Want a pet (a dog and a cat) what breed would be best?
Discussion
So my Fiance and I have decided to get a pet (she wants a cat and I want a dog)
The cat breed was pretty easy to decide on (abyssinian)
Deciding what dog breed to get on the other hand is rather tougher than i thought.
I initially thought that getting two whippets would be ideal.
I want a dog that does not shed a lot and has nice short hair.
The reason I thought two would be ideal is we both work 10-11 hours per day, albeit slightly different start times so the dogs would be left alone for about 8 hours per day. So they could keep each other company.
However, I have since thought that a Labrador retriever would be preferred, the only two drawbacks are: they are rather large and very sociable. so Perhaps 8 hours with just a cat for company might be too much for them to bear and getting two would be out of the question due to size.
The pets would be kept in a 3 bedroom semi detached with a good sized garden and I would walk them in the morning for toilet purposes and a proper walk on my return for excercise purposes.
What breed would be more suitable?
-Short hair
-not too large
-must be good with children and not too suspicious of strangers (however a bark to wake us up at night if something suspicious is going on downstairs would be a bonus)
-affectionate
-intelligent.
A female lab fits the above requirements almost perfectly, I am just unsure if they can handle being alone for so long.
The cat breed was pretty easy to decide on (abyssinian)
Deciding what dog breed to get on the other hand is rather tougher than i thought.
I initially thought that getting two whippets would be ideal.
I want a dog that does not shed a lot and has nice short hair.
The reason I thought two would be ideal is we both work 10-11 hours per day, albeit slightly different start times so the dogs would be left alone for about 8 hours per day. So they could keep each other company.
However, I have since thought that a Labrador retriever would be preferred, the only two drawbacks are: they are rather large and very sociable. so Perhaps 8 hours with just a cat for company might be too much for them to bear and getting two would be out of the question due to size.
The pets would be kept in a 3 bedroom semi detached with a good sized garden and I would walk them in the morning for toilet purposes and a proper walk on my return for excercise purposes.
What breed would be more suitable?
-Short hair
-not too large
-must be good with children and not too suspicious of strangers (however a bark to wake us up at night if something suspicious is going on downstairs would be a bonus)
-affectionate
-intelligent.
A female lab fits the above requirements almost perfectly, I am just unsure if they can handle being alone for so long.
ZesPak said:
Jasandjules said:
No offence but I don't think it's really fair to have dogs if they are left alone all day.
This, I had a dog but I found an adoptive family as soon as I couldn't be with it all day. A dog needs company, getting a 2nd dog to go around that isn't the best solution...If I get a cat now, do you think introducing a puppy a year or so later will be problematic at all?
gog440 said:
I will admit to some bias, but get a greyhound, they like nothing better than to sleep all day, only needs a couple of short walks a day dont shed and are really affectionate when you do come home. And despite what some people say they can be cat friendly, just make sure they have been checked first.
Try this link
www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk
and go and have a look at some they are such a lovely pet and you are giving an overlooked and sometimes mistreated dog a good home.
and a gratuitous pic to show their favourite activity
I initially wanted a whippet as a pet, but one thing I forgot to mention (wich is wierd considering it was the biggest reason we needed a dog) is I am away at least 4 nights per month and seeing as my colleague got burgled recently (with the whole family being at home) in their new house, we wanted to get a dog that the Mrs would feel slightly more secure with. Was also thinking a staffie but afaik they have even more problems with separation... I guess an alarm will have to suffice.Try this link
www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk
and go and have a look at some they are such a lovely pet and you are giving an overlooked and sometimes mistreated dog a good home.
and a gratuitous pic to show their favourite activity
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