First Dog Advice
Discussion
In real life most labradoodles I meet (and that is quite a few!) are very hyper, bouncy and get quite tall, they are generally friendly but a demanding breed.
The one that I knew of who was a lovely calm temperament with people also suffered severe separation anxiety issues, was basically agoraphobic and did not cope in new places.
Another 'mini' labradoodle was much calmer but doesn't like being left alone. He wasn't meant to be mini though so suspect dodgy breeding aswell!!
And most of them shed as much as any other dog.
The one that I knew of who was a lovely calm temperament with people also suffered severe separation anxiety issues, was basically agoraphobic and did not cope in new places.
Another 'mini' labradoodle was much calmer but doesn't like being left alone. He wasn't meant to be mini though so suspect dodgy breeding aswell!!
And most of them shed as much as any other dog.
Dogs are a huge commitment. A quick walk around the block in the morning before work and in the evening when you get home ISN'T acceptable.
We've got 2 dogs - just got our second now - and my wife spent the best part of a year researching the right breed, and then finding the right breeder. We went to nearly 10 different breeders (or at least contacted them, some were a total joke) and in the end both of our dogs came from a Breeder 200 miles away.
A dog needs to be considered as a 10-15 year investment and as such, finding the right one is key.
It does sound to me like you will get into a habit of leaving the dog on its own for long periods of time, how will you ensure its suitably stimulated, both mentally and physically? A decent walk at the weekends when its sunny isn't good enough, you need to do plenty consistently all the time.
For what its worth, I think you'd probably be better with something like a greyhound or lurcher. Something that is happy to sleep all day
We've got 2 dogs - just got our second now - and my wife spent the best part of a year researching the right breed, and then finding the right breeder. We went to nearly 10 different breeders (or at least contacted them, some were a total joke) and in the end both of our dogs came from a Breeder 200 miles away.
A dog needs to be considered as a 10-15 year investment and as such, finding the right one is key.
It does sound to me like you will get into a habit of leaving the dog on its own for long periods of time, how will you ensure its suitably stimulated, both mentally and physically? A decent walk at the weekends when its sunny isn't good enough, you need to do plenty consistently all the time.
For what its worth, I think you'd probably be better with something like a greyhound or lurcher. Something that is happy to sleep all day
My Gran got a retired greyhound last year.
It's a bloody couch potato. Loves sitting in her bed under the stairs for hours on end, or on the sofa beside her as she watches tv. She never barks or pulls on the lead, responds well to softly spoken commands. Lovely temperament.
They don't respond well to being shouted at, or if there is excitable people around. they thrive in calm environments.
She's generally okay with a walk once a day down to the shops to get milk. I go over once a week and take her to the local park for an hour or two.
They appreciate a comfortable bed, would have to be kept indoors and don't respond well to excitable children. It'll be fine as long as the kids are taught to behave round the dog, and has its own space to sleep! (Which she does a lot)
Edit: They do have an instinct to chase, but can be trained to recall very easily.
It's a bloody couch potato. Loves sitting in her bed under the stairs for hours on end, or on the sofa beside her as she watches tv. She never barks or pulls on the lead, responds well to softly spoken commands. Lovely temperament.
They don't respond well to being shouted at, or if there is excitable people around. they thrive in calm environments.
She's generally okay with a walk once a day down to the shops to get milk. I go over once a week and take her to the local park for an hour or two.
They appreciate a comfortable bed, would have to be kept indoors and don't respond well to excitable children. It'll be fine as long as the kids are taught to behave round the dog, and has its own space to sleep! (Which she does a lot)
Edit: They do have an instinct to chase, but can be trained to recall very easily.
Edited by MethylatedSpirit on Sunday 22 February 17:50
MethylatedSpirit said:
My Gran got a retired greyhound last year.
It's a bloody couch potato. Loves sitting in her bed under the stairs for hours on end, or on the sofa beside her as she watches tv. She never barks or pulls on the lead, responds well to softly spoken commands. Lovely temperament.
They don't respond well to being shouted at, or if there is excitable people around. they thrive in calm environments.
