big dogs?

[BabyDubsEverywhere]

DH wants a dog, his only spec is large! bigger the better in fact. can anyone recommend a breed from their personal experience to get us started?

Might let you have that one, Bethoo (mexican hairless)

On average, pedigree dogs do have more hereditary disease though - that's why they cost a great deal more to insure than a mutt. Now don't get cos of your hormones!!!!

Chinese Crested don't shed

All dogs have hereditary diseases. If 2 pedigree dogs that have heart and hip problems get mated then there is a good chance some of the pups will get both diseases.

Unless Chinese Crested retain the exact same hairs for their entire lifetime, then they must shed. Even humans shed!!!!!!!!!

and powderpuffs are a mutation of crested arent they?

Wheatens are supposed not to shed - they do though!

I think the problem arises because people think that dogs which need trimming regularly must have hair that continuously grows rather than sheds and regrows, totally forgetting of course that humans need haircuts but also shed up to 100 hairs a day.

In the case of wheatens, they appear not to shed, as they don't seem to 'drop' fur. This is because any fur that does shed gets caught in the rest of the coat causing horrid little tangles which are a proper pita to deal with and turn into mats/felting if not sorted out promptly. As many new wheatens discover, they are not a low maintenance dog that can just be sent off to the grooming parlour once a month - they need to be combed through daily or at the very minimum 3 times a week otherwise grooming becomes a painful experience for the dog and a real pita for the owner.

(Sorry too many pita's in that paragraph.)

And don't get me started on just how much mud/leaves/twigs etc a wheaten can drag back into the house with them after a walk. I sometimes think mine does a good impression of a walking hedge after a good long country walk!

Have to agree, if you don't like doggy smells and a degree of dirt and fur around the place, don't get a dog. (Unless it is a mexican hairless of course! )

bethoo - load of rubbish, i'm afraid..

a good breeder will attempt to breed out these genetic diseases (hip score, eye cert, Seb a. skin punch, etc etc appropriate to breed)

classic example = progressive retinal atrophe which has been all but eliminated from miniature poodles.

too long x-breeders have claimed that the dogs they breed can't get these disases - out and out twaddle. especially as if both (for example) labs and poodles can get hip dyplasia, how does crossing them help? if, on the other hand, you hip score two dogs and check their hips, then breed them only if they are ok, chances are the offspring will have good hips.

shows an extreme want of understanding of the science of genetics.

too often a myth used to get people to pay top dollar for dogs without pedigrees, paperwork / KC registration or any other minimal safeguard to the welfare of the dog.

i would be very suspicious of any breeder that claimed their puppys were clear because they were crossbreeds,rather than they had done all the necessary testing and research into the pedigree.

they cost more to insure becase you are more likely to take them to a vet, and more expensive to replace.

if i get a rescue dog = £80 from dogs trust

or £800 from a pedigree breeder (for some breeds)

if you are going to claim x-breeds are genuinely more healthy, you're going to have to back that up with some evidence.

personally i think they'll be more prone to disease, as somany x-breed were bred in puppy farms due to the recent fad for them. Any pup from a puppy farm starts life with a real disadvantage to its health prospects. didn't any of you guys see that programme where the television crew bought two puppies from a puppy farm and one had to be put down shortly after? (without cash refund) and the ther required immediate vetinary attention?

i have no problem with grooming, find it quite a bonding experience, I like the quiet time in the evenings brushing the dog and watching a movie, its quite nice. Not a masive fan of the drool though, have never had a dog that drools, that is off putting for me personally.

That Discover dogs sounds fantastic, never heard of it before, DH trying to get time off as we speak.

It sounds as though the high stimulation needs are met by normal things then, regular exercise, company, playtime, puzzle toys, i was getting worried that i need to build an agility course or something!

The dog of the day is Huskey 'type' for DH, any experience/views anybody?

EdgarAllenPoo - load of rubbish ,as you would say.

