Boxer, the most fearless,loving,loyal,funny & cudly stupid big oaf of a dog you'll ever find.........
Forget it if you're house proud though....
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Help me choose a dog.
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Posted 2 years ago #
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Posted 2 years ago # -
Try again
Posted 2 years ago # -
Terriers are ok but I think they have not got a lot of personality. The males ones are too intinctive and want to make themselves look bigger, cock on every bitch they see and are hard to train and recall. They are yappy no matter what the owners say.
A lurcher is a fantastic dog in its smaller size. Whippets are also good dogs. A cocker would be a good bet though if its going to be used as trail typre dog. The smoother hair cockers are fantatic looking with good traits and temperament and much better than any terrier in any guise. Cockers get better with age too.
I do agree with the pedigree thing though. They take more money to buy and keep the vet in a new Merc. I just bought a German Shorthaired pointer and have found out about vets! Poor pup at 5 months is lame at moment with no end to it getting better soon.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I dont know if anyone has said this, but whatever you choose, make sure you are prepared to walk it every day, and dont think it will be ok on its own all day while you are at work!
sorry to be all dog PC but I get so annoyed when people do something stupid like buy a Springer and get surprised when the poor mite tears up the house because it is left on its own all day BORED
anyway, I am a Springer fan. The little dude is obedient, athletic, (funny), great with my Baby, loyal, ACE! I never tire of watching him enjoy the countryside. I have a Cocker cross, too. He is the clever one...
Posted 2 years ago # -
Emac 65, I agree.....oh hang on, any excuse to post pic of Bruno.....we lost him in January
God we miss him terribly.However, not small in any way!
Posted 2 years ago # -
One of these?


Superb temperament, great character and will run all day!He's two know and going to get another one later in the year!
Posted 2 years ago # -

and here!
Posted 2 years ago # -
OP here....
Thanks for all the replies folks, amazed at the response. Thanks.
I have had dogs in the past, one a terrier/collie cross (I think, bit of a heinz he was!) I know all about the need for regular excercise and terriers being a bit harder to train. But I appreciate folk pointing out the pitfalls of dog ownership, just like to assure youse that I'm not some kind of tit who's just decided he wants a dog with no thought of what it entails.
I'm also aware that pedigree dogs have problems, but the dogs I'd consider; parsons, border terriers etc seem to be pretty defect free, I'd never consider some of the more outlandish/problem breeds, but again thanks for the advice.
You've all given me lots to think about, breeds I'd never heard of and ones I'd never really considered. I will probably still try to go for a pup, maybe a pedigree maybe not, as what is wrong with wanting to give your kids what they really want? I'm going to contact Border's animal rescue tomorrow to see what they have in as well, as my mind's been changed on the possibility of getting a rescue dog.
The one thing that is certain is that we are definately getting a dog after seeing all the cool/cute ones posted on here! Border terrier probably top of list now if getting a pedigree. (patterdales look nice too)
Posted 2 years ago # -
our lurcher is 3/8 greyhound, 1/4 whippet, 1/8 border collie, 1/8 bearded collie and 1/8 bedlington terrier, how can you go wrong with all those mixed up genes!!
Posted 2 years ago # -
anagallis_arvensis - That is a smashing looking dog but don't you find that his/her ears affect the reception on your satellite TV
Posted 2 years ago # -
ooops, nothing to see here, move along please
Posted 2 years ago # -
Took my 3 month old puppy out for a very, very short ride for the first time a few days ago. She loved it! She is a vizsla cross.Posted 2 years ago # -
Good luck, please ring round the the dog shelters, you might just find the the pup your looking for
Posted 2 years ago # -
We got an ex-racing greyhound from Dogs Trust a few weeks ago.
Sleeps a lot, bloody big and thick as hell. But strangely lovable.
Cost us £100 as a donation to get her. £72 last Friday for a course of anti-biotics (for bad gums) and flea treatments for a year and £120 for dental treatment yesterday.
Today she ran into the side of a moving car, despite being 200m from the road, and unable to see it, when let off the lead. Seriously, thick!
Posted 2 years ago # -
That Lurcher of anagallis_arvensis is a great looking dog. We had a Lurcher as a family dog for 12 years. It was so bright and loving.
Posted 2 years ago # -
seth-enslow666 -. I just bought a German Shorthaired pointer and have found out about vets! Poor pup at 5 months is lame at moment with no end to it getting better soon.
That's what I've got - hope your's gets sorted mate. She's a fantastic trail-dog. Other traits have made her (well, me!) very popular on this forum

