Dog breed suggestions

CFC

FC it looks like it is a recent variation, they are certainly gorgeous and remind me a lot of my last dog who was a Heinz, and the most beautiful animal I have ever had (or seen). His mum was a rough coated lurcher and he was a beautiful gold long hair dog. Not sure who the dad was. He was a little s^d in terms of training recall, very intelligent and loving but amazingly independent minded and I would prefer a dog who was a bit more eager to please and who would not feign deafness.
Lurchers - I've only seen the one and that was enormous. The house is not very big, I don't think that would work out.


Hughesy thanks for the input, but I think a staffordshire wouldn't fit the bill from what Tiger Lily says.

Hethmar I am in Bristol. I had a look at the oldies link but I have a lot of concerns re potential huge vet bills with taking on an older dog, and I am not too sure an older dog will bond in the same way. I have only ever had puppies previously (although there is a lot of attraction from the perspective that a slightly older dog is less work)

Biggins is beautiful. Only trouble with a grown dog though is you don't know what they are like and you don't mould them in the same way as a puppy. I would very much hate to bring a dog home and then have to return him.

hethmar

Have a look at biggins on that link Ive put on.

foreign_correspondent

hethmar wrote: »

Have a look at lurcher rescue.

But a smallish cross terrier may be your best bet. What part of the country are you in?

I agree, but again, it depends so much on the individual dog - my old terrier (who was six when I got her, and lived for another ten years) would have been fine being left, but I know other terriers who would dismantle the furniture out of boredom after a couple of hours!

hethmar

Oh gawd, look at this babe

http://www.dogsblog.com/toby-34/

hethmar

Gawd, I wish I hadnt started looking. *no more dogs, no more dogs, no more dogs*

Had a horrific phone call last night FC, chap threatening to kill his american bull dog then and there. I spent ages finding somewhere for it to go - and this guy was 500 miles away from me! Felt drained by the end of the evening.

moomin5

Lurchers are a type rather than a pedigree breed so depending on the cross it could be a small or large dog. Energy levels will depend on what the make-up is.

hethmar

CFC wrote: »

d I am not too sure an older dog will bond in the same way. I have only ever had puppies previously (although there is a lot of attraction from the perspective that a slightly older dog is less work)
Only trouble with a grown dog though is you don't know what they are like and you don't mould them in the same way as a puppy. I would very much hate to bring a dog home and then have to return him.

Oh CFC, thats really not right. With a grown dog you DO know what you are getting - the dog has got his personality and it will have been assessed. All puppies are cute and fun but their personality wont be known til they are mature. Plus a little puppy left alone for long hours a day could be very unhappy and destructive.

And you do bond with an older dog, honestly you do. Ive had mostly mature dogs for the last 20 years because I felt there were too many dogs needing a home for us to get a puppy. Ive loved each and everyone of them to bits. I currently have one disabled dog we got as a pup due to be pts and one we got, unknown age who was also due to be pts as a stray. I have to be honest, the boy who came to us as a mature dog is a dream - I love them both to bits, but I have really bonded more with the mature dog. The boy we had as a pup has grown into a very independent lad, he can take you or leave you - he is my husbands dog - they are similar personalities!

CFC

hethmar wrote: »

Gawd, I wish I hadnt started looking. *no more dogs, no more dogs, no more dogs*

Had a horrific phone call last night FC, chap threatening to kill his american bull dog then and there. I spent ages finding somewhere for it to go - and this guy was 500 miles away from me! Felt drained by the end of the evening.

Sadly there are a load of loonies who own dogs

Biggins already has a new home - not surprised, he is lovely looking.

OK back on topic; here's another point. I was considering deciding on the breed first, with an eye to getting the dog at Xmas (no not as a present) as I have two weeks booked off work then so he/she would have a chance to bond and get used to his/her new home.

Just saw your latest post - trouble is you do see dogs on rescue pages having pinged back to the rescue agency which kind of tells me something. Not saying it is always that way.

Moomin thanks for the extra info on lurchers.

Still looking for opinions, also whether a dog or bitc* would be better.

hethmar

You are better looking for a dog that you get on with really as sometimes !!!!!es can be more of a handful than a neutered boy. I have two boys together, they are no trouble at all.

I think dogs get back to the homes because the new owners have expectations beyond a normal dog. They see a cute dog on a film or something and off they go. We had one dog - a 4 month old terrier puppy - returned after less than a day because the people were horrified it pooed in their conservatory. Some people would be better off getting stuffed toys to be honest.

Have you tried the Bath Dog Home?

emlou2009

M&FIL have two border terriers which are all of the things you listed, and are good with children and other animals to boot

theres a breed selector quiz on that site too, although how useful those things are i'm not sure!