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Original poster

I think we might get a dog. Is there ANY alternative to a labrador?

212 replies

Enid · 21/01/2007 20:03

I'd prefer something smaller

but it has to be 100% kidproof, clever and active, preferably with no hair at all or low shedding...

OP posts:
DarrellRivers · 21/01/2007 20:17

a mix between a schnauzer and a poodle?

cupcakes · 21/01/2007 20:17

but don't they get periods???

cupcakes · 21/01/2007 20:17

bitches I mean.

DarrellRivers · 21/01/2007 20:17

Get them spayed

Original poster
Enid · 21/01/2007 20:18

we are surrounded by sheep so I have already ruled out a lurcher

oh dear. Surely there can't be any downsides apart from being called a Labradoodle

OP posts:
JustUsTwo · 21/01/2007 20:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SherlockLGJ · 21/01/2007 20:19

Labradoodle

The labradoodle is a popular, relatively new hybrid dog breed; a cross between the Labrador and the Poodle. As the story goes, a Lab and poodle were first crossbred in Australia back in the 1970s for a specific purpose. A blind woman who was allergic to dogs needed a good seeing-eye dog that would not exacerbate her allergy. Since Labs are excellent seeing-eye dogs and poodles are known to shed very little, a supposed allergy-free guide dog was created.

fortyplus · 21/01/2007 20:19

Never never never get a Jack Russell if you live in suburbia. They yap all the time so you'll get complaints. I work for my local council and half of all the yappy dog complaints seem to be JRs.
Will now have irate post from JR lover saying how sweet and quiet they are...

wannaBeWhateverIWannaBe · 21/01/2007 20:20

mmm but labradoodles are not known for their inteligence (you did say you wanted an inteligent dog?)

Guide dogs ran a trial where they used labradoodles for people with alergies, from a litter of 10 puppies, only two made the grade...

compared to an average of about 7/8 out of 10 labs/retrievers etc...

PrincessPeaHead · 21/01/2007 20:20

trouble with labradoodles is they are all bred by dodgy people for cash, ie from dodgy stock, and the laws of genetics (tamum, where are you) are such that only 1 in 4 has proper hypoallergenic poodle fur.

And anyway what are you breeding in from the lab side? Obsession with chewing EVERYTHING in a destructive fashion for the first 3 years of its life? Complete untrustworthiness around any food? Tendancy to sink into fatness, fartiness and laziness for the last 5 years of its life? High chance of complete stupidity? Or is just the ability to say "oh it isn't a POODLE, it's a LABRA(ahem)doodle"
(not really a labrador fan since fucking Humphrey ate my ENTIRE 13th birthday cake at school, the bastard)

preggerspoppet · 21/01/2007 20:20

oh enid, please let me tell you about our gorgeous little dog...

I was never, ever a dog-person and it took my, dog obsessed, husband 6 years to convince me.
I had the same criteria as you so we eventually found a cross breed to tick all of our boxes...

she is a whippet crossed with a jack russell (lots of people laugh when I tell them her mix because they can't imagine it) she looks like a mini whippet but a bit stockier with a cute sort of face, she is so pretty, very short haired, keeps beautifully clean, fantastically playful yet gentle with the kids, she goes for runs with dh and is so so well behaved and good mannered.

so many people she has met have fallen for her and have given us their numbers incase she were to have pups.

I am now very much a dog person! I love her so much, she is such a huge part of our family, I couldn't be without her!

ScummyMummy · 21/01/2007 20:21

basset hound?

SherlockLGJ · 21/01/2007 20:21

If I got a Labra, I would very solemnly tell folks it was a Bitza....

Bitza this..................

Bitza that............

PrincessPeaHead · 21/01/2007 20:23

enid step away from the labrawhatsit. and put down that bloody jack russell

WHY does EVERYBODY have labs and jack russels in Wilts/Gloucs/Dorset? Do they have NO originality? There are so many nicer dogs around...

preggerspoppet · 21/01/2007 20:23

my aunt has a 'colaboration'....

collie/labrador/alsation

or so she says!

CountessDracula · 21/01/2007 20:24

Labradoodles are great

The don't shed
look

I love big poodles too (I have met pph's and they are gorgeous)

I would suggest a Ridgeback but they are bigger than a lab

Original poster
Enid · 21/01/2007 20:24

god its so hard

OP posts:
Original poster
Enid · 21/01/2007 20:25

ooh no I dont trust jack russells

too yappy

I would like a modicom of dignity (in the dog)

OP posts:
preggerspoppet · 21/01/2007 20:25

feeling all protective over my molly now peahead, she is only half jack russell, and we are in sussex so ner!

wannaBeWhateverIWannaBe · 21/01/2007 20:26

pph because of the shooting in wilts (labs are good gun dogs) same in gloucester... plus they're inteligent/good with kids. would never have jack russell though as tendency to be very snappy.

when we were younger we had maltese.

SmileysPeople · 21/01/2007 20:26

No not a Basset hound, my parents have one and she is lovely at home and with the children, but she runs off for hours at a time once she gets a scent. She has been untrainable in this respect, as the instinct is so deep.
preggerspoppet can you post a picture of your dog, I'd love to see what she looks like.

Another vote for a Westie, all the ones I have known have I love them.

CODNoMore · 21/01/2007 20:26

ENID
] what the fuck are oyu on
gettign a DOG
why?
you are amad

CountessDracula · 21/01/2007 20:26

oh well I only know 2 labradoodles, they seem v sweet - don't like the sound of that dodgyness though

CODNoMore · 21/01/2007 20:26

oh sorry
forgot a

but god you need to RETHINK THIS

preggerspoppet · 21/01/2007 20:26

yap? she doesn't yap, how very dare you!