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Original poster

I'll tell you about my household, you tell me about your dog

33 replies

thesockmonsterofdoom · 01/01/2010 14:38

I want a dog, I am a long way off convincing dh but no idea what sort of dog would suit best.
I have 2 dd's 6 and 3, 2 cats and chickens in the garden, obviously the chickens and the dog would not be out together.
I have a medium sized garden, can walk twice a day, probably half an hour a time.
Dh works full time, I work evenings, cross over of about 3 hours where there is no one in the house, 3 dqays a week.
I like small dogs, like westies, yorkies, jack russells and poodles.
So tell me about dog, good points, things which would be a problem for me and why it would a good daog for my family.
TIA

OP posts:
mulledfruitshootandcheese · 01/01/2010 16:24

I have a Springer Spaniel and a Border collie. They would be fine to be left for 3 hours a day now. But they have each other and a large space to wreck move around/play in. If I had to leave them when they were younger I used to empty the recycling bin for them so they had boxes and plastic bottles etc to chew up!

I'm not saying you should get two dogs but maybe look into an slightly older one rather than a puppy.

BellasSparklyBaubles · 01/01/2010 16:50

All your terrier types (which you like) are more likely to be a problem with your chickens, and possibly your cat.

Are you looking at pups or rescue dogs?

TheBrandyButterflyEffect · 01/01/2010 16:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Wastwinsetandpearls · 01/01/2010 17:00

I have a springer , we also have 2 cats which he loves and loathes in equal quantitities,

He was a nightmare as a puppy, ruined dp's house, chewed through plaster walls, ate the sofa and would raid the bins. He had constant company during the day.

Aged 3 he came to live with dd and I and was a nightmare with me, he likes male authority and I had a busy life so he was on his own a lot which springers hate.

Dp now works from home and the dog is older and calmer and I cannot imagine our family without him. He gets walked 2 hours a day at least, at weekends several hours o either Saturday or Sunday. Although he still behaves much better for dp he does adore me and is my little shadow. He is great with kids and has become a great companion for dd, they often go off for hours together.

I would love chickens but the dog would eat them.

Original poster
thesockmonsterofdoom · 01/01/2010 17:02

would be able to sort something out for a few weeks about the cross over. do worry abpout the chooks though, anyway dh just walked in and said you are not having a dog

OP posts:
ScaredOfCows · 01/01/2010 17:37

Poodles are fab dogs - really easy to train. Ours (standard) sits at the open back door watching the squirrels eating nuts just 2 feet away from him. They are not chasers if trained to leave as pups.
Really great with children too. Can't recommend highly enough.

Original poster
thesockmonsterofdoom · 01/01/2010 18:22

poodle is definatley winning with everything I have read today. how much walking do they need? would half an hour to the park twice a day be enough? was thinking miniture, the toy's look a bit too small and the standard a bit too big. I do also really like the labradoodle, would a pure poodle be any cheaper to buy initially?

OP posts:
MitchyInge · 01/01/2010 18:27

we have a 2 3/4 yr old springer and several visiting dogs of varying breeds, our one is amazingly well behaved around the chickens given how insanely he acts around our 3 cats (even though he has lived with cats EVERY DAY OF HIS LIFE) - he does pop easily over our 6' wall to do a quick lap of neighbouring gardens every now and then but is back home within about 2 minutes (am working on this)

he usually comes to work with me most days where he can gallop about for miles and miles and miles with other dogs without flagging, however he will then be comatose in front of the fire until the next day

he can be left for about 4 hours, poss longer but have rarely tried this as he would probably fret about being alone

MmeLindt · 01/01/2010 18:29

Maltese Terrier.

Don't be fooled by the name, they are Terriers in name only. Or mine is.

She is white, cute, fluffy and a great companion. She is generally to be found at my feet, is lying there right now as it happens.

Incredibly good with DC, she just loves them to bits.

Pic on profile

herladyshiplovesedward · 01/01/2010 18:29

we have a mongrel terrier (think tramp from lady and the tramp)

she is wirey (does not shed hair!) and very very lovable. we have chickens and she is not interested in them at all.

we got her as a rescue dog at 1 year old (she is now 7) and apart from a 'setting in/retraining' period of a few weeks at the begining she has been an angel

her only faults are: she pulls on the lead (common terrier problem!) and is very attracted to rats/mice in a way that is terminal for them..

a good rescue centre will help you find the right dog for you, hope you can persuade your dh

MmeLindt · 01/01/2010 18:30

oh, and forgot to say, she is happy with just a walk a day.

FlyingReindeer · 01/01/2010 18:41

We have a Jack Russell.

I think for you a puppy of any breed would be best if you can train them to ignore cats and chickens. Ours mainly only chases cats (we encourage him to keep cats out of the garden to protect the bird life). Puppies are better at adjusting to life with small children - I would be wary of an older/rescue dog with other animals/small children.

He is very intelligent and at certain times of his life has survived perfectly well with two walks a day. He know lives mostly outside working with DH and when he's not outside he's curled up asleep inside. They are trainable to a certain extent but are wilful and independent. I am besotted by him but have a few worries about how he will react to the arrival of our first DC in around five weeks time. Any dog that has had a bad experience with children does not forget easily.

He rarely barks (except at cats or when he is shut outside and wants to come in - one short sharp bark). He is very chilled out, has never been an excitable type.

Wastwinsetandpearls · 01/01/2010 18:44

Mitchy that is interesting what you say about your dog and chickens. Our springer has calmed down so much in recent years, e is currently lying out in front of the fire with both cats like a British Gas advert. He once lickked a few of MILS rabbits to death and he is always very interested in any pheasants that walk into te garden. The word "birdies" produces ecstasy from him.

