Which dog breed (rescue)?

[Lovemusic82]

I have been without a dog for 5 years now, my old dog was bonded with our cat and the cat just wouldn’t except any other dog into the house. Sadly we lost the cat a few weeks ago so we are now a dog and cat free house. Now the cats gone it gives me more choice as to what dog we get. I would like a rescue but I think I’m going to struggle due to dd. Dd is 18 and severely autistic, she doesn’t really bond with animals (or people), she doesn’t like excitable dogs but is fine around calm dogs and is fine with them sitting/lying next to her, she just shows no emotion towards them. She would like a dog that retrieves a ball (she likes throwing things for a friends dog when we are out).

So we need a dog that’s not nervous but that’s not OTT. I walk/hike a lot so I need a breed that likes walking 5 miles plus and also travels well in the car. Medium size though dd prefers bigger (up to lab size). Dd is used to being around SBT as we look after a pair and it’s the breed of our previous dog. I love SBT’s but not sure they are ideal for long walks off lead. I’m also found of lurchers as they seem to enjoy walking but are also quite calm. Are there any other breeds that are calm indoors but have energy for long walks? Of course we are happy to look at cross breeds, i a, currently tempted by a bull lurcher at a local rescue.

I used to have a “staffy type” I’d assume he was 3/4 staff 1/4 whippet who would have been perfect, calm in the house, enjoyed toys but wasn’t intense or annoying about it, could go all day on a walk but also would just potter about on the lead a couple of times if you were busy.

He was perfect. I miss him!

I do love staffies and staffie x, I do think that what we will end up with as they are so loyal, slightly crazy at times but also happy to sleep a lot.

Lurchers make fantastic family ddogs. Ds 9 declares our 2 his best friends.. They love a zoomie. Or a long walk. Or a lazy day. Very adaptable and fold up small. Our 2 also love our dcats.

You could get a partially trained lab from one of the gun dog kennels that will be far calmer than a puppy and more predictable than a rescue. If you explain your situation they will choose the puppy for you.

It is an option but a very expensive one. Labs here are selling for over £1000 as pups, let alone the added price of buying one part trained. Sadly it would be out of my price range.

A nice staffy especially and older one could work but a lot will depend on how predictable your daughters behaviour is. Does she understand not to look over a dog? Does she have meltdowns?

Check out Canine Partners.
They train dogs for assistance but rehome those that don't quite graduate.
They have a website.

Dd moves around very quickly (stims), very occasional meltdowns but it mainly involves crying. She would likely not get too close to the dog unless it approaches her. We look after 2 staffies occasionally, they stayed for 3 days a few weeks ago and she was happy to let them sit right next to her and she was happy to take them for a walk with me, she just doesn’t really have any feeling towards them (doesn’t want to cuddle or stroke them),she finds it funny when they play with toys or retrieve a ball but that’s about it.

I think one of the pluses of getting a rescue is not having to pick a breed beforehand tbh, because you’re looking at actual dogs and what they are like not what traits they are most likely to have.

So for instance you mention staffies - as long as you’re clear with a rescue that off lead is really important to you, so not one with a behavioural issue that would mean always on lead, they’re very trainable so it’d be a possibility.

Does she mind barking? If she likes dogs that retrieve a spaniel might do?

Spaniels are really velcro dogs - and if her DD doesn't show emotions towards them including stroking or cuddling...they'll pick up that. They want to be included in everything and be loved. Ditto with retriever breeds. They want an owner who wants them as much as they want them.

Honestly, I'm not entirely sure there's a dog that retrievers and chases that doesn't want significant socialisation/cuddles or thrive on them. Staffies can be right softies - all over you for kisses and if OPs DD doesn't want that it wouldn't be a wise choice.

OP, this isn’t like me but haven’t you already rehomed two dogs? Apologies if I’ve muddled usernames but I’m sure I remember.

Parents have a border collie/black lab cross who would fit for you. Our border collie might be a bit too excitable for your DD although I wouldn't rule an older collie out if you're rehoming an adult you will get a good idea of their temperament

I work in (foster/volunteer) for a small rescue. It's always work liking for a rescue that places it's dogs in foster homes rather than kennelling them.

I've had about 14 dogs over the last 5 years - some of them for up to 4 months and 2 as a minimum. It means I get to know then inside out and how they behave as part of a family. I also make sure they have basic manners/loose lead walking /recall.

That way breed becomes less of an issue )other than knowing the breed characteristics/traits/things to be aware of) and you get a known quantity dog.

Small rescues tend to take great care in matching the right dog with the right family - a bit more involved than your basic home check and a good one will offer full rescue back up - that's long term advice and support and would always take the dog back if it did t work out for any reason at all.

If you want to say roughly where you are I can probably point you in the direction of some reputable ones.

Dogs I had that have been perfect are a... no idea what she was, 1 year med sized, looks like a very small golden retriever - sweetest dog ever but also a proper long walk dog and an older lurcher. Some would have fit the size but totally wrong (gsdxcollie, husky x something etc)

I think a lurcher is a good bet. My girl (saluki, collie, gsd x) actually sounds like she would be almost perfect, except as she's a teenager she can get overexcited when in the mood for a play. But the saluki in her makes her much prefer quietly sitting near you to enthusiastically being on you, and the collie in her makes her love a ball and have the stamina to go on long walks.

I would contact a few rescue centres and explain that you're looking for a calmer dog (so older than a teen) and one that is more aloof. I would imagine the aloof dogs sell themselves less easily than the excitable ones, so I bet there are quite a few out there in need of a home.

I’d assume the OP was going to give the dog affection rather than she was looking for one that needed none…

I read it as the DD doesn't have an interest in a dog that needs affection she just wants one that will sit next to her and be calm in doors but OP wants one they can take on long walks and throw the ball for.

Which really does rule out quite a few breeds. Almost all dogs want affection from the family as a whole - even if they 'bond' with one person more. I grew up with GSDs and even they - given how notorious they are to really only bond with 'their human' - wanted pats and fusses from the whole family. A lurcher/Whippet might be a good choice, but very few are capable of being safely off the lead (which I think is another criteria)

OP might not have explained it well, but that was my understanding of her comments. Very happy to be told differently though!

Another vote for lurchers. I have a lurcher and have fostered them. They are lovely dogs, calm, affectionate ..without being needy ...happy to have a long walk and zoomies but equally happy with a potter and sniff. Generally get on well with other dogs. Dont shed fur or smell or bark much. Some have high prey drive but all mine lived happily with my cat and walked off lead. There's lots in rescues sadly ...not because of behavioural problems usually.. but I guess they're not not cute and fluffy and some people have misconceptions about the breed...but they're the best!

See I read it more as her DD doesn’t have an interest in a dog full stop, she’d tolerate one being around but not jumping up/sitting on her /licking type behaviour but does enjoy throwing a ball for a dog.

So I’m thinking, that’s just training really.

Why not sign up as a foster home and see how it goes? If you fall for a specific dog it's quite easy to adopt.

I think that is what we will end up doing. I have printed some forms for a local staffie rescue, fostering would be a great start.

Yes. Dd doesn’t mind a dog sitting with her as long as they don’t constantly try and lick her or jump on her. One of the dogs we look after (Staffie) is great with her, she seems to understand that dd won’t fuss over her but she will sit right next to her or sleep on the sofa next to her which dd is fine with. Dd is happy to throw a ball, happy to help walk the dog, will let the dog out into the garden and would probably feed it if asked too…..just none of the emotional stuff (no cuddles or stroking), she’s the same with humans 🤣