Whats the best dog for us? So many criteria!

[timmygeorgeannedickjulien]

Don't wish to ramble on, so as brief as poss, here's our set of criteria:
*we have a small house and garden
*I am based at home with 2 children, both under 8
*The kids want a dog they can play with, throw a ball for etc, but also one they can cuddle

• I want a dog that isn't going to require stupid amounts of exercise, x2 30 min walks per day would suit, with much longer walks at the w/end *my DH wants a 'manly' dog, whatever the hell that means *I would prefer a medium sized dog, no bigger *I want a dog that can be trained for obedience relatively easily, I cant have one that's going to pull me around on the lead trying to chase all the neighbourhood cats *we all love dogs, I just want to choose the right one, its our first family dog, although Ive grown up with lots of rescue dogs

Which dog?!

.......and I haven't specified dog or bitch, leaving it to fate!

A whippet lab is not a Lurcher, it's just so wrong, why cross an elegant whippet with a lump of a Lab. I have both and to cross them would be criminal.

Technically, a whippet x lab is a lurcher. A lurcher is a sighthound (usually, but not always a greyhound) crossed with any working breed oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/lurcher, usually sighthound/terrier crosses are also classed as lurchers. Even where the sighthound is only a grandparent, I believe that technically they are still n classed as lurchers.

We know a whippet x lab lurcher near us. Whippy hates it, but it just looks like a very slender lab.

Oh, shame about Cinders, but very exciting that you've got the ball rolling all the same.

Good luck.

One of my favourite ever dogs was a Whippet x Lab. He was awesome and one of the most sociable, easy going dogs I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.

Thanks moosemama:)

Sorry Im not really in the know with the whole lurcher thing and which cross would be best etc, but before my mum had greyhounds, she had a greyhoundxlab and he was one of the nicest temperament dogs Ive met. That's all I was thinking really.

What whippet crosses would you all recommend then? I like the idea of whippet/collie, but think its going to be too full on.

As someone whose literally recently inherited a whippet (I'm no whippet fan either) they certainly are very gentle and sweet, they don't require much exercise and and they fold up very small. Everyone comments on her and even my non doggy DH likes her.
But IME and I've known this whippet all its life they don't generally retrieve a ball, they have a significant weakness for small furry things e.g. rabbits/squirrels but also cats this sweet looking "I wouldn't hurt a flee" whippet has actually many moons ago killed a cat although now a pensioner is living with a cat and not showing any interest in it at all. I know Im gong to be slammed here but for me they are just not like gun dogs (which we've got lots of experience of) or other in your face type dogs they are significantly more boring discrete which you might like. Other things I've discovered which you might like to know they are exceedingly healthy lowish shed' nothing very significant and very clean mud just seems to fall off, but they are often fussy eaters (when it comes to dog food) I've read a lot around this as she wouldn't eat for me for weeks and this is not uncommon and I find it slightly irritating but on the other hand terrible thief's when it comes to human food she can effortlessly jump on the kitchen work tops
They have to wear a coat in the winter and they do need their claws clipped on a regular basis more than most other breeds.
Not for me I have to say but very popular with everyone I meet and certainly very pretty and elegant.

Thanks schoolnurse:) I think that a whippet is perfect for me and DH, but yes I realise it wont retrieve etc, which is what the kids want specifically. This is why Im aiming for a cross & not going for a pure breed whippet. I think even if we get a dog that wont retrieve, its not the end of the world if its generally playful and the kids can run about and have fun with it.

Oh this dog thing is such a minefield, but at the end of the day, though we do have certain requirements, I think we will all just love the dog we end up with.............that's what Im hoping!

If you get a whippet x it may retrieve. Lurcherboy is a brilliant retriever, I assume because of the collie he has in him, despite him only being 1/4 collie. He even throws toys for himself to chase!

Even if it doesn't there's plenty of other fun things to do with a super fast dog eg agility.

A Stafford fits all of your criteria. And they are very easy to train. But the main point is that they are brilliant with children. As recommended by the kennel club.

Pure whippets do retrieve, how do you think they bring rabbits back when working? In twenty odd years I have never come across any lurchermen who would entertain the thought of a whippet/ lab. A whippet/ collie would make a brilliant pet, we had ours for 16 years, my DCs grew up with her, she was the calmest, easy going girl you could wish to meet. Good luck with your search OP. there are so many dogs needing homes I'm sure your perfect match will find you soon.

Try this for fun!

What dog should I get?

My purebred whippy retrieves! Is her favourite game at the moment.

The only thing that would worry me with a whippet x lab would be the liklihood of ending up with a terrible theif lol. The size and intelligence of a lab combined with the human food obsessed whippet with a crafty side could potentially result in something with the will and determination and the necessary skill set to raid your fridge, your bin and even your cupboard on a regular basis pmsl.

Nice if you can offer a rescue dog a home though. We looked for ages but the only whippets in rescue at that time were a little older than we wanted or not used to children.

It's something I have promised I will do when the time is right for us.

There's nothing like having a whippet snuggled up around your neck.

I have two dogs, a cocker/springer cross who is wonderful with the DC, lots of fun but also hard work, and a F1b cockapoo (cockapoo dam x miniature poodle sire). The cockapoo is a darling. A real character, playful, intelligent, happy to walk for ages or equally as content with a trot around the block. He isn't barky or destructive and is generally a dream. He is much more miniature poodle than cocker spaniel in both looks and temperament. I will never have another spaniel (my nerves are shredded ), but I would have a miniature poodle in a heart beat.

I cuddle my lurcher pup and he's a bag of bones at the moment (rescue with digestive issues). He schnuzzles his little head under my chin when I cuddle him and it's ridiculously cute.

You can definitely cuddle our whippet. He comes and buries his head into your lap, then he starts winding himself round your legs like a cat, in fact, we think he is a large cat in disguise!

By far the best looking whippet cross is a whippet x beddlington terrier but they are very popular so can be hard to get hold off. In the north of England they are also commonly stolen so you cant go leaving it tied p outside a shop or in your back garden.

I grew up with a whippet x collie who was actually very placid and calm but exceptionally intelligent. Our pure bred whippets could be a bit single minded when out on walks and therefore difficult to recall if on the hunt for squirrels. The collie whippet was too slow for squirrels though which meant he was great at recall.

My mother currently has a greyhound/ saluki who is gorgeous but thick as mince. If I could clone her I would because she is the perfect dog - solar powered, soft but hilarious (she surfs on the back door matt!).

Thanks everyone:)

Magrat, I was just saying today that I thought Pip must have some cat in him - as he was winding himself in and out of Lurcherboy's legs and winding his tail around them behind him!

Sunny, your Mum's dog sounds gorgeous.

Yours does the same with the tail too? So does Woody! I've never seen a dog do that before. We've decided he hates cats so much because he is afraid we will see the family resemblance. I'm sure he'd purr if he thought he could get away with it!

I'm glad to hear your boy does it too. I keep saying Pip looks like he has a lot of whippet in him to me and being told he's going to be much bigger than a whippet, but the photos are really deceptive. In fact, just looking at him through the viewfinder of the camera seems to suddenly make him appear to grow several inches.

He has a really whippety tail, really thin without a scrap of feathering and almost prehensile in the way he curls it round your legs.