof!

 

[Annette4]

Blackcob....meet Jack next time we're your way/at the AAD meet....he's low maintenance and unusual!

 

[kirstyhen]

[ QUOTE ]
Blackcob....meet Jack next time we're your way/at the AAD meet....he's low maintenance and unusual!

[/ QUOTE ]

And absolutely devine!

I have to stick to Spaniels, otherwise I would end up with hundreds of dogs, all because of this dam forum!!

 

[CorvusCorax]

Annette, did you ever see 'Burger' and 'Cheese' on Many Tears? They were GSD x (must have been) Corgi and they looked like sheps, until you got to their legs!!!

Some twonk is selling a 'breeding pair' of Pembrokes on the local WedgeHedge

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Or even better come to the AAD meet and meet all the mutts to help you with a descision

- of course you may end up going home with a wide and varied collection as we stuff the badly behaved in your car when you aren't looking.......

 

[blackcob]

[ QUOTE ]
Argh, sorry to piss on your chips again

[/ QUOTE ]

You've done that rather a lot this evening, do bugger off.

I've filled out some pre-evaluation forms for the local Dogs Trust centre and check the website every few days but all they've had for weeks now is terriers and greyhounds, neither of which I am particularly fond of or think will be suitable. I'm also not terribly convinced that we'll pass a home check by them as despite a house move our garden is still small (a walled courtyard rather than a proper lawned affair). It shouldn't matter as circumstances mean that the dog will almost never be left and has access twice a day to a secure two acres plus walks, but I just know the second I say 'no garden' that'll be it.

Silly really as I have the Shropshire hills quite literally on my doorstep.

 

[blackcob]

[ QUOTE ]
you may end up going home with a wide and varied collection as we stuff the badly behaved in your car when you aren't looking.......

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd better bring the big car instead of my Micra else we'll be playing dog sardines.

 

[CorvusCorax]

No better place, I nearly killed a collie through overwalking on the Long Mynd one summer

More pissing on Mr Blackcob's chips

 

[Cliqmo]

Husky?? Nooo!! Vizla?? YEEEEES!!

On a serious note, what is it about the husky that your OH likes so much? For versatility, energy and 'unusual cool' factor vizslak and huskies must be fairly equally matched

...except these guys will only run as far as you do (because they never venture more than two feet from you

) on the plus side it means when you're holed up at home on the sofa with flu, that is exactly where they will be too- no questions asked

)

A cuuuute puppies

Posing

On the way home from a 25mile bike ride

Sleeping it off...

 

[Annette4]

[ QUOTE ]
Annette, did you ever see 'Burger' and 'Cheese' on Many Tears? They were GSD x (must have been) Corgi and they looked like sheps, until you got to their legs!!!

Some twonk is selling a 'breeding pair' of Pembrokes on the local WedgeHedge

[/ QUOTE ]

I didn't....can imagine what they looked like though. Stupid twonk! I'll kick 'em! I can see me turning into a much more common version of the queen with an army of Corgi's and a GSD thrown in for good measure

 

[FinnishLapphund]

[ QUOTE ]
I want a medium-sized, short-haired dog, 12 months plus, who'll hop in the car and come with me to the yard morning and night, come biking with me at weekends, sleep in front of the fire for the rest of the day and be happy to be left for four hours twice a week while I'm at uni. That's do-able, right?

[/ QUOTE ]



Norwegian Buhund! You can't call this overly fluffy can you?

And the little extra fluff there is, never gets any snarls/knots in it.

 

[Vizslak]

[ QUOTE ]
Where's Viszlak or Alison? Do vizzies make good pets? You'd have the 'striking factor' - know little about them though.

I have met a couple of Weimys and they seemed a bit bonkers....

[/ QUOTE ]

PAHHAHAHAHAAA!
No no and no! Awful, terrible pets without serious exercise, alot of training and alot of time, they are also despite their outward appearance of being super confident, remarkably nervous, sensitive dogs and that fear often turns into aggression in the wrong hands...as much as I really dearly love the breed and will have them in my life as long as I am able, I wouldn't recommend them as pets to 90% of the population! They are also probably the noisest buggers you will ever come across....never stand near the vizsla benching/ring at a show....you will have no eardrums left!!!

That said, I don't know Blackcobs set up but would think if she is discounting a husky it would be a safe bet to say she should also discount a vizz!

ETS although Ali has a point...they do recall far better than a husky!!!! LOL

 

[CorvusCorax]

No worries, just thought I would ask - I think Alison disagrees though?

I think the Buhund looks perfect, Finny, just not sure how widespread they are in the UK?

 

[Vizslak]

Yes Ali does appear to disagree

Ahhh what do I know! LOL
Ali has Rubester though so should know what happens to a vizz in the wrong pet home!

