What breed to get?

Our first dog was a border terrier, and we got a second one when he was nearly three. Both were great with our cat, who tbh ruled the roost and both were fine around the horses. we found a good walk in the morning settled them for the day. One of them was quite focused on rat catching but when we had ducks was completely safe around both ducks and ducklings. he coule have selective hearing on walks though but always seemed to know where we were. Second BT always stuck to us like glue on walks. When both has passed on we thought about a rescue dog but tbh most seem to come with a lot of issues and as my very elderly MIL lives with us we decided against it and we have another BT who is now 5 months. He is absolutely wonderful, very trainable, super recall (so far) just an absolute delight to have around but we have had him from a puppy and I have put quite a lot of work into him. Don't discount a BT as they tick all your boxes but you do need to train well from a puppy.
 
ponios said:
I grew up with Cavaliers and they were great, highly recommend them. Now have a working cocker who is bonkers!
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LOL my sister still has cavaliers and she also got a show cocker last year - absolutely mental and completely different in character, it makes you realise how easy cavaliers are :)

OP if you want to PM me about any breeders I can see if I can find out anything about them? If they show as well as breed (which they should do!!!) that is...
 
Cavaliers sound like a good shout. However I also wouldn't rule out a terrier. You sound like you are basically after my diddy dog, who is a rescue (as a pup - whole litter abandoned) so I don't know her breeding, but a genetic test put her as JRT X corgi. I'm not sure how accurate those tests are, but she does have fairly obvious physical features from both breeds. Obviously I'm biased but she is the most amazing, kind, generous little dog I've ever met - super easy to train and just wants to be friends with everyone and everything that comes into her world
 
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"Its not a breed" blah blah some people will shout (even though people dont get so stroppy about mixed horse breeds!) but what about a labradoodle? Ours is fantastic, she's my first dog and has been extremely easy. My OH has had several other (pure) breeds and he admits she is the easiest to train and just easiest to have around dog he's ever had. She's brilliant with our 5yo son, excellent with our cats (she's a total pansy, one of my cats sometimes beats her up if she so much as barks at someone knocking on the door...), great with the horses and just potters about, will sleep all day and not demand to go for walks at specific times of day - she just fits into our family very easily. She also doesn't hunt, dont get me wrong she sniffs holes and things but every time something has run out in front of her she's looked more surprised than anything! She's never killed anything bar 1 mouse which I think must have literally walked into her mouth. We take her to agility training once a week and that seems to settle her for the whole week. The only thing not perfect is her recall but that'll be our fault as we didnt do it well enough as a puppy but thats only an issue for agility competitions, she's fine at home and she's on a lead when out in public.
 
Our dogs are what we make of them — some because of their breeding/heritage will be more difficult and some perhaps because of our mismanagement — but the bottom line is that our dogs will be a reflection of us, and our perceived abilities.

Alec.
 
God, if that's the case, where did I go wrong with Zak?! I think a puppy's basic mindset can't be changed, so choose your puppy carefully.

I think I'll just say it again, check for absolute proof of testing for syringomyelia and heart mitral valve disease if you go the cavalier route.
 
Alec Swan said:
Our dogs are what we make of them — some because of their breeding/heritage will be more difficult and some perhaps because of our mismanagement — but the bottom line is that our dogs will be a reflection of us, and our perceived abilities.

Alec.
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This, underlined, and in bold. Even as a relatively clueless first time dog owner, I decided that I would have a whippet lurcher with good recall, non thieving, as well as other basic manners. Ultimately, he's as obedient to a degree that pleases me.
 
paisley said:
This, underlined, and in bold. Even as a relatively clueless first time dog owner, I decided that I would have a whippet lurcher with good recall, non thieving, as well as other basic manners. Ultimately, he's as obedient to a degree that pleases me.
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Yes, absolutely, though you can make life easier or more difficult for yourself ;) Outwardly if you met my current two dogs you would undoubtedly think that the westie was the least trained. In fact she is much better trained than the other, but she is far less conformist by nature.
 
