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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

which dog out of these 2?

27 replies

youbethemummylion · 14/02/2014 16:15

We have a choice to make between 2 dogs and just cant decide.Help!

Dog 1
Scottie Dog
8yrs old
laid back, lazy, short walks only
Fine to be left in day
ok with kids as long as not picked up
unknown with cats
can come for trial before deciding
wheat intolerance
Free

Dog 2
Lab/Rhodesian Ridgeback
10 months
playful/ energetic
can be left
excellent with kids
unknown with cats
no known health issues
60

We have 2 boys 3 and 6 very nearly 4 and 7 and dog would be left max 4hrs per day. Help me decide?

OP posts:

EddieVeddersfoxymop · 14/02/2014 16:18

I'd go with dog 1 as more seems to be known about him. Price is irrelevant here. Plus you could trial him? But - you should know in your heart which is the dog for you. If you're not sure perhaps neither are "yours" and the right one is still out there?

WeeClype · 14/02/2014 16:20

I would go with dog 2, only because I like big dogs .....and it's younger so will grow up with the kids.

GimmeDaBoobehz · 14/02/2014 16:21

I like the breed of 2 more but would be happier if could trial it a and know more about it.

Are they both neutered/chipped too?

GimmeDaBoobehz · 14/02/2014 16:21

I like the breed of 2 more but would be happier if could trial it a and know more about it.

Are they both neutered/chipped too?

GimmeDaBoobehz · 14/02/2014 16:24

Oops sorry for double post.

Also FYI Rhodesians can be very protective so bare that in min diet visitors.

GimmeDaBoobehz · 14/02/2014 16:24

Irt even - bloody iPhone!

Twooter · 14/02/2014 16:25

Neither personally. In a few years you may want to go for l

ErrolTheDragon · 14/02/2014 16:25

They both sound like nice dogs. The price is indeed irrelevant compared to insurance and food.

I think the decider for me would be which fitted better with your lifestyle. Take a look at the weather today... dog 1 would probably prefer not to go out in it at all, dog 2 would need a decent walk. Which of those options suits your family better?

I'd also check the insurance costs of each dog carefully.

Twooter · 14/02/2014 16:28

Longer walks which dog 1 would maybe struggle with ad they would be coming older. Dog 2 would be coming to you at the most difficult boisterous age, so with two small children and a Large and unknown dog, you may struggle. Why is it down to these two? Surely something I between the two would be better.

If I had to choose I would go for 1.

exexpat · 14/02/2014 16:29

You haven't really told us enough about your circumstances to give any advice.

Dog number 2 would probably require a lot more exercise, for example - at least one long walk a day, preferably two. Are you in a position to do that, with or without children in tow? Dog number 1 would be much more low-maintenance in terms of walks. Dog number 2 presumably also still needs ongoing obedience training and so on - are you prepared for that? Do you have a cat? What are you planning to do with the dogs if you go away - if you are planning to rely on family to help out, for example, would they be equally happy with big or small dog?

exexpat · 14/02/2014 16:30

Also, do you have a garden, or live near somewhere suitable for walking and training a large dog?

tabulahrasa · 14/02/2014 17:02

They are very different dogs, requiring very different care tbh.

The lab/ridgeback puppy is going to need a load of training (even if it's had it, it's hitting adolescence so it would all go to pot anyway) it'll be big and bouncy and need a fair bit of walking.

The scotty isn't going to want a lot of walking or playing - even if you want to and, it's just about to hit old age as well.

Why is it a choice between those two? What is it you plan on doing with a dog? Lots of walking training and playing, or just sitting about being cuddly? Because that's what it sounds like a choice between.

Original poster

youbethemummylion · 14/02/2014 17:05

We do have a cat so how they get on with her is important. We live near a beach so long walks with big dog is not an issue. I am concerned dog 1 is too old and dog 2 too young. When a colleague heard we were looking for a dog in the rescue centres she told us about dog1 which her friend is desperate to rehome due to change in living arrangements but then a shelter we had prrviously contacted called about Dog2. We have been looking for a while and seem to be hitting a brick wall with shelters as they are generally full of staffies or greyhounds.

OP posts:

VivaLeBeaver · 14/02/2014 17:07

I'd say neither.

Dog one sounds young and bouncy and big for a family with young kids.

