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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

'there are easier breeds:' which ones?

88 replies

motmot · 10/01/2015 18:53

On the Labrador retriever thread, quite a few posters have expressed their scepticism about labs being ideal family dogs, due to their high exercise needs, strength etc. Someone said there are easier breeds out there to choose from.

Which ones? What breeds do you think are 'easier,' especially for novice owners? Certainly not my dog (German Wirehaired Pointer), they have a strong desire to hunt and need pretty firm consistent handling and an abundance of exercise (I will not be getting another!)

Obviously all dogs need training and work and there are going to be exceptions within high-maintenance breeds, but can you generalise do you think?

OP posts:

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TheHoundsBitch · 11/01/2015 23:24

That beagle meme applies perfectly to my ridgeback cross!

SistersOfPercy · 11/01/2015 23:26

My late Scottie was as mad as a box of frogs and took not a bit of notice of anything you said. he also had the breed trait of being very very stubborn and needed a firm hand. He was however exceptionally loveable which led me back to the breed.

The Scott we have now is very laid back indeed, calm and loveable he is a lapdog. He's also very bright and always willing to learn new tricks which he picks up very quickly. Complete opposite of the first really.

That's not to say he's been easy though, I don't think any dog is but he is certainly a fast learner.

elastamum · 11/01/2015 23:34

I have three labradoodles and two of them as adult dogs are the easiest most friendly lovely dogs you could ever meet. BUT as puppies they ate everything and needed so much exercise. Doodle 3 was rehomed to me and whilst lovely natured is as mad as a box of frogs. She looks like a muppet and thinks everything is awesome

LoathsomeDrab · 12/01/2015 04:57

"Easy", when it comes to dogs, is a bit subjective I think. The easiest dog is going to be the one with the right combination of breed traits, temperament and personality.

The easiest of my dogs are those of a breed carefully picked to match my requirements and from a breeder who bred for excellent temperaments and gave the puppies an excellent start.

HalberHahn · 12/01/2015 07:02

SOP my first dog was a Scottie. No, it's not a beginner's dog

She was wonderful, clever, very communicative (talked to me constantly, if you talked to her, she'd grumble back) and a great guard dog.
There was also quite some predjudice against the breed being no good with dc. I had two when she she was already elderly. She loved them to bits, was protective, not ever an issue.

whattheseithakasmean · 12/01/2015 07:11

Weren't Cavaliers breeded to basically be walking hot water bottles

Yes, designed to keep you warm in draughty castles

I miss my little hottie so much - he made it to 13 with hardly a vet visit - a well bred cavvy can be a fantastic pet, certainly an easy breed for a family.

nooyearnooname · 12/01/2015 07:17

Does anyone have a mini dachshund? DP and I want to get one but not sure if it's a good breed for first time dog owners.

DP will be at home all day most days, and on other odd days (not expecting this to be regular) we would get someone to come in and do walks etc so its not on its own for too long.

Are there any other small breeds that might be suitable for first timers?

rumbleinthrjungle · 12/01/2015 07:20

My cocker is gorgeous, sweet tempered and a clown but a real Velcro dog, has to be wherever you are and wants to do it too, easily bored, needs lots of attention and a lot of jobs to do as well as exercise. The breed is a working companion dog for hunting so it makes sense but I'd always had terriers or lurches who are much more gerroff I'm sleeping types for a good chunk of the day. Definitely emotionally lower maintenance!

QueenofLouisiana · 12/01/2015 07:26

I am a devoted border collie owner. I'd never recommend one as an easy dog or a first dog.
Walk, walk, walk,, hidey games, hidey games, hidey games. Eat. Repeat. That seems to be the ideal life for a collie.
However, she us now 11 and after her broken back last year there is less walking and much more hidey game. As long as she can sleep with the pack and gets regular conversation she is surprisingly happy.

hmc · 12/01/2015 09:11

Mythol - they are indeed as you describe. My boy is adorable - he's just constantly needing something to do / wants to play/ and needs 2 hours walking per day, phew!

SistersOfPercy · 12/01/2015 09:50

Halber both of mine have been brilliant with kids as well, never actually heard either growl in warning. I think youngest was about 4 when he came along, they loved eachother to bits.

Made me smile though, Murphy talks (the present Scott) though the last one didn't. He makes the strangest sounds it really does sound like he's having a conversation. I've heard a few people say Scotties are vocal.

His days are mostly spent either on my knee if I'm sat or watching the street for anyone approaching the house. He really is a lovely little thing.

Endler32 · 12/01/2015 10:54

All breeds have bad points and good points, its a case of finding the breed that suits your family. Working breeds such as labs are ok if you are a active family, have lots of time on your hands and lots of space. To us getting a lab x was not the right decision, although I have the time I am not that fit and there are days when I really don't want to walk 10 miles with the dog ( like today when it is wet, windy and cold and I feel ill ), my dh isn't really a dog person so it's left to me to deal with the dog, if dh helped it would probably be a lot easier.

