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Original poster

neapolitan mastiff?

46 replies

hercules · 14/02/2006 16:46

anyone got one? We're looking for a child friendly dog with short hair due to possible allergies and came across this one. We have a 2 year old and a ten year ol kid.

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Original poster
hercules · 15/02/2006 16:58

Okay, I'm steering towards great dane at the moment.

DOnt need too much exercise
great with kids
hair not too much of a problem
we have a large volvo and medium house and garden - told they adapt anyway

do have health problems and dont live long - you're right though - seems common with larger breeds.

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parkj83 · 15/02/2006 17:12

Um, with the mastiffs, don't they drool a lot?

I know bull dogs have a tendancy to anyway. It's just I have images of Fang from Harry Potter running through my mind at the moment!

I know some of his drool is 'make up', but I have the impression that the breed in general do drool (have an image of following dog with a mop all day long )

oops · 15/02/2006 17:28

Message withdrawn

Original poster
hercules · 15/02/2006 17:34

We are going to spend some time at a great dane breeders on Friday to see how my son gets on re the allergy thing.

We are okay financially re bills but would probably get a plan of some sort anyway,

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Original poster
hercules · 15/02/2006 17:34

I've had lots of phone calls with various types of dog breeders and discounted a lot of dog breeds so far apart from a dane.

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oops · 15/02/2006 17:50

Message withdrawn

Original poster
hercules · 15/02/2006 17:51

Yes, I get your point now but they still seem the most suitable dog for us.

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oops · 15/02/2006 17:58

Message withdrawn

miggy · 15/02/2006 18:00

Hercules-just be a bit cautious as just because a dog is short haired doesnt mean it wont moult just as much as a long hair dog.
Also depends what kind of allergy it is, I work with animals and we find that those of us prone to skin irritations occn have probs with very short coated dogs (esp boxer type coats) and not longer type hair.
Also the bigger the dog, the greater the total allergenic load.
Have you tried borrowing a dog for a day and actually having it in your house? would be a better trial.

Original poster
hercules · 15/02/2006 18:06

I would consider a cross breed but I think it might be difficult to get what I want this way ie
a small puppy to grow with dd who is 2 and both will hopefully adapt better to each other

a dog that requires only 2 x20 minute walks a day

dont want a small dog - personal preference of dh and mine

dont want an aggressive or snappy dog

has to be very child friendly

re allergy - we dont know the extent of ds's allergy- when my sister had a golden retriever and we spent time at her house he would be affected after a while with a runny nose and tender eyes - she kept the house very clean and as hair free as possible

still open to suggestions!

any advice about getting a crossbreed which matches criteria very welcome!

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Original poster
hercules · 15/02/2006 18:07

we are going to spend some time with a great dane breeder to see if has any effect.

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Original poster
hercules · 15/02/2006 18:10

I guess what puts me off a cross breed is not knowing enough about background etc.

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oops · 15/02/2006 18:17

Message withdrawn

PeachyClair · 15/02/2006 18:20

Lots of cross breeds have definite histories- eg, our puppies we sold when I was a kid: Mum was 50 / 50 dalmation collie, Dad was pure Collie. Lovely pups. Shame one of the stupid owners killed one for chewing a stool weeks after getting a small pup, we'd have happily taken him back .

Original poster
hercules · 15/02/2006 18:20

but will I be able to get a cross breed to match my criteria?

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Original poster
hercules · 15/02/2006 18:22

more involved in this than deciding whether to have another child!

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ShaysMummy · 15/02/2006 18:26

cant promote the lab here, not for moulting. they moult all year round!!
i vac every day!!

Stylish · 15/02/2006 18:45

Greyhound.

they don't need a lot of exercise [short sharp bursts rather then long walks] and are couch potatoes otherwise. Come in small sized [italian greyhound] or the bigger ones. Shorthaired. I don't think they are bad for allergies but I don't know for sure.

You can also "save" one from the racetracks but I don't know about their temperments.

Worth looking into imo.

mousiemousie · 15/02/2006 18:46

neopolitan icecream is a more practical family choice

Stylish · 15/02/2006 18:53

You can also "save" one from the racetracks but I don't know about their temperments.

I mean greyhounds from the track. I would expect them to generally be sound as they would be used to being handled but they are bound to be exceptions

Original poster
hercules · 15/02/2006 19:04

greyhounds - just dismissed them tbh as imagined they needed loads of exercise - apparently 2 x20 minutes a day is okay!

arrggh! off to start a new thread and do more research!

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