First family dog?

[gotelltheoldmandowntheroad]

Husband wants a German Shepherd, he also likes XL Bully and Rottweiler.

I am open to a dog but...

small house
do not want fur everywhere

We have two cats already so would look into getting a puppy.
We have a big garden and both often work from home so wouldn't leave him alone.

I know about having dogs, had them before, but not too keen, I'm a cat person. Husband and child are keen. Husband spoke about "family protection" but ultimately we are animal lovers but that seems to be a factor for him.

My questions are:

Dogs that won't add the least to my cleaning burden (that's my bag)

Safest around the child (from puppy and trained)

Perhaps that a non-dog person might like best?

Given he's mentioned those three breeds, which would you go for? Child is 6.

I love dogs but would never get an XL bully with a child. The German Shepherd we know is lovely, but he’s strong and has issues despite training and behaviourists.

Why does he only want these breeds? Is it the size and strength of them? There are far better large breed choices but only wanting this type of dog is worrying.

You don't sound like you want a dog.
Please don't get a dog.

Lurcher or whippet for the win!

Why do you need protection? Does your partner work for the mob?

GSD - need experienced, firm owners to grow up well-adjusted and pleasant family pets.

X bully - is that one of those big American ones? Hell no. Read the press, read the stats of children killed by dogs. That breed features heavily. Maybe the right owners owners can make something of them but as your partner has never had a dog I don't think that's going to be him.

Rotties - very sweet and trainable if handled right from a young age. Have a bad reputation but they do come up in the stats too. All depends on the owner and environment. Given your circumstances I'd say no.

Please don't get a dog. Dogs want to be close to you and involved in family life. You give the impression that you don't like dogs and would resent the poor thing. They will be sensitive to your feelings and it'll likely result in issues.
I've had a rottie, German shepherd and collies. They all need to be with their family. They are all hairy and make a mess. Winter time they leave dirty foot prints, smell of wet dog and leave dirty smears on your walls.
If they don't have a positive confident upbringing / training, they can easily be reactive and an absolute nightmare - who's in charge of walking on those dark rainy days? Who's taking to dog training?
It doesn't sound like you're up for it and that's not fair on the dog and will create issues for it.
Remind your husband that a dog is not an extension of his penis. It's a sentient being that is far too easy to fuck up, give behavioural problems to... Then oh yeah... Send it to a shelter...

Get real - put your foot down and tell him no ffs

We have a havanese. A toy dog (larger end) that looks like a teddy bear but has an alarm call that's so loud she scares the crap out of me sometimes. Quiet unless alarmed, loves people, non shedding, hypoallergenic, bloody cute.

Needs grooming entry 6 weeks though.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ListofffataldoggattacksinntheUniteddKingdom

Here is a list of fatal dog attacks in the UK.

Show your husband the most recent ones. Of the 12 on the list, 7 were performed by breeds you have mentioned. And not just on children - on grown adults as well.

If you think you'd find a Golden Retriever too much, please, for everyone's sake, don't get one of these dogs.

Why the hell do you need a dog 'for protection?' Protection from what?

Just stick with your cats.

Get a Ring doorbell or a house alarm if you need protection.
Or learn self defence or karate.
If you get a dog with the plan for it to provide protection, therfore encouraging those traits, you'll end up with a neurotic mess on your hands and being non doggy, you won't cope.
Don't do it.

This.

And your dh wants a dog for the wrong reasons. Or at the very least, the wrong breeds of dog for your situation.

Shame he's not interested in a lurcher, as they would be perfect. But again, not if you don't want a dog.

Your dh doesn't sound very educated about this matter actually. I'd be concerned.

None of these a suited to novice dog owners. They all require very good training and ongoing handling - is he willing to attend dog training for up to 18 months?

They are all gigs with a tough image, he mentioned protection - dogs trained to guard are not pets

@gotelltheoldmandowntheroad

Collies are amazing dogs but also take a lot of training, they are not always great with little ones as a bit nippy not that mine ever hurt us, he just rounded us up like sheep (the females) males he treated like kings! Not suitable for novice owners

None of those are remotely suitable as a first family dog. Your husband is thinking of how big and tough he will look walking it and nothing else.

