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The doghouse

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

What's special about your breed of dog?

169 replies

ashesoffire · 16/12/2016 21:05

I have 4 dogs. St Bernard's anybody? Any experience? Or any other suggestions. Sell your dog breed to me! Crosses welcome as are photos.

OP posts:
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Setterlover · 17/12/2016 08:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CMOTDibbler · 17/12/2016 08:25

Like Mistlethrush, I have lurchers. One of mine was bred for hare coursing and is probably greyhound x saluki

pros:
V elegant
V fast - watching him run full pelt on the hills is one of my favourite things
Incredibly affectionate

Cons:
Really a bit thick
Can't do steering when running fast
Evil farts if he has any wheat

My other is probably doberman x whippet and I've been told would have been bred for deer coursing

Pros:
You are never short of someone to talk to. We really do get stopped every 10 minutes to talk about him
Very loyal
Bright
Does the most amazing full speed run and pivot 180' and continue running at the same pace
Completely stunning looking dog

Cons
Food obsessed
Loves fox poo

Whitney168 · 17/12/2016 08:51

Rough Collies here - not a common dog these days among those who didn't grow up with them. If I had a fiver for every time I've heard 'oooh look, Lassie' or 'you must like grooming' when out with three of them ... they get muddy, it dries and falls off on the kitchen tiles and I sweep it up!

Ideal temperament for me - intelligent, but not 'wired' - very people oriented, but not needy and clingy. Happy to relax around the house and garden, but love their family. Very easy to live with.

A dog that is even more beautiful as an adult than as a puppy - can't be bad.

Easy to walk - non combative, don't want to lose you - won't be climbing the walls if circumstances dictate shorter walks sometimes, but go as far as you want when available. (Which is not to say that I don't think they need regular exercise, all dogs do mentally as much as physically.) Ease of walking is not to be under-estimated, I feel so sorry for people who can't enjoy walks because of disobedient/aggressive dogs - walking through all seasons is one of the great joys of dog ownership for me.

Coat - needs regular light attention, but nowhere near as bad as it looks. I like the grooming, but obv not the dog for anyone who isn't prepared to do a bit. I think the breed has suffered from vets' obsessions with neutering - most dogs don't need it to live easily, and dogs with double coats can be a nightmare to maintain after neutering, it can totally change the character of the coat and turn it in to a woolly mess, and you won't know until you've done it.

Healthy breed, largely. Eye tests required as puppies, but mild eye issues non-progressive and don't affect the dog at all. Hip scores generally good.

footballwidow12 · 17/12/2016 08:55

It's all about the golden retriever in our household (well my mums actually but I was brought up with one) they are the most beautiful dogs with a really lovely temperament. Great with kids and adults. Enjoy nice long walks but also are really chilled out in the house. The only downside I would say is the smell of wet dog (take ages to dry out fully), obviously the moulting is an issue! Oh and they have temperamental tummies but that shouldn't be an issue with a decent dog food. Smile

BastardGoDarkly · 17/12/2016 09:02

Rhodesian ridgeback, although not sure how typical of his breed he is.

Pros. . Gentle, kind, excellent recall, walks by me wonderfully, excellent with other dogs, kids, anyone really, affectionate, and so so beautiful to look at ☺

Cons.. Bit thick, smelly ears.

What's special about your breed of dog?
RubyWinterstorm · 17/12/2016 09:05

Love the pointy hounds by mistle, trionic and Cmot

I have a rejected lurcher,,a greyhound/deerhound/whippet cross. She looks like a small greyhound, all slinky.

Easiest dog, all she needs is an hours walk/run and a bit of love every now and then, warm beddie, sleeps a lot.

Never barks or jumps up at people, so even people who normally don't like dogs like her.

She does very good sad faces, communicates mainly with her eyes.

When she runs at full pelt (zoomies!) it fills me with joy, so amazing to watch!