DabDab said:
Cavaliers sound like a good shout. However I also wouldn't rule out a terrier. You sound like you are basically after my diddy dog, who is a rescue (as a pup - whole litter abandoned) so I don't know her breeding, but a genetic test put her as JRT X corgi. I'm not sure how accurate those tests are, but she does have fairly obvious physical features from both breeds. Obviously I'm biased but she is the most amazing, kind, generous little dog I've ever met - super easy to train and just wants to be friends with everyone and everything that comes into her world
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Aw, she sounds lovely, exactly what I'm after! Where did you get her from?
 
MagicMelon said:
"Its not a breed" blah blah some people will shout (even though people dont get so stroppy about mixed horse breeds!) but what about a labradoodle? Ours is fantastic, she's my first dog and has been extremely easy. My OH has had several other (pure) breeds and he admits she is the easiest to train and just easiest to have around dog he's ever had. She's brilliant with our 5yo son, excellent with our cats (she's a total pansy, one of my cats sometimes beats her up if she so much as barks at someone knocking on the door...), great with the horses and just potters about, will sleep all day and not demand to go for walks at specific times of day - she just fits into our family very easily. She also doesn't hunt, dont get me wrong she sniffs holes and things but every time something has run out in front of her she's looked more surprised than anything! She's never killed anything bar 1 mouse which I think must have literally walked into her mouth. We take her to agility training once a week and that seems to settle her for the whole week. The only thing not perfect is her recall but that'll be our fault as we didnt do it well enough as a puppy but thats only an issue for agility competitions, she's fine at home and she's on a lead when out in public.
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Yeah, thought about these as well. I know someone who has one and it's the most lovely dog, so friendly!!! It's a bit too big for us though, ideally I'd like something smaller.
 
Alec Swan said:
A Lancashire Heeler. I'll admit that I haven't seen one for years and that they may have 'changed', but previously, every one of them has been a bouncy, happy little dog, and importantly they always had a will to please.

Alec.
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An old guy near me has one. What a cracking little dog!
 
Alec Swan said:
Our dogs are what we make of them — some because of their breeding/heritage will be more difficult and some perhaps because of our mismanagement — but the bottom line is that our dogs will be a reflection of us, and our perceived abilities.

Alec.
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I agree but some are easier to train and have a more flexible nature than others. Some need more exercise and training than others.
The dog needs to fit into our lifestyle, I love Huskeys but it'd be the worst possible dog for us :)

We're inexperienced and have full time jobs so I don't want a dog that's particularly stubborn and hard to train - or a dog that needs 4 hours exercise a day :)

And before anyone shouts, if/when we get a dog I'll be working from home two days a week, OH will be working from home another day. We've only got two days where the dog would be mainly on his own (with the cats) which I'm hoping will be manageable somehow.
 
cinnamontoast said:
God, if that's the case, where did I go wrong with Zak?! I think a puppy's basic mindset can't be changed, so choose your puppy carefully.

I think I'll just say it again, check for absolute proof of testing for syringomyelia and heart mitral valve disease if you go the cavalier route.
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Thank you, I'll do that!

I'm currently really struggling to even make contact with a breeder, I've emailed about 10 yesterday, had two replies, one saying she's no longer breeding and the other one clearly haven't read my email properly and implied we'd be horrible puppy parents as we've got horses and want to be able to take the dog down to the field and on shorter hacks...

If anyone knows of a responsive Cavalier breeder, ideally in the West Midlands, please let me know!
 
You could get a dog walker for the 2 days per week you'd be out all day. Also for a small dog like a cavalier, a dog flap is feasible. Not just for when you're out - makes life soooo much easier once they're trained to use it! Can't help on the breeders front - assume you've tried Champdogs and the KC website? This doesn't automatically make them a responsible breeder, by the way - you'll still need to ask all the questions/for proof about health testing. Any good breeder will be happy that you're asking the questions, as it shows you're a responsible potential owner :) good luck in your puppy hunt, pics when you get him/her please!
 
Hugo-Boy said:
Aw, she sounds lovely, exactly what I'm after! Where did you get her from?
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Honestly, I just found a box of bedraggled puppies in a box one morning on my way to work. It was one of those 'this must be real because you couldn't make it up' incidents.y girl was pretty poorly, so I kept her and then found homes for the others. I'm still in touch with one family who took on one of the other pups and that one has a very similar temperament too.
 
Hugo-Boy said:
Thank you, I'll do that!

