Dog breed suggestions

bethie

fc - cheers for the compliment! our dog club does school photos every year - and that was her portrait from last year.

with regards to obedience and training, dogs may or may not come with any commands. mine came with nothing (except a sit sometimes) but now she knows (and mostly obeys!) us. i think the best thing we did after we adopted her, was to enroll her into training/socialisation classes. both to get over her fear of everything, and secondly, so she could get a routine and learn basic commands such as walk etc. once she managed that, we could then expand her repetroire. it also helps to build up the bond between you.

the kennel club has a list of approved training clubs, and the association of pet trainers also has a register of people trained.

Paparika

CFC wrote: »

I'm looking for suggestions for suitable dog breeds.

2 adults in quiet home.
No other animals
Have a garden.
Not bothered about grooming, happy to do it if necessary.
Not a huge dog.
Must not be aggressive breed
Will get 40 mins - 2hr walkies a day, but the object of the dog isn't to give us long, long walkies and runs!
Must not be a noted 'escape artist' type
We've both had dogs before, but not for a long time; I've had a mongrel and a JRT, husband has had a mongrel
We both work, so must be able to tolerate periods of being home alone
Not a notably destructive chewer type.
Must be a 'healthy' breed, not one known for a lot of potential health issues.
Cross breeds are also an option.

After that comes aesthetics, but I could decide on that after having a list of potentials.

OK let's hear those suggestions please!

Don't get a dog.

you don't sound tooo bothered about it, get a stuffed cuddly toy.

hethmar

Lovely photos, that black boy is gorgeous. You know seeing that greyhound curled up in the basket made me larf. We used to have a lovely little boy short legged JR who we rescued at the age of 12 bless him and he was active up to his last day at 16 - any way, in the summer he would curl up like that in one of our big flower pots on the compost, I suppose it held the warmth. One of my boys put a lolly stick next to him and wrote on it, "Canus balless" - (I think it was after Beau had been neutered) and took a photo of him. I wish I could find it.

CFC

Paparika wrote: »

Don't get a dog.

you don't sound tooo bothered about it, get a stuffed cuddly toy.

Paparika, what a very silly person you make yourself out to be.


Lostinrates, interesting that you've found sighthounds trainable. Do let us know if you do go for agility training with a greyhound, how it goes!

FC, I think you're right - I'm influenced aesthetically by my previous dog, who was a creature of wonder and beauty - to see him race across the grass was like seeing a shout of joy take physical form.

tandraig

FC - apart from the short legs she could be my staffies sister!! same kind eyes and lovely colour with similar brindle markings! i LOVED that dog - and even now miss her and its nearly 15 years since she died. my kids remember her with love too and mention her now and again. she was their friend and protector i never had to worry if she was with them - no-one would get near!!! or with me - tbh she got nasty if people got too close to me - but when OH took her out wouldnt murmer!!! like if she thought i needed protecting but OH could look after himself!!!!

foreign_correspondent

tandraig wrote: »

FC - apart from the short legs she could be my staffies sister!! same kind eyes and lovely colour with similar brindle markings! i LOVED that dog - and even now miss her and its nearly 15 years since she died. my kids remember her with love too and mention her now and again. she was their friend and protector i never had to worry if she was with them - no-one would get near!!! or with me - tbh she got nasty if people got too close to me - but when OH took her out wouldnt murmer!!! like if she thought i needed protecting but OH could look after himself!!!!

She sounds like a sweetie - they are often such lovely dogs - our local pound is sadly always full to bursting with staffies and staffie x's from pups to oldies, and from little and stumpy to leggy and quite elegant! In general, they are so people focussed, waggy and loving!

I think my next dog may well end up being a staffie or cross - just wish I could have a couple of dogs at the moment, but circumstances will not allow, sadly.

CFC -

FC, I think you're right - I'm influenced aesthetically by my previous dog, who was a creature of wonder and beauty - to see him race across the grass was like seeing a shout of joy take physical form.

What a lovely way of putting it - and I do know exactly what you mean - my mum has a very pretty lurcher x, and to watch her run is pure joy! She is incredibly fast and agile - she is also relatively obedient... unless she is after a squirrel...

lostinrates

CFC wrote: »

Lostinrates, interesting that you've found sighthounds trainable. Do let us know if you do go for agility training with a greyhound, how it goes!
.

Well, lets not carried away: Imean that my sighthounds have never been any less well trained than the average domestic dog. I've done agility stuff at classes with another sighthound, it was fine. They've all done the basics, and a few have gone significantly beyond.

The only problem I foresee with the grey is she doesn't usually like to jump...:rolleyes:. Out on walks we often go over logs etc that she could step over but she waits, doe eyed, to be carried over.:rolleyes: Spoilt? I think so

I think there are a few lurchers/rescue greys doing some diverse stuff.

A shot of joy: I love that, and so accurate for how I feel when I see my greyhound in full flight.

Paparika

CFC wrote: »

Paparika, what a very silly person you make yourself out to be.
.

aww thanksl cant wait for the thread, my dog chews everything and wee's and poos in the house because it's home alone for long periods during the day....

CFC wrote: »

We both work, so must be able to tolerate periods of being home alone
.

You may not like what i said, just stating the bleedin obvious

you asked for points of view....

moomin5

The time OP is intending to leave the dog (4-6hrs) is not unrealistic Paprika. I often leave my dogs for that amount of time and they cope fine with it, when i'm home they sleep most the day anyway. Its very dependant on the dog, some are quite happy to have some peace & quiet for snoozing and others may get stressed or destructive because there bored. As other posters have already said its not a good idea with a pup but would suit an adult dog.

On the greyhound agility check out this lady and a video of her greyhound in action http://neversaynevergreyhounds.net/
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=jenbachelor#p/u/0/9kCEyDK1IDg
There was a good agility display at Great Greyhound Gathering this year by http://www.greyhoundwalks.co.uk/display.htm theres an obedience display video clip, they did very well given all the distractions.

lostinrates wrote: »

I'm pretty sure part of the reason sighthounds are often considered less trainable is because no one trains them. I'm considering having ago at some agility for fun with my greyhound.

i know greyhounds tend to be easy live with so i think many people don't really bother with the traditional obedience training. I often get comments from other grey owners when they see my greys can sit/down on command. I've only done KC bronze with mine but found they were keen to learn and not really any different to the other breeds in the class. We just stick to walks & runs in the garden as i can't find somewhere large & enclosed to test recall and i daren't risk it in open spaces, the dogs seem happy enough but i'd love to have somewhere local with room to see them go full speed.

Check out the cute hairy Halfa looks like his tail belongs to someone else.
http://www.freewebs.com/southwestsighthounds/dogsavailable.htm#300347172

Kimitatsu

Tandraig - I love Clumbers (have a plan to have a couple at some point but ssshhhhhh dont tell Mr K just yet!) however dont they have a fair few health issues? I thought they were one of the breeds that were marked out by the kennel club as needing to have a health database given their numbers are so small in the UK.

OP, lurchers and greyhounds make wonderful pets, and being honest an older dog sounds better for you - you often get dogs in from 12 months plus who are not completely set in their ways but have got over their teenage tantrums! IMO dogs and !!!!!es have little to choose between them, I have had both and both have been very loving and loyal.