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The doghouse

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Original poster

Help me choose what kind of dog to get!

105 replies

berryfull · 26/12/2019 22:02

This is the year I’m going to get a dog!

What kind of dog should I get?

I have two kids, 7 and 10. 10 year old has autism. For this reason I am think Labrador/ retriever.

I live in a first floor flat. For this reason I am thinking whippet.

I have a secure garden. I live two minutes from a beach and loads of parks. The dog won’t be left home alone, only in rare and unexpectedly circumstances.

What do you think?

OP posts:
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11
Wolfiefan · 29/12/2019 08:23

I’ve got a puppy at the moment. I would NEVER be able to toilet train if I lived in a first floor flat. They need to be outside the moment before they start to wee.
Labs shed like mad. And short hair doesn’t mean you won’t be allergic. I’m allergic to one of our two cats.

Pinkette06 · 29/12/2019 08:25

Staffie. Grew up with them from pups. Amazing with kids. Don't believe the bad press they get

Orchardgreen · 29/12/2019 08:30

@justdoityourself, I was about to say the same! My lovely lab decided age 5 that he just didn’t fancy being a guide dog any longer 😀

Booboostwo · 29/12/2019 08:41

A puppy and a first floor flat will be tough. The puppy will need to go out for toilet at least every hour, when it wakes up and after eating and drinking - this is a lot of trips up and down the stairs. You will also need to carry the puppy to avoid straining its joints and large breed puppies get heavy really quickly. My GSD weighed 13 kilos at 9 weeks, a retriever will be lighter but still hard work.

The puppy will also need to go into the garden to expend energy so that’s a few extra trips. What will your neighbors say about the noise of you going up and down the stairs multiple times during the day and even in the middle of the night?

Is your flat very well insulated? If not your neighbors may complain about the noise of the puppy running around, barking and whining at all hours.

It would be much more reasonable to rehome an adult, small dog with a very settled temperament, who could conceivably live in a flat.

Rescues refuse to rehome to people who live in flats because it’s a recipe for disaster, not because they are being annoying.

limitedscreentime · 29/12/2019 08:42

Silenttights has excellent advice. Don't consider anything remotely working unless you want behaviour problems/your house chewed up. Labs are supposed to have 4hours walking a day (but can also be lazy so few get it!). Companion dogs seem to suit your needs very well. If you get an older dog, make sure it is already toilet trained. My experience is that if you take a young puppy out often enough, and wait for it to toilet this is far easier than trying to train an older puppy (8mths) who has a stronger bladder but no idea. I think you'd be a really lovely home to a low energy dog. Even these will have lots of energy whilst young and will be keen to play with the kids.

Booboostwo · 29/12/2019 08:43

Waiting lists for failed guide dogs are usually around two years and the dogs tend to go to people who have a connection with guide dogs for the blind, e.g. puppy volunteers, walking volunteers, etc.

Pegase · 29/12/2019 08:45

Wouldn't go for staff. All the staffs I have known have been very boisterous dogs that jump a lot (at people/on furniture). Possibly entirely down to receiving poor training but based on that experience I would not have one.

Friend has a miniature (not toy) poodle that doesn't shed and seems a sensible dog although I don't know much about them as have always had high energy working dogs personally!

PolloDePrimavera · 29/12/2019 09:09

Cockapoo: they don't shed and are good for allergies. Very friendly and loyal, love company. Bright and love to play. Ours has two walks a day but did just have one when I was working, good off lead walks though. They are like walking teddies... And I'll add cavapoos, I know a couple well and they are very similar.

Cons: needy! But then this means they don't wander off. They can be funny with food, they prefer human food... Hmm

eatanazurecrayon · 29/12/2019 09:21

Whippet! Less exercise than a retriever / lab by far!! I've had whippets for years. Current wee guy is hiding under the covers where he will stay for the next 3 hours!! Wonderful companions. One of ours was a therapet and went to nursing homes to be with dementia patients! And you'll never get tired of watching them run / outrun other dogs at the park. Honestly though, unless you have time to walk hours every day, I say a whippet. One good walk and they are happy as Larry. In winter they may require a bit of encouragement to go outside ... and if you're having a bad day / happen to be ill they are just as happy to sit with you all day watching tv (they enjoy tv). So easy to train! We got peter (my moms whippet) and mine the same day-they are brothers. Peter was housetrained one 24 hours. Jules took about a week.

