A new dog after a bad experience.

[mumnosbest]

I am just considering at the moment but would one day like a dig again.

We had a dog for about 2yrs, which sadly ended in rehoming. We jumped in without research or much thought and ended up with a pup completely unsuited to our family, lifestyle and (lack of) experience.

I don't want to make the same mistakes again so am starting my research early. I would love to rehome a dog but worry that we wouldn't really know what we were getting, history or breed. I'd like to get a breed of dog where I can check its character traits as it needs to be low-energy, child friendly and small. I've met a few king Charles cavaliers and they seem to fit the bill but also seem very popular and I'm guessing difficult to find one that needs rehoming. Don't want a puppy either.

Any advice or ideas? Thanks

Why don't you consider a breed cat such as a Siamese? They're incredibly "dog-like" without any of the issues.

No need to walk them, they're intelligent, playful, loyal and affectionate. They even talk to you and you can toilet train them to use a human loo!

Thanks. I had a moggie for 15yrs who was very cat like. Although I lived her I think it put DH off as she was very unaffectionate (unless she wanted something). I quite like the idea of a dog-like cat but are they really that affectionate?
Also I'd worry, where I live, that I couldn't let a cat like that out for fear of cat knapping :(

Grit breeds areincreasingly available fir rehiring as they've become popular and get discarded. Search for breed specific rescues - the kennel club can help

Would you mind sharing what you felt went wrong with your first dog? Just so that people can perhaps see what would / wouldn't work for you.

Would you consider getting involved with a dog charity so you can get to know more breeds before making a commitment? You could do anything from helping out at a kennels to something like "borrow my doggie".

I don't blame you for not wanting another pup, they are such hard work. We've just adopted a 10 month old lab and he's a little younger than I'd have liked tbh! He's doing Ok though.

Thanks for your replies.
What is a grit?

Our first dog was supposed to be a GRT (which had I done some research,is a working dog, high energy and a bit snappy). It turned out he was also mixed GSD (don't vask how). We had him as a pup and through ignorance/naivity left basic behaviour training too late so he was a real handful. He was very protective of my DCs and territorial. Anyway long story short, he was surprised by DSs friend and bit him.

The main problems were that we chose completely the wrong breed for us, didn't research and had no idea how to train a pup.

I am too busy to take on voluntary work but maybe could take part in borrow my doggie. My worry there would be again getting the right dog. Having 3 DCs aged 4-11, I wouldn't want to put them at any risk or the dog and would worry they'd become attached very quickly.

lettherebe good luck with your puppy! You're braver than me. Loved ours but human babies were far easier

King Charles Spaniels are the ones with a very domed head (and big problems as a result), whereas i would have said there were more Cavaliers around (still lots of health issues, but some good breeders are helping with that).

The Cavalier Club has links for rehoming/rescue.

I have racked my brain and cant work out what a GRT is!

If you decide to get a new dog, definitely sign up for training classes. My brother has a retired Greyhound who is beautiful and very, very lazy! He was only 2 when he got him....so quite young and well behaved.

Cavvies are perhaps the gentlest and sweetest of all dogs. They have more than their share of health problems - at least half will develop heart disease and some suffer from a horrendous thing called syringomyelia where the skull is too small for the brain. They can also suffer the issues of any dog bred with bulging eyes. I do think that if you can get a healthy one, you won't get a softer, easier family dog. If you do get one, make sure you insure him.

GRT is a JRT lol sorry

Thanks, lots of really helpful advice here. Had read about health issues of cavies but there seem to be health issues with most breeds. are cavies worse? A friend suggested lurchers or greyhounds but I'm not keen. They look so skinny and remind me of a bad dream I had (silly I know).

Cavvies have really bad health problems, they're one of the most badly bred breeds. But they are lovely characters! Many tears has lots looking for new homes but most need to be rehomed with another dog as they're ex breeders.

We have a rough collie which seems a lot of work due to their fur but it's not really. They are the softest most loving dogs, ours adores everyone. They don't need loads of exercise despite but definitely benefit from training, like all dogs. Probably not for you but just to say don't discount bigger dogs, all the laid back dogs I know are larger! All the little ones are pocket rockets!

That should be despite being a big dog!

Thanks, haven't discounted bigger dogs, just looking for something my DS won't find too strong for walking and DDs as they grow up. DS is keen to walk and won't be discouraging him .

