What dog thread: Labrador, retriever or something else?
Discussion
Have considered (or even heard of) Bavarian Mountain Hound. Slightly smaller than a Lab, clever, loyal, energetic, robust and low maintenance WRT grooming. Oh a bloody cute.
As a reletively new breed, they don't suffer from much in breeding which can lead to health problems.
The downsides. A peculier inquisitive brain which is hard wired in to the nose which leads them anywhere.
As I was typing this, my daughter came back from a bathroom break to find her dinner was gone! Salmon, pasta and asparagus.
As a reletively new breed, they don't suffer from much in breeding which can lead to health problems.
The downsides. A peculier inquisitive brain which is hard wired in to the nose which leads them anywhere.
As I was typing this, my daughter came back from a bathroom break to find her dinner was gone! Salmon, pasta and asparagus.
As someone who a year ago adopted a Lurcher I'd say one of those or a full Greyhound.
Very docile with kids, my 6 year old nephew is best mates with mine. Enjoy walks especially if they include off lead zoomies but also happy to sleep for hours on end when left alone as long as they have a bed or sofa available.
Many of all ages available in rehoming centres.
Picture of my Charlie in one of his regular poses.
Very docile with kids, my 6 year old nephew is best mates with mine. Enjoy walks especially if they include off lead zoomies but also happy to sleep for hours on end when left alone as long as they have a bed or sofa available.
Many of all ages available in rehoming centres.
Picture of my Charlie in one of his regular poses.
Chocmonster said:
As someone who a year ago adopted a Lurcher I'd say one of those or a full Greyhound.
Very docile with kids, my 6 year old nephew is best mates with mine. Enjoy walks especially if they include off lead zoomies but also happy to sleep for hours on end when left alone as long as they have a bed or sofa available.
Many of all ages available in rehoming centres.
Picture of my Charlie in one of his regular poses.
Gotta love a pointy dog Very docile with kids, my 6 year old nephew is best mates with mine. Enjoy walks especially if they include off lead zoomies but also happy to sleep for hours on end when left alone as long as they have a bed or sofa available.
Many of all ages available in rehoming centres.
Picture of my Charlie in one of his regular poses.
Beautiful!
I got my flat coated retriever as a rescue pup. The kenel woman said he wouldn't grow large
but I'd already clocked the size of the paws.
He grew to be a 7-stone chap who was everything a hound should be.
He was smart, obedient and very loving. He didn't chew too much
when young and always respected my stuff. For example, I used to have
a Scalextric set and would rig it up on the floor. He'd carefully pick his
way round the track and cars without treading on anything. That said, he learned
that swatting a passing car would disengage the motor and axle so he'd
won my attention...no, he didn't get thumped for it - he never did, for anything.
I lost him to the big C when he was seven. A great loss but he'll never be forgotten.
but I'd already clocked the size of the paws.
He grew to be a 7-stone chap who was everything a hound should be.
He was smart, obedient and very loving. He didn't chew too much
when young and always respected my stuff. For example, I used to have
a Scalextric set and would rig it up on the floor. He'd carefully pick his
way round the track and cars without treading on anything. That said, he learned
that swatting a passing car would disengage the motor and axle so he'd
won my attention...no, he didn't get thumped for it - he never did, for anything.
I lost him to the big C when he was seven. A great loss but he'll never be forgotten.
regarding "CHEWING WHEN YOUNG"
when I got my pup 11 years ago she was 8 or 9 weeks old. Someone told me to stop her chewing put whole carrots in the freezer and give them to her as a dog chew, they are healthy, grind down easily and the cooling effect soothes her gums when teething.
She has never chewed anything in the house, just buy a 1kg bag of carrots for 50p or so, no need to peel or wash.
She still loves carrots which are far better value than dentastix and do a great job.
She loves other veg too, broccoli stalks etc
when I got my pup 11 years ago she was 8 or 9 weeks old. Someone told me to stop her chewing put whole carrots in the freezer and give them to her as a dog chew, they are healthy, grind down easily and the cooling effect soothes her gums when teething.
She has never chewed anything in the house, just buy a 1kg bag of carrots for 50p or so, no need to peel or wash.
She still loves carrots which are far better value than dentastix and do a great job.
She loves other veg too, broccoli stalks etc
Another shout for a X breed here. We have a Cockapoo and a Springer X.
The springer was a puppy from a rescue that was handed in. He has the traits of a springer, loves anything ball shaped, but looks like a large terrier and yaps like one
He is my shadow though, and follows me everywhere. While the Cockapoo plays deaf alot the springer X has fantastic recall and never goes to far.
The springer was a puppy from a rescue that was handed in. He has the traits of a springer, loves anything ball shaped, but looks like a large terrier and yaps like one
He is my shadow though, and follows me everywhere. While the Cockapoo plays deaf alot the springer X has fantastic recall and never goes to far. loskie said:
regarding "CHEWING WHEN YOUNG"
when I got my pup 11 years ago she was 8 or 9 weeks old. Someone told me to stop her chewing put whole carrots in the freezer and give them to her as a dog chew, they are healthy, grind down easily and the cooling effect soothes her gums when teething.
