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The doghouse

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Original poster

What's the right dog for us?

37 replies

ButteredOwl · 08/12/2021 17:48

At home all the time really. Large ish house with garden. Not particularly active so there won't be any 10 mile yomps on the agenda but quite happy with a couple of half hour / 45 minute walks a day

We have a cat who is rather set in her ways and dislikes all other creatures but I'm sure she'd come round once she was able to lord it over a puppy

Don't want a greyhound or anything that sheds heavily. Nothing whippety or Staffie. No to cockapoos either

So can you recommend me your dog? We are considering a chow chow as have experience of them and love them but I'm open to suggestions

No rush as it's only an idea right now

OP posts:
icedcoffees · 08/12/2021 18:05

One of the companion breeds sounds best if you can only offer two short walks a day.

HavfrueDenizKisi · 08/12/2021 18:06

We have a miniature poodle and she is great.

Non shedding, loyal, chilled. I do an hour walk a day and she loves a play in the garden too.

Also easy to train.

You do have to factor the n grooming needs but I think they're worth it.

TheMuggleStruggle · 08/12/2021 18:08

A rescue mutt.

Make their Christmas by giving them a home 🥺

wetotter · 08/12/2021 18:18

If you can only do two short walks a day, then I think a toy dog of the lapdog type - maybe a Maltese terrier or a Shih tzu

You might also like to look at rescues for an older dog - perhaps someone whose owner has had to go into a home

Ellmau · 08/12/2021 18:51

Bichon frise? No shedding, not keen on long walks, nice litle dogs.

Mini poodles are great dogs, but the puppies have a lot of energy.

Original poster
ButteredOwl · 08/12/2021 19:22

Blimey - is two walks totalling 90 minutes considered very short then?

Sadly won't be reducing this Christmas - I'm just thinking about breeds and nothing is in the immediate pipeline

I like the look of poodles but my husband still thinks of them with that silly clip

OP posts:
Leonberger · 08/12/2021 19:26

We have leonberger that would fit your criteria but obviously they are giant so there’s a lot that comes with giants that people don’t like.

They are friendly with everyone, don’t drool, don’t need masses of exercise and spend 23 hours of the day sleeping but they do shed. I’ve found it very manageable with regular grooming but a couple of weeks a year at cost change time it is very bad!

Original poster
ButteredOwl · 08/12/2021 19:45

I do like the look of leonbergers and it sort of fits what I like the look of .. we like chow chows a lot and although they're not alike, they're also not massively dissimilar in terms of coat

Do they have short lives though?

OP posts:
LadyCatStark · 08/12/2021 19:52

You should of course get a Labrador. Ours is the best dog ever 🥰. Who wouldn’t love this? (And no, he is not allowed on the sofa 😂)

What's the right dog for us?
Menier · 08/12/2021 19:55

Mini Schnauzer or Bichon Frise

mewkins · 08/12/2021 19:56

I have a miniature dachshund and she's lovely and will happily have a 45 minute walk or a 4 hour one. I'm sure someone will be along to tell you what a nightmare they are but she was easily toilet trained, is great with kids and very loving.

whereisthekey · 08/12/2021 19:57

I was thinking labrador but everyone I have known has shed a lot.
ive had Bedlington or border terriers on the family which were lovely and would probably fit the bill. not the calmest puppies through.. although not many breeds are!

icedcoffees · 08/12/2021 19:59

Blimey - is two walks totalling 90 minutes considered very short then?

You did say the dog needs to be happy with two half hour walks a day, and imo thirty minutes at a time just isn't enough for most young dogs that aren't companion breeds.

My dog is happy with an hour a day but that's in one walk - if I walked him for thirty minutes and expected him to be happy with that until the evening, he would be climbing the walls by 10am.

icedcoffees · 08/12/2021 19:59

@LadyCatStark

You should of course get a Labrador. Ours is the best dog ever 🥰. Who wouldn’t love this? (And no, he is not allowed on the sofa 😂)
Surely a healthy labrador needs more than 2x30 minute walks a day?
Original poster
ButteredOwl · 08/12/2021 20:02

Oh I can do an hour or an hour and a half in one go. Or a couple of 30/45 min walks

What I can't do is long 3 hour treks or anything.

