What breed of dog?

OneYorkshireLass

I'm looking at getting a rescue dog but unsure as to what breed would suit me best.

Ideally looking for a companion dog, something that moults sparingly or not at all, something relatively small in stature and a non-giddy personality (I know that might be unique to each dog).

I can't walk too far so a breed that just wants short walks would be best.

Any ideas?

Caroline_a

Are you sure you really want a dog if you can't walk too far? From your description an old dog who doesn't need much exercise any more might suit you, but even those will need taking out a couple of times a day to answer the call of nature and to stretch old limbs!

Why can you not walk far? Is it a temporary thing, or will it get worse? If so, maybe a cat might be more suitable?

OneYorkshireLass

Caroline_a wrote: »

Are you sure you really want a dog if you can't walk too far? From your description an old dog who doesn't need much exercise any more might suit you, but even those will need taking out a couple of times a day to answer the call of nature and to stretch old limbs!

Why can you not walk far? Is it a temporary thing, or will it get worse? If so, maybe a cat might be more suitable?

By 'not too far' I mean I can manage the block and the nearby field but there'll be no long walks unless my parents take it out on a weekend into the countryside. I have a heart condition with fatigue and I don't know what the prognosis is.

Laconic

You want a low-energy dog. That is not a question of breed, it's a question of individual temperament and age.

An older toy breed dog might be a very good notion, as might a slightly larger small dog -- many rescues have dogs that have come from old people who've gone into care that would fit right into your life. It's a case of visiting and explaining your style and circumstances.

Good luck!

Fire_Fox

Sorry to hear you have health issues. Maybe get a couple of cats not a dog? Or can you employ a professional dog walker? Or would you take a dog with significant health problems? Even if the dog is not that keen on longer walks or is lazy, it's healthy for most of them to get plenty of walking in just like it is for most humans. Animals evolved to move.

Kinski

I'm another one that would suggest an older dog, you could have a look at the oldies club http://www.oldies.org.uk/ or perhaps the little dog rescue might have a wee one that would suit your needs http://thelittledogrescue.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=ourdogs. The only problem in taking on an older dog is health issues but in saying that I took on an 8/9 year old sheltie, she was only with me for just over three years before she died ( kidney failure ) but she hardly cost me anything in vets bills and she was quite easy to get insurance for.

moggymutt

If you cant walk very far then as long as you tell the rescue, they should be able to show you suitable dogs. I think that you are showing good sense, lots of people fail to take into account how much exercise a particular dog will need. Sounds like you want to keep walking as much as you can, and so a dog sounds ideal- I'm sure that there's lots of dogs who aren't able to walk too far- I know that one of mine can only manage small walks now.

Thanks for getting a rescue dog Hope it all goes well.

Welshwoofs

I know you said 'not too big' - but it sounds to me that a rescue greyhound would be perfect as they don't moult much and are lazy dogs that are happy to cuddle up on the sofa with you and sleep for hours. Do you have a garden? If so then a bit of play with a ball in the garden would burn off energy that spent walking round the block.

Or a rescue whippet; smaller and the added benefit that they're really not too keen on going out in the freezing cold/tipping rain.

Dollardog

I was thinking greyhound too, especially if it could be let loose in the field for a run around, as long as it was one that did not chase small dogs.

krlyr

Dollardog wrote: »

I was thinking greyhound too, especially if it could be let loose in the field for a run around, as long as it was one that did not chase small dogs.

I would say it very much depends on the field though. My dog isn't a greyhound but has a strong preydrive and it would not be safe to let her off-lead in most places. Not just for her safety but that of others - if she was to dart after a rabbit she could easily end up on the road and causing serious injuries or even fatalities in an RTA. Given OP's health, I imagine it would be quite difficult to do anything if the dog was to bolt, and that kind of stress may not be good for OP's condition either.
Not all Greyhounds have poor recall but many do. So I'd say that unless the field is particularly secure, another breed might be better to consider, one with a more reliable recall considerign OP may not be able to chase the dog down.

adouglasmhor

Dollardog wrote: »

I was thinking greyhound too, especially if it could be let loose in the field for a run around, as long as it was one that did not chase small dogs.

Greyhound's are not usually good for letting run around in a field, unless it's got a 6 ft fence round it, they have no recall usually and non existant road sense. just needs to see a rabbit hare, cat, squirrell or fox and it will be off and not coming back.