I'm currently really struggling to even make contact with a breeder, I've emailed about 10 yesterday, had two replies, one saying she's no longer breeding and the other one clearly haven't read my email properly and implied we'd be horrible puppy parents as we've got horses and want to be able to take the dog down to the field and on shorter hacks...

If anyone knows of a responsive Cavalier breeder, ideally in the West Midlands, please let me know!
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Have you messaged Levrier, I'm sure she could put you in touch with a breeder. You may find the best thing to do is phone rather than email (early evening is usually a good time), many breeders prefer to speak to a prospective puppy owner.
 
ponyparty said:
You could get a dog walker for the 2 days per week you'd be out all day. Also for a small dog like a cavalier, a dog flap is feasible. Not just for when you're out - makes life soooo much easier once they're trained to use it! Can't help on the breeders front - assume you've tried Champdogs and the KC website? This doesn't automatically make them a responsible breeder, by the way - you'll still need to ask all the questions/for proof about health testing. Any good breeder will be happy that you're asking the questions, as it shows you're a responsible potential owner :) good luck in your puppy hunt, pics when you get him/her please!
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Oh, hadn't even thought about the dog walker - that's a great idea. It would also be on the two days our cleaner will come, so he'd have human company for two hours.

If I organize a dog walker for another hour on these days this could really work!

Thank you!!!

Also thank you for your comment about breeders - for some reason I assumed they'd automatically be responsible just by being on these websites. I'll make sure to ask loads of questions.
 
DabDab said:
Honestly, I just found a box of bedraggled puppies in a box one morning on my way to work. It was one of those 'this must be real because you couldn't make it up' incidents.y girl was pretty poorly, so I kept her and then found homes for the others. I'm still in touch with one family who took on one of the other pups and that one has a very similar temperament too.
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Omg, this is so horrible, how can anyone dump animals like this!!! They were very lucky that you found them!
 
MurphysMinder said:
Have you messaged Levrier, I'm sure she could put you in touch with a breeder. You may find the best thing to do is phone rather than email (early evening is usually a good time), many breeders prefer to speak to a prospective puppy owner.
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Argh, hate phoning people up :)

Thank you for the tip, I'll do that then :|
 
Hugo-Boy said:
Yeah, thought about these as well. I know someone who has one and it's the most lovely dog, so friendly!!! It's a bit too big for us though, ideally I'd like something smaller.
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I am sure I saw somewhere that you can get different sizes of Labradoodle, dependent upon the size of the poodle?

Found this ...

Size

The Labradoodle comes in three size variations, depending on the size of the Poodle used for the first-generation breeding. The three sizes are Standard, Medium, and Miniature.

Size

The Labradoodle comes in three size variations, depending on the size of the Poodle used for the first-generation breeding. The three sizes are Standard, Medium, and Miniature.

The Standard Labradoodle should be 22 to 24 inches in height for a male and 21 to 23 inches in height for a female, while both can range in weight from 50 to 65 pounds.
The Medium Labradoodle should be 18 to 20 inches high for a male and 17 to 19 inches high for a female, with both weighing from 30 to 45 pounds.
The average size for a Miniature Labradoodle is between 14 to 16 inches and 15 to 25 pounds.

Read more at http://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/labradoodle#SSK3trGibtbzwmJf.99
 
Troubled with labradoodles, is as a mongrel they can go like one parent or the other, or be somewhere in the middle. Generally nice dogs but most I know are huge. One friend has an 'Australian Labradoodle' and it is much smaller.
 
Hugo-Boy said:
Yeah, thought about these as well. I know someone who has one and it's the most lovely dog, so friendly!!! It's a bit too big for us though, ideally I'd like something smaller.
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They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes! I know 2 which walk near us regularly, one is taller and slimmer than a Labrador, so I assume is part Standard poodle. The other is about the size and shape of a cocker spaniel, so presumably the poodle parent was smaller than the Labrador. I would expect a Labradoodle to be trainable, poodles are very clever dogs and Labs are usually easy enough.

If I was looking for a Labradoodle, I would want to see the poodle parent, or contact the Rescue society and see the full-sized dog in 'person'.
 