Oh I love labs but I also know they shed like absolute crazy. I love their lovely sweet faces though and greedy natures

OP posts:
whereisthekey · 08/12/2021 20:04

what is it about the chow chow that you like? as they generally have quite aloof personalities and are a bit more prone to aggression. is the general temperament the type you want as that will help target other breeds.

Nikki360 · 08/12/2021 20:05

@mewkins

I have a miniature dachshund and she's lovely and will happily have a 45 minute walk or a 4 hour one. I'm sure someone will be along to tell you what a nightmare they are but she was easily toilet trained, is great with kids and very loving.
My daughter has one he's eight months and he's amazing. Loves cuddles and and yes happy with shorter walks and longer ones. He's got such a lovely personality 🥰
Leonberger · 08/12/2021 20:05

@ButteredOwl it’s hard to say really there’s obviously the ones that go young but there’s also plenty still plodding about at 10-11. I think the breed average is around 9-10 which is roughly the same as most of the larger breeds.
I’ve lost two dogs from ‘healthy’ breeds young though- both through unexpected illness and so my view is a bit coloured from that!

I would say they have a golden retriever style personality just lower in terms of energy. Mine have 0 drive to work or prey drive, they are happy with a 30min potter sniffing around morning and night. If they miss a walk here and there they aren’t too bothered. They will walk further though but not at any great speed, sometimes they have a quick run and then rethink and go back to sniffing. They are intelligent but not as desperate to please as say a GSD or another working breed but they are very cuddly and like to be with you. Mine can all be left for hours and just sleep but they really prefer company.

We’ve had many cats and none of the Leo’s have ever chased one or even given it a second look for that matter.

I’ve never seen any aggression from any of mine either but they obviously do require a fair but of training and socialisation just because of the size.

Coat wise I brush mine most days- usually takes about 5mins or so. I have a blaster drier which blows the undercoat out so the shedding isn’t terrible. I would say they shed less than my German shepherd but when they do shed they shed massively for a few weeks until it finally goes back to normal.

mewkins · 08/12/2021 20:07

@Nikki360 yes they are lovely little things Smile

Original poster
ButteredOwl · 08/12/2021 20:11

@whereisthekey that's probably you hitting the nail on the head! They're aloof! And we like that in some ways because it means a dog that isn't glued to your side every moment. A more independent dog maybe? Unlike say, a spaniel, which we've had before in the distant past and they just don't leave you for a moment!

We have experience of chows and have had several in the past. Very aware of their perceived aggression - and they're guard dogs of course! - but we had nothing but a positive experience. With the correct socialisation and cues (out last one would growl horrifically at the door going until we said the word 'friend!' and then he'd be all tail wagging. All of our past ones excellent with children and very funny personalities. They also don't shed - their fur comes off on a big clump.

OP posts:
Figgyroller · 08/12/2021 20:12

A Eurasier wouid fit your brief pretty well - don't need loads of exercise, medium size long haired dog and good with cats. Great companion (almost nannying!) dogs. The only problem is that there aren't many breeders and hardly any ever in rescue. Worth a squiz though to see what you think.

Original poster
ButteredOwl · 08/12/2021 20:13

Live the look of the Leos so that is on my list I think. Just looked at Eurasiers - yes ... like them. On the list

Sausage dogs are lovely but they're just too small I think. I do like their sleek little faces though

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Girliefriendlikespuppies · 08/12/2021 20:15

Chow chows need a fair bit of experience to look after I thought? Plus they're really furry, do they not shed?!

Have you looked into getting a local rescue? You sound like you're in an ideal set up to give a dog a second chance.

Original poster
ButteredOwl · 08/12/2021 20:27

@Girliefriendlikespuppies we have chow experience. No shedding - their fur comes out as a neat clump you just pick up

OP posts:
icedcoffees · 08/12/2021 20:32

@ButteredOwl

Oh I can do an hour or an hour and a half in one go. Or a couple of 30/45 min walks

What I can't do is long 3 hour treks or anything.

Oh I love labs but I also know they shed like absolute crazy. I love their lovely sweet faces though and greedy natures

Ah okay, that widens your options a bit more then Smile

If you don't want an overly clingy breed, I would maybe look at breeds like Newfoundlands, bearded collies or some of the terrier breeds.