[Closed] What dog for....?

Hardhat and high vis vest?

Funky - usually by knowing where it's from. Ours was from a shooting estate for example. There should be a Kennel Club certificate detailing puppy lineage but any good breeder will tell you. "Show" type labs are much bigger and boxier. Bitches always seem to be a bit smaller whatever type you get but they cost more.

I recommend them - very good with kids (of that helps) and easy to train but not too big - labs can be enormous and eat shedloads! They do need good exercise or they'll get lardy. Watch for hip scores too (again just ask the breeder) as they are prone to bad ones.

Cockers are good too - bit less highly strung than Springers (my parents have two) which can be funny around kids and a bit bonkers.

Met a few bonkers springers, also read about the dodgy lab hips too.
Really would love a small lab, just worried it will end up growing much larger than I would like.
Was thinking more of a working stock dog for toughness, most pedigree dogs I know have health problems at some point and don't seen to be anywhere near as much fun.

Funky - ours is KC registered and pedigree but working stock (certificate goes 5 generations back) - pedigree doesn't mean show type (i.e. large) only.

Best thing to do is look around and spot ads for working labs - or just ask the question if you see ads for labs. Much better to get one from a good shooting estate or similar IMO and make sure you see both parents - no better indicator of what "yours" will look like.

Might be blinkered but I really don't like breeding "farms" that are in it mainly for the money.

A quick question for the people suggesting working stock.

Do you really think its a good idea to suggest a dog that needs 3 hours+ walking a day to someone with a young family?

My dog which is a working cross, and I meet a lot of people with working dogs, who don't actually shoot who are stuck in the rut of 1hour walk in the morning, 1 hour walk at lunchtime and a 2->3 hour walking in the evening or have to live with their dog destroying their house

and a quick picture of mine, calm after being walked for 3 hours

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Ours gets about an hour a day (occasionally much more) and is completely chilled out yet super fit.

They aren't all bonkers.

richc - love that pic!

If you're looking for a trail dog, you want to get yourself a Border Collie - it can run all day, calculate vector mechanics on the move, do a bit of animal psychology and probably fix your bike if you need it to.

As a different suggestion how about a Schnauzer?

http://www.schnauzerclub.co.uk/

As said above a working dog like a spaniel/ collie, although great dogs, is going to be a tie to you unless you can really give them lots of excersize.

sorry for my dumbness, but what is the difference between a working dog and i guess a non working dog?

if its a pupp then how is its behaviour going to be different?

also another one for the people who have trained there doggies...

whats the best course of action to simple things such as fetch and sit and heel type things?

nick

Best method of training is to reward them when they get it right, not shout at them when they get it wrong (like my muppet neighbour is doing as I type 🙄 ). Probably worth going to obedience classes as well if you haven't much idea how to go about it.

My 2 - I have been getting them out with the bike but have now accepted that they are not built to run and run for long periods at bike speeds, even though they are from working stock. They do love a good 1/2 hour though and will chase about on walks for hours without seeming to tire. Brilliant dogs!
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If you want a working type dog due to lack of heridited disease just geta cross breed. IMO a working Springer or a collie is not really a suitable dog for a busy family and Labs of any type need loads of exercise, both mental and physical. If you dont know the difference between working stock and others then you should not really be considering one.

Get a cross breed like a lurcher, such a dog needs a couple of good runs a day and then will sleep all the time, so lazy they are almost cat like. Greyhounds and whippets (the basis for most lurchers and where they get their lazy genes from) are also amongst the least agrressive dogs you can get, as long as you arent a rabbit.

2 nice Labs there Woody.

This oooh working stock need more exercise or will destroy your house is rubbish. All our Labs we've had through out our family have come from working stock and not one of them has destroyed a house, in fact once out of the pup stage none of them chewed a thing.

what is a working stock dog?>

Drac - same here. Not one item chewed by our working stock lab.

Nick - I think it's a broadish term but working stock dogs are generally a bit smaller and in many cases, livelier, than "show" stock dogs.

We have an american breed chocolate lab and he is a great family pet, fantastic with kids and babies but does need a lot of exercise to keep him happy.

Why are what are clearly springer spaniels above now being called working cockers, does the second name apply more to the owners?

