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 had advice on this and was told that a Border Terrier is great with kids. A bit on the scruffy pedigree end but a good choice. I have recently met people in the parks walking them and asked them, they reckon they are brilliant family dogs to keep,.

I've got the most wonderful rescued mix - we were told whippet cross - but possibly more like about 1/16th greyhound - possibly a bit of alsatian (mainly colouring) and labrador, goodness knows what else.

We could not have had a better dog for ds to grow up with - she is so careful with him, although now starting to play tug games (she wouldn't do before, just let him take her toy).

We had her for 4 yrs pre ds - and when we got her she was on the list as 'needing an experienced owner' - you wouldn't have thought it if you see her now.

But I do know some nice borders (although they seem to be escape artists and not particularly well behaved, but that might just be the ones I know); a friend has a chocolate lab - certainly at least as cleaver has her previous black lab, but not an easy choice by any means; have had two collie x s in the past - avoid like the plague - absolutely fantastic dogs, but not suitable to be around young children, and pure collies definitely on the neurotic side of the dog population. When we have to get a replacement dog I think that we'll go for a lurcher (preferably rough coated) - hopefully smaller than a greyhound, bigger than a whippet, great to run around with....

Our friend has just got a blue whippet puppy. They most gorgeous thing you have ever seen.

DH grew up with a labrador so that is the ONLY dog he will consider.

Me - I like everything I've heard/seen/read about whippets. Not too big (small house), lovely temperament, no massive demands for long walks, good with small DCs, no excessive moulting and no genetic health issues. Perfect pet! Highly unlikely to happen for us though

Bleugh, LBC - bleugh!

Fetid things smell so much worse when partially digested and regurgitated!

Ah, she's only 7 months old! That explains alot. I remember phoning my breeder in tears when my Vizsla was that age, feeling like an utter failure on the verge of a nervous breakdown! Dogs go through their own versions of the terrible twos and stroppy adolescence just like us, and they do come out the other side eventually. Though I once said to the owner of an English Setter (another neurotic loon-dog) that I was waiting for my two year old (dog) to finally calm down. He said 'Well don't hold your breath, we were still saying that about ours until he died aged 12!'

Having said that, I do find very calm ploddy dogs a bit boring.

I would third the border terrier suggestion and I don't have one (so not too biased). I have a PBGV, but they are hairy so they don't fit with what you want. I meet a few border terriers on my walks and they seem to be great with kids, other dogs and fairly obedient. A Westie would be good too as some people keep their hair well trimmed and they are lovely. Good luck with whatever you go for.

Argh - I now really really want a whippet.

I mentioned my Border earlier bur forgot to say Border Terrier, not Collie.

He has been so so funny and sweet in the six years we've had him. A saint with the kids, acting Hoover under the highchair (!), charms everyone he meets, including the sworn dog haters . Of all the dogs I've had he has felt the most like a member if the family, and thinks he's a big dog too!

Downsides - they scavenge in the park for food once neutuered, some chase wildlife, and cats, unneutered they can have a row in the park with other dogs, especially if on the lead and pulled away. Although that's true of many breeds. If led on by another dog (in our case my parents g.pointer) they can turn yappy at people posting letters or ringing the doorbell although many don't.

Two sayings about BT's I've found to be true: they will rarely start a fight, but rarely back down from the challenge.. And that they're the most social terrier when it comes to people, other dogs and most importantly children.

Got to put a picture of my handsome little chap on my profile now!

Put a piccy of our poodle on my profile - he is sooo lovely, although I appreciate I am somewhat biased

Beagle

We have Jeremy (beagle) and he is just the best he is 17 months old we got him at 11 weeks and he walks to school with us and he is happy he is fab with the kids he will let them lie on him poke him etc and he doesnt bother
He doesnt bark when people knock at the door actually he doesnt bark
we can leave him in while were at work and he doesnt do anything he has the run of the house other than the bedrooms as we dont allow him on beds and he doesnt go on the sofa he has a chair that he is allowed on

the only thing is he can pull on the lead and if we let him off you need to be alone as he will go off with another dog he adores other dogs shame my mums jrt doesnt really like him
o and he isnt too keen on being in the car and hates fireworks other than that i cant fault him

good luck deciding

Either a lab or,if you are stuck for space a Cavalier King Charles[wonderful temperament]
Having said that we had a Cairn when my dc were small and he was amazing.He loved to play and was very gentle indeed.He was a bit naughty about coming back off the lead but everything else about him was perfect[much in demand as goalie-he could head any ball!!]When he died aged 17 he was mourned as one of the family.I'd love to think of another family enjoying a dog as much as we enjoyed Oscar.Later we also had a labrador[Maisie]who was also very sweet but less interactive with the children.

