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The doghouse

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Original poster

Best breed?

56 replies

mummycxx · 14/02/2015 07:55

Hello everyone

Would like some advice, we are thinking of getting a puppy but unsure which breed? I have dd who is 3 and adores dogs my mil has one who she loves and the dog loves her she is a poodle crossed with a terrier.

We decided we would look into getting one we have a huge garden and have fields all around us so no worry about space.

My dh likes shitzus but he also would love a bull dog his wanted one since he was kid. But we would rather have a small breed?

Thanks

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
tabulahrasa · 15/02/2015 11:50

Shelties are about cocker spaniel sized, Lassie was a rough collie who are lab sized or a bit bigger.

Every animal with Shetland in front is small, sheepdogs, ponies, sheep, cows...they're all mini versions of stuff.

Aliiiii · 15/02/2015 12:24

Oooh bulldog, bulldog, bulldog GrinGrin shamelessly adds pic
Does it have to be a pup?

Best breed?
SunshineAndShadows · 15/02/2015 13:29

Shel tie does stand for Sgetland sheepdog
Lassie however was a rough collie. A different breed. Neither are usually aggressive and I think derailing a thread to slander a breed you can't even recognise is a bit off.

SunshineAndShadows · 15/02/2015 13:30

Ffs typos. But you get the gist!

Buttholelane · 15/02/2015 13:41

As others have said, shelters are small dogs.
Lassie was a rough collie.

I'm amazed at your comments natureplantar. It's you with you the American bulldog right?

After all the horrible, judgemental views made against the staffy/pit bull/bull breeds I really never expected you to come out with exactly the same.

Buttholelane · 15/02/2015 13:41

*shelties

Murphy29 · 15/02/2015 13:54

We've got a westie and he's great fun, not yappy and, most importantly, really good with kids. He's still a terrier though so the squirrels and foxes get chased round the park which is good exercise I suppose!

natureplantar101 · 15/02/2015 16:10

No my dog is a mastiff Hmm well in that case i wouldn't recommend a rough collie but when you Google sheltie ot comes up with huge dogs the size of lassie.

Feellikescrooge · 15/02/2015 16:29

Well I have a shih tzu and he is not at all yappy and a ball of energy. He spends a large amount of the day zipping about. We just had a two hour walk and he is now rampaging around the garden with my 4 year old nephew! He is incredibly affectionate and has no aggression towards other dogs but for some reason a local Pug, called Graham, hates him! I blame Graham!

insanityscratching · 15/02/2015 16:40

There's a dog around here that hates Eric too scrooge,I tell him he's jealous of his handsomeness Wink

YouveCatToBeKittenMe · 15/02/2015 17:22

I have a jack shit! He is lovely. He is a bit yappy but quite obedient and very affectionate. One disadvantage is his long shaggy coat and I am rubbish at brushing him as he won't keep still, so he is often knotty until he goes to the groomers for a hair cut.
He is just as happy cuddling on the sofa as he is running miles through ditches, hedges and mud after my spaniel. I've never had a little dog before and have been amazed at how much everyone loves him just because he is small, even when he is naughty!

Feellikescrooge · 15/02/2015 23:26

I agree small dogs are a bit of a revelation. We always had labs before who were lovely but very much family dogs. But the b dog is so affectionate he is a bit of a local star. A neighbour dog sits for me during the week and he has a whole different life I only find out about when a stranger greets him by name! He is like a pinup at the local Age Concern! A real romancer of the elderly!

Tanfastic · 15/02/2015 23:33

I have a Lhasa Apso and he's as grumpy as fuck ??. A stubborn little swine as well. I do love him though and I think Lhasas generally are nice dogs, I just got the one that doesn't like children....or men, or anyone but me come to think of it.

My mum has a Bichon and he's a lovely little thing, so I'd say Bichon.

Salene · 15/02/2015 23:39

Staffordshire bull terrier for sure

One of only two breeds actually recommended to be a dog suitable of living with children.

HappenstanceMarmite · 16/02/2015 00:01

Grin at Jack Shit! Is that really a breed now? Would love to see one x

Original poster
mummycxx · 16/02/2015 08:01

Thanks everyone. The poster who said about work?from the time my dh goes to work to the time I'm home is 4 hours and I have a hour lunch brake so I can come home in that so they really wouldn't be alone for long.

