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The doghouse

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

Thinking of getting a British bulldog pup. Need opinions.

109 replies

BatCrapCrazy · 21/09/2014 20:52

We currently have a pekinese dog. We have been living with MIL for the last year and are about to move out but during this time, our dog has grown awfully attached to MILs dog and FIL wants to keep him. We are happy to do this as it would be awful to separate them after all this time.
But DC would be gutted. We have been looking into getting another dog and I have fallen in love with a British bulldog pup. I have done a fair bit of research about their temperament etc and it seems they are lovely dogs to have around children (our DCs are 3 and 4).
I work school hours. I'm concerned about leaving him at home all this time. This was never a problem with our other dog as MIL looked after DS while I worked in our house so the dog had company all day. DS is in school now so this wouldn't happen with a new dog.
Any advice would be hugely appreciated

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PotatoPolly · 22/09/2014 09:08

I've grown up with several Jack Russells and would choose one a million more times.yes they bark, but so do lots of dogs! My ILs have got a bichon and a schnauzer and they bark more than our JR. Our current dog is so affectionate and takes absolutely no notice of our newborn baby. I think they're perfect for children and are small so don't need tons of room! Good luck deciding, it must be so hard!

tabulahrasa · 22/09/2014 09:16

Good with children, up for lots of walking, not big, not yappy...honestly, a staffy.

BatCrapCrazy · 22/09/2014 09:18

It is so hard. I have suggested a lab to DP but he has said no because they are too big. He also finds my mums lab really annoying as she isn't used to being around kids so when she comes over she is rather excitable and he is also worried it is too big a dog to have in the house. He has suggested a Jack Russell too. It is so hard. I suppose i could wait until we move and "loan" my mums lab for a week and see how he finds her once she's settled down etc. The kids absolutely adore her.
Would it be awfully cruel to leave a lab on their own until 3.30pm 5 days a week though? I would get up in the morning to walk it for half an hour before school and then another half hour walk in the evenings during the week and then one long walk on saturdays and sundays.
Can you tell I really want a lab? lol

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MehsMum · 22/09/2014 09:20

Have you considered a lab crossed with something small and mellow?

Whatever you do, think hard about exercise: if you go for something like a cocker, check it's not from working lines unless you want to be out for well over an hour a day walking/running it. Same goes for working line labs. Working line anything, in fact.

Also, if you are going to be out for school hours, have you considered having someone in mid-day to let the dog out for a wee and to give it a quick run? 6+ hours five days a week is a very long time to leave a dog, esp a young dog, alone.

I second everything said here about the brachy breeds. I meet a lot of pugs and frenchies with lovely natures, really sweet little dogs, but I'd never have either breed due to their health issues. Same goes for Cavaliers - they are very prone to heart problems and a condition where their brains are too big for their skulls (syringomyelia).

cupofsneeze · 22/09/2014 09:21

We got a lab for Ds when he was 2, he has LD and CP.

I can honestly say he's been fantastic with Ds since the day we got him, its almost as though its intuitive rather than any training we've done.

Admittedly the dog is totally dippy and our JRT can run rings around him physically and mentally but as far as any children coming into the house, we never have to put him in the kitchen unlike our terrier.

We're overrun with Pugs and bulldogs down here, its sad to see some of them struggling on a quick jaunt around the field.

I should also add that our Labs presence in the house is a lot less noticeable than our JRT X Confused

GilbertBlytheWouldGetIt · 22/09/2014 09:22

Just popping in to suggest a rescue greyhound - have never met one that isn't fantastic with children. Gorgeous dogs.

Rainicorn · 22/09/2014 09:23

What about a lurcher? We have a lurcher x and she is just lovely and placid, great with my dc, one of whine has autism.

We have also just gotten a JRT and he is a ball of fun. DC love him.

BatCrapCrazy · 22/09/2014 09:23

I want a lab.

Need to bribe convince DP.

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Rainicorn · 22/09/2014 09:23

*whom

BatCrapCrazy · 22/09/2014 09:26

There isn't really anyone who could pop in to let it out so I was thinking about leaving it in our outbuilding with the door open so it can go in and out as it pleases. The garden is totally enclosed so would be impossible for him/her to get out.

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LEMmingaround · 22/09/2014 09:27

It does show somewhat Grin

So glad you took the comments on board re the bulldogs.

Labs are great but people do forget they are a working breed and often get bored left alone. Although it doesn't sound like it will be alone that long.

Terriers are high energy but really good with kids. However they will tell you in no uncertain terms if you upset them.

What about a cocker spaniel? Cockapoo - i know these new "breeds" are frowned upon but i like this cross alot. I do have a problem with the price tag for a cross breed.

The goid old fashioned heinz 57 always a winner. Rescue dogs are great.

fishfingerSarnies · 22/09/2014 09:34

Staffies are fab with kids, I have a 2 yo dd and a staff/whippet cross pup and she's devoted to my dd.
When I was a kid we had a border terrier who was also lovely.
Italian gray hounds are apparently quite happy to have time alone, though I don't know this from personal experience.

SignYourNameInBrownAndFlame · 22/09/2014 09:38

I think the first think to do is sort out some kind of alternative care - can MIL continue to pop in to see to dog? Can you start getting recommendations for good local dog walkers who understand the need of growing pups? Do any of your local kennels offer doggy daycare.

Although you'll get all the people coming on saying "my dog is locked in a coal cellar for 18 hours a day and loves it", leaving a dog, especially a young dog, alone for the length of time you're proposing is not ideal. Labs are intelligent dogs who need mental stimulation and human company. They also benefit from having their exercise built up slowly while they are growing to minimise joint problems in later life, so don't assume you will be able to tire out your pup with long morning walks from the point it's had its jabs in order to feel less guilty about leaving it all day because "it's had a good walk". Yes it will need plenty of walks, but carefully monitored with the amount of free running / high impact exercise restricted at first and increased gradually.

