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?

The evidence is plain to see on The Australian Labradoodle Association website and on discussion threads here. Breeding bitches are placed in "Guardian Homes", and, as pp says, breeders have large numbers of bitches and multiple stud dogs, churning out litter after litter. Bitches are bred multiple times and puppies are being neutered before sale. This is not the norm within dog breeding. Not only are these immoral breeding practices, but early neutering is detrimental to the dogs health and development.

We have repeatedly asked on Doghouse threads for information about reputable, ethical Labradoodle breeders and nobody has been able to provide this.
Perhaps you will prove to be the exception. Please point the OP and others in the direction of a breeder of Australian Labradoodles that is ethical and not a puppy farm.

Well I could give you 5 breeders that aren't puppy farms. So what does that prove?

My breeder had cameras in certain areas of their house where the puppies spent most of their time. They had 2 litters per year from different bitches.

Whatever breed anyone decides to get, you have to do your due diligence. Puppy farms exist for all types of breeds unfortunately.

A 'recommendation' from a stranger on any public forum needs a high degree of caution.
There are multiple checks you can make. The first one being, are they registered with the council. Do they have accreditation with a breed body?
Are they happy for you to visit and meet the bitch?
Do they interview you and ask what your lifestyle is like?
Is their primary concern for the welfare of the dog and that it goes to a good home?

I am also a big believer in getting dogs from shelters if you're in a position to do so. As we had young DC we would have had to wait for years. Our next dog will probably be a rescue.

Absolutely seconded. They are amazing dogs.

Yes please. Give us those 5 breeders, that would be helpful.

An enclosed field is a great idea with a sighthound as they may easily take off when off lead.

Are you seriously looking for a dog of this breed type?
If so DM me.
I am happy to share my breeders details if you are seriously looking, as I have done to people I know IRL

However, I am not going to post their details on here just to 'prove' that 5 ethical breeders of this dog type exist. That's ridiculous. I would hope to think there are ethical dog breeders for every type and unfortunately there are always dickheads who want to make a quick buck.

My point still stands. Whatever dog breed you decide to get, you need to do your due diligence to check that they are happy and healthy and aren't puppy farmed. I don't think there is anything controversial in saying that.

If your 5 breeders are the ones listed on the ALA site, they're all large scale commercial breeders. Basically puppy farms by any other name. Overbreeding, neutering too young, every red flag is there for those of us who know what to look for.

No, there is nothing controversial in saying do your research and be diligent, I would always encourage puppy buyers to do that. But unfortunately people are still being conned by the crossbreeding industry, which is unregulated and producing puppies on a large scale. They are also charging vast sums of money for these puppies. For want of a better term, they are dickheads out to make a quick buck.

Agreed. And this is the point we both keep making - if someone could actually name a good breeder of this ‘breed’ we would genuinely be delighted. But until that happens we’ll keep warning people for the reasons we have both laid out above. There’s never an excuse to let endorsement of a puppy farmer slide

No they aren't.
Never heard of these breeders and it just goes to show that a fancy website with an authoritative sounding name doesn't necessarily mean high standards of care

We have derailed this thread enough.

@Bearsinmotion I hope you find a lovely dog who suits your needs and lifestyle.

I know someone who runs greyhound rehoming it’s seems to be regional. My DC were looking for a dog and I talked to him about greyhounds whilst 5 of them competed for my lap! He said they are lovely dogs very friendly and just want to be loved and will love you to bits in return. Theirs are fostered to homes so are not in kennels so house training and the process of getting used to living in a house rather than a kennel has already been started, and they can be left. But for my DC they had two downsides he says they advise all owners that as a general principle they cannot be let of their leads, our region is exceedingly rural with a lots of livestock, he has a large secure field that they run in for 20 mins twice a day and they are lazy (my DC is a avid hill walker) so he felt that a greyhound would not be suitable for their lifestyle.

Intelligence is overrated! It doesn’t necessarily make training easy as the dog can outsmart you! A biddable, food loving nature works better.