I love any whippets/greys/lurchers now ... it's catching!

willdoitinaminute · 17/12/2016 09:13

We are on our third lab (working) although the latest one has a bit of show in her. She has boundless energy, is super intelligent but lacks common sense, loves people and other dogs, chews, is easy to train and loves us beyond measure. She has won over my DH who didn't want another dog because it breaks his heart when we loose them. He was determined not to fall for this one and has not walked her until this week, I was expecting a moan fest from him about how misbehaved she is, but no, his only comment was that with work she could be a brilliant dog.
Best of all the show part of her means she also thinks she is a lap dog and lives for cuddling up on the settee, a privalidge none of our previous labs have had.

gettingtherequickly · 17/12/2016 09:56

4 greyhounds here, gorgeous dogs, very good with kids or old people, gentle and kind, little walking required.
Not intelligent, one of ours is destructive, very food orientated and I would never let ours off lead unless in an enclosed area.

swooosh · 17/12/2016 10:12

Pluto described my Beagle to a tee Grin

Best bits:

  • Is the most affectionate dog ever. Wants to sit as close to people as possible. Very friendly and will soon plonk herself next to someone she's never met before and demand belly rubs.
  • Eats anything. Both good and bad point I guess!
  • Ours doesn't bark but I think she's broken.
  • She's great at home alone, our neighbour pops in and out but he says she's always asleep in bed upstairs and can never be arsed to go out with him Grin
  • Again as Pluto said, nothing sticks! Any dirt comes straight off.
  • She's SO soppy. Especially with children and puppies.

Bad bits:

  • There's a lot of shedding. She's not keen on being groomed but she's easily bribed.
  • Can't go off the lead apart from one area that she's gone to since a pup, she's now 10.
  • Eats everything Grin she's eaten whole packs of frozen chicken, loaves of bread, 1.5L of double cream, eggs and sugar including the cling film (!!), wrappers, chewing gum. She has an iron stomach though, never unwell.
  • She's a knobber to walk. Stops and sniffs everything. Takes hours to get anywhere. Also loves going out on a Saturday and Sunday morning because someone may have dropped a bit of kebab on their way home from town the previous night.

But we love her Grin

What's special about your breed of dog?
AuntieMay · 17/12/2016 10:12

Airedale Terrier - absolutely the best dog ever! Complete clown but very very intelligent, unfortunately uses his intelligence for his own good🙄
He is now 11 1/2 and showing signs of his age - can't imagine life without him
Despite his size and crocodile mouth ( Irish terrier pup owners - it never goes away) he has never hurt anybody and loves everybody and everything ( except maybe cats)

What's special about your breed of dog?
Shosha1 · 17/12/2016 10:27

I have a Staffie, she is only happy sitting on you.

Sulks like a three year old

Will only eat the food she likes, the food she likes changes daily, like a three year old

Cries if we close the back door in the winter.
Not that she wants to go out, but you know, she just might.

Gives lots of wonder full cuddles, great with the grandkids, DHs constant companion.

Picture shows having a silk as I was knitting do she couldn't fit on me

What's special about your breed of dog?
ScienceRocks · 17/12/2016 10:57

I have a Catalan sheepdog. She retired to us from a breeder aged six years and is super-chilled and calm, completely devoted to me and my dc, barely needs a lead because she never ventures far from us on walks, and is quite the local celebrity (loads of people who used to not like dogs have changed their minds because she is such a love). She does require grooming though, otherwise she gets matted (though she doesn't shed), and is entirely motivated by affection when it would probably sometimes be easier if she was a tiny bit motivated by food.

We adore her.

What's special about your breed of dog?
Skooblies1 · 17/12/2016 11:06

I have a bichon frise which as anyone who has one knows, they are the most loving dogs on the planet and also the most stupid. Bichons don't moult, won't nip and are really safe around children. However! They are little bastard thieves and beggars. No brains so you can't let them off the lead.

The snuggliest lovable dog ever

What's special about your breed of dog?
tkband3 · 17/12/2016 11:17

We have a whippet. He's only 4 months, so we're still training him, but so far so good! He is absolutely gorgeous, loving, playful, mischievous (I can see he's going to be a terror stealing food in the kitchen) and currently a bit bitey when he's having a mad half hour. We all absolutely adore him. Our only problem is that he currently gets very carsick, but we're hoping he'll grow out of that.

