A good Vicarage dog, please

[marmiteandhoney]

I'm after some advice if that's ok.

Basically, we're moving into a vicarage this summer. We're thinking of getting a dog once we're settled, partly because our older son could really do with a friend to run around and play chase with, and partly because the diocese recommend that you get a dog if you can for security reasons.

My husband and I had a dog yonks ago before we had children. We rehomed her for a friend of my mum. She was a lovely old mongrel lady, and lasted two years before we had to have her PTS.

No idea what kind of dog we should be looking for. Am more than happy to rehome a dog from a rescue place as long as it was definitely suitable (and as long as we were suitable for it, too).

Here's a Doggy List to help you advise me:

1. We have four children who will be aged 9, 7, 5 and 3. They're pretty calm, good kids, but would want a dog who'd be happy to play with them, and not nippy.
2. We have a cat. I don't want it eaten.
3. We have chickens. I don't want them eaten, either.
4. Someone would be at home all the time. At the moment I work p/t, but will stop for a bit to settle us in when we move. And my husband works from home a lot of the time, and the dog would be able to go with him when he was out and about, most of the time.
5. The dog would not need to go to kennels when we're on holiday, as we are not able to leave a vicarage empty- we have to get in housesitters.
6. Lots of people call at the door. Dog needs to be ok with strangers.
7. Sometimes dodgy people call at the door. Dog needs to lurk as necessary.
8. I'd rather it didn't shed too much or be too smelly, so I don't have to spend my whole life hoovering before meetings.

Does such a dog exist? What would you recommend?

Am more than happy to commit to training a puppy, if that makes the not-eating-cats-and-chickens thing easier. Will be at home, after all. And the cat was a (very young rescue) kitten last year, so we're not completely out of practice.
Will there be problems with rescue centres as the children are still relatively young?
Should I leave contacting them until we're at a point when we can realistically home a dog/puppy, or should I contact them earlier so they know us and our needs in good time?
What rescues would you recommend? (We're in NE London)

Thanks!

most of the oints you make are down to training rather than individual breed. I have chickens, cats and dogs so it is certainly doable, Poodles would be best for not shedding, I am sure there are loads of breeds that dont shed but I think most of them are little breeds which would be no good if you want it to put off potential baddies. I think it is important for a dog to be freindly so not neccesarily a guard dog, but it is the prescence of the dog which would put people off.
I have a cocker spaniel who barks a lot but i the friendliest thing ever and a border terrier who would not imtimdate a flea tbh (other dogs but not people).
I would leave contacting a rescue until you are ready, you could look at the many tears website to get some ideas of the sorts of dogs that are available.

We have a 5 and an 8 year old, and got our (now 9 months) pup from Many Tears. Well, to be more accurate, from MT via a foster home - which is the crucial bit, because then we had specific, honest information from someone whose home Pup had lived in

Look for a dog who is in foster with kids, cats, and chickens. There are usually many to choose from, sadly. And/or a pup who is in foster care with ditto. Then they will have been socialized from very early on...

It might take a while for a pup/young dog to get the lurking as necessary bit, though: our Mouse will happily bark at squirrels, but only sniffs curiously at strangers, or licks their hands - and never, ever barks at the doorbell

I too was a rescue-dog owner, pre-kids - take it from me, training the kids is FAR harder than training the dog

A Staffie would be a good dog for you. They get on well with people, love children and are friendly and not over attached to their families - so they do miss you but don't pine if you go away. Some are cat and chicken friendly.TBH they are not good guard dogs, but most people think they are! They love being cuddled and hugged and would be great with any weepy parishioners who visit you. We got ours from Many Tears and he is lovely!

Can recommend a Standard Poodle as a good family dog, non-shedding and a fantastic guard dog (no, really!) They are quite big, very strong, like a good walk and can also be very lazy (well, in our case!)

My mum and dad's dog was just the best, trained very well, quite head strong but definitely knew his place in the family.

A builder once made the mistake of laughing at him (poodle = poncey?) and went to stroke him, Stan had none of it - obviously didn't like him, and growled. Builder backed away sheepishly

With my DD (who Stan was with from the day she was brought home) they were the best of friends and he was very protective.

He also loved my cat but hated any cat that dared walk in his garden

I can also recommend labs - they are fab family dogs but do shed a lot.

Good luck.

oh yes, Stan was PTS last summer - has left a massive hole in our lives :(

he was lots of fun though and many happy memories!

Wow- thanks. Lots to think about.

Husband not keen on a staffie for some reason (I think he thinks they're scary despite what I say), but he might be persuadable if one fell in love with him at a dog rescue place. That's how we got our dog before- she came to visit with her owner just before she moved into temporary accommodation, and pushed her way in to the bathroom where he was. They fell in love with each other then! although he'd always been adamant he didn't like dogs.

Mention of a standard poodle has reminded me of a lovely poodle I was friends with as a child. We used to go swimming together. He was not a poncey poodle!

Staffies are lovely dogs and there are literally thousands waiting to be re-homed. they were bought as thug accessories and because they are lovely natured dogs and not at all 'hard' have been abandoned. The local 'hard' lads round here have moved into American pit bills now!

