new pup for lazy owner

[cjel]

I've been separated for 3 years and had to give up my bull mastiff puppy(I've only ever had bull mastiffs) when we split. I have my own home now and am thinking I'd like to get a dog. I don't want another mastiff but can't bear little dogs. I'd like a chunky one that I can manage myself but also that hardly need exercise!!
Any ideas?

I suggest you get yourself a sweet-non-time-consuming-cuddly-toy-come-dog as suggested by mousous and leave responsible dog ownership to the rest of us

If you are lazy don't get a dog. It's unfair to do that. All dogs need exercise.

If you work full time then you are giving you dog far less of your time than I would be so get off your high horse. I'd say if you work full time then that isn't responsible in my view.

Lots of people don't. Sadly, that doesn't mean their dogs are getting what they truly need. And often they are neither happy or healthy

No one is saying you need to yomp for hours. But there is a vast chasm between half an hour a day and yomping! although some breeds might tolerate that low a level of exercise! most would prefer at least a little more. 2 half hours a day would be a vast improvement

Except I work from home and if I have to go to the office I have a dog sitter.

You need to seriously look at your OP, you come across as someone who wants a token as opposed to an animal that has needs and feelings

An old rescue dog? Maybe a labrador?

The Only thing in My OP that suggest anything is the phrase hardly any exercise> That doesn't suggest any neglect only one of the considerations for my new dog. I haven't said how much time, money size house,garden, other family and dogs how many other people in the family with share etc, etc. Apart from one suggestion of a rescue centre that could advice and some people who recomended greyhounds which sounded perfect the rest of you have picked on a couple of words and been horrid. I've had a hard ewnough 3 years giving up my dog, my 35 year marriage my family home etc. I really don't need to have this nastiness in my life so sorry I bothered. I hope you are all perfect in all areas of your lives.

We have four greyhounds (all middle aged or elderly). I also do a lot of homechecking/voluntary work for greyhound rescue. I'm going to disagree with a lot of the previous posters who have recommended a greyhound -yes, they sleep a lot, but they still enjoy and deserve a decent amount of exercise.

To give you a picture ours (youngest is nearly ten, eldest is 13) have on weekdays an hour's walk or thereabouts, usually with some off lead time included in that. On weekends, walks are often longer, up to two hours. We also regularly participate in sighthound playgroups, sighthound agility, group walks, plus we take them to dog shows, meet and greets, etc. In addition to all that, they also go to dog training classes in rotation and we do practising at home (mostly using clickers). DH goes running as well, and will quite often go for a nice jog round the neighbourhood with one of ours. We live in an suburban environment with easy access to the coast and a variety of nice weekend walks e.g forestry, beaches, country parks etc.

OK, so you might not want to do some of the activities/social stuff, but I think our exercise regime is quite light. If I was doing a homecheck, I'd expect someone to commit to either a longer single walk (min. 1 hr) each day or at least two walks of between 20 and 30 minutes or combo - say one 20 min and one 40 min. It doesn't necessarily have to be you doing the walking - e.g. could be a dog walker on some days but if you couldn't/wouldn't manage that, then I think a lot of rescues would probably have a question mark about your suitability to adopt. Our senior boy has mild arthritis (which we are managing well) but he is fit, healthy and active with excellent muscle tone. Importantly, we also make sure he has a varied walking routine and doesn't just plod round the same route every single day. Yes, greyhounds are not border collies but that doesn't mean they can't enjoy and cope well with a good level of varied exercise and training.

You might find it worthwhile to try the Oldies Club - a rescue which specialises in older dogs - there could be one suitable for you with lower exercise requirements.

We had a rescue grey hound. He would walk for 30 mins, stop, refuse to go further . We would then turn round and go home. He then spent rest of the day asleep on settee

No-one said they were perfect, but by suggesting you want a dog that doesn't need a much exercise is like asking for a child that doesn't need to eat.

