Getting a dog. What to go for?

[MichaelM]

Does it have to be a puppy or a young recue dog? What about an older rescue. Ours is so relaxed around the house, doesn't need too much exercise, we got him last Dec, now 10 years old. The big one in the middle (any excuse to post a pic):

The fluffy one was abandoned at 13 weeks, the black and tan we got from a breeder but it will always be rescue dogs for us in the future.

 

[Arch]

Does it have to be a puppy or a young recue dog? What about an older rescue. Ours is so relaxed around the house, doesn't need too much exercise, we got him last Dec, now 10 years old. The big one in the middle (any excuse to post a pic):

The fluffy one was abandoned at 13 weeks, the black and tan we got from a breeder but it will always be rescue dogs for us in the future.

Lovely!

I'd say rescue dog, and if you are happy to, pick one of the less pretty/cute ones, because the less pretty ones are the ones that are going to get overlooked by shallow people. Then, not only do you get the companionship of a dog, but you get the warm feeling of having done something for the dog, as well as yourself.

(I should say, I've never had a dog, but that's what I'd do, if I ever had the chance to have one)

 

[upsidedown]

<<<<<<<<<<<<< One of those.

Miniature Schnauzer, brilliant dogs.

 

[Mr Farley]

I think the best thing to do is a bit of reading on various dog breeds. There are millions of websites with information, you might even find a different breed you've not heard of yet that you like.

This website is good, their forum also has some helpful threads....

http://www.k9obedience.co.uk/dogbreeds.html

I got my first dog about a year ago, he's a Jack Russell cross Lakeland Terrier. I looked at a lot of breeds, I would have liked a bigger dog but had to make some comprimises due to living with my parents.


Just one other thing, you say you have a big garden...make sure it's escape proof !

 

[John the Monkey]

Rescue dog, I'd say - you're doing a good thing by taking them on. Talk to the kennel about your lifestyle, how much time you have, and what you're hoping for and they should steer you in the right direction. (Although our dog is a lot cheekier than we asked for... ).

As others have pointed out, any "working dog" will need exercise & stimulation.

Collies in particular are fantastic dogs, but take a LOT of time - and they pick up bad habits as easily as they pick up good ones - they need training by someone who knows what they're doing, and LOTS of exercise, and lots of that off the lead.

Practical things like where the dog is going to live/sleep, whether you want to fit a dog flap etc might affect your choice too (we didn't want a dog much bigger than the one we have, given that he'd be sleeping in our (smallish) kitchen).

Our dog is a Jack Russell/Staff (possibly) cross from a local rescue kennel. He's a lovely dog, although it's easy to tell when Mrs. Monkey has given him a shorter walk than usual (on account of him being chuffing bonkers) - he needs his exercise, and someone to play with for a couple of hours each day.


Eddie, in the garden, shortly before digging something up. Probably.

I like terriers in general, and Jack Russell's in particular - I've known more well behaved ones than snappy ones, fwiw, although that might reflect on the owners rather than the breed.

 

[Mr Farley]

I would just make sure that you want one. Know so many people who have had to return them (myself included) however, they all had children. I'm voting for the heinz puppy. 1) because it doesn't encourage breeders 2) he sounds cute and 3) because I love labels.

+1 to that.

Be prepaired for a lot of hair everywhere, poo picking in the garden (and when out), barking, chewing things, bills (food etc), finding it hard to go on holiday .

Apart from that they're great .

 

[User482]

My vet friends tell me that Border Terriers are far less prone to hereditary problems than other pedigrees.

 

[snapper_37]

Does it have to be a puppy or a young recue dog? What about an older rescue. Ours is so relaxed around the house, doesn't need too much exercise, we got him last Dec, now 10 years old. The big one in the middle (any excuse to post a pic):

The fluffy one was abandoned at 13 weeks, the black and tan we got from a breeder but it will always be rescue dogs for us in the future.

I agree. There are so many older rescue dogs needing a good home - they do seem to be looked over. We only went for a younger one because we had spent so many years with an elderly dog that we wanted the spirit of a young dog.

In any case, a rescue dog every time, whatever the age. There are enough folks buying pedigree dogs (each to their own) so give a rescue a chance!!!!

