Can I get a dog, and if so what breeds should I look at?

[Bearsinmotion]

I currently WFH four days a week, with occasional travel. I have two secondary school DC.

I feel I am finally in a situation where I can get a dog, having wanted one for years. However, I am disabled, which means I can't walk long distances, although I can get to fields easily where a dog can run off lead and we have quite a large secure garden.

I think I need an intelligent breed that could be trained and have money and time to spend on training and for a dog walker. Although I am not disabled enough to qualify for an assistance dog I could easily find jobs for an intelligent dog to do. But I also have a speech impediment so am unable to shout or raise my voice.

My ideal dog would be a German Shepherd, and I know they make good assistance dogs. But I am not convinced I could physically manage the training process when I don't qualify formal assistance training if that makes sense? The DC are very keen on the idea and happy to help but ultimately I need be responsible of course.

Is it just a pipe dream? Would I be better looking for a smaller dog that would be physically more manageable but less trainable? Or is it not fair to get a dog at all?

We're not far from a Blue Cross centre, and we've sponsored dogs through the Dogs Trust for years so I plan to go through one of them.

If you struggle with your mobility, what are you going to do if the dog runs up to someone and won’t come back? If your dog is making a nuisance of itself most owners won’t happily stand there for ages while you come and get it.

@Bearsinmotion I do agree with others a rescue would be very good.

But please do think carefully about the big rescues. They have quite a long, rather sordid, history of placing dogs in inappropriate environments (most keep them in kennels rather than fostering them in homes, so they have absolutely no idea how the dog will react in a home). My neighbour (very dog savvy - she helps out with my 5 dogs on occasion) adopted through one of the big five. The dog attacked her child with a few weeks, unprovoked (and knowing her it was almost certainly unprovoked) when the child simply walked past it in the hallway. The rescue refused to take the dog back, or provide any support. She had no choice but to PTS. She's not the only story I've heard or read about.

I'd really recommend a breed specific one - they are more likely to have a far better idea of the specific breed, and thus the best family/home for them.

Don’t be silly. The solution to the problem of an errant dog is better training or a lead. Both of which the OP has said she will use
Even Usain Bolt isn’t going to outrun a dog! No sane dog owner (yes,there are some shit ones) would see being able to run fast as the answer to a naughty dog

I concur 100% with @LandSharksAnonymous - she’s elaborated on the reasons for the point I made nicely.
You would be horrified at the unsuitable and unvetted placements I’ve been unfortunate enough to have seen first hand. I’ve had it many times from the large nationals but never from the breed specific uk rescues
Whilst some truly lovely dogs may well come from the nationals, so have a lot of very unsuitable nightmares ime

I’m not being silly - no dog is perfectly trained and they all have moments of madness where they like to make you look like they’ve never had a second of training in their life.

It’s not about outrunning a dog - it’s about being able to rush and grab it when it decides to raid someone’s picnic or pester a small child, or bother a reactive dog.

I’m just thinking of a lady near us who needs mobility aids - she lets her little dog off (it has no recall whatsoever) and while it’s friendly enough, if it approached a reactive dog or jumped up at someone who didn’t want it near them, she’d have absolutely no chance of getting it back. It’s run around my car multiple times while I have dogs on me and I’ve had no choice but to either grab it and wait for her to come or just sit there.

I have a 1 Yr old German shepherd. I love her but om giddy aunt she is HARD WORK with knobs and bells on.

I am physically fit and run long distances, I've taken her to a trainer but she has managed to run up behind me and badly sprain my ankle so theybare super strong.She is reactive and needs a lot of strength to hold her back even after/ during training and I am out of the door at 6am to give her a walk to ensure she gets enough exercise, my husband does a lunchtime and evening walk too. I take her for short training runs and she's still not tired so you have to do mental training with them too.

They are clever, great dogs but they need serious consideration. Up until they're about 8 months they live up to their landshark reputation and bite and chew everything. My girl hasn't stopped growing and is 35kg of fur missile and teeth.

I would suggest a labrador, very clever, manageable size and strength, easy to train because they do anything at all for snacks. They can be whistle and retrieval trained plus all sorts of other jobs.

This is a really good point. A GSD with high prey drive will be unstoppable and will literally be able to drag its owner around on the ground if needs be for it to get to something.