I have a working spinger and also previously owned a working cocker. Both breeds can be mental and both can be chilled, personality all depends on the specific dog much like people. Mine were both chilled and great with kids but very motivated whilst out and they definately "work" areas of the woodland we ride in. My friend has 2 working cockers and they are insane and not capable of living in the house at all (they are happier in kennel as they need some time out), she has a 3rd working cocker who is very chilled and easy to live with in the house.

I walk my springer for 1h every morning regardless of the weather and he will run most evenings on either a walk or bike ride. He's equally happy curling up on the sofa for a hug though (he's very soppy!). You do not necessarily need to walk a working dog for hours and hours each day, they will happily do it if you ask them to though.

Sometimes plain old exercise isn't enough and you definately need to consider how to keep them mentally stimulated as well. Things like clicker training, agility, gun dog training (even if you're not going to work them), search and find type training are all good for this and you can do them yourself.

Lots of working dogs end up in rescue as they are not what people expected and they can require a massive amount of work. Some working stock lines are more wired than others so a knowledge of the parents or a history from a very good rescue where the dogs are fostered is essential. My friend with the cockers volunteers for NESSR, they are brilliant at matching their fostered rescue dogs with the correct families and as such have a great deal of success with rehoming their dogs so that both dogs and the family are happy. They have a website and a forum you can have a look on, they are based in North England but will rehome anywhere if you're willing to travel. If you want me to put you in touch with my friend drop me an email.

@ the hustler: working cockers are not working springers, they are 2 distinct breeds and although wockers come in many different colours they do also come in black/white and liver/white. This does not make them the same breed though it can be hard to tell the difference. Sometimes they are miss sold but often it's just hard to tell 😀

We have an 18 month old working springer and a 6 month old baby and they are already bessie mates. daisy(dog) just sits there while billy(baby) grabs big handfuls of her fur/ears/mouth. She will run all day or chill round the house and has never chewed a single thing. mad as a box of frogs but brilliant. wouldnt be without her. My aunty has a sprocker which is alot calmer than daisy, but wants to go home after 30mins walking.

+1 for a springer. We got an eight week old one at the weekend and she is full of it, even jumping on my eight year old staffy.

I Can't wait til she's old enough to go out running or biking.

Drac wrote

This oooh working stock need more exercise or will destroy your house is rubbish.

Our mate's little (hateful) dog also wrecks everything and is a complete PITA - a crossbreed between satan and a rat.

We work from home - ideal for dog exercising.

If any of you with labs get the chance - let them swim a lot. Ours loves it (even in waves) and can go for almost an hour non stop. I've swum with her loads. Low impact but very good for them.

daisy will swim forever if given the chance. rivers, lakes, canals, ponds, you name it shes in it. she even lies down in puddles.

Came across a local litter by accident last night via a neighbour.
They're black lab staffie cross, one quarter staff. Have only seen pics, but they look gorgeous!
I'm thinking the staff gene might make them slightly smaller and they both have similar tempraments

Some excellent posts so far, thanks.

What's the difference between a cocker and a springer?

@ the hustler, i assume you mean my Dog Harry? You're right, he does look like a springer, specially when you dont see him next to other dogs, but he is smaller than a springer (even small working springers). I guess its not impossible he has a bit of springer in him, but we met the parents and the rest of the litter as well as getting his papers and it all says cocker.

As others have said, not all working dogs need huge walks, but they generally are capable of them.

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Harry at the top of Goat Fell, nose to nose with a springer for size comparison (he is a little bigger than that now, but only a couple of kg's)

Springers - longer legs, shorter ears. Usually.

It is a little misleading to just say "My dog's good, get one of these." They're not like bikes. A lot of it comes down to the individual dog - they all have their own character. Our dog's brilliant, but I wouldn't recommend him to anyone.

Pointers I'd give for all would-be dog owners:

- Rescue dogs can be brilliant, and personally I think this is the place to start. There are so many dogs in the world already, why not get a pre-loved version? Plus you can avoid the annoying puppy phase.

- Research the breed. Via internet http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/services/ [url= http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/services/ ]null[/url]. Also talk to a registered breeder - they're by far the best place to get honest, in-depth information. Again, easy to find contact details through Kennel Club.

