go on then everyone ... what sort of dog is best?

[choufleur]

We're thinking about getting a dog (well puppy, want something DS (4 by the time we get a dog) can grow up with) in the spring/summer.

DH and I both work, although DH does shifts and when i'll be out all day dog will go to my parents (they have a springer spaniel).

I like spaniels, but they're a bit too bouncy for me and i'd rather a short hair dog. DH like collies, but they need far too much entertaining i think, so any suggestions for good breeds to get. We also have two cats and i don't want a little jappy dog.

I'm with Elastamum on the Labrador. Mine really doesn't like being on her own to the extent that we've just relaxed the strict no upstairs rule as it was making everyone miserable. She is lovely though. Highly sociable plus very bouncy which probably hasn't made her the easiest first dog but wouldn't swap her (the cats would though)

Have to say we also had the most wonderful whippet-not as great in character as our Dachsies but a lovely,even tempered and docile dog....

Speaking of daftly-named crossbreeds, I saw a curious-looking little dog in the park a while back and asked the elderly owner what breed he was. She replied "He's a Jack-Shit".

But seriously, Boston Terriers are the best

We have a mini labradoodle too - though officially she is a petit doodle as she has a quarter spaniel in there. She is fabulous and has never shed a hair. She needs lots of
walks which came as a suprise to us and she loves to swim. She was also returned to the breeder by someone who could not cope. Ours is quite independent but has to be close to the action.

Border terrier. Can't go wrong with one of them.

Labrador.
Have one, and a collie also, wouldn't recommend the collie as a pet, he needs more than that, craves attentions and loves to be busy. labs are more plodders.

Funny how they are all so different. Mine needs less exercise than I was expecting and is fine with one walk a day of 5 mins per month, so she's currently on 35 mins and that does the job nicely for now and she can cope with the occasionsl duvet day which is handy if you're I'll. She is something like an eighth bearded collie, looks like a fair few of the chocolate F1 scruffy labradoodles but with a white bib and socks.

I saw two lovely long haired Dachsunds in the car park at the Vets today, haven't seen any for ages. Unfortunately they took one look at my do (who was behaving) and got snappy.

for bags of personality I recommend a Border to anyone!
But the first question I think you need to ask yourself is how much training are you really prepared to do, and top up when necessary? and if they don't fit in with how you predict, can you/will you adapt to them? Different breeds gave different intelligence and strengths, and some require lots if training (e.g. Terriers who also need a re-train here and there when they work out a way round things Just one example In my case my Border sussed I wasn't able to run after him anymore if he saw bread being thrown to ducks in the distance and would hare off to scoff it, when usually he wouldn't dare!) - and my SIL recently got a labradoodle who is sweet but she cannot bring herself to discipline him and he jumps up at everyone and knocks my children to the floor..

Some breeds are really bad for separation anxiety, the Vizla is a classic who can howl non-stop all day when left behind.. GP's can be similar, and get unsettled at toing and froing- two of my dads pointers starved themselves in kennels during a holiday.

Never had a golden lab or retriever myself, but ones I have known seem to be lively family pets. My pooch has been attacked by a few black labs tho, and been bitten myself by a choccie- they're beautiful but some aren't as mentally predictable as goldies IMO.

There's some good quizzes that match you to breeds, which is how I chose my border, I was matched with him or a mini Schnauzer. I'll find one and post back.

Black Lab

Loves everybody and everything

Bright, quick on the uptake, eager to please

Hardly ever barks and then only when severely bamboozled (eg by visiting puppy)

Calm - happy to be left for up to four hours in day, never wakes us at night

She's spayed but has stayed slim and trim on two walks a day (40 min and 20 min typically now she's adult)

She sheds but it's easy to manage and she loves being brushed

Downside - she was explosively excitable for the first few months and it was hard work getting her to stop tugging on the lead and jumping up. Just in case you think it's all too good to be true! But it was only a phase

I used to walk a lot of dogs and my favourite family dog breeds were Westies, Norfolk Terriers and love Cairn terriers for their characters. They are all quite short haired and are fun with children, not nervous and yappy.
I also used to love the pointer I walked as well, I didn't see him with kids, so not sure about that. He was a bugger to get back though, when he was released from his lead.
Probably all sound a bit yappy, but they really aren't.
For good health I would say go for a mixed breed, they tend to live longer and more healthily than a pure bred animal, in my experience.