If you do go for rescue (pretty please ), it may take a long time finding the 'right one' but it's worth it in the end. Remember also that these dogs have usually had a bit of a rough time in life and may need a hell of a lot of patience and love. On the plus side (and there are many) - you can often get a good mix of breeds.

Disclaimer: Not that I am in anyway biased of course.

 

[wafflycat]

.

Collies in particular are fantastic dogs, but take a LOT of time - and they pick up bad habits as easily as they pick up good ones - they need training by someone who knows what they're doing, and LOTS of exercise, and lots of that off the lead.

Collies are quite lovely and you are correct, they require a LOT of time and work. If someone is thinking of getting a collie and can't put in the vast amount of time these very intelligent dogs need, they go insane - become destructive, vicious, mad. Collies NEED to be worked. Trained and worked properly and you'll have a well-behaved, intelligent and true friend for life. One of my neighbours - a lad of high school age got a collie puppy. He's doing exactly the right thing by her. He's up every morning taking her out for a good exercise session. Again at nights. In school holidays he has her out all day, every day with him. Been to dog training.. works her. Excellent and also lovely to see a young lad taking his responsibility seriously

 

[John the Monkey]

Good to hear waffly.

I love collies (when my grandparents were younger, they kept them, but then they lived somewhere very rural and had lots of time) but had to be realistic about how much time we had for a dog when we chose ours. Collies, for me, are best enjoyed as other people's dogs

 

[numbnuts]

go for one that picks it's own shoot up

 

[John the Monkey]

go for one that picks it's own shoot up

Someone who walks their dog past our house thinks they have one of those dogs.

If I ever catch them, they'll be disabused of that notion, quick smart, the dirty buggers.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Someone who walks their dog past our house thinks they have one of those dogs.

If I ever catch them, they'll be disabused of that notion, quick smart, the dirty buggers.

I remember my dad saying to someone who'd let their dog use our front garden as a toilet and wasn't going to clear up 'How would you like it if I came round to your house and shat on your front lawn?'

 

[Brahan]

I'd get the border collie. They're brilliant dogs.

 

[ColinJ]

If you do go for rescue (pretty please ), it may take a long time finding the 'right one' but it's worth it in the end. Remember also that these dogs have usually had a bit of a rough time in life and may need a hell of a lot of patience and love.

My parents had a German Shepherd cross named Sam. They loved him to bits and took him for long walks 2 or 3 times a day after they retired. Unfortunately, he came to a tragic end. He was a powerful dog and pulled himself free from my mother and ran across a busy road to check out another dog. He was hit by a car and had to be put down where he lay.

My parents were so traumatised that they said they'd never have another dog, despite having been dog-owners for over 40 years.

They went through a long grieving process but eventually my sister sensed that they might be ready for another dog. She went to see the folks one day and said that she was taking them out a drive. They were a bit annoyed when she turned up the drive to the rescue dog centre, but she persuaded them to go inside with her.

My dad had mobility problems so he asked for a chair and sat down while my mum and sister were shown round the kennels. They saw a number of nice dogs and were finding it difficult to choose one. Then they spotted a very depressed-looking dog, a Labrador cross with just a hint of German Shepherd in him. His name was Sam...

The kennel maid said that Sam had been very badly mistreated by his previous owners. My mum wanted to take a closer look at him, so they opened the cage door and called to him. He walked out ever-so-slowly, and slumped at my mother's feet, looking very glum.

My dad called from the other end of the building - "Have you chosen a dog yet?" Sam's ears pricked up. He leapt to his feet, looked towards my father then started running towards him as fast as he could.

The kennel maid, my mother and sister went running after the dog. By the the time they caught him, he had his front paws on my dad's lap and was trying to lick his face. It wasn't so much a case of them choosing the dog, the dog chose my father!

My parents arranged to pick Sam up the following week. Again, he'd been moping around the kennels until my dad turned up and then became very excited. The dog obviously knew what kind of owner he wanted. My folks had 11 or 12 great years with him. They said that they thought the old Sam had been reincarnated in the young one. I could see what they meant, but I think that the process is supposed to involve the transfer of the spirit into an unborn being, not one already 2 years old when the other dies! Still, he was a great dog.



PS As for Paul - mad or not, I'd go for the Border Collie!