If you chose your dog because of the type of breed answer my questions..

[SoggyBiscuitss]

(Please)

If you bought your dog based on its breed please tell me-

1- what breed and why that breed?

2- what are the pros & cons of your dogs breed?

Bonus question if you don’t mind- why did you choose a female or male?

I worded it this way as I know some people get a dog regardless of its breed for example they rehomed it.
But I want to know specifically about dog breeds if you chose that breed.

I am thoroughly researching getting a dog and have been for some time now.
I want a puppy as I want to train the dog from the beginning and to know it’s background, where it came from etc.

I have looked into rehoming but under the current climate they are well sought after.
Also whenever I have looked, the only dogs available are ‘no children’ or they are already in their twilight years.
(I’ve added that bit as I know I will get some comments asking me not to buy a puppy and to get a rescue)

I only have experience of labradors and male dogs which is why I am asking.

Thanks so much!

I wanted a dog that was:
Medium size
Non-moulting
Non-barky
Non-hyper
Great with children

For this reason, I chose a whippet. However, I couldn't find one in rescue at all. In the end, I heard of a family who's non-pedigree whippet dog was pregnant by accident by another whippet (also not a pedigree whippet).

She's the most easiest, calm, beautiful, cuddly dog ever.

I’ve previously had other breeds of dogs but I now have two Whippets although one is a Longdog (Not a Lurcher) as he is part Greyhound.

1- what breed and why that breed?
Low heath problems. Quiet indoors and sleep like cats. High energy outdoors. I like that their tails cover their bottom holes. Short fur.

2- what are the pros & cons of your dogs breed?

Pros - they sleep all day indoors. Very affectionate and loving. Intelligent. Funny characters. Very clean and low odour and virtually no shedding.

Cons - separation anxiety. I never leave mine.

Prey drive. One is a killer and one wants to play with whatever he chases so they both wear bear bells which means they can stalk and chase but the prey is forewarned by the bells.

I also have a third dog but he was my daughter’s and therefore not a breed I would have chosen so he is a honorary Whippet.

I didn’t see the first reply! How funny!

Whippets rule!

1. We have a springer. I’ve had spaniels all my life. We were going to get another cocker. But, Just at the time we decided it was right to get a dog to join our family (having been 2 years without) a friend’s springer had pups. It was good to know she didn’t come from a dodgy breeder.

2. pro’s - spaniels are so loving & loyal. She’s very clever. House training was a breeze. Her recall is great. She is lovely with the kids. And those ears 😍
   Con’s - totally bonkers, full on & so much energy. But in the nicest possible way!! She also moults more than every other dog I’ve had put together.

My list was the same as Itsamess8456 and it led me to choose a male Spanish Water dog.

And funnily enough I love whippets!!
I have zero experience of them though so they are both good to read.
Separation anxiety puts me off a bit as my future dog would need to be left for about 5 hours per day maximum (occasionally)

Thank you @Frolicacid
I love springers and cockers!
I like the points you’ve made except for the shedding of hair!!
The labradors I’ve had havent been bad for malting so I’m not used to dog hairs.
Easy to tidy up?

I have a miniature Australian Labradoodle and a miniature English one
I chose them because of their size, child friendly nature, non shedding.
Pros: non shedding, calm at home, bouncy outside (eldest is 11 but still acts like a pup), very friendly and affectionate. Easy to train.
Cons: none.
First was a male purely by chance and the second a female as I thought they'd get along better. He is neutered she is not.

I have a pug. As a child I always wanted one due to a book I read. However never had one - a variety of others though.

I found myself divorced from a man allergic to dogs and went on a rescue site. Went through all the checks - wanted a neutered boy, small breed. First dog that I matched with was a pug!

I would never have a pug puppy by the way due to the issues with overbreeding. I have had my boy for 7 years and he is everything a pug should be - snuffly, snoring, farting bundle of joy. He adores humans and hates being alone. During lockdown he has been such a joy to my parents as they have walked him everyday whilst I worked.

