Can anyone advise on suitable breed of dog?

[Molesworth]

I was going to put more detail in the title, but this newfangled mumsnet cuts the end off, so here goes.

I live in a flat in central London with no garden and I'd like to get a dog. I've been investigating the idea of a greyhound, and someone is coming to do a home check tomorrow, but I am fairly sure I'll be refused because the two storeys of my flat are connected by a steel spiral staircase, which I know a grey would struggle with. There is a way round this (using the main shared staircase) but it would probably be a bit awkward.

So my question is, which type of dog could I get if not a grey?

I'm after a companion dog for me because I'm at home on my own a lot of the time (studying and working part-time for my partner's business), so the dog wouldn't be left alone much (although it would be nice to be able to pop out to the shops or to the occasional appointment for up to 2 hours without needing a dog sitter). We don't have young children (two teenagers) or other pets. I enjoy walking and we live near parks and have access to a large communal garden in the nearby square (less than a minute's walk from my front door).

I'd rather have an adult rescue dog than buy a puppy from a breeder.

Given the choice I prefer dogs from the hound group.

Although I enjoy walking, I would prefer a dog with a low-medium exercise requirement.

I'm quite keen on the idea of training classes (as much for me as the dog) and don't mind grooming, although generally would prefer not to have to contend with tumbleweeds of fur on a daily basis.

I have a friend with a Staffie who happily lives in a flat and bowls up and down my spiral stairs when he visits, and Battersea Dogs Home is full of Staffies, but am resistant to the idea of a terrier, although I could be persuaded.

Any thoughts?

Oh, and I may as well say this while I am here, since I will be getting my flameproof suit on for the Jan Fennell fan club:

Betadad - reading between the lines, and I apologise If I have got it totally wrong, you seem to be an ardent dog lover who is understandably frustrated that you can't have a dog right now, especialy when you see the many sub-standard owners there are out there.

...but I think Molesworth would actually make a good owner.....

Jan Fennell, the GF of the dog world?

Apologies, you did indeed recommend a Bruce Fogle book, which I will get forthwith.

I am a bit disappointed about the JF thing though because I really enjoyed the book

Re: your comment to ABD - I think it must be bloody frustrating for the genuine dog lovers who deny themselves a dog because their circs aren't right to see how many people get a dog without giving the decision proper thought, so I can totally see where he's coming from.

And frankly I do feel a bit scared that I might not be up to the job of good, responsible dog ownership. But if I had sat down to decide whether and when to have children I know I would have felt the same about that too.

I am an absolute novice to the doggy world, but I did enjoy the book from the Monks of somewhere, I will have a quick google to see if I can find them.

My pup is exhausted today after a long walk. I was hardly even got her out of the house for a wee this afternoon. I don't see why me taking a dog out to the garden for a wee is different to Molesworth taking the dog out of the flat for a wee. As long as the dog is getting a good hour or more of walks a day, and is happy then it is not cruel to the dog.

Monks of New Skeet

[waits for MN doglovers to tell her that everything that they recommend is wrong]

bella29 - I am a dog lover but not frustrated about other people. I don't judge others about it. I just think dogs deserve a good life because I have known some fabulous ones that did wonderful things for my parents.

betadad - if you're not here to judge, get off MN - don't you know that's what it's for!!!!

MmeLindt that looks positively kinky but if it works for you, honey, go for it....

Molesworth glad you enjoyed the JF book tbh my biggest problem with the pack theory (apart from it being a load of old tawddle of course) is that it assumes all dogs want to be dominant. If I instigated rank reduction bullshit methods on either of my dogs it would amount to mental cruelty, as they are both subdominant (Bruce will expalin what that means), Molesworth.

Final thought - betadad get thee a dog

That monks thing looks interesting, thanks MmeL

Just thought I'd post an update. I'm still waiting for written permission from my slowcoach landlord. Have made an enquiry about a Boston Terrier boy needing a new home - he sounds wonderful and the breed descriptions I've read seem to suggest a BT would be a suitable breed for us. Fingers crossed!

Oooh - exciting!

Do keep us posted, Molesworth

I have everything crossed for you molesworth - you sound as though you're in a position to give a dog a great life

I've just received permission to keep a dog from the housing association - beaming from ear to ear!

The Boston Terrier I am interested in is a private rehoming and I wondered if any of you think this is a bad idea? Although the owner seems completely genuine, I am concerned that I won't have the safeguards a rescue centre offers (i.e. temperament and health checked etc).

