Dog breed advice - baffled with choice

[CleverCatty]

Question on breeds for both me and also parents - separate houses.

I live alone and would quite like a dachshund. Saw gorgeous long haired one.

Friend has said his parents have rescue dachshunds and they're snappy and have back and leg problems. Would be happy to pay more for one which is less in-bred if that makes sense but don't want to pay huge vets bills or have poor creature in pain. So, advice or opinions please. Also are they good with cats as may get another cat?

DPs - stepdad is almost 70 and DM is 10 years older but very active - both like walks - have both had in past Labrador and Afghan Hound. Afghan was in London and countryside and yes I know it's not ideal for London! Breeds they like - not sure - but would guess something non high maintenance and preferably good with cats as they may get another cat. What would you advise? have spoken to a dog walker in past who gave various advice on what to get or not to get - e.g. no working Cocker, show Cocker if any etc. Are crossbreeds good? Saw couple with gorgeous Poodle with lovely character recently.

Advice would be welcomed. thanks.

Oh - they have a toddler grandson too - he visits both of us.

Dog for you: think about what you want a dog for. Consider how much you are home - if you are out all day that's not fair on the dog unless you are willing to shell out for daycare. How much would you walk it? How much time and effort are you prepared to spend on training? What size and how hairy? In all honesty I would never get a dog of a breed taken to extremes - dachsies have back issues because of their long backs, dogs with very short snouts have breathing issues, etc - because they are so prone to health problems.

Dog for your DPs: at their age I'd be cautious about getting a puppy unless they both feel they could cope alone with a dog in the event the other became to inform or unwell, or they have a back-up plan of some kind. Also puppies are exhausting - manageable if they are fit and well but challenging if they tire easily. A middle-aged rescue dog might be a good option for them.

thanks for your comments.

I'm WFH and hopefully will continue to do so for foreseeable future - if not will get dog walker. Can walk it twice or three times a day as park just round corner from my house. I do like dachshunds though!

To be honest - parents both young at heart - DM (mum) probably would like one more for companion and stepdad not fussed either way but likes dogs. A rescue is a good idea but I think they'd prefer a puppy as less issues. They're about 5 minutes walk from a park too.

I've got a standard shorthaired dachshund, our second and DHs third - he had one as a boy. That one was snappy, but the ones we've had haven't been. They were fine with kids; however whether toddlers are fine with any dog is another matter - only under supervision, no roughhousing.

As to backs and legs - no problems with legs. The current one is the only one to have back problems - he's 14.5 yrs, and got to this summer before having a slipped disc. He was operated on successfully.

Cats ... we got this one at 10 months, he was raised with a cat. He studiously ignores them.

For your DPs - the question is what physical (and mental) state they're likely to be in in 5, 10 or 15 years time.

Re walking - I'm not sure if you specified mini or standard dachshund. Ours was happy not to walk if it was raining, but could outwalk us easily - Lake District and Yorkshire Dales type of terrain. They were bred as hunters, not lap dogs (though they're excellent at that)

With all respect OP, I'm not sure I would be encouraging them to get a puppy/dog and/or cat at their ages unless you would be happy to be the primary carer of said pets in the future. Dogs are a 10 - 15 year commitment and cats 15 - 20 years. They may be well now, but people's health and fitness can go very quickly in their late 70s and early 80s.

I love miniature wire haired Daschunds, my friend has one (a farmers wife). They've got loads of dog of various breeds but the Daxie rules the roost, is energetic but very very sweet. Go for one, if you can afford it, seen how much they are at the moment? 😮

I've got 3 dogs, 2 of which are Jack Russells, the farm dog type with long legs. Absolutely love them for their character. Apparently JRTs are one of the only dogs that continue to play throughout their lives. And they live to about 17. 😁

Think about what you want from a dog, what you can give a dog, the narrow down the breed from there. Don't try and make the breed fit your lifestyle.

So, for both you and your parents, you need to consider the following:

• how long will you need to leave the dog? For example, if you had to go back to work out of the home, what would you do? A dog walker coming in at lunchtime is a nice idea, but not all dogs could cope with 8 hours (4 hours either side) alone with just a midday break, and for a puppy that's far too much time alone. Daycare is an option but it's expensive and not all dogs cope in such a busy environment. It's worth thinking about as presumably you won't WFH for the next 15 years.

• how much exercise are you willing or able to give the dog? Most young dogs need at least an hour a day if not more. What outside space do you have for toilet training a puppy? Think about if a breed can manage stairs and if not, can you carry the dog if necessary?

• days out, weekends away and holidays. Would you bring the dog? If so, great. If not, think about the cost of kennels etc. If you want an impromptu day out, what happens to the dog? Lots of walkers won't do weekends or will want booking well in advance, so you need to plan ahead or do something that means you can take the dog. Same goes for evenings out after work (in normal times, obviously!).

We didn't consider a lot of that and it was a HUGE lifestyle adjustment to remember that the dogs needs have to come first. It's also worth thinking about what you'd do if your dog had bad separation anxiety or became destructive if you left them.

We have adopted a retired racing greyhound and he's fantastic. He is affectionate and good natured, doesn't need much exercise and spends a lot of the day snoozing.

They are big, but might be worth considering for your parents.

@GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman
@vanillandhoney
Excellent advice
You need to look at your life style and see if any dogs fit.
I always suggest people look at rare breeds as they are rare as there is no profit in breeding usually down to litter size.
If small long none shedding dogs are for you
www.donthibernate.co.uk/dummys-guide-to-dandie-dinmont-terriers/

Very few health problems, very robust but loving companions.
Rarely leave home without her

We have had our mini daxie for just over 2weeks now. She is energetic, crazy, cuddly and very demanding... part nature part puppy.

Thinking about what you want from a dog is important. Equally so, is thinking about what you do NOT want.

All breeds have potential downsides (if they are behaviours you don't like). Think about which ones you definately could not cope with:

• barking
• digging
• chewing
• clingy
• aloofness/lack of 'affection'
• sensitivity
• high grooming needs
• sheds
• dirt magnets
• difficulty toilet training
• dislikes going out in the cold/wet
• dislikes/cannot cope going out in the heat

and so on...

@StillSmallVoice

We have adopted a retired racing greyhound and he's fantastic. He is affectionate and good natured, doesn't need much exercise and spends a lot of the day snoozing.

They are big, but might be worth considering for your parents.

I was just about to say the same for your parents. We have a retired racer and they are VERY low maintenance in terms of walking, so whilst your parents are young 70s now, in 10 years time they won't be and a puppy will still be around and need work.

They are big (bitches in general are smaller than dogs, so our bitch is fairly small comparatively) but curl up very small and don't rattle around as much as small dogs so seem, conversely, to actually take up less room.

Agree with greyhounds - my grandparents used to have them and they were particularly handy for my grandpa as he could no longer stoop down to pat a small dog! And their bowls get put on a stand thing which is also easier than picking things off the ground!