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paisley said:
This, underlined, and in bold. Even as a relatively clueless first time dog owner, I decided that I would have a whippet lurcher with good recall, non thieving, as well as other basic manners. Ultimately, he's as obedient to a degree that pleases me.
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If you have a lurcher, any lurcher, which isn't a thief, then there's something very wrong! :) All those which I've had, and there have been many, have been opportunists, and for me that's part of not just their makeup, but the attraction.

I've had lurchers which if offered a crust of bread will act with complete disdain —— if however the bread is thrown out for the chickens, now that's an entirely different matter! :)

Alec.
 
Alec Swan said:
Our dogs are what we make of them — some because of their breeding/heritage will be more difficult and some perhaps because of our mismanagement — but the bottom line is that our dogs will be a reflection of us, and our perceived abilities.

Alec.
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I'd echo this - my dogs all behave just as I expect (despite being rescues Alec! :D ) and I constantly get praised on how well behaved they are....to me it is just common sense I have to say :)
 
Alec Swan said:
If you have a lurcher, any lurcher, which isn't a thief, then there's something very wrong! :) All those which I've had, and there have been many, have been opportunists, and for me that's part of not just their makeup, but the attraction.

I've had lurchers which if offered a crust of bread will act with complete disdain —— if however the bread is thrown out for the chickens, now that's an entirely different matter! :)

Alec.
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He is a down-trodden, micro-managed poor little soul ;) I'm not saying if I would ever leave him alone with a block of butter, but the rule of the house is unless someone shouts 'doggy bonus!' dropped food isn't snaffled up immediately.

As for disdain- I've seen him turn his nose up at his water bowl when the water wasn't 'fresh' enough, and thought 'I've seen you drink cow pat juice!'
 
paisley said:
He is a down-trodden, micro-managed poor little soul ;) I'm not saying if I would ever leave him alone with a block of butter, but the rule of the house is unless someone shouts 'doggy bonus!' dropped food isn't snaffled up immediately.

As for disdain- I've seen him turn his nose up at his water bowl when the water wasn't 'fresh' enough, and thought 'I've seen you drink cow pat juice!'
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Love that!!
My lurcher had the whole house organised around her, but she was such a beguiling soul that she just got away with it.
 
Lévrier;13657813 said:
LOL my sister still has cavaliers and she also got a show cocker last year - absolutely mental and completely different in character, it makes you realise how easy cavaliers are :)

OP if you want to PM me about any breeders I can see if I can find out anything about them? If they show as well as breed (which they should do!!!) that is...
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We have had both lol and the cockers are definatly the nutty ones.
We did have a cavi cross cocker that was a very good mix.


Lev is very helpful, gave me some good poniters when i was looking but personal things changed and i couldnt get one.
 
Alec Swan said:
Whilst others on here may complain long and loud, I would approach rescue centres with extreme caution. NOT all dogs which are handed in, I accept but am alarming number are adult, they've received no training or discipline, they haven't a clue how to behave in public and the previous owners have simply used the RC as a dumping grounds, with the usual excuse for parting with the dog being, that they're moving. The truth is that they imagined that when they first acquired the dog as a puppy then there would be no need for further effort or training on their part.

There are also the cases, and often relayed on here, when someone's taken a dog in and they were the third or fourth re-home attempt. Whilst I admire those who take on the difficult dogs, common sense would surely have us start with a puppy so that we both grow together.

Whilst I'm sure that most rescue centres are acting from a heart-felt standpoint, the simple fact is that an awful lot of the dogs which they re-home arrive with a serious baggage overload. If you're prepared to live the next 10 years or so wondering what on earth you've done, go ahead; you may be fine. On the other hand ….! :)

Alec.
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Not true Alec if the rescues go into a good foster home they will not have any issues once they are up for rehoming, all my dogs Ive fostered have ended up being first class citizens and have continued to be so in their new homes. Caylas dogs are the same and anyone adopting one of our dogs will have a dog to be proud of.
 
Hey, just wanted to give you all an updated, we've decided on a breed. We're going to get a Japanese Spitz. We've met with a breeder at the weekend and are totally in love with these beautiful creatures.

It'll take a while until we get it as there's a wait list but that's ok, that gives us plenty of time to prepare ourselves and the house for the puppy to arrive :)
 
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