Pedigree dog for brand new dog owners

[TheBermudaTriangle]

Hi all - firstly, thanks in advance for any thoughts/advice.

My DH and I would love to have a dog, but have always put this dream on the back burner. My question is - would a reputable dog breeder "allow" us to have a dog from their litter?

Neither my DH nor I have had a dog before. I grew up with cats, and my DH had no pets (we currently have a (rescue) cat). It makes me a little worried because I suppose we would be deemed 'higher risk' as we have no prior experience of dog ownership etc.

Would this be a problem, particularly for medium or large breed dogs?

I'm another wondering about golden retrievers. Even as puppies they can be quite chill, and they are very gentle dogs on the whole.

Just don't go for the working lines of any breed, or for any of the breeds (like German pointers) that haven't yet got a clear work/show split. But you know that anyway.

@Grumpyosaurus

I'm another wondering about golden retrievers. Even as puppies they can be quite chill, and they are very gentle dogs on the whole.

Just don't go for the working lines of any breed, or for any of the breeds (like German pointers) that haven't yet got a clear work/show split. But you know that anyway.

Thank you. Yes, some of our family have a (herding) breed dog from a working line and was phenomenal seeing how much mental stimulation and activity they needed. I appreciate all dogs need stimulation, but that was another level (and as I say, agility classes etc is not really our bag).

We have leonbergers and find them much easier to deal with than our smaller dog (GSD)
They are all a joy to own…no hassle, no aggression, don’t pull on the lead or bark. They are very loving and affectionate but also gentle and calm (once you get past the adolescence stage!) Very easy to train, low exercise requirement, no drool. The size isn’t so much of an issue as they don’t tend to bounce around as much as smaller dogs, more plod about the place Once we have walked them they can be found asleep in the garden or in the kitchen until the next walk pretty much!
They do require a total lifestyle change though, owning giants takes a massive amount of commitment financially and time wise.
There’s also Bernese mountain dogs to consider which are lovely calm family dogs and similar temperament wise.

My personal experience of clumbers is they tend to be quite smelly, probably due to the skin issues that the majority seem to have.
I do like Danes but they are quite full on for giants and seem more strong willed than most. I would think for a novice owner there would be easier choices.
Greyhounds can be hit and miss. Most of them are lovely but I think people underestimate how challenging bringing a kennel dog into a home can be. I’ve met a fair few that are snappy and there’s the obvious prey drive issues around small dogs and cats.

Newfie’s are such lovely dogs but the drool
Is something else!!

I like goldens as a first family dog as they are generally very forgiving once out of the puppy stage but they would need more than 30mins exercise morning and night which is why we went for the Leo’s, very similar sunny personalities but without always needing to be busy!

Working golden puppies are utterly mad.

You want the more chilled cream ones if you want a chilled dog.

I have Bernese and they are lovely.

Old English sheepdog? Best breed ever, our boy is currently sleeping on the sofa next to me snoring gently 😂
He's very placid, friendly with everyone but the grooming costs are considerable.

Maybe one to consider for you? Good luck!

We are first time dog owners with rescue cats. Very few rescue dogs available to homes with cats, so we got a lab puppy and she is the most wonderful addition to our family. Very experienced breeder was happy for us to have her and to support as needed.
Puppy phase definitely challenging but she is the sweetest thing, easy to train, great recall, hardly barks, slept through the night quite quickly. I wasn't sure about a lab as wanted something a bit smaller but we definitely made the right choice for us, and now the more I read about problems people can have with rescue dogs I doubt we would consider if we were planning another dog.

@Hodl

Old English sheepdog? Best breed ever, our boy is currently sleeping on the sofa next to me snoring gently 😂 He's very placid, friendly with everyone but the grooming costs are considerable.

Maybe one to consider for you? Good luck!

It is so funny that you say this because we saw a couple walking their (beautifully coiffured) OES recently, and I realised I hadn't seen one in years!

One of my childhood school friends had one and he was a total sweetheart.

@alsopeggy

We are first time dog owners with rescue cats. Very few rescue dogs available to homes with cats, so we got a lab puppy and she is the most wonderful addition to our family. Very experienced breeder was happy for us to have her and to support as needed. Puppy phase definitely challenging but she is the sweetest thing, easy to train, great recall, hardly barks, slept through the night quite quickly. I wasn't sure about a lab as wanted something a bit smaller but we definitely made the right choice for us, and now the more I read about problems people can have with rescue dogs I doubt we would consider if we were planning another dog.

Thanks @alsopeggy - your post and all the others have given me hope! It sounds so stupid to say this but I genuinely used to be quite upset thinking we might never be able to have any dog (rescue or from a breeder), due to our lack of experience.

Have you seen the Bassett Griffon Vendeen - it is cute in the way a Bassett hound is, but less extreme in terms of proportion and doesn't have skin fold issues or as many health issues. It's what I imagine you would get if you combined all the dog types you have on your list!

There are four types - a petit and grand bassett type with shorter legs and a petit and grand type with normally proportioned legs.

We got our lab puppy in the summer as first time dog owners. We spoke to a few different breeders and not having owned a dog before wasn't an issue. They were more concerned about home setup, plans for training etc.