She has never chewed anything in the house, just buy a 1kg bag of carrots for 50p or so, no need to peel or wash.
She still loves carrots which are far better value than dentastix and do a great job.
She loves other veg too, broccoli stalks etc
Brilliant! Thanks for that, I never thought about frozen whole carrots. when I got my pup 11 years ago she was 8 or 9 weeks old. Someone told me to stop her chewing put whole carrots in the freezer and give them to her as a dog chew, they are healthy, grind down easily and the cooling effect soothes her gums when teething.
She has never chewed anything in the house, just buy a 1kg bag of carrots for 50p or so, no need to peel or wash.
She still loves carrots which are far better value than dentastix and do a great job.
She loves other veg too, broccoli stalks etc
Rich_AR said:
Brilliant! Thanks for that, I never thought about frozen whole carrots.
Most fruit and veg are good although you do have to consider the sugars they get from fruitOurs loves slices of apple and pear. Frozen blueberries bring ours of fun
But yes, when teething, frozen carrots are a godsend
stevesingo said:
Have considered (or even heard of) Bavarian Mountain Hound. Slightly smaller than a Lab, clever, loyal, energetic, robust and low maintenance WRT grooming. Oh a bloody cute.
As a reletively new breed, they don't suffer from much in breeding which can lead to health problems.
The downsides. A peculier inquisitive brain which is hard wired in to the nose which leads them anywhere.
As I was typing this, my daughter came back from a bathroom break to find her dinner was gone! Salmon, pasta and asparagus.
Again, you destroy my willfull power to avoid another dog! One question, did he come from a working line? Would you be so kind as to PM me your breeders details please. Many ThanksAs a reletively new breed, they don't suffer from much in breeding which can lead to health problems.
The downsides. A peculier inquisitive brain which is hard wired in to the nose which leads them anywhere.
As I was typing this, my daughter came back from a bathroom break to find her dinner was gone! Salmon, pasta and asparagus.
Surprised no one's mentioned a fox-red:
He's a working lab, bred by a local farmer. Fantastically loving, docile but goes apes
t at anyone coming to the house 
Usual lab traits - always searching for food, smells and sheds loads of hair. Now I'm retired he gets plenty of long walks which are keeping him trim (just had his eighth birthday). As the kids have left home, he's the only reason they ever come back!
He's a working lab, bred by a local farmer. Fantastically loving, docile but goes apes
t at anyone coming to the house Usual lab traits - always searching for food, smells and sheds loads of hair. Now I'm retired he gets plenty of long walks which are keeping him trim (just had his eighth birthday). As the kids have left home, he's the only reason they ever come back!
stevesingo said:
Have considered (or even heard of) Bavarian Mountain Hound. Slightly smaller than a Lab, clever, loyal, energetic, robust and low maintenance WRT grooming. Oh a bloody cute.
We'd consider pretty much any variation on the gun dog theme, I think. Although it sounds like we might not have that luxury based on the price and availability of pedigree puppies at the moment. I've been window shopping occasionally on Pets4Homes for about a year and can't believe how things have changed since lockdown. It's really annoying as we've been contemplating getting a dog for about five years now.ndtman said:
How about a Husky? Eldest son got a pup a year ago. Lovely temperament, playful and good on the lead.
I really like the look of huskies, but don't really know a huge amount about them. Had it in my head that they had extremely high exercise needs and a few unusual traits? As above, though, we'd consider pretty much anything that was a decent size and child-friendly.Our local animal sanctuary has these two currently. They need to go as a pair, apparently, and "would be best suited to a home without children, due to their guarding nature" but did get me thinking. I love Alsatians, but might be a steep learning curve for a first-time owner.
Chris71 said:
stevesingo said:
Have considered (or even heard of) Bavarian Mountain Hound. Slightly smaller than a Lab, clever, loyal, energetic, robust and low maintenance WRT grooming. Oh a bloody cute.
We'd consider pretty much any variation on the gun dog theme, I think. Although it sounds like we might not have that luxury based on the price and availability of pedigree puppies at the moment. I've been window shopping occasionally on Pets4Homes for about a year and can't believe how things have changed since lockdown. It's really annoying as we've been contemplating getting a dog for about five years now.
caiss4 said:
Surprised no one's mentioned a fox-red:
He's a working lab, bred by a local farmer. Fantastically loving, docile but goes apest at anyone coming to the house
Usual lab traits - always searching for food, smells and sheds loads of hair. Now I'm retired he gets plenty of long walks which are keeping him trim (just had his eighth birthday). As the kids have left home, he's the only reason they ever come back!
I have a fox red (Yoshi) who's 10 months old now. Pretty much everything you said....kids love him, great mix of gentleness and craziness!He's a working lab, bred by a local farmer. Fantastically loving, docile but goes apes
t at anyone coming to the house Usual lab traits - always searching for food, smells and sheds loads of hair. Now I'm retired he gets plenty of long walks which are keeping him trim (just had his eighth birthday). As the kids have left home, he's the only reason they ever come back!
. I do think fox reds generally have well-proportioned heads but then that might just be my bias!Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff