Help me choose what kind of dog to get!

[berryfull]

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?

Don't be fooled by thinking that show style labs require less walking

We average 18-20 miles a day and he still go for more .I am outdoors person so is fine for me .We also do obedience training as well to keep his brain busy all well
2x z30 mins would not be enough

Though he is calmer than most working labs I know

Downside the hair is everywhere

I've got a German short haired pointer. He is a very nice dog, lots of fun! Might be a bit mental but sounds like you plan to do lots of walking.

Ours always spent their days with me in the (upstairs) office and in the bedroom during the nights. It was not really a problem carrying them outside tbh.

I found the hardest part was getting them out quickly after being sat on the floor with them (downstairs). Tough on the old knees to be getting up and down all the time .

But they were pretty small/light breeds. If I had a large breed, I probably would have had an entirely different arrangement. I wouldn't much fancy carrying a lab or bigger on stairs for very long.

Well it’s either toilet train in a flat or not have a dog. And I really want a dog so I’m going to have to toilet train in a flat. I’ve done it before, I’ve known others who have done it. I guess if you don’t live in a flat it sees incredibly difficult. Just as if you own a car , public transport seems very difficult.

Or you could take on an older dog that doesn’t need toilet training.
It’s not about what you want. You have to think of the needs of the animal.

Get a bodegueuro. They are amazing

www.dogsblog.com/akka/

As I already said, I’ve tried extensively to adopt a rescue dog, but unsuccessfully due to having kids and living in a flat.

I know my dog will be well cared for and lived. It’ll spend most of it’s time out of the house, have a great routine, a garden, parks , beaches, not be left alone.

Yes potty training will be a bit harder as I can’t open a door and shove a dog out into the garden. But once in a routine, the dog will be out and about and be fine.

Id suggest going to crufts, believe im right in saying its in March, they have discovery dogs there, literally every breed you can think of. Gives you a chance to speak to people that own, breed and show the breeds and help narrow it down.

Another vote for a retired racing greyhound here. Although they may not have officially been house trained, they will have developed a preference for going to the toilet outside rather than in their kennels during their racing career. Ours got the hang of going in the garden from day 1. Don't be put off by the "retired" label because you want a young dog - many are relinquished by the racing industry quite early. Ours was only 2.5 years old when he retired.

Greyhounds need about the amount of walking you want to provide and they love a snooze so are good dogs for flats. Ours is very happy dozing on an old duvet near my desk while I'm working from home, so I bet he'd be happy with your work set-up too.

Discovery Dogs at Crufts is a great suggestion. Really worth going...

Labs need four hours walking a day? No they don’t! My lab is from working stock and gets an hour at the most. He’s slim and fit and healthy. A good diet has a lot to do with it too.

@berryfull I had real issue too because of kids and cats. Thats why I went with a spanish one in the end. They are a lot more realistic than a lot of the UK only rescues, where you need an adult only home, a mansion and a 1000m2 walled garden and to not work etc.

Meet Bilbo - a shorkie .. Shizu x Yorkshire terrier .. quite possibly the most well behaved dog with special needs kids I've ever known.

Eldest - ASD

middle - ADHD, ASD, learning disabilities, low IQ and social and emotional age of a child half his age

Littlest - epilepsy, Arnold Chiari, suspected ADHD.

Bilbo is 2 and plays with them all incredibly gently, allows them to groom him, dress him, cuddle with him. He can be sat eating a juicy bone and any one of them could pick it out of his mouth and he'd happily let them.

He toilet trained using a crate in less than 24 hours, walks well with a lead and has decent recall (especially if backed up with a ball)

He is a lovely friend for me too and is incredibly loving and funny! He never malts but does need grooming professionally every 6/8 weeks.

He's walked 2x a day for 20 mins with a ball usually and plays in our garden with his ball a few times a day.

He does bark a little but we have it so I can't see out of a window people might pass and that's solved the issue entirely as he's quite short hah! X

Bilbo looks wonderful! Exactly the kind of dog we need!

Yeah, I think some people’s expectations of dog ownership are bizarre! All the digs I know get a couple of good walks a day and are happy, half of them live in flats, most with kids, some get left at home for a couple of hours occasionally. None go to agility training . All are insanely loved, happy and healthy.

ahenderson270
Bilbo sounds like an angel of a dog.
My goodness me you have a lot on your plate.

Lurcher - more robust than a whippet but just as lazy in the house. Our short coated one doesn’t shed too much and even my mum doesn’t react to her fur and she’s sensitive to certain fur types.

My Cavalier spaniel is lovely too but much livelier in the house and needs more brushing.

I would vote Shih tzu, they are lots of fun and don't leave hair anywhere. If you keep them long it's a lot of maintenance but you can get them clipped short so it's easier.

Another vote for Shih Tzu .
Even when his coat is long there's absolutely no shedding. I have allergies and have had no reaction.
He's also the most affectionate dog I've ever had. Loves to be cuddled, very playful and friendly. He was very easy to house train.

@beanaseireann @berryfull

He really is a very good boy and such a dream dog - he's has such a brilliant personality! He isn't tiny but he's not taking over the sofa if you know what I mean! If he gets filthy/wet/covered in sand a quick rub down with a towel or 3 mins in the shower and he's good to go!!

I sometimes keep him long because my middle son loves brushing him but it is more work and from what you've described I'd say you'd be better keeping one short :)

Our lives are pretty full on but I can't deny how much Bilbo has brought to each of the children, whether it be easing social anxiety, stress relief, confidence to go outside or letting me know when the little one is about to have a seizure!

I agree there are some over zealous ideas around having a dog but I think it comes from a good place and they mean well. Bilbo has had minimal training because simply beyond being good on the lead and toileting outside I wasn't keen on having a robot doggy .. I love his sass and silliness 🤣

You sound like an ideal family for a little dude like ours; flat and all x

Just bumped into a friend who has a 10 month old bedlington whippet who toilet trained it in a flat and said it was not a big deal!

A greyhound. They are perfect for flats.

I'm allergic to dogs too but greyhounds are fine. Don't get one though if you want an outdoor energetic dog.

My lovely Buddy the Shih Tzu. I've got 2 young kids too and he's amazing with them!

We absolutely adore our Shih Tzu boy. He is very sturdy, good natured and non shedding (so we do have groomer costs). Here he is with his face tinged yellow, because he stole a friend's soup while her back was turned. He can be mischievous, but not normally quite that naughty.