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There's been a number of threads recently about dogs, so I thought i'd ask for opinions.
I always had dogs growing up, so did grand parents and now we'd like a family dog too.
We live in a large terrace with garden and a nice park opposite. I will also be able to take it to work with me fairly regularly as I work for myself.
We already have 2 cats, so i'm guessing most terriers are out. We have a 3yr old and plan to have another soon, so needs to be good with kids.
Would also like one that can be trained pretty well, so it doesn't missbehave too much and comes back!
Given the size of house and that i'd like to take it to work, camping and possibly biking too, I think a small to medium size would be best.
Given the above, I really don't know what to look for, i'd love a lab or german shepard but it just wouldn't be practical.
Over to you for advice.....
Why wouldn't a lab be practical? They're medium sized, placid, great with children and lazy b*ggers so will happily fit in with when you want to take them for a walk. Our previous sadly missed dog was a lab and was all of the above.
labby
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Always thought of a lab as a bigger dog. My grandad always had a golden retriever, used to walk miles with it as a kid in the school holidays, all dayers. Was a gorgeous dog
Ton, Is that a black one or choc? I'd love one but don't think the mrs is keen
Cocker spaniel (or a sprocker)? If you get the working type, rather than the showing type it ought to be good to ride with, good with kids but not too big.
My Golden Retriever died in April, but I'm having a rescue one at the end of the summer hols 🙂 They can match you up well and I've 3 kids to get the right dog for. Can't wait! Apparently the rescue place specifically for GR's have 3-4 dogs each week so if you don't want to go through the puppy stage it may be an option.
+1 working/sporting cocker
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Another vote for a wocker cocker! A good, big build Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is also a sound choice. Proper sporting hounds in a small package. Excellent with kids as well.
Our Golden Retriever is great. Doesn't like strangers much but if he knows you he's a right soppy git 😆
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working cocker
we have a three year old who is great with the kids , 3 and 8 . just picked up our second cocker today.
get a daft Lab, you can do this to them (as performed by me to our friends dog called Sandy, this afternoon)
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Didn't think of a spaniel. Used to do a lot of shooting, mostly clay. A few guys had trained gun dogs, use to love playing with them.
firstly any dog can be trained ti do the basics, secondly labs are very active dogs and need a lot of exercise, thirdly any dog breed will work ok with cats if bought up with them.
This is Kea, she is however currently broken which is very sad 😥
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shes a great dog though, about as tall as a big lab, but its mostly legs so she packs up small.
Labs come in all shapes and sizes so don't rule one out. However, the smaller working strains can be more active and demanding. Having had a Welsh Springer in the family I tend to think of all spaniels, especially working ones, as insanely hyperactive. A lot of fun, if that's what you want and can channel it usefully.
I've trained dogs for disabled people (so tolerant, intelligent and family-friendly) and lab-poodle crosses (labradoodles) do well and would be up for camping, biking etc. A standard poodle or lab is also a very safe bet.
I wouldn't rule out terriers either - wheatens are good around the house and with children though not sure how they get on with cats.
Whatever you choose, please look at a rescue first.
What's up with Kea AA?
knackered ligaments in her front wrist 😥 10min walks on the lead for months 😥
Bah...I thought this was going to be a "what dog for bringing down a peleton?" thread
Oh balls. Nothing worse than a lurcher stuck on it's lead. I hope she's fit again sooner rather than later.
Definitely avoid terriers ... great fun but sh*t magnets, chase anything that runs, selective deafness, selective obedience, and you find yourself doing what they want to do rather than the other way around:
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... having discovered a newly "fertilised" field (normally a white-ish Westie).
anagallis_arvensis - hope Kea recovers soon!
Good point goon, will be getting to know the local rescue places over the next few weeks
First family pet was a westie called angus. Lived till he was almost 20!
Brown/green horror in the photo is an Angus too, although he answers to a number of other less favourable nicknames ... nearly 6, though you'd never guess.
