Beagles!

[ghengis]

My DS has been asking for a dog for some time now and is particularly keen on Beagles. Has anyone got one and, if so, do they make good family pets?

I know one person who has one - she got it as a young dog. Personally, for many reasons, it wouldn't be my choice of a family pet. Plus the last I heard it had gone for her two year old.

We had two beagles when I was younger as family pets (one after the other) - the first one bought as a puppy when mum was pregnant with me.

Pretty good family pets in my view - quite small and very soft (very surprised to hear Willow's comment), don't need massive walks. Love their food. But generally pretty stupid and practically impossible to train unless you're an expert - could never walk the first one when I was a kid as he's run off/pull me over etc. personally, I'd go with a resue mongrel myself...

I would really advise you against getting a beagle unless you live somewhere they can roam around. They howl a lot too, so beware if you live in a terraced house.

If you want to choose a dog, there is a brilliant show at Earls Court usually in November I think called Discover Dogs. They have about 200 breeds there, several of each, with breeders and owners to talk to. Also this questionnaire should tell you what types of dog are suitable for your lifestyle

www.petnet.com.au/selectapet/dogselectapet.html

Lots of useful info on this page!

www.petandpartner.com/pappets/new%20pet/buying.htm

Hi

My parents have a beagle, she's now 2 and a lovely dog but VERY hard work! My parents have had dogs all the lives but she has been the most demanding. They need lots of exercise and attention and she hates being left for too long. I would say only get one if you can give it lots of time, they are very much 'people' dogs, she follows my parents around all the time and is always looking for a lap to sit on. She has a lovely temperment but a very stubborn streak and still tends to chew things when shes not getting attention. They also couldn't let her off the lead for a long time - if she gets a scent, shes off!!

Gosh, thanks to everyone for their comments. Perhaps we'll go for a 'mutt' or a black lab. afterall!

Ghengis - yes I have a beagle - exactly the same as in the film Cats and Dogs. My advice - DON'T. Susanb has described them exactly - they are adorable, but roam unless very carefully penned in (I have an electronic fence) howl late at night if they hear or scent things in the garden, are very stubborn and very very hard to train. They are also very gentle and I disagree with Willow's point - a beagle would never go for a human - that's why they are always the dog of first choice for vivisection! I walk mine everyday in the forest for about an hour. If you can't give one that then they would not be a good choice. Look at www.discoverdogs.org (I think) for descriptions of temperament, exercise, costs of feeding etc for all sorts of breeds.HTH

There are some pedigree dogs that would be suitable too, I've got a Rhodesian Ridgeback who is the most perfect pet imaginable. Quiet around the house, sleeps most of the time, bouncy mad and fun when you walk her, doesn't need hours of exercise, very gentle esp with the baby and incredibly loyal. I'm sure many other breeds are suitable. Getting the right breeder is very important if you have kids, you have to make sure a dog is bred for temprement (SP?)

I'm afraid I haven't got much exp of mutts but I would just say try and get one where you can see the mother and father dogs and makse sure that they both have sound temprements. Same goes for any dog.

Mutts are best! And I'd go for a rescue dog every time - Battersea Dogs Home usually have the dog's history (what they're like with kids etc). I find the number of fantastic dogs they put down every week for lack of owners really heartbreaking.

Yes I hadn't thought of that, if you don't get a puppy you will already know the temprement. A lot less hard work too!

We've had Red Setters (lovely, tad loopy, but brilliant with kids... have distant memory of dressing one of ours up to be my horse) and a Tibetan Terrier (lovely, tad loopy, brilliant with kids ... but too small to be a horse).

I grew up with a golden cocker spaniel, completely daft and gorgeous. Fiercely loyal though and would nip but only if he thought you were attacking another family member. I have 2 fang marks on my wrist where I attacked one of my elder brothers once. I still miss him!

I heartily recommend a cavalier King Charles Spaniel with small kids,

Altho fairly small, they are very robust little dogs, with masses of energy for playing when required. a CKC can happily do a long walk of several miles, but doesn't need long walks every day.

They are soft, and very trustworthy with children, fairly easy to train (esp house training) and will love everyone in the family.

Downsides include a long coat which needs brushing (but we have ours clipped to solve that problem), and a tendency to live for only about 9 to 12 years, so you know you are buying heartbreak at the beginning. But the fun and love you get thru those years is worth it.

Totally agree with easy, they are small,easily portable (car/tied to buggy etc) and really reliable temperament. I have never known/seen a nasty one. Happy to be a lap dog but equally happy with all the exercise you can throw at it.
Beagle- Noooooo! Not nasty but totally untrainable and destructive. We had one when I was a child, it used to run off and we would spend hours searching for it, it would then howl outside the back door about 3am and run off again as soon as the door was opened! ( I think it was esp. badly trained by my parents!)
Bichons are nice little dogs- usually good temperaments and big plus-no hair shedding.
Rescue dogs-personally would never recommend one for family with young children. You might get a lovely one BUT no guarantee, rescue centres often dont know the history- strays or prev owners being economical with the truth, they often dont have the dog for very long and the way the dog behaves in a home situation once settled in is not the same as the way it behaves in kennels. I know there are lots of rescue dogs needing a good home but better with no or much older children imho.

