I'm so awfully very completely excited about getting a dog, we are looking at one tomorrow and dh just isn't as excited as me, come and be excited please

[PlumWallpaper]

please come and be excited and a little scared with me pleeease

time for all you lovely helpful people to see him

here he is

I don't know very much about dogs but he does sound like a sweetie and I hope he turns out to be as nice as he came across when you met him.

but maybe he is more lab or somthing else suitably quiet than collie

you know like 75% lab/25% crazy collie

We had a rescued collie (in fact 2, but the first was the worst) - she had been badly treated and not socialised - we got her when she was 10 months. We discovered that she was so frightened of children that she would attack first - clearly she had been very badly plagued by the children in the home before - but we got her over this and she realised that we'd keep her safe and that she could just avoid them. She was a wonderful dog - I hope that this one turns out to be as good for you!

No advice because we've only had our little chap for a few weeks, but just wanted to wish you luck with Duke

I'm a bit anal about making sure our dog gets enough exercise and ensure he has at least 2 hours a day, and ours is a 6 year old Boston Terrier, so not a particularly young or high-energy dog. We have made friends with some other dogs who walk regularly in the same place as us, and I try to walk him with other dogs as often as possible because he loves tearing around with them, and it ups the exercise quotient when he's running around in circles at 300 mph.

I'd say two 30 minute walks a day wouldn't be enough for any but a very low energy breed (or older dog) tbh (based on reading and advice from other dog owners rather than hard-won experience, I should add!).

thanks guys

hmm will have to rethink the exercise then

I have a collie cross... think she has a bit of spaniel in her, we rehomed her 2 years ago.
I swear to god she is mad out side, she runs and runs when she is off lead, but indoors she is really chilled and spends most of her time asleep, or watching me

she is fantastic with the kids.. mine were 9 and 11 when we got her, doesn't bark... well only at squirels, is clean, never begs for food, but does like a lot of fuss, ie she will lay at my feet while I am on the computer so I can stroke her with a toe!

the dog sounds lovely and the rescue centre seem to know their stuff.

how old are your children?

dds are 9, 4 tomorrow and 2 and a bit

My 3 month old large breed needs two 30 minute walks a day already Trinity. If not then he gets over excited and frustrated. If he is out for a good play in the fields twice a day he is the perfect little dog to be around!

He looks sooo lovely, his face really matches the character you have described, sweet, loving and eager to please - the perfect family dog

I think young dogs don't need much exercise due to it affecting their joints... I'm sure some one will come along and give you more advice..
My dog has a good half hour on lead walk every morning, come hell or high water..
the dog walker takes her out term time and she's off lead with him.. at weekends and school holidays she has about an hour off lead run. My dog isn't really interested in retreiving balls... she's more of a hunter, sniffing in long grass and chasing rabbits.

do you know I have a whole wardrobe of dog walking clothes! longjohns and gloves, waterproof etc for the winter and walking boots, sunhats and shorts for the summer..just thought I'd mention that

oh yes I've been thiknig about dog walking wardrobes

well clothes not wardrobes, might be tricky to walk in a wardorbe

wellies, longjohns, waterproofs, hats
water bottles for the kids
nappy bags for poop

the kids could ride their bikes sometimes and if we gethim now we have the summer to get into a good automatic routine with walking come hell or high water

don't get womens long johns they have a funny gusset, go for mens, more comfy and they even have a pocket...

roffle

great tip thanks

shameless bumping

I must say having a dog is a great excuse for exercising ds (just 4) - he needs it more than the dog now, but if we didn't have the dog it would be quite difficult to argue the point. As we have the dog she has to be walked whether he wants to go or not!

Yes, Rum is right, too much excercise can affect young ones joints. With my puppy it is 30 mins on the fields for him to sniff about, chase a ball, practice his recall etc not hard road, dedicated walking. The one you are looking at is a bit older but you do still need to be aware of it, I think they are about 2 yo before their joints are good and solid and can stand proper street pounding

Mistlethrush, my youngest is getting more out of it than any of us as well! I wish I had thought of taking her out for a daily run in the fields (on top of everything else she does) earlier. I think there is a lot to be said for "free roaming" excercise for children (and dogs) over organised, formalised excercise like ballet/gym (or puppy classes)!

Agility would be really good potentially - but he'd need to be older and reasonably obedient - so puppy classes, obedience classes then agility. And you might want to take your oldest or let dh take him to obedience - its really important that you all use the same commands and style - less confusing. Nearly sent dh and my dog to obedience classes - but then it suddenly clicked (with dh ) and didn't need to do it - have done with previous dogs though.

nearly time to leave to see him again
taking a squeeze toy and a big ball

goonna see if we can get him playing football with us

Ooh, have fun!

thanks kanute
I'm hoping he is going to satrt nibbling my ankles or humpiong my leg or something so that they can see that he has come out of his 'shell'

My pups bonding "trick" is to lie next to me and lick and chew the straps of my shoes when they are still on my feet! I am sure there is a big dominance no-no in there but my major concern with it is it really tickles

Our dog chose us - dh and I took her for a walk - when I was holding the lead she bumped dh's legs with her side, when he was holding the lead it was mine - no pulling, she just wanted to be part of our 'pack' I think (and very happy she is too - she's not a collie though, goodness knows what she is, very difficult to tell!)