should we get a dog

rayday2

OK its Friday I need chocolate....

earwig

hi well still undecide on what to do for the best can any one tell me what lab dogs are like are they good famley pets whould it be better to get a puppy or an older dog the wolf like dog sounds a nightmare hubby ready about last night and said he would love it as the dog sounds like fun:eek:

pania

get something smaller as your first one or an older dog, how about a middle aged rescue dog of a suitable breed, a young bounding lab may be too much for your energetic children. There are so many different breeds to choose from, and lots of fantastic rescue societies, rescued greyhounds and whippets make brilliant pets, are of even temperament and usually very layed back about life. There are thousands of these gorgeous elegant dogs looking for loving homes. try one you may be suprised. xx

rayday2

We had a labrador he was my first dog, if its a first dog please get a puppy I am sure our problems with our dog is the fact it is a rescue animal. Dogs are clever things they bank up everything that happens to them - except mine which has a void between her ears!

I loved my dog he died whilst I was pregnant, is your family complete? Because the best time to have a dog is when you won't be adding anymore. My lab got ill with the stress of a baby in the family. They are big and bouncy but to be honest thats what you really want with a family, my lab used to let an 18 month old family friend walk round holding his collar and he never pulled him over.

People will have good and bad to say about labradors but they are fairly cheap as they are so popular, they have a rounded skull so aggression is not a huge problem, they can be made to be what an owner wants you see ones poddle along with an old person and you see them bound along with children.

But really *coughs* the idea breed of dog is a Jack Shepherd, very rare only one I know of, mine, you can't beat her

alfiesmum

earwig wrote: »

hi well still undecide on what to do for the best can any one tell me what lab dogs are like are they good famley pets whould it be better to get a puppy or an older dog the wolf like dog sounds a nightmare hubby ready about last night and said he would love it as the dog sounds like fun:eek:

We had a lab a few years ago now. Gorgeous dog. We currently have four dogs altogether, two rescues, and two from pups. If you get an older dog, be aware that you may not know it's full history. People who give dogs up to the various fabulous rescuers out there, are often less than truthful about the dogs past. If you do go for a rescue dog, research the rescue itself - do they assess dogs first - will there be a clause for neutering etc. On the plus side many adult dogs are house trained, but expect this to lapse for a while when a dog goes to a new home. An adult Labrador that messes in the house, might not be as much fun as your husband anticipates! I absolutely would never say that all labradors are good with kids, the biggest variying factor is the kids, can you predict how they will behave around a nervous creature, bewildered with his new surroundings? Only you know you children that well. And you can never know a dog completely, so are you prepared that you simply WILL NOT be able to leave them alone together? As you still say you're undecided, I'd steer well clear. If you're home checked (and quite honestly don't get a dog from a rescue that doesn't - it's likely they don't check the dogs out either), the person doing the check will pick up that it's not a 100% commitment. Please don't think I'm having a go here, just trying to save your family and another dog from what could be an awful lot of heart ache, when you can just say no.

Bunny

If you don't want a dog, I wouldn't get one.
I have a 12 year old Border collie cross, as said before she is too smart and has too much energy for her own good. She is trained, she knows all the commands, but if she thinks there's somethiong better to do, she'll do it!
We also have a 7 Year old German Shepherd, who has an odour problem (we've tried everything) He moults like there's no tomorrow. You have to hoover every day otherwise you get little tumble weeds of his hair blowing past and he's also managed to un house train himself at night, no matter what we do. He chewed clothes and shoes as a puppy. He's scared of adults (never been mistreated) loves children (they're the right height, adults are too tall)
If you don't want to have this for 7/12 years, don't get a dog.
Despite all their faults, I wouldn't change them for the world, I love them to bits.

LandyAndy

rayday2 wrote: »

But really *coughs* the idea breed of dog is a Jack Shepherd, very rare only one I know of, mine, you can't beat her

I hear German Russells are quite rare as well.

rayday2

German Russells I think are where all the brains go lol

(Land_of)_Maz

I really think you should go with some of the advice re dog walking etc from some posters. That would give you a really good acid test and you can sound your children out about how their behaviour is as this will be indicative.

My relatively well behaved 6 year old regularly turns into an nutter around our two springer spaniels. Even now, 18months from getting the second dog she (DD) is an over excitable shreiking pain in the *ss at times with them. It's like if the dogs are in the room she needs to be around them, and if the dogs are in a playful/energetic mood she gets positively hyperactive with them.

I'm ashamed to say, she has been bitten by the youngest dog, and we maintain it was not the dogs fault. This dog definately has "issues" with lack of confidence, timid-ity (is that a word, 'tis now! lol) and general trust issues. We're lucky as both dogs go to work with OH daily and get 6 hours exercise a day with him, so come home only to be fed/sleep/ and pee/poop in back garden. Relatively low maintainence at home due to amount of working time they have. Although they shed tons of hair! Grrrrr!!!

Oh and is your house clean? Do you like it that way? If you're not too houseproud then a dog is ok. If you are houseproud, another reason to consider no.

My main point was meant to be around the implications of your childrens natures/personalities etc and how they will act around a dog. That would be my red flag, more so than any other.

Sorry for rambling!

anniestar

Seaxwyn wrote: »

ixwood, just to second what you say about cats. A killer cat has moved into our street and over the summer the gardens have gone from being full of birds to being completely silent. Also gone are the frogs. And the cat also broke into our house one day and killed three of our pet mice. The owner apologised but acted as if there was nothing he could do about it.

I am actually far more angry and upset about the birds than the mice, even though these were much loved pets. I don't understand how it's OK for people to keep pets that have such a negative effect on wildlife.

Sorry about the anti-cat rant but I so agree. I know not all cats are so destructive, and many cat owners are responsible, but people need to fully think through the implications of their choices, and I don't think people in bird-rich areas should keep cats.

RIDICULOUS. sorry that is just rubbish. Ok you and ixwood don't like cats but please..................................I have 7 cats, a huge garden, have loads of bird feeders and currently(well about 5mins ago)had 4 wood pigeons, 3 ring necked doves. a male blackbird, far too many house sparrows to count, 2 blue tits and a shed load of sparrows. We also have squirrels AND frogs. Currently this year our "casualty list" stands at.... ZERO.