To wish the fashion to own working breed dogs would pass?

[PlayOnWurtz]

My local rescues seem to be full of collies, huskies, corgi's and spitz breeds of around 2 years of age. These are the current dogs of the day because they are extremely cute and handsome dogs however it seems people buy them without realising how much effort is required to own them.

I'm in no way having a dig at responsible owners at all. More the ones who love a meme and an instagram post without thinking of the consequences.

A lot of rehomed dogs don't come from shelters though, they come from Facebook pet selling groups or Gumtree ads. Where I live the shelters do full checks including a week long trial before the dog is fully yours whereas the Facebook groups tend to be free to a good home or £50 but need it gone today.

We have one working springer who we've had since he was a pup, he's now 7. First to admit we didn't do that much research before getting him, but we were lucky enough to be able to give him the lifestyle he needs. when he was a pup he got 2 x 1 hour walks a day (at least) and LOTS of training, even 7 years on we're still training him, I think people see labs, spaniels etc and think "family friendly, well trained dog" but they're only that way because owners have put in lots of hard work to make them that way. He is amazing with kids, he has the patience of a saint with toddlers, really doesn't mind them sticking fingers up his nose, pulling his ears or his tail, because toddlers drop cheese sandwiches (or they did in this house) it's maybe just the kind of dog he is. Very affectionate, he just loves people, BUT still mad as a bag of frogs at 7 years of age, still requires a good 1-1.5 hours of exercise a day, scent work to work his brain, (he looooves to snuffle for biscuits/cheese/anything edible) could chase a ball all day.
Our other springer (99.9% sure he's from working stock, rescue) is 4 and he NEVER tires. Not properly anyway.
My DM is heavily involved with the spaniel specific rescue we got our 4y/o from, and the amount of dogs we have come in to ourselves because the owners simply had no idea what they were getting themselves in for is astonishing!

I've got a 12-year-old pug that is bigger than the average (about 23lbs, but with long legs, and his nose isn't seriously squished). We got him when he was five. He is "badly bred" by the breed standard, but his "badly bred" features have ensured he's never been ill a day in his life, no allergies etc. I wouldn't otherwise own a pug, much as they are delightful little characters.

I agree, OP. This infuriates me.

A friend has just bought a husky puppy from a backyard breeder. She works full time and lives in a 1-bedroom city unit with a postage-stamp-sized courtyard.

I'm so pissed off I can barely speak to her.

Is it the French Bulldogs I'm seeing more of most recently? Black usually with pointed ears. Sorry, my lack of dog knowledge Also the pug still aroung, not so much the husky lately.

Retirement I might think about a dog, perhaps... Much research will be needed. My aunt used to have a peckingese which was rather good natured and friendly, but this was 30 years ago and I really don't know much about them. Sorry ramble ramble.

*around not aroung

Relatives had a border collie in a suburban terrace. Everyone stopped visiting them because the dog was so vicious. I don't know whether that was the intention.

Another relative has a designer crossbreed and had no idea that she was supposed to groom it until the dog parlour had to shave all the hair off because it was so matted. Naturally she was pissed off that they had ruined her dog's appearance

Neighbours of mine have 2 German Shepherds that are walked for 10 minutes a day, they dont have a garden.

These were to replace the previous GS they had that were also not walked properly. Such cruelty, but the RSPCA were not interested in the last 2 dogs or these ones, because they are not starving to death or being beaten :(

I have had English Springer spaniels for years. Suitable when the DC (now grown ) were at home & exH & I worked from home. First one was from show lines, smart, great temperament, but died at 4 from liver disease. There are a lot of genetic diseases in the show line as the breeding pool is fairly small. We then got a working Springer who we had for 10 years. He worked well in our family as we were able to give him off lead blasts daily & mega walks at weekends. He would start to slow at about 9 miles ( which for him was actually 27 as he would run back & forth while we walked). PTS at 13, then briefly had a foster Springer which I chilled by taking her on 5 mile daily walks. You get the idea! Not many people can devote that kind of attention to a dog. After the fostering, I decided, no more dogs, kids are grown, I want to replace my carpets, & the heartbreak when they die young ( or need expensive & lif-threatening surgery - we had that, too) is something I want to leave in the past. Novices have no idea, really.

"They have got to know people that walk the same fields and have known 2 people get collies then get rid when they are about 12-18 months. They just didn't realise how much exercise and stimulation they needed. Such a shame as the dogs were lovely and would have been fantastic with the right owner. "

That is a shame, dogs can be real jerks at that age and like teens need a chance to grow up. A dog who is a pain in the neck at 1 1/2 can be an amazing dog at four.

I do think it's a daft trend. My middle aged chihuahua usually has about 1 hour of walking a day though she can do more and she really does enjoy bouncing round the garden as well. If that's the level of exercise you can ensure a dog gets, get a toy breed like I did. Despite the yappy hyper stereotype, she's actually very well behaved and content, especially compared to the collies who get the same amount of exercise she gets.

Blurryface are chihuahuas as fragile as they look? I really like the idea of having one but we're a fairly rough and tumble household and I'd hate to get one and have it squished!