Dog two if I'm honest sounds nice but if I had young kids I wouldn't get a dog that's likely to die in the next 2-4 years. Your boys will still be so young and be heartbroken.

I know a younger dog is no guarantee. We lost a fairly young dog unexpectedly last year and dd is still really upset, ten months on.

VivaLeBeaver · 14/02/2014 17:08

Why not a greyhound?

I had a greyhound who lived happily with our cats. You can get cat friendly ones.

Original poster

youbethemummylion · 14/02/2014 17:08

I think dog2 as lovely as she seems will be too much of a handful for us. However will Dog1 be too laid back and lazy and possibly set in her ways due to age?

OP posts:

exexpat · 14/02/2014 17:08

What's wrong with a staffie or a greyhound? By all accounts they are both excellent breeds as family dogs, and some of them would be fine with cats.

Original poster

youbethemummylion · 14/02/2014 17:11

DH wont have a greyhound as he finds their skinnyness really off putting (i know i know but theres no changing his mind) and Staffies out due to unpredictable nature (i know most are lovely but have experience of lovely ones turning and I just couldnt trust them)

OP posts:

MichonnesSamuraiSword · 14/02/2014 17:14

I think it depends very much on your lifestyle.

Dog 2 sounds lovely, but it will be a handful, think bouncy, energetic, needing regular decent walks and good discipline. I have this sort of dog, and I love her, but you have to be ready for this sort of dog.

Dog 1 also sounds lovely, and will be a lot lower maintenance but might not suit going for long walks etc.

Don't feel pressured into either if neither are feeling right for you. There are loads of dogs needing homes out there, perhaps widen your search, and do some more research on the type of dog you want?

Well done you for choosing to rescue a dog. Far too many puppies being bred when there are so many lovely dogs needing homes.

Good luck

Original poster

youbethemummylion · 14/02/2014 17:21

We are going to see dog1 at the weekend to see how she is with the kids etc. I understand the point about her not having many years left but then I think this might make her really hard to rehome and she may never get a new home :-( Is it really unfair of me to get a dog which will die whilst kids still young? Im tough I once adopted a 12yr old cat, but will this damage them?!

OP posts:

Floralnomad · 14/02/2014 17:24

Its a Scottie and could with luck live until 15/16 , that really is not the point . If it's used to being left ,is well behaved and fits with your family that's massively more important than its age .

nuttymutty1 · 14/02/2014 17:32

Have I missed where are you getting them from - to me that is really really important.

Is there support and after care, is it a reputable rescue etc etc.

If they are being rehomed privately then I would walk away from both dogs.

Original poster

youbethemummylion · 14/02/2014 17:38

Dog1 is being rehomed by a friend of a colleague however they have invited us to visit her in her home and then take for a trial with the instructions if it doesn't work out in the trial to bring her straight back and if at anypoint in the future we were looking to give her up to contact them straight back again. They do not want her to go to a shelter and they have had her from a pup and are heartbroken to be giving her up.

Dog2 is from a shelter but they do not seem as stringent in their rehoming as other shelters and this is causing me some concern.

OP posts:

LadyTurmoil · 14/02/2014 17:59

"Shelter do not seem as stringent in their rehoming" is a big, big warning red light to me.

Personally, a very strong 10 mth old lab/ridgeback could be a nightmare. It could easily knock over, be scary for your youngsters. Would need loads of consistent training/exercise and hitting adolescence which is not easy anyway. Why was it given up to shelter? Have they told you anything.

Scottie sounds lovely (my kind of dog) but would your children be Ok with not picking him up? He might get grumpy with them if not. However, he may not be as active as you might like...

If you're looking for other types rather than staffie/greyhound, look at Many Tears. A lot are ex-breeding dogs who wouldn't be suitable but some are not and they are flexible when looking at younger children.

Original poster

youbethemummylion · 14/02/2014 18:09

Ill check out Many Tears thanks. The kids would be fine with not picking her up, we have a cat currently that cant be picked up and sometimes cant be stroked but they have never tried to pick her up and will always leave her be when we tell them too. I am concerned that the Scottie might be a bit too lazy for us but that's better than a dog which is too energetic for us I suppose. I'll go see her at the weekend and if we get her on trial see how she does on a longer walk.

OP posts:

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