He's not everyone's cup of tea but I would rescue another in a heartbeat.

1- what breed and why that breed?

2- what are the pros & cons of your dogs breed

1. Mongrel of many types though always a medium sized dog (had 4 dogs over the years)
2. They live for a long time, they have few health problems, less likely to suffer in pain, they are often intelligent and loving and less likely to be neurotic. They are more interesting than breeds, the cost much less (in initial buying, in food, in medicine and vets bills, in not needing a haircut or specialist training or a fecking coat!), They are more individualistic and not just a stereotype of their breed. You can have endless conversation s wondering what the fuck they are! You don't buy into puppy farms inadvertently.

1- what breed and why that breed?
A Hungarian Vizsla. I had seen one years ago and been struck by what a beautiful breed it is, but at the time we had dogs and didn't want any more. When we lost our last old lady and the grief finally began to recede, I thought again about a Vizsla. I found that the breed fit my requirements: great family dog, high energy, intelligent and characterful.

2- what are the pros & cons of your dogs
breed?
PROS - Vizslas are extremely loving, clever, loyal and utterly bonkers.
CONS - They are utterly bonkers😂, and can be destructive/suffer with separation anxiety.

Bonus question if you don’t mind- why did you choose a female or male?
We went for a girl because we wanted to be able to tummy tickle without getting an accidental handful of dog willy!

@FuckOffBorisYouTwat
This is gonna sound silly, but where might I find a mongrel puppy?
I’d be happy with a mongrel as I’ve heard many times the same reasons you note there but I don’t think I’ve ever seen any for sale.

@SilverOtter
I needed to google your dogs breed and what a lovely looking dog.
Also your reasoning for a female made me laugh out loud. That’s a very good point.

Ours have all been word of mouth from friends of friends or from the rescue centre (2 of each). It's worth putting the word out and see is anyone knows of one.

@SoggyBiscuitss we had a lab a while & his hair got everywhere! Out 2 cockers barely lost any. I guess it depends on the dog.
We’ve got a slate kitchen floor & laminate living room, so frequent sweeping is easy. You can really tell when she’s been on the sofa. But I’ve a little handheld hoover that does a great job. It’s my clothes that I’m finding hard. I can’t get enough of cuddling her, which probaby doesn’t help!!

They are lovely dogs if you have the time & energy. Ours is still young. And it’s hard work at times as we have 3 kids. But I’m so glad they have her to grow up with.

I have a Jack Russell parsons terrier. She is such a lovely friend and fun to watch . Pros ...great character, my best friend
Cons.loves her toys too much and ends up sick !!

I wanted a Springer Spaniel as I grew up with them. We ended up getting two working cocker puppies. It had been ten years without a dog for me and after buying our first house it was something I was finally able to do. I had missed having a dog. We went for cockers as Dh wanted something a little smaller, he also knew a customs officer who had one for searching and liked their nature. I wanted a spaniel wasn’t fussy on breed specific. Rescues refused as we worked and garden wasn’t suitable.
Pros of the breed: Energetic, friendly, bouncy and can be easy to train if prepared to put in the effort and be consistent. Very affectionate, and watching spaniels with their nose to the ground or bounding around fields never fails to lift my spirits. Also wanted a breed that would be part of our lives, walking, canoeing etc.
I will add though they say cockers have no concept of personal space and that is very true, ( I love it). Despite great training and recall they never failed to embarrass me at dog agility if they sniffed a rabbit.
Went for two boys, litter mates as they were the two we were most drawn too when visiting the litter with mum. One was the ‘runt’ too. They are 10 now and we still are in contact with breeder who still has their mum, she had one litter.

Golden Retriever
I have had 4 including this one and it’s the only breed I wanted. Chose a boy because of the 3 previous ones the female was harder to train.
Down side is he’s very hairy, smelly and muddy
Pros - very empathetic, not too hyper, loves most people, adaptable, happy anywhere as long as we are there.

