To think in MN land no one should have a dog?

[bluesapphirestars]

The only acceptable dog is a rescue, with a few exceptions, and rescues won’t rehome to people who WOTH or who have children, so that immediately rules most of mn out.

The only other acceptable alternative is to make the dog more than a pet, it’s a lifestyle, involving intensive breed research and so on. Again, not conducive to homes with children.

So in short - the verdict on MN is no dog.

(Semi light hearted!)

@bluesapphirestars

Two poodles on dogs trust, compared to 72 Staffs, tab

Because IMO and I'm prepared to be flamed... people who buy cheap dogs - ie. Staffies, are a lot less committed to raising as a member of the family and therefore the dog is expendable. Someone who's spent £1000 or more on a dog, you would expect, to have thought it through and been prepared before taking the leap. But then I'm generalising I guess.

Dogs Trust don’t have a single dog suitable for me due to the age of my DC. I definitely want to rescue this time, so I expect it’ll be quite a while before we get a furry companion.
I’d happily have a poodle or poodle cross but they’re hard work for novice owners.

Genuinely, if anyone has any links to a rescue in England who would rehome a dog to a family with pre-school aged DC, we are on the look out.

“people who buy cheap dogs - ie. Staffies, are a lot less committed to raising as a member of the family and therefore the dog is expendable. Someone who's spent £1000 or more on a dog, you would expect, to have thought it through and been prepared before taking the leap.”

Or they’re more likely to sell them... as I mentioned, gumtree, pets4homes usually have loads of half grown poodle crosses.

Dogs trust centres near me don’t have a proportionally high number of staffies tbh, I suspect because of where they are and them not being as popular breed as in other areas.

Also, the dog market and rescues are weird just now - apparently everyone started getting dogs on lockdown.

@Costacoffeeplease

I don’t advocate greyhounds for everyone, but I’ve known quite a few and all great family pets. They may have to be muzzled in public, but at home they tend to be calm, quiet, and sleep a lot. Much better than a little bouncy yappy dog

Just to say, ex racing greyhounds are amazing. Fair enough some people may not like them as they aren't as "teddy bear" like that people seem to find cute BUT they are one of the easiest, low maintenance dogs. I do feel people disregard them quickly which is quite sad.

I’ve got a poodle cross😂 she was from a friend and mum and dad lived with her.
She’s been great- sorry Mumsnet

There was someone who wanted a 'low maintence' dog that other day who got absolutely flamed alive for daring to even imagine that one such dog might exist.

Fair enough it was in AIBU but still, fuck me you can have a dog and not let it rule your entire existence

@bluesapphirestars

That’s your opinion greyt. Mine is that someone who genuinely wanted to help rescue dogs would help make it easier for families to find them.

I gave an exact rescue name. Not sure what else you want but yous eem to be looking for a fight on here based on the less than polite responses you have made to some posters in here.

@Grapewrath

I’ve got a poodle cross😂 she was from a friend and mum and dad lived with her. She’s been great- sorry Mumsnet

@Grapewrath

Oh they’re great dogs. I love poodles! :) Poodles, in particular, have fantastic personalities but can be neurotic and needy.

@bluesapphirestars

I have no idea carrot. I don’t think they are suitable family pets at all.

Why is that? They are actually known for being great with kids because they have a very calm nature to them, they are quiet (hardly ever bark), tend to be quite "clean" as they shed very little and don't have the usual doggy smell, they require very little excercise and sleep a lot more than other breeds. I'd be interested to know your reasons for thinking they are suitable for a family. If you'd like I can link you to a breed profile that outlines the above.

I think the reason they get mentioned on here a lot of for the above points on why they are considered great dogs. Also, there is sadly so many needing homes because of the racing industry.

Meant arent*

@Grapewrath

I’ve got a poodle cross😂 she was from a friend and mum and dad lived with her. She’s been great- sorry Mumsnet

Me and you both

Perfect little dog, clever as sin and trained easily, doesn't bark ever, gentle with kids, can walk for miles yet easily happy in the garden with the hose pipe or chasing butterflies. Doesn't shed. Wouldn't swap her for all the greyhounds in Yorkshire.

Tbh greyt I’ve explained. They are extremely large dogs and have an innate prey drive. That’s not looking for a fight!

tab I did a national search on dogs trust. Two poodles, over seventy staffs.

“I did a national search on dogs trust. Two poodles, over seventy staffs.”

Yep, I realised that - my point was, there are whole centres with very few staffies, because they’re not the large ones in urban areas, some breeds are more common in certain areas. It’s a skewed search.

And dogs trust isn’t a breed specific rescue, there are several that only take poodle crosses, several that only take Spaniels - so saying they don’t often come up in rescues just isn’t true.

Also, what’s in rescues right now is not what’s normally in rescues, individual dogs are getting 600+ applicants just now...

Poodle crosses often come up in rescues and many more are sold on privately than other breeds as well. They do get rehomed quicker than some breeds right enough.

They’re absolutely not rehomed less than other breeds though.

Tbh greyt I’ve explained. They are extremely large dogs and have an innate prey drive.

