Viewing 40 posts - 1 through 40 (of 74 total)
  • I want a doggy
  • spectabilis
    Free Member

    Ok so 101 dalmatians has just been on and now I’m hearing “can we have a dog” etc again from the littlun now aswell as her mom.
    My GF has wanted one for a while, we both come from dog owning families and with dogs being around all our lives so the idea is one I’m entertaining.

    We both work full time, I only do four days a week.
    Our house is small, two up two down but has a fair size garden.
    My daughter is 3 nearly 4

    We have and have had Labradors and Staffies in the family and they have been great with my daughter and very well behaved.

    I have just been looking at Huskies.

    Not keen on yampi little things.

    I ride a rigid 29+

    Gimme some ideas on breeds to consider post pics of cute puppies or houses covered in dog shit….

    bearnecessities
    Full Member

    I am so disappointed by this.

    spectabilis
    Free Member

    bearnecessities – Member
    I am so disappointed by this.

    You may be being more helpful than you think… Feel free to elaborate.

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    Suggsey
    Free Member

    Definitely in your small house do not get a current trendy chavtastic husky!
    My daughter and son in law had one against my advice and although she was a lovely dog of her type she was not particularly suited to young children, hyper all the time unless walked/run for at least two hours two to three times a day, they naturally will dig pits in the garden to lay in (it’s a breed genetic trait).
    They are real pack animals and in my opinion need others and someone who’s going to drive them from a dog team rig.

    Suggsey
    Free Member

    Oh yeah I forgot they are escape artists, food thieves and very strong willed……
    When they divorced we got her rehomed with another squaddies family…..they too found her too hard work!

    spectabilis
    Free Member

    Yes I had read that that they were diggers and of course need a huge amount of exercise which I’d be ok with as any excuse to go for a wander suits me, I had already ruled them out after research. they just cropped up in the local classifieds amongst the masses cockerdoodles etc.

    suburbanreuben
    Free Member

    they just cropped up in the local classifieds amongst the masses cockerdoodles etc.

    That’s the last place you want to look. Dodgy “breeders” pumping out pups just in time for Christmas, waiting for some mug to spend the best part of a grand on some trendy mongrel…
    Wait ’til the New Year and pick one up from the local rescue.

    anagallis_arvensis
    Full Member

    A small lurcher.

    wolvesdug
    Free Member

    We have two Husky German Shepard cross bitches. They are great dogs easy to train and don’t seem to have the husky traits.

    MoreCashThanDash
    Full Member

    Definitely in favour of a rescue one after Christmas – a definite good deed.

    Small house – you need to be really pragmatic about how much space you have for a bigger dog/bed/cage.

    Where will it be while you are out working? It will do some damage if you get a young one or don’t exercise it enough.

    If you get one that needs a lot of exercise, what is plan B when you come off your bike and spend 3 months in plaster and unable to exercise it?

    Jamz
    Free Member

    A Staffy? We rescued one about 6 months ago and she’s an absolute cracker! Never had one before, but did have a English Bull Terrier when I was growing up. He was also a great little fella (except when he got within touching distance of another dog…)

    I would have thought a Staffy would make a great family dog, far more inclined to walk than an English too.

    spectabilis
    Free Member

    Yes, I am aware of the state of the classfied sites. We have kept various other livestock and wary of unscrupulous breeders.

    I really just want experiences of various (traditional) breeds or to help me avoid giving in. I’ve been saying no for about 8 years.

    spectabilis
    Free Member

    Yep. My Brother has a Staffy, great around people young and old, clean, quiet, absolute nutcase when it encounters another dog.

    I have a large lean-to building which used to be my fish house I could adapt this with dog flap to garden.

    devlaeminck
    Free Member

    What about a rescue lurcher ? If it’s being left then a puppy is going to be destructive unless you cage it and is it really fair to get a dog knowing it’s going to be in a cage all day ?

    I’ve had staffies and they are great characters but they do require a fair bit of exercise when young and they can be prone to dog aggression – but no more so than other terriers I’ve had. The difference with the staffies is they have the means to get into more trouble than a smaller terrier. Also got a belgian shepherd and she is a lovely dog, very intelligent/trainable but more sensitive than the terriers. I would recommend one to anyone who is going to put a lot of time into training and socialisation but ours does like the sound of her own bark and it is f’ing loud – maybe not the ideal dog to leave during the day.

    scandal42
    Free Member

    Don’t fuel the christmas breeding nut jobs, get a rescue dog a month or so after Xmas.

    2unfit2ride
    Free Member

    All dogs have traits, just be honest with yourself & make sure that the one you choose doesn’t have one you cant live with. The first BT I got is totally different to the PITA that is the second one, but I love him to bits as he is my soul male company in the house so I forgive him anything 🙂

    spectabilis
    Free Member

    I’d love to do the rescue thing but it’s a puppy that’s being requested of course.

