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Help me choose a dog

chriz1
Posts: 335 Forumite


Our family have decided on a dog out loved dadchund x jack had to be put down. Bless him
Question is what to get? next were a young family and we both work full time. But the dog will go each day to my parents so won't be alone. I will walk him upto an hr morning and night.
It has to loved cuddles but also 'cool looking for me to walk haha I dont want something along the lines of a full bred daschund or chihuahua. I was thinking a spaniel mix breed but not sure which. Or similar. Has to be medium sized.
Question is what to get? next were a young family and we both work full time. But the dog will go each day to my parents so won't be alone. I will walk him upto an hr morning and night.
It has to loved cuddles but also 'cool looking for me to walk haha I dont want something along the lines of a full bred daschund or chihuahua. I was thinking a spaniel mix breed but not sure which. Or similar. Has to be medium sized.
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Comments
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Wait until things get back to normal. The rescue centres/local pounds will be inundated with dogs of all shapes and sizes that are now unwanted as their owners are back at work full time. So many people have bought dogs for company/entertainment during lockdown without considering the long-term commitment.Any reputable rescue centre will match you to the most suitable dog.7
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Spaniels need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation.
Your parents will need to be equally involved in the process as they will have the dog 5 days a week and will be doing a lot of the initial training as a result.
I agree with the advice to go to a good rescue, tell them your circumstances and see what dogs they have that are suitable.2 -
Are you thinking of a designer breed which is an overpriced crossbreed?
Rather than concentrate on breed look for a dog that suits your and your parents circumstances. Many lovely dogs end up in rescue through no fault of their own.
Most rescues have limited availability at present, partly due to people preffering to sell dogs on for money than pass onto rescue.
If you say the are you are in and how far you can travel someone may be able to recommend a responsible rescue to approach.
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I would never recommend someone buys a particular breed of dog. Dogs are bred to have very particular characteristics and this selective breeding creates problems. You are much better off with a dog that is a cross-breed.
I would also never recommend buying a dog from a breeder or an individual; certainly you should pay a rescue centre for a dog, but don't pay an individual. Individuals who sells dogs have their own financial interest at heart and not the dog's interest or your interests.The comments I post are my personal opinion. While I try to check everything is correct before posting, I can and do make mistakes, so always try to check official information sources before relying on my posts.2 -
My advice would be to avoid any sort of designer made up “breed” with a silly name and a huge price tag,
Think about what sort of temperament would work for you and your family (including your parents who will probably in practice see more of the dog than you do.) Forget cool looking, whatever that means.Having a particular breed is an indication of temperament not a guarantee. Loving cuddles is down to the individual dog, its personality and socialisation.All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.
Pedant alert - it's could have, not could of.2 -
Fully agree with the rescue route. There are lots of lovely dogs that need new homes often through no fault of their own. A good rescue centre will match the dog to the owners.
I certainly wouldn't recommend a spaniel unless you are willing to spend a long time walking it and giving it mental stimulation. They are a working breed and need lots of exercise to stop them from becoming bored and destructive.
Don't get too hung up on the breed of dog. If you do you will narrow your search too much.
I would personally wait until next year when the rescue centres will be inundated with dogs as people go back to work in the office and find they don't have time for their newly acquired family member.1 -
We were considering another dog and had a look online. I was astounded by the prices; even something you could hardly give away a while ago, e.g. a Jack Russel, was £2k or so. And these made up crossbreeds (aka mongrels) are even more. The most expensive I saw was £4k. That's serious money for the breeder. The ones in the rehoming centres all seem to be difficult cases, which isn't really surprising.
In terms of breed, try something like this;
https://www.purina.co.uk/dogs/dog-breeds/breed-selector
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rescues tend to advertise the more difficult to rehome ones who need a specific type of home/owner.
The easy to rehome get snapped up quickly.
I read today the Dog Trust say they get hundreds of applications for some dogs - the cute, easy ones.
Contact rescues in the are you are prepared to travel and ask about their rehoming procedures. Being already assessed can be useful if they are willing to do that.
Unfortunately, selling dogs on to get some money has become more popular than handing a dog to a rescue to rehome.
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Please go hrough the rescue route. I know that at themoment that will be difficult as most rescues have a shortage although I did hear of one that had five phone calls to have dogs rehomed in one day but that was a breed specific one. If when things are a little more normal I am sure, as others have said the resues will be overflowing. They may be a little more difficult behaviourally as they are likelly to have seperation anxiety, lack of training, poor socailisation etc but you will find the right dog or in my experience the right dog will find you.
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Whilst I certainly would not be recommending a certain breed I think there will be certain traits that you like ... or do not like.
For example my wish list is:
no dogs with thick or long coats because that means a lot of time spent grooming- or the expense of being groomed/ stripped/ clipped.
No long floppy, furry ears as that might equate with ear infections.
No squashed nose/ flat faces mean possible breathing problems
When I look back I see I have always chosen (or they have chosen me!) houndy types with thin short coat. Two happy traillies curled up asleep now.......
Absolutely go down the rescue route. This year dogs have been at a premium commanding silly prices, and egged on by the 'designer' crossbreed fad. Depends where you are in the country. If you are desperate you might be able to foster for a charity? Walk a dog for Cinnamon Trust? even share an elderly neighbour's dog in the short term?
ps forget the 'look cool' rubbish! You are not talking about fashionable clothes here If you have a young dog you have to talk silly to get them interested and distract from other dogs/ smells/ people and gee them up! How cool is that?.
Being polite and pleasant doesn't cost anything!
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