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

hethmar

Our friends who had two rescue beagles (remember those hundreds of poor dogs that were liberated from animal testing years back?) Anyway, they would howl and bay every time someone knocked on the door. They were such good thiefs that they had to wrap a chain and lock round the fridge! LOL, one day I was there and the lady of the house was searching high and low for a birthday cake and a loaf she had not long put on the work top - you guessed it. Another time the husband, who is a keen cyclist and enters competition long distance races was going loopy when I got there as the dogs had jumped up on a cupboard and chewed up the maps and details he had received for his latest race!

Still, the dogs were much loved and lived to 14 and 15 years old.

citroennut

When our DDs were 5 and 3 years old, we bought a Dalmatian puppy and have never regretted it for a minute. He settled straight in without a whimper and has been the most laid back dog ever. One day I found him covered in green felt tipped pen. The DDs had been joining the dots to make a picture! They used to dress him up in headscarves and sunglasses and he just wagged his tail.

He could run all day or sleep in his bed all day, quite happy whatever. He has never been destructive and is always just trying to please. He is now almost thirteen and despite being on medication for his arthritis, is as enthusiastic as ever. A wonderful dog.

Many years ago I owned a beagle. He was impossible to train and literally ate the house! Definitely wouldn't have another.

foreign_correspondent

Dalmations can be lovely, but they can also be very hard work. I know a family who had a lovely laid back one, when he died they got another who is very, very boisterous, noisy and challenging!!

Mrs_pbradley936

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

Dalmations can be lovely, but they can also be very hard work. I know a family who had a lovely laid back one, when he died they got another who is very, very boisterous, noisy and challenging!!

Yes and that is my point about traits and tendencies. You should try and assess the breed as a whole not one or two individuals that buck the trend. Also if people are dedicated to their dog they will forgive lots of things as well as devoting hours on end to training. Many people just want a family pet that has a nice nature which they feed and walk . When my sister wanted her dog she made it very clear that she would not be devoting hours on end to training and taking the dog all over the country to compete - which is what I was doing with Working Trials.

hethmar

We had 2 dalmatians from a puppy farm, one was deaf and had one blue eye, the other one was a boy who was so ill when we got him we thought he may die. They lived to 14 and 15 years. But my goodness, challenge with the boy wasnt the word. The deaf girl was a good obedient dog who learnt sign language and was eager to please. The boy was always up to mischief and couldnt be trained. One day he leapt from a bedroom window :eek: having managed to get across the floor which was just beams as the whole room was being renovated.

Of course, we worshipped them both and were heartbroken when we lost then at what is a very good age for the breed.

As we have said earlier, it often pays to get a mature dog as you can see his personality immediately.

Kerriebaby

neither

I wouldnt recommend any dog with young children in the home, most reputable rescues/breeders would not sell one to you anyway.

I would wait til the kids are older, in the meantime research what breeds are suited to you, even help out at a local shelter, that way you will get lots of hands on with many breeds types etc

orlao

Kerriebaby wrote: »

neither

I wouldnt recommend any dog with young children in the home, most reputable rescues/breeders would not sell one to you anyway.

No offence, but I think that's a bit unfair.....managed properly I think it's good for both children and the dog...as most people have said not a pup but an older rescue with a known history, using doorgates and training for kids and dogs;) . It teaches children about responsibility, that animals aren't toys etc and a dog in need gets a home, win, win situation as far as I'm concerned as long as sensible attitudes are taken.

Plenty of people have dogs before they have children and there are no problems and as it is there are too many dogs in rescue just because a child has come into their home, not because they have misbehaved in any way.....not very fair or responsible is it?

Spentit_3

I have two Springers and a four year old son. We've had them both from puppies and they are now aged one and two so I can sort of say we're getting to see the benefit of all our hard work now. It has been such hard work having puppies and a toddler ( although puppies are very hard work without the toddler!). I wouldn't leave my son alone with them but I am so glad that he is growing up around dogs. He has always been lovely with them apart from a bit of boisterousness but I think you have to be really firm on the rules and not expect the dogs to put up with any sort of rough games. I don't encourage him to play with them too much as I think they would get far too excited and knock him over.
I've had to teach him not to touch the dogs when they are eating and that sort of thing but on the whole we haven't had too much of a problem.

Mrs_pbradley936

Spentit wrote: »

I have two Springers and a four year old son. We've had them both from puppies and they are now aged one and two so I can sort of say we're getting to see the benefit of all our hard work now. It has been such hard work having puppies and a toddler ( although puppies are very hard work without the toddler!). I wouldn't leave my son alone with them but I am so glad that he is growing up around dogs. He has always been lovely with them apart from a bit of boisterousness but I think you have to be really firm on the rules and not expect the dogs to put up with any sort of rough games. I don't encourage him to play with them too much as I think they would get far too excited and knock him over.
I've had to teach him not to touch the dogs when they are eating and that sort of thing but on the whole we haven't had too much of a problem.[/quote]


That is the exact opposite of what I would advise but I know why you did it and why some trainers recommend it. However I would start with an empty food bowl, a child with a bag of dog food/biscuits/treats and a puppy. Then I would get the child to drop the treats one at a time into the bowl for the dog to eat. I would do that several times a day for weeks. I would want the pup to associate the child, well anyone really with receiving food not having it taken away.

Mrs_pbradley936

Kerriebaby wrote: »

neither

I wouldnt recommend any dog with young children in the home, most reputable rescues/breeders would not sell one to you anyway.

I would wait til the kids are older, in the meantime research what breeds are suited to you, even help out at a local shelter, that way you will get lots of hands on with many breeds types etc

That is just silly. There are thousands of families that have a nice pet dog quite successfully. All it needs is an adult with common sense and a breed which is not noted for being highly strung. My own breed of choice would be a German Shepherd and I have had those with toddlers around but I would not recommend them to others unless they are prepared to deal with a guarding instinct.