Viewing 40 posts - 1 through 40 (of 79 total)
  • Dog Advice
  • Bedds
    Free Member

    A bit of an odd one really, but I’d appreciate some thoughts and maybe experiences of the collective mind of STW..

    When I first got a place with my now wife, we bought a dog (boxer to be specific). He was great and we both adored him, unfortunately, he was diagnosed with a brain tumour just after he was three and we had to have him put to sleep 🙁

    Shortly afterwards (and with hindsight probably some misguided intentions) we brought another boxer pup home, it quickly became obvious that he was too much for us to handle, we were expecting our first baby and as he grew we just couldn’t control him, puppy training and even a dog behaviourist didn’t seem to make a difference. We didn’t want him balance on a ball whilst juggling, but to mainly stop his biting and lunging (something our first never did).

    We eventually (after he attacked my heavily pregnant wife) rehomed him.

    Some five years later and with two boys in the house, we are starting to discuss having a dog again, I grew up with a dog in the house as did my wife, I think it’s healthy for numerous reasons and I want to stop the nervousness that both lads show around dogs (even family ones who they see frequently).

    My wife has started talking about maybe getting a Jack Russell, I’m not sure, I dunno if I would want a small dog, I’ve always like the bigger ones, boxers are great (with the possible exception of the our last, who was described by the boxer ‘expert’ as a bit unusual in his behaviour), I like Weimraners too, along with Labs. My missus isn’t sure and we’re a bit stuck.

    Whilst she is busy looking at adverts for Jack Russell puppies and our oldest lad asks on at least a daily basis when we can have a dog, I’m still undecided. We have a nice home and a lifestyle which may not now suit a dog, I seem them as a tie which means a loss of freedom and I’m not sure I like the thought of not being able to walk round the garden now for fear of an unfound turd lying in wait.

    Can I please have some honest opinions on what small dog ownership is really like? along with what they’re like to train, how good they are with kids and how ‘trail friendly’ they are? our first boxer was on his way to being a trail dog, the second was so mental and unstable there was no way he would have done it without goring passers-by

    Sorry for the long post all

    Ian

    the-muffin-man
    Full Member

    Jack Russell – I’m not a fan myself, can be nasty and always running off. There have been 4 in our family and all have been the same.

    Get yourself a Border Terrier – proper dog in a little body!

    I grew up with boxers as a kid, and my MiL has had 3 (and just had a new puppy) – I’d not have one again. Great big slobbery things and not very bright! Prone to disease and short life span too.

    studag
    Free Member

    I would second the idea of a Border Terrier, brilliant dogs if you can get used to the terrier traits.
    Have you thought of rehoming a dog, at least you can get an idea of how the dog is unlike with a puppy.

    Bedds
    Free Member

    That’s a great point actually, I quite like the look of Border Terriers, so can you explain the ‘terrier traits’?

    What’s the pro’s what’s the cons?

    monkeysfeet
    Free Member

    Border terrier owner here too. Great with kids, but ours can not be let off the lead as she will chase anything. In the house though, superb.

    Watch for spikes disease which can effect some dogs. Ours is epileptic, but this is controlled with drugs.

    Linky http://www.borderterrier-cecs.com/

    monkeysfeet
    Free Member

    Terrier traits – stubborn, but can be trained. Loyal, tough and fiesty. Ours loves other dogs but hates cats, rabbits squirrels, birds, sheep……anything it can chase.
    In the house, sits and loves attention, great with kids and other people.

    benp1
    Full Member

    Why do you want a small dog?

    Lifestyle wise a dog is a dog, and I’ve always found small dogs to have small-dog-syndrome. Well mainly the ones I’ve been around or known

    I’ve got a black lab, he’s now 5 and my kids are just 3 and almost 2. He is absolutely fantastic with them, I genuinely couldn’t ask for a more family friendly pet, he’s a genuine part of the family and he’s really patient with the kids. His only problem is he’s the greediest sod in the world, not that dissimilar to me really, he’s truly part of our family. Labs are popular for a reason

    jambalaya
    Free Member

    Plenty of good family dogs, we had a black lab and she was/is fabulous. Spaniels are good too, border terriers lovely but perhaps a bit busy with a young family. Have a look and see if you can find a “discover dogs” event near you, you get to see dogs/owners and speak to them about pros/cons of various breeds.

    z1ppy
    Full Member

    Never owned one but from 10 odd years of walking our dog & so causal observance, my view is on jack russells is that they all seemingly have major short dog syndrome. No other dog is as likely to lunge and snap at other dogs as a JR, and so never be let off the lead. I have no doubt there lovely dogs otherwise, and some are models of friendliness but I’m no fan.
    Get a springer!

