"IF" i was allowed a dog, it would have to fit very strict guidelines – The Wife

I know two working Cocker’s and they are mad mad mad!

Need a LOT of exercise.

My first dog as a kid was a cavalier king charles spaniel – absolutely spot on temperament to live with two young kids but his health was really bad and he died of a massive heart attack aged just 8 years old 🙁 He was purchased from a KC registered breeder too, so it’s not like they just bought him from the small ads. Sadly a lot of Cavs are prone to heart problems though.

In comparison the rescue staffy x lab we have now is knocking on 12 years plus and still loves his two walks a day.

Rescue every time for us. They all have loads of different shapes, sizes, ages and temperament – might actually be a good place to visit to start off conversation about what you all like anyway?

toby1 – Member
I’d really like a dog and my wife would love one, but we are both out at work all day and I don’t think it’s fair to the dog to be home alone all day, so I keep saying no – hard to do though as I’d love to have a dog to take for a walk!

Have you heard of Borrow my doggy[/url]?

No I hadn’t redwoods – but it looks worth an click, cheers! 🙂

You could always volunteer to do dogwalking at your local rescue centre too, if you’ve got one nearby. The inmates love the chance to get out of their concrete cells 🙂

While I applaud all who take on a rescue dog it would not be my choice
with little kids

Get a nice puppy and the frightened one will be able to grow up with it and hopefully be less scared .

Worked for us with Paddy the Parsons Russel

I agree with trout which is a shame. Might be able to get a rescue pup though.

It’s a myth that rescues mean fully grown, unpredictable dogs. My local rescue sadly regularly has litters of 8 week old puppies needing homes.

Hardly a myth the vast majority of dogs needing rehoming are adult dogs.

I’ve had a rescue growing up, it’s very possible to get a snappy at best or a bat shit insane dog at worst. I’ll get another one day but if I had young children, neither would I.

I’d agree with the statement that a puppy will reduce the fear of dogs that the youngest has as well.

anagallis_arvensis – Member
Hardly a myth the vast majority of dogs needing rehoming are adult dogs.

POSTED 3 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST

But as Redwood said, NOT ALL rescues are adult dogs.
Not allrescue dogs are mongrels either, not that there’s anything wrong with that. Many are cast offs that didn’t fit with the owners’ lifestyles because they didn’t take the time to find out more/believed what the breeder told them. Labradoodles or working spaniels that are too energetic or bouncy, for example.
Give me a mongrel/rescue dog any day of the week,even with kids!

Cockerpoo – no moulting (didn’t believe it but seriously not a single dog hair anywhere!)

Loves exercise

Bright & Strong willed though – so easy to train but needs firm boundaries

Cuddly as anything

Seems that rescue centres dont agree as many will not rehome to places with young kids

The Cockerpoo as a pup

and at 12 months

anagallis_arvensis – Member
Seems that rescue centres dont agree as many will not rehome to places with young kids

That’s true, but many won’t rehome to old folk either. But many will,to both.
I can understand them not rehoming to families with kids.It isn’t necessarily mistrust of all their dogs; it’s more about giving their inmates a stable new home.
Dog rescue isn’t all about rescue “centres”. There are many more rescued dogs with foster families who know their charges intimately. If they’re not suitable for children they say so. A breeder might not be so scrupulous.

Personally I would be looking at a poodle cross, less risk of health issues. They do have stupid names though.

Last dog I got was from these people: http://www.allsortsdogrescue.org.uk/availabledogs.aspx

Even though it was a long way away from where I live; but as I wanted a 2-3 year old, high energy gundog bitch, which was good with other dogs and children, I was happy to travel.

I’ll float some ideas over the hypothetical dog.

However – I now have some ammunition after the missus came back from toddler group with the rear door of my car caved in. 👿 👿 👿 no witnesses, no cctv…. arggghhhhh 👿

Here’s a photo of Benny, the Tibetan Terrier/cocker cross.

The good news is that his coat can be styled many ways, doesn’t shed and is hypoallergenic. The bad news is that he needs trimming every 8-12 weeks, and washing every 2. Or more frequently, depending on weather and rolling activities.

MrsT Benny looks ace, trimming – I’ve got some clippers for my hair, I’m sure they’ll do 😉

something different , not to many Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers about. their non shedding but need a lot of work on the coat and plenty of patience with the training . Colin will be strutting his stuff at Crufts on Friday .

