Dog dilemma ....

[Crackle]

Been here. I never wanted a dog but faced with months of unrelenting pressure I capitulated. I never wanted a Lab but ............. you get the picture. If you get a Lab, think twice about a rescue because of the hip problems. We bought ours from a breeder who bred them with good hip, elbow and eye scores and we saw all the certificates, the mum, the dad and the grandad before we picked. There's no guarantees but so far he's one of the most agile and active labs I've seen. We have insurance too and you will need it with Labs, they are prone to injuries as they only have two speeds, flat out and flat out. If you get one, pick a taller, long legged and skinnier one, not a classic stumpy one. They are all descended from the same single braincell by the way.

Beyond that, my experience is limited. Despite having dogs in the family, he's the first I've realy paid attention too and yes, I ended up walking him, feeding him and being his main carer, which may not happen to you. I was not a dog person but I discovered deep down, that actually I am. Labs are very easy to train and manage, there are worse choices.

 

[coffeejo]

All breeds have their drawbacks and advantages. Over the years, my mother's had 4 working sheepdogs, 5 JRTs, a Basset, a Border Terrier, a Miniature Daxie, a Golden Retriever, 4 Labs, a Cairn and 3 Scotties. Of the lot, only one sheepdog was at all aggressive.

If you're signed up at a rescue centre then spending a couple of hours there together sounds like your best bet so you can together what suits you best as a couple.

If you can't agree on a hypothetical dog then it would probably be best for you both (and the dog) if you postponed the decision for now.

Good luck.

 

[fossyant]

Our neighbours have a King Charles. They never walk it and it's as fat as a barrel. Poor sod.

They can get like that easily. They need daily walks. My folks are now retired so have time. The last one did get fat. They need exercise. TBH the current dog has its own toy box, toys go in, and he empties it out.

 

[Night Train]

Mrs FF would like a Labrador or a Border Collie.

I hope she realises the world of difference between these two breeds. The Lab would be happy just being a house dog with a bit of fun in the park and a daily walk where as the Collie needs to work or it will go nuts.

For the sake of the dog selected I hope she knows, and is prepared for, the amount of work required to look after it.

Big dogs aren't always harder work then small dogs but, as you say, they do take up a lot of space and cost.

I've had a Rottie and a Chihuahua in the household and the Rottie was the easier of the two to live with.
My previous dog was Lab/Huskey cross and he was wonderful and very laid back.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Get a JRT X. That way you won't know what your getting for several months and it'll be a surprise for all parties

Seriously though, our JRT X is 12 months old, and while he's definitely a JRT, (saw his mother, small wire haired JRT), I'm convinced his Dad was a Border Collie. He's got long legs which makes him kind of large for a small dog, and small for a medium dog, if you know what I mean

Anyway, he's an absolute belter he is.

 

[Arch]

If there are emotions so strongly involved in this, have you asked Mrs FF about her reasons for wanting a large dog?

This was my thought. Is it for her sake, or for the dog's?

Personally, I'd go for a mutt everytime, something small to middling sized, and probably wire haired to match me....

Agree with NT, you can't just go by size, she needs to do proper research on the breeds.

Smokeysmoo, I love your dog. I reckon his Dad was an ostrich!

 

[smokeysmoo]

Smokeysmoo, I love your dog. I reckon his Dad was an ostrich!

LOL

 

[DJ]

I love dogs, but if you don't have room in your life for a dog then get two cats instead. They are much more independent. In other words you wont have to worry about walking them!!

 

[Fab Foodie]

I love dogs, but if you don't have room in your life for a dog then get two cats instead. They are much more independent. In other words you wont have to worry about walking them!!

Thanks for the advice, but I detest cats.

 

[Fab Foodie]

This was my thought. Is it for her sake, or for the dog's?

Personally, I'd go for a mutt everytime, something small to middling sized, and probably wire haired to match me....

Agree with NT, you can't just go by size, she needs to do proper research on the breeds.