After a fair bit of research I decided that I'd like a Border Collie / Black Lab cross. I have a number of friends with them and they are all good looking, energetic and intelligent (the dogs that is, can't really vouch for the friends!). Plus I grew up with a Collie and I think they are very beautiful. However when we were ready for a puppy there were none around, and we found out that the only local shelter homes puppies in seconds. I almost went for a Springer/Collie cross (I also really like Spaniels, but didn't want a pure breed), but it had had it's tail docked and I just couldn't face it (it just seemed sch a mutilation to me).

So we now have a half American Water Spaniel half who knows what pup . He is currently short coated and fairly small, but we have no idea what he's going to grow up into, which is quite fun. He looks mostly like a yellow lab, but a bit more interesting.

Think I've managed to put a picture of him on my profile.

We got a goldie partly because they're famous for being non-aggressive, intelligent and easy to train. He's still little and massively bouncy, so I can't completely report yet on how it's going, but I knew I wanted a well-trained dog, and wasn't completely sure how much time and energy I'd devote if results were slow. So far he's very responsive to training, so I'm optimistic. He's also seriously beautiful. The shedding's no big deal for us as we don't have carpets and it sweeps up. I can't wear black at all now though, but I'm pleased about that.

I've yet to meet a Goldie that didn't have a great personality, but they can be very energetic! Not a bad thing in my book. My mother's last dog was very boring to take on walks, just pottered about really. I like dogs to be full of life!

We have Basset Hounds and they are FAB

Gentle tolerant and a member of the family!

Oh and we had cats and the dogs were fine with them.

Must just add though, no breed of dog has a cast iron temperament, and it will only ever be as good as its breeder. I took weeks researching which breed I wanted, then having decided on one, I took even longer choosing which breeder to go to. I eventually plumped for the breeder who gave me the hardest time and made me jump through the most hoops in order to be judged good enough to take one of her dogs. We drove from Essex to Wales because she insisted on meeting us first before she would commit to us, and I spent many hours, (yes, hours!!!!) on the phone to her before that. Any breeder who doesn't want to ask YOU as many questions as you ask THEM should be given a wide berth. They won't be taking care to breed healthy happy dogs with good temperaments. As long as it looks like it should and they get the money in their hands, they don't care.

I've got a 7 month old DD and a 3 year old Yellow Labrador. The lab has been excellent with DD since we brought her home from the hospital. DD is now at the stage where she is pulling the dog's ears, whiskers, fingers in her eyes etc etc and the dog just takes it. Of course now DD is trying out finger-food, the dog is her best friend!

The other thing that we found amazing with the dog as she'd NEVER been around children until we had our DD, is that she walks alongside the pram without any pulling and even waits patiently while we go up and down the kerbs with the pram.

HOWEVER, she is a NIGHTMARE where shedding fur is concerned... We have to sweep our lounge two or three times a day and it drives us around the bend, especially as we've just changed our lounge floor to dark wood!!! Aaaaaaaggggghhhhhh!!

So if you're really put off by the fur, labs may not be for you. Labradoodles, however, may be a better bet as they don't moult (apparently ).

HTH

I'd agree that Border Collies are very much for special cases only - I think they can be charming in the right circumstances, but those are rare.

My colleague says to be very wary of getting any of the Spitz family (this is what she has), as they are bred to be working dogs and need a lot of things to do, or they will run rings round you and appear to be very badly behaved.

labradoodles do moult.

that is to say, you can't predict whether they will or not...so if you need a non moulting dog, the doodle is not for you...

Actually - I must add to my vote for labs that the do need alot of exercise - which is great for me - but they def need more than one walk a day (well mine does - but he is working bred).

I like the whippet suggestions - but have always wondered if they do that running off after small furry things that other sight hounds tend to do - that is what puts me off? maybe am wrong - can whippet owners let me know

Border Terrier - small dog with a big attitude, doesn't moult, seems to self clean, bags of personality, great with kids, very clever and adaptable- see our dog here on flickr (sad I know, I now have a DS so have less time....)

www.flickr.com/photos/kingtitchybob/page3/

DawnAS - please don't let your dd do that to the dog. Even the most well-natured dog can snap, and the dog ends up being put to sleep.