Which breed to get?! Confused!

krlyr

Padstow wrote: »

I don't suppose many people have time to walk a dog five miles a day, so don't let that put you off. Besides, while you walk two miles, your dog off lead, is running back and forth and covering 5 miles.

5 miles was just a figure I plucked out of the air to be honest. Not every dog needs 5 miles a day, I just mean that if OP goes for a breed known to be active because they want to be (or think they want to be) more active, you could end up with an underexercised dog who starts having behavioural problems because it is understimulated.
Of course, long walks aren't the only solution for active breeds - sometimes short walks packed with dozens of training exercises can tire a dog out because the mental stimulation makes it tired as much as the physical exercise but I would just recommend that someone who doesn't like/have time for much exercise doesn't go for, for example, a young Husky - a breed bred to run and run. Adopting a working lines Collie and having it sit indoors all day and then go for a 5 minute run in the park isn't going to cut it.
Nothing wrong with owning a dog and being a couch potato, I'm not going to be entering any marathons any time soon, but picking a breed that suits your lifestyle was the point I was making. Make a choice on what you can realistically offer to the dog - there are many breeds suited to a more sedentary lifestyle, as well as the option of going for an older dog that doesn't want/need as much exercise.

Of course, OP and her partner could be very active outdoors people and suit an active dog, but as I said, just making a point.

Padstow

krlyr wrote: »

Do you mean a Golden Retriever? A Lab is a Labrador Retriever.

I'm not sure Shiba Inus are quite as daunting as some breeds, given their tiny size! I hadn't realised how little they were until I saw one in town, they're tiny little barely-knee height things, hard to be scared of!

Yes of course, Golden Retriever, silly me.

Bear in mind too OP that there are two strains of Labrador. One is working and the other the show type, which is more suited to home.

Padstow

krlyr wrote: »

5 miles was just a figure I plucked out of the air to be honest. Not every dog needs 5 miles a day, I just mean that if OP goes for a breed known to be active because they want to be (or think they want to be) more active, you could end up with an underexercised dog who starts having behavioural problems because it is understimulated.
Of course, long walks aren't the only solution for active breeds - sometimes short walks packed with dozens of training exercises can tire a dog out because the mental stimulation makes it tired as much as the physical exercise but I would just recommend that someone who doesn't like/have time for much exercise doesn't go for, for example, a young Husky - a breed bred to run and run.
Nothing wrong with owning a dog and being a couch potato, I'm not going to be entering any marathons any time soon, but picking a breed that suits your lifestyle was the point I was making.

I wasn't having a go, I'm sure most dogs would love to go for many miles a day. Sometimes it's not possible though. Mine has such dog aggression problems that I couldn't face the ordeal twice daily. So it's a two mile walk on lead. That though is better than he got with his previous owner which was nothing at all.

Being a Spaniel, it's as much about smells as anything. Oh and how much roadkill he can find on the verge, whether the Macdonald bag has any food left in it and also, can he grab a mouthful of horse dung before I tell him to "leave"!!

dizziblonde

I'd add to the not getting a puppy first thing. Having had a dog with separation anxiety - it's a nightmare to work through, and the not knowing what you're going to come home to in terms of destruction factor really gets incredibly draining over time... add in poo and pee for puppies as well and it would have cracked me completely. As it is our older dog is now fantastic, over his separation issues more or less (we actually left him with the temptation of a full kitchen bin the other day and came home to find it unscathed) and is the perfect pet (apart from when he farts)!

As for labs - I see so many around where people have been sucked into thinking "easy to train" means they come out ready-trained and have ended up with adolescent tornadoes of discarded kebab scrounding misbehaviour they're getting quite a bad rep in my mind of late (not for the dogs, but for people who assumed they were the "failsafe" option). I know some that are beautifully behaved, but they're the owners who've spent lots and lots of time on them, taken them to classes (even if you don't get a puppy - a good class should really go through training dogs to greet sensibly etc anyway - I know the beginner one we went to did... course now both mine are in the advanced one *shows off proudly*), walk them every day and spend tonnes of time on them.

Have you also looked into the recurrent health problems with each of your breeds? I know with Labs it's hip problems (a friend has a rescue one who is absolutely crippled with mobility issues) unless you pick a breeder carefully (hint - gumtree etc AIN'T picking carefully), the other two breeds I don't know as well (although we've got some adorable beagles round here).

(Insert shameless plug for retired greyhounds as pets in here - our retired grey is so laid back she's usually found horizontal with her legs in the air asleep, as lazy as they come (she looks most indignant when she's made to go out for walks in the rain), came with all the annoying 3am standing waiting for a piddle puppy stuff done and is absolutely hilarious!)

LisaB85

PuppyLove wrote: »

Hi everyone!

Me and my partner have settled into our new home and would now both love to get a puppy. This is not something we want to rush into as although my partner grew up having dogs he has never had one himself and neither have I.

We have been looking at 3 breeds in particular: Labrador, Beagle or a Shiba Inu.

I just wondered if anyone has any experience with any of the above breeds, some advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Get a couch potato.......a retired greyhound, lovely dogs and very good for the first time dog owner.

PuppyLove_2

Wow thanks for the replies!

Errrm i have to admit we're not what you would call 'active' people but i would be happy to take the dog on a long morning walk, short lunchtime walk and a long evening walk, is this enough exercise for a lab?

I kind of wanted a lap dog like a shitzu or something but my partners having none of it!

krlyr

Sounds good. Make walks fun activities, not just a boring march in a straight route, as you'll probably find length of the walk isn't quite as important as the stimulation provided.
If you do go down the puppy route then it's important, especially in large breeds prone to joint problems, not to overdo exercise initially though. The general rule is 5 minutes per month - so an 8 week pup should only have 10 minute walks, 12 weeks it goes up to 15, etc. This isn't set in stone, you could get away with slightly longer if you're just heading to the park and letting pup potter around at its own pace, but in terms of on-lead, walking down pavements/around a set route, try to stick to this rule to allow pup's joints to fully develop before putting more strain on them.

rising_from_the_ashes

What's your definition of a long walk?

Sorry for asking but to some people this will be well over and hour and to others 20 minutes!

When my lab was younger (he's ancient now so we don't go too far anymore), he needed a good hour in the morning (brisk walk) and the same at night.

If you do end up getting a pup (as others have said a lot of argument for going for an adult with it being your first dog), please make sure it's not overwalked when it's young as this can affect their joint development/cause problems in later life.

PuppyLove_2

Yes by a long walk i would be happy to go for an hour, maybe longer in the evenings. Sounds like a lab is our best bet then.

Do they moult a lot?

krlyr

Labradors have a double coat, intended to 'waterproof' the dog (for their original job as retrieving dogs). This means there is a coarser upper layer and an insulating undercoat. Double coated dogs not only tend to shed the uppercoat but moult out the undercoat at the change of seasons. Not the highest moulting dogs, I don't think, but not the least either - probably not a breed for the houseproud, not just for the fur but they seem to love water and often end up quite muddy!

Are you set on a puppy? Please do take note when we say puppies are hard work - I grew up with dogs all my life but my first puppy was a huge shock to the system - infact, I've not had another since because the idea is quite daunting! I know of someone with a Lab they had as a pup and they're having a few issues with it - one being its friendliness meaning it's a terror for running over to strangers and dogs in the park, and another being its high desire to chase after animals, e.g. birds and squirrels. So despite their popularity, they still have their issues and need training as much as any other dog.