Help us chose our first dog

[MrsPicklesonSmythe]

Having never been a dog person, over the last year I've become bit of a fan of other people's pet pooches and can't stop thinking about having one. I think it would be a great addition to the family, good for my mental health and despite showering affection on my cat let's face it, he'll never love me! 😂

We are currently in a rental but would like to adopt a dog when we are in a better position to do so. Maybe in a years time.

I work nights part time, dh works full time from home and we have 3 ds's 17, 11 and 4 who would love a dog, there's always someone home and we rarely go away (last time 6 years ago!). We don't have much of a garden and I'm guessing we won't have a huge one in the next house but they'd have at least two 30 min walks a day (is that enough?) and we do have plenty of lovely places for longer weekend walks close by. I'd also sign us straight up to a good local trainer and there's loads of groomers and vets locally.

I am fairly allergy prone, never specifically to dogs though just dust, pollen etc

In my research Havanese seem to look a good option.

Does anyone have any experience or could you help me consider some other small/medium-sized family dogs suitable for first time owners?

Any advice much appreciated as we won't go into it lightly

Toy poodles have a nice temperament and 2 x 30 minute walks a day should be enough for them.

Trust me what ever quality of exercise 2 x 30 mins you give a poodle it will not be enough.

How many have you lived with?

I've worked with dogs for years and I've walked a mini poodle several times a week for more than two years and I've also looked after him for long stints in his own home.

He was absolutely fine on 2x30 minute walks a day as he got plenty of other company and enrichment on top of his walks.

Dogs don't need tons of walks - what they do need is company, mental stimulation and lots of enrichment. In fact, too much exercise can cause dogs to be over-stimulated which leads them to be unable to settle at home.

Hi!

just thinking about temperament and what different dog breads need to be happy … there was a recent study that found only 9% of a dogs temperament is down to breed (www.theguardian.com/science/2022/apr/28/dog-behaviour-has-little-to-do-with-breed-study-finds).

So maybe pick out a few traits that you need (e.g. general size of dog, if they shed are good for allergies - a lot of breeds other than poodles are non/low shedding, maybe factor in how much you can afford - big dogs eat more/non shedders need grooming etc.). Then focus more on finding the right individual dog, who can live with kids/savvy cats and is happy to not walk too far…. It sounds like you need a really laid back easy going individual dog.

Living with a dog is very different from being a dog walker and popping them back home after a walk..

He was absolutely fine on 2x30 minute walks a day as he got plenty of other company and enrichment on top of his walks. I said they need more time than just the walks but the OP has not stated if that was possible - still stand by a happy poodle would like more than 2 x 30 min a day but I guess dogs happiness is less important to some owners than others.

I will argue that 2 x 30 mins walk can never ever ever be classed as too over stimulating for dogs (some very rare cases with behavioural issues) but the majority of dogs need exercise and good quality exercise. The idea that exercise just makes a fit dog and a fit dog is not a good idea is just stupid A fit dog is a healthy happy dog not an overstimulated dog.

Aso this idea that a lick mat or a natural chew is enrichment for a dog is bollocks. Dogs need pedatory motor pattern enrichment appropriate to the breed - good proper enrichment will not be achieved if there is only 2 x 30 min available to give to the dog.

Dogs are adaptable that is how they survive with humans but just because they learn to adapt does not mean it is right for them.

Poodles needs more than 2 x 30 min exercise a day.

How as a dog professional I guess these dogs getting less exercise and their needs not being met and having mega behavioural issues is paying my mortgage

I agree. Mental enrichment is great but there is no substitute for exercise, running and sniffing, interacting and experiencing the world. My last dog (terrier cross) had a good long romp every morning then agility training once a week (good for both) the lead walks plus kongs, mats, interactive toys etc were extra. I work full time too so she was left 6 hours a day in two blocks with an hour in the middle where we largely just hung out. I think if I had to give my dog things to do all day then I’d chosen the wrong dog for my lifestyle.

Living with a dog is very different from being a dog walker and popping them back home after a walk..

Yes, and as I said, I've lived with him on multiple occasions for 1-2 weeks at a time. He was (and is) fine on two short walks a day. He'd go for longer, but he absolutely doesn't need it to be content and settled.

still stand by a happy poodle would like more than 2 x 30 min a day but I guess dogs happiness is less important to some owners than others.

Different people have different views on what makes dogs' happy, and different dogs have different needs as well. Long walks are only one (of many) ways to enrich and stimulate your dog, and IMO I just don't feel it's helpful to say that dog owners MUST do long walks daily for their dogs to have a happy life.

The idea that exercise just makes a fit dog and a fit dog is not a good idea is just stupid. A fit dog is a healthy happy dog not an overstimulated dog.

Of course there's nothing wrong with having a fit dog, - I never said there was, but equally most pet dogs don't need hours of aerobic exercise each day either.

Aso this idea that a lick mat or a natural chew is enrichment for a dog is bollocks. Dogs need pedatory motor pattern enrichment appropriate to the breed - good proper enrichment will not be achieved if there is only 2 x 30 min available to give to the dog.

I mean, chewing is a natural, healthy behaviour for dogs so it is enrichment - it's not a substitute for exercise but is a good addition. Some people may only have 2x30 minutes for daily walks, but be able to provide other enrichment at home while they work, or for a good amount of time at weekends etc.

Poodles needs more than 2 x 30 min exercise a day.

In your opinion, sure. I happen to disagree - as do others on this thread

Wouldnt get a small dog. More neurotic, nippy, yappy, less child tolerant as insecure about their size! Also being bred to be hypoallergenic is hit and miss, doesnt always work. Didnt with our cockerpoo.
Get a soppy floppy lab.