- Avoid puppy farms. You're not saving a poor puppy from a horrendous existence, you're guaranteeing another litter. Meeting the puppy's mother is the best thing to do (as you can see the conditions/health).

- Once you've got the dog, the more you put in the more you'll get out. Spend time training, walking, socialising it. Ideally, give the dog a job (agility, tracking, retrieving) so it is mentally AND physically stimulated.

As for my opinion on breeds - nothing wrong with Labs, Springers and Cockers, there's a reason why they're popular. But for me, that's a bit like buying a Specialized or a Trek.

I like the more interesting versions: Whippet, Schnauzer (great shout, Scotabroad), Standard Poodle, Leonberger, Bracco Italiano.

Oh, and Sprockers and Labradoodles are just posh mongrels.

FM - the lab/staffies sounds interesting. What makes you say it's quarter staffie?

I grew up with a springer and cousins had a cocker, not true for all but I would say biggest difference is energy lvls, springers seem to have a tank that just goes on for ever...........for both the biggest mis conception about them is that they are stupid dogs, this could not be further from the truth they are actually incredibly intelligent but need to be kept stimulated, if they're not thats when they play up.

to give you an idea of ther intelligence two ecamples of ours
whenever he heard the icecream van used to go out the back door, round the side of house, jump the 4' gates go and get his cone and come back, leaving us with a regular bill.....

in the 15 years we had him once when we were away our aunt ( who had the cocker) came into the house and borrowed a can of his dogfood, after that everytime she visited he went and sat by his food cupboard to protect it.....

Lol at hustler.

Ntried, just going off what the guy next door said. I presume one of the parents is a lab staff cross. They're not from a breeder, it's just someone he knows. He has 2 very well behaved and quiet staffs himself. We only ever hear them when they have a giddy 5 mins playing with them in the house. They're often out in the back and never bark, unlike the bloody noisy dalmation behind us who never shuts up!

Edit, he also said the owners are only looking for £100 each, which makes me think that they either want rid quick, aren't that bothered about the money, or they are seen as an undesirable dog?

TBH if your looking along the lines of getting a staffy then i would recommend getting a rescue one.

We got ours from a rescue centre when he was 18 months and you couldn't want for a better dog.

Not really looking for a staff in particular.
Lab would be nice but possibly a bit large. Was thinking the cross would be smaller.
Would like to be able to take it for big days out on the hills and small rides on the bike.

Given what i've read so far. I'm thinkink a springer crossed with something a little calmer would be the best bet.
Springer lab cross?

Staffies are lovely dogs, but I don't think i'd have one just because of the association with all the local chavs and scrotes who all seem to think it's a vital accessory.
No doubt they're the season the rescue centers are full of them

Little vid of next doors dog Max. They don't let him off the lead much because he doesn't come back and they were told he can be aggressive with other dogs! We met a couple of other dogs and he was good as gold.

He also followed my two, who were doing their best to ignore the young upstart, and came straight back every time he was called. I bet he'd make a great trail dog when he's fully grown.

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HERE[/url] sorry about poor quality - it was taken on my phone

I know a beautiful wocker lab cross, a small petite black lab with shorter legs,longer ears and softer fur.

I am a little wary of all the suggestions that wockers are less wired then springers. I think both are very very similar in terms of energy levels, working drive and training needs. The biggest difference is that springers tend to be clever mentalists and wockers tend to be clever but dappy mentalists!!!

Wockers are smaller, but like springers their working background, parents and training will make a big difference on how mental they are. Lovely dogs, in fact both breeds are my favourite and I'd never be without a spaniel.

If you're seriously considering a wocker or springer please meet a few yourself before you chose. My friends think my springers insane but after a life time of contact with working springers and wockers I know he's one of the calmer ones 😯

We have a working springer that we got from the local rescue centre and he had clearly been badly mistreated in that if I shout at my very stupid german pointer for doing something like eating a whole loaf of bread (last night) the springer will quite often pee himself!
The biggest challenge for me is giving him exercise first thing in the morning - he is wired as soon as he hears someone get up and starts bouncing off the walls so you have no chance of a lie in- once he has had a runaround for half an hour he is as calm as you like and will curl up and sleep.
Overall though I really like the springer temperament but do wish I'd had him from a pup

If you're seriously considering a wocker or springer please meet a few yourself before you chose

We have a three year old springer who thinks shes a puppy. When you have one you soon learn they are bright animals who need mental and physical stimulation.

