which breed

[TheHumancatapult]

am considering getting a puppy .Have 4dc 19 down to 8 .

I did look at dogs for disabled ( am a wheelchair user) but they have very long waiting lists and told i would probably be considered to able to qualify

so considering a puppy as they have schemes where can help you teach and your dog qualify s.But its more a family pet im looking for anything else be a bonus

I am very active and easily when out can do 5/6 miles a day in my powerchair sometimes more so walking not a problem .i am also home all day to . obviously would not be walking a young puppy that long .But it rules out small dogs with the wheel issue

I do like Labs had one as grew up and realize they can be rather bouncy and nuts as a pup to.what other breeds would people recommend

I've got a cocker spaniel - medium sized, doesn't moult massively, happy walking about 3 miles a day. Lovely family dog.

ty

hmm i can easily do three miles a day that is a trip to town and back . love being out .wondering if I be to active for one

.From what i seen they are what i would call a small dog so if could train as own assistance dog there actually be to small for things I am thinking of .9 teach open doors , pick things i dropped and pass to me etc

I don't think the excercise you are talking about means you cannot consider a small dog. My terrier sometimes lays down once he senses we are heading home after 3 or 4 miles in protest. I honestly think he would go and go if allowed. I expect many working breeds are similar.

Not sure how suited to your other tasks he'd be. On the one hand he does like to have his mind occupied and loves performing to a clicker. But on the other hand it is very much on his terms and if he can't be bothered you have no chance.

I wouldn't rule out small dogs but all puppies can be bouncy. I have written on here before abput my bouncy terrier causing a lab puppy (who was very calm) to climb into a holdall to escape his wayward ways. I think it goes with puppyhood, whatever the breed.

What about a springer too? They are bigger than cockers, working dogs and more trainable than nutty things like mine

I know someone that has a lurcher very successfully with her wheelchair - and someone else is finding her lurcher alerts her when she's likely to have a seisure.... Why a puppy out of interest?

Lurchers are great

My staffy is bouncy still, at 16 months, but utterly devoted to me. He follows me everywhere, very easy to train. No barking (bliss) except when he's utterly excited i.e. I've come home after being out 3 minutes...

mistle

Have considered older dog but problem I do find when out is dogs either are scared of my chair and cower away or they growl at it or they want to play and chase.

where a puppy will seem normal as such .also would like to teach them to do specific tasks

my ideal would be a dog from dogs for disabled, older and trained but been told am to able/active

im not worried about bouncy as such as dc now older so less likely to be bowled over iykwim

Have you thought about talking carefully to some of the smaller rescues? They might be able to recommend particular dogs that might meet your needs closely - I'm suggesting a smaller one as they can sometimes get to know their dogs a bit better and might be willing to take your particular requirements more into consideration...

If you just want something medium to large and trainable, there's loads of breeds that are suitable.

Golden retrievers are supposed to be a bit less bouncy than labs - though of course most puppies are going to be a bit bouncy, lol and a lab would do fine I'd have thought. German shepherd, collie, poodle?

If you're talking about walking that far and them having a job to do you don't need to worry about any of the working breeds needing too much as the tasks themselves would do it, if they're busy all day they'll thrive on it.

Mistle

I have talked to a few and reactions varied from well we need someone who be responsible for walking /training the dog.Apparently being able mange a house and 4dc on my own not count

To some that are geinune intrested and talked who advised that i may be better with getting a puppy as needs /training is specific to me

for example there be no walking to heelIf anything they need walk slightly in front of me so i can see where paws are in relation to wheels

We have a lady where I live who "walks" her dog from her electric wheelchair/mobility scooter. Its a whippet they don't do it for me but the dog but she says its the best dog she's ever owned and apparently she's has a few. She says she find they dont pull they are happy to miss a walk just go round the block for a pee, they frequently dont like mud or need to be in water which I suspect is a bonus if your in a wheelchair! Its very adept at keeping away from the wheels without pulling her arms out of her sockets.
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I think you might enjoy a German Spitz, or similar. They are very bright dogs, respond really well to positive training and are often used as assistance dogs.

ty all for your advice

happy .

im often found driving through woods etc so mud ok right now my chair sporting a mud sprayed look my powerchair is a off road type

whippet be to small for type things i want but shall now look into the other breed a bit more thank you

My friend breeds Labs and several have gone to be assistance dogs for disabled people, autistic children and, in one case, a blind lady who needed a guide dog but GDBA couldn't help her. There are very good reasons that they're used so prolifically as assistance dogs...trainable, generally of good temperament and suitable for most family situations and low maintenance.

If you are interested in a lab,goldie,doodle,GSD size dog, why don't you contact Guide dogs. They have a number of dogs who have been bred for temperament etc and then fail their training at some stage and are rehomed as pets. You'd be giving a dog a much needed good home, they would have done a lot of groundwork for you and a GDBA 'failure' is probably just not quite steady enough to be safe for a blond person but could be a great assistance go for someone a bit more able. Worth a shot?

A blind person. I'm sure a blonde would cope fine!

!

Whatever dog you go for, please get a rescue.

Oh the whole puppy or rescue thing btw...it isn't an either or situation at all, rescues often have puppies available.

Sorry to disagree but if you want to train a dog as a (at least part time) assistance dog you need to really research the blood lines and chose the most suited puppy in the litter. You need a breeder who breeds for the kind of temperament you want. While there are many puppies at rescues the vast majority will be accidental litters with little knowledge of the temperament of both parents or their suitability for the job OP wants her dog for.

Ive a shetland sheep dog.beautiful,gentle,patient,extremely intelligent and very very trainable.gets on with everything.