Need advise... am I mad??

[Ineedmorepatience]

We have always wanted a dog in the family, 2 big Dd's have left or vitually left home, youngest Dd is 11 and either heading for Secondary school or Home Ed in September.

Dp works shifts and I work part time at the moment.

We are very active and spend lots of time outdoors and camping.

I think we are at the right time to bring a dog into the family and we have been to Dogs Trust to have a mooch. It seems that we all prefer bigger dogs and I particularly like lurchers although Dp likes german shepherds.

Do you wise dog owners think we are insane? Should we go for something smaller ? We have a large ish house and a medium sized garden and an amazing park 5 minutes drive away?

This is my lurcher (from EGLR) btw - not the hairy monster (though lurchers do come in large and hairy too) that many people think of.

He doesn't shed, and doesn't smell or slobber either

He is lovely CMOT

OP have you seen this thread?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_doghouse/1998036-Need-help-with-rehoming-a-dog

Maybe it's fate?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_doghouse/1998036-Need-help-with-rehoming-a-dog

Sorry about the link I always forget to tick the stupid box!

Need to talk to Dp but thanks for the link.

I have two Luchers with excellent recall because we trained them. They're very lazy at home (part greyhound), but love a good run about when you're on a walk. My two aren't charging around the house, they just find the comfiest spot and sleep until you take them out. Theyre are lots in need of good homes.

Oh I've been lurking on that thread all worried about the Rottie...

They're so hard to rehome because they've got such a bad reputation - but they're great dogs.

Easy to train (obviously any dog will need a bit of retraining to fit into a new home) affectionate, playful, up for as much walking as you can give them but pretty lazy at home if they're given enough attention.

They can be a handful as teenagers, but you'd have missed that bit...they're also really good fun, just complete clowns with a great sense of humour.

They don't eat as much as you'd think and they don't shed much either.

I think bigger dogs are often calmer than small ones ( depending on breed though).

We have lovely lurcher pup who is a joy. In the house she is very calm, not bouncy like my friends' lovely but nutty cockapoos.

I think labs are quite chilled indoors too. And maybe easier to train than a lurcher.

My 11yr old son adores lurcher girl, they play in the garden, then crash together on our heated floor :)

(My son is half whippet we think)