OK then, can anyone suggest a breed of dog for me please?

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EKA

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Hey guys,
Im still at university, but once im done i shall be moving out into my own place, and no home is complete without a dog now is it?
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Ive always had a dog at home, and we have only ever had Rottweilers. I absolutely adore this breed and ours have all been very good ambassadors for the breed. Our current bitch is now 5, i did all the house training, agility and obedience training with her, and we also completed the KC Good citizen Gold award - so i'm used to living with big dogs and handling them.
The trouble is that i'm not sure i'll have the space for such a large dog in my new house. I will be looking for houses with some garden, but realistically i'm unlikely to be able to afford a lot of space.
Any dog i get will come to the yard with me morning and evening - with 10 acres of fields to run around in, and i will walk it during my lunchbreak too.
So there we go, can you suggest a breed/type of dog for me? I'm not a fan of little dogs, and i'd ideally like the dog to be trainable - as i really enjoy this side of dog ownership. I'm not fussed about whether I get a pup or adult dog, so a rescue is certainly not out of the question.
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Thanks in advance!
 
well if you dont mind a rescue I always think its great to try to see if you can find one that would suit you and give them another chance in life
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However that means the training might be easy or might be a test of your skills (but hey could mean more rewarding right?!)

what about a labrador?? slightly smaller than a rottie?!
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or maybe a staffie or something?
If you like slighter built breeds (although being a rottie owner, not sure on this!) what about a lurcher or something? then agility etc is still a possibility?! and will be happy to snooze until you are ready to walk (in theory!
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Any size or build requirements?!!
 
I second a lurcher! Maybe a wire-haired type)


(And of course I have to say go and look at the GSD Rescue website to see if they have something older that could cope with a small garden and could cope with lots of lazing around - as I have a pro-breed bias
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or of course an older rescue rott)


Schnauzer? Boxer?
 
Cheers for the suggestions, I'm not the biggest lab fan (awaits barrage of abuse...
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). Im not really sure why, I do love staffies - they're like big dogs in smaller packaging! I quite like the idea of rescuing a greyhound, im not sure how trainable they are tho - i was wondering if anyone could enlighten me on that one?
No real requirements other than i'd like it to be at least medium sized, i dont want to be in danger of stepping on it and breaking it
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High energy is also a good thing, as i'm quite an active person and would like to have a dog that fits in with that.
 
Oooh CC i do love GSD's.... I think i just really love the working breeds, But i need my eyes opening to the other types too
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Whatever dog i get will have plenty of exercise, at least 2 hours a day - including being at the yard - which is very well fenced, so would be able to run around free for alot of that time. So i would hopefully be able to fulfill that requirement.
I do keep coming back to the Rotties, but im just not sure if its sensible...
 
Staffs are high energy but can be a bit forgetful in terms of training because they are so high octane.

Never tried or seen a greyhound/lurcher being trained, so can't comment but there are plenty of fans on here who could help
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Can't beat a German breed for trainability
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lol well if you want high energy........... gonna have to say collie! TICKS ALL THE BOXES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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(except mine, he chooses his trainability status depending on day and mood!
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hehe)
 
I did think that about staffies, its like they run on duracell!
If i ended up with another bitch like we have at home id be fine as shes so petite and chilled out... hmmm, may need to plot to steal her from the parents - not too sure how happy they would be with that
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I know what you mean about the german breeds, they always seem to be so loyal too.
I'll wait to see how trainable these greyhounds are too
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hehe, it time for battle of the breeds, lol!
How does your collie cope with having to spend time on its own? Ive known a few who suffered with separation anxiety, and its going to have to cope for a few hours a day on its own in between exercise etc.
Oooh, spaniels are lovely too... Why are there so many breeds to choose from?! im never going to be able to choose
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beau actually copes really well! But he was crate trained from the word go (as mum was not up for having little suprises round the house for too long!
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If he is in a destructive mood he goes in the crate when I am out for a week. But only if I am out for long periods of time.
If its only a couple of hours (like 2) he is just left in my bedroom (I am at uni at the mo so....) and I come back and he is just curled up on my bed still like Yo mum, iv had a good nap and ready to go play!

as you say, some have separation anxiety, some are nippy. But from the word go he has been told nipping is unacceptable, and I used to leave him in his crate for random times throughout the day to get him used to it and now he is fine. sometimes he will have a spaz, but thats often if I have not walked him prior to leaving he throws his toys out of the pram (which i can't blame him for but he does get a good one when I come home!)

I would say if its only on its own for a few hours in between good bouts of exercise then it should be fine! so long as obv you lay ground rules and accept that first year will be in the crate when on its own or risk having destroyed rooms! but thats the puppy aspect not hte breed as I am sure you are aware from having rotties!
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yes spaniels are lovely too! we live with 2 springers here at uni! (can you imagine how sane our household is?!) so I can vouch for them too!

although i still stay collies are better!
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Crates are a godsend arent they?! My girl still chooses to go and sleep in hers at night, even though the door hasnt been closed in years - its her little safe haven.
I'm a bit of a 'zero tolerance' freak when it comes to things like nipping, jumping up, mouthing etc so all boundaries would be clear from the word go - ive had to be with the previous dogs we have had, we couldnt have the rotts running riot
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Cheers for that, so it is do-able with a collie. The list just keeps growing!
Haha! 2 spangles and a collie in one house, now that sounds like fun!
 