We have a similar family situation up to you (youngest child aged 6, cats, tendencies to asthma/allergies and someone at home most of the time) and after a lot of research got a Havanese puppy.
So far (she’s only 4 months old) we are very happy with our decision. She’s confident and extremely friendly but gentle with both people and dogs. She’s great with children. Didn’t bat an eyelid at the fireworks we had earlier in the week. Training is going well. She loves our cats although they are less keen on her! Pretty much no shedding and we’ve had no allergy issues. She is happy to go on long walks but equally seems fine with 15 mins of a slow sniffy walk a couple of times a day if that’s all we manage.
I can recommend the breeder we got her from if you are in the South East.

Walks vary hugely in quality. Mine gets at least 1hr off lead a day, with my doing some gundog work in there to exercise his brain and train him.

He also gets x2 very slow sniffy walks first and last thing to go read his pee-mails round the block. Takes us 15 minutes to do a short 3 minutes without dog 🤣

He also has one v dull leg stretch type walk with DH in middle of the day which is on lead so not so much fun for him.

So much is about the quality of the walking, not just the amount and what you do when you're out.

PS I have cocker spaniel and he's fabulous. Really sweet and chilled (for a CS) but he is high energy compare to other dogs and way too smart for his own my good.

Totally agree with your description of a Havanese, my girl is exactly the same. She's excellent with my wee nieces and nephews, just as happy with a short walk as a long one. She is just 8 months and so far has no problems with either fireworks or thunder. She is currently curled up asleep on my lap 😍

Hates the rain though.

I don't know any other Havanese owners so I do wonder if we got our pup from the same breeder as you (South East).

He also gets x2 very slow sniffy walks first and last thing to go read his pee-mails round the block.

This made me chuckle, reading his pee-mail 😁. My girl can take 20 minutes to cover a normal 5 minute walk.

How much exercise do labs need?

@Luckydip1 I'd say probably 1.5-2hrs a day, with half of that as "training" off lead time. Labs are working line dogs, smart and driven. The more you do with gundogs, the more you get out of them.

Show line labs aren't quite so energetic but still have all the lab tendencies!!!

Depends.

Working labradors will need more than show ones, on the whole, but again, it's about quality rather than quantity IMO.

I'd say most labradors and working breeds need a good 90 minutes minimum per day, though.

Completely agree with this! We took on our Cockerpoo after 2 previous owners couldn't cope with him. We're experienced owners and I thought how bad can he be with the right training? Well let me tell you it's bad. I've never had a dog like him, it's like he's just wired differently to other dogs! So highly strung, loud and aggressive at times.

The best breed we've ever had was a golden retriever. Absolutely beautiful temperament - so gentle, loyal and loving. Miss my girl so much 😢

Do you think 2 x 30 minutes a day during the week and then 2 x 60 minute walks at the weekend would be enough for a lab?

Another vote for greyhounds, I’ve had three they don’t need as much exercise as a lot of small dogs. They are low maintenance as far as bathing( I have only bathed mine once when I got them ) and don’t have a lot of hair!

Please consider a rescue dog whatever breed you decide on, there are so many that have previously been with families but when situations change like divorce or people not being able to afford to keep them they have to give them up. not all rescue dogs come with problems.

No.

They need, ideally, two hours a day during the week including good, aerobic off-lead exercise. They are working dogs and also need lots of mental as well as physical stimulation.

A bored, under-exercised Labrador will eat your house. There was a thread on here several years ago about one who ate through a wall.

@Luckydip1 nope. 2x30 minutes won't be enough.

1.5-2hrs a day minimum really including in that training work. Walking isn't stimulation enough for working type dogs, you'll end up with a bored, destructive dog.

Retired greyhound or lurcher would LOVE the 2x30 minutes though. Perfect. They'll spend the rest of the day upside down on the sofa, fast asleep and be very happy indeed.

Havanese seems like a great shout, to be honest. Take a look at all of the small companion breeds and see which ones you like the sound of. Shih Tzu are meant to be hypoallergenic and tend to be pretty chill. Lhasa Apso is a good one to look at too - tend to have a bit more of a sassy personality, but tend to be low energy. Maltese, also.

You might still be able to adopt even with a cat and young kiddo - always worth having a look, connecting with shelters, etc. It's the individual dog that matters more than the breed. For instance, Cavalier King Charles spaniels are often said to be great with cats - but I've met a fair few that are not at all good with cats! So it comes down to the individual dog's prey drive, as well as how they are raised/trained.

I felt really stuck on breed type before I adopted my dog. I wanted a Border Collie or German Shepherd, or a similar mix. Absolutely 100% did not want a Working Cocker Spaniel. Guess what I ended up with? 😂(And he's freaking awesome - annoying, but awesome).

Most important things to look at are:
>> Energy level - go for low to medium, better to start out with
>> Prey drive - avoid breed types with a high tendency to chase (unless adopting an adult dog of any breed already known to be great with cats)
>> Health - are they a healthy breed? any ethical issues associated with the breeding of them? (i.e. Cavaliers, Pugs, Frenchies, etc. - ethical issues abound)
>> Alert barking - some breeds are known for yapping, barking, being very vocal, etc. Could drive you guys mental, especially if DH works from home.

I never used to be a dog person either, until I fell in love with my ex's elderly, grumpy, sassy, but super loyal Lhasa Apso x Maltese mix. Now I'm obsessed with my dog (... my cats are less impressed with him 😅)

One of the reasons that people love Havanese is that they are one of the only small dogs that don't bark much (unless they are left alone).