They are also renowned for being a destructive breed if left to their own devices for too long and while I am an advocate of crate training, it isn't acceptable to lock a dog in a crate for that length of time especially if alone in the house.

TBH I doubt any really ethical breeder would consider you as a suitable home for one of their pups unless you could demonstrate at the point you first make contact that you have plans for daycare in place. Otherwise you'd be restricted to the BYBs who are at best ignorant and at worst unscrupulous, or puppy farms.

If you can sort out someone to look after or at least pop in on the dog through the day, I'd suggest looking for (and you won't have to look very far, sadly) a rescue Staffy - and I say that as a retriever specialist. Staffies make amazing family dogs - great with children, real go-anywhere dogs with an unfortunately misunderstood reputation. A reputable rescue will match you with a suitable dog for your needs.

SignYourNameInBrownAndFlame · 22/09/2014 09:47

Sorry, typing laboriously on iPad while you cross-posted.

Please do not leave the dog to come and go in and out of the garden as it pleases - dog thefts are rife at the moment, many are stolen to be used as bait dogs for illegal dogfighting. Also you need to put the time in to establish house training or the puppy simply won't understand that outside is for toileting, inside isn't, and to do that you need to be around and ready to anticipate the signs that puppy wants to go.

If you don't have a relative, friend or neighbour who can pop in as a favour then please consider paying a reputable, insured dog walker or pet sitter. Six hours a day plus, five days a week is too long for a dog to be left alone and "I want a Lab" isn't a valid enough excuse to risk putting a dog under stress for that length of time.

I don't apologise for sounding harsh - I volunteer for a rescue and too many of our dogs are here because well-meaning but slightly selfish owners got a dog, especially a puppy, when their lifestyle wasn't set up for it but they wanted one anyway, and then surrendered it when the destruction / toileting issues / separation anxiety / boredom barking, all problems that arise from a dog being left too long, became too much to cope with. So excuse me for trying to prevent another one.

SignYourNameInBrownAndFlame · 22/09/2014 09:51

PS. If you haven't already, watch The Secret Life of Dogs. It's an eye opener as to how many dogs who their owners think are "fine" with being left alone actually exhibit one or more stress-related behaviours.

soddinghormones · 22/09/2014 09:59

I'd missed the bit about leaving it alone until 3:30pm five days a week - scrap my suggestion of a lab/retriever - in fact scrap the idea of a dog completely unless you can sort daycare

smokeandglitter · 22/09/2014 10:34

Whippet? Very gentle dogs.

BatCrapCrazy · 22/09/2014 10:48

DP could actually take the dog to work with him if he's working locally. He used to take MILs boxer to work. MIL has just got a part time job so wouldn't be able to rely on her everyday.
Looks like I really need to think about this.

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BatCrapCrazy · 22/09/2014 11:06

DP has just read the thread.

He has suggested a house rabbit. Which isn't a totally mad idea IMHO. Don't think a rabbit will suffice for a morning job mind Wink

Thing is, I know DD will really miss the dogs when we move out of MIL and she loves the sense of responsibility helping to feed and walk them. I don't want to take that away from her completely.

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tabulahrasa · 22/09/2014 11:12

Rabbits are great btw...my friend has some that have a shed with an attached run and come in and out of the house using the cat flap when the run is open.

Because they've got so much room and access to the house, you can really see their personalities. Lots of bunny proofing required though, they have a bit of a thing for cables, lol.

Floralnomad · 22/09/2014 11:17

TBH with your working hours a puppy is not really reasonable can you not just 'borrow' your dog (and the Inlaws dog) at weekends and get another pet for the DC to keep at home . I would get a group of 3 rats ,they make excellent pets are entertaining ,trainable ,friendly and the more attention the better .

BatCrapCrazy · 22/09/2014 11:24

I think it might be a better idea. Im gutted i won't have a companion for my morning run etc but i wouldn't feel so bad about leaving a rabbit during the day. Are they better kept in twos or would one be happy? I will also chat to DD about it. I think she would love it though.

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marne2 · 22/09/2014 11:24

We have 2 dogs and 2 children with ASD, we have a Staffordshire bull terrier who is almost 6 and a lab x collie ( rescue pup ) who is 2. I would highly recommend a Staffie to anyone with children, they get such a bad press due to over reading and falling into the wrong hands but they really are one of the best dogs to be around children. My youngest dd never used to communicate with anyone, we then got the Staffie and she started communicating with the dog, they are best friends and the dog follows her everywhere ( probably because she often drops food ). Our 2nd dog we got from rescue and he has so much energy, he is lovely and loyal but he takes up a lot of my time with training and exercise, I really wish I had adopted a older Staffie instead of getting a lab x .

BatCrapCrazy · 22/09/2014 11:27

Oh DD wouldn't cope with rats. She can't even look at the hamsters in pets at home!
A friend has recommended a local lady who breeds rabbits and are litter trained when they leave to go to their new homes. I have just emailed her now.
I'm a bit worried that DS might be a bit boisterous for a rabbit though.

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tabulahrasa · 22/09/2014 11:32

Rabbits are better in pairs (well groups really, but who has room for that? Lol) either siblings or you can get bonded pairs from rescues...they're supposedly britain's most neglected pets :( as people keep them in little hutches or tiny cages and forget about them.

The rabbit welfare association has a fair amount of resources for what you need to keep rabbits.

You can clicker train them, to do things like rabbit agility :D won't help you jog, but fun for DC.