want to get a pet

mirakl

That's two interesting choices of dogs. Corgis are known to be quite snappy and yappy (my aunt used to breed them) and Retrievers take up a hell of a lot of space. I've a medium size dog and it can be endlessly frustrating just how 'in the way' and clumsy he can be. They're both also really quite expensive breeds.

If you want to keep the vets bills down I have to say it would be wiser going for a mongrel puppy from a local paper where you can visit the house and see what the parentage is so you know what size you're looking at.

Same goes for cats really, all pedigrees are predisposed to certain aliments which makes them more expensive to insure too.

MrsTinks

I'm sorry to kinda jump on you with this one, but PLEASE don't go to a breeder and buy a puppy... Loads of rescues out there have puppies that need a good home if a puppy IS what you want. I am sure that the GR rescue association can put you in contact with puppies needing homes, and wil be able to advise you if a puppy really is a good idea. My advise if you aren't certain is FOSTER. Loads of rescues need foster homes and fostering could benefit you in letting you find out if it's the right breed for you and you might even find THE dog for you.

Don't Buy When Thousands Die...

trigger_mike

I had this problem last year, misses wanted a dog, i didn't want anything, got nagged for months and gave in to a cat.
Cat's look after themself's and are no trouble, we keep ours indoors but that does mean the house get's lots of hairs in it though!.
Remember dogs need walking every day and lots of looking after so if you both work a lot and the house is empty for long perieds then think about a cat as it's unfair for a dog to be left on it's own all day and will you really be bothered to walk it after a long day work when it's rainning outside?.
Plus cats are cheaper to look after.

JimArnold

If hair shedding worries you DON'T get a retriever !

Smells aren't a problem - only notice it when shes drying out when there is a wet dog smell, if she comes back from a run dirty she jumps in the bath and I shower her down - then dry off with a towel and banished to the kitchen till shes fully dry - Could use a hair dryer on her if I was in a hurry!

They get on fine Cat rules dog ! would even push her off food - but she was there first and used to dogs!

The thing about a golden retriever is she will do ANYTHING for you - its just difficult to tell her sometimes !
House training wasn't a problem we did lose half a dozen shoes while she was a pup. Apart from the hair the cat causes more mess - the dog will ask very pointedly to go out if she feels sick - the cat doesn't!

Oh one last thing dogs aren't a good idea if you are very garden proud they do tend to wander off and lie down in the flower beds! and some dig - not GRs usually though. feel free to PM if I can help

mercurystar999

We've got a chocalate labardor. Best thing i ever did was get her! She's been absoloutely no trouble hasn't chewed on anything! We were looking at golden retreivers but they are big dogs. Labradors are just about the right size in my opinion. Not to small or big. She never barks either which is good as small dogs are real yappy.

She cost £550 which is allot i know but worth every penny. We have her insured with marks and spencer, we buy a big bag of food for about a tenner which lasts 3 weeks or so. She's cheaper to keep than our fussy cats! They only eat the tinned food which works out loads more than the dogs food.

mr218

thanks for all your replies. it is giving me a greater insight into pet ownership. i have been looking at all the websites for pet rescue centres and there are a lot of dogs available. I am seriously considering getting in touch with GR rescue club to see what they recommend.

After seeing the dogs in the rescue centre, it seems more responsible to get one of these dogs. I have my heart set on a GR. They are so cute. But i will keep my mind open and see what is possible.

My husband thinks that a cat will be a better option and i am thinking that maybe we should start with a cat at first. I feel that this would be a gentler introduction to the world of pet ownership.

Keep the tips coming and i will keep you posted on what we decide. i think the next step would be to visit a few pet rescue centres and see whether i actually like it or whether i am just acting on a whim.

thanks again

Dora_the_Explorer_5

It's nice to know you've been helped. If you visit a rescue centre be prepared to have your heart wrung and your hearing shattered. Don't know where you are in the country but have a look at Battersea Dogs Home website, it should give you some idea about what any good rescue centre should be telling you about the dogs they have and what they require of potential owners.
Don't know how strong you are so remember a GR is a hefty, strong dog and you will need to control it in unexpected circumstances occasionally - some dogs have a one track mind when they spot something interesting or something startles them.

gilly41

Hi
I have always owned a dog- so cant comment on cats. We had a Chocolate Labrador for 15 years- had to have her put to sleep in 2004- got her as a puppy and she grew up with my kids(they are both away at Uni now!).
My hubby really didnt want another dog(she was mine when i met him!) but I talked him round. We got a Greyhound and she is the BEST DOG I have ever owned. We got her from a rescue centre last year aged 7
Please if you get chance have a look in to getting a Greyhound- you certainly wouldnt regret it! There are so many needing homes and people have the wrong idea about them.
They dont need much exercise(2 x 20 mins walks a day will suffice), they are gentle, dont shed much hair, dont smell, take up very little space in the house,can be left for a few hours and they are still asleep when you get home LOL, soooooo loving, very very quiet(mine doesnt bark at all)

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the list is endless.
I would love to get another one - they are addictive!!
Golden Retrievers are nice looking dogs but they shed loads of hair and to be fair they do smell(my sister in law has one!). They need grooming daily and can be quite noisy dogs!
Hope I have managed to convince you to take a look at one of the Greyhound websites

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we got our dog from Saltburn Animal rescue(SARA) .My friend has just set up a rescue for Greyhounds(I would have got one from her but she only got established in December)

https://www.greyhoundsgalore@org.uk

Sorry the website is meant to read

https://www.greyhoundsgalore.org.uk

xxxxx

gilly41

Also meant to add another site worth looking at.

https://www.greyhoundrescue.net.

If you go on the FAQ part they really do give you an idea of what a Greyhound is like(sorry to go on- I just think they are such lovely dogs!!)
xx

tipsychick

We had a Golden Retriever for fifteen, fairly long years!

Not the brightest of animals, he was nicknamed the dumb blonde in our house!

A GR isn't for the houseproud. The hair was unbelievable. Quite aside from insuring the dog, you'll definitely want to take out that extended warrantee on the hoover which is usually such a waste of money. We had a new motor in our hoover every single year that we had the dog. In fact I'm one of the few people who can say that hoover insurance still rates as one of their best all time buys!

The only things that our GR cared about were walks and food. He was a dog possessed at mealtimes - ours and his.

On one occasion I accidentally left a dessert spoon in his bowl and in his all consuming haste, he actually ate it! The vet didn't believe me until he saw a perfect spoon-shaped outline on the x-ray. The operation to remove it cost about £2K (picked up by the insurance company thank God). The vet kept the spoon to show to his colleagues!

Next time I'm going to go for something small and hairless!