Which breed...

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ldlp111

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So me and my OH are looking into getting a dog.
But bit stuck on which breed.
Last dog we looked after (was my sisters) was a staffordshire bull terrier. My parents have had jack russell in past, greyhound and a collie (unsure which breed).
We don't want anything bigger than a staffy, needs to be smooth coat.
We live on a farm/campsite so fields to play in, rabbits+rats to catch ;) and the canal just down the road.
OH likes jack russells, I do too but wondering whether theyre abit on the small side :/
I would like to potentially do some dog comps and trick training etc.

Current potential breeds are:- Jack russell , parson terrier (although not many of these around) , patterdale terrier (OH doesn't seem keen on these) or a staffy.

Any other suggestions welcome :) Please no go to a rescue comments (OH isn't keen on rescue option)
Thanks :)
 
give a poor sbt a home,they are so full of love XXX
i know a few that were rescues and are amazing.
 
Nothing wrong with Staffords, but if your fences are decent what about a beagle? Mine comes back on walks but would roam if she were totally unsupervised in a massive open area. Other than that she would happily catch your vermin, is bright, quick to learn and easily motivated. We have done some fun obedience work, have brilliant heelwork and some fun agility. I am sure she would be great at dog dancing too. Happy little dogs, minimal coat care, child friendly and game for all sorts
 
The only thing with staffies is last one had tumour in nose so was pts, and I keep hearing about alot of them getting tumours/cancer which puts me off.
No experience of beagles, not sure what OH would think of one :)
 
Beagles are not trainable and will not do comps or trick training.
Patterdales are awful pets, their ideal day is digging for badgers and again they are not trainable. No terriers are really but some are better than others.
Staffy might work but you don't see many doing agility, they are super little dogs though and very easy coats to maintain. I haven't known any with cancer, maybe avoid white ones?
Someone on here has a lancashire heeler - Dobiegirl perhaps - they are nice looking dogs.

Just read the pro post for beagles - that beagle is not like any I know, I do like them but best in a pack hunting hares.
 
ldlp111 said:
The only thing with staffies is last one had tumour in nose so was pts, and I keep hearing about alot of them getting tumours/cancer which puts me off.
No experience of beagles, not sure what OH would think of one :)
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I say give a rescue staffy a home, not sure how they would get on with agility though?
Can't say I have ever met a well trained Beagle (and I have met a fair few) but I am sure there is the odd one out there.
What about a smooth coated border collie?

I work in a vets and can honestly say I see less staffies coming in with tumours than I do various other breeds of dogs.
Of course you never know what may happen, you could get a thoroughly health tested littler terrier of some sort and it could get every health condition going, so I wouldn't base your decision on that.
 
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Umbongo said:
I say give a rescue staffy a home, not sure how they would get on with agility though?
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They're wicked at agility. I used to take one of mine to the park and she'd jump over all the kid's rocking horse toy things and the benches - we had a right little routine and people used to stop and watch/chuckle. She was like a flying sausage!

Give a Staffy a home - they are so loveable. We've had four of them and know of lots of other Staffie owners and none have ever had cancer or tumours.
 
Yes not sure if a staffie is bit too bulky build for us. Did consider fostering for awhile but we don't have an enclosed garden at present.
I would rescue but OH wants to get one from a young age, so we know all the history etc.
 
SpringArising said:
They're wicked at agility. I used to take one of mine to the park and she'd jump over all the kid's rocking horse toy things and the benches - we had a right little routine and people used to stop and watch/chuckle. She was like a flying sausage!

Give a Staffy a home - they are so loveable. We've had four of them and know of lots of other Staffie owners and none have ever had cancer or tumours.
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Well vets we took our staffie to said tumours in the nose are common, but I guess you only hear about the ones with problems
 
These things are so subjective, its always hard to say!

I have two elderly and very experienced patterdales in my flyball team, one is coming to the end of a career in agility as well so it can be done!