    Orangejohn
    Free Member

    We have a JR and she is a lot easier than our Heinz terrier was at the same age. Both are nice dogs.
    Last week I saw the nicest, calmest Border ever and he was only 3; but I have come across some nasty ones.
    Assess the parents as 9 out of 10 times the pups turn out similar.
    Like people some dogs are nice and some less so; this is just inbuilt from there genes (IMO).
    Having said all that, the chances are you will be more likely to find a nice Border than a nice JR (IMO).

    billysugger
    Free Member

    ‘I seem them as a tie which means a loss of freedom and I’m not sure I like the thought of not being able to walk round the garden now for fear of an unfound turd lying in wait.’

    You don’t sound like the kind of person who gets dogs, more like the kind who gets a dog. Would make more sense if I could use italics. But then I am judging from a single post on the internet.

    wilko1999
    Free Member

    We have a whippet and a lurcher. Whippets are lovely-natured small-ish dogs. They are gentle with children, adults and other dogs alike, are great fun and don’t need as much walking as you’d think. They are happy spending hours on end lounging around sunning themselves in the garden or curled up on the sofa. Ours is amazing with our young children. Another benefit is she hardly sheds and doesn’t stink out the joint either.

    Just don’t ask about our lurcher

    sm
    Free Member

    I grew up with a number of differing breeds from labs, heinz57 and great danes. I now currently have two Westies and I know when we lose either of them we will get another. They have been the best dogs I have owned and are great both in and out of the house. Although a bit small for a trail dog.

    anagallis_arvensis
    Full Member

    Our lurcher is pretty like your whippet. With lurchers you just need to be a bit careful of how they are bred… best dogs ever imo. Wouldnt touch a pedigree dog, too inbred.

    eskay
    Full Member

    sm – Member

    I grew up with a number of differing breeds from labs, heinz57 and great danes. I now currently have two Westies and I know when we lose either of them we will get another. They have been the best dogs I have owned and are great both in and out of the house. Although a bit small for a trail dog.

    We have had 3 westies. The first one was a bit strange and hated children! The other two were great, sisters from the same litter but totally different characters. Jess was put down about 5 weeks ago (aged 15) and was the friendliest dog I have ever met, her tail never stopped wagging. Her sister is a typical terrier but also loving and have never had a problem from her.

    They have been very expensive though (as most pedigrees can be). They have suffered from most of the breed specific disorders. Had them insured when they were younger but the cost became high (especially for two) when they hit 10 years old.

    sandwicheater
    Full Member

    In true STW stile I’ll recommend what i’ve got, lab/springer cross. A recent survey said 97% of all people think they are the bestestest dog ever and 62% said it would win in a fight with a bear or a shark cos it’s that cool.

    Think smaller/thinner Lab with awesome spider-man powers and you’ll have a rough idea what it’s like having our dog, fact!

    Deal with it

    [/url]image by sandwicheater1, on Flickr[/img]

    Riding buddy

    [/url]image by sandwicheater1, on Flickr[/img]

    Bedds
    Free Member

    Cheers for the responses all, it’s much appreciated.

    I do love dogs, I guess I’m out of the habit..

    I’ve put the email to my missus about black labs and border terriers 🙂

    jumble
    Free Member

    With Jack Russells it is all about the parents and the training. My wife’s JR was a brilliant dog who quite happily would go out with my wife riding. She was a happy yard dog, never attacked another dog and just was all round brilliant. She never yapped in all the time we had her. We sadly lost her in Feb after 14 amazing years.

    Her daughter (my dog) was a really nice dog, very friendly and puppy-like all her life. She was a bit more yappy at strangers coming to the house which I am guessing came from the dad. We were devastated to lose her 3 months after we lost her mother.

    Both dogs were fine around children. I think it is a fair comment to say really good JR’s are tricky to find.

    norbert-colon
    Full Member

    We’ve had all sorts of dogs in the family and currently have Hungarian Wirehaired Vizslas. They are ace for us, but all dogs will have some traits that you may not like.

    Having a dog is great, can’t imagine being without one ever now. So go for it, but choose carefully.

