dog advice

[npritch1]

Me and my family hope to get a dog in the summer holidays so we have time to settle it in and train it, even though we will be training it after the holidays anyway. My husband has had experience with dogs. I work around 5ish hours a day, however I am able to get a dog walker who will take it on a walk and let it have a run around and have toilets. This would only be for 3 days a week, as the rest of the week I am off and prepared to give it all the love and attention it needs. Me and my family have the time to give it between 1 to 1 and a half hours walk everyday. We have been looking at golden retrievers and cocker spaniels , but we are unsure whether they would suit my working hours. Are there any dog breeds that you could recommend, and do you think that rescue centres would be a good option. If so why would it be best to get a dog from a rescue?

Thank you.

The Kennel Club has a good quiz to help you narrow down breed choices www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/findabreed/Default.aspx

With regards to a rescue, I would always advocate getting a dog from a rescue because
a) you're giving a homeless dog a home; in many cases if that dog doesn't get a home within a certain period of time it will be put down
b) you're not adding to the existing problem of overpopulation by creating demand for puppies
c) you don't have to worry so much about ethical sourcing of your dog, which is a minefield with puppies as there are so many puppy farms out there that use all manner of tricks to convince people they're buying from a reputable breeder when they're not
d) you can skip the exhausting puppy stage (x-ref Puppy Survival Thread)
e) you have a good idea of what the dog is going to be like personality wise; with a puppy you could get anything within the constraints of what the breed is normally like
f) you may find a dog that's perfect for your family but is of a breed or cross that you'd never previously considered; the staff really strive to find the perfect forever home for each individual dog.

Do take the dog to training classes; I grew up with dogs and having got my first rescue dog as an adult I've learned a lot by going to classes (as has the dog!)

great thank you. I will definitely consider getting a rescue now