She's generally okay with a walk once a day down to the shops to get milk. I go over once a week and take her to the local park for an hour or two.
They appreciate a comfortable bed, would have to be kept indoors and don't respond well to excitable children. It'll be fine as long as the kids are taught to behave round the dog, and has its own space to sleep! (Which she does a lot)
Edit: They do have an instinct to chase, but can be trained to recall very easily.
Whilst I agree with the majority of your post (I have owned 7 greyhounds/lurchers) I would disagree with your final statement. Some sighthounds can be taught recall, but it is certainly not what I would call easy It's a bloody couch potato. Loves sitting in her bed under the stairs for hours on end, or on the sofa beside her as she watches tv. She never barks or pulls on the lead, responds well to softly spoken commands. Lovely temperament.
They don't respond well to being shouted at, or if there is excitable people around. they thrive in calm environments.
She's generally okay with a walk once a day down to the shops to get milk. I go over once a week and take her to the local park for an hour or two.
They appreciate a comfortable bed, would have to be kept indoors and don't respond well to excitable children. It'll be fine as long as the kids are taught to behave round the dog, and has its own space to sleep! (Which she does a lot)
Edit: They do have an instinct to chase, but can be trained to recall very easily.
Edited by MethylatedSpirit on Sunday 22 February 17:50
moorx said:
Whilst I agree with the majority of your post (I have owned 7 greyhounds/lurchers) I would disagree with your final statement. Some sighthounds can be taught recall, but it is certainly not what I would call easy
I don't know why I said "Easy", more "difficult but sometimes impossible". 
She liked going for squirrels and birds, took a good few months to train her. She still occasionally gets distracted by something.
I know some people that haven't been able to train their dogs, they put a muzzle on when the dog is off the lead, which seems to work fine for them. Some/most don't even let their dog off the lead.
Edited by MethylatedSpirit on Sunday 22 February 18:15
MethylatedSpirit said:
I don't know why I said "Easy", more "difficult but sometimes impossible".
She liked going for squirrels and birds, took a good few months to train her. She still occasionally gets distracted by something.
I know some people that haven't been able to train their dogs, they put a muzzle on when the dog is off the lead, which seems to work fine for them. Some/most don't even let their dog off the lead.
Yes, "difficult but sometimes impossible" is far more like it She liked going for squirrels and birds, took a good few months to train her. She still occasionally gets distracted by something.
I know some people that haven't been able to train their dogs, they put a muzzle on when the dog is off the lead, which seems to work fine for them. Some/most don't even let their dog off the lead.
Edited by MethylatedSpirit on Sunday 22 February 18:15
I've had both ends of the spectrum - my first greyhound was fantastic in terms of recall, but she was a failed racer (dumped at 18 months old) so didn't have very high prey drive. My most recent addition was a fairly successful racer who we adopted at 7 years old, who cannot be trusted off the lead unless in a fully enclosed space. Then I've had others who were in between - generally trustworthy, but a couple of the lurchers had been used for working before I adopted them. At the end of the day, they're following their natural instincts and years of training/selective breeding. If you love the breed/type like I do, you learn to live with it
AdiT said:
Would an retired racing greyhound have to be kept indoor? Surely they'll be used to being in a kennel+run. So even if only in warmer weather, they'd probably take to it better/easier than a lot of dogs?
Possibly, but they certainly get accustomed to living indoors very quickly!The rescues I have adopted from make it a condition that they live indoors - they are supposed to be retiring to a better life than what they've been used to, after all....
moorx said:
Possibly, but they certainly get accustomed to living indoors very quickly!
True.A mate had one that virtually put down roots on the hearth rug. An open fire and it'd retired to heaven as far as it was concerned.