Mrs FF want's one for companionship and walks, the kids are growing-up and become ever more independent, in the next 2 years 2 of them will be off to University and I'm away on business a lot of the time. I can understand her wanting a dog and I'm not against the concept, I don't mind caring for it and walks etc. I've had plenty of practice in the past.
Because of my own dog experience, I also know the difficulties of living with a larger dog, so size IS an issue. We travel a lot so it needs car-space, big dogs need a lot of that, we camp a lot, so it needs to be able to fit in the car alongside the camping gear, hell, if it fitted into a bike-basket I'd take it out for a pedal. A small dog would travel happily in our tiny Citroen C1 and there still be space for others, a Labrador would fill the whole of the back seat. I know the difference between bringing a wet hairy Sheepdog home and a wet JRT. There's a food consumption difference also. So unfortunately I'm being awkward about dog size because it's of practical importance.

 

[buggi]

you seriously need to research some more.

we have a Westie - as with most small breeds it's too yappy, even yaps at a falling leaf and snappy with strangers. drives us up the wall.

we had a cross bearded collie. medium size dog, quite strong, very playful all of its life and the only major bill was putting her to sleep and the cremation fee. very sad day for us. i put her good health down to the fact that she was a first-cross and not full pedigree. however, she was crossed with a springer spaniel and both these breeds are playful as hell. if you want a quiet life don't go for either a bearded collie or a springer spaniel.

Fox terrier... i had one on wheels too. loved it.

border collie. medium size will fit quite nicely but they are harder to train than people think and, like a bearded, need lots of exercise. brilliant dogs for dog-trials.

labrador... boring (sorry, just my opinion).

Staffy. brilliant dogs, bad reputation comes from bad owners. but watch out for breeds with short fine smooth hair. they malt everywhere.

Fox terriers don't malt.

labradors do.

bearded collies don't (well they do, but it matts up in the fur and don't drop out, you have to brush it out or pick the odd clump up off the carpet which is fine).

A first cross or a mongrel will be in better health than a full pedigree, any many first crosses, like my beloved penny, look very much like a full pedigree. you wouldn't have known penny was a cross. Our Westie has allergies because of his breed.

border terriers are ace too for a small dog.

if i was you, i'd buy a book of breeds and get your mrs to look through it. so many dogs that you don't normally think of with all their traits.

o one other thing... the bigger the dog the bigger the poo but personally i don't like little dogs coz they are not as easy to cuddle, my penny was so cuddly with her big fluffy paws

now ferrets on the other hand...

 

[Fab Foodie]

now ferrets on the other hand...

Actually, my choice of pet is the humble Guinea-Pig, love the little squeaky critters, we've had several, even babies!

 

[oldfatfool]

Rescue an ex racing Greyhound, they are on the larger side but have many +++ points, a few myths explained

1) Excellant temperament with kids etc etc, can be trained to like small furrys if need be

2) Require very little excersise, will be more than happy with a couple of 10-20 minute walks per day

3) Fantastically devoted

4) Don't malt as much as most breeds

5) Have less of a doggy odour

6) Very healthy breed without illness traits in the breed (other than bad teeth due to racing kennel diet, and the only dogs that suffer from corns!)

7) Used to being fed the cheapest of cheap VAT free foods


Downsides . They will expect to lay on your sofa asleep 23 out of every 24 hours

Please consider a grey, bred for mans entertainment and thrown away if they don't make the grade

 

[Andy_R]

Have to agree with ex racing hounds, I know a local couple who resuce them and they do make most excellent house pets! But I would still recommend cross breeds for the temperament and health.

 

[gbb]

Staffy. brilliant dogs, bad reputation comes from bad owners. but watch out for breeds with short fine smooth hair. they malt everywhere.

Fox terriers don't malt.

labradors do.

Funny how he same but different dogs compare..

Fox red lab, worst dog ive EVER seen for moulting...a frikkin nightmare. Fight with him and you were plastered in sticky fur, REALLY. You just couldnt stop it, hoovered twice a day, within minutes, just the same (the carpets not the dog)
Black Lab cross, yeah he shed a bit but not too bad at all.
Choc Lab, he's good although he's just shedding a bit now with the heat i think. But not anything to worry about.

My daughter has Staffies...brilliant dogs although a bit mental for me, no shedding at all. Not my kind of dogs anyway, but horses for courses.