My son adopted a greyhound from the Dogs Trust 3 years ago. He is the soppiest, loving and most calm (lazy) dog I've ever met. I, too, have a disability and look after him at his home for long weekends without having to walk him, the garden is enough for for him for a few days!
I used to have two Bichon Frise who, again were easy to look after and used to walk next to me when I had to use my mobility scooter and if needed used to sit in the basket 🤣
I would only let a dog off its lead in a private enclosure and never in a public open space

If you’ve got a dog field exclusively for dogs that you can hire then that should work. Don’t let the dog off lead in public areas unless you are able to chase after your dog and pull him away from people. I took my DCs on a woodland walk recently and a dog belonging to an elderly couple came and started jumping up at my toddler, the dog wouldn’t go back to them and they were unable to run and get their dog, it wasn’t a good situation.

Definitely not a puppy and I don't think a gsd. We have a lab and honestly, even though he's highly trainable and smart, having a labrador puppy was hard, big dogs are strong and intelligent dogs find entertainment if its not provided, even now as a 6yr old, if he pulls on the lead you have to be able to pull him back into line (he doesn't do that often but he did as a youngster). I wouldnt let my elderly parents walk him because of this even though he's well behaved 99% of the time. Greyhound is a good idea or a smaller dog, don't be worried about a mongrel either. Intelligent always sounds great but they need a lot of stimulation or they get bored, could you fit that into work, kids, life etc. If their brains don't get used, they use them for something else! A slightly less bright dog might be better, as you don't actually need them super well trained beyond coming to a dog whistle and being able to say sit and no/wait for stuff. Definitely get a whistle, our dog has learnt to respond to different "blows" and does come, wait and sit based on what I do with the whistle as well as verbal commands depending whether I've remembered the whistle! So you'll have no need to shout.

I was thinking the same thing. Plus teens are busy.

A GSD is too powerful, too much work. Greyhound suggestion is excellent; running around the garden is sufficient.

chihuahuas have incredible personalities. Rescue, of course.

A chihuahua

Totally agree with this!

You want a dog that will learn commands and obey them. An intelligent dog will often learn commands and then figure out how to ignore you anyway 😂

I would second this. I had a King Charles Cavalier and he was the thickest dog I've ever come across. He was also the easiest. He'd go off lead but always come back. He wasn't bothered about going for walk s but when he did he really enjoyed them. He was just so chill and easy. I've now got a whippet and he's an absolute nightmare. He's very intelligent and sensitive and is bloody hard work in comparison. He needs lots of exercise and stimulation. I love him but I miss the easy life with my last day. OP, I'd avoid a very intelligent dog. I also wouldn't get a King Charles for health reasons.

Yes, meant to say my king Charles was utterly obsessed with food. That can help. My whippet doesn't give a shit about food and turns his nose up at everything.

I was going to say about getting an older 12m+)Labrador from a small local rescue centre. I wanted a smaller dog as I thought it would be easier but often they are not very clever and therefore difficult to train, I’m so glad we got a lab. She goes to a daycare place and the women there has basically trained her for us. Also ( unlike with my children!) I’m quite strict and if i tell her something twice she has pretty much learnt it. She’s lovely to cuddle and because she goes to daycare a couple times a of days a week we don’t need to walk her those days.

Cavapoo.
She will spend most of her time on your lap, but will love to play with your kids snd enjoy a walk of whatever length you offer her.
Beautifully natured, adorable dogs 🥰

I would agree with the rescue greyhound. They are so calm and gentle. As long as you can offer them calm and don't have lots of children who don't respect their boundaries. The only downside is that they cant usually go off lead except in a secure field. But they are beautiful souls and so many are available in rescues.

Also ours was a rescue - but directly from the home that was unable to look after her. She wasn’t vaccinated and had worms and wasn’t house trained so the first few months were hard but now she’s super easy. Hopefully the kids will help in this novelty new phase, but I very much accepted that it was me and my husband that wanted the dog and so really it was going to be down to us.
you have to think carefully about your disability and how it will affect things but overall the qualities you need are time and patience not brute strength. Ask around and choose breed wisely but I think you can absolutely do this!

Have you considered a failed guide dog? That could also meet your conditions.

I had a greyhound which had never raced. Easy to train, sat nicely for his food, biddable, very friendly with children and easy to walk on the lead. No pulling at all. They are bred to want to please and he was satisfied with a couple of short walks a day although he could walk for longer at weekends. Some have a lower prey drive than others-maybe look for one given up by the trainer as not being interested in chasing as they can lose all their training if they see a small furry. But lovely, soft dogs and love having a loving home. I don’t have a dog now as I didn’t want the tie when my grey died-but I’d definitely have another if I were in the market.