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

Mely

MrsTine wrote: »

I walked in to the RSPCA wanting a GSD... and walked out with a BC/GSD cross... not QUITE what I had planned

Hand on heart - I would NEVER recommend a puppy to a family with young children - sorry. If any breeder sold a puppy to a family with small children I would seriously question their reasons for breeding in the first place and not want to buy from them anyway (ie they are only in it for the money and not for the breed or the dogs themselves).

Spend time going to your local RSPCA and Dogs Trust etc - don't pick a dog on your first visit but speak to the staff there and explain what your lifestyle is like, bring the kids and MEET some dogs. Take them for walks with the kids, if you get on with one reserve it and then ask if you can spend a day with it, see what it's like round food, when it's tired and so on.
Getting a puppy because it's "not been mucked around with"... sorry but that's no reason for getting a puppy... granted someone has to have the dogs whilst they are puppies but I would very much advise against having puppies and toddlers in the same house... They will be far more likely to be testing their standing in the pack and that could mean nipping the little ones! And then you have the teething, the weeing, the basic training and the endless chewing of toys, shoes, furniture, you name it.

I have to disagree with not getting a puppy with young children. I got my GSD when my youngest was 6 weeks old, her sisters were 2,4 and 7. Yes it was extremely hard work, but once he matured it was fantastic to see the bond he had with the children and they with him(mutual adoration society!) and they could do anything to him(rough and tumble) and he would put up with it. He was totally devoted.

Mely

I forgot to mention..my sister has a labarador and has 4 young boys and the dog is fantastic with them. If anyone new holds the baby, the dog will come up and check that the baby is alright and go off and play...lol.

catkins

suki1964 wrote: »

How much does a show type cocker need? Erm how many hours are there in the day? )=))=))

Everyone I know here just cant get over the fact that I spend around 4 hours a day on my dog alone - thats two lots of good quality exercise plus his grooming and playing and training in the home. He also has a HUGE garden to play in which he loves to run around guarding the fences from the animals on the other side - goat, horses, sheeps, cows etc )

He never stops - and hes coming five

Today with the dog and GS was a nightmare. The day started off pouring down with icy rain. So first off get the childs nappy done - let dog out in yard. Then grab a quick coffee whilst dressing myself. Get the child wrapped in a zillion layers. Get the buggy out and struggle with raincover - dog going ballistic as he thinks we are away without him. Get the child in the buggy, leash the dog and away we go - with the dog doing his best to pull ahead and me struggling with the buggy. Hour later and back home with drenched dog and soaking wet me and cold child. Warm up child and dry dog (me still in wet clothes) feed child and dog. Grab a bit of cold toast whilst keeping the child from dropping food off high chair to waiting dog )

I finally got out of my wet clothes about two hours after I got home time I had both dog and child sorted


Honest to dog I dont know how anyone with a child not at school manages with a dog in the house as well. Something obviously has to give as theres just not enough hours in the day to be meeting everyones and everythings needs. I know the weekends I look after the child - my needs are just wiped off the face of the earth. Fine for a couple of days but for years? Would kill me

I so agree with this post. I don't have any children but my dog takes up hours a day. He needs at least 2 hours exercise (most of it off lead) but 3 or 4 hours is better for him (then he is really tired out and will sleep). He needs to be groomed every day as he is long haired and that can take half an hour or more.

The bit in the post about the rain is so true. When it rains (and he still has to have the same amount of exercise - also he loves the rain) and I get home from my walk with us both looking like we have stepped out of the shower it is a nightmare. The water is dripping off me and my clothes and off the dog. I never know whether to start on him or me. I have to grapple in my small porch to take my wet and often muddy boots off, take my dripping jacket off and hang it up and try and towel dry my dog's paws. He is crying because he wants his breakfast!

I then run upstairs to change my soaking clothes and quickly rub a towel over my head. Then run back down with another towel and hairdryer to deal with the dog. By then of course he has already left a wet trail along the living room carpet and onto the dining room tiles (we have an open plan downstairs so cannot confine him to one room and the porch is so small it's untrue). It can take up to 3 hours to get him dry. I don't leave him wet because it must be very uncomfortable for him and I am worried he may get arthritis when he is older. If I were to leave him to dry naturally it takes about 6 to 7 hours! Needless to say I hate days that it is raining.

He also needs playing with during the day and of course walking again.

My dog is 8 now and still needs just as much attention and exercise.

I don't think some people realise just how much time a dog takes if they are looked after and exercised properly. I know a lot of people who give their dog about 10 minutes walk in the morning just so they can "do their business" and the same later. They then wonder why the dog is destructive or has other problems!

Go for a greyhound they need hardly any exercise!

mrcol1000

Staffordshire Bull Terriers are great with kids. Our dog has to be protected from children as it will sit there and let children pull its ears and stroke it too hard if you let them. They quickly become part of the family and will adore you all much more than a lot of dogs. Also they are very quick learners and will do anything they can to please you. The kids will love showing off their dog. The only downside is that they get very lonely if left alone too long and people's views of the dogs are often quite bigoted so expect people to grab their children and run away when they see you out with your dog. Although you also get a lot of people coming up to you and wanting to say hello to your dog.
Plus resuce homes are full of Staffs and due to them not always looking that cute and their bad reputation they tend not to be rehoming. Many council dog wardens automatically put down any Staffs they pick up simply because they can not find them homes and animal homes will not accept them.

