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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

How big is your house/dog

35 replies

Hoppinggreen · 12/12/2014 10:51

We are looking into getting a dog next year. We have been planning it for years and feel that it's the right time for us as a family.
Slight sticking point is that me and DH can't agree on breed. I am not keen on small dogs, we have Golden retrievers when I was a child and also a Great Dane. DH had a Jack Russell and he doesn't like big dogs. He says our house is too small for a big dog. Our house is actually quite a large detached house with a decent size dining kitchen, large utility, playroom, big lounge and hallway the size of a small room. We also have a reasonable sizes garden, a park outside our front door and woods at the back.
I really want a Golden Retriever, I look at other breeds and think I've found one I would like by then I see a GR and that goes out of the window.
I think DH is just looking for an excuse but do you need a huge house for a big dog?

OP posts:

SignoraStronza · 12/12/2014 10:55

Your dh is talking nonsense. We have a lovely big German Shepherd and live in a bog standard 3 bed semi. No utility to shut her in so we have gate for the kitchen and one for the stairs.
The children have got very used to gently moving her out of the way.
Thankfully, being ex council property, we have a nice big garden and she likes to potter around outside with us.

tabulahrasa · 12/12/2014 11:02

Fairly small 3 bed semi, with about a 20ft garden (so pretty damn tiny) and I have a Rottweiler...previous dog was bigger (don't know what he was as I got him half grown from a pound) he lived in this house too and before that a 2 bedroom flat.

Gardens are handy for toileting, but it's walks where they really get their exercise anyway and if your rooms are big enough for people I can fit a big dog in, lol.

OHolyShite · 12/12/2014 11:05

Your DP is being daft.

We have a 3 bed semi with medium size garden. And a quite big and very daft labradoodle . All you need is room for a bed and outside room for toileting.

Teeb · 12/12/2014 11:10

I understand how he feels, when you feel like a large dog would overwhelm the space. Would a spaniel type breed suit better?

TheCunnyFunt · 12/12/2014 11:15

We live in what's generally called a '2 up 2 down', front door leads straight into the front room which leads into the dining room which leads into the kitchen which leads to the back door and utility/bathroom. Sounds big but it's not. Upstairs we have 2 bedrooms and a bathroom.

Our dog is a big Greyhound, apart from him occasionally just standing still completely in the way, right in front of you, the house isn't too small at all! That might just be my stoopid dog though

Original poster

Hoppinggreen · 12/12/2014 11:16

I've looked at Cocker Spaniels and do like them but then I met a gorgeous GR last week and I proper luffs them!!

OP posts:

Nocturne123 · 12/12/2014 11:20

They're beautiful dogs . There's no reason why it wouldn't fit in your house ! Lovely temperament too .

Any room for compromise if he's not used to big dogs ? Border collie ?

Ah I'm so envious, can't wait until Dcs are a bit older so I can get a dog ( love big dogs too)

needastrongone · 12/12/2014 11:22

Get a smaller dog, like a spaniel, then you can have more than one!!

Gazes lovingly at my Springer and Cocker dozing at my feet

Spanielcrackers · 12/12/2014 11:25

I have a springer spaniel and a golden retriever. We live in a large detached house in an acre of gardens. Golden retrievers are wonderful, chilled out dogs. Our Golden is so calm and takes up far less space than the much smaller springer who is usually bouncing and rushing around.
I would happily have another Golden retriever after I downsize to a smaller house.

needastrongone · 12/12/2014 11:46

Just as an aside. We got a dog when we moved to a house with a large garden, perfect for a dog, we thought. Neither spaniel will go in said garden without one of us with them. If they do go out on their own, they then spend the rest of the time sat looking pathetic at us through the patio windows.

They run around like loons for 2 hours off lead every day though, but not in the garden.

So the garden is great for the dogs if we are outside with them in the summer, but not the brilliant place we thought a dog would love.

However, I can't go to the loo without them coming with me

EasyToEatTiger · 12/12/2014 12:00

We now live in quite a big house. It's very hairy and muddy and has in it 4 people and 3 dogs and the occasional chicken. Before, we lived in a much much smaller house, about 750 square feet. Frankly in terms of tripping over dogs it doesn't make a lot of difference, and as long as you can get out you're going to be fine!

BloodyDogHairs · 12/12/2014 12:07

My house is a 3 semi-detached new build, I have 2 German Shepherds. They get free reign of the downstairs but aren't allowed upstairs. My garden is normal size but the grass is totally wrecked with them and the constant rain.

JingleBellsJuliet · 12/12/2014 17:28

I'm currently in a 2 bed apartment with no garden, and have a medium sized collie x poodle and a JRT pup. They get 4-5 walks a day; 2 good ones and 2 or 3 little on lead toileting walks. I don't really notice them much in the house tbh, as they like to curl up in small spaces under tables and chairs! However, I recently looked after my friend's greyhound/staffie/pointer/collie and he just took up so much bloody space! He likes to lie smack bang in the middle of the floor, so as you have to step over him, and it felt like he was underfoot the whole time. I think some dogs, regardless of breed/size, just seem to take up more space than others.

sunflower49 · 12/12/2014 17:42

Not now, but when I met DP we were in a two bed terrace. Quite a spacious one compared to others I've seen, but a small house nonetheless...With a Northern Inuit!

