First Dog

[mat13]

In the next couple of weeks im going to be getting my first pet dog, We have always had guard dogs in the family but as i am moving into my own place i thought the time was right to have a proper pet and companion. I just wondered if the dog owners of piston heads have any suggestions for training/breeds, im currently leaning towards a labrador.

Thanks
Mat

[abarth130]

Beagle all the way. Great nature, ideal size, loving, do anything for a bit of grub, great with kids, trainable if you persist and very few, if any, inherent health problems of other breeds. Here's mine......

[M3CHA-MONK3Y]

I've always had German Shepard's and think they are excellent all round dogs.
They are excellent companions, highly intelligent, friendly if brought up right yet still big and fierce looking, which keeps the thieving gypsies away.
I miss mine

[DBSV8]

come on you need a boxer !!!

you can fart openly .............then train the dog to look at you in disgust and walk out

[mat13]

i would love an alsation or german sheperd but the dog is going to have to come to work with me so there probably a bit big, i do like boxers but ive never pictured myself owning one. How much is a beagle pup likely to set me back, as i am moving into my first house cost is quite important i do have a flexible budget of around £400

[lawrence567]

Gotte be a black labrador all the way

[A911DOM]

Personal faves are Lurchers. (Basically any long dog, crossed with something else... yeah okay skinny mungrels then)

But there is method in the madness. Greyhounds, whippets etc are so inherently lazy that you dont feel guilty about leaving them to keep the sofa warm whilst you're at work. Take them for a quick blast in the morning, and another hoon at night and they're happy as larry!!!

Oh, and I'd always go for a rescue dog... Far too many inbred mutants out there that will cost you the earth because they are 'Pedigree' and have some 'over inbred' issues whether it be mental or physical.

[Regional]

I have a boxer staff cross, beautiful creature but hard work whilst their young.
Mine is a 2 year old b*tch, had her since she was 6 weeks old - can be a bit bloody minded like most women but it's very rewarding when you can let them off the lead and have them come back to you (most of the time...).

Edited by Regional on Friday 7th August 11:03

[AshVX220]

I had a Black Lab and miss him like you wouldn't believe. All dogs are very similar though, in general, with any breed, it's temrament depdns how they are looked after and brought up and less about the temprament of the breed.

Just make sure it's a proper dog, not one of these dinky little pretend dogs, must be at least Springer Spaniel size in my mind.

Whatever breed you get will bring love and companionship like never before. Make sure that you get it insured though, it can save a lot of stress if the dog needs the vet for anything and when they get older the vet visits increase.

Make sure you post some pics up when you get it though.

If budget is an issue, I wouldn't worry about getting a pure bred then, generally when you get a cross the dog has the best attributes of both parents, so they can be better in many ways.

Edited by AshVX220 on Friday 7th August 10:58

[mat13]

lawrence567 said:

Gotte be a black labrador all the way

posting things like that up makes me want to go and get one now, but i have to wait untill i move in

[Nolar Dog]

A GCS

[Yoshiwaan]

What are your size preferences? Any features you don't like? (eg big droopy jowls)

[WorAl]

mat13 said:

lawrence567 said:

Gotte be a black labrador all the way

posting things like that up makes me want to go and get one now, but i have to wait untill i move in

Here's another that'll make you move faster.

Edited by WorAl on Friday 7th August 11:10

[Graham E]

labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador labrador

Best dogs in the world, bar none. Slightly stinky, but still class.

[Twincharged]

A911DOM said:

Oh, and I'd always go for a rescue dog... Far too many inbred mutants out there that will cost you the earth because they are 'Pedigree' and have some 'over inbred' issues whether it be mental or physical.

Agreed. If you have a budget of £400, imagine how quickly that would got if your pedigree dog had an issue that needed sorting at the vet. £100 will ususally get you a dog from a rescue centre, and it will have had its vaccinations done (and you'll know they're not lying!) and been neutered/spayed so you will already be saving lots of money. In addition, you can take it for a home visit and get an idea of its temprament as they are trying to rehome the dog and make sure you're both happy.

[A911DOM]

Regional said:

I have a boxer staff cross, beautiful creature but hard work whilst their young.
Mine is a 2 year old b*tch, had her since she was 6 weeks old - can be a bit bloody minded like most women but it's very rewarding when you can let them off the lead and have them come back to you (most of the time...).

Edited by Regional on Friday 7th August 11:03

And nice to see that the tail hasn't been 'docced'(sp?)!!

[Piers917]

lawrence567 said:

Gotte be a black labrador all the way

+1 Great dogs

[SLCZ3]

dibbers006 said:

Very handy for encouraging unwanted entrants not to enter your home i would say.

[Halb]

M3CHA-MONK3Y said:

I've always had German Shepard's and think they are excellent all round dogs.
They are excellent companions, highly intelligent, friendly if brought up right yet still big and fierce looking, which keeps the thieving gypsies away.
I miss mine

Agree, agree and agree.

[muppets_mate]

Twincharged said:

A911DOM said:

Oh, and I'd always go for a rescue dog... Far too many inbred mutants out there that will cost you the earth because they are 'Pedigree' and have some 'over inbred' issues whether it be mental or physical.

Agreed. If you have a budget of £400, imagine how quickly that would got if your pedigree dog had an issue that needed sorting at the vet. £100 will ususally get you a dog from a rescue centre, and it will have had its vaccinations done (and you'll know they're not lying!) and been neutered/spayed so you will already be saving lots of money. In addition, you can take it for a home visit and get an idea of its temprament as they are trying to rehome the dog and make sure you're both happy.

+1 for a rescue dog. Any reputable rescue will temprement test the dog as well as give it a full healthcheck including vaccinations and neutering and try to make sure the dog will complement your requirements and lifestyle.

No point in getting the best looking dog if it doesn't fit with your lifestyle, you'll only come to resent it and that can be a slippery slope leading to the dog getting increasingly marginalised.

Also, don't forget that the cost of a dog doesn't stop once you've bought one.