What sort of dog?

[lougle]

We're looking to get a dog. We have 3 children (9, 7, 6), a cat (around 6 years old, who lived with a dog in the past but hasn't for around 3 years) and 4 chickens (securely penned).

Our requirements are that it can live happily with the above and will be good with other dogs when on walks.

We live in a fairly rural village, fields & streams within 3 minutes' walk and a 5 minute walk from our village centre. About 10 minutes by car from our local woods.

Oh I'm so pleased for you OP. And Trigger, of course.

Does he seem to be settling in well?

Aw, he looks like he's loving his new life.

He's settling beautifully. He was impeccably behaved for my Mum and Dad today (he went to their house as I was at my Uni course).

A slight panic arose when I realised that we haven't yet picked up a poo and we've had him 4 days. But then I found his hiding place -he's so neat and tidy that he did his business in a patch of long grass in the corner of the garden.

He also slept in our room contentedly last night.

I'm so pleased with him.

Lovely boy, he looks great :) :) so delighted for you both

Fantastic. I wish I'd trained ours to only use one area of the garden. Our old dogs used to at our last house, but I neglected to teach this lot and have lived to regret it.

We have you to thank bubble2bubble

Aw, he looks so happy and you sound so happy - 'tis lovely to see

Poo ALL over the garden here (which we do pick up, you understand0, he goes in all sorts of random places, but ONLY in the garden. It does not matter how long we take him out - he will only go in our garden...

No thanks necessary lougle :)
Someone, somewhere has spent time training this boy, which makes it all the more baffling how he ended up in the pound. I really can't take any credit for his good manners, for he came to me like that and didn't spend enough time with my unruly pack of mutts to unlearn He also just has an exceptionally nice character.
How is it going with the cat?

The cat is making it quite clear that she is the boss. I can get them within about 2 feet of each other now -tonight he's been on the floor and she's been on the bed. He is so good. He averts his eyes in complete and utter deference to her greater being.

Curiosity is slowly overcoming her fear and she's edging closer all the time. He, on the other hand, couldn't care less where she is. He will be friends if she wants it and is quite happy to ignore her if not.

That sounds great. It's very early days. By Christmas you'll be posting a picture of them curled up together I reckon ;)

A friend's child meet him earlier. Her Mum has just text to say that it's the first time she's seen her looking at ease with a dog