OK - almost decided to get a dog -but which one

TheBlackMoth

TheBlackMoth

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 October 2006
Messages
8,116
Location
Regency England
Visit site
Having read all the advice and listened to everyones views I am almost decided to let my daughter have a dog.

Now to remind everyone we have a pony, a horse and five cats. So I want to get a puppy so that the dog knows the cats are in charge.

So I am down to two very different choices - a labrador or a jrt.

The dog will be alone from 8.30 to 3.30 in term time (except when I am on holiday). I might be able to come home for lunch once or twice a week especially at first. The plan is to get the dog at the end of May/beginning of June when Jenny will be at home for three months.

So please tell me which I should buy and why (and also happy to hear why I shouldn't do it at all as still completely thinking).
 
Lab lab lab lab!!!! I love labs. JRTs too crazy for my liking. My OHs parents got one and it is ASBO pup. Intelligent sdog but needs plenty of attention. Plus horses are less likely to walk on labs as not as tiny. Labs very easily trained too (we have lab gundogs, well dog at min, on lookout for a new puppy this summer)
 
Definitely a lab
laugh.gif
. JRs bark too much!!!
grin.gif
grin.gif
 
Now you are scaring me - don't let my daughter see this - she's bad enough about getting one.

Seriously though - a dog is a big commitment and two dogs are a step too far for me at the moment. Two horses, five cats, two children, full time job and a dog is enough comitment for me.
 
Lightweight!
smirk.gif
Only kidding, you do seem to have your hands full. Maybe a JRT would be easier for you to manage? Never had one so I could be wrong but I'm just thinking about the size.
 
JRT JRT and JRT!!! LOL

I have 3 and would gladly have more if I was allowed to. They're fab around horses and when they were in close contact with a cat they were fine. They're very careful around Nel and he's the same with them - I take the older 2 out riding with me sometimes.

They don't bark much, only when someone rings the door bell or knocks the door - my big lad does that too!

Ok so I'm biased but I really would have a JRT
tongue.gif
 
I'd have to say a JRT. Poppy, (the JRT in my avatar) is the best dog I've had. They are fun to be around and are great with kids and horses. You just need to treat then firmly in the begining else they'll rule the roost! Oh, and they moult something terrible so not very good if you have allergies.
 

It's got to be a lab, they are very easy to train. As already said, JRT's bark too much and can be a tad hyper!! Also, your cats will be able to get underneath things away from a lab if needs be, a JRT will be able to get anywhere they can!!
 
Yeah, I can imagine the dilema - if you are thinking about getting a puppy could you perhaps go and see litters of both and let your hearts decide .... or maybe this might make the decision harder
confused.gif
. Good luck.

(ps. a lab would make a far better guard dog and child protector!!!! ....*runs away and hides*)
 
why limit yourself to just these two choices - there are many many more breeds to choose from - how about a Flat coat Retriever - very good natured, biddable dogs - or a Rough Collie -super gentle family dogs or if you want something smaller look at a Dandie Dinmont Terrier, gorgeous little characters - or a Norweigan Buhund - very smart lovely natured dogs.

What you need to do is write down all the characteristics you want from a potential pet dog and then get a good book on dog breeds and make a short list of those that fit your criteria.

I would then visit one of the big Championship shows and have a look at those breeds 'in the flesh' and get talking to some breeders - don't be in too much of a hurry - remember you will have to live with your choice for up to 14 years
smirk.gif
 
I've had both: A lab and a JRT and couldn't tell which one is best as both were so good with kids AND cats. Neither of them barked. Absolute darlings !
cool.gif
So whatever your choice, the name of the game is EDUCATION ! Then you have to consider practical matters such as size, feeding cost etc...
Good luck ! And keep us posted on ultimate decision...
smile.gif
 
speaking as someone who has both a 5yrold Choc lab and a 9 month old JRT i would say neither if you have limited time to spend with them, i am at home all day except every second saturday when i work but even then i come home at lunchtime to let them outside to do their stuff, and i dread to think what the dogs would get up to whilst i am gone my JRT goes in a crate when i go out and at night as he would destroy the place,although he is a lot better now, all dogs require mental stimulation especially puppies or you will end up with a very stressed out dog, 7 hours is a lot to ask any dog adult or otherwise to be alone IMO, sorry.
 
