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?

O for goodness sake MRS WOLOWITZ> It is you my dear friend who is not listening not I and again I am not confrontational only responding to what pps are posting. I don't know were I live matters either but a pp asked if I was in the south east.

I will take my dog out regularly - just not for 5 or 6 hours a day. If you are going to continue to be grumpy at least read what I've explained over and over again!!!

I know what you mean about over breeding, I know people wh have pugs and they are similar its horrid isn't it?

I have a rescue staffie who doesn't/can't do long walks as it's too much for her paws/joints, she's about 6ish and just sleeps in the house. We wanted a dog that we could take on long walks but it's turned out we got the worlds laziest mutt!

Oh dear CLAIMED< poor staffie,

There's a DdB in the friendly dog group we roll up to regularly - she definitely has more than 30 mins and is happy to romp around with the other dogs - trouble is that she doesn't look where she's going and I've seen her take out a 6'+ man who was standing in the rest of the group just because she bumped into him on the way past... and she's small for the breed!

I am grateful for your concern and have specifically asked for a suitable dog so that it is treated as it should be. My use of the word lazy was to convey that I don't want to spend my life dog walking. Apart from the OP I have now spent days - not going back on what I said but making it clearer for people like you who now refuse to accept that my definition of lazy doesn't mean I am a sloth. My 'hardly ever' has also been clarified. maybe my op wasn't clear in what I meant but I have explained it very well since, if you choose not to believe all that then there is nothing more for me to say to you. I have also said I don't want a tiny little dog but do want one I can manage if I have to, on my own which was meant to suggest I didn't want another Mastiff size dog or I would have just got one and not come on what I mistakenly thought was a sight for nice helpful people.

I don't feel that I need to twist, as I have said maybe my choice of words wasn't what I meant, I don't feel I've back tracked and People who know and understand me would be laughing at the way you are trying to portray me, As I have said I will go to people who are good friends of mine running dog behaviour schools and on breed rescue lists for my advice, I was not only mistaken in my use of phrases in my OP but mistaken about the friendliness of this sight, I have learnt my lesson about people on here and will disappointedly not use it again I will go back to people who are nice.

I think your problem OP is that you are failing to concede even a little ground on the point that almost everyone has agreed on. Ie: for its optimum health and welfare, even a low energy dog will need at least a little more exercise than half an hour a day.
Fwiw, I think you deserve kudos for thinking about all this in advance. So many people would have just gone out and bought a completely unsuitable pup because it was cute and then wondered why it was all going wrong after the event!
My advice would be to research. Talk to good breeders and be TOTALLY honest about the exercise you can give. Ditto rescues. I suspect the vast majority would refuse to let you have one of their dogs, which would be much more telling than anything we can write here.
You would be able to source a dog of course, from a backyard breeder who only gives a toss about money. If you have been met with resistance from those with the dogs best interests at heart, please don't get a dog unless you resolve to commit to more than your current 30mins.
It'd be wrong for the dog and likely cause behavioural or health issues, which would also be miserable for you

I think my only problem is that I asked a question that you don't like!!

The reason I am not 'conceding ground' is because I haven't said the things you are assuming so there is no ground to conced. All I wantd was advice about breeds and amounts of exercise they need, apart from a couple f helpful people the rest of you have decided not to listen when I have explained my clumsy OP and gone way off track.

Of course I won't get a dog that won't suit me that is why I came here.
My Ds dis work experience at a rescue centre so I know they will be rightly strict and no, I will not get a dog at any cost which is why I am being so careful about trying to get what I hoped would be friendly advice.

I can't see what I am supposed to 'give ground' about when all I wanted was advice. Do you mean because I don't fit your idea of a 4hour a day dog walker that I can't give an animal a good home ? AsI say I will now go offline and seek proper friendly advice not just 'oh but your dog will be neglected and depressed living with you'

In your shoes, I'd go to a few rescues and see if they can match you to an older dog that's past the nutty puppy phase and will be content with a couple of short walks a day. I have a spaniel who could run for hours, but makes do with an hour off lead in the morning and a half hour lead walk in the afternoon. My miniature poodle cross needs less exercise and tends to stick by me rather than zig zagging around the woods, but still enjoys getting out twice a day. It seems to me that most small/medium dogs are quite high energy, but a rescue might be able to match you to a dog that is suitable. My friend has a three legged rescue staff, and although she gets around fine, she doesn't want to go on treks.

I think the 'lazy owner' bit got everyone's back up. It comes across as though you won't care for all aspect of your dog's needs, not just the walking. If this is not the case you need to look at what other interaction the dog would have. It isn't fair to any dog to walk for 30mins and eat two meals then be expected to sleep for 23 hours a day.

Would you play games in the garden, give food from a treat toy and have short training sessions to bond and keep the mind active? If so, that sounds lovely for an older dog. Short regular walks and someone home all day would suit lots of older dogs.

I would not advise a puppy.

Walks for pups are as much about socialisation as exercise. They need to experience as much of the world as possible while young. A sheltered puppyhood could cause behaviour problems.

Canidae, Thank you for you reply, Yes I have already said that I have a big garden and family that love playing with the dogs, I also don't work and am home most of the time to be able to play with the dog. We also complete all levels of dog training classes and as other family come over they bring dogs with them so it will be trained, socialised, played with and not shut away. The only thing I don't want to do is yomp across fields for several hours a day!!!!

Hmmmm.
Large breed, chunky dog if undermuscled quite often = busted cruciates.
However, it does sound as if your dog will get some decent stuff to keep it fit and well muscled - wrestling with the other dogs, and obedience classes do go some way to developing muscle as the dogs have to work to do the manoeuvres. I would avoid the breeds that have notoriously poor recall - if you can instil great recall then the dog can do most of the yomping while you stroll. Especially if you get a dog walking buddy - then the dogs can yomp away to their hearts' content while you are strolling and chatting. If you live near a good safe lake or river and have a water-loving dog that's a good energy burner too.
Why don't you want another mastiff? Do you want something not quite so big or was there something about their health or character that has made you want to get a different type?

I'd dearly love a mastiff, but am concerned about controlling the size I suppose. When we had them before I had DH and then my son who was in the marines so although she was obedient and we didn't use a lead much, now there is that slight worry that I may not ultimately be able to control her if she met a dog that was not!!
My ds did a degree in podiatry before he was a bootneck and he knew our last girl had cancer in her leg when the vets were still saying arthritis because he could see how her muscles were! We also had water near us and when she was little went straight off the path into the water after a swan, frightened herself to death as in the darkness the water was so still she didn't see the path end,
I like the idea of a walking buddy so the dogs can run for miles and I can have a stroll and a chat!!!

Hello again cjel I see the bun fight continues!!

Just to ssy I was looking at some rescue sites, there was actually a little dog around 10 and they specifically say she is looking for a companion and won't need much in the way of walks more just a comfy bed and company! So these dogs do exist in rescue sites.

Ivwould defo go for an older dog. And I have 7 yr old and a 14 wk old puppy. I also have lost my two old girls over past 3 yrs. I would give anything to have my old girl (18 when she died) back for one last walk. She was no hassle, easy company and a lovely loyal friend. She was more worried about being with me than how much exercise she got. She was very much MY girl.

Good luck. Get looking on rescue sites and ignore the flying buns!! X

Just noticed the last couple of posts on here and wanted to stop by to say thank you!! Glad to see I'm not an evil animal torturer - I was beginning to wonder