The only beagle i have experience of is stubborn, independent never interacting with other dogs and rather choosy about when it interacts with its owners as well despite them putting the effort into training.

I am not a fan of staffies for no real reason. I have only met happy, friendly ones, I have seen them at flyball having the time of their lives but yet i just cannot take to them - but then again I was a labrador die hard until Mrs Spaniel came into my life!

Speaking of which - have you considered a working cocker? Again my experience only but Mrs Spaniel has minimal feathering on her legs so isn't too hairy! I just keep her trimmed! She is quick to pick up tricks, we do flyball and she isn't too big in size.
 
Clodagh said:
Beagles are not trainable and will not do comps or trick training.
Just read the pro post for beagles - that beagle is not like any I know, I do like them but best in a pack hunting hares.
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Don't get me wrong my beagle would love to run in a pack but the more training I do with her the more interested she becomes in me and what I am doing. 100% trainable, keeps me well on my toes I admit but she is a cracking dog. I definitely think if you get one from a puppy and intend to do something with it you would find it would do really well.

And she loves people and other dogs - my springer does not much like either so it is definitely not my training!
 
Might be a bit small for you but a Lancashire Heeler would fit your criteria in most other aspects. Ours does both agility and flyball with some success, and is very trainable.
 
My lily is half lakeland half fox terrier and at 6 months is (mostly) a lovely little girl..

Everyone I talk to about lakelands say they would have another one :)

Fiona
 
http://www.lancashireheelerassociation.com/

Lancashire Heelers can turn their paws to anything from working cattle and 2 of mine did,ratters,agility,obedience,blood tracking and pat dogs. They are also really good watch dogs who will alert you to anyone who knocks on your door but will often then welcome whoever is calling.

Ive only had one Manchester Terrier who was one of my foster dogs but he was incredibly nervous which was down to his previous upbringing, he has taken a long time(2yrs) with his new owner to become confident and now lives with house rabbits and loves all dogs.

If you are interested in a Lancashire Heeler either myself or Murphys Minder can put you in touch with a good breeder. They are definitely big dogs in a little body, mine lives with 2 Dobermanns and she is the boss, she has also learnt lots of tricks.
 
twiggy2 said:
Regardless of breed your dog will need a fenced area/garden
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I don't necessarily agree with this, my mum hasn't had a garden for the last 30 years and has always had a dog, rescues not puppies I grant you. It can be done but it is seriously hard work and I personally wouldn't do it, every time it needs a pee you have to get dressed!
 
Clodagh said:
I don't necessarily agree with this, my mum hasn't had a garden for the last 30 years and has always had a dog, rescues not puppies I grant you. It can be done but it is seriously hard work and I personally wouldn't do it, every time it needs a pee you have to get dressed!
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Agree, it is hard work but doable. Its not something I would like to do with my 2 GSDs but my daughter has lived in a flat with no garden with her heeler on more than one occasion .
 
we had a staffy x JRT and she was the most loveable biddable active little dog. We currently have a patterdale who is the most awkward, beligerent git- the great majority of people I meet who have them would never have another!
 
We've had several dogs over the years and never had a problem with the garden the way it is, all of the dogs we had would get let out for a wee at night then came back in when called. It has a wall around most of it but you can get straight to entrance although this is at least 50m from house, so the parimeter is fenced just not fenced off from different parts of the farm hope that makes sense. The wall is not very tall about 3ft at lowest point, although OH did say though that if we got a dog the garden would need to be fenced etc. Until it's recall it's good it wouldn't be going off the lead anyway as we also have lots of free range chickens, peacocks etc.
We have got about 7 acres here as it was/is a farm, although half of it is now a campsite. :)
 
That sounds no problem. Our garden is not dog proof, the lurcher vanishes daily, but the labs don't jump out.
 
How about going to your local PDSA or RSPCA or similar centre and see what they have to rehome. You could find the perfect pet for you and your OH that is of no particular breed but perfectly suitable.
 
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