Going through your hit list,
Cats, we have two - no issues.

Kids, no dog is 100% guaranteed child safe but we have had no issues.

Cycling, loves running alongside bikes, only chance she gets to run with me at the pace she wants to.

Camping - Total disaster. Hates not knowing what the noises on the camp site are. Free range chickens, sheep and horses make for a sleepless night.

Large Garden - good news.

It does seem that a lot of people on this forum have springers, so you may get a slightly skewed set of responses,,, best of luck however you proceed but the advice above of meeting a few is very sound, whatever the breed.

On your idea re staffie/lab cross I had a collie/staffie cross and he was a brilliant dog- lived to 14 but upto about 12 loved coming out with me when I was riding- staffies are much maligned and I wouldnt have a pedigree one due to the chav image thing but as a cross worth considering.

If you go to a rescue centre be prepared to see every variation of staffie/pit bull/rottie known to man- real real shame.

Harry at the top of Goat Fell, nose to nose with a springer for size comparison (he is a little bigger than that now, but only a couple of kg's)

That looks like a welsh springer to me.

I still think your all wrong and lurchers are the best dogs in the world. 😆

Here's our two chilling post walk
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They can live for a bit on an hour a day physical exercise, as long as you do a bit of 'head' work with them. If you have a collie, you need to accept that you have one of the smartest dogs around, so they need a bit of mental stimulation, but the big upside is that they're really easy to train. Fern, our tricolour, is frighteningly fast at picking things up, to the extent that sometimes she only needs to be shown something once to 'get it'.

Both of ours come from different working stock - little ginger is welsh, the tricolour is scottish - but we've not found it a problem.

Despite the rep that collies sometimes have, they are both good with kids - I'm a youth worker and the girls come with me to a lot of my work as the kids generally love them.

Cycling with them is great fun - they drop into line and trot along. I do modify my rides to suit, with regular stops for sniffing and drinking. I also don't push it in terms of length of ride, although they'll both happily walk 20 miles over hilly ground of a day - it's what they're bred for.

Camping can be a bit of a pain - as someone already said, odd noises through the night can have them up and growling, but they definitely add a bit of warmth to a tent on a cold night.

Rescue dogs can come with their own set of problems, which can be more hassle in the long-term than getting a puppy and putting the initial work into raising them. We got both ours as pups, which meant about a month of interrupted sleeps, and another 2-3 months of a fairly intensive regime of regular outings to the garden. Getting a rescue dog can avoid all that, but sometimes they come with 'baggage from previous owners' - our last dog was a rescue lab/collie cross who was brilliant, but I know some other folk who have had to put a bit of work into socialising and building confidence in dogs that have had some crappy stuff done to them.

get yourself a proper working dog

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http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/8-XRrCBkSPkOUFRZ9YG0Qw?feat=directlink

cassie is getting on a bit now, still loves the walks but cant do much compared to before, about 45 min walk arond the estate is fine,

very soft and well tempered, walks to heel if you tell her and will always come back... aslong as she can hear and see you, she iss a bit deaf and blind!

Not convinced with collies - my folks have had two.

I don't trust them around kids at all and I find some quite aggressive - they are one breed our lab is nervous of.

Amazingly bright but almost too much so - very highly strung and I'd say not a good first dog. They also need huge amounts of exercise.

Jacko - great pic!

Springer Spaniel!!!

S**t scared of other dogs. Cats and Hens get pounced by her, they get up, peck or bat her and carry on. Does't do tricks etc. but she NEVER runs away. Beautiful coat. Sounds Viscous when she barks so intruders would be pretty scared but the worst she'll do is lick you to death. Scared of the vacuum so fun to chase round with it

ACE DOG!!!

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i think in general dogs are what you make them. so long as you do the checks and research your chosen breed you cant go far wrong. training is a must, especially with a working dog. and as mentioned, working dogs need mental stimulation. retrieving work and that sort of thing will keep them and you happy.
my point about springers and cockers (and labs aswell although ive never had one) is they are great breeds to start with. soft mouthed so never (extremely rarely) bite. as someone else mentioned, popular for a reason.