Scarsthelot · 29/12/2019 09:24

Cockapoo: they don't shed and are good for allergies

That's not always true. If a cockapoo comes from a one cocker parent and one poodle parent, its about a 1 in 4 chance they wont shed. You need to breed the non shedding ones for several generations before you can have a high chance of getting a non shedding dog.

Or adopt an older one that doesnt shed

minielise · 29/12/2019 09:30

My cousin is a dog walker and when I was looking for a puppy he advised I avoided anything crossed with a poodle. Apparently they can be hyperactive when crossed with something, but fine not as a cross. He also commented that the only issues he’s ever had on dog walks have been with collies and staffies and it’s always been them kicking off with other dogs.

We got a springer spaniel in the end who is perfect as he has a lovely personality, but he has an hour and a half off lead walking everyday so might not be suitable for you. He was easy to train.

Pets at home sell bells that you attach near the door and you can train your puppy to ring it to go out- I would recommend it if you have a flat.

Original poster
berryfull · 29/12/2019 10:21

I think I’m verging towards whippet!

I fully understand that toilet training in a first floor flat will be intense .

I’m thinking carefully about what breed in order that the dog be comfortable in a flat and my neighbours not be unduly fed up. Although my neighbours have a husky, which is obviously a shite idea, so there’s a precedent and I think it’ll be ok!

OP posts:
velocitygirl7 · 29/12/2019 10:28

I've got a jack russell chihuahua cross. I've no idea if it's just her personality but she is the most chilled out pet I've ever owned. Amazing with kids of all ages, loves other dogs. She barely leaves any mess anywhere and although she loves a walk, she is small enough to be totally content with a bound around the garden and a bit of playing if the weather is dire.
She's also very very cute!

Werkwerkwerkwerk · 29/12/2019 10:51

STAFFY .......... grew up with working dogs and she is complete bliss in comparison. Yes they were amazing dogs but our staff. Now is the perfect girl !! Good luck in your journey whatever you pick will be right for your family Grin

tabulahrasa · 29/12/2019 13:13

“I fully understand that toilet training in a first floor flat will be intense .”

Sorry, but I really don’t think you do fully understand, I really do think you’re underestimating the work involved.

It’s months of accidents and getting peed on and constant trips outside when it’s in a house... I’ve owned dogs while living in a flat and houstrained puppies in a house with a garden and there’s no way I’d ever consider housetraining a puppy in a first floor flat tbh.

Wolfiefan · 29/12/2019 13:20

I reckon between thinking the pup might be about to wee and needing to get her outside it’s about 2-3 seconds. Any longer and it’s too late. The only way to toilet train is to get them out before they pee in the house. As often as you possibly can. I can’t see how you could in a first floor flat.

jamburglar · 29/12/2019 13:21

Mini schnauzer? Low allergy risk (no dog can be zero allergy risk sadly), don't take up a lot of space, very gentle loyal and loving in my experience. Don't care if they get a long walk or a short walk. Downsides: can be vocal, need regular grooming appointments.

FacesLookUgly · 29/12/2019 13:25

I could probably get down the stairs and into the garden quicker in my house than I could get from most the downstairs rooms to the garden.

It all depends on your fitness and the layout of your home, I think.

It's definately worth thinking about what it's like to go outside 30+ times a day, every day, for a few weeks though. Especially as you'll have to carry the puppy down/up the stairs which probably rules out anything that gets too big and heavy quickly.

Wolfiefan · 29/12/2019 14:05

Fitness level? What has that got to do with it? Running down a flight of stairs with a piddling pup is neither safe or practical.

FacesLookUgly · 29/12/2019 14:58

And yet most of us do it several times a night, having only just woken up, for the first few weeks...

As I say, it very much depends on the set up.

Besides, I have a much better chance of getting down stairs quickly and safely than someone with dizziness issues, poor knees, sight problems etc etc.

Wolfiefan · 29/12/2019 15:00

Most of us don’t do it at all. What an odd comment. Confused

LovelyPuddings · 29/12/2019 15:02

I don't think it's that odd. Anyone who has their puppy sleep in an upstairs bedroom with them is doing just that, surely?

Scarsthelot · 29/12/2019 15:04

I brought our pup home last week. She sleeps in our room at night. I take her out 3 or 4 times a night. Go down the stairs, unlock the back door.

It's fine.

Never used puppy pads or newspapers for training.

Wolfiefan · 29/12/2019 15:08

I wouldn’t have a pup upstairs for just that reason.

Scarsthelot · 29/12/2019 15:14

You may not but Plenty of people do.

I wouldn't have a pup sleep seperately and I cant sleep on the sofa.

Never had a dog piss on me whilst taking then out

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