Then put your foot down and keep it down. Don't get a dog.

Spot on.

Please don't get any of those breeds.

All I can hope when I see threads like this is that you aren’t my neighbours. Ridiculous choices of dog for first time owners with a small child.

Please please don't get a dog. You don't want one and your husband is a twat to even consider something like an xl bully.

In honesty, I don't think any of those breeds would fit with your circumstances. I particularly adore German Shepherds but from what you've said I wouldn't recommend you get one. In my experience if you don't have the knowledge, commitment/time, deep understanding of the breed and absolute desire to have that breed then you are heading down a dark path. That can be said for most breeds, but in particular the three you mentioned, plus in my (probably controversial) opinion, spaniels, chihuahuas and terriers. That's just in my experience though, and I know others will likely have their own experiences and knowledge to share.

In terms of hair, poodles don't shed, and any breed crossed with a poodle tends to shed very little (cockapoo, cavapoo, golden doodle). All puppies are extremely hard work, couple that with you not really wanting a dog all that much and you have a recipe for disaster. I've met so many clients (I'm a dog walker) that adore their dogs but expected being a dog owner to be a whole lot different to what it is. I think the breed you get is very important. I know families who got springer spaniels because they were cute and very lovely, but wanted them to be 'quiet, easy, chilled out dogs', exactly the opposite of what springer spaniels are known for.

I’d get a goldfish and a burglar alarm.

We have a retriever, collie, spaniel (your other 3 breeds) and red setter cross which is a breed in its own right - Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

But they are working dogs and need a purpose - mine does agility, others do field craft or flyball. If you can't commit to this then a working breed may well not be right for you.

They bark at visitors and sound quite fearsome but are not aggressive. They also shed a bit as all long haired breeds will albeit not as bad as my friends lab.

If you don't really want a dog then don't just agree to your DH's wishes as they are a huge commitment.

I wouldn’t keep a dog for “protection” in a house with children with first time god owners it is a recipe for disaster as so many tragic stories has proven recently .

I wouldn’t normally recommend a British bulldog because of the associated health problems, but if your DH is after something something tough and you want something low hair maybe that could be the answer

OP, you state that you have two cats. Have you considered if any of your breeds of choice have a strong prey drive, which might render them unsuitable for a household with cats? Furthermore, are your cats socialised with any dogs at all?

Please, don't get a dog.
Your husband's choices are completely unsuitable for your family.
If he really wants to walk one and look manly, he could sign up to a "borrow my doggy" type scheme?

That’s what I think. He wants a hard man dog, not a family pet.
I’d say no to all of those breeds around my kids and their friends.
How vain.

None of those are suitable for a first dog unless you have experience.

Dogs have their own personality same as humans so your husbands idea of protection for the family is highly dependent on what the dog is like and, frankly, a guard dog isn't one who I would personally want around young children.

Staffies (assume that's what you mean by bully?) would be the best of those choices in my limited opinion and experience (I've always had labs or collies). Every staffie I've ever met have been gorgeous, happy, wonderful creatures who are wonderful with humans.

I think your husband is a bit stupid and very delusional and I would personally worry about why he wants those breeds of dogs.

Last word from me - and you will know this already - all dogs are what their owners make them. My worry for your family would be that the dog your husband is looking for is not one compatible with family life.

My advice - stick to cats, but if you just have a dog, stick to what you knkw.

I’ve known two rotties well; Barry was a huge slobbery softie but a handful out and about, my friend couldn’t walk him, only her husband was strong enough. Suki was a soft sweet girl, owned from 8 weeks by a former RAF police dog handler, that is until she launched herself at him for a second time in full attack. The first “snap” he’d assumed was a one-off triggered by something he couldn’t see. He had her PTS and the family were devastated.

All three dogs are big and powerful and require a lot of careful training. Of the three I’d prefer a GS but they are often nervous and can easily turn defensive aggressive. No way would I let my child go to a house with an XL bully.

Your DH wants a macho dog. Don’t be pressured into this. Not fair on you, the dog, or your child. I’m not anti big dogs, I had a lovely Old English Mastiff who would dwarf a GS .I wouldn’t recommend one of those in your scenario either.