What's special about your breed of dog?
Maverickismywingman · 17/12/2016 11:19

You lovely lot are making me dog broody

fourpawswhite · 17/12/2016 11:25

We have parson terriers. Aka small furry people.

Pros
Highly intelligent
Desperate to please
Loyal
Super affectionate
Cuddly
Kind
Gentle

Cons
Cheeky as. Mischievous. A bit like lovelycats says you need to be one step ahead. Once they learn they are not to do something, they do it just to piss you off. I'm looking at you little dog and shredding corks which you are not allowed to remove from the three foot shelf.

No sense of personal space. Must be sitting on top of you at ALL times. Or with you. Seriously I cannot even go to the loo in peace. Mine even lies on my towel when I go in the shower.
Territorial of house aka barking little monsters if danger approaches. Such as a leaf blowing from a tree twenty metres away.
They talk back at me. I say stop barking and they have to have the last word. Every time.

I absolutely love them love them love them. The most Loyal wonderful little dogs I have ever come across.

punter · 17/12/2016 11:30

We have a yellow lab.
Good points
Very happy dog, loves everyone, excellent hot water bottle, scares off delivery people with bark (but see bad points), great companion, listens well to people problems, sleeps from 10pm to 8am whoop whoop
so patient with my daughter's jack russell puppies

Bad points
Yellow hair everywhere
Thinks he is a lap dog
If he meets delivery people immediately turns into soppy wuss
Cleans the plates in the dishwasher
Snores and farts

What's special about your breed of dog?
FrancisCrawford · 17/12/2016 12:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lovelycats · 17/12/2016 13:08

Forgot to mention the JRT/Parsons 'house alarm system' fourpaws Grin Yes, nobody will come within 10 feet of your house without you knowing it! Not at all aggressive with callers, just like to make you aware of what's going on.

iloveeverykindofcat · 17/12/2016 13:16

The other thing about corgis is unless you keep them slim they will have back problems. Which can be a problem, seeing as their sole purpose in life seems to be to grow as fat as possible, and they are very good at being cute at guests to get food. On the other hand, they are surprisingly good hikers and will walk as long as you like, on all terrain, so long as they are fit. Those little legs are deceiving.

AmIBeingUnseasonal · 17/12/2016 13:25

Jackchi his name is pip but he doesn't seem to live up to the Jack part much in looks
!
He's a trembling ball of energy with enormous ears and although he's tiny height wise, his body seems really long!

He likes to crawl under blankets which we call " tenting" and he scratches your hand when he wants attention but detests being stroked Xmas Grin

What's special about your breed of dog?
TheCrowFromBelow · 17/12/2016 13:43

We have a flatcoat retriever. He's really stupid sometimes - see photo!
He is a thief.
He knows a lot of training commands but will refuse point blank to respond to them when out.
He weighs 37kg and sleeps on our bed.
He drops hair all over the house.
I love my dog.

What's special about your breed of dog?
ashesoffire · 17/12/2016 14:53

Aaah lovely and heartwarming! I need no convincing on greyhounds as two of our four dogs are greyhounds, Phoebe and Natalie. Grin But continue posting greyhound/whippet pictures and what you love about yours if you want.
Please continue posting for all breeds as I still haven't decided on a breed or whether to be looking at rescues. Beautiful dogs Smile.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 17/12/2016 14:58

She's an Irish wolfhound. So very special!
Just a pup at the moment.
Pros
Loving lap hound
Cons
Expensive and short lived (health issues in the breed!)

What's special about your breed of dog?
lovelycats · 17/12/2016 15:06

Am I allowed to post for a second breed very close to my heart??

Irish Wolfhounds
Pros:
The most loyal and gentle dogs I've ever had. As a small child they had mountains of patience for me.
Obedient and eager to please - would do anything for you and happy to trot by your side.
Quiet and so easy going.

Cons:
Size! One of the biggest breeds there is. Ours had their own couch. Can also become a bit of a fire hazard when lying around the house!
Most heartbreaking, and the reason we no longer own a Wolfhound is their short lifespan. You're doing well if still kicking at about 8 years old Sad
They can reach some serious speeds and can knock you clean off your feet at a gallop!