    During the working week only Tues and Weds would be days where it’d not see anyone but then it’d be from 9 – 15:30.
    Monday I’m home, Thurs,Fri My Mom’s on nursery duty so could check in. I have however always been of the opinion that it is not right to leave one locked up. Although my Gf’s parents had no issues with their Lab in the house without issue.

    suburbanreuben
    Free Member

    During the working week only Tues and Weds would be days where it’d not see anyone but then it’d be from 9 – 15:30.
    Monday I’m home, Thurs,Fri My Mom’s on nursery duty so could check in. I have however always been of the opinion that it is not right to leave one locked up. Although my Gf’s parents had no issues with their Lab in the house without issue.

    2 days out of 7 it’ll be left for 6 hours+. 2 days your mum will “check” on it.
    No way is that OK. You need to re-think.

    spectabilis
    Free Member

    2 days out of 7 it’ll be left for 6 hours+. 2 days your mum will “check” on it.
    No way is that OK. You need to re-think.

    Yep, my thoughts.

    What is ok?

    jp-t853
    Full Member

    best of both worlds rescue puppy

    Eden Animal Rescue

    suburbanreuben
    Free Member

    What is ok?

    Depends on the dog. Certainly, a pup fresh from it’s mum will be particularly distressed.

    Sandwich
    Full Member

    Here at this place but only 2 there currently. Get your name down on the list and wait for an assessor to arrive. They will recommend a dog for you if they have a suitable one but will keep you on-file if they haven’t. Be aware that at the end of this month there may be a further delay to allow Christmas to get out of the way, they range in size from monstrous 40kg jobs to the more svelte 25kg that mine is, bitches a bit smaller.
    Here’s mine who came from them, best dog ever but hopeless with the bike, likes the pub though.
    [url=https://flic.kr/p/yqnvi2]Crown at Westleton[/url] by Mike Hams, on Flickr

    idiotdogbrain
    Free Member

    I’ll second getting a rescue -rescues have puppies too. Otherwise you’re just fueling the breeders, and there are far too many awesome dogs already needing homes.

    Nothing wrong with crate-training a young dog either – it gives them a safe space that is theirs and theirs alone. In an ideal world they wouldn’t be needed but it’s not, so sometimes they are.

    7hrs is too long for a young dog to be left though; either get an older dog who is used to that sort of routine, or find a local dog-walker who can come in on those two days when you’re not able to. If you do get a puppy you really need someone there full-time for the first six weeks though.

    I come home at lunch to see to ours but occasionally I have to work away at short notice; we have an awesome local walker who is literally just round the corner and pops in to see to them.

    FYI, we have a Boxer X Spaniel and a Boxer X Staff, who is the rescue. The Sproxer is much easier work and much lower energy than the BullBoxer. Whatever you get though, please give serious consideration to feeding a pure raw diet. Ours are on a combination of Natural Instinct meat and bones like duck necks, etc. There’s so much rubbish and additives in “ordinary” dog food that it can cause all sorts of behavioural issues, and it’s not fair on the dog.

    Inbred456
    Free Member

    Who is going to let the dog out when you both work? If you can get a friend or neighbour to walk it and let it out when you are at work then I would consider an ex racer greyhound. Fantastic dogs can be left as most racers are kept in small cages for hours on end. Do not get a puppy,they require a lot of time and training, something by your own admission you don’t have at present. We had an ex racer and he was the daftest softest easiest dog to have around. You may need to toilet train them though. Retired greyhound trust would be my first port of call. You need to really think this through, if you make a mistake it will be hard on the dog but harder still on the kids.

    tetchypete
    Free Member

    I wouldn’t leave a dog alone for more than 4 hours on a regular basis. Thought about a cat?

    mrsfry
    Free Member

    Getting a dog/pup to be home alone is going to be rough for everyone involved. They have to get used to you and new place plus new food. Imageine every colour, smell and texture of poop and pee you can think of, then think of what it will be like to come home to with that plasterd all over the place. Then there is the walking, and dogs need to pee and poop when they need to and not just when you are awake and home.

    Not saying don’t get a dog, i have had dogs in my time (older unwanted) and they have always turned out to be truely fantastic girls, but there were times when i would have to get out of bed at three am because she wants to go loo (and i have to leave for work at seven am) and times when i am sick from what ever plauge i caught, no holidays, making sure i am back in time for her needs and the vet bills (OMG the vet bills).

    There will come a time when no insurance company will touch your dog with a barge pole so if you are lucky like me you can find a vet who will take weekly payments (never want to see a bake bean in my life) or you may not be lucky and have to find cash somehow by other means.