My parents' dog is a rescue dog. She was 5 months old when they got her and nothing but trouble! She is aggressive to other dogs, terrified of everything, can be aggressive with people and for months wouldn't even go near my Dad. She had been mistreated and likes to get in first before anyone hurts her.

BUT despite her untrustworthiness with strangers -and it is only strangers, or people at the door, she has been incredibly good with my kids. She is fiercely protective of them and depsite her nervousness she has put up with a hell of a lot. She is hard work, but she's a lovely dog.

You have to be very careful, but I would only ever consider a rescue dog. I have worked in a rescue centre, and seeing the huge numbers of healthy animals which are put down - simply beause they have no home, is heartbreaking.

I would love a dog - but at the moment we can't afford it. I'd like a greyhound - lovely gentle dogs, and contrary to popular opinion, they can e ok with cats.

I haven't read all of the messages but we have had two as pets over my lifetime. They are wonderful pets for children although due to the majority of their senses being in their noses they aren't the brightest of pets. Unless you train them from a young age.

You have to be careful of not over feeding them as they are true gluttons and if you do they will then end up not being able to walk as their back legs will give way. Notice the voice of reason here. My Granny did this to one of ours and he had to go on a strict diet until he could walk again.

We have a CKC spaniel, too, our second. They are soft, daffy, loving dogs. When I had dd2, our dog took up residence beneath the moses basket and guarded her with her life (except at mealtimes, ha ha!). Both our dogs have been a bit excitable, that is the main downside to them, I would say. Otherwise, an excellent family dog and they come in four colours, so you get a choice! Ours have been tricolours but I hanker after a black & tan.

Great advice here, thank you all.

We visited our local RSPCA centre on Sunday. They are very wary of placing their dogs with young children (under 5s). It was pitiful to see the dogs and it gave our 10 year old quite a shock but reinforced the message that a dog is for life...etc.

CKCs sound ideal and one website recommends cocker spaniels as suitable for our 'needs'. We'll keep looking!

Genghis

I agree with everyone's comments here about beagles (used to work with beagles in a pack so I can see exactly where these characteristics come from!) but one word of caution re cocker spaniels. Make sure you see both parents when buying puppies and actually interact with them (play with them or something).

Some Cockers are a bit prone to 'fright biting' - they have a hair trigger when stressed (which they will be with small children). I think it runs in families so if you meet the parents you should be fine.

Thanks Gizmo. Know anything about Jack Russells?

I thought they could be a bit snappy?

I grew up with two cocker spaniels, both with different temperaments (the male was very calm and dignified, and when I got a rabbit, she would chase him around the garden and sleep on his bed... sweet dog!), and the female was a bit mad but very loving and cuddly, lots and lots of energy (she was the smallest of the litter, and would always get to the food last, so she made up for it once she was with us and would gobble her food up super quickly). I would love to have a cocker spaniel now, but it's not the right time (when will it be???)

Re Cocker Spaniels, I believe the plain coloured ones (black or red) are particularly prone to suddenly biting. According to something I saw on TV, it has come about by being overbred, poor things.

Jack Russells were used for ratting, so they can be a bit uncertain in their actions. I've known some delightful JR's, but it's hard to tell at the start whether you've acquired one of the quiet ones, or a snappy version.

Suedonim

yes, I'd love a black and tan one too, but they are the least common colour born. My first one was a tricolour, a lovely bitch with the most gorgeous temperament. She used to come to work with me (pre husband and child), and as I had a travelling job she and I covered the country. She behaved impeccably, and made friends in many a business hotel during work trips.She was a matchmaker for me and my hubby, who worked in the same company as me.

When she died we acquired Flora, a very pretty blenheim (brown and white) bitch. Not quite as clever as her predecessor, but very loving (never more than 3 feet behind me around the house. She took the arrival of ds very well, and never failed to accompany me in night feeds when he was a baby. sometimes she has slept in his room, under the cot, although usually under our bed.

Now ds is 3 1/2 they are very good friends, play out in the garden together, share the occasional chocolate button or sandwich (he gives her the crusts), and as last night, they played tug of war with a rope toy for about 20 minutes.

Ghengis, FWIW I grew up with a dog (west highland, a bit overbred these days) and look back on playing with him as a child as one of the best things about a very good childhood.

My parents have Jack Russells. They are fantastic pets but can be so excitable I probably wouldn't get one if you have young kids who can be bowled over easily. They are very yappy which can frighten young kids but generally are good with family they know. Mum's go beserk when they see the postman and even though they wouldn't bite you would think it by the way they react whenever anyone comes to the door. You need to see the parents of Jack Russell's too. Mum has bread hers a couple of times and from the last litter (different father than the one at home though) she kept the girl who we have had to give to my brother to look after as she started fighting seriously with her mother. So seriously they would have fought to death if we had let them. They were establishing territory so watch out for females a bit too. They generally hate cats so if you have cats don't bother.

Aside from the above they have wonderful personalities and are very bright and inquistive and fun loving pets.

In my experience of Jack Russels, they are divided into 2 camps. Eaither the snappy, yappy type, or the gentle, friendly, lovely ones. You have to be careful, but they can be really wonderful dogs.