We have had chihuahuas and I'm desperate to get another

No they are not as delicate as they look. They will walk for miles! And happily jump in puddles and roll in mud.

That's if you treat them like a dog and not a handbag accessory

blurry

Chihuahuas are so smart.

My aunt has adopted one and when she did agility parcours with one of her other dogs he just started to imitate them and did everything perfectly well (well, everything his size allowed. ) cute dog.

MistressMaisie

These dogs that are killing people are not coming from a rescue centre!

No rescue centre would rehome a dog with any aggression to homes with children.

They are more likely to have come from gumtree, preloved or FB.

Where the owners ask no questions and just hand the dog over with money as an exchange.

Done

I've noticed round here that huskies/malamutes/akitas/some combination of the 3 seem to be becoming the new staffie, which is concerning as they are a completely different kettle of fish. Most of the ones in the village get short on lead walks and are dog aggressive, although there is a bloke up the road with a husky who skateboards for miles with it. His seems like a pleasant, friendly dog, but that's largely because it's getting plenty of exercise.

I've always had collies or collie crosses but I'm well aware of their exercise needs and the fact that they need mental stimulation as well. They need training, they need off lead exercise, not 15 minutes round the block on the lead and people need to do their research before getting any breed of dog.

Reuset - sorry, meant to reply to your post last night - yy those are french bulldogs. Re pekes - I'm afraid they're another short- nosed breed prone to health problems (think there was a bit of a scandal about one which won crufts a few years back).

Maybe someone could suggest some breeds which are appropriately for lower exercise/urban environments?

Gosh, I was not aware this was such a problem.

Almost all people with dogs I know are quite sensible in choosing a breed that suits them

We waited until the kids were 8 and 10 before we got our lurcher. By then we had established we were an outdoorsy family going for long walks daily anyway. (Polishes halo...). She is very calm in the house when she gets her 2 walks a day. So much so, that visitors often say what an easygoing dog she is and would the "breed" (not a breed I guess! a grey-whippet-terrier cross) maybe suit them?

I always warn them she needs an hours walk every morning come rain or shine. My dog denies this (she actually hates rainy walks but I bought her a coat )

But like I say, I seem to only know responsible dog owners.

I feel sorry for any lively breed, kept indoors or in tiny garden all day. So sad . Dogs are so lovely and loyal, they bloody deserve a good amount of exercise!

Also with pugs, they are such lovely dogs personality wise, such a shame they often can't breathe... Can't they tweak the breed to make them more healthy?!

I don't really understand breeding dogs for looks I guess.

TheMortificadosDragon Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, they were bred to be lap dogs, but due to "selective breeding" they are riddled with health problems due to their skulls being too small to accommodate their brains, so can end up with brain damage.

Most greyhound/greyhound type breeds (whippets, italian greyhounds) don't require much, maybe 30-45 minutes off lead, if older much less, but incredibly high prey drive in most, especially rescues (retired racers). Don't be fooled by greyhound crosses though (lurchers) one of my friends has a JRTxWhippet and when he was younger he could go for hours and hours, now approaching 10 (we think, he was rescued) he has calmed down a little but still likes to chase rabbits/cats/anything small and furry.
If you and your DP work full time and there will be no one at home during the day, like DCs, then don't get a dog! it isn't fair on the dog to be left all day! If you're getting a dog then ensure you have the time and attention to devote to caring for and training your dog properly!

Zippy, in my experience, no. We've got two toddlers crashing round, and DDog will take herself out the way if they get too much. Most of the accidental squashing and tripping come courtesy of my DH anyway. Just don't get a teacup one, they are generally runty, unhealthy little things bless them.

1horatio, most of DDog's intelligence is used to avoid walkies. She has learned how to throw herself into the basket under the buggy while it's moving. She also turns deaf every time she's called to get off the couch, the little moo.

blurry

Oh my :)!
My aunt's is such a hyper and smart little ball of fur. I mean, my family used to reed working dogs and I grew up around various breeds.

But that little Chihuahua is in a class of his own. Whilst other dogs need to be enticed by goodies etc he's like: 'there's something I can do? Really? What? Can I learn something? Is there more? More?' At least that's how it looks like. Such an eager little dog.

Our rescues are just battle-scarred Staffies. If I saw a Corgi I'd be there in a heartbeat. We're hillwalkers and would love a dog that can keep up with us.

It's a shame but it's a shame for many breeds. People buy puppy. People send puppy to rescue after a few months. Same people buy new puppy. It's heartbreaking but no rule, law or government seems to want to to push forward and actually try and limit this practise.

There's a trend for huskies/malamutes in our town, too. It's in the middle of the countryside so lots of hills/opportunities for long walks, but nobody actually seems to walk them for long.

Poor pups

Don't buy a dog - adopt.
We have a lovely 12-year old rescue staffy. He's so chilled rarely barks, welcomes visitors with a slightly interested wag of the tail then back to his cushion. Three or four short walks a day. Perfect for three of us, two working full time, me part-time (though with arthritis so can't walk far).
Get a rescue dog!