Researching dogs, should we get a Beagle or a Labrador or something else?

mkbswimstar

We are thinking of getting a pup and want to research the best one for our situation.
We are a family with 2 kids, a 2yr old and a very energetic boistrous 4yr old.
The kids love dogs and both dh and I have had our own dogs before.
We like the labs nature, but we are attracted to a beagle partly because they are smaller and seem full of character much like the kids.
From experience which would you recommend or is there another breed more suited to us and us to them?
Many thanks

foreign_correspondent

Beagles are hard work, stubborn, hard to train and hate being left alone as they are pack dogs - will howl if lonely. Not my idea of a fun dog for most people!

There are loads of breeds of smaller characterful dogs, and lots of lovely dogs and pups in resues at the moment.

A few questions - how much are you at home? Will this change a lot when the little one goes to school? (if you will both be working full time I would advise strongly against a beagle!)

If you are both working full time can you get home at lunchtimes/afford a dog walker? How much time and energy do you currently have available to spend walking/training a dog?

mkbswimstar

Hi fc.
At the mo I am at home most of the day and work evenings. When yougest starts full time education (Jan 2011) I hope to get a part time day job, but don't know where this will be or if it will happen.
I plan to walk the dog once the kids are at school in the park next to it each day and prob again b4 I pick them up, this is of course without a day job, otherwise it would be after kids picked up, walk dog at park and in the evening again around where we live which dh could do.
If I can find day time classes in area then training the dog is not a problem.

foreign_correspondent

Well is certainly sounds like the right dog could fit in well with your lifestyle.

Personally, I always choose rescue dogs, both for ethical reasons (so many lovely, healthy young dogs being dumped and ending up in rescues if they are lucky - many are less lucky and are put to sleep) - but also for purely selfish reasons - I do not really want the work of house training, cleaning up accidents, trying to stop chewing etc and find older dogs much easier. Many come ready trained, can be left alone in the house, walk well on the lead, are used to kids etc - especially at the moment when financial problems and repossession mean many ready made family dogs are finding themselves in rescue through no fault of their own.

Pups can also be quite hard work with little ones as they tend to nip and mouth quite a lot, which tends to encourage small children to squeal and run (understandably!) , which of course makes the pup think it is brilliant fun!! Its also not ideal if you are getting stressed trying to stop the puppy from piddling on the carpet cos your little one plays there!!

It's worth remembering that with any one breed there will also be variations - some beagles dont bay and howl, but a lot do! Some collies dont need hours of stimulation, but most do, etc etc. Working breeds (which includes both beagles and labs) can be very high energy and need a lot of exercise, especially when young...

Maybe it is better to start with a list of qualities you want in a dog, then look at either breeds or individual dogs.

Its also worth considering that no dog should be left alone with a small child, as both are often unpredictable.

If you are interested in considering a rescue dog (or rescue pup), some will not rehome with small children (for the reasons listed above many recues have experience of people who do ultimately find its too hard and the dog bounces back to rescue) - however, many rescues will assess you rather than gove a blanket 'no' - so depending on whether your children are likely to be able to understand that a dog needs space, and cannot be treat like a toy etc, and whether you have thought it all through well.


If you want to buy a dog from a breeder please research very very carefully and make sure you are not unwittingly buying a puppy farm pup or from an unscrupulous breeder whose b1tches have a litter every season till they drop.

Good luck!

LittleTinker

mkbswimstar wrote: »

Hi fc.
At the mo I am at home most of the day and work evenings. When yougest starts full time education (Jan 2011) I hope to get a part time day job, but don't know where this will be or if it will happen.
I plan to walk the dog once the kids are at school in the park next to it each day and prob again b4 I pick them up, this is of course without a day job, otherwise it would be after kids picked up, walk dog at park and in the evening again around where we live which dh could do.
If I can find day time classes in area then training the dog is not a problem.

Any breed will cost you a bit of money if you buy a puppy.....youre looking at hundreds for a beagle.

I would recommend a small to medium sized dog that your children can handle.

Labs have nice temperments with children but can be greedy and can get quite large too. They are very intelligent and are easy enough to train. Downside to labs....dog hair!! It gets everywhere!!

Beagles actually make great family pets but they are very sensitive and can sulk....so they may be difficult to contend with. They are easy to train, as are most gun dogs, although they can 'forget' their training very easily when they see something to chase!

If you were prepared to go on long walks I think Springers are great dogs for families. They are friendly, gentle, caring, easy to train.......in fact just about the nicest dogs in temperment you can find......but they are a bit scatty. Some are much worse than other.

If you definitely want either a lad or a beagle......Id go for beagle everytime.
If you want anything....I would pick a Springer if you can walk it a lot or a small heinz if you cant.

However, get yourself a beautiful heinz....perhaps from rescue if you pass all the stringent rules and tests.....and then you can see it full grown.

Mrs_pbradley936

The very best dog to have around children is a Boxer. Get a female and have her spayed. They will withstand the rough and tumble of toddlers without being sharp (I mean taking a snap) because their pain threshold is supposed to be quite like those of fighting breeds. The males can be fighters with other dogs which is why I would opt for a female. They are not the most trainable of breeds (you will be able to get them to sit,stay, shake hands etc.) but far more so than a Beagle.

