Getting a dog. What to go for?

[Jonathan M]

We got a staffordshire bull terrier as a rescue nearly two years ago. Fabulous choice. Great with Josh & other kids, good watchdog, friendly, and just eternally grateful for having a home. Molly prefers sleep to walking -lazy bitch, in the literal sense. Good house dogs in general. Only issues can be that they sometimes are not tolerant of other dogs, or cats. Fortunaetly Molly is OK with other dogs, but the small yappy terrier breeds often get on her wick to the point where if they are really fussing around her on a walk, she'll let out a good going snarl, at which point the owner usually comes up looking at me in a disgusted manner that my dog (on a lead) has had the temerity to snarl at their prescious darling (off the lead) because they've not taught it proper recall. That is another downside, that others, dog owners or not, will always assume my animal is a risk to them or others.

 

[PaulB]

I like the idea of a Border Collie. You see them all the time around here as it's sheep country and an ideal environment for them. That said, it'd be less time on the bike and more on the hills running. A mate of mine has a perfect BC which he takes fell running with us so it gets lots of exercise and regards itself as one of the runners now. When Jeff's racing and the dog has to be kept on a lead in the car park, it goes mental and wants to be up there with him. Saying that, it would beat him hands down! I also like the idea of a young rescue dog (no, we won't be getting an old one despite an earlier suggestion) due to the fact that we want it to be our dog and not the remnants of someone else's. As for the person who suggested we get one and call it Owen, that won't be happening either, obviously. The only news I want to hear regarding an Owen is that he's climbed into a helium balloon and can't be found or that his helicopter pilot has fitted an ejector seat and blasted him through the roof!

 

[Billloudon]

Paul, I haven't read all the posts on here but I'll give you my view.
A Labrador/Retriever. No doubt.
They are loving, hard working, will walk all day, inteligent soft as putty and easily trained. Best of all they just love kids.
I had a Lab for 12 years and he won many an obedience medal. At one stage I was told that he could go much further if he had a different owner!!!!!
He was off the whistle, had hand and voice commands and was good off the gun.

 

[asterix]

No brainer - (G)

Don't encourage dog breeders.

+1

 

[The Jogger]

Paul, I haven't read all the posts on here but I'll give you my view.
A Labrador/Retriever. No doubt.
They are loving, hard working, will walk all day, inteligent soft as putty and easily trained. Best of all they just love kids.
I had a Lab for 12 years and he won many an obedience medal. At one stage I was told that he could go much further if he had a different owner!!!!!
He was off the whistle, had hand and voice commands and was good off the gun.

+1
I have a golden retriever and we go running along the south downs way! pure bliss!

 

[4F]

We have a black lab, picked her up as a rescue dog when she was 2 years old.
Excellent mut and brilliant with the kids.

 

[Chamfus Flange]

Two English springers and a Jack russel. Later is useless when on a bike unless in a basket. The spanniels are great when off-road.



.

 

[RATCHET]

Go for a Cocker Spaniel . Get a puppy and start obedence training early

 

[Fnaar]

Go for a Heinz 57 mutt... you'll be doing the long-term genetic diversity of dog-kind a favour

 

[PaulB]

Go for a Heinz 57 mutt... you'll be doing the long-term genetic diversity of dog-kind a favour

We may. Our best ever dogs have all had an odd mix of ancestry.

 

[swee'pea99]

DON'T get a border collie. They are wonderful dogs, but they are working dogs. No border collie is happy unless it is rounding up sheep. Planning to round up sheep? No? Then don't get a border collie. Personally, of the ones you've suggested, I'd go for the lab every time. Dumb as a yorkshire pudding, but loyal as the day is long, and just so sweet natured.

As others have said tho', it depends what you're after.

 

[justAl]

Again, don't go for Border Collie, they nip your ankles 'cos all they see is sheep that need rounding up. Also keep away from Jack Rusell's, absolutely f***ing insane dogs that never stop barking. I once read they need the equivalent of walking 18 miles a day of excersize. Go for gundog,s, Labs, spaniel (but not king charles). Norfolk terriers are cute though, in the small dog range

 

[snapper_37]

Hey!!!! Mine fetches the post and even sorts out the bills from the important items, like Curry menus!!

 

[Norm]

We're going to get a dog. The question is, what kind of dog? These are our options but any suggestions from dog owners/lovers out there very welcome. We have no kids at home, no other pets and large gardens front and rear and are surrounded by open fields.

I think more of a question is what commitment can you make to the dog. There are some very different breeds there and I think you need to ask some fundamental questions if you are trying to decide between a Westie, a JRT and a collie.

Collies are hard work, because they want to work.

Westies are just nasty things.

IMO, Labs are the easiest. They aren't necessarily foodbins, although many turn out that way because that is what the owners expect. We got ours when I was out of work, he had the run of the garden when we were out and developed a strange, and worrying, interest in the planes going in to Heathrow. He didn't quite get to the stage of taking numbers but I think it was only because of the opposable thumb thing. Not sure that a Lab would suit your needs, though. As Billoudon says, they will walk all day but they might not be interested if you want to move much faster than a walk. Running or cycling is not what Labs do, stamina over a distance is their forte.

Border Terriers are good fun but, again, playful little things. Prepare to lose hours of your day searching for slippers and throwing away ripped clothes. But they might be better suited to a life in the hills.

Don't have any personal experience of the other breeds you mention.

If you work, then think very carefully before getting a puppy. You won't be doing it any favours leaving it at home all day when it's young. Older dogs can be fine in the strangest places - our Vizsla now happily sleeps in a cage in the back of the car for hours at a time.

 

[John the Monkey]

A...Also keep away from Jack Rusell's, absolutely f***ing insane dogs that never stop barking. I once read they need the equivalent of walking 18 miles a day of excersize.

Hmm - I've known crazy JRs and mellow ones - a lot depends on whether you keep them entertained and train them (imo). They're really nice little dogs when they're well trained, although they are very much a big dog in a small dog's body.