No_discerning_taste - isn't that a bit young to have them running that hard? Only from what I've read on here, but I think you need to let their bones develop to avoid problems in later life. Worth investigating.
Posted 2 years ago # -
DezB- I think you overestimate the speed I'm doing coming down that hill!!but on a serious note, I discussed this with the vet. The key is to build it up slowly, with short frequent walks, this is especially important with big heavy breeds. She will be more of a light, medium size build I think.
To be honest she is physically more active running around the living room than she is running with me for a few minutes. And she doesn't seem to listen to me telling her it isn't good for her bones!
At the moment she is doing 40 minute walks or about 5-10 minute runs.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Izzy the Lakeland Terrier. Mad as a bucket of Frogs but good family pet.
Does bark a little but easy to manage and loves coming running.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Cool. Hope you don't think I was making assumptions, but thought I'd mention it.
Ours was old enough to run ragged when we got her!Posted 2 years ago # -
I think thats what had happened with my GSP. I did not buy her as a trail dog. I have no intention of her running with me while I cycle around. I did buy her though as I enjoy walking a lot. I reckon I have walked her a little too much. They are hard dogs to work out though as they never get tired. I have never seen a dog with stamina like my GSP and would be hard pushed to think I ever will. She was a real handfull untill she got knocked up with her front elbow joints swelling. Her own hyperactivity has contributed to this. She has got a thing called HDO which effects large/medium breeds. She should grow out of it as her growth slows down. ITs just a shme the summer is here and shes on her bed most of the day resting her joints up!
I would not take a dog now on a long walk untill its over 6 month old. But I have had dogs before and never had any such problems. Its luck of the draw. Great dogs though the German Pointers. Is yours black and white DezB ?
Posted 2 years ago # -

Pic of my dog when it was well! Her joints are so swollen I doubt I could fit her on a pic now
Posted 2 years ago # -
Yes, mostly black, with a thin white chest stripe
Posted 2 years ago # -
Another vote for a BT (Border Terrier) Best dogs ever, although this ones a right lazy madam.
[img]http://thumbs.fotopic.net/082041000495.jpg [/img]Posted 2 years ago # -
Ah mate, she's gorgeous. See you've got a crate (cage, I call it!) too.
Ours spent the first few months in one of those - settled down so much once we got rid of it.About a year old:
Posted 2 years ago # -
try again, too small
Posted 2 years ago # -
Dez your dog has some good muscle on it! GSPs can bulk up like body builders by the look of a lot of them you see. I can see why my dog has these growing problems when you realise how big and how much muscle they stick on in such a short time!
Plain Black GSPs look nice and the plan brown. I nearly got a black and white patched one from the same litter. But I reckon it would have looked like a small cow when it got fully grown
Posted 2 years ago # -
She sure has - thighs like Arnie. Look funny with the skinny ankles!
Posted 2 years ago # -
but don't you find that his/her ears affect the reception on your satellite TV
Lurcher ears are frequently wayward. Especially if like Ted you have been issued with a pair two sizes too big.




They are a particular liability if you catch a squirrel, fail to kill it, and let it bite you on the end of the lughole.
Posted 2 years ago # -
reading this makes me sooo want a dog.. don't think the cat would approve though (and we live in an flat)
Posted 2 years ago # -
great pics loon, fully recovered from squirrel episode I hope?
Posted 2 years ago # -
goon - Ted looks fantastic fun except for the last photo where he just look bewildered.
Our Tri-colour Boarder Collie loves Lurchers, well he loves to chase them but never manages to catch them
Posted 2 years ago # -
I think I will get anothe Lurcher after looking at the pics. I wsh I could but i reckon 2 dogs would be hard work. especailly when you dont have anyone else to take the out etc.
Posted 2 years ago # -
We have an Elmo.....Lab/Collie cross. To be honest I could not ask for a better dog. Good size, not to big but not small and yappy, really easy to train, fantastic temprament and he loves biking and running with me.
He also likes frizby:
And checking out what his little mate Raffa (My parents dog) is doing with his ball:
Posted 2 years ago # -
Fully recovered thanks Headfirst.
where he just look bewildered.
In his defence he has just recovered from a GA, and woken up minus his dicky dew claw and with a sore ear. Then again, he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer. This vicious hot air balloon invaded his airspace on Wednesday. He barked and barked until it disappeared round the wall, then legged it upstairs and stood on our bed to get a better view and carry on barking to make sure it was well and truly seen off.
Posted 2 years ago #
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