Labs make great family dogs but in the basis that’s not allowed (its worth asking though) another vote for Cocker spaniel or Border Terrier. Getting a dog will be great for getting your daughters past her fear. Our lab never seemed to have the fitness to come on a ride and she was walked every day 1-3 hours. Not sure about terriers on a woodland ride either, they’d be off down every hole perhaps ?

staffie

Small(ish), brilliant with kids, don’t moult.

Properly trained (i.e. lots of dog socialising when young) they are other-dog-friendly. Great dogs, complete clowns, always up for exercise and play.

Poodle or poodle cross if you’re not allowed a full sized one!

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Clover[/url] by BeateKubitz[/url], on Flickr[/img]

Many dogs from rescue centres are there due to external factors – owners being forced to move due to redundancy, owners dying etc, etc, etc.
These poodle mongrels do look nice but the money they go for is just silly. Many poodle bitches are just puppy machines. If you have a female poodle be very careful as these are the most stolen dogs. You cannot guarantee that a poodle cross will not moult until they are at least 6 months old.
If you’re worried about dog hair mind a dog is probably not the best pet. Maybe get a goldfish.

One of these clown like dogs is what you require……

Lovely lovely temperament , especially with kids.

Patterdale terrier (ours is black smooth and shiny) 2yrs old and still looks like a puppy (aaaaawwww) very clever, gentle and a fantastic trail hound.
Or a parsons! Which would have been our second choice IF we couldn’t find a good Patterdale (which we did 8)
She is the best money i have ever spent and a huge addition to our family.
Best of luck getting the right doggie for you 😉

Working Cocker X Miniture Poodle

Fantastic dog happy to be out all day in all weather equally happy curled up under my feet.

I wanted a border terrier but was over ruled by the wife and kids.
No regrets here tho.
Dont shed any hair but you must brush them lots or they will matt.

Whippet. I’ve got two.

Right size for your requirement.
Fabulous temperament.
Different – not your standard breed.
Hardly any moult.
Doesn’t want to go out in the wet and cold.
Doesn’t need shed loads of exercise at all, 20 minute blast of running couple of times a day.

Only problem is you’ll end up with another.

Oh and both ours are rescued, if you’re interested email me and I’ll put you in touch with whippet rescues!

Get a great Dane puppy and tell her it’s an adult dachshund.

It will be unusual especially if you get a blue. 😈

On a more serious note why not take the kids to a rescue centre or look on dog pages or similar with them and see what they and The Wife likes/ takes a shine to?

We found our last dog through dog pages. A shepherd/lab cross (with some other in for good measure, proper mutt). He had been picked up as a stray and had some health issues that were fully disclosed. He was the softest most gentle creature I have encountered in my adult life. He lasted three years (8 or 9 when we had him) and he was awesome with our at the time newborn.

Oddly, been going through them tonight…. I think it’s all show.

I suggested a whippet earlier greatclittle dogs. But in the spirit of just recommending our own dogs a lurcher would be good too. Ours is maybe a bit bigger than you suggest at about 23inch to the shoulder but she folds up small, unless on the sofa. A whippet Bedlington type would suit you size wise. You get crossed breed health and dont get designer prices like your average cockershitzupoopoodle. Ours is 3/8 greyhound, 1/4 whippet and 1/8 each of bearded collie, border collie and bedlington terrier. She is brilliant relatvely easy to train (but if it runs away its getting chased), gentle, protective of our 3 yearold son, walks perfectly on a loose lead, hardly ever barks, quiet in the house and yet active on a walk and great with other dogs and kids. She’s ace and only cost 200 quid try buy a shitadoo for that price.

Cool hound anagallis!

me and my two dogs, rosie and toby.

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both rescue dogs from the dogs trust. rosie is a jack russell but has a genetic defect which means her ears will always stick up, original owner didnt want her because of this. toby is a jrt cross with supposedly a king charles. looks more like a beagle cross but there we go. great temperaments, great dogs, love em to bits

dogs trust website will show your nearest rehoming centre, the dogs that are there and what kind of families they can and cant go to. worth a look if just for ideas

Thread revival 🙂

Now I don’t want to get ahead of myself here, but I managed to get the missus watching crufts over the last couple of nights (nothing else on), AND I think she’s cracking – serious conversations over who’s got full responsibility (accept of course when I’m travelling with work)…. oooh maybe, just maybe!!

Sprocker at the moment is top of list (thanks for whoever mentioned that one)..

My drinking partner.