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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

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

131 replies

Bearsinmotion · 08/11/2025 08:11

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?

OP posts:

Definitelyrandom · 11/11/2025 15:40

Yet another vote for a retired greyhound here. A specialist greyhound rehoming kennels will match the greyhound to the prospective adopter, looking at temperament, what they're like on walks etc, plus trainers' notes. That said, our current boy's trainer's notes said he was a slow, fussy eater. Reader, he is not. Though they also said he was cuddly - that he definitely is!

RaraRachael · 11/11/2025 16:16

Our local greyhound rescue place lets people have the dogs for a weekend to see how they fit in with your home and family before you commit.

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 11/11/2025 16:35

NormaNormalPants · 10/11/2025 08:49

Ha I came on to say the same thing, an intelligent large breed combined with mobility issues is a recipe for disaster! We have a young GSP who I love the very bones of, but my word does he keep me on my toes. I’m never truly sure if I’m training him or he’s training me 😂

Back to the OP, to a degree I agree with the chorus of greyhound suggestions. The only things I would flag is that prey drive is often off the charts if they’re an ex racer so it’s tricky to instil truly reliable recall, and a lot do suffer from separation anxiety so you do need to be prepared for that in the early days and put the work in to ensure they learn to settle. They’re also expert counter surfers so you’ll need to make sure nothing edible or of value is ever left in range.

The only other thing I’d say is it’s worth being aware that they’re bred as a commodity so focus is on athletic ability on the track with little consideration for their long term health. My absolute best friend in the entire world suffered a horrific death due to osteosarcoma at 7 and when I looked into it further it turned out there were several lines within his breeding that were known for osteosarcoma. On the other hand we lost our other boy at 13 and have friends who have had 16/17yo greyhounds so it’s very much the luck of the draw, but it’s one of the reasons we wouldn’t have another.

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Oh really? My boy was PTS after osteosarcoma was diagnosed and I wonder if that was the case for him. He was only 10.

meganorks · 12/11/2025 10:20

Please don't get a puppy. Not for ethical reasons, just it is so so stressful and hard work. I know you say you work from home, but unless you are planning to do no work for 6 months or more a puppy isn't going to work! I found at least the first 10 months to a year very stressful and was in tears more than once. And if you are planning to do recall training so they can be off lead, there will be times they just bloody ignore you and you have to go after them. They may seem prefect training in your garden or somewhere secure. But all bets are off once other dogs/people distractions are around.

Definitelyrandom · 12/11/2025 10:35

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 11/11/2025 16:35

Oh really? My boy was PTS after osteosarcoma was diagnosed and I wonder if that was the case for him. He was only 10.

Show quote history

There are a number of larger breeds that are susceptible to osteosarcoma, so great Danes, wolfhounds, St Bernards, dobermans, golden retrievers, for example, as well as greyhounds. I understand it's more related to the physionomy rather than concentrated in breeding lines. We lost our first greyhound to it at just under 7 yo.

Starlight1984 · 12/11/2025 10:57

Bearsinmotion · 08/11/2025 13:06

Thanks @Dunnocantthinkofone , we live rurally and we have got at least one "dog field" you can hire by the hour for exactly that.

That's all really encouraging, I was thinking we would need to get a puppy to train it from the start but it sounds like an older calmer dog would be fine.

We do have (aging!) guinea pigs but I am categorically not getting any dog until they have gone.

Just bear in mind OP that dog fields are a great idea as a one off but a lot of dogs (particularly those with high energy or working breeds) will get bored in no time if they are just there with you. I know lots of people who go to them and, once the dog has run round once or twice, aren't really bothered. There isn't really enough to stimulate them. Even a short walk (20-30 minutes) on a road or path is better in my opinion...

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