I would have loved a Vizsla or a German Shorthaired Pointer but my research led me to believe that a lab is a much easier first dog. Ours is from working lines and very energetic when out and about but she's actually super chilled in the house and very cuddly. Much more than I was expecting. Our evening's generally look like this

When i was looking for my next dog I googled what I was after - 10kg, stocky build, square head - and looked at all the breeds that came up. I filtered the list a bit and did general research on the good and bad traits and known health issues (lots of info available). Once I narrowed the pool I read the breed standards for the short list.

I also did a few of the "what dog suits you" quizzes on the internet.

Ended up with a westie and he has been exactly what I wanted from the moment he came home.

I know you don't want a small dog but I'd start by looking for traits you want then seeing what dogs get suggested. There's so many breeds. One you may not have heard of is Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever. Lovely dogs and would be an option for you if you don't mind longer coats.

Aww @tizwozliz what a total babe.

I like this methodical approach @k1233 combined with the other excellent advice I have received on this thread, perhaps it will help me consider some of my own 'prejudices' or 'preferences' too.

@AlexaIWillNeverSayDucking thank you - such a handsome breed (I feel like I have seen them at Crufts and admired them) and yes, they do sound hardier than Bassets.

I always get clumber spaniels recommended when I do online quizzes! Moderate exercise, family friendly, easygoing temperament must be why, I think. A bit heavy for my tastes though and having one dog with hip dysplasia 😢 I’ll never get a pedigree prone to that. Never met one in real life though!

We have a Basset Hound and they are absolutely wonderful, great characters.

They are stubborn, but not untrainable. You just need a different method to other dogs as they have to 'see what's in it for me' type of mindset.

Mine can be off lead, has decent recall but just have to remember to be wary in woodlands as she's obsessed with squirrels.

I think a puppy is better for first time owners than a rescue dog that you may have to train unwanted behaviours out of. We got a retriever as our first dog and I highly recommend. They're big and very happy

@Stellaris22

We have a Basset Hound and they are absolutely wonderful, great characters.

They are stubborn, but not untrainable. You just need a different method to other dogs as they have to 'see what's in it for me' type of mindset.

Mine can be off lead, has decent recall but just have to remember to be wary in woodlands as she's obsessed with squirrels.

Oh @Stellaris22 what a beauty! Do you find that they require regular vet visits for eye/skin problems? We have a monthly healthcare plan for our cat (for general check-up and Advocate etc) so I wonder if something similar for a dog is a good idea.

There was a lovely article about Bassets (albeit more working ones) in a recent Country Life magazine - you are very lucky.

We've had no issues with her health. They need their ears to be cleaned regularly but that's it really, they do shed constantly but no grooming requirements.

Ours hasn't been around cats but from what I've seen on the FB group they are fine with cats, usually snooze together.

Her eyes and skin have never been an issue. She is really sociable and just wants to be friends with everyone they meet.

@TheBermudaTriangle if you'd asked me when I started looking if I'd want a small white fluffy I would have been an adamant No. I had a 20kg staffy, so white fluffy is a bit of a contrast.

But I looked with open eyes and an open mind and focussed on the behavioral traits I like in a dog (very fond of the terrier cheekiness) and I could not have chosen a better match.

That's where I think pure breds are a better / easier option. Temperament and behavioral traits are pretty consistent - much more predictable than a cross.

The westie breed standard mentions their varminty appearance and they have no small measure of a varminty personality. It's really interesting to see the common behaviours when you're on a breed specific page. So many things you might think are quirky eg passion for sitting on pillows, leg bump with the nose, which actually seem to be common breed behaviours.

Westie breed standard - all had similar right at the start and made it easy for me to go, nope not for me or yep sounds like my sort of dog.

General Appearance:
Strongly built; deep in chest and back ribs; level back and powerful quarters on muscular legs and exhibiting in a marked degree a great combination of strength and activity.

Characteristics:
Small, active, game, hardy, possessed of no small amount of self-esteem with a varminty appearance.

Temperament:
Alert, gay, courageous, self-reliant but friendly

Breed surveys can be helpful. Half an hour isn’t a very long walk though. Mine had an hour off lead today and that was a very short walk!

Read the book by Kim Brophy Meet Your Dog. Here

It is a fab detailed book explaining breeds of dogs what they like to do, what they need to be happy and thrive.

It is a must read for all new dog owners.

Thank you all, lots of food for thought (including perhaps looking again at the whole variety of breeds from scratch). I love all the suggestions of (non-working) labs/retrievers though, they are obviously well loved for a reason.

We were first time owners with no experience (and a cat) when we got our girl in July 2019.

I seriously reccommend going to Discover Dogs (London or Birmingham) .. we knew we wanted a medium sized breed and I liked 'Wolfy' looking dogs but no more than that. Ended up falling in love with a breed I'd never even heard of, and after a wait, an interrogation by the breeder (who only did one litter for the good of the breed) we brought our puppy home.

Life has never been the same since :) It took a year before our cat accepted her, but now they are friends. My dog is not the easiest breed (they are family only dogs and are wary of strangers and a bit nervous of strange dogs) but she has brought SO much to our family, I can't imagine life without her now! Her funny, diva like ways, her obsession with squirrels. The way she cries with happiness when I come home (even if I've just popped out to put the bins out!)
I've had much loved cats all my 54 years, but dog love is something else!

I popped on to recommend Leonbergers, but can see that @Leonberger has summed them up already!

My girl was fine with both my cats, they have a low propensity for barking, they don’t drool and are just the biggest cuddle monsters ever.