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The doghouse

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Original poster

Recommend me a dog

58 replies

Frenchfancy · 09/10/2020 20:01

Some of you may remember we lost our Ddog (a 14 year old Gordon setter) at the end of July. We were looking to replace her with a rescue straight away but for various reasons that hasn't happened.

So now we are looking for a puppy. Our instinct is to go for a gun dog, pointer, weimaraner type. But we have recently adopted a kitten so I gather weimaraners aren't a good idea. I've seen some dalmatians but the amount of exercise they need is putting me off (but are they really worse than setters?)

The main change in our lives since we had our last puppy (other than dcs growing up - I was pregnant with DD3 now she is 14 and her sisters are adults) is the fact that I now work part time out of the house. Most days I just work mornings but I work all day on Monday (could come home at lunchtime for a 30 minute walk).

Things we loved about Ddog, loyalty, playfulness, security (no need for a door bell and no danger of an intruder)

Things we didn't love, the hair.

So please help me find our next dog. I would go for an 'oodle of some sort but they are practically unknown in France.

OP posts:
scullie · 09/10/2020 21:03

How about a miniature schnauzer? Is everything you have asked for and no shedding. Loyal, fun, clever independent little dogs and always let you know when there's someone at the door Wink

Original poster
Frenchfancy · 09/10/2020 21:50

They look really cute. Not sure how easy it is to find a local breeder though.

OP posts:
scullie · 09/10/2020 21:55

Not sure how easy it is find any dog at the moment! I know unscrupulous breeders have doubled or even tripled the price of ms puppies, but i think it's the same with most breeds.

I would contact some breeders through the kennel club website and get my name on some lists...it may take a while. And yes they're super cute!

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 09/10/2020 22:56

If you bring a gundog up with cats, it will be fine. We have managed this successfully with high-drive dogs.

The only thing I would say about the HPRs like Weims, vizslas, GSPs etc is that they are very bright, so need mental activity and to be taught steadiness from an early age. Wonderful dogs, but not for everyone.

areallthenamesusedup · 09/10/2020 23:17

Not a Viszla. Way too much exercise needs and needs a lot of attention in early days.

AriettyHomily · 09/10/2020 23:43

You could go the it her way and get something completely simple like a whippet. Personally I'd go for a border or cairn terrier.

momager1 · 10/10/2020 01:54

standard poodles are amazing...playful smart and do not shed. I love my two girls and i miss my old boy so much. Before them I had a german shephard and two shelties over the years. My husband did NOT want a fru fru poodle lol...but now he would not have any other breed!

Girlintheframe · 10/10/2020 06:27

If you like the look of 'oodles' how about some kind of water dog?
We have a Spanish water dog but there are Portuguese or Italian (lagotto Romagnolo). All are non shedding.
I can only speak of the SWD but (think) they are all quite similar.
Pros - Very trainable, loyal and biddable. Ours gets walked a couple of hours a day but would be ok with less as long as you did some training/brain games with him.
He is happy to relax at home and does have an 'off' switch.
Protective of his family and barks if the door goes.
We have two cats who were 2 and 3 when he arrived and he is fine with them.
Very cuddly and has never destroyed anything in the house.
Cons - Ours wouldn't be happy being left all day by himself though and goes to daycare.
Apart from his family is not overly friendly with strangers (unlike our lab who would have gone with anyone who had food!)
Not very independent (see very cuddly Grin) and ideally would like to be with us/on us/next to us 24/7

Original poster
Frenchfancy · 10/10/2020 06:29

I would go for a standard poodle if I could find one. They all seem to be miniatures in my area.

There are lots of Staffie pups available but their reputation makes me hesitate.

OP posts:
weaselwords · 10/10/2020 06:37

A Weimaraner should be ok if brought up with a cat. I’ve not much experience with setters, but from the little I know Weimaraners are fairly similar if a little more independent. Both breeds quite quick to react. Mine is pretty stubborn and won’t do things unless she sees the point of it. She does shed hair, but it’s a short single coat so negligible compared to what you are used to.

However, since I don’t see many setters around here and I did love my aunty’s mad red setter, it would be lovely if an experienced owner like you supported a committed breeder and gave a well bred pup a home.

Original poster
Frenchfancy · 10/10/2020 09:20

Setters really are lovely dogs, but the amount of hair is unbelievable. I don't mind a dog that sheds as long as it is short hair.

Good to know about weimaraners and cats. Anyone know if the same is true for pointers?

OP posts:
userxx · 10/10/2020 09:25

There are lots of Staffie pups available but their reputation makes me hesitate.