    [video]https://youtu.be/mmt-14aAfyk[/video]

    spectabilis
    Free Member

    Hmm yes working really is a pain maybe it could come with me? Shop could do with a dog trouble is I’d have to stop riding in Or… what 29+ specific puppy carrier ?

    Lovely she is, Sandwich and yes enjoying the pub is a definite requirement.

    suburbanreuben
    Free Member

    Dogs at work are great!
    If I walk mine early I often meet a woman who takes hers to work. In an office of 5 people there are three dogs, including the boss’s. They take it in turns to whip them out for a leg up. If you had to work in an office…

    I also meet a chap who commutes by bike a few miles with his cockerpoo. She travels in a Bob Yak dog carrier on the road but lets rip across the common.

    It’s a far better option than leaving it at home.

    Pz_Steve
    Full Member

    Don’t fall into the “it’ll only be left XX days out of 7” way of thinking. Dogs don’t share our way of looking at a week. If it’ll be left on its own even 1 day a week, then avoid any breed with known separation anxiety. Or (and this’ll sound harsh but it isn’t meant to), don’t be so selfish.

    Wait until you’re in a position where you can guarantee that it’s not going to get left, and in the meantime, look forward to what you can get when your circumstances are right.

    chestrockwell
    Full Member

    My Labrador is ace. Smelly, needy, greedy, demanding and a royal pain in the arse but properly ace.

    worldrallyteam
    Free Member

    After many years of my daughter asking for a dog, we now have the time for a pup. We had our name down with a Kennel Club approved breeder for a Norwegian Buhund, off the spitz lines. Similar to a husky but smaller. Litter was born a week past Tuesday and should pick up pup week before Christmas. I was expecting to wait months to try and find a litter, we were just lucky and only waited a few weeks. Don’t have a pic I can post up , but Google them. I had one about 30 years ago, great dogs.

    spectabilis
    Free Member

    Yep looks like the Spitz’ group are right for us, spent a few hours researching Shiba Inu’s last night but the Buhund seems good to infact in some ways a better choice. Thanks for that.

    Now, apparently Grandad who was a breeder with show dogs back in his day would be happy to come round and see to it whilst we are out.

    Cougar
    Full Member

    I’d love to do the rescue thing but it’s a puppy that’s being requested of course.

    Sorry for asking the obvious but, your kid does realise that puppies turn into doggies, yes? I don’t mean to be rude but that statement rings alarm bells to me.

    Get a dog because you / your missus wants a dog, absolutely, but not because your little one wants a puppy. Otherwise once the novelty’s worn off you’ll be stuck looking after the thing for the next decade or two.

    spectabilis
    Free Member

    Sorry for asking the obvious but, your kid does realise that puppies turn into doggies, yes? I don’t mean to be rude but that statement rings alarm bells to me.

    It would to me to.

    But if you re-read you should see its my GF who has wanted a dog/puppy for ages it’s just now the littlun has joined in.
    I’m pretty sure my GF understands the stages of growth.

    TPTcruiser
    Full Member

    Four year old at the end of this month. RSPCA recue, they called her a lurcher, a new branding of staffie-cross, maybe with 25% whippet. Great with children but chases squirrels and is a good puller and solid.

    Had her for 2 1/2 years, still puppy-ish!

    Rockape63
    Free Member

    I wouldn’t leave a dog alone for more than 4 hours on a regular basis. Thought about a cat?

    Indeed….I spent my life wanting a dog, but never having a lifestyle that would allow it. Eventually at the grand age of 46 I/we got one and he’s never left for more than 4/5 hours and only then after a good walk. Good to see this POV being aired frequently on here.

    Travis
    Full Member

    Ok, so I’ve done a Turbo session tonight, and had a large glass of wine (in the bidon of course)

    from the littlun now aswell as her mom.
    My GF has wanted one for a while

    Does that mean, your littlun, her Mum (your EX??) , and your GF are all in the same room?

    Cougar
    Full Member

    But if you re-read you should see its my GF who has wanted a dog/puppy for ages it’s just now the littlun has joined in.

    Sorry, I misunderstood. When you said a puppy had been “requested” rather than being discussed I presumed you were referring to a child. As you were. (-:

    Pigface
    Free Member

    Have had two rescue Staffs, one was as thick as a brick one was whip smart both brilliant dogs. Yes can be arsey with other dogs, one of mine was one loved everything and everybody. They are terriers so can be pig headed. Thousands need rehoming.

    cbmotorsport
    Free Member

    2 up 2 down?

    Get a small dog. Small doesn’t equal yappy.

    Your house will instantly feel half the size with anything bigger.

    You can find nice, well brought up, well trained young dogs at rescue centres and through the small ads where people can no longer look after them. There are some genuine rehomes out there. George came from Gumtree, he is house trained, doesn’t chew, doesn’t bark and is just an amazing little character:

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