Which Breed ?

ghost&secret

ghost&secret

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 August 2011
Messages
54
Visit site
My personal situation has changed in the past few months and I feel that now I am settled and everything is running along back to a normal line (Is that possible ??) I would love to have a dog again.

I have always had large dogs - a basset hound and then Pointers, but as I travel with my job ( freelance instructor) I feel maybe a smaller dog would fit in with this lifestyle better, thinking of cars and smaller dogs easier to pick up and carry when out teaching etc. - Just sort of thinking out loud, as I don't have any OH to help out anymore !! :-) and I don't want to leave any dog at home all day.

What do you suggest ? I only have knowledge of Pointers so all suggestions and advice gratefully received so that I can go and do some research.

Cheers :)
 
Jake10 said:
Spaniel or spaniel cross. Hyper/lazy when you want them to be and easy to train :D
Click to expand...

Have seen a lot of these 'sprocker' and other 'designer' crossbred puppies advertised. Only ever having purebreds how do these 'crosses' measure up ?

Sounds like I'm being snobby but I'm not honest !!
 
Depends what you can offer a dog.

For example:
How much time will you have to walk the dog?
Train the dog?
How much grooming are you willing to do?
What about shedding?
How long will the dog be alone?
 
katielou said:
Depends what you can offer a dog.

For example:
How much time will you have to walk the dog?
As the dog would be out with me all day, and at both ends of the day doing five horses, my pointers I had in the past never really needed to be 'taken for a walk' as alway free. Used to take them on days off to different places as I am an advid runner so dogs ran with me !

Train the dog?
Plenty of time - can't bear untrained dogs !!

How much grooming are you willing to do?
Good point ! probably would prefer short hair

What about shedding?

After having to put up with the tiny little pin like hairs that stick into eveything from my pointers, nothing could phase me - also have stone floors downstairs so fairly easy to sweep and keep tidy with muddy shedding dog coats !!

How long will the dog be alone?
Click to expand...

90% of the day out with me - horses in morning, out with me while teaching and horses again in evening, prehaps a few hours on the odd evening as I do still quite like a bit of a social life !

Good points - Thanks
 
galaxy23 said:
My GSP comes out teaching with me! Never had a need to pick him up!

You can't beat them! :) ;) :)
Click to expand...

I know I have always had English pointers - but never took them with me teaching etc as I had five of them (working dogs- worked with hawks) and sort of kept dogs separate from my work.

My only thought was that as they are quite big dogs they may not be accepted as easily as a smaller dog when on other peoples yards,

You don't seem to find it a problem ?
 
cant begin to think about what breeds WOULD suit you... but one that definately wouldnt would be an american bulldog! :p just speaking from experience...! :p

good luck with your search, hope you find the right dog! ;)

eta: why not think about getting a dog from rescue?? :)

xx
 
a dacshound, we used too have a mini wire hired... none of the dacshounds need a lot of grooming, they have the energy too be out all day, they look good, easy too pick up and easy too train :D
 
Stick with the pointers! You know it's best! ;) In fact, we are planning a litter from one of ours next spring so there you go!:eek:

When I only had one pointer I briefly had a job driving a flat bed truck delivering bricks to places, she used to come with me, she loved trucking about!!! Also, people just seem to love a pointer whenever they meet them, I'm sure as long as it is well behaved it will be fine out and about!

ps, wash your mouth out for that "English" Pointer bit!!!:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
 
whisp&willow said:
cant begin to think about what breeds WOULD suit you... but one that definately wouldnt would be an american bulldog! :p just speaking from experience...! :p

good luck with your search, hope you find the right dog! ;)

eta: why not think about getting a dog from rescue?? :)

xx
Click to expand...

Thanks - won't ask about your experiance !!!! ;lol noted and put on the 'No List'

have thought about resue but two things - not too sure if I could go into a kennel and just choose one dog ! ........ but on a serious note have considered it but think I may prefer a pup that I can train to my standards and levels and will grow up with my lifestyle as normal - does that make sense ?
 
Tilly Pup
ps, wash your mouth out for that "English" Pointer bit!!!

I know !!! just in quote we were talking about GSP and I have only knowledge of one type of pointer !!

Have eaten bar of soap ! xx
 
ghost&secret said:
I know I have always had English pointers - but never took them with me teaching etc as I had five of them (working dogs- worked with hawks) and sort of kept dogs separate from my work.

My only thought was that as they are quite big dogs they may not be accepted as easily as a smaller dog when on other peoples yards,

You don't seem to find it a problem ?
Click to expand...

Never had a problem with him on other peoples yards.... Then he is a fairly submissive dog so never causes those sort of problems and little dogs can have ridiculously HUGE attitudes!!

I do only have 1..... When he was tiny, plenty of my clients parents took delight at have puppy cuddles! So now they love him anyway, even though if he tried to sit on their lap they'd be flattened!

He's so used to horses he's no trouble out and about. If I'm schooling at home I tie him up outside the school, so when visiting yards he never minds if the same happens.

I don't take him to all yards, it depends on the clients. I also think it is GOOD for him to be left home alone sometimes! lol!
 
ghost&secret said:
Thanks - won't ask about your experiance !!!! ;lol noted and put on the 'No List'

have thought about resue but two things - not too sure if I could go into a kennel and just choose one dog ! ........ but on a serious note have considered it but think I may prefer a pup that I can train to my standards and levels and will grow up with my lifestyle as normal - does that make sense ?
Click to expand...

dont worry about it... i have an ab- great dog and i wouldnt change her for the world... but doesnt mix well with other dogs- which is important in a yard situation! many ab's have a high prey drive... so running horses are a bit too tempting! :o

i'd get another once betty's gone- but i dont need to have her in a yard situation, and i dont have her loose around my horses. ;)

x
 
Border Terrier :D

My Border would love to travel around with me all day in the car / meeting new people. But I'm horrible and make her stay at home.

They are just amazing little dogs.
 
ghost&secret said:
Have seen a lot of these 'sprocker' and other 'designer' crossbred puppies advertised. Only ever having purebreds how do these 'crosses' measure up ?

Sounds like I'm being snobby but I'm not honest !!
Click to expand...

Mine is a Springer X Border Collie :D

Can go days without a walk (which is good as he's just ripped part of his pad off :o). Or he can walk miles on end day after day... :eek:

Can be hyper one minute and calm/relaxed the next (pretty sure most breeds do this though) Can now do this pretty much on command.

Easy to train. Absolutely loves anything that makes him think.

I know a lot of people say that your likely to get the worst of both breeds in a cross but he's not snappy (quite a few BCs I know are very snappy) and is very soft in the mouth (he catches the live mice that the cats bring in then gives them to me alive and slobbered on but unhurt :cool: )

He does have fairly long hair and sheds a ton :o
 
Last edited:
Thanks everyone for your input !!

Going to meet up with Border collie people at agility class on Saturday to get an idea of these dogs, Have info coming from Border Terrier people.

Love doing this type of homework !!
 
I'd obviously recommend a Lakeland terrier (working stock) but I'm VERY biased ;)
My mum's Scotties are fab at the yard, love meeting people and, surprisingly for a terrier, are really easy to train! I can quite easily pull them up if their instinct decides to kick in :P
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top