We see a cute little poodle xmas day with pink ears and big pink bow on she was so cute!

There is alot of breeds to think about! My dd is still obsessed with Dalmatians I blame disney for that one. Iv always love basset hounds till I see one the other day I didn't realise how big they got! He was huge!

Xx

OP posts:
LesleyKnopeFan · 16/02/2015 08:48

How exciting, a puppy. I'm 2 1/2 years in with my mini schnauzer and it's been hard work but we wouldn't be without her.

I have young kids too and I would suggest researching like mad before you get one. Find a very reputable breeder. Make sure you feel comfortable with them, there's lots of advice on here of what to look out for.

I had dogs growing up and figured that it would be straightforward (despite lots of people warning me how hard it would be). I looked at nearly every breed and researched, asked on here etc. Glad I did but I do think, in hindsight, a different breed might have been easier with such young children. I love my dog more than I can say and I wouldn't change a thing but it really was tough (to be fair, she isn't your average mini s, she's what we call a 'special edition' mad as a box of frogs )

Best of luck with your search and I hope you find the perfect pup for you. Pics please!

Booboostoo · 16/02/2015 08:58

I think you should think a bit more of your needs and find a breed that fits.

Leaving a dog for 4 hours is fine for an adult but may not work with a puppy who will take time off work to bring on the puppy until it is old enough? Will you cope with a 3 year old and walking a dog in all weathers? How do you feel about toilet accidents, mud and hair in your house? Be prepared for your 3yo to hate the puppy; it will jump on her and scratch her, push her over, chew her toys, etc. Have you thought about costs, including emergency vet treatment and dog care while you are on holiday? Will you be able to do the intense socialisation period for the first couple of months and on going regular training for the longer term?

Original poster
mummycxx · 16/02/2015 09:35

We have thought about all of that. My dd loves dogs as I said mil has one and she adores her and she is a puppy as well. They play lovlly together. We won't always need dog care as plenty of people will look after the dog if we go away we don't go abroad so if we went away we would find somewhere the dog could come with us. Dd wouldn't need to come on every walk so of course of he weather is bad I wouldn't drag her with me would I? At the end of the day we have a happy home and would like to giver a puppy a happy house to live in

OP posts:
Booboostoo · 16/02/2015 10:30

I didn't write my post to put you off. I just mentioned some things that usually crop up in the 'my puppy is a nightmare, I didn't know what I was getting into' threads. Of course many people cope just fine with their new puppy and I am sure you will be one of them.

To find the right breed think about the amount of energy you want the dog to have, their need to engage in activities like agility or very long walks, how much grooming you want to be doing, how much mud you can tolerate in your house, how much time you want to spend mentally stimulating the dog with training, etc.

Booboostoo · 16/02/2015 10:37

Dalmatians are very high energy dogs, they require a lot of exercise. While Basset hounds are scent hounds so you may find that all training goes out of the window when they catch a scent. Look more for breed characteristics than whether a dog looks cute or not.

JoffreyBaratheon · 16/02/2015 11:31

I'm not much use as we've always had bull terriers or staffies, and they're not 'beginners'' dogs, if I'm honest. But the best dogs - full of character, funny and totally people-centred. Great with kids, too. We currently have a staffy/JRT cross and she's really not for the faint-hearted!

I used to work in a kennels and we had a sheltie come in. They are very small. But look like a collie. It was very sensitive and nervy - other people who worked there told me that was typical of them. I dunno if it's true. 'Lassie' type dog are the huge collie thingies. Shelties are indeed a different breed.

JoffreyBaratheon · 16/02/2015 11:35

Dalmatians we had in the kennels from time to time, as I think the breeder who owned the kennels knew Dalmatian breeders and occasionally had them in our kennels to whelp. The one I remember was a lovely, lovely dog but I know they can be a total handful, are bigger than you'd think, and will need a crap tonne of exercise. They have been overbred, like labradors and other dogs popularised by film and TV and ads, so I would be willing to bet there are many around with temperament problems.

YouveCatToBeKittenMe · 16/02/2015 12:25

Jack shit isn't a breed...I just call him that because that is his cross and it makes people laugh when they ask what he is! Grin

Best breed?
PurpleAlert · 16/02/2015 12:49

I have had shelties all my life. Lovely little things- loyal and very intelligent. Here's my little sweetie!

Best breed?
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