I'm sorry for your loss but wanting a dog based on its need to not need much exercise is wrong - and dare I suggest that you'd be better off with a dog that does need more exercise so you get out of the house and find some means to move on by being outside and taking in life, as opposed to what you have suggested?

I always said I loathed small dogs but our jrt is a big dog in a small dog's body. He doesn't yap but barks properly. He gets two walks of varying lengths, longer at weekends. Prob an hour off the lead in the morning, shorter in the evening. . He chases the foxes and squirrels from the garden for hours and hours, plays football with Ds, and is an active soul, save when he is curled up on your knee or next to you. He is a young dog who likes playing.

Jrts are not my fave, but he is the perfect house dog, affectionate, non nippy, and sufficiently but not excessively active despite having a farm dog father. But he does want his main carer with him preferably all the time.

Tbh, if you are there and have a garden , you sound perfect for many.dogs. not all rescues are good with children.

I don't mind all the extra stuff that I'd like to do with the dog its really jus that I know other people in my family that have to take out collie type dogs for a good hour morning and evening over fields and a 'quick' 20mins around the block. Obviously weekends and holidays are different as you say country and beach walks etc,
KILMUR When one of my dogs got older she had a bone cancer in her leg and before it was diagnosed My son had taken her out for the morning for a few mile walk to the village and half way home as they were crossing a road she lay down and refused to move. she was an eight stone dog but luckily my DS was a royal marine and could lift her to the pavement. I have to drive down and pick them up!!!

So what would your maximum be pet day? Not all dogs have to be walked more than once - some owners do, some don't - but there's a need for exercise.

I'll admit that with the weather as it is at the moment, I'd rather not take dog out, but he loves it, and I see myself as responsible to make sure he gets the exercise he needs.

There's nothing worse than a seeing a sad dog that is longing for a walk - I regularly see a dog owner who says their bichon frise is the type of dog that doesn't need walking every day and that makes me sad - how does she actually know that - the dog can't talk but it can be ignored.

• per day' not 'pet day'

I think all dog lovers love the idea of a dog and then make the dog adjust to them when it should be the other way round

dogtime.com/dog-breeds/characteristic_lists/low-energy-dogs

A few ideas!

I agree LOZIS I think thats why I wanted to see if there was a dog that wouldn't mind what I felt I had to give, I don't want a sad dog.

Thank You WHOKNOWS - I was expecting a wind up dog or something Perhaps I should go small to start with and get a Dog de Bordeaux!!!!!!

I'm not trying to have a go. I have a puppy who gets two 30 minute walks a day, and spends a good 15 minutes of every hour playing outside or inside. The Kennel Club reckons that as an adult they'll need a minimum of an hour a day. They're not a 'high energy' dog.

I wanted advice on breeds not loads of self righteous dog owners telling me how wonderful they are for taking their dogs for hours every day. I don't know how I managed all my bull mastiffs being such happy healthy dogs without all you lot. You sound so self important.

How about an older dog from a rescue. So much less work than a puppy and often so deserving of a lovely home. If I had my own way I'd have an adult rescue, possibly older dog. No younger than 6/7. Something like that might suit you but not a high energy breed as even at 6/7 they will still need lots of exercise.

Good luck.

I know I walked them!!!
Minkersmumm Thank you for the useful advice

cjel, without wanting to sound harsh, is there a possibility that you convinced yourself that the dogs didn't need walks? Ok, so they were 'happy' and I'm sure they were loved and well looked after, but all dogs need walking every day.

I think the suggestion of an older dog is good so long as you are prepared for ill health, shorter time with them etc.

We lived on the coast path which has a golf course running along it and they were walked as much as a bull mastiff can take, Its not good to walk them until they pant for an hour after. They were treated appropriately for who they were. I din't have to convice myself of anything. Even the people at the classes we went to knew we were treating them well. The 'hardly taken out' means they didn't have 3 hour long walks a day.
You are sounding harsh and very rude
If you have no advice for my new lifestyle I'll find people in RL who aren't so up themselves judges.