I would recommend a mongrel as well though, all of ours have the most wonderful nature and put up beautifully with the kids. Aged 1 and 6. My parents have a whippet and she is brilliant. Very calm and sweet and adores curling up and cuddling people, but also enjoys dashing around, greyhounds are very similar. I would suggest you buy another sofa for those breeds though.

My friend who is a vicar has a scruffy mongrel.

breaks my heart the way the Staffie breed has been treated in recent years, such truly lovely dogs - numpty "owners" (term used loosely) turning them into vicious dogs.

A couple of thoughts. Looking at this from a Christian perspective, there is something very appropriate about you taking on a rescue dog. There are umpteen Biblical parallels about seeing value in that which others regard as worthless, caring for the outsider, the abandoned and the concepts of justice and fairness.

I could also mention that a greyhound is the only dog mentioned in the Bible - you'll find them in Proverbs 30: 29-31 in KJV though more modern translations don't, which is a shame.

There be three things which do well, yea,
Which are comely in going;
A lion, which is strongest among beasts and
Turneth not away from any;
A greyhound;
A he-goat also.

Wouldn't suggest a lion or a he-goat, as they might frighten parishioners and try to eat the Bishop, but a greyhound is certainly "comely in going" and make wonderful gentle family pets. And you can get cat friendly ones.

Other than that, a nice gentle scruffy rescue mongrel from a reputable rescue which will ensure they are fully tested with cats, kids etc, neutered, vaccinated, chipped and wormed. As a general rule of thumb, a Heinz 57 won't be prone to some of the very expensive and troubling health issues that affect many pedigrees, but whatever dog you get, insurance is a must.

Irrespective of your own personal financial position, I would also say that a very expensive pedigree pup could be seen to be sending out unfortunate messages, at a time when many parishes and indeed parishioners themselves, struggle with finances. I realise this is probably straying into the realm of church politics but may be worth considering as part of the selection process. Other than that, of course the default advice would be to pray about it.

[giant round of applause]

Springers/spaniels are popular vicarage dogs here.. I know of 5 :)

was going to suggest a rescue greyhound
I really really want one ,but unfortunately am out the house too much atm

I wasn't very keen on Staffies until I found mine - when I read his story on the Many Tears site I cried for a full day and pleaded with DH to let us have him - the one breed of dog I said I could never take to! But if your DH really isn't keen on a Staffie a greyhound would be lovely - perhaps a black male as they find it hardest to get new homes? A lovely P.A.T dog used to visit the care centre where I work, he was called Murphy and he was SO beautiful.

Respect to scuttle

A beautiful retired black greyhound with perhaps a touch of white around the collar area?

Or a staffie - perferably one that sits on your feet to be stroked and has perfected a good lean.

I'd go for a medium sized- large cross breed that has been vet checked and cat and chicken checked, by a reputable rescue.

go lab

at Scuttle. We definitely don't want a bishop-eater. Our bishop is particularly great.

miacis- I've met many a vicarage dog/cat of precisely that description!

It's nice to hear that you can get cat-friendly greyhounds. I like snoozy dopey dogs.

I think I'll throw myself at the mercy of a rescue nearer the time, and hope that they know what they're doing and can sort me out .

Snoozy dopey lazy friendly - that would be a golden retriever then.

Go Scuttlebutter !

miacis you just described my big black grey to the detail! (Except the white darts up the back of his paws!)

He's gentle, affectionate and laid back with one and all, including small children. In fact, with absolutely everyone he's met. Although he'd probably power lean a burglar to death he does have a huge bark so he sounds fearsome.

He's not cat friendly at all but there are cat friendly greyhounds out there. Good luck. Your move sounds very exciting!

Labrador or retriever - I've trained mine not to chase the chickens or next door's cats, and they are fantastic with children.

Our vicar had a retriever and she was fantastic at comforting people in their hour of need .... used to plop herself down and rest her head in your lap if you were having a cry (the dog, that is, not the vicar!).

They do moult ALL THE TIME though.

Staffies are good with children (whatever the Daily Mail might say) but I'm not sure about compatibility with chickens ...??? And might they frighten old ladies just by their mere Staffie-ness, given all the bad press they've had?

I have a portugese water dog, she doesn't moult she loves children ( loves to play), is very friendly, big enough that she would make an intruder think twice but not huge she welcomes all visitors to our home, is very intelligent ( loves to be taught to do new things ) and just generally a great dog .

Forgot to say she looks like a labradoodle! She is curly coated but they also come in wavy coat and that doesn't moult either. I keep her clipped short is very practical but left natural her coat would grow long.

That's what barak obama has - the portuguese water dog.
If it's good enough for him, it should be good enough for the vicar!

oh missbetsy love the idea of death by power lean as opposed to death by gassing but we won't mention the grund F A R T S

a staff at our local pub has perfected her power leans - albeit a staff sized version. She tours every group in the pub, plonks herself down on your foot, looks up and demands a pat. Just sharing the lurve - a joy of a dog