It never got the hang of right turns either... and all the local rabbits new it!
moorx said:
I love Trailhounds, and seriously considered getting one. They are beautiful looking dogs How vocal is your hound? Because the two I met were VERY vocal
Mine is only vocal if he is on the lead and wants to play with another dog(he is 9 years going on 9 months - he is just a big puppy). He will also sometimes 'talk' (a long growl type sound) when he is excited at the thought of it being dinner time. Other than that, nothing (saying that he bayed for a week when we first got him and he suffered separation anxiety). They are an amazing breed! How vocal is your hound? Because the two I met were VERY vocal OP - as for the Labradoodle - I know 2 different people who have had one and both have ended up tearing their hair out at them as the dog was very difficult. That may say more about the owners than the breed, but just to add my (limited) experience on it.
elephantstone said:
Hooli said:
Someone mentioned Staffies early on, there are loads in rescue centres to choose from & they are great with kids. Scum get them to look hard & when they turn out to be the typical cuddly, daft (yet bright) loving dog that Staffs are they abandon them.
Your dog run idea with access to the garage doesn't sound bad to me, it's better for the dog to be able to run & play than be cooped up indoors & it sounds like it'll be able to keep dry & warm if it wants.
I'll second the comments earlier about dogs getting nicked though & if you do look at Staffs they are more at risk for this as bait dogs.
From my experience, which is not as much as some on here. If he was going to keep one dog in this run (not sure what that is) surely he'd be better off getting two? My first dog only kept himself entertained for a short while before turning to us to play with, once we got the second they play for hours without any input from us. Your dog run idea with access to the garage doesn't sound bad to me, it's better for the dog to be able to run & play than be cooped up indoors & it sounds like it'll be able to keep dry & warm if it wants.
I'll second the comments earlier about dogs getting nicked though & if you do look at Staffs they are more at risk for this as bait dogs.
Having read a few but not all posts i'd agree that a Weimaraner wouldn't be a good choice. An English Pointer however might, again they can suffer from seperation anxiety but i've found that if exposed to being alone from a pup and built up over time they do deal with it well.
We're on our second EP and we chose them for very similar reasons to your own. They rarely bark, they get on well with people, children and other dogs. They do need a fair bit of excercise but 30 minutes twice a day seems to be enough for ours, then longer walks at weekends/days off. We also have a German Pointer, he is turning out to be quite the handful, I wouldn't advise one of those for much the same reason as a Weimy.
Never had one myself, but know people who do - a Bracco Italiano (Italian Pointer) might be another good choice, from what i'm told, they take many of the best characteristics of the English and German Pointers but are much more laid back and restful. They look like a cross between a blood hound (face) and a Pointer (body). Big dogs though.
We're on our second EP and we chose them for very similar reasons to your own. They rarely bark, they get on well with people, children and other dogs. They do need a fair bit of excercise but 30 minutes twice a day seems to be enough for ours, then longer walks at weekends/days off. We also have a German Pointer, he is turning out to be quite the handful, I wouldn't advise one of those for much the same reason as a Weimy.
Never had one myself, but know people who do - a Bracco Italiano (Italian Pointer) might be another good choice, from what i'm told, they take many of the best characteristics of the English and German Pointers but are much more laid back and restful. They look like a cross between a blood hound (face) and a Pointer (body). Big dogs though.
Avoid Labs and Weimaraners as a first dog - too highly strung - Weimaraners are born mad; they get quite a few health issues and need a huge amount of mental stimulation.
If you keep the dog outside it isn't really a family dog. Alot of dogs shouldn't be kept outside anyway as some overheat in the summer very easily and others can't deal with the winter.
I have two trained gun dogs - they have always lived indoors and they are much better for it. A dog long outside tends to look at one person as the master. A dog inside will feel part of the family. You can always use a crate indoors which is highly recommended for a puppy as it stops tem damage the house and also gives them a safe plays to retreat to when tired.
If you keep the dog outside it isn't really a family dog. Alot of dogs shouldn't be kept outside anyway as some overheat in the summer very easily and others can't deal with the winter.
I have two trained gun dogs - they have always lived indoors and they are much better for it. A dog long outside tends to look at one person as the master. A dog inside will feel part of the family. You can always use a crate indoors which is highly recommended for a puppy as it stops tem damage the house and also gives them a safe plays to retreat to when tired.
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