If my ideal dog is a Rottie or Mastiff but I live in a London flat...

[EssentialHummus]

... what might suit me?

We have a large flat with a garden, though garden is not direct access. I WFH, am fairly sedentary (can walk an hour-ish a day), happy to invest time in training.

If space wasn't an issue, I'd be after a Rottweiler or Mastiff, after a lot of experience housesitting with them. I love large, loyal, calm dogs that want a good amount of human affection.

Obviously neither of these breeds works in my circumstances, in terms of either space or exercise needs. What would? I'm thinking an adult Staffie?

I have the additional problem of a mildly averse husband, but I think we can work on that.

[EssentialHummus]

Sorry, forgot to add - no DC, but they are not far off and dog would need to be OK around fairly young children.

[redpeppersoup]

Rescue staffie then you can find out it's temperament before adopting

[MissBattleaxe]

Will a dog that big need more than an hour-ish exercise a day? If your husband is averse I would consider his feelings, especially if you ever expect him to walk the dog for you. Will your flat be big enough for a large dog and a small baby in the future?

[PersianCatLady]

First of all, do you own or rent your flat?

If you own your flat you need to check the head lease to check whether pets are allowed in your block of flats.

If you rent your flat you need to get permission from your LL to keep a pet and also if you only have a 6 / 12 month lease have you considered what you would do if it wasn't renewed at the end of its term.

I don't mean to be a bit pessimistic but loss of owners' accommodation is one of the main reasons that pets find themselves at the RSPCA.

[EssentialHummus]

Whatever we get will be a rescue something, having had two very ill pedigree dogs as a child/teen. I don't want to support the industry.

DH won't be expected to walk the dog, but I don't want him to feel scared in his own home.

Flat is large enough for dog, husband and baby to have their own rooms

[EssentialHummus]

We own persian. Nothing in the headlease either way (I was digging in there for a different reason, and checked at the same time).

[albertcampionscat]

Staffie. Big strong dogs, but sweet and lazy.

[Cranbrookornot]

Newfoundland, whippet, greyhound - all quiet lazy dogs indoors ime. You don't want a barky dog in a flat.

[FatOldBag]

What about a bulldog? Kind of mastiff-looking but smaller, very people-friendly, love company, often pretty sedentary. The Edward Foundation or Bulldog Rescue are the relevant rescues to look for a bulldog if you like the idea. Or to downscale even more, depending on what your husband feels comfortable with, French bulldogs or pugs. Or go to your local rescue and see which dogs there would best suit you.

[EssentialHummus]

fat I love all of those breeds (esp. bulldogs) but I'm worried about health issues - our family dogs were Boxers and they were lovely but it was one thing after another health-wise. What are they like in practice? Or do you just get gold-plated pet insurance?

[2legit2knit]

Mastiffs don't need masses of excerise, if you have room for a big enough bed for one it could be ok? My dog is a large mongrel (imagine a big stripy muscley labrador) and she only needs an hours walk a day. We have a v small 2 bed house and we all fit ok!
Maybe approach rescue with a doggy personality in mind rather than breed?

[EssentialHummus]

knit I'm imagining this

Maybe approach rescue with a doggy personality in mind rather than breed?

That makes sense, actually. They'll know their individual dogs.

[123bananas]

Staffies need more walking than an hour a day when young. Sounds like you need a larger, lazier dog.

I would get a bullmastiff, look for the runt of the litter. Smaller, less dominant, easier to train, cheaper and good around children.

Chow Chow is another quiet breed although more dominant in nature.

The other option is to see whether you have a training school for registered blind helper dogs near you. Not all dogs make it through the training and homes are needed for them. They are very well trained, don't bark a lot and are trained to poo in the samr small patch of earth in your garden.

[PersianCatLady]

We own persian. Nothing in the headlease either way
Excellent so that solves the problem of permission and also the problem of uncertainty of your accommodation.

I love your idea of taking on a rescue dog as it sounds like you have thought things through and that you would be exactly the kind of person that an abandoned dog needs.

I suspect that your husband will soon come round.

Good luck.

[tabulahrasa]

Um...Rotties are not calm, they're really very lively and energetic, you'd definitely want to be doing more than an hour a day's walking.

Is your flat on the ground floor as being upstairs stairs isn't ideal with a large breed.

[EssentialHummus]

tabula I don't think either breed listed in my OP will work for us, and I'm after ideas of what would likely be a better fit. The flat is up one half flight of stairs.

[pugsake]

I have a staffy cross she's lazy fond.

When she's had enough of a walk she lies herself down and just refuses to go any further.

I do three 20 minute walks a day. She has constant garden access though. I have a three year old and 11 year old she's fab with both. Obviously they don't get left alone but that would be the same with any dog.

[backinthebox]

Do you have neighbours below you? I lived in a flat with a neighbour above me who had 2 rottweilers and wooden floors. To this day one of only 2 things I can say in Catalan is 'your dogs are very noisy.' Usually yelled off the balcony.

[tabulahrasa]

"I'm after ideas of what would likely be a better fit"

Oh I know, it's just that you had them together and other people had responded as if they have similar exercise needs...they really don't. Rotties and mastiffs are very very different breeds.

If you want not too active and calm...sighthounds would probably suit you - and you get a variety of sizes as well.

[EssentialHummus]

back there's one neighbour downstairs. For various reasons to do with the layout of the flats, I'm hoping that day-to-day noise won't be an issue. The neighbour herself has a large-ish dog (white with long red ears, can't remember the breed).

[MrsJayy]

I adore giant dogs i would have a bull mastiff in a minute if dh would let me . What about a greyhound or lurcher they dont need a lot of walking Staffies need a lot of exercise and are lively

[FatOldBag]

Yes they can have health issues but mine never have so far. Most breeds have something they're more susceptible to.

[Floralnomad]

As you are planning on having children I'd go for a greyhound or lurcher as they are generally very child friendly

[2legit2knit]

that does look quite a lot like her!

[UnbornMortificado]

Flora is that common with them? my mam has two rescue sighthounds and they can be extremely nervy with the grandkids.

Both were rescues and one has had a bad start so I'm not sure if it's a breed trait or just them. My mam swears one of them has OCD and the dog version of bi-polar (if that's even possible)

One is a bull greyhound the others a whippet cross. Her springer is fab with everyone but not exactly large or chilled out dog