Study here by Aberdeen University showing crossbreeds are not only healthier than pedigrees, but may be smarter too

Pet insurance is cheaper for crossbreeds than pedigrees regardless of whether your policy covers the cost of the dog.

Might want to check your facts next time, as you would say

Get a Newfie,they are fab family pets.Huskys need huge amounts of stimulation and its best to work them to keep them happy.

Huskies shed like the devil. No really - bred for sub zero temperatures so Husky + central heating = moultfest

Get a Mexican hairless

your not selling me on the mexican hairless to be honest! hehe,

I do like the look of Newfies, but two things worry me - the slobber mainly, but also as i like the 'groomed' look, and most pics i see are ball of fluff, how hard is it to keep the groomed look going?

Can you compare these to an alsation for me as that was the last properly moulting dog i had.

have just discoverd great pyrenees - they look fun - any thoughts?

More evidence for you EAP

here

OP - now listen here, my dear. You do seem to be a bit, well, all over the place in your possible breeds. Except you steadfastly ignore the poor, shivering, Mexican hairless

We need to narrow it down, okay?

Some thoughts:

Do you really want a giant breed, with all the extra costs and health considerations that go with them? Or is DH just trying to re-assert his masculinity after getting a Scottie?

What can you realistically commit to in terms of exercise, play, grooming, space etc?

(Chiquito says he won't need much of any of those ).

Do let us know and we can chuck some more breeds at you, okay?

erm, as i said, if you own a pedigree dog you are more likely to take it to the vet.

x-breeds get ill every bit as much, they're just less liekly to see the vet for it.

I think you need to show us evidence if you are going to make that assertion, EAP.

Don't you?

Re labradoodles and shedding. They do need grooming though so I guess I am brushing out the loose coat a couple of times a week. Also, we have one really wooly one, one shaggy coated one and one that looks like a lab with an oily coat on a bad hair day (she doesnt shed it though). The wooly ones do stink a bit like an old rug when they are wet and mud sticks to them when wet. They generally get a power shower once a fortnight! Still fab family pets though, I have 2 lying at my feet atm - not sure where dog darstardly (new puppy) has gone though

BabyDubs, they have a Discover Dogs at Crufts every year. Its on on the 11-14th March 2010 at the NEC in Birmingham. Website

I wouldn't go for a husky personally. I have a friend that has two and they are constantly on the go despite being exercised in a proper rig. She wanted them as 'pets' initially but they spend a lot of time outside now and they need such a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. Most of the sled type dogs (eg Malamute etc) will be the same I'm afraid.

Are you looking for something a bit out of the ordinary or would something like a nice solid Goldie suit. Big enough for dh not to feel daft on the other end of the lead, trainable, fairly easy to groom (but will still need enough grooming for the whole grooming in front of the tv thing) relatively sleek and tidy looking and they don't drool.

If you are planning to go the pedigree route (which it sounds as if you are) I would definitely try and get to Discover Dogs as it might help you to shorten your shortlist if you see them in the fur flesh and talk to the experts about what level of care etc each breed needs. Of course it could have the opposite effect if you find even more breeds you like.

I am all over the place you are right, trouble is I would have a hundred and want more - slightly addictive peronality i guess hehe, I know i will buy the first pup i see once we are in the right position, so Im trying to narrow it down, honestly i am, but have a very ficle DH who makes this harder.

You have confirmed my thoughts on huskey types, this is how I veiw them and Mumsnet confirmation is enough for me to rule them out.

Dh does want a large dog that is also a bit different. However this 'different' part changes daily. Think the Discover Dogs will be a really good idea and will definalty do the March one.

Thanks again for all your replies it has been very helpfulx

moosemama, if my list gets longer i will be holding you personally responsible by the way

Chiquito says he remains quietly optimistic.

your new dog

Is it just me, or does Chiquito look like Peter Mandelson?

Just me then...

we have a great swiss mountian dog

was soooooooooooooooooo cute as a puppy but now is 16mths and the size of a horse and weighs 10.5stone

well was a size of a horse at about 9mths

he is very affectionate, a little too much sometimes

but i love him really