Buying a large dog, but which one?

cjmumto2

This is where my friend got her Leonberger, I tried to inbox you but didnt seem possible. http://www.glenbrindyleos.co.uk/ If you are local to the south she says you are welcome to say Hi and meet the lovely lady.

Further to my last message on the Bernese i now remember he did often have tummy troubles but was sorted once changed to a decent diet.

lostinrates

Person_one wrote: »

Most dog owners have no contact with the show world.

Most pedigree breeders do though, and breed clubs.


Another point occured to me re the giant breeds....most people I know who own them also have somewhere private to exercise them. Its not necessary, but it might explain why some people see so few. There are fewer in urban areas (though they do exist well in cities often!)

Croatoan

cjmumto2 wrote: »

This is where my friend got her Leonberger, I tried to inbox you but didnt seem possible. http://www.glenbrindyleos.co.uk/ If you are local to the south she says you are welcome to say Hi and meet the lovely lady.

Further to my last message on the Bernese i now remember he did often have tummy troubles but was sorted once changed to a decent diet.

Thanks - think I've fixed the PM problem now.
Very kind offer but we're in the Manchester area so it's a bit far for us.

lostinrates

Croatoan wrote: »

If I can get time off (I often work weekends) we might just go to that. We're not in a rush to buy, more interested in making the right choice at the moment. Yes I've looked up the KC. The Leonberger breed club has an excellent website, lots of links on there.

It sounds a good approach....go to what you can, and contact breed secretaries who might be able to point you in the direction of local breeders who might be willing to give you the oppertunity tomeet the breed less formally, see them in their home environment.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Frugalista wrote: »

LOL!! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: - that may very well be - but I deal in FACTS and I know what I am talking about .

Doesn't hurt to be polite though, does it? Being a doggy person doesn't mean a human has to throw out all pretence of manners and socialisation of their own whilst teaching the animals in their care that these things are vital.

Beagles aren't common where I live. Doesn't mean they are endangered. There are far too many in laboratories wagging their tails when a technician approaches them with a syringe for that. But you're going to notice one if you see it in an area that attracts every dog walker from a radius of several miles.

They may be just in the top 20 of KC registrations, but that figure just shows the largest number of purebred and registered breeders who have kept to the KC rules, not the whole canine breeding population of the UK.

This does not include the vast numbers of mongrels, designer or otherwise, that people have. Just think of the numbers of Staffie crosses and Huskies 'without papers' that exist, after all. So, compared to the huge numbers of dogs that aren't even showing up on your radar, the animals are not as popular as you may believe. Facts, statistics of mathematics, whichever way you look at it, barking at someone that they are stupid and you know it all isn't an appropriate way to conduct yourself out of the kennel.

(Personally, I adore Beagles and can't understand why they aren't more popular as pets. But maybe the characteristics I love are the ones that others are put off by. And the longer they stay unfashionable, the better, as it keeps out the backyard breeders from ruining their temperament and health like they have done with so many others)





In any case, I hope the OP finds a reputable breeder and gets the perfect large or giant dog for his family.

Caroline_a

lostinrates wrote: »

I adore big dogs, and regret that Big-dog will be the last in a breed that has been in my life since I was a baby and that I love very dearly.

I understand your reasons... I had Danes for many years so thought that maybe I'd go a bit smaller as I'm not getting any younger or stronger! So I got a Shepherd... and the damn thing has grown to nearly 55kg! Maybe it's the water round here!! (wouldn't swap him though... )

lostinrates

I don't think thje bickering helps OP any guys.

OP seems to be on track and putting in a lot of good research into breeds and will be able to source any of those on shortlist here, with the help of the breed clubs. I have known some of the dogs on the list reasonably well (friends have them, and my dad research leonbergers seriously at one stage so seen a fair few of them but he decided against in the end).

Its a shame all these threads end in bickering and more than one person being rude. I don't expect people will ever see eye to eye absolutely but the bickering on this board often sees me stop visiting this board because of constant replay.


Good luck finding the right breed OP

Frugalista

First of all - I haven't reported any posts - it's not something I do on any board as I find it cowardly and poiintless - so point your finger elsewhere, thank you.

Perhaps the person who has reported them would like to come clean.

Secondly, I have no problem with a "particular poster" as you put it - I have a problem with anyone posting nonsense as fact and merely pointed that out. If you find my posting style abrasive, then that is your problem, not mine. I speak as I find in RL too - so what?

I have posted relevant links and an offer to help the OP source reputable breeders in whatever breed he finally chooses. I have tried to be helpful and factual for the OP - what's your problem?

rachelhen

Irish Wolfound

Frugalista

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

What is the population of non pedigree dogs in the UK - the ones that are not eligible for registration with the KC?

If they are included - as they should be if we are to get a true picture of the popularity of a breed out of all dogs in the UK - I think you would find a slightly different picture. Especially when you go on to assess the origin of the dogs in urban and suburban areas which form the bulk of the UK's population density.

Well, therein lies the problem - the non-pedigrees are not "registered" anywhere to be able to get a true picture. Many people say that the dog license would solve that - but it didn't work the first time around - and even if it was re-introduced there would still be thousands of dogs disappearing under the radar. I don't know what the answer should be.