(not having a go A)
I also know she walks the hind legs of her pair!

ETS....also note her comment on the piccy of them looning down the track

on the way home from a 25 mile bike ride!!!!

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Me neither, I just know you do have enough of Norwegian Buhunds over there to have their own breed club http://www.norwegian-buhund.org.uk/ .

Which also the Finnish lapphunds have http://www.finnishlapphund-club.co.uk/ .

 

[Booboos]

Another vote against the husky I am afraid - gorgeous dogs but they require an enormous amount of dedication.

Spitzes (bless them I have two German Spitzes) are bright and fun, but they can bark their little heads off (they are supposed to have been bred as warning dogs so they do tend to react to noise) and can be on the hysterical side. My two seem to have a host of health problems between them, including heart problems for both (they are first cousins) so I have this little doubt about the health of the breed at the back of my mind.

How about a GSD? A GSD with the right temperament makes the most loyal, settled and loving dog.

 

[Booboos]

Forgot to say: Spitzes will stay very clean because their coat seems to shed dirt (although it is shed onto your carpets!!), but they do need quite a bit of grooming (Jakey who has a very thick coat needs to be done at least once a week and even so when he happens to go to the vets for a GA (regular for him!) they take the opportunity to do a good de-thatch).

 

[MurphysMinder]

Black cob, if you don't mind travelling a bit have a look at Grinshill rescues website, they are full to busting at the moment. There is also Hilbrae at Telford (but you may have tried there).

 

[Cliqmo]

[ QUOTE ]
PAHHAHAHAHAAA!
No no and no! Awful, terrible pets without serious exercise, alot of training and alot of time, they are also despite their outward appearance of being super confident, remarkably nervous, sensitive dogs and that fear often turns into aggression in the wrong hands...as much as I really dearly love the breed and will have them in my life as long as I am able, I wouldn't recommend them as pets to 90% of the population! They are also probably the noisest buggers you will ever come across....never stand near the vizsla benching/ring at a show....you will have no eardrums left!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

I think we have been remarkably lucky with our vizzys! We get happy 'bow wow wows' when we get the leads out but otherwise they are virtually silent and Nala is the boldest dog I've ever met- although Rubes is rather more demure when greeting people

...fortunately her habit of nervous-snapping at anyone/thing seems to have been curbed now

That said Vizslak (love the new name btw!) has much more experience of the breed than I do though, so I shall bow to her superior knowledge

Also, I tend to forget:
1. We have had lots of issues with Rubes regarding her snapping etc (who we got at 17mths)
2. I now take it for granted that 30mins hard cycling is a normal mornings exercise for dogs

-on the plus side I've lost a couple of stone since we got them

-Perhaps they aren't for everyone afterall

 

[FestiveSpirit]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Argh, sorry to piss on your chips again

[/ QUOTE ]

You've done that rather a lot this evening, do bugger off.

I've filled out some pre-evaluation forms for the local Dogs Trust centre and check the website every few days but all they've had for weeks now is terriers and greyhounds, neither of which I am particularly fond of or think will be suitable. I'm also not terribly convinced that we'll pass a home check by them as despite a house move our garden is still small (a walled courtyard rather than a proper lawned affair). It shouldn't matter as circumstances mean that the dog will almost never be left and has access twice a day to a secure two acres plus walks, but I just know the second I say 'no garden' that'll be it.

Silly really as I have the Shropshire hills quite literally on my doorstep.

[/ QUOTE ]

Weirdo - you have no taste then

 

[Vizslak]

Hehe Ali you make me laugh! I don't think so much its as you have been lucky with them, more that you are the kind of home they need

I love Vizzies and am by no means slating them as pets, they are loyal, very affectionate and intellegent....

I very much like your second point though...you are so used to vizzie ownership that you consider a 30 minute hard bike ride before you start your day as normal!

That is the point I'm trying to make really, in my experience the average dog owner doesn't want to have to do that. Some might even consider that as ok, as long as they didnt have to take them out again as well later!! LOL

As an add on; my second reply looks like I was saying Ali was the wrong home for Ruby.... I most definately wasn't as I'm the one that paired them up! Rubes was in ther wrong pet home BEFORE she went to Ali!

Just incase people thought I was being a right b1tch!

 

[blackcob]

[ QUOTE ]

Black cob, if you don't mind travelling a bit have a look at Grinshill rescues website, they are full to busting at the moment. There is also Hilbrae at Telford (but you may have tried there).

[/ QUOTE ]

I've just rattled off an email to Hilbrae and I'll give Grinshill a call this weekend, they're only a few miles up the road from us and I had no idea they were there! Many thanks.