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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Please help me choose: Golden or Basset/Beagle

49 replies

SarahSavesTheDay · 30/10/2015 17:53

After much deliberation, these are my two choices. I am also really dazzled by German wirehaired pointers.

I have 2 youngish boys (almost 10 and 13), we live in London and have a reasonably big house.

I've googled quite a bit, so am interested in personal experience. If I were to get a golden, I would be leaning towards a blond/'English Cream' (I realise the name is controversial).

thanks.

OP posts:
daisydotandgertie · 30/10/2015 21:28

My advice is to carefully examine the characteristics of each breed. They are all vastly different in purpose, trainability and temperament.

The colour you choose is irrelevant when compared to the importance of picking the breed of dog with the most appropriate behaviours and needs for your family and situation.

Cookingongas · 30/10/2015 21:31

Basset hounds and beagles are very very different breeds. I've had both- they look similar in colours but character not so much. My preference ar Basset- bit I like a character and disobedience is a challenge IMO.

Floundering · 30/10/2015 21:35

Hounds slobber, Goldies shed, all gprgeous breeds but sounds like you are going on looks alone, have you looked into getting a rescue?

Wolfiefan · 30/10/2015 21:35

I would look at the energy levels and exercise/grooming requirements of each breed really carefully.

Noitsnotteatimeyet · 30/10/2015 21:52

They're completely different kinds of dogs so bit difficult to compare really

Personally I'm not a huge fan of the huge, cream golden retrievers as they've moved so far from the original breed - massive generalisation but ime they tend to be very good-natured but not terribly bright, the ones we know lumber about and are not very athletic. They do get absolutely enormous, especially the males - one of my friends can never let her 10 and 13 year old be in control of their dog as he's so heavy he can pull them over if he decides to investigate something on the other side of the street

Basset hounds are an example of extreme breeding imo - they have all kinds of back and skin problems due to their conformation- they're typical hounds in that they're led by their nose and can be tricky to train

Beagles look gorgeous especially as puppies but can be a bugger to train - recall can be a problem as if they get a scent they can be oblivious to everything else and as they're quite fast they can get pretty far away in a short space of time- our neighbour's beagle dug her way out of their garden one day, scarpered and was never seen again Sad

Wolfiefan · 30/10/2015 21:53

Noitsnot seems to know all the breeds well!
Guess from my name what I'd love?!
Grin

ChristinaParsons · 30/10/2015 21:58

The lighter the colour in golden retrievers the more interbred they have been, lighter they are dumber they are. A friend of mine had one which would never turn left! Their true colour is more like an Irish setter. Bassets come with many health problems unless you can get one from a working strain. Beagles are untrainable to recall so you will never be safely able to let one off a lead. Lovely dogs except for that. German wire haired pointers are lovely although quite boisterous as pups.

laundryeverywhere · 30/10/2015 22:01

I would choose a golden of those breeds. My neighbour has a basset and they are inclined to health problems, I have also known several naughty beagles. But I think any of them could be nice family pets if you buy from an excellent breeder who puts health and temperament first, and work very hard on training, socialising and so on.

Hoppinggreen · 30/10/2015 22:15

Golden Retriever.
Also ok at Tollers - if you can find one

mrslaughan · 31/10/2015 09:55

Wired haired pointer - I would say no to in London, .....
Beagle I wouldn't have in London
Bassett I don't know....
So I guess out of your list that just leaves goldens.....BUT I fear you are going on looks and not considering energy levels and training needs........
You also don't say if you are an experienced dog owner?
Discover dogs is a great way to really open your eyes to all the different breeds and talk to owners about what the demands of their breed are.
But first you need to know what you are prepared to do in terms of exercise on a daily basis ( many people think they will walk the fab to school with kids, but in reality this is often impossible, dogs not allowed on school grounds and not allowed to be tied up outside - something many of us would not consider doing anyway)....

mudandmayhem01 · 31/10/2015 10:05

I am not sure that hounds are really suitable dogs for central London. I have owned a pointer, amazing dog but needed vast amounts of exercise otherwise she would be destructive. I know a few people who own beagles, terrible recall. Bassetts, health problems. Our current dog is a lurcher, the best dog we have ever owned. He is scruffy, doesn't come in a designer colourways, has no papers!

Tiredbadger · 31/10/2015 10:11

I have a 3 year old beagle who has a perfectly acceptable recall. It took a lot more training than my other dog (Dalmatian) to get her to come back but it can be done if you put the time in. She has a wonderful temperament, very chilled and is amazing with my toddler.

villainousbroodmare · 31/10/2015 10:16

Of those, a golden retriever. Nice family dog if you put in the time to train and it gets plenty of exercise.
Bassets beset with ear, skin and spinal problems and don't listen.
Beagles don't listen.
Wire haired pointer needs running space and an experienced hand.
A dog that don't listen to you is really no fun.
You do sound as if you are basing this decision very much on looks. Most dogs look very nice, in fact, and personality and fitting into your family is far more important.