I have had several different breeds and my favourite has to be the Staffordshire bull terrier, I know they get bad press but really they are the most loyal dogs, great with children and they don't care if you miss a walk or 2, they can be a little bit crazy at times and are not the easiest to train but being loving and loyal comes very naturally to them. They are not too big, their hair is not a huge problem ( unlike the lab ) and they don't do huge poo's .

I would recommend visiting a rescue centre, you can get a good idea of what breed suits you, most of the dogs are house trained, have been tested with other pets and know basic commands. Rescue centres also have puppies if you really want to get a pup.

30somethingm · 12/01/2015 11:13

Has anyone got a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever? Any thoughts on them? They are the most beautiful breed in my opinion.

Original poster

motmot · 12/01/2015 11:39

Oh there is a doghouse regular with a toller, she is very enthusiastic about their virtues! Only real issue I think is that they are pretty rare in the uk, so breeders might be far away from you and you might have to wait ages for a puppy. On the topic of rare dogs (but not at all 'easy') in my dream life I would love an otterhound...

OP posts:

hmc · 12/01/2015 11:56

My friend has a Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever. He is certainly different looking and quite attractive but less beautiful than a flatcoat retriever imo (the latter of which are generally streamlined and athletic, graceful and have lustrous shiny coats). Not that I am biased as a FCR owner

I don't really like her dog tbh - he recently bit my son for no reason (we were all there at the time) drawing blood. He doesn't seem people orientated and doesn't like to be petted or stroked. He seems a bit highly strung, shows moderate aggression to other dogs (not really hurt another yet but generally snarls at other dogs), and is on steroids for steroid responsive meningitis arteritis which made him scarily ill for quite some time until he was diagnosed and treatment commenced (maybe that tricky start is what made him the unprepossessing dog that he is). SRMA can affect tollers - might be advised to do some googling.

I am sure there are some tollers out there that are delightful - just giving you the low down on the one toller that I know

Owllady · 12/01/2015 12:43

The tollers I know are a bit like collies (mad)

The easiest dog I ever had was a Welsh collie, she was the most loyal, biddable dog. Which makes me think even though breeds have certain traits, sometimes it's just down to the dogs personality

MindReader · 12/01/2015 13:25

I am currently caring for a Basset.

I don't know if she is typical but she is gentle and cuddly to a fault (thinks she's a lapdog and she is BIG)
requires frequent shortish walks but will happily go on a longer one.
Happy to snooze the day away.
Doesn't steal, and amazing with the kids.

Howls if you leave her for even a short time (10 mins...) and quite stubborn though :)

BrendaBlackhead · 12/01/2015 14:19

Agree that all dogs have good and bad points. And no dog comes ready-trained!

My golden retriever was a pain as a puppy. He was boisterous, a terrible puller, nipped, was car sick, dog mad...

But, now at just over 18 months old he is the most loving dog imaginable. He adores people - all people. He cuddles, is very obedient (but I did do a lot of training) and in his whole life (from 7 weeks) only has had one accident in the house when we didn't hear him bark to go out (and that was when he was 9 weeks old). He's also (imo!) quite clever and has a large vocabulary and can do all sorts of crowd-pleasing tricks.

For a family, I'd nomiinate golden retriever as the king of pets. Although another bad point is the hair...

basildonbond · 12/01/2015 16:03

Ooh that's me with the Toller

He has been the easiest, sweetest dog you could imagine. I'm have waxed lyrical about his myriad perfections many times on the doghouse so I won't repeat myself but I really can't imagine a better family dog.

I think flat coat retrievers are lovely too but the ones I've met haven't exactly been blessed in the brains department so that and the cancer risk put me off

Gratuitous photo just cod I think he's gorgeous

LoveVintage · 12/01/2015 16:45

I agree that Staffies are beautiful dogs, with lovely temperaments and great with children. It is such a shame they get such bad press, and that rescue centres are full of them.

hmc · 12/01/2015 17:34

how very dare you basildon
Flatcoats are clever(ish) - ranked 18th out of 50, ahead of many well known breeds

Your toller sounds great (and looks cute) - I think my friend must just have a dodgy one!

reikizen · 12/01/2015 19:04

I agree it depends on your definition of 'easy'. If you get a dog you expect to have to take it for a walk at least twice a day surely no surprise there? I hate yappy dogs so would take the long puppy stage/food stealing/over excitement of a lab any day over a yapper, so each to their own.

ggirl · 12/01/2015 19:13

HMC -that intelligence index of dogs !! My dog comes in No 62 !!!!

Us Tibetan terrier owners like to think that our dogs refuse to do commands because they can't see the point of it...they don't blindly follow orders...they think bout it !!!! ...see see...she's a genius

SinclairSpectrum · 12/01/2015 19:34

Come on people - couldn't you just smooch that nose all day long??
Spins don't even appear on that list though....

hmc · 12/01/2015 19:56

Well indeed ggirl - Tibetan terriers are clearly free thinkers rather than followers of rules

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