How about a cattle dog, there are sometimes dogs in rescue, I have rehomed two so far and they really are the breed for me.
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They are herders but not so manic as the sheep dogs can be, they are solid types but much smaller than the big breeds, intelligent and trainable but not sumissive. They do well at obediance and agility if you want to.
They need lots of excercise and an experienced owner, but are very entertaining and loyal dogs though not very interested in other people despite attempts to attract their attention!!!
They guard the house and cars and are never far from me when it's time to go home, not down a rabbit hole!!
http://www.acdsocietyofgb.com/AvailableRescue.htm
 
Taken from a site hound forum about someones lurcher the things that one dog can do so far.

sit
down
stand
walk to heal (on and off lead)
roll over
spin one way
twirl the other
does both types of finish from recall
recall
A1 recall (which is from a down called to my side as I keep moving and changing direction)
retrieve
scent (as in find something hidden)
stay
wait
send away to an area
send to bed
most agility equipment
flyball
skateboard
leave (food infront of her or on the floor and walk round it without eating it)
weave round my legs
walk backwards
speak
give paw
give other paw
pray
go round me in one direction twice or with spins
close doors
jump through a hoop
touch things with her feet or nose on command

She can also steal treats from high places without disturbing stuff around it
find people with treats in pockets and obtain said treats from them redily
look really cute to the strangers so that they take pity and feed her
find manky food and eat it on walks (which now makes her ill >:( )
find tennis balls on her walks and then I have to bring them home

I am looking for a vid that was done of this dog giving a display.
 
wow that is a super talented lurcher!!!!!!
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Yes it is very do able with collies, people always comment on how "un collie" esque beau is, and although he has his moments he generally isnt nippy, barky, etc. He is also from working stock rather than "pet" or show stock so I really did risk getting a nutter!
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even though his mum is just a beautiful well mannered dog.

Ye the house is generally great fun, until you need to sit down quietly and do something................ then I have to have beau on his own, and the springers with their mum, then they settle. Together its like PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY WEE PLAY PLAY PLAY EAT PLAY PLAY PLAY!
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I'm another one to say GSD. Except I know Bear would not cope with being left alone for that length of time. Although he has never know any different (ie lots of company).

If you are serious about a Rotti I have a friend who is looking to rehome hers. She absolutley adores him but she has a 2 year old boy and a dachshund and she is a single mum. She is just struggling to manage everything.

She is based Shropshire/Cheshire border so if you would like more info then please pm me and I can pass on her details.
 
That's why I didn't vote for Border Collies as ours cannot/won't settle in the house.

She's a working dog and likes to be outside on the farm....goes stir crazy in the house. I suppose if she'd only ever been used to "pet" status, she'd have "dumbed down" a bit by now.

I actually think you'd suit a Springer. Nice medium size, trainable, lovable and with the added stroke factor. Less coat than a Cocker and just not as....well how can I put it...errm....thick!
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I have no idea why I've gone for another Cocker as I generally refer to them as "airheads". I am determined Harvey, our new one we get in a couple of weeks, is going to achieve recall and have all "selective deafness" tendencies removed!
 
There are more breeds than Labs and Spaniels you know!
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If you are used to Rotties, a Springer would be a massive change! The are VERY high energy, I walked 11 miles with mine the other day, he ran non-stop the entire time and probably covered 3 times what I did, sat still for 5 minutes and was ready to go again. And the more 'modern' Springer can be neurotic little things.

Surely you would be better with something that is similar to a Rottie but smaller, no idea what, I only do Gundogs
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Personally I don't think that space in the house or garden is an issue as long as the dog gets plenty of time out on walks etc. As long as they have some safe space to go outside for toilet breaks.
My house has two bedrooms and one large living space and the garden is probably about 4 square foot, but we have no problems with having a dog and were going to get another until the landlord changed her mind.
 
Good point from Hen - if you actually observe how much dogs move around in their home environment, they don't tend to stray to far from their favourite spots.

We built a massive exercise run for ours and they end up sitting in the corner snoozing
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There are two dobes at our club, I would say they are much more high energy and hyper than rotts. The male of the duo has proved hard to train as a youngster but is settling now he is older.
He is hilarious, he tries to jump off the A-frame and takes off with all four feet over a normal hurdle
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LOL. I was only being facetious about the Doberman though.
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I like all dogs. Greyhounds are supposed to be quiet in the house, I believe.

I keep wondering if I should've had a Springer, not a Cocker next. Too late to change my mind now.
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wot abot
viszla
pointers
dalmations

dont know much about the breeds but theyre not little dogs but have lots of energy
could get a thicker/hairy set lurcher..beddlington cross
alot of lurchers are worked so gota be good with the training side of things
good luck
 
Wow, thanks guys - theres loads to think about there! Im not going to be looking to get the dog until after i qualify in June, and then if i do decide to get a puppy then i have the time at home before my registration comes through (about 6 weeks) at home to start on all the basics before i start work - which is helpful
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Thanks for all your help, i do think its a good point that i should be looking at something with a similar mindset to the Rotties, as i get on so well with the breed. So i'll probs look toward dogs in the 'working group' and see what looks suitable
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- who needs to write a dissertation anyway.....
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May I recommend a Pembroke welsh corgi?

They aren't really *Small* dogs. They're just sort of ... um... short. :-)

They're great in the house, definitely know the difference between down time and job time, and they are A1 nappers! (gotta conserve that energy for when it's needed.) But they love having a job too!

They go to the barn with me twice a day, and I couldn't feed without them. They were easy to train and both were instinctively good barn dogs. They just "knew" how to behave around the horses from the very first time.

Here is a picture of my girl Bailey helping my roommate drive the tractor.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=32678614&l=6eba020f4c&id=23706520

and here she is relaxing after the morning feeding.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=32165988&l=aea2f9224b&id=23706520
 
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