Crossy

Hasn't there anyone with a good word to say about Beagles, if they are so bad why do people get them?

billieboy_2

Crossy wrote: »

Hasn't there anyone with a good word to say about Beagles, if they are so bad why do people get them?

In defence of beagles;) , we got one when I was five months pregnant with my DD1. Had absolutely no problems with her and she lived to the grand old age of 16 and a half. We were advised not to get a beagle but as my parents already had one I knew what they were like. We had a !!!!! and she was absolutely great and people still talk about her now even though she's been gone nearly nine years. I still miss her. We only went 10 months before getting another dog (a springer:eek: ). She was great with the kids and no jealousy when the babies came along. I would thoroughly recommend them but maybe we were just lucky ?

IsoChick

We have 2 male Boxers (Max who is nearly 3 and Murphy who is 18 months).

They are fabulous! They can be both laid back and absolutely mental, you choose!

Although we have no children, we have our nephew to stay 2 or 3 times a month. He's been staying here since he was 6 weeks old. The boys had never seen a baby before, but have had no issues with him.

Now nephew is 20 months old and a dog-trainer-in training!! He gives the dogs commands (sit, stay, go away, kiss) and they do it. They play chase round the dining table, and although both dogs could easily catch him/knock him over, they don't - they never catch up with him!

In terms of general Boxer-ness; my 2 require about 2 hours of actual 'walking' a day minimum. If they don't get it, as long as they have a play-session in the garden, they are ok. They'll walk for longer if we want to. They come camping and on holiday with us; we can take them into pubs etc with no problems. They need hardly any grooming - a little brush now and again; and a bath maybe twice a year.

If you don't want a very large Boxer, a female is the way to go. Both my boys are 5 stone and over (and in 1 case, still growing!). Females tend to be smaller, and more compact.

I wouldn't say that Boxers have a particularly high pain threshold. My two can stand certain things, but have no real difference in threshold to a Labrador or Bullmastiff.

becs

Crossy,

I think most people buy beagles because they don't know what they are like! I absoloutely adored our beagle but I wouldn't recommend them because they are not for the fainthearted! I would have another one but I think my first choice would be something easier although I think once you have had one you do get to know how to beagle proof a house! When we got our gorgeous lad and had all the initial teething problems like eating the house (we weren't at all prepared for this as we had a gorgeous lab who had been an absoloute angel!) we rung the breeder who was shocked that we didn't have him in a cage in the kitchen. This sounded so cruel to me but we did resort to a very large cage when we were out until he was a few months old. He was a little devil but this is probably what we loved about him in fairness!

foreign_correspondent

Crossy wrote: »

Hasn't there anyone with a good word to say about Beagles, if they are so bad why do people get them?

yes, they are wonderful dogs for hunting and running in packs!!

I guess people get them because they are sweet, charachterful and a small/medium size - does not make them great pets for most people though, and I guess many would be much happier out in a pack doing their job - hence the howling!

Mrs_pbradley936

IsoChick wrote: »

We have 2 male Boxers (Max who is nearly 3 and Murphy who is 18 months).

They are fabulous! They can be both laid back and absolutely mental, you choose!

Although we have no children, we have our nephew to stay 2 or 3 times a month. He's been staying here since he was 6 weeks old. The boys had never seen a baby before, but have had no issues with him.

Now nephew is 20 months old and a dog-trainer-in training!! He gives the dogs commands (sit, stay, go away, kiss) and they do it. They play chase round the dining table, and although both dogs could easily catch him/knock him over, they don't - they never catch up with him!

In terms of general Boxer-ness; my 2 require about 2 hours of actual 'walking' a day minimum. If they don't get it, as long as they have a play-session in the garden, they are ok. They'll walk for longer if we want to. They come camping and on holiday with us; we can take them into pubs etc with no problems. They need hardly any grooming - a little brush now and again; and a bath maybe twice a year.

If you don't want a very large Boxer, a female is the way to go. Both my boys are 5 stone and over (and in 1 case, still growing!). Females tend to be smaller, and more compact.

I wouldn't say that Boxers have a particularly high pain threshold. My two can stand certain things, but have no real difference in threshold to a Labrador or Bullmastiff.

You do not torture them in order to gage that! You observe their response to stimuli for example I would not expect a Boxer or a Staff to yelp if they have an injection at the vets. Quite a few German Shepherds would as will Border Collies - not all of them but enough for people who study these things to predict tendencies and behaviour. When you have toddlers around they are likely to poke, prod, pinch etc. they will do it to their parents, their siblings, their friends and their pets until they are old enough to know better. The idea is not to let a toddler torment the dog but if they should poke, prod or pinch the ideal dog will not snap in retaliation. Small dogs are sometimes snappy for a reason - they have been picked up and dropped/hurt enough times to know that if they growl and snap people leave them alone.