Help - Which breed of dog?

Swans1912

UKTigerlily wrote: »

Hiya! I agree with what the rest have said, I was in your situation of looking for a Dog to fit in with my lifestyle not so long ago. I looked at the breed standards & a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel came out on top (I needed a Dog to get on well with Cats, not bark alot, be Medium size or smaller), I decided I didn't want a full Cav due to the health issues but maybe a x or a Dog with the same characteristics so I called the Rescue & told them the personality I was looking for, so a Dog that's not a huge barker, likes Cats, Medium size or below, not a Pup but an older Dog etc & they matched me to my Staffy, Chaya!

Most Rescues are fine with kids the age of yours, it's just younger ones who may be knocked flying or not understand to respect the Dog, unless the Dog is genuinely child aggressive in which case they'd say no kids of any age but most are just older kids.

Mine very rarely barks & never inside, she's 5 years old but nobody believes she's not younger, she could walk all day but is equally happy lounging about at home, she's great with kids & totally changes around very young ones becoming even quieter & she just doesn't move when they fuss her or even lick them to death she's very gentle!

Staffs are one of the best breeds around kids as has been said & the only breed with totally reliable in the breed standard, they often don't like other Dogs but as you've not got others that wouldn't be an issue & many are fine with others. Of course many Rescues will say the kids aren't to walk the Dog alone but that's something responsible Owners don't let their kids do anyway & so more something they advise than ban on, I don't see any reason Rescues would have an issue with the kids they're all a good age!

I'd say go along with an open mind because if you decide on a breed you can bet you'll come back with something totally different! When you call they may well have an idea of matches for you too!

A lot of breeds are prone to health issues i.e a labrador may develop hip problems, a pug may develop breathing problems etc but I was advised my my vet that if you have a cross breed, they are likely to develop traits from the both breeds they have originated from. Hmm that makes sense to me because i typed it, but it doesn't read very well does it? :rotfl:

hethmar

Well Ive had lots of dogs in my life, usually 3 at a time. I dont think anyone can tell you what breed to have, it depends on your lifestyle. Those of us who live in the country areas will have different needs and lives to people in flats in towns.

You need to go to a rescue and why not Battersea? Brilliant follow up from them and near enough for you. Theres Enfield Rescue, Rescue Remedies which is in Surrey, ARC. Loads of them.

Id personally get yourself along, with the kids to Battersea and have a good chat there about the ideal type of dog for you. A good old scruffy heinz would probably be a good choice Ive had herding dogs and terriers, loved them all, but some were very difficult to train,in particular my Dalmatian. Avoid hyper dogs, kids will make them even more hyper.

Im just slightly concerned that you say you will be looking for a dog because you are being made redundant - what if you find a job again?

Soubrette

iKennett wrote: »

A lot of breeds are prone to health issues i.e a labrador may develop hip problems, a pug may develop breathing problems etc but I was advised my my vet that if you have a cross breed, they are likely to develop traits from the both breeds they have originated from. Hmm that makes sense to me because i typed it, but it doesn't read very well does it? :rotfl:

Actually a lot of problems from pedigrees are recessive and obviously pedigrees are closely related so genes from both parents are needed for a problem to manifest.

As far as I understand it a cross breed or mongrel is less likely to have problems because although they might have one gene for a genetic illness, the other parent will give them a 'healthy' gene.

For things like breathing - again both parents will give physical characteristics to their offspring so a pug and collie cross is unlikely to have the physically short snout that it would get from a pure pug parentage.

That's not to say that it never happens but I'm surprised your vet says its more common.

Sou

hethmar

Just looked at those fc kindly linked to on dogsblog - NOW this is a kids dog:

http://www.dogsblog.com/ruff/

hethmar

Oh, I wish I hadnt looked

http://www.dogsblog.com/phoebe-5/

Phew, thank goodness, she been rehomed.

foreign_correspondent

Ruff is gorgeous isn't he! He looks quite a lot like a lad who is in our local rescue ...

Ruff -



Willie -

BeenieCat

We've got a Springer Spaniel and she's very hyperactive, like all other Springers i've ever met. However she's beautiful and good natured, and also they are highly intelligent so need lots of stimulation.

Thankfully my OH is very dedicated and spends time training her with dummies and whistles, and he even bought a £30 gundog training DVD to ensure he didn't allow her to pick up any bad habits!!

They're not the kind of dog who will sit quietly by your feet for long, they prefer to be licking you and playing! She's only 5 months old though so he doesn't train her too hard as he believes in letting her be a pup first, but still she's coming along fantastically and it's so rewarding. I'd have another spaniel if we had the room!!

Gforce_2

Another vote for the Standard Poodle here. Mine rarely barks and is the most laid back dog I've ever had.

Swans1912

Soubrette wrote: »

Actually a lot of problems from pedigrees are recessive and obviously pedigrees are closely related so genes from both parents are needed for a problem to manifest.

As far as I understand it a cross breed or mongrel is less likely to have problems because although they might have one gene for a genetic illness, the other parent will give them a 'healthy' gene.

For things like breathing - again both parents will give physical characteristics to their offspring so a pug and collie cross is unlikely to have the physically short snout that it would get from a pure pug parentage.

That's not to say that it never happens but I'm surprised your vet says its more common.

Sou

I must admit i was surprised to hear her say that as i always thought cross breeds were less likely to health problems

hethmar

Im sure cross breeds are stronger Thats why they cost less to insure. My old rottiexlab was healthy and fit until her 15th year and it was the last 6 months when she had any probs at all.

My pedigree dogs Ive always been at vets in the first year for most of them and it continued like that for life.