Ours used to jump over the fence and run around the neighbours garden. We used to look out the window and see him doing laps as happy as could be.

MitchyInge · 01/01/2010 18:51

haha, they are the MOST entertaining dogs aren't they?

we have loads of visiting breeds, and the spaniels (springers, cockers and sprockers) are best around the chickens - although did have to tell mine very very very firmly that if it were possible I would re-castrate him if he chased/hurt them

do not understand why this doesn't work with him and cats though, you can actually see his brain shut down until only his cat receptors are glowing brightly

Wastwinsetandpearls · 01/01/2010 18:59

Ours loves the cats, I think they think that are all related. When they were kittens he would carry them round in his mouth like their mother, clean them and they also suckled from his willie. He used to look at them in that life a paw, tilt my head, tongue out cute eyes way that springers have.

He likes them for company but our tomcat likes to hump the springer which gets on his nerves and they tease him a bit. He just wants a quiet life. He does however still sleep with them.

I will feed back to dp your experience with chickens.

Is your springer a trained gundog. Ours is not and I wonder if that makes a difference, having more discipline?

I adore our springer, he has so much charactar.

MrsJohnDeere · 01/01/2010 19:08

I have a 7yo springer.

He likes walks, food, more food, even more food, and sleeping. He does silly things and makes me laugh every day. He is utterly devoted to me and a very loyal companion.

He dislikes cats (would kill one if he got the chance), also not keen on black dogs, most small furry or feathered things, water, ladders, and strange men.

Takver · 01/01/2010 19:15

I'd reiterate that dogs can definitely be trained to be fine with chickens - especially if you have them from pups, but I've known a very scrappy 5 y/o Jack Russell learn - quite fast - that he was NOT going to get to eat the ducks . . .

In fact of many dogs passing through the housing co-op where we used to live the only one that I think wouldn't have got the message about the ducks/chickens within a reasonable time frame was a very out of control doberman. But, she was so poorly trained that we weren't happy to have her near the kids either, so it wasn't really an issue.

wifeofdoom · 01/01/2010 19:16

I have a mini schauzer - she's a terrier but a low maintenance one! Great with the baby and very chilled out, 2 walks a day, has never chewed up anything!

BellasSparklyBaubles · 01/01/2010 19:32

Well, I had a JRT from a pup who never looked at my chooks for 5 years. Then one day... ...one less hen!

He was a pretty unique dog, in many ways

A properly assessed rescue dog would be your best bet with cats & chooks.

Wastwinsetandpearls · 01/01/2010 19:35

We were just discussing the dog and chickens over dinner. Perhaps if he had been with chickens from a puppy he may be ok. So perhaps it is something for the future

JInglesBells · 01/01/2010 19:43

I've got a cocker spaniel (show not working stock).. she'd be good. Smallish, lazy, friendly, loves all our animals, cats, chooks and hamsters.
Pretty whiffy though..

MitchyInge · 01/01/2010 20:15

twinset yours is a bit of a reluctant sexual deviant with the cats?

mine is working stock but doesn't work in traditional sense, tho has had some relevant training - he's a bit more neurotic than the average spaniel, not gun shy but eye shy

Wastwinsetandpearls · 01/01/2010 20:25

He has always been a sexual deviant, he used to shag my dd toy horse on the dining table in front of our front window much to our neighbours amusement.

I described it once on here, I will look for it.

Wastwinsetandpearls · 01/01/2010 20:27

twinsetandpearls Sat 01-Nov-08 15:04:12
Our springer hasn;t been done, he is about 8, dp just won;t do it and it is his dog.

He is a lovely termperament and we have been asked repeatedly about breeding from him as he is an excellent pedigree but have always said no. I think do would like to breed from him tbh, we would not show him as he is a family dog and despite being very handsome he does look a bit rough and ready.

He wasa nightmare between about 2 and 4ish, humped everything. Infact he loved dd toy horse which was about his size as if pressure was applied in the correct place it would neigh which I think the dog took as a compliment. he used to shag it on the dining table in front of the window in our dining room. Sometimes I would be working in my study upstairs and I could see people outside looking at out house in shock/ amusement I would know the dog was at it again and sure enough that neigh would follow. I can remember once dd dragging the said horse into the room where I was entertaining guests and she annouced "Mummy the horse smells of spunk again"

During this phase I repeatdly nagged do to get him done, especicially as his feelings of lust used to lead him to run away and I was always concerned he would get hit by a car or taken.

He is now about 8 and is fine, much more interested in sticks than shagging.

My cats have all been done though as they are mine so I make the decision.

I think that made it into a mumsnet guide, not sure what the category was!

TheArsenicCupCake · 01/01/2010 20:28

I have a sprocker.. from a working parents rather han show. she is ace. follows me about happily all day ( work from home) happy to be left for 5 hours as long as she has interesting stuffed kongs left about. Although this isn't everyday.. but will happily get left while I food shop or do school run.. runs for about 2 hours a day. happily travels in car, happy and doesn't bother the chickens, tho that was after being told firmly by me to not try and 'flush' them..and the helping peck from the cock

Brilliant with my 3 dc's aged 6-14 and their friends.
she's been known to bring me poorly / hurt/ or baby birds.. or come get me and take me to them.. which I guess is nice

and will fetch me if she hears on of the dc's crying or argueing when I don't ( ie if they are in the field and i'm in the kitchen. will also let me know when dh is 5 mins from walking in the door. doesn't bark even at the posty.. but will let a warning growl if it's dark and dh isn't about and she hears something.