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The doghouse

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Original poster

Pointer v Beagle puppy

42 replies

Lou020208 · 04/08/2015 22:56

Hi, we are after our first puppy. We ideally wanted a beagle but after reading how a difficult they are to train and also naughty we started to look for other breeds, at the moment we are considering a Pointer.

Can anyone tell us if a beagle or a pointer would be a good first dog? We have two children aged 6 and 4 but we are an active family. Both myself and my husband are runners and like exercise.

Amy advise?
Thanks

OP posts:
mistlethrush · 05/08/2015 14:28

Whippet x type lurchers might be your best bet, going by your description of what you want... (A lurcher is a cross between a sight hound eg greyhound, whippet, saluki with a working dog, eg collie, alsatian, terrier etc). I can understand why you're aiming for a puppy with the cats at home. There are often puppies in rescues though, so you don't necessarily need to go to a breeder. If you do, please do go to a KC registered one - you are more likely to get a healthy puppy that way, and not one that's been shipped in from goodness knows where.

imabusybee · 05/08/2015 22:03

Definitely second the suggestions of lurcher or whippet they're fab dogs and sound perfect for you

Please consider a rescue. A rescue can be already tolerant to cats if you ask for one that's cat friendly - whereas a cat friendly puppy is a rare find & whilst you're training it to be tolerant your poor cat(s) is/are suffering. Plus there are so many pups / young dogs in rescues looking for a home!

mrslaughan · 05/08/2015 22:20

For a first dog you have picked two challenging breeds - beagle , gorgeous but don't go there.

Pointer - I only know German pointers and if that's what you are thinking of, they are far from easy. High energy and breed to work, so are best with a job.....not a breed I would think of as a first dog. They are quite fashionable at the moment it seems - there were 3 in our puppy class ( out of 10?) I remember all of them were v challenging, I think in hindsight as they were all pets , and we're all looking for something to do. I remember one night when our dogs were nearing a year and one of the ladies broke down in tears as hers again did the opposite of what she wanted and then started jumping up on her.....she wasn't big and it was really intimidating.

I think the suggestion of a lurcher or whippet are really good ideas.

mogmum · 06/08/2015 16:50

mrslaughan As a beagle owner ( I've got 2) Why do you say not to go there?

Only being curious

SmileAndNod · 06/08/2015 20:34

As someone who would love a beagle I'm interested too.

I know they have dreadful recall, take ages to train, are ruled by their nose (and tummy), likely to escape / run off given half the chance, hate being done, can be quite vocal...

Apart from all of that, what's not to like?

They seem to have a bad reputation. When I first met a real life beagle I was amazed at how calm and chilled it was - not how i imagined them at all. They're not really that bad - are they?

mogmum · 06/08/2015 21:15

*SmileAndNod I've messaged you about beagles

mrslaughan · 06/08/2015 21:30

Because mogmum, and there are always exceptions to the rule, all the ones I have known have been incredibly food driven - thrives in there own homes and amazing escape artists who will also theive from neighbours benches (I had one that lives in our neighbourhood that would come in and steal. These finely honed scent skills also mean that out walking they hit in a scent and become deaf to recall. Most I know can't be trusted off lead for very long, if at all.

Don't get me wrong , I think they are fantastic little dogs, and if I had the space and the patience (oh and time, which you are always short of with a family)I would love one, but I am not a novice dog owner, and even then I would hesitate.

Oh and then there is the baying.....

Floralnomad · 06/08/2015 22:58

A poodle fits all your requirements .

WaitingForFrostyMornings · 07/08/2015 20:12

A cocker spaniel would suit you. Family oriented, easy to train and if you go for the working cocker instead of the show variety their fur is easier to manage and shorter than the show variety.

Jedi1 · 07/08/2015 20:26

My best friend as a child had a pointer, he was HUGE, but an adorable soppy thing, we used to dress him and all sorts.

I love beagles but wouldn't have one - they can be a nightmare to train.

Not very helpful, sorry.

What about a whippet?

Kleptronic · 07/08/2015 20:30

I agree with everyone else. You want a whippet or a lurcher. As a first time dog owner, with your criteria, they are the best type of dog for you. Or a Manchester Terrier, but they are very rare.

Adarajames · 08/08/2015 01:35

Waitingfor - a working cocker may have a more manageable coat, but they need a lot more exercise and training, their busy brains need a job to do, so not an easy first dog or for busy family

needastrongone · 08/08/2015 18:30

Just to make an exception to the rule and state that my working cocker, from a long line of field champions, is the easiest, most gentle, placid dog most folk around here know, and would rather spend the day on his back having his belly rubbed than chasing rabbits!

TwistAndShout · 09/08/2015 09:08

As an owner of a 4 month old whippet, I would agree with all that's been said already. A whippet is the perfect dog!

QueenJoan3 · 09/08/2015 18:54

Another recommendation for sight hounds. Lurchers will run and run then curl up and sleep, they are a lot more chilled than pointers or beagles. I'm hesitating to recommend Podenco's, spanish hunting hounds and members of the sight hound family, I love mine and he fits all your requirements (except the shedding). He can take as much exercise as you give him, great with kids and cats, good recall and a very calm chilled temperament. However I think we got lucky and most people would not recommend them as a first dog.

LBOCS · 09/08/2015 19:16

I'm a first time dog owner and we have a lurcher - only he's a cross cross, lurcher x field spaniel, so a bit less 'delicate' looking than a lot of lurchers can be. He's the most fantastically natured dog, and is good as gold. I would definitely third (fourth?!) the advice upthread and suggest you look at lurchers too :)

timeforachangeofusername · 10/08/2015 18:49

We got our GSP when the kids were 2, 4 and 6 - he is an amazing family dog. He has to have two off the leads walk a day but the duration isn't that big of a deal for him.

He hates being on his own though and that is tricky, for a variety of reasons, he can't come with me to lots of things e.g. swimming lessons, school run, etc. (He would really prefer to live with my father in law who is retired with a black labrador so that he would have continuous company.)
My point being the exercise isn't an issue, the separation anxiety can be.

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