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Original poster

Suggest me a dog! or another pet, please!

31 replies

QSthevampireslayer · 23/04/2009 08:53

We are considering getting a dog. Our youngest son (3 1/2) loves animals, and dogs in particular. (I am not adverse to dogs, though I am more of a cat person.)

This is our family:
Me, dh, ds1 (7) and ds2 (3 1/2).

-We live in a semi rural area.
-We like to be active. We walk, we cycle, we go skiing.
-We like wildcamping, and sleeping in tent, we consider getting a campervan/boat
-We have a big house with wooden floors and not much in terms of soft furnishings.
-We have a garden, and live on the outskirts of the neighbourhood, backin onto the woods
-We like foreign travel, staying away for upto 6 weeks in summer

What dog (or other pet) would suit us? It goes without saying it needs to be child friendly with a nice temperament. It should not be a very small dog, so a yorkie is out.
It will need to fit in with/enjoy an active lifestyle.

Any suggestions?

OP posts:
lilymolly · 23/04/2009 08:56

Labrador every time

we have 2, and your lifestyle sounds very similar to ours.

The going abroad in the summer, would be the only concern, unless you are considering taking the dog

Original poster
QSthevampireslayer · 23/04/2009 08:58

We would most likely take the dog with us, as we usually holiday by car....

oh dear...

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Original poster
QSthevampireslayer · 23/04/2009 09:06

how about Border Collie??

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MitchyInge · 23/04/2009 09:08

you can get a passport for your dog, I think you should get one of the gun dog types because they are likely to have the stamina/trainability/temperament that make them such good pets for active families

example spaniels and labs

Original poster
QSthevampireslayer · 23/04/2009 09:10

I was wondering about norwegian elkhound or a siberian husky...... But I dont think they suit as, as I wouldnt go hunting bear and moose!

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Original poster
QSthevampireslayer · 23/04/2009 09:12

cocker spaniel sounds a good option!

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MmeLindt · 23/04/2009 09:14

I would go for a Springer Spaniel in your position.

My parents had one and she was great. Very active, needs a lot of walks but that does not look like it will be a problem for you. Very childfriendly and loyal. Not the most intelligent of dogs but very lovable.

If you have a pet passport then you can take the dog with you on holidays, you have to get the rabies shot before taking it to UK.

Original poster
QSthevampireslayer · 23/04/2009 09:17

My friend has a springer spaniel. It mated with a black king poodle. The pups were unusual, but cute!

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MitchyInge · 23/04/2009 09:20

feels affronted

springers are the 14th most intelligent breed, out of about 70

if mine had just one more brain cell he'd probably be miserable

MmeLindt · 23/04/2009 09:21

It must have just been our Springer then. I swear that if you looked in that dogs eyes you saw clear to the back of her head.

She was a fab dog.

MitchyInge · 23/04/2009 09:23

to be fair, nobody has ever accused ours of excessive intelligence either

Original poster
QSthevampireslayer · 23/04/2009 09:25

oh I dont know, so many dogs, and I know so little about them.

Much easier to have a cat. But we need something more portable. Camping and cats dont mix.

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MmeLindt · 23/04/2009 09:35

Really, the whole thing about deciding on a breed is not that important unless you really want a particular breed. I had never heard of Maltese Terrier until I asked one of the mums at school if she knew anyone with pups. One of her friends had a dog wiht puppies so we ended up with our terrifying terrier

If she had had Yorkies or Springers then we would have one of them.

We liked West Highland Terriers but a pure bred Westie would have cost us ?2000 and we would have had to drive about 6 hours to pick one up. (The only breeder we could find was miles away)

Ask around your neighbours/friends and see what turns up.

ohdearwhatamess · 23/04/2009 09:36

Springers are fab, and would suit your lifestyle by the sound of things. They love walks in woods, ime.

Fwiw, a good friend of mine who is a well-regarded dog trainer and behaviourist reckons sprockers are much better than springers with young children (she sees a lot of springers with aggression issues).

PfftTheMagicDragon · 23/04/2009 09:40

I think that Springers are intelligent (we have one) they simply have no common sense!

ahundredtimes · 23/04/2009 09:45

Your dd is still quite little, so I'd go carefully tbh, especially if this is your first dog.

Labrador or cocker spaniel would be perfect. I have a cocker, and he's quite big which I like, almost springer size, not so keen on the little ones with pretty feet. I think springers are beautiful dogs, but they can be a bit neurotic and unpredictable ime, not violent, but just erm active.

Collies are lovely, I know two. But from observation only, they do require a LOT of stimulation as v. bright dogs, and it depends on whether you think it'll get sufficient stimulation - more than just exercise I think - with you.

I think with a 3 y-o you need a breed which is v. good with children. So cocker or labrador. Also they are both v. companionable dogs, who will probably travel okay and just like being where you are.

ahundredtimes · 23/04/2009 09:47

Oh yes a sprocker is a brilliant idea. I know a lovely sprocker - more atheletic than your average cocker but more relaxed than your average springer. Get that.

morethanyoubargainfor · 23/04/2009 09:51

go for a curly coated retriever, i have one. they rock, good with children etc i will do you a link because although they are an english breed they are rare and need numbers boosting to get them of theendangered list.

they just ROCK!

Original poster
QSthevampireslayer · 23/04/2009 09:58

I did not want to say it, but my dad, who used to have dogs for hunting grouse mainly, told me the springer is very erm... active and quite neurotic (it came up when my friends springer was expecting puppies, and I consulted him on it... before we knew it had bred with a king poodle...) In his opinion, both setters and springers were unable to walk through the house, they were running around corners, sliding on wooden floors, and going bang crash into furniture and ornaments... Their English Setter managed to topple over a 200 l fishtank through shere zest for life....

Or maybe it was just my dads dogs???

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higgle · 23/04/2009 09:58

Have a look at Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen,
mine is nearly 16 now and he has been a wonderful dog, friendly, active - they are called "the happy breed" - as they are hounds they don't go stir crazy if there is a quiet day, but will walk or run alongside you for ever if you are being active. You don't need to have them clipped, unlike spaniels, and they are just so cute too.

FairMidden · 23/04/2009 10:01

Do bear in mind that a particular breed is not a guarantee of being good with kids. I see an awful lot of Labradors these days with behavioural and aggression problems.

I would suggest that you go to a rescue centre and ask them for advice. The dogs there will probably be well known to staff as individuals and often they have spent time in foster care so you know a bit about how they are with small kids, other animals, housetraining etc. Buying a puppy of a certain breed means you can predict eventual size and likely activity levels but I think people tend not to realise what variation in temperament there can be between individuals of the same breed.

Also, very bright dogs do need a lot of training - not just to teach them about how to live with humans, but on an ongoing basis to keep their minds busy. If you were to get a Collie you would have a huge committment on your hands just to ensure it develops into a confident, secure, and well behaved dog. I wouldn't ever recommend a Collie as a first dog, even to the most active of families.

Original poster
QSthevampireslayer · 23/04/2009 10:03

Intersting point FM, I should maybe drop by a rescue centre.

Nobody has mentioned Golden Retrievers??

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tiddelypom · 23/04/2009 10:06

A cocker spaniel would be a great option - we have a 2 year old cocker and she is brilliant with our 15 month dd and other children that visit - my mother has a springer - he is a lot more boisterous and energetic (and he's 8).

MmeLindt · 23/04/2009 10:14

We were warned when we got our dog that Springers can be neurotic, was not the case with ours. She was very energetic and enthusiastic though.

Original poster
QSthevampireslayer · 23/04/2009 10:14

I have to get back to work, but will check back later. Thank you all for your good suggestions!

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