I'm sure someone's raised it already but I'm sure you've thought long and hard about the possibility of the dog being home alone all day some days but some dogs especially puppies need company or they will get lonely and get up to all sorts of mischief whilst you're out.

My vote's with the labrador I'm afraid. We got an 18 month old rescue labrador 8 years ago. At the time, both DH and I worked full time so he (the dog, not DH)was home alone. He's the softest, sweetest dog and is excellent around DD.

An older rescue dog where the rescue shelter can tell you about the dog's temperament and suitability around children may be best (I know this isn't always possible though).

A border terrier definitely wouldn't like being at home alone, but mine coped well with being dogsat by friends when I worked, and made himself very much at home!

Four hours alone is your max really.

For all those wanting whippets... wishingchaiur I'm talking to you my mum currently has four puppies for sale... [cackles evily]. Oh, she is a KC accredited breeder BTW, very responsible just so people don't think we run a puppy farm LOL.

Oh and IME they do chase small furry things but not cats - ours were all raised with cats and we've never had a problem. In fact my older one was raised with such a mean old cat that she is frankly terrified of cats and will creep round them with her eyes out and her ears flat back if she sees one

Cute pics on my profile if anyone wants to see. and AHHHHHH to scottishboris pics also.

Loving all the poochy profile pics!

ScaredofCows - your poodle looks eactly lked one that peed in my wellies when I was 7!! I was holding a branc and he cocked his leg on it..

Obviously no-one likes my boy's profile pics then...

We have a cocker/poodle cross. He is still a pup, so not sure how he will turn out, but he is adorable (see profile).

He does moult, but experienced dog owners say that his moulting is less than average. I try to vacuum the house every few days now, and am far less of a slattern now than I was before he arrived.

He is extremely needy, and would not suit living with people who are out at work. He kicks up quite a fuss if we lock him in the kitchen when the children are in the bath. He loves nothing more than to curl on a lap after a hard day's chewing the furniture.

I'm loving looking at everyone's dogs on their profiles.

Lotster I loved your profile pics!

lobster just been and admired your border terrier, love the pirate look, so appropriate! I do like Borders, my friend had one, he was a super chap.

Ahh fanks!

OMG Patch is ridiculously cute! So he's a Cockerpoo? Best name ever, heh heh.

Thanks South he is a little gentleman. (when he's not a food snaffling, plundering little pirate!)

Looking through the photos I was just thinking how much attention and pampering he gets now compared to before the children came along; am going to go and give him a chew right now!

Lotster I promise he is far too well behaved to contemplate such a misdemeanor - made me laugh though!

I tend to just say cocker cross because cockapoo is just too

Be proud Mad - it's better than Yorkie-poo, Pom-poo and Peke-a-poo!!

OP any more leanings yet?

Just found this:

Hybrids from poodles of varying sizes include: Schnoodle = Schnauzer + Poodle

Cockapoo = Cocker Spaniel + Poodle

Chi-Poo = Chihuahua + Poodle

Doodleman Pinscher = Doberman + Poodle

English Boodle = English Bulldog + Poodle

Eskapoo = American Eskimo Dog + Poodle

Lhasapoo = Lhasa Apso + Poodle

Pekepoo = Pekingese + Poodle

Pomapoo = Pomeranian + Poodle

Pugapoo = Pug + Poodle

Saint Berdoodle = Saint Bernard + Poodle

Schnoodle = Schnauzer + Poodle

Scoodle = Scottish Terrier + Poodle

Weimardoodle = Weimaraner + Poodle

Am ROFLing at Doodleman Pinscher - not so butch now eh?