What dog to get for DCs 9 and 5 yrs?

[Twinkie1]

Right am going to lots of research into this - we have 18 months before DS starts school - that is when we have promised the kids they can have a dog - may keep me company alone at home all day and will allow me to train it (yeah ha ha) without the help of the kids!

I would like something not too big - can't be a toy dog though - DH thinks he will look gay walking it - so no yorkies or ratty type dogs - something I can over power if it goes on the rampage - something that doesn't slobber too much and something that will need a reasonable amount of exercise but won't want to do a marathon each day!

Ideally also something that doesn;t chew, bark, shit or leave hair everywhere would be great but understand this isn't possible. Just somethin clean would be nice though!

Ideas greatly received - will then draw short list, investigate further and go and view selected breds to make sure thay will never clash with decor or outdoor wear! (Ha ha not really!)

Ta ladies!

He is called Johnny Jet.

And I don't want to feed him real people food, because then I'll just have to carry on and his poo will be gross, and I'd let him if we lived in the countryside perhaps, but in a city he needs to have nice dry poo, thank you very much.

I am being quite hard-hearted about it.

Oh and I'm not sure it would be right for him - the vet told me off because I gave him some roast beef on Sunday (we had run out of the tripe - what is tripe anyway?) and she said it was too rich and too fatty.

So dog food it is.

He is very nice and cool and quite ugly in a good way.

Oh thank you. Yes I'm adding hot water at the minute. Gravy granules are a good tip - surely better than cheese.

I'm probably completely wrong, but I always thought you shouldn't give cheese to dogs. doesn't it affect their sense of smell or something or am I talking rubbish?
Our cs came a with ridiculous menu as well... ignore, try a few puppy foods until you find one he likes. CS are very bad at being fussy eaters. if we give pippa, real food now it causes problems. on xmas day we gave her turkey, she refused all other food for the next few days they are entirely dictated by their stomachs, and are quite partial to a bit of begging! best thing we ever did was never feed her from the table or leftovers. she gets feed twice a day, dry with water and that's it! (god I'm mean!)

The other thing he does is graze. I think the breeder said they left food out for them - I think she said that? Do you feed, leave and then pick it up again? Or just leave it there? I feel better having the dry stuff because it says how much he should be eating, and I think I was giving him too much and then worrying.

God. This is like the Weaning section in MN. LOL.

He's used to group feeding too, I can tell. He was funny about food yesterday, but this morning ds2 sat down to talk to him while he was having his breakfast, and he chomped away and nodded at ds2 and chomped some more.

No more cheese it is. Hot water and gravy in the evenings.

I second (or it is third or fourth) the biscuits with gravy (or even just water) suggestion. Cheese is OK for dogs in small quantities - we give ours low fat cottage cheese as a treat on top of his kibble which he really loves. Also kibble with oats, bran, grated carrot and a bit of water. Veg is really good for them - my breeder only uses carrots and bits of broccoli as treats and rewards.

DS2 talking to him while he is eating is great - he won't get funny and protective about his food if he is used to people around. Our dog trainer gave us some good advice which is that from a very young age occasionally add something nice to their bowl while they're eating - then the associate interruptions to feeding with good stuff.

I would feed him and then remove the food, and do it all in quite a strict way, but that's because I have a very bouncy slightly dominant unneutered male who needs to know who is boss!

We are quite strict with our puppy's food too, it goes out and if she hasn't eaten it all in around 20 mins then it goes in the bin and there is nothing until next time. We feed James Wellbeloved dry food as it is good for sensitive tums but she loves carrot, brocolli and apples so give these occasionally, sometimes she gets a little cooked chicken in with her dry food or a tiny wee bit of sausage (OK she's spoiled ).

I'm with greyhounds or whippets. We have 2 greyhounds and they really are beautiful gentle dogs. They can be cat trainable as well and they are amazing around kids. I always muzzle my 2 when out just so they can't harm another animal (rabbit, cat, squirral etc) if I happen to drop the lead. They are lazy too - a couple of 20 minute walks a day and they'll be on their backs the rest of the day - they love fuss and attention but they know their place - won't go rushing up, jumping up every visitor - in fact will usually stay very calm and ignore people! There are so many needing good homes and a lot of love. I know people are intimidated by their size but honestly - they are wonderful dogs - they have very thin coats as well so shouldn't leave lots of fur everywhere, can be fed very cheaply and although they probably need house training due to life spent in kennels - they pick ut up very quickly (usually) - our first greyhound has never once had an accident in the house and the 2nd one only did it because she had lived for a few years with an eldery couple who basically couldn't take her outside at all so she had to toilet inside. I know most people think instantly of cute little puppies to grow up with their kids but if you go for a greyhound I don't think you'd be sorry.

We have a rough collie I have 4 kids and he is briliant he loves to play but when they are busy he is quiet happy sleeping or just watching, he will walk as much as they want but equally happy with a run round the block if we are busy only draw back is he must be brushed every other day but I find this really relaxing and it helps me chill out so so far its been a win win situation I would recomend a rough collie for a family dog any day they are real family dogs love company but can be left for short amounts of time they are very loyal and love children