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Original poster

what puppy?

66 replies

madusa · 06/10/2009 14:41

I am toying with the idea of getting a puppy next spring/summer.

We had a newfoundland who died from a heart problem (we think) aged 9. He was lovely but boy did he make a lot of mess!

My DH would like a leonberger as our next dog (i can't have another slobbering dog) but I think that I would prefer a smaller dog that the children could eventually walk (they are currently 10, 8 and 5)

I don't like small dogs but there must be a mid sized dog that would be a good family pet.

I am looking for something that would be happy with 2 shortish (30 - 60 minutes) walks a day and is good around children and cats. We have a big garden so the puppy/dog would be able to play and run outside of the 2 walks.

Border collies would be ideal if they didn't need the amount of excersise that they need. I can't do 10 mile walks everyday!

Any suggestions?

OP posts:
thighsmadeofcheddar · 06/10/2009 15:23

german shepherd?
is that too big?

we have one and he's great with kids.

beautifulgirls · 06/10/2009 15:41

Have a look at a good old reliable labrador - lovely family dogs and lots of fun.

boodeniites · 06/10/2009 15:58

i like Golden retrievers and Irish and English setters lovely temprement(sp)

HKT · 06/10/2009 16:44

Our labrador is gorgeous! Perfect family pet

Original poster
madusa · 06/10/2009 17:30

the thing that puts me off labs and retrievers in their hair

It gets everywhere

Labs can be very greedy as well can't they? Are retreivers the same?

GSD are lovely but you really need to get their temprament spot on with children being in the house. How do you know you have a "good" one?

OP posts:
thighsmadeofcheddar · 06/10/2009 17:39

We picked a breeder who was committed to temperament above showing attributes etc etc. He's been wonderful with dd from her birth (and other family kids). Very perceptive and gentle.

GSD's might not fit your hairy criteria though, my dyson is always on! It actually came with a sticker that said please don't hoover your pet.

PS I love leonburgers and newfoundlands. so cute. I've always wanted a st bernard too.

lavenderkate · 06/10/2009 17:40

Here's some of my experiences!

Border collies need so much excersise and some are completely mad and some are a bit snappy with kids.

Our working gundog labrador retriever (who doesnt work) is fantastic guard dog, eats everything and adores the kids. Ds 3yrs rides her around the kitchen and she seems to enjoy it!
I dont walk her every single day but we have another dog and they run around like mad together. Or she goes running with DH or swimming with me on our walks.
Her moulting only seems to be really bad twice a year. Get one that matches your carpet?

You'd have to be very unlucky to get a bad one.
Go for a relatively outgoing puppy, not one thats shy and reluctant to come towards you to have a sniff and a play.
Dont go for the most outgoing one either, they might end up being a bit dominant over the kids.

Having said that, I honestly have never met a bad labrador only some dodgy lab crosses..

Original poster
madusa · 09/10/2009 20:59

does any one what beagles are like as a family pet?

They look to be a good size

OP posts:
amazonianwoman · 09/10/2009 21:14

I'd love a beagle but I've been told that they're hard to train. And once they pick up a scent they're off. And apparently they like rolling around in poo

thesunshinesbrightly · 09/10/2009 21:14

I have a beautiful collie, she is VERY good with my children and i have 3 and she's good with people,cats and all animals, she has never ever snapped at anybody, she is a bundle of joy, if you can get a collie of a good breeder then i am sure snappyness will not be a problem, i have never known a collie to hurt a child.

Original poster
madusa · 10/10/2009 12:46

i don't have the time to tke a BC for the long wals that it needs.

I need a breed that will be happy with about 1 - 2 hours of walking a day and is happy to relax for the rest of the day

OP posts:
fruitspooksbatsintheeaves · 10/10/2009 12:48

'i have never known a collie to hurt a child.'

I have

DailyMailNameChanger · 10/10/2009 12:59

Collies can be snappy.

Beagles are a very specialist breed, they take a lot of work and need a lot keeping their mind occupied!

Have you thought about a hungarian vizsla - very short haired, about the size of a lab but quite fine in build, need less excercise than a collie but enjoy a good walk and are very trainable being a working breed - they are also intelligent so they do need things to keep them occupied, when they are older (around 2yo) you could look at agility training, it is something your older dc could do with the dog, they would all get an awful lot out if it IMO!

hercules1 · 10/10/2009 16:06

Leos aren't dribbly and are fantastic dogs.

raindroprhyme · 10/10/2009 16:18

siberian husky.
ours is fab, as much exercise as you want to give contray to popular belief.
loves the kids

hard work as a puppy need to get your head round the whole pack mentality thing.
Can't be left alone tho will chew anything and everything thru boredom, so if you are out at work al day a big no no.

LittleRedCar · 10/10/2009 16:24

If you're worried about too much hair from a lab or a retriever do not even consider a husky.

What do you think a dog designed for sub-zero temperatures does in a centrally heated house?

Viszlas are lovely.

thesunshinesbrightly · 10/10/2009 16:44

well i havent, they are a gourgeous breed.

wildfig · 10/10/2009 18:24

beagles are typical hounds: they hate being left alone, they're not the easiest to train (you eventually come to an mutually beneficial understanding, rather than outright obedience), and they're not reliable off lead because of their scenting instincts. But they're friendly, and very sweet, once you've run off the energy. What about a bigger, less manic hound - bassets are gentle and patient with kids, and are happy with an hour's walking a day, and more if you've got time. The hairy basset griffon vendeens (grand et petit) are also fab, if a bit hairier.

Or a rescue greyhound? Two short walks a day, then v chilled. Some can be trained to be cat friendly!

Secretly, I'd like a poodle - v intelligent, originally gundogs so quite robust, don't shed much, lovely faces... But DH says no.

DailyMailNameChanger · 10/10/2009 20:00

I had the pleasure of taking a furminator to a pair of huskys a few weeks ago (well at the start of the summer).... I got about a truck load of fur out of them and they were still shedding, seriously, it was like I had sat and clipped out a warren of long haired rabbits. I agree, do not touch one if you are worried about fur - they are fun dogs though, again quite high maintenance in the head department!

moosemama · 10/10/2009 20:18

Have you considered the Estrela Mountain Dog they look incredibly like Leonbergers and are a big but not huge breed. My dh was desperate for a Leonberger until we met a couple of Estrelas at Discover Dogs a few years back. Now Estrelas are top of his list.

PoppyIsApain · 10/10/2009 20:27

Is a cocker spaniel to small, there playful, and take an average amount of walking, but all the ones ihave known have been a bit thick, or a lab, they are brill dogs with kids and other dogs

Original poster
madusa · 10/10/2009 22:10

the estrela looks beautiful

I will have to look into those a bit i think

Thankyou to everyone so far

i love mumsnet.....where else could you get so many opinions?

OP posts:
hatwoman · 10/10/2009 22:16

italian spinone? I only know one so can't totally vouch for their temperament but the one I know is lovely. look at petplanet.co.uk for breed profiles.

we have a lab and the hair's not that bad. they tick all the other boxes. totally lovely, faithful, intelligent, gentle. they're great.

Original poster
madusa · 11/10/2009 11:06

I think that so far it is the Estrela or a golden retriever.

The estrela is top of my list but there are so few breeders in the UK that i feel that it may be hard to find out more about them and then because you only have the choice of 2 breeders in the whole of the uk it limits the amount of puppies you get to choose from.

I have a while to go yet though. I don't wwant to get one until we've had our family holiday next May.

OP posts:
DailyMailNameChanger · 11/10/2009 11:13

So fur has fallen of the list of key points then?