Which kind of dog could we get that would be happy with a large garden, instead of frequent walks?

[InternationalFlight]

I don't know if this is an impossible thing.

We live on a road which is a good ten minute walk from any decent countryside - only a very small park nearby, which doesn't allow dogs anyway.

however we have an enormous garden - 100ft+, massive lawn, trees etc. and fully enclosed.

DS1 is desperate for a dog. I promised him one yonks ago, he's almost 6 now. I think it'd do him a lot of good.

Subject to landlord's permission, could we get one that wouldn't reauire constant walks but would be happy running about in our garden? Or would it be unfair?

He'd get a proper walk once a week or maybe up the road once a day if necessary, but not much fun with a toddler in tow and traffic iyswim.

Also we have 2 guinea pigs and a cat to consider.

Any suggestions welcome!

Oh and would probably be a rescue dog as we've no money for a top bred pup. I am dog virgin but do like them.

Presumably GSD's and Dobes are ruled out by small dc's?

But the lab ?

But KC, a resce greyhound is not "a bad idea" if it is fine with cats, so why tar the whole breed with one sweeping statement?

"A husband is a bad idea, they chase women. Some can be retrained, yes, but you must keep them totally separate from females and even then accidents can happen"

It just doesn't make sense. Everything else you said did, if that's any consolation

Spina bifida, sweetie, spina bifida.

x post - spina bifida was obviously in reference to ridgebacks.

My Rafeiro loos suspiciously like Blondie's

[[http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=www.i-love-dogs.com/dog-breeds/images /Rafeiro-do-Alentejo.jpg&imgrefurl=www.i-love-dogs.com/dog-breeds/Rafeiro-do-Alentejo.html&us g=__Z5dTPWEFEl7a545yPs7kdoX4nEw=&h=274&w=300&sz=6&hl=en&start=2&tbnid=exau9KUQfrQPRM:&tbnh=106&tbnw= 116&prev=/images%3Fq%3DRafeiro%2Bdo%2BAlentejo%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26ie%3DUTF-8 here]

pmsl at my link.

Take my word for it, it looks like a Swiss Mountain Dog.

Ahh, but beautiful Bella!

FM, I disagree, but I think you gathered that I am not convinced your example is really a parallel - unless husbands have started being breed to chase wives?

It does rather doesn't it Bella!

I quite like the look of this one here. I am not quite sure why we are allowed these but not GSDs or Dobes!

Gotta stick my oar in.

I looked very seriusly at rehoming a greyhound 2 years ago, with 4 cats.

I was told (by the RGT) that there are 3 types of greyhound: those that want to chase cats, those that don't even notice a cat, and those that show some interest.

The first type can't be retrained.

The second are good to go.

The 3rd can be retrained, but must be muzzled, watched etc.

Even with the safest type, though, I was advised that there could be an incident where a greyhound would see a cat scoot past and decide to chase before it realised it was its friend PussyCat.

And of course the danger with greyhounds is that they have the speed to catch a cat, which most dogs don't.

I had to take the difficult and sad decision not to rehome a greyhound, and I love them.

I think KC was right to sound a note of caution.

Now, who can tell me what a

Cane Corso Italiano

looks like?

Flight, we got our lovely Cocker Spaniel pup when ds was 6 and dd was 3.
First and foremost the dog was a family idea (dh and I both grew up with a dog) but like you I had romantic visions of ds and the dog bonding and being best friends.
It did not work out like that. Whilst ds loves the dog, and the dog him, I am the dog's first love. I am the one who is home with him and who walks him. Ds and dd feed him, brush him and play with him, but it is me he has the greatest attachment to. After me, it is dd he loves. He has become her pet. He lets her put ribbons in his hair and hairclips in his ears [daft animal]
So there is no guarantee whatsoever that your dog will bond first and foremost with ds.
And that is before you find a dog which meets all your criteria.

Add to that the fact that rescue centres rarely let a dog go to a family with children under 8 you may find the whole thing is a non-starter anyway.

Add to that teh fact that I found the fist few years with doglet really hard. Dd was pottytraining at the same time as doglet was housetraining and the whole thing was a nightmare.
If I could do it all again I would wait a few years.
That said, we love doglet and he is here to stay, a true member of the family.

here bella, looks like they have their ears trimmed

Gah - hairclips in the long hair on his ears - not clipped onto the ears themselves - before you all start shouting cruelty at me

I've never heard of greyhounds havign to be muzzled at all. Don't think thats right, as far as I'm aware they're not on the dangerous dogs list with pit bulls, etc. RGT never told me that and I've never seen it mentioned on any of the greyhound forums.

I've seen quite a lot of greyhounds muzzled - normally lovely dogs, but they have been bred to chase, and some of them can't distinguish between eg rabbits and eg small dogs when they get excited on the chase....

If there is countryside 10-15 minutes away, why wouldn't the dog be walked there every day?

Do not get a dog. Your friends will stop visiting. They may not like dogs, especially those that jump up and claw at them and their children when all they wanted to do was pop in quickly for a coffee and a chat but nooo the dog can't be put in it's run can it, oh no, lets all let the dog jump up, no one will stop the dog the dog has ruined everythinggggg.......

(account based on real life events in mrs m's life)

MrsM - you clearly havn't managed to train your friends properly!!!

Our dog is shut away if we have people that are frightened of dogs - however, I do have a couple of friends who are very scared of dogs who can cope with our dog as we keep her properly under control, she's not allowed to jump up and she is kept away until she has calmed down a bit...

Our dog trainer today said that in his view if people have a large garden, a walk every day isn't required. A few times a week can be fine if you have a fairly laid-back dog who gets exercise from chasing a ball etc for a good while instead, he said. Surprising, because I'd always thought that "every day" was the rule, and it's what we'd always done with ours (did have a Bernese Mountain Dog and a crossbreed, but now have a small Jack Russell type).

No matter how large you're garden is, ALL dogs need 30 mins to 2 hours exersize a day. (depending on breed obviously, a small toy type dog will be happy with 30 mins, a greyhound or average dog 45 mins to 1 hour and particularly boisterous dogs such as those of working or gundog breeds anything up to and over 2 hours)

If you don't live near decent walking routes, I can relate to that! all you have to do is put the dog in the car and drive to one, take him for his hour or so walk and bring him home again! nice daily change of scenery for yourself as well.

also, wouldn't reccomend letting you're son walk the dog himself until he is physically strong enough as if the dog is strong he could get away and get hit by a car/cause an accident/get lost etc!

Stripey - my Greyhound would LOVE to live at your house with all your furries