I don't necessarily disagree with you but there have been a fair few threads recently where people have asked this question and many leave their dogs all day and still have a successful relationship with them.

It is for my 16 year old daughter and I do believe she will invest the energy and attention necessary.

But it is why I am so conflicted about this.
 
Ok get yourself an English Mastiff. All they need is somewhere to sleep! You dont need to walk them for more than 20 minutes each day and when they get older they refuse to do that!

And they are just the most lovely dogs ever!!!

You just have to paint your house magnolia!!! (every year)!!!

ps there some advertised in the H&H this week!!!


And if it doesnt work out, I'll have it!!!

Not that Im biassed or anything!!
grin.gif
grin.gif
grin.gif
 
JRT!!!! mine's quiet as mouse

He's now 6 months and are happy to stay at home alone (sometimes with the cat) after a long proper walk (i take him to racing yard every morning while i ride out and he gets alot of run around) and something to chew... I have left him for about 6 hours now... My neighbour told me he never made a noise.

Hope this helps....

Boris6months008.jpg
 
Sorry forgot to say... He gets the run around of the kitchen while i am at work, he has toy box with different toys but i have noticed that he never takes his toys out of box and looked sleepy when i come home. He gets this routine about 4 days a week.
 
[ QUOTE ]
mine's quiet as mouse



[/ QUOTE ]

OK! OK! So mine are not so quiet when they are asleep due to the fact they snore a little!!!
tongue.gif
tongue.gif


But we dont get burglars!!!!!
grin.gif
grin.gif
grin.gif
 
I have two JRT (mother & son) I couldn't imagine life with out them, they were great with the cats and the horses, they are alone in the house fom 9am till 4pm and never made a mess. We always had a bearded collie before and used to look after a good friends JRT and we said that if my friends JR ever had pups we would have one, need i say anymore
grin.gif

Here are my two
Amber (mum) first
ChristmasDay2006050.jpg

AmberCookie004.jpg


And her son Digger
ChristmasDay2006027.jpg

STA70070.jpg


And the two of them together
STA70213.jpg
 
Dont like JRT since my grans one bite me. My friend had a JRT from a pup, but was PTS when it started killing the cats that it grew up with, and other small animals.

Sorry i just dont trust them 100%
 
get a JRT! my jack russell gets on so well with the horses, she rolls on her back and lets Tara sniff her tummy! And she gets on well with my cat too, they are always curled up together on the sofa (or my bed!), and she is increadibly intelligent, took us 2 sessions to teach her to lie down on command
laugh.gif
(she has also learnt sit, stay, fetch, and that trick where you put a peice of food on her nose and she flips it up and catches it in her mouth
tongue.gif
). shes not the quietest dog in the world, but thats why we wanted a dog- brilliant bugular alarm!
 
It HAS to be a lab, i'm 16 and my family has 2 JRT's and a black lab, the lab is just the best ever, cuddly, funny and a real mate to me, loves walks and swimming. She was really easy to train and acts as a great harmless guard dog. You honestly cant beat a lab
grin.gif
 
I am again very biased and will say a lab - my puppy is fab!

But seriously - I would listen to milor.

We had a rough collie when I was little - she was the sweetest gentlest dog and very easy to train etc etc. But hair everywhere!

Think you should go to meet some different dogs and see what you like.
grin.gif
 
It's not fair to leave a dog longer than 4 hours. If you can get home at lunch time and take the dog for a walk, fair enough - that's what I did when I worked, but to leave it all day, please don't do it. Dogs are a huge commitment, and a tie if you aren't 100% sure.

I'm only sticking my neck above the parapet because you said you wanted honest opinions.

I have 2 dogs and I adore them but I work from home. I still feel guilty about the one I had when I worked, even though I went home at lunch time and she had at least 2 walks a day.
 
Have you thought about a border terrier?? They are really fab dogs! My mum has got a border and a JRT and the border would be better in your situation I think.

If your set on JRT or a lab I'd go for a jack russell.
laugh.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top