@SilverOtter my dogs have a ‘doggy friend’ who is a Vizla. Beautiful dog, bouncy but so gentle with the kids then in the next second wrestling with a spaniel. We all adore her and probably the only breed to sway me from a spanner.

I wanted an easy care dog, not high energy and good with children. I looked at a few breeds and ended up with a Glen of Imaal terrier because it's a native breed. I also quite liked the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.

Good things: he's happy with a short walk or a long walk, he won't go for a walk in the rain (suits me). He's happy to be left in the house. He doesn't mind being made a fuss of but also doesn't mind being ignored. He's very tolerant of children and doesn't mind other dogs, although we did socialise him a lot as a puppy as the breeder said that they can dislike other dogs if they're not used to them.

Bad things. He has a sensitive stomach and it took a while to find the right food for him, although he's fine now. He doesn't like being brushed and he has a long coat so we have to clip it short periodically so that we don't need to keep brushing him. He has a very high prey drive, if something runs away from him he will chase it and won't even acknowledge a recall attempt, fortunately he's not very fast to cats will be fine but if we were near livestock he would need to be on a lead. He's a cute but awkward shape, his legs are too short to get himself into the car and he has to be picked up from very low down but his body is big and he weighs 19kg, so not for people with back problems.

We got a male, partly because there were only males left in the litter but mostly because I've only ever had male dogs and had no experience of female dogs. We had him neutered at around six months.

Springer here - sibling had one, and she was the loveliest dog ever.(grew up with collies/dalmation/labradors).
Looked for a long time for a good breeder, our bitch is from a good gundog family, she was a super pup but she is now better than we could have imagined at the age of 5. She is very bright, a wonderful character and very good natured.
Cons - yes we have dog hair everywhere, daily feet/belly showers. yes lots of energy but not necessarily loads of exercise every day. (we are fortunate being rural and having some land).
We originally wanted a female as didn't want leg cocking all the time but she has pretty much perfected this anyway out on walks so would be open to a boy dog in future.

Goldendoodle.
Wanted non- shedding, medium size, amenable temperament, medium exercise needs.

Pros- non shedding, beautiful temperament, medium exercise needs (golden retrievers tends to be calmer than labradors), clever.

Cons- larger than we thought- dad was a standard poodle. Cost (£1500 although she is 100% worth it and would pay that again)

She needs regular grooming, it’s not necessarily a ‘con’ but it’s a cost you have to factor in.

We chose a girl on the advice of the breeder, she narrowed the litter down to two females she thought would have the coat type and temperament we desired.

@SoggyBiscuitss @EcoCustard I honestly can't imagine ever going back to a 'normal' dog; Vizslas are fab!

I have a lurcher (I got very lucky and got him as a puppy from the RSPCA). I love sight hounds they have a wonderful nature.

Pro’s
He’s super chilled out in the house - basically a breathing scatter cushion

He’ll go out for long walks in the country but equally an hour off lead in the field and he’ll happily sleep for the other 23 hours.

He’s very attached to me and super affectionate

Cons
He’s not that bright bless him. If you want a dog that can be trained to a high standard he’s not the guy for you. He’ll sit for a treat once to be obliging but we failed miserably at puppy training when it came to leg weaving and rolling over 🤣

He’s sensitive and wouldn’t cope well if we were a shouty chaotic house.

He manage to knock me over on his way out the back door and I dropped a mug which shattered making him panic and bang into a chair. This was 2 months ago and he still won’t go out the back door anymore.

I knew the bitch, knew the owners.

We had a dog because he was the colour we really wanted (they kept the only bitch same colour).

He was a working cocker and he has turned me into a crazy cocker lady.

We have also since had a show cocker sadly lost to cancer, and sadly we lost him to old age.

He set me on a path of volunteering and becoming involved far beyond anything I imagined and thanks to him, I will always have a spaniel in my life (but none will compare to him the little vet bill credit card using delight).