They don't weigh anymore than a golden lab and as they have a calm nature I don't understand why that doesn't make them suitable for families. The prey drive is only an issue for small furry animals like rabbits or cats. Plus a lot of rescues assess their behaviour, meaning they get matched with appropriate families and plenty have been trained to be cat friendly.

I am asking because I don't understand how the 2 reasons you gave indicate they aren't good for families? The fight comment was related to your other post but I will retract that.

Oh and greyhounds... all dogs have an innate prey drive.

Herding - preydrive, retrieving - preydrive...

Why is that? They are actually known for being great with kids because they have a very calm nature to them, they are quiet (hardly ever bark), tend to be quite "clean" as they shed very little and don't have the usual doggy smell, they require very little excercise and sleep a lot more than other breeds. I'd be interested to know your reasons for thinking they are suitable for a family. If you'd like I can link you to a breed profile that outlines the above.

That may be true for some greyhounds, but it's certainly not true for all of them. That's not to say greyhounds should never live with families but they're certainly not the "perfect pets" that MN make them out to be.

Many have very high prey drives, aren't toilet trained, have never lived in a house or been around children before. I know of many rescue greys who are incredibly nervous and frightened and who would not be remotely suited for a home with small children. Like PP said as well, they are big dogs and are designed to run very fast - not great if you're walking them on a lead and they catch sight of a rabbit, cat or a squirrel.

Labs tend to be smaller than greyhounds, tbh. And they are bred to retrieve.

In any event, I’m not anti-greyhound as such. I’m just saying I personally wouldn’t go for one and I wouldn’t encourage families with cats to, ever.

tab there are breed specific rescues but have you actually tried adopting a dog through them (and since tone can be lost online can I just stress I’m NOT asking that snarkily- genuine question!) It is really, really difficult to do as they have long waiting lists.

Ime yes greyhounds are calm but also aloof. Families tend to want a dog who will interact and play. My dc love running around and playing fetch with our jrt and my older dd wants to do agility with her. She's already trained her to the tunnel and very wide apart poles. She's too young yet for jumping. She's also manageable for my older dd to walk alone. She's well able to manage her size and strength, to pick her up if need be. This wouldn't be an option with a larger/ more prey driven dog.

It’s normal but ultimately very upsetting for kids if a greyhound goes after a squirrel or rabbit. Never mind the family cat.

I know many have been said to have been cat tested but to be totally honest here I wouldn’t risk my cats. Again, I’m not being critical of greyhounds at all. I know they suit some people. But for me, if I was looking for a dog, this would be enough to strike greyhounds off the list.

“there are breed specific rescues but have you actually tried adopting a dog through them (and since tone can be lost online can I just stress I’m NOT asking that snarkily- genuine question!) It is really, really difficult to do as they have long waiting lists.“

Not spaniel or poodle cross ones no... not breeds I prefer tbh.

But IME breed specific rescues often make you wait a while, partly because they foster and assess before they rehome dogs and partly to weed out anyone not willing to wait.

@vanillandhoney

Why is that? They are actually known for being great with kids because they have a very calm nature to them, they are quiet (hardly ever bark), tend to be quite "clean" as they shed very little and don't have the usual doggy smell, they require very little excercise and sleep a lot more than other breeds. I'd be interested to know your reasons for thinking they are suitable for a family. If you'd like I can link you to a breed profile that outlines the above.

That may be true for some greyhounds, but it's certainly not true for all of them. That's not to say greyhounds should never live with families but they're certainly not the "perfect pets" that MN make them out to be.

Many have very high prey drives, aren't toilet trained, have never lived in a house or been around children before. I know of many rescue greys who are incredibly nervous and frightened and who would not be remotely suited for a home with small children. Like PP said as well, they are big dogs and are designed to run very fast - not great if you're walking them on a lead and they catch sight of a rabbit, cat or a squirrel.

The points I made are taken directly from their breed characteristics. Yes, not all but majority are. They actually get reccomended elsewhere as family pets. The prey drive can be an issue but with the right hound and training, it can be managed. Any breed dog could want to chase a squirrel or cat, it's their nature. The toilet training and not lived with kids can be said with any rescue breed. I think those come with rescues, not breed specific. Toilet training a dog is pretty simple.

@bluesapphirestars

It’s normal but ultimately very upsetting for kids if a greyhound goes after a squirrel or rabbit. Never mind the family cat.

I know many have been said to have been cat tested but to be totally honest here I wouldn’t risk my cats. Again, I’m not being critical of greyhounds at all. I know they suit some people. But for me, if I was looking for a dog, this would be enough to strike greyhounds off the list.

Most rescues wouldn't rehome a greyhound with a cat plus a lot of dog rescues don't anyway. I've heard of plenty of dog breeds kill squirrels so not just limited to them, it's a dogs natural instinct. Odd that you don't see a risk with the more boisterous large dog breeds and kids.

Op, my point is you stated they "aren't suitable for a family" but it sounds like you mean "they arent suitable for a family with a cat".

Greyhounds are liked by some, but suiting one family doesn’t mean they will suit the majority of families. They certainly don’t suit us, they’re far too big for us, I also want a dog I can regularly take on long distance runs, mud runs etc.

Our dog wouldn’t suit some people, it doesn’t stop him being the ideal dog for our needs.