Thinking about getting a dog....

[Moshlingmummy]

We are thinking about getting a going the next year or so and was looking for some advice on breeds.

We have two young dc (4 and 6) both will be in full Time school by September, so thinking about getting a puppy after that. I am a sahm so will be at home most of the time, and can do training etc. We have a huge garden too.

I have never had a dog before, but dh always had them growing up... In truth I was always very scared of dogs but since having dc have made a huge effort to get over this. My main fear will not be our dog, but of meeting other dogs out on walks.

Breeds wise I actually like pugs, but dh says they are not fun dogs or the kids. I also like king Charles cavaliers and cockapoos.... Dh wants a retriever.

My other concern is about being tied to a dog, we have some friends that can never do anything because of leaving the dog, but others that seemingly ind it ok. So does this depend on the dog, the breed or the owner?

Someone mentioned yorkies. My friend has two and they are crazy. They are much, much louder than my two staffies and they bite a lot. My DS is petrified of them!

If you visit one of the larger rescue centres and tell them your situation they will suggest which of their dogs (if any) would be suitable.

Ooh Eeyore I have never met yorkies like that.

Mine are the most pathetic soft mollicodled (sp) boys you could ever meet. I often have one at each side of me.

DS walks them on his own too and they behave well for him.

They only bark at next doors cat and if someone knocks on the window instead of the front door. (One DS's "friends" does this annoying little shit boy )

We rescued a lurcher and a greyhound when my children were 6 months old, 3, 4,4 and 5. If you go to the breed specific or smaller rescues they are more likely to rehome with young children. We also now foster greyhounds. Puppies are hard work, I much prefer older dogs (mine were 2 and 4 when we rescued them) and they are fully assessed so you know a lot about the dog before you get them. To say that dogs from rescues are likely to be a risk is ridiculous, most dogs are in rescue due to their owners change of circumstances, other commitments, etc a rescue dog or puppy is no more of a risk then a puppy you would get from a breeder.

"Rightly or wrongly I was nervous of getting an older dog which may have a difficult nature due to poor training or bad treatment prior to be sent to the rescue centre. "

This is a reasonable concern, you're right not to want a dog like that in your situation. However there are plenty of dogs in rescue which have had good training and lived happily as family dogs in their previous homes. In my view this sort of dog is the ideal choice (i.e. better than buying a puppy) for a less experienced owner or a family with small children.

My younger dog is one of these, he was really a very easy dog to take on as he was clean in the house, used to walking on the lead, had his basic training already done, was well-socialised with people and dogs, and used to living with small children so knew how to be gentle with them, not spooked by their noise/running around etc. My older one is a different story, he was rescued as an RSPCA cruelty case and has a lot of issues due to his past. 'Rescue' covers a wide variety of different situations.

What I'm trying to say is don't be put off rescue dogs in general, but do choose carefully, and go to a reputable rescue not your local pound!