Original poster
SarahSavesTheDay · 31/10/2015 21:14

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Why do you think I'm basing this on looks? My SIL has a basset beagle who we absolutely love, and my good friend has a cream golden who is not only gorgeous but has a delightful disposition. This is the basis of my search.

I am aware that beagles are renowned for their obstinance. They are pretty lovely when crossed with basset hounds, though - a delight to snuggle with.

Lastly, I have fallen in love twice with a wirehaired pointer in the past year. They are unbelievably charming dogs. I was unaware that they require an 'experienced hand' - can you elaborate?

OP posts:
WeAllHaveWings · 31/10/2015 23:07

You do realise that just because your SILs basset/beagle cross is lovely doesn't mean they all are don't you? They may be more beagle or more basset, you can never be sure with a cross breed. You need to do thourgh research of both breeds characteristics, needs and dhallenges before deciding if this would be the dog for you, then find a reputable breeder (unlikely with this cross).

The same with the other breeds you seem to have chosen on very little research.

Floundering · 01/11/2015 01:09

Beagle x Bassett??? Potential nightmare, your sister was lucky!

Whatever dog you cboose, please consider a rescue. There are a lot of gorgeous, well bred dogs with histories, just in rescue due to bad family circumstances such as bereavement or divorce do have a look at some breed rescue sites.

scrivette · 01/11/2015 01:53

I have a (rescued) Bassett. A lovely friendly, family dog with a heart of gold and so loyal, but very very stubborn. He is 10 and is in very good health. I would recommend a Bassett but only if you can cope with their stubbornness and difficulty to train.

IAmNotAMindReader · 01/11/2015 12:18

We have a golden that's a mix of working and show lines. She's smaller, shorter coated and darker than the show parent and calmer than the working but is intelligent.

If you're considering a working breed then some thought needs to be put into the different characteristics of each type (show v working). It can be almost as vast as different breeds.

Original poster
SarahSavesTheDay · 01/11/2015 20:35

Thanks everyone, I have decided to go to the pound and take one of the pitbull/staffy mixes that they offer.

OP posts:
mrslaughan · 01/11/2015 20:51

great!!!!! you were obviously interested in everyones opinions and I really took them on board......
Seriously if you don't really want to listen to what people who know the breeds have to say, why ask?

I took from your post you were basing it on looks.....because you talk about being "dazzled"

Staffies are great dogs - but not for everyone, and I know many recommend on here rescues, but also ,many reccomend pedigrees, but everyone recommends research the breed(and breeder) if going for a pedigree, or if going to a rescue, one that does a comprehensive assessment of the dogs they have so they can match them to the situation they are going into.

tinymeteor · 01/11/2015 21:47

I gather the OP has moved on but just for the record: Beagles are not an easy dog in some ways but very easy in others. They get a rather bad rep on here for some reason.

Our 2year old beagle now has better recall than half the labs, terriers, etc that I know. He is a scent hound so will always want to explore a certai distance but he is also a pack dog and a glutton, so good leadership and good treats can work wonders. He walks off lead every day for more than an hour in a large city park. We have trained him to walk to heel as we approach the park road and wait to cross with us. It took lots of thought and patience but it absolutely can be done. You've got to like a challenge but it's a very rewarding breed to train in my experience.

Wolfiefan · 01/11/2015 21:51

This thread took an odd turn
Confused
I want a wolfhound. I have been researching for months. Cost, exercise needs, health issues, likelihood it would eat the cats, lifespan, decent breeders etc etc etc
I would worry about anyone being "dazzled" by a dog breed.
I like dobermans, vizslas, ridgebacks, Dalmatians, setters, Rottweilers etc etc but it has to be about more than just meeting one nice dog or liking how they look.

clam · 01/11/2015 22:16

Did you really, Sarah? Hmm

(surprised it only took 3 posts before rescue was suggested)

Floundering · 02/11/2015 17:44

Well great that the OP went for a rescue but bit of turnaround to go from a Goldie or Beagle to a Staffy x!!!

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 02/11/2015 18:18

I think the Op was being sarcastic. She didn't mention being dazzled by the staffs, although if she has finally decided to do some research on the actual suitability of the breed she will have discovered that they do make very nice family pets. Still, hopefully she has learnt to base her choice of family pet on a little more than dazzling looks.