Dog breed suggestions

BitterAndTwisted

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

I haven't read any replies yet so no idea what has been recommended so far but going on your criteria above I'd say Greyhound (or two )

If you had read all of the replies you would have discovered that you are not alone in your recommendation of a greyhound. Great minds think alike and all that. I must say I'm really enjoying the photos of all these lovely greys, so please post away. Thanks!

lostinrates

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

I think the difficulty of this is how do we define a reputable breeder... KC accreditation is certainly not watertight, as shown by the recent St Bernards/Wardana episode, amongst others... I also know a man who breeds dogs which regularly do very well at crufts and fetch a lot of money - his dogs have no life though, and are definitely seen as breeding stock rather than pets. I would not buy a dog from him.

Also, even pups from the same litter can be very different in temprement - years ago we had two dogs from pups (collie x terriers) who were littermates - one was always a rather highly strung dog, nervy, hated fireworks etc etc.. the other was a big placid daft lump of a dog!

Personally, I think the easiest way to get a dog with the temprement you require is to contact some rescues and ask if they can match a dog to your requirements. An adult dog which has been fostered is probably the safest bet, as it will have been assessed over time in a home situation, out on walks, with other dogs etc. A homes offered ad on dogpages could also lead to you being matched with some dogs which would be suitable.

FC I one hundred percent agree about kennal club accredited status. Its a partial help, but it is by absolutely no means water tight.

re ''breeding stock'' well, I know people who I think are good breeders who I think a lot would think treat their dogs like breeding stick. This might include selling an adult dog to another stud home (and or loaning) and rehomeing at the end of the breeding life. However, having known different breeder who do this I think that for many dogs it isn't as it sounds to pet owners. We've had a couple of retired kennal dogs, who have fitted in quickly, very well. Interestingly the rehomed pet or house dogs have been much slower in transition to our household.

I think also, good breeders are better at identifying the character of a young pup from their own lines than you give them credit for, although this is just my experience, and I don't extrapolate my experience of ''good breeders'' to all breeders.

citroennut

I have been totally converted to lurchers since we rescued our greyhound/collie cross. I wish I had known how good they were years ago. She is very calm, docile and obedient and never pulls on the lead. She is a most loyal companion.

Some people have mentioned that you don't know what you're getting when you rescue an adult dog but some rescues have foster carers who take the dogs into their homes to live until they are adopted. This was the case with our dog. The foster carers were able to tell us all about how our dog was to live with so there were no surprises.

Have to add that greyhounds are the most labour-saving dogs....you don't have to bend down to pat them!

Frugalista

mrcol1000 wrote: »

Actually, thats incorrect. There are a number of reputable breeders just lately who have fallen on hard times and expected RSPCA and other rescues to bail them out. Some have ended in prosecutions.

Who? Other than the Wardana St Bernards (which was around 12 months ago, wasn't it?) Please name them so I can read up on them :rolleyes:.

As for "expecting the RSPCA and other rescues to bail them out" - (I don't think so :rotfl:) how is that so vastly different than the people on here who have been advised to hand their dogs into rescues (most recently the person who was struggling to afford to take her dog to the vets)?? There are even people on here who take on a rescue and then screw said rescue for long term aftercare and other "add ons" - which I find appalling in the current financial climate :mad:. I think the RSPCA don't do too badly out of these high profile cases - loads of donations. They are notorious for refusing breed rescues (ie people who actually know about the breeds concerned) to be involved as they can make more money by placing the dogs themselves. Sometimes, these high profile cases can be quite a money-spinner for the RSPCA, don't you worry .

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

I also know a man who breeds dogs which regularly do very well at crufts and fetch a lot of money - his dogs have no life though, and are definitely seen as breeding stock rather than pets. I would not buy a dog from him.

As above - you've mentioned this person before - if you feel so strongly why don't you name and shame? How do you know his dogs have no life? Have you spent time with him and his dogs in his home, behind closed doors? As for them "definately" being breeding stock rather than pets - that may be your perception of it - the truth may be far different. We all have different "takes" on how to treat our pets and what is right or wrong. Some of the stories on this board make me want to throw up :eek: - but the people involved think they are doing the best they can for their pets (I'm talking about dressing them up; feeding cheap food; allowing bratty kids to pull them around; etc) - to me, a lot of that could be called cruel - it's all down to personal perception isn't it?

As for not buying a dog from him - well, you've already said (on numerous occasions) that you wouldn't buy a dog anyway ??

I'm just so sick of the people on this board constantly putting down pedigree breeders - if only you were all as careful about the breeding of your children!! :mad::mad:

OP - if you are interested in a purebred dog (as opposed to a mongrel) and haven't totally been put off by the witchhunt on these boards - then most breeds have a number of breed rescues. You can usually find out about these via the Kennel Club site. HTH

Cissi

I completely agree with Peachespeaches above! It's very individual, both with regards to what dog will suit YOU best and what the individual dog will be like.