Lurchers don't have to be skinny - it depends on their mix. I have one who is probably greyhound x saluki and is a skinny minny, and one who is rather like a long legged, deep chested, retriever in build.
Both of mine though have absolutely lovely temperments, will be as laid back or as energetic as you like (happy with no walk at all if its raining, or will run as long as we let them on the hills), aren't in your face dogs, and don't yap. Ddog2 could honestly be walked by a toddler as he behaves perfectly for anyone, and neither do the jumping around on the lead I see a lot of small dogs doing.

I wouldn't let an 11 year old walk a dog alone tbh. Not because of your dog but other dogs and owners. The amount of badly behaved dogs I see and useless owners on walks...it just would not be fair to expect a child to deal with that. If you're there you can supervise. In that case, size is less of an issue maybe.

I wouldnt get one til your youngest is about 8 or so. Are you hoping to avoid training by not getting a puppy btw as a rehome might need a more experienced owner and more training not less, depending of course on dog. I'm not surprised a jrt turned out to be hard work - avoid any other terrier as they are a pain in the bum (disclaimer: love em to bits though :) )
There are apparently a lot of small breed pugs/shugs/cavapoo types now ending up.in rehome (but watch out for health probs as a lot are puppy farmed poor things)

Agree with PP, not safe for 11 yr old to walk dog alone. Other dogs, and owners, can do unexpected things. My lovely calm friendly dog was attacked by a rotweiller that suddenly ran across the road, dragging its owner till he fell over and let go of the lead.
Wouldn't want a child to have to deal with that.

I would avoid a dog if I was you as you had to rehome one which would have caused massive upset to the dog and you claim to be "too busy".

As has been said, a rescue could well need more training than a pup. My vote for small breed is a Bichon. My BF breeds and shows them and if I wasn't so into gundog breeds I'd seriously consider one.
Failing that, you said you like dog-like cats - how about a Maine Coon? Size of a dog and very like one in temperament

Also I would be worried about Dog theft & how your DS would feel if someone told him to hand over the Dog. Unfortunetly it happens.

I would also consider waiting if you consider yourself 'too busy'. Agree that it is not fair for a young child to walk a dog without adult present.

Four year olds are still very young and unpredictable, get ill a lot (do you have anyone to walk dog when child ill?), and need a lot of attention. Personally, I found things began to slacken off when our youngest was about 8 and that is when we got our first dog.

Even if you don't have a zoomy JRT, the things that I find take time are the training classes, picking up dog poo (incl hunting it down in the garden!), cleaning wet and dried mud up, washing dog bedding regularly so house doesn't stink, washing floor of crates for same reason, grooming, letting out and in and in and out and in again, all day (!). That takes hours of my time a week, without even starting to walk or play with dog. I know you have had a dog and already know this, but I wonder if you have forgotten and are blaming the breed, when the other factors would remain the same regardless of breed?

Yes to big dogs! Yes especially to labs or lab crosses. What about a retired blind dog? Saw some this week-end and they are such gorgeous creatures. I think they retire at about ten, but some retire earlier if they lose confidence or something like that. Or maybe an ex-blind dog that has an injury and doesn't need too much walking.

I'd consider an older dog either from a rescue or through a responsible advert, that is already well trained and not so energetic. After my grandad's dog died he wasn't well enough or strong enough to get a puppy or ill-trained dog, we saw an advert in the pet shop window for a 7yr old Jack Russell as the owner was ill, the owner went round and visited the house and offered a trial run, she is the calmest sweetest dog, doesn't yap, loves cuddles, goes crazy with footballs and will walk without a lead, she's now 11 and still fighting fit.

I wasn't suggesting my 11yr old walk him alone. I would be with him. Apart from dog issues I wouldn't want him walking alone in the woods/fields with or without a dog. Nor am I too busy to take care of a dog, just too busy to get involved with a charity. Between myself and DH there's always someone in and I remember how much time it takes looking after a dog but also how rewarding it is.
I'm thinking about looking more seriously next year when DD is 5 and at school. I like the idea of an older dog and am not adverse to training classes, just ideally don't want a young dog that chews furniture and isn't toilet trained. I love labs too, sister had them but both had arthritis and hip probs. Is that common in labs?

Do think it unfair to say because we had one rehomed we shouldn't have another we know the heartache and worked damn hard to find him his perfect home which is why we're taking time to make the right choices this time.