Staffies are lovely, don't believe the rubbish spouted about them.

Moreginneeded · 10/10/2020 09:39

A flat coated retriever? I’ve had dogs for years and 2 years ago got a flattie to be a companion for my golden retriever. She is without doubt the most affectionate, playful and loving dog that I’ve had. Since getting her I have learned from vets and speaking to other owners (there are lots of flatcoat owners groups) that a characteristic of the breed is that they retain the ‘puppy playfulness’ throughout their life. They also, being retrievers, have the same gentle nature, intelligence and stamina which makes them ideal family dogs.

Original poster
Frenchfancy · 10/10/2020 11:12

@Moreginneeded lovely looking dogs. Do they shed as much as the goldens?

OP posts:
yearinyearout · 10/10/2020 11:20

I always said I'd never have a goldie because of the shedding. I ended up with one and I don't think I'd ever have anything else. Just the most wonderful, gentle yet full of character dog I've ever met. Worth the shedding!

Ouch44 · 10/10/2020 11:22

Ideally you would go through the breed page at the Kennel Club. However breeders on there probably have long lists at the moment. The website is also being updated at the moment.

You could do what I did-join a club of the breed you choose on Facebook. We'd been looking for ages for a puppy but put a post on a breed page sort of related to finding a puppy and had messages from a couple of people trying to find nice owners for their puppies and have our name down for a puppy from a lovely breeder.

Ouch44 · 10/10/2020 11:23

We had a flattie before. Mad as a box of frogs but the most affectionate, lovely dog!

TheVanguardSix · 10/10/2020 11:23

We have two cats and a gun dog, OP. Our dog is a chocolate lab-viszla cross. Male. Intact. He was a pup who came into a house with a 2-year-old male ginger tabby. We also have a 6-month-old tuxedo cat (male).
Our boy has never had a high prey drive. He's a docile soul. His sister, who lives nearby, is lethal! Her prey drive is off the charts. Grin
I would consider getting a male. Bitches tend to have a higher prey drive than males.
Though every single female Weimaraner I've met/known has been amazingly lovely and gentle. I don't know if I've met a nicer dog than a female Weimaraner, to put it honestly. They are just lovely, lovely, lovely dogs. I've only ever met female ones, so I can't comment on the males.

Moreginneeded · 10/10/2020 12:24

@Frenchfancy she does shed, but not as much as the goldie - I never knew a dog could shed as much until I had the golden! I was a bit nervous about another retriever for exactly this, but flatcoats are a bit less prone to it! Grin

Ellmau · 10/10/2020 13:53

A standard poodle sounds perfect for you. Why do you not fancy a miniature?

Also look at soft coated wheaten terriers, or Portugese water dogs. I know people with both, and they seem lovely dogs.

SimonJT · 10/10/2020 13:59

Staffies are lovely dogs, they do shed hair but not a great deal. Great for cats as well as they’ll take a cat beating them up and won’t react. Nice combination of fun, cuddly but not too big, don’t need huge amounts of exercise. They tend not to manage well on their own, thats why I didn’t get one in the end.

I have a Shiba Inu, as expected he is a little bugger. He will shed a fair bit as an adult, despite being a Shiba he has been okay to train, follows commands well, is now a bit scared of my rather feisty cat, likes cuddles and isn’t fussed about being left for an hour or two. They often don’t like other dogs, Link has had three doggy friends since day one and goes to doggy daycare, so as he has been well socialised he is very good with other dogs.

PrayingandHoping · 10/10/2020 14:02

HPRs (pointers, weims etc) are totally fine with cats

I have gsps and would suit your lifestyle except being left all day on a Monday but tbh most dogs wouldn't really like that. The middle day walk is ok but pointer breeds are people dogs.

villainousbroodmare · 10/10/2020 14:08

The Gordons I've seen have always seemed outlandishly hairy. I have an Irish setter who has a quite a light coat and sheds minimally, and did a month long dog sit of two English setters who also didn't seem to shed much. Setters are fantastic dogs, much less demented than Weimeraners imo.

Original poster
Frenchfancy · 10/10/2020 14:10

I don't think à miniature poodle would have the deterrent effect. We are pretty rural and I feel much safer with a dog around the place.

I know someone with a water dog (italien I think). Lovely animal but pretty rare.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 10/10/2020 14:11

One of the issues is that you won’t be able to leave a pup all day. Not even for one day a week. How would you manage that?
Setters seem to EVENTUALLY calm down. None of the Weims I’ve met seem to!
You will never tire a Dalmatian out. Grin
Staffies do not deserve the reputation.
Love flat coats.