I second the advice of those recommending a greyhound. Tbh any working breeds such as GSD are generally I think is unsuitable for even a healthy family as they have very specific needs which in most cases the average family simply can’t provide. I see people mention labs but even they technically are working breeds and again, strong with it.

I think people really underestimate how strong ALL dogs are, never mind the large ones! Even my ex’s cocker spaniel could unexpectedly throw me off my feet of she put her mind to suddenly wanting to pull at something! 🤦🏻‍♀️

Hope you find your perfect rescue soon!

Go for an older greyhound rescue.

can I ask another question? Is this kind of lead ok? I think I would find it easier to manage but I don't know if it's ok for the dog!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mystery-Ajustable-Retractable-Reflective-Stitching/dp/B07P6DTX2X/ref=asc_df_B07P6DTX2X?mcid=541e07eadc2f37ac8929c7135b91910d&hvocijid=8145675458104147418-B07P6DTX2X-&hvexpln=74&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696285193871&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8145675458104147418&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9221432&hvtargid=pla-2281435177338&psc=1&gad_source=1

That's a mangled link but it's a lead that connects to a belt round the waist rather than the hand.

If you don’t like barking, don’t get a dachshund

Nothing wrong with a waist lead but the dog could still pull you over easily unless you have your wits about you and can keep your balance. You also need to make sure the lead isn't going to get tangled around any mobility aid you have, or trip you up.

My father used to have an adult male GSD and my word, that dog was HUGE. My Dad was a solidly built man of six foot but he could pull him over if Dad didn’t have his wits about him. No one else was allowed to walk him because if he saw a cat or a squirrel, he was in the wind ( the dog, not my Dad!)

Yes, but greyhounds and other sighthounds are known for not having the best recall. I say that as an ex greyhound owner. I’ve spent many a morning sat in a field for 20-30 mins with no idea where the dog was waiting for her to come back (she always did and it was private fields with no public footpaths which I had permission to be in).

There are plenty of small intelligent dogs which respond well to training. I saw a video of someone with a poodle who has been trained to empty the washing machine.

My greyhound's recall was fine as long as he didn't spit a squirrel. Lots of high value treats and long leash training. To be honest if you hired a private field now and then for a good run they'd probably be fine on a short leash most days.

Totally agree with this. They’re the best dogs in the world. Calm, gentle, loving. Sweet and very funny. They sleep most of the time (need a very comfy bed or sofa) and don’t like getting cold or wet. ❤️

Greyhounds are lovely but prey drive (especially in an ex racer) will be off the chart

I’d second a rescue greyhound. A friend always has them and they’re lovely, calm and you could exercise in a freedom field if needed. Definitely not a puppy, it’s absolutely full on!! I’m in the midst of it at the moment and forgot how much work it is. Sadly my cat wouldn’t accept adult dogs in, although he happily lived with my previous dogs. I had a few adult fosters and although that didn’t work out due to the cat not liking it, it is so much easier than going through puppyhood when they’re pretty crazy. As others say, just choose a reputable rescue centre.

I once saw my 6ft, 200lb DH dragged across a field and through a bush by our young, slim male GSD when it went to chase something.

I love greyhounds and think an older racing rescue would be good, as long as it was able to go in an enclosure to run a couple of times a week. There's a neighbour near me who has a mobility scooter and does this. The rest of the time, it walks on lead, gently, next to her .

A greyhound, yes but not a whippet. Mine needs a lot of exercise - we can't wear him out.

My 10kg lurcher could easily pull someone who is unsteady on their feet over if a cat went sprinting by. I expect a GSD could make someone flight like a kite if they put their mind to it. People do underestimate how strong dogs are, and how challenging a strong prey drive can be to manage.

I've always had Labradors so I'm a little biased but there are good reasons. They pretty much come half trained and are very biddable and easy going. They obviously do need exercise but they are happy to relax at home (mine spends most of his time snoozing in his bed after a good walk) and they make for very calm, loyal companions for the most part. We have a working bred Lab at present and he is a little more highly strung than the typical show breed types, but he too is an excellent pet as well as worker. The other thing with Labs is that (although they can be quite foodie) they don't seem to have a lot of the bad habits/traits associated with a lot of other breeds which makes them a pleasure to walk and keep at home.