Please help me choose: Golden or Basset/Beagle

[SarahSavesTheDay]

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.

I kind of assumed she was being.

After all, it's all that's ever recommended on here: a rescue dog, preferably a Staffie.

Ah Ok me being naive!! Do agree about the breed though, lovely dogs.

Why is it wrong to recommend rescues? We have a huge over breeding problem & so many dogs in rescues/fosters. Many pure breeds or surrendered dogs with full histories that you could get whatever you wanted with a little research.

It's not wrong .. But it can come across as rather patronising as if posters asking about particular breeds were too dim to understand... There can be lots of reasons why rescue dogs aren't right for everyone at all times

I don't think posters are too dim, but I do think often they don't understand the variety of breeds out there that are in rescues as it is a common misconception that they are all "Staffy X pitbulls "

A bit of research can bring up just about any dog you would like or be suitable for and thousands of dogs of all types are PTS every day because folks think it's better to go for a breeder pup- often getting puppy farm or backyard breeder results in error.

With the number of dogs needing re-homing (often direct from good homes) due to a change of circumstances mean the histories are often in place, and many are fostered first so they have a good assessment of their characters and any quirks that would make them unsuitable for certain homes.

One thing I would warn potential Bassett or Beagle owners who live in cities, is, they are hounds, and in my experience, the only dogs gobbier than either are miniature schnauzers! But, my StepDiL has the most beautifully trained beagle, and I personally know at least six others who, whilst they can certainly said to have 'character' are lovely dogs - the only difficult one I have know was my uncle's: lovely dog, but he ate through the conservatory, two washing machines and a fridge-freezer . They need to be given a job, and occupied.

Sarah, I'm sorry if you feel a bit bruised by the answers you have been given, perhaps you could read this thread pros and cons of breeds
And once you become a proud puppy owner, you will begin to understand why many of us feel so protective of our breeds: I have a Working Cocker Spaniel, I knew exactly what I was getting into; I knew about the energy levels, and only settled on him when I moved somewhere that was conducive to his needs. To be honest, in my previous house I would probably never have had a dog, but if we had moved somewhere smaller, less rural, I would have looked for a very different sort of dog.

Ultimately, posters here have the dog's, and your interests at heart. I hope you find the dog that completes your family.

OOps, hadn't refreshed my screen. Tough, what a darling little poppet. And the second one looks like a spaniel x terrier - a colleague has a very similar dog. I hope they find love.

Why will they be put down Tough? Can't they find homes? Poor little pups.

Basset hounds are really stupid, almost untrainable and they smell bad. Apparently all hounds have a different smell to other types of dogs, but i couldnt live with it, although the one I looked after for a while did have a weird skin condition, but apparently they are prone to them.

If I were you, id go to a rescue centre and get a cross breed.

Ah, now there's a whole other thread for discussion tough as bringing rescues in from abroad when we have so many of our own. :)

Another night maybe!

My golden retriever is exceptionally handsome and very bright. He can do all sorts of tricks and is very obedient, but with a streak of naughtiness. Bad points are hair, hair, hair everywhere. (But I've ceased to care, even when it's in the dinner.) They are very strong, and you have to bear in mind that although retrievers you see walking around may look docile, a lot of training needs to be put in as they are quite wilful and stubborn - more so than labradors generally.

When I was looking for a golden retriever, the lady from the society said that so many people wanted the pale cream type or nothing. Bizarre. My dog is bits of all sorts of colours ranging from pale to ginger. I don't get the desire for a certain colour unless you're hitting the show ring. Making sure they're not inbred and hip/eye scores are far more important.

On the page I was looking at I didn't see that message. I do apologise.

I did try to find a puppy, none were available/suitable (all the puppies in Many Tears for example were snapped up in days - for logistical reasons, we can't get to them quickly due to working hours, and they go very quickly).

I didn't ask you to spend hours looking so I think you are being a bit unreasonable. We have decided to [probably] go for a bought puppy because we have been looking at rescue puppies and have been unsuccessful. I'm sure other people on here don't have the restraints we have.

I am also acting on the advice of our trainer (who has worked training dogs for police purposes etc) and are going on his advice.

I'm sorry, I really don't think chastising people for not doing what you want them to do is really the way to go here.

I also didn't see the labradoodle in rescue. I have looked extensively for that breed in rescue - the only ones I can see have issues such as heart murmur, barking (we have close neighbours).

Am hiding this thread now.

I would also prefer a rescue puppy but as others have found its not that easy, especially if you have certain criteria. Or the Rescue does.
I suppose it not being easy weeds out people who aren't serious but although I will keep looking for a suitable puppy I imagine I will end up buying one instead.

Tough you've just broken my heart with those pics, I keep considering a second dog and would love to bring one from overseas as you get such a mixture but not being able to get ddog to meet another possible family member before they join us worries me a lot

mad look at Black retriever x rescue on FB
They all go into Foster so you can meet/assess them when they come over from Ireland and Spain.
No good for us as tHey prefer to home with another dog but you might find one

I've had a look there before so they are on the radar

Currently trying to decide if getting a second is the right thing to do, ddog is very very very good (happy to be left, happy to be with people, chilled out, happy to walk for miles or just have a quick 10 minute run, obedient, the list goes on) so getting another one who probably won't be as good does scare me a little