What's the right dog for us?

[ButteredOwl]

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

@icedcoffees the OP did say up to 45 mins though and that is certainly enough for mine! Mind you he spends our “walks” running around the fields so maybe he’d need longer if just wandering along the pavements. He’s very chilled and sleeps a lot now he’s 8 months old so it must be enough for him.

Border Terrier. Aloof is the word I would use for him. Two walks of 30-45 mins a day would suit him just fine but he'll go for longer if you want him too.

Small dog with huge personality. Mine is the best dog in the world. He's mad as a biscuit but so so lovely. Not bothered if I'm pottering around the house doing jobs, happy in his bed, in the garden or on the sofa doing his own thing.

[quote LadyCatStark]@icedcoffees the OP did say up to 45 mins though and that is certainly enough for mine! Mind you he spends our “walks” running around the fields so maybe he’d need longer if just wandering along the pavements. He’s very chilled and sleeps a lot now he’s 8 months old so it must be enough for him.[/quote]
Is yours from show or working lines?

I've never met a working lab who would be happy with such a small amount of exercise without eating the walls, but I suppose it depends on what other kinds of attention and stimulation you can provide.

Why not greyhound - they sound ideal for you?

@Chewbecca I just don't like the look of them. May be shallow but just don't like them much. I also think they're far trickier than people think they will be.

@icedcoffees a terrier could possibly be worth considering. We look after a cairn terrier every few months and he's full of personality - despite being 16 now. The main thing that's put me off a cairn is ... he smells!

Aww cairns are fantastic!

I used to walk one and she didn't smell - she was brushed regularly though and went to the groomers every 6-8 weeks.

@icedcoffees I suspect it's because he's such an old fella now! Deaf as a post, can't see much, sleeps a lot.

But still absolutely full of that cairn personality. Thinks he's a lion

Oh I love labs but I also know they shed like absolute crazy.

They really don’t. We only groom ours once a week and no major shedding.

Always have had toy poodles, lovely, easy to train, no shedding, intelligent, but i never have them groomed in that daft cut that makes them look totally silly

[quote ButteredOwl]@icedcoffees I suspect it's because he's such an old fella now! Deaf as a post, can't see much, sleeps a lot.

But still absolutely full of that cairn personality. Thinks he's a lion [/quote]
Bless him, I think lots of dogs get a bit smelly with age

Don't discount cairns based on that though, they are fantastic and so fearless. I'm not a terrier person myself but I do have a soft spot for cairn terriers now.

Quite a few Chows end up in rescue these days, people fall for the cute fluffy puppy and forget that they need proper training.
I saw these two on Dogs Trust yesterday

Have u considered a Lhasa apso?