    My only advice would be, if you are going for a recognised breed, to find out what a dog was bred for in the first place. Don’t just go on what looks cute (although that is important 8) )

    It’s a generalisation but sight hounds will want to chase stuff they see, spaniels etc. will want to scurry round hunting for wildlife to flush out, terriers will be very focussed on finding creatures to catch etc etc. If you can’t live with these characteristics then find another breed.

    I seem to meet lots of folk who seem surprised that their lovely pet has these awful traits, that they can’t cope with, yet they are just doing what they were bred for.

    Good luck and get some pics on here as soon as you get the new addition.

    russianbob
    Free Member

    GSP here. 2 and a half now. Great with the kids, 4, 8 and 10. Great trail dog and getting better – nine miles last night up and down with myself and one other rider, will be getting introduced to bigger groups soon. Well behaved, though barks very menacingly at the door when someone knocks. Nice with other dogs. We don’t have a massive house or garden and he kind of just fits in.

    Regularly empties the bin though in search of anything he can eat. Exercise wise he kind of fits on with us, sometimes just a half hour a day or a run around in a field. Other times hours and hours and miles and miles.

    I like him.

    arcadian
    Free Member

    I have a cockapoo, one part of considering it was wanting a dog who didn’t shed and was hypoallergenic (mild asthma and some minor allergies), partly because they were super cute puppies and partly reading how the breed was supposedly intelligent, loyal, easy to train, good natured.

    Ours is definitely like that, really good natured friendly dog who is annoyingly clever (he learned how to switch off my old xbox 360 with his nose and would turn it off for me when he wanted out!) and really affectionate (will walk along the top of the sofa for example, lie down behind my head then rest his head over my shoulder and snooze).

    A friend of mine has a Jack Russell, who they found pretty difficult until he was about 3 and settled down a bit.

    DezB
    Free Member

    GSP here. 2 and a half now. Great with the kids, 4, 8 and 10. Great trail dog and getting better – nine miles last night up and down with myself and one other rider, will be getting introduced to bigger groups soon. Well behaved, though barks very menacingly at the door when someone knocks. Nice with other dogs

    Lovely dogs, but I don’t thnk I’d recommend to someone who (appears to) wants an easy dog to look after. GSPs are scrounging bastards! Brilliant trail dog though. And the way they bark like they will take your hand off but then greet you like a long lost friend is brilliant.

    surfer
    Free Member

    We have a Lakeland terrier, she is 9 and rather aloof and can be unfriendly. She yaps a bit and doesnt really like attention. She also doesnt like going out!

    We have a 1 yr old Cocker spaniel. He is the opposite in every way and an absolute joy to have around. He loves exercise and people. He is a handful but in a boisterous way.

    I will never have a terrier again (I have had a couple) but I would have another Cocker. Everything we wanted in a dog.

    tonyg2003
    Full Member

    Another Border Terrier owner here with owner of previous BT. They are great little dogs and well socialised/trained as any other dog they are great. Just to also say the short lifespan/problems with many big dogs puts me off owning them. It was hard enough when our last BT when at 16yrs old.

    sandwicheater
    Full Member

    Too many posts without photos. What’s wrong with your people. Dog thread and only my cool dog photos to show. For shame, for shame!

    Jamie
    Free Member

    *skip to the end*

    Either one of these.

    The cocker is probably the better bet for ease of looking after/training etc.

    MrGrim
    Full Member

    Lurcher owner here. Ours is Bedlington Terrier, Whippet and probably a few other things chucked in. We’ve not had any issues other than the usual MOT and servicing. They do tend to be a bit hardier than pure breds. The mix in a lurcher is vital. Ours loves a kip, but can also be out with me in the hills all day, but has the stubbornness of the Bedlington in her.

    Border Terriers are also ace IMO, and a great size. It depends on your lifestyle. You don’t fit the dog in among work, family and hobbies, the dog becomes part of the family as you’ll know already.

    Pic, oh go on then!

    RichT
    Full Member

    Really surprised to hear about the difficult experience with the boxer, as they are usually soppy.

    My advice is go to a good rescue centre with a list of specific criteria and stick to it. We wanted a young, female dog that is good with kids and other dogs as we have lots of visitors. After a few visits to the home (Battersea), we were offered a large crossbreed (not what we expected) that met our criteria and decided to take her. They were spot on with their assessment of her character and she has been great.

