Advice about choosing a dog

[dataandspot]

I have an autistic 17 year old who hasn't been to school since year 7. I also have a 12 year old who is possibly asd.

My 17 year old has been campaigning for a dog for years. My parents have dogs and she is very patient and loving with them and both dogs have had quite extensive medical issues.

My parents have had Labradors, cocker spaniels, springer spaniels, whippets over the years.

I really like beagles but I understand they are lots of work.

We live in a semi in a village and on the coast.

Any advice on what kind of dog would be good for us? Any advice? Cautionary tales etc?

Definitely not a beagle, they can be tricky.
Spaniels, esp. are high energy.

A golden retriever? Once they get over the tricky toddler age they are really good companions.

Think about what you want in a dog and also what you can offer one. How much exercise exercise will you be able to commit to giving one? How much grooming would you be happy with, both in terms of grooming at home and/or paying for professional grooming? Do you have a size preference or are you restricted in terms of size because of your house/car/etc.? Are there any activities you'd like to do with a dog? Could you cope with prey drive? What level of trainability do you want?

Breed selector quizzes (like this KC one) can be useful in terms of giving you a shortlist to then research further. Champdogs also have more in depth guides to some of the breeds they list and breed clubs often have lots of information. Breed-specific rescues can tend to be a bit more brutally honest about the negatives of the breeds they deal with so they can be worth having a look at as well.

There's loads of good advice about getting a dog once you've settled on a breed on this thread.

If you're considering rescue there are lots of different options as well as the big names like the Dogs Trust, RSPCA (bear in mind with them the branches are basically franchises, get no funding from the main charity and can vary hugely in quality), Blue Cross, etc.

There are small, independent rescues which often rely entirely on fosterers to look after dogs available for rehoming rather than using kennels. This has the advantage that they often have a much better idea of how the dogs behave in a home (and often family) environment.

Most breed clubs run their own welfare schemes which again tend to be foster based rather than kennel based.

There are rescues (often breed or type specific) who have dogs in foster all over the country and will also rehome dogs anywhere.

As with breeders it pays to research rescues as whilst many are great there are some that are less than ideal. A good rescue should be keen to make sure they're putting the right dog into the right home and they should also offer back up post-adoption.

An older rescue might be better.

Young puppies are destructive and too unpredictable.

Really what cornflake said. Think about what you want. Big? Small? Hairy? Lively? Couch Potato? And what you can offer. 3 hour walks? 20min round the block? Time for grooming? Space for bed/ crate. Training? Basic training class is 10-20 weeks - a must in my eyes! And think about the cost: food, vet, insurance. Once you have established this do some breed quiz and look into the different breeds. e

puppies are hard work and bitey
I know someone with an autistic teen who had to send their puppy back as the change was just too much for the teen
However, a Golden Retriever rescue might be a good option as they are usually pretty patient good companion dogs who are often very happy to just be with you. I have one and he has certainly helped DD with her anxiety and I had one when I was younger who was a real rock to me when I was going through some difficult times
Look at Irish Retriever rescue on Facebook and other Retriever rescue pages. Most will have the dog in foster first so will be able to assess them properly and see if they are a good fit for you

I would say don't be too hung up on the breed descriptions. Yes they might be a good guide but there are ways dogs that break the mold and don't conform to their stereotype. I would talk to as many local rescues as you can and explain your circumstances a good rescue will find the dog that's a perfect match for your family.

Why not try a dog which can be trained as a therapy/assistance dog for your boys?

More info here www.assistancedogs.org.uk

I have a French bulldog and she has been amazing through my DS having cancer and now has HFA she's just placid and every throughout his meltdowns she is so so good. I couldn't praise her anymore. Truly a family dog. The only time she gets upset is when DS hurts himself. She will run up to us as if to get us to help him and sit near him until he calms down
The downside is she can't be walked much as she struggles to breathe in the heat. X