My opinion of Beagles is that they are appealing in looks and size but that have hunting traits that make them difficult pets.

Labradors are very trainable, most of them are nice natured.

mkbswimstar

My dh had a rescue dog and she was great. I had a rescue dog and he was very loving but also ate anything with fur on it. They declined to tell me this at the rehoming centre! I loved him though, but dreaded the walks. Cost me a fortune is muzzles etc and pulled muscles!
Hence we want a puppy so that it comes into our family as a newbee, no one else has mucked him/her about, put bad habits into them etc.
Cats are easier to rehome than dogs I think. Have had 3 rescue cats and they were all great.
We are all attracted to the beagle, its the right sort of size at adult and will have the energy to cope with running around with my 2. But labs seem to settle well, let the kids play with them but then can lie down and rest with the family and not pad about all night.
Thank you to everyone who has responded so far.

foreign_correspondent

As far as I know the only dog that the kennel club states are 'good with children' is the staffordshire bull terrier!

I know a girl who has a big chunk of a staffie and three small kids - he is incredible with them - I watched him lying on the hearth rug with the baby who is about a year old, and who was waving a half eaten biscuit in front of his face - although the biscuit was inches from his nose, he made no attempt to nab it - with most dogs it would have been gone in a flash!!

She was also patting him on the head with a cushion, which would have freaked some dogs - he seemed to be enjoying it!

whatever sort of dog you decide to go for, please be aware that its not currently difficult to find very young puppies in rescue, some are even born in rescue, so it may be worth researching. If not, as I said earlier, please research any breeders very carefully indeed.

Also, be aware that some dogs will have a high prey drive and will want to eat "anything with fur" on it - the beagle is a hunting dog, genetically programmed to chase, so you may find this is part of his character too, even if bought as a pup!

Mrs_pbradley936

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

As far as I know the only dog that the kennel club states are 'good with children' is the staffordshire bull terrier!

I know a girl who has a big chunk of a staffie and three small kids - he is incredible with them - I watched him lying on the hearth rug with the baby who is about a year old, and who was waving a half eaten biscuit in front of his face - although the biscuit was inches from his nose, he made no attempt to nab it - with most dogs it would have been gone in a flash!!

She was also patting him on the head with a cushion, which would have freaked some dogs - he seemed to be enjoying it!

whatever sort of dog you decide to go for, please be aware that its not currently difficult to find very young puppies in rescue, some are even born in rescue, so it may be worth researching. If not, as I said earlier, please research any breeders very carefully indeed.

Also, be aware that some dogs will have a high prey drive and will want to eat "anything with fur" on it - the beagle is a hunting dog, genetically programmed to chase, so you may find this is part of his character too, even if bought as a pup!

The fighting breeds (a Staffie being one such) have a higher than average tolerance for pain then other breeds. That supposedly is why they withstand the rough and tumble of toddlers without much objection. I would not have a fighting breed because I would not want the agrro of having rows with other owners if they should get into fights but each to their own. The Boxer has enough of the traits to be able to withstand rough play but no so much as to be a problem with other dogs although a large percentage of dogs are fighters which is why I suggested a female. Also a female will be smaller, well usually.

My knowledge of dogs comes from Working Trials and I used to run a class for this years ago. An unofficial one - I had a huge garden and permanently set up scale, jumps and search area which people used to come and use and before long I was running classes!

When my sister wanted a dog the consensus from everyone was a Boxer female and I have to say it was the best ever choice. She lived to be 13 and was in and out of doll's prams, up and down a slide, dressed up etc and was in general the best pet anyone with a family could have.

foreign_correspondent

Mrs_pbradley936 wrote: »

The fighting breeds (a Staffie being one such) have a higher than average tolerance for pain then other breeds. That supposedly is why they withstand the rough and tumble of toddlers without much objection. I would not have a fighting breed because I would not want the agrro of having rows with other owners if they should get into fights but each to their own. The Boxer has enough of the traits to be able to withstand rough play but no so much as to be a problem with other dogs although a large percentage of dogs are fighters which is why I suggested a female. Also a female will be smaller, well usually.

oddly enough, the only dog that has ever frightened me was a boxer that really went for my dog... and I am generally a relaxed dog owner, who does not freak out if there is a bit of squabbling going on - but this dog spotted mine and shot towards her at full pelt, pushed her of her feet, tried to bite her - it wasnt play at all - it was only the fact that my much smaller dog could turn a lot quicker that got her out of the way and I managed to grab the boxer's harness... despite the reputation of staffies with other dogs we meet a few regularly who mine loves having a run about with !!

sestina

I am a member of a springer forum, and would certainly agree that there are a lot of puppies in rescue at the moment.

Beagles are notoriously stubborn and hard to train - not for the faint hearted or for owners that are inexperienced dog trainers IMHO. However, training any dog to a reasonable standard is always rewarding.