Monkey - don't just look at the local 'pounds'. Check out rescues like Geyhound Gap (perhaps not your breed, but just using it as an example). Virtually all their rescues live in 'foster' homes. They can therefore give you good feedback as to how any particular dog is in a home environment. They are all assessed for cat friendliness, tolerance of children, whether they are OK to be left alone, etc.
Again, Gr'und perhaps not your breed, but there must be similar rescues for other breeds. Rescue dogs don't HAVE to be hard work! 😆
+1 for a cocker. Mine runs around swinley forest after me and the boys. Separation anxiety helps. For those that saw him today, he went out for another five miles on foot this evening around Windsor. Stunning fitness in a small package.
One last point - poo scales on a per kilo basis. Stick with smaller dogs you can add a second!
get one of these
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What is it, a lab?
dunno - probably some lab in the mix. rescue centre special, we call him a Labrasaurus (he's still a pup)
His paws are massive!
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My chocky lab Charlie he's the man.
^that picture is awesome 😆
huge paws and legs but a very slim body on top. narrow hips at the back but pretty broad up front. medium sized skull but with the face and head fur or a dog twice this size. oh and the tail doesnt match either. yup.....he's a freak, but seems to be training himself and hasn't eaten the baby yet!
Don't know where you live but these people are very good with their dogs, and they have foster homes at various places in the county so worth keeping an eye on.
http://www.freewebs.com/manytearsrescue/
Look at a trailhound - lovely affectionate dogs, and as ex-racers there are always some that need rehoming. Not that big - 2/3 the size of a lab - and happy to snooze for long periods when you're at work. They're well-known for being very good with both cats and kids, and can easily be trained, though they're not the sort of dog that will do tricks, and if you throw a stick, expect to fetch it yourself......
If interested, speak to Eileen Robinson at http://trailhoundwelfare.org.uk/ and she can let you know more
Lakeland Terrier?
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SPANIEL!!!!
If you want a dog that will run all day, retrieve tennis balls all night, love you for ever and still act like a puppy through their lives, get a spaniel.
My dog's a Springer (fully trained gundog), but the wife has a working Cocker that would b pretty much perfect for everyday use.
Labs are officially "large" dogs - ours is from working stock so at the smallest end (26kg) - TBH I think of her as a "medium" sized dog.
Brilliant companion - puppy classes mean she's ultra obedient and they are the best thing ever if you have a crisis.
Becky +1 for manytears - that's where monty came from, he was with a foster family and has never been in kennels so he was relatively well adjusted given his difficult first few months.
SPANIEL!!!!If you want a dog that will run all day, retrieve tennis balls all night, love you for ever and still act like a puppy through their lives, get a spaniel.
My dog's a Springer (fully trained gundog), but the wife has a working Cocker that would b pretty much perfect for everyday use.
+1 I have an 8yr old spirnger - hes still a nutter after braking his back getting ran over. Likes a bit of exercise but then loves the sofa afterwards too. Check out NESSR.net for springer rescue.
Lab. Ours isn't a small one tho 🙂
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They are brilliant dogs tho. Bright, easy to train, lots of fun.
Been camping with ours, he quite likes the water
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And how can you not want a dog that can do this 🙂
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He was a bit younger then and - as you can see - a bit of a chewer... alright now tho.
Never had anything but labs, but would never have anything else. Bitches can be pretty small 20k size.
This pic is designed to make your eyes go funny:
Ours is nearly four but has retained the puppy eared look somehow.
Never chewed a thing, never whines or barks annoyingly - just amazing. Apart from maybe her death breath...
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No need to rule terriers out they will adapt to the cats and will even protect them as part of the pack.
This guy might be adopted by us soon.
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Our working Cocker Harry:
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can run all day but is perfectly happy to spend the day on the sofa, almost never barks and very gentle when he plays.
Thanks for all the replies.
Airing towards a cocker or small lab.
How would I know if a lab was a working dog or not? Same with spaniel too.
breeder will be able to tell you, although its not necessarily a good thing if you want a pet.