    They are very honest in their assessments of dogs as they want a good match. As your experience shows, there can be a lot of variation in character within a breed.

    duncancallum
    Full Member

    as I kid every one in our family had labs ranging from proper trained gun dogs to pets and they were ace with kids and were never ruffled. I always wanted a lab.

    However about 12 months ago I ended up with a 8yo paterdale terrier and shes ace, loyal placid with people, travels well. But she can be stubborn, nowty with other dogs though shes getting better. I wouldn’t swap her for the world.

    If I was getting another (or should I say when) I am just going to go the rescue centre. As the way I look at it they need a hand and you don’t get a guarantee of what temperament any dogs going to have.

    colournoise
    Full Member

    Got to be a spaniel. Can be a bit ‘energetic’ but love people and and are immense fun to have around. Potential down side is a very few Springers are subject to ‘rage’ which is pretty much untreatable – having said that I grew up around working Springers and never actually saw one with the condition.

    busydog
    Free Member

    My sister-in-law has Jack Russell and it always acts like it is on speed, but she isn’t much on dog training.
    We have 2 Labradoodles and I would have another in a minute. Intelligent, friendly with everyone and they readily tolerate our son’s young kids.
    Until the labradoodles, I had German Shepherds for almost 20 years. Absolutely great dogs as well, but can be a bit more of a handful unless really trained well.

    Junkyard
    Free Member

    Misses his dog
    Feels sad
    Some cracking pics there folks

    tinybits
    Free Member

    I’ve just bought myself an Irish Terrier. Bugger than most other terrier breeds but still the same mentality. Get her home in 3 weeks, can’t wait! That’s not much use but I’m like a kid at Christmas!

    The last dog I had was a collie x lab. Amazing dog, very gentle, extremely intelligent and a never ending energy supply. Miss her still. Before that, a lurcher that I saved as a stray. Very good dog, but this one had a few issues with other men in the house. All due to the mistreatment in the past I’m certain, but you’d never relax with a friend about the place!

    Mal-ec
    Free Member

    2nd allot of the Lurcher comments above.
    One of ours is Beddlington/whippet mix the other has more deerhound. Lovely dogs, great in the house, sleep allot, steal food compulsively. Smaller one is feistier, both will take off after small running things, (more to play with than eat, but lurcher play is fairly rough to the uninformed observer) but have good recall and you need to be on the ball / careful about where/when you let them off.
    Spending lots and lots of time with them training when they’re young is essential, especially with rescue lurchers. Lovely gentle beasts.

    supersessions9-2
    Free Member

    You want a collie-corgi cross. Wonderful nature. Runs all day, great with kids. Maybe a bit hard to find.

    Meet charley, he’s a rescue.

    anagallis_arvensis
    Full Member

    Seriously get a lurcher if only for the look on the collie owners face when they throw a ball and the lurcher has bought it back, dropped it and run off after a rabbit before their dog has moved 10m!!!

    They are gentle and docile in the house fast and full of life outside. The perfect dog.

    woffle
    Free Member

    Happy Bedlington owners here.

    Stanley is four and is great family hound – loves hooning around the countryside with me / kids or equally content just knocking around the house with the family. For a terrier they’re remarkably relaxed, compared to the brother-in-laws border/Jack russell cross he’s so laid back as to be horizontal.

    As per OP we bought him as our two girls (now 8 and 9) where both very nervous around dogs. Now he and the kids both are pretty much inseparable when at home. Leaving aside his new-found love of rolling in fox shit and then coming for cuddles, he’s even won my wife around as she was v.sceptical when we first got him. The fact he’s non-shedding helps as both she and our youngest were / are allergic to dogs, though I suspect having shared a house with one for four odd years will have eased this somewhat.

    It’s getting to the point where we might be looking at a second dog. I’d love a whippet…

    66deg
    Free Member

    [/url] Télécharger des photos[/img]

    The most adorable pain in the arse you could ever meet.

    wilko1999
    Free Member

    Here’s our 3yo daughter Rosa with our 5yo whippet Lila, they are best buds and she is the perfect family dog.

    As mentioned earlier in the thread, we have a lurcher too, and while he’s brilliant with the kids and lovely in the house, off the leash he is a nightmare. Despite intense training throughout the 4 years of his life so far he has such a strong prey drive that he just can’t be trusted off the leash unfortunately.

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