I hoesntly think that even within a breed (any breed) there is so much personality variation that you just need to find the right individual rather than the right dog.
Go to Battersea or dogs Trust and meet some contenders. It's as much about finding a dog you bond with as anything else. You might find a very calm lay-about staffy or a greyhound who doesn't mind heights, or a mongrel who just melts your heart.
There's no point (IMHO) getting hung up on the idea of a breed if you are going to get a rescue dog, just wait till you meet your "one".
I am a very happy rescuer BTW- they are the BEST dogs!

"the right individual rather than the right dog." I meant to say "the right individual rather than the right breed."

Good point bubbaluv - I have learned a lot since starting this thread tbh and I agree about finding the right individual rather than focusing too much on breeds. Having said that, by looking into breed characteristics I now understand why it might not be a good idea to get a particularly feisty Jack Russell, for instance. But any reputable rescue centre would not home a difficult to handle dog with a first-time owner anyway.

Just want to thank you all for your input here: your experience and feedback, negative and positive, has been very helpful indeed.

Great news, Molesworth - am really pleased for you

FWIW I would go to Battersea, even just to have a look and a chat. Agree that it is very much about the dog as an individual, but when you are not very experienced with dogs (you know I don't mean to be rude!) it's invaluable to get some really good advice from people like the Battersea staff.

Very best of luck whatever

Thanks Bella

The Boston Terrier is coming to see us next week. He does sound wonderful and perfect for us, but we'll see how the meeting goes and take it from there.

Am v. excited for you, Molesworth. Do remember to report back, please !

Ooooh - how exciting! I hope the meeting goes well!

Thanks for the good luck wishes - we're meeting the dog and his owner tomorrow night (they are coming here to see the flat and meet the family).

The owner has given me a lot of information about him already, but I am drawing up a list of questions to ask (his daily routine, where does he sleep, obedience, thing like that). If she picks us we'll suggest a trial period of a month (in writing) - does this sound like a good idea?

I have already asked about his health and she says he has no problems, but should I be thinking about getting him checked over by a vet during the trial period if he comes to us? My concern is that if he has some ongoing medical condition we might not be able to cover it with pet insurance. He's not an old dog but he will be 7 this year.

He was attacked by another dog last November and was badly injured (a huge gash to his neck). He has recovered physically but his owner says that he has been a bit timid of other dogs since this happened. It sounds like she has dealt with the situation sensibly, in that she saw the importance of getting him back out there socializing with other dogs as soon as he was better, but she has warned me that this aspect of his behaviour might need some work.

She also says that he can be timid of strange people if they go to stroke him, but this is in the form of cringeing away from them rather than being a gibbering wreck.

His owner rehomed him herself and has only had him for about a year, during which time she hasn't been able to provide the stable home she would have liked. Longer working hours mean he's left with her mum, who doesn't really enjoy looking after him very much. His original owner was a single man who left the dog in kennels a fair bit owing to his work commitments. Therefore she has decided to look for a home where he'll have consistent and ongoing care from his new family, and I think she feels that this alone will help his insecurities.

Anyway, I will report back after the meeting, but if any of you have any thoughts/questions I might want to ask that I haven't thought of already, that would be helpful

Crikey, Molesworth - you are thorough!

Re the insurance, I would check with your proposed insurance company. A lot of companies won't insure a dog for the first time if they are over say 7 or 8 years so it may be a non-starter anyway.

When/if you take the dog on the previous vet should pass the dog's history on to your vet, and that would determine whether there was a pre-existing condition for the purposes of insurance. The insurance company will still insure the dog (assuming he's young enough) but it will be written in the small print that anything which he has seen a vet for in the past x number of months/years is not covered. Again this varies between insurers.

tbh if it were me, rehoming a dog privately, I would take quite a lot of it on trust (assuming I was happy with what the owner has told me).

He sounds like he's had a very unsettled life and I hope he finds a good home. Might be a good idea to ask the owner to go with you and the dog for a walk near other dogs to see his reactions, given what has happened.

HTH

Thanks for that info about the insurance bella - I'll be sure to check this out. Also a great idea to take him for a walk, although they are bringing him over at 7 o'clock tomorrow evening, so not the best time for walkies. Anyway, I'm probably jumping the gun here - he's such a lovely dog I can't believe we will be lucky enough to have him

Fingers crossed - the meeting went really well! He is absolutely gorgeous and seemed to make himself at home here, gave us lots of kisses and generally showed off. They're taking him to meet one other family at the weekend, so we should hear something next week