She was and is fine, enough walks per day is all you need. If a walk was late she'd be a bit more skittish and attention demanding sometimes, but I don't think having a larger house would make that less of a problem. It sometimes depends on other aspects of the breed rather than size alone.

Our dog is a right lazy sod, as long as there's enough space for her to laze around she's fine. Other dogs like to wander a lot and some as jingle says sleep in the middle of floors so a larger space is preferable. Mine likes to curl up under things or in corners so not a problem,

SimoneAdriaan · 12/12/2014 18:43

Three bed semi, two pet dogs (one HUGE labrador x retriever and one english cocker spaniel) with a medium sized garden. We also board guide dog puppies for guide dogs for the blind, the largest amount we've had in the house was 3 guide dog puppies (all between 7-14 months old) plus our two, and that was a little bit tight space wise. Get your golden retriever!

Original poster

Hoppinggreen · 12/12/2014 19:59

Would love to simone but DH won't let me!!
The dog is supposed to be for DD who will be 10 by then ( although I appreciate this will be in name only) and she is with me on the Golden Retriever thing - even though all her mates are into pugs!!!
Hopefully we can wear DH down by next year.

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LoathsomeDrab · 12/12/2014 20:16

Our first house was a proper little two up two down with a tiny garden and we happily had one medium and one medium/large dog living there. Our current house is pretty large with a medium sized garden and we've got four medium sized dogs now They only really use the garden in summer or when it's properly snowy, it gets very wet and the four of them charging round out there would destroy it in no time in winter.

Admittedly we are a little short of sofa space but we have whippets, keeping them off the furniture isn't an option!!

If size is a real sticking point for your DH, have a look at Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers. They're the smallest of a the retrievers and make fabulous family pets.

insanityscratching · 12/12/2014 20:29

We have an average sized 4 bed house with a small garden. Eric is a small shih tzu cross, he is always in the midst of everything. If he was bigger we'd be less likely to trip over him I suppose. He rarely uses the garden tbh and only accompanies me outside to stand guard whilst I peg out washing I think he worries the neighbour will steal the pants and socks he like to chew

Original poster

Hoppinggreen · 12/12/2014 21:59

I love reading about Eric on here insanity!!!

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Isthatwhatdemonsdo · 12/12/2014 23:09

We have a 3 bed detached. We have a Golden Retriever and a Black Lab. Certainly not too big for our house.

insanityscratching · 13/12/2014 05:00

Hopping he's our first family dog and a little devil but he has added so much to our lives and I think he's proof that small dogs can have real personality too.
He was bought for dd's 11th birthday (obviously in name only) and she loves him and with hormones kicking in and the stress of secondary school having someone to cuddle up to and laugh at and who obviously adores her has been a good thing I think.

basildonbond · 13/12/2014 07:28

I'd second a Toller (Nova Scotia duck rolling retriever) - he's a perfect size and has the most wonderful temperament

I do love golden retrievers too but can sort of see where your DH is coming from - some of the males from show lines are absolutely enormous (and not very bright)

If your heart is set on a goldie research breeders carefully. If you have an active household and can commit to proper training then you could look at females from working lines - they are literally half the size of the show males (and a lot brighter too )

Thewrongmans · 13/12/2014 07:32

We had a teeny house and an enormous dog. As long as all their needs are met, such as adequate exercise, then what does house size have to do with it?

Dancingyogi · 13/12/2014 07:44

We have a biggish house and garden, which he enjoys zooming around but I have a small car which I love and Dpup needed to fit in the car with the dcs, no way did I want to go back to a big car, I wanted a dog I could lift if needed.

bakingtins · 13/12/2014 07:51

Biggish house (Victorian semi) with medium size garden and tiny dog (JRT x)
Unless you are planning to have a giant breed in a bedsit I'm not sure the house size is that relevant. The garden needs to be big enough to pee in but you are going to have to be out walking for exercise, and the temperament/breed of the dog has more to do with how much exercise is needed than the size. The size of your car might be an issue though? The fact that a spacious car crate for our dog still only takes up half the boot is a big advantage when we also have pushchair, small bikes etc to lug about. A smaller dog is also much cheaper to feed.
The few Tollers I've met have been great - the dog magazines ( your dog?) always used to recommend them to everyone enquiring about what breed to get, regardless of circumstances but they seem to be quite unusual still. My best mate has working Cockers which are bigger than show Cockers ( about 15kg slim weight) and similar in looks to the Tollers (red coat) but are active dogs needing lots of exercise. Might suit?

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