DH and I knew that we wanted a bright, alert, small dog. As DH grew up with Jack Russells that's what we went with, despite all the advice to the contrary (supposedly not great with children or other dogs, hyperactive etc). Our puppy is now 4 months old and is a dream! He sleeps in a crate and is crated when we're out. I'm lucky enough to work partly from home, so the longest he ever gets left is 4 hours, and this is going fine. He's great with the children, very sociable with other dogs, very keen to learn, knows all his basic commands, has great recall etc. From our experience (as well as that of DH and other JRT owners in our acquaintance) I can't recommend the breed highly enough. Yes, he will need a lot of exercise, which he will get - but he's also fine just sitting by my feet while I'm working, or left on his own. One of his siblings went to a family where everyone works full time, same with his mum, and she's a very happy, loved, well-adjusted animal.

We've been going to a great puppy class (1 evening a week) which has helped hugely, but we also chose the right puppy from the right litter. He's the short-legged variant so not pure-bred, but frankly we couldn't care less! His mum is clearly intelligent and has an absolutely gorgeous temperament, lovely with children, calm, not a yapper, not an escape artist etc.

As Peachespeaches said, it's really important that it's a breed that you like. I too completely fail to see the attraction of staffies - I just don't like them As for sighthounds, while they're beautiful to watch when they're out running, again I couldn't see myself having one as companion.

As long as you do lots of research so that you know what you're getting yourself in for, then I don't see why you shouldn't get a puppy. It's hard work at first, yes, but so incredibly rewarding!

lostinrates

Frugalista wrote: »

I'm just so sick of the people on this board constantly putting down pedigree breeders - if only you were all as careful about the breeding of your children!! :mad::mad:

OP - if you are interested in a purebred dog (as opposed to a mongrel) and haven't totally been put off by the witchhunt on these boards - then most breeds have a number of breed rescues. You can usually find out about these via the Kennel Club site. HTH

Frugalista, I think its important that pedigree supporters meet this head on and with appreciationg for the concerns. We(I speak not as a breeder, I'm not, but daughter of one, supporter of pedigrees) have to, because we can't deny that there are some problems under the umbrella of the kennal club that we all share.

Its also worth pointing out though, if OP want s pedigree that breed clubs often have rescues, we've taken them in the past and its been wonderful.

I will always be a vehement supporter of the many, many fantastic breeders of pedigrees, but there is a truth the the fact that in choosing a pedigree pup comes a responsibilty on the buyer too, of putting in the background research. Indescriminate buying supports indescriminate breeding. not supporting good breeders has much the smae impact however.

CFC

Lots of food for thought in this thread, thank you for all your suggestions and thoughts so far

hethmar

I bet your head is spinning CFC Whatever you choose, obviously you are putting a lot of thought into it and I hope you get a lovely new companion. Lets see the pics when you do.

suki1964

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

I think the difficulty of this is how do we define a reputable breeder...
.

TBH FC, I really dont think you ever want to know what defines a reputable breeder because time and time again on these boards you have had people post here about how to find one, threads that you yourself reply to - and still you make out like you don't know?

I think Im right in saying as well that you were as vocal as many a pedigree breeders supporter in the thread where we denounced the KC accredited breeders scheme so why bring that up here as an example? I dont think you can point to any post where any of us who continue to try to give advice on finding a breeder where we say make sure they are KC accredited, in fact there was a recent thread where one poster was asked to stop giving that as a fail safe route to finding a reputable breeder


KC accredited isnt worth the paper its written on - it means nothing

Same as being KC registered - so what?

Its the breed club that counts.

You find reputable breeders the same way you find good rescues. You get off your bum and get out and do the rounds of the shows of the breed you are interested in. You talk to people in the rings, you get to know them. You soon hear whos good and whos not. Then when you think you have found your breeder, you go out to theirs and meet the dogs they have and perhaps pups if they have any. You get to ask anything and everything and vice versa. If you are comfortable with the set up and the dogs themselves you ask then if there is any likely hood of any pups being made available. If there are - then well and good. If not you choose to wait till that breeder is going to breed or you carry on searching.

So what's so difficult that you cant get your head around what a good respected reputable breeder is and what's not?

mrcol1000

suki1964 wrote: »

You find reputable breeders the same way you find good rescues. You get off your bum and get out and do the rounds of the shows of the breed you are interested in. You talk to people in the rings, you get to know them. You soon hear whos good and whos not. Then when you think you have found your breeder, you go out to theirs and meet the dogs they have and perhaps pups if they have any. You get to ask anything and everything and vice versa. If you are comfortable with the set up and the dogs themselves you ask then if there is any likely hood of any pups being made available. If there are - then well and good. If not you choose to wait till that breeder is going to breed or you carry on searching.

So what's so difficult that you cant get your head around what a good respected reputable breeder is and what's not?

I think the point was that even "reuptable" breeders can fall on hard times and struggle to pay all the costs associated with breeding dogs. As the endless stories of reputable breeders dumping pups and rescues having to bail breeders out shows.

Personally I would rather have a nice loyal dog that will lick my face when I get home and cuddle up and snooze on my lap in cold winter evenings that a dog that is of the right "stock" and great grandad won a prize in Crufts.