What breeds of dog should we consider?
Discussion
I grew up with 3x dalmatians. Loved them and found them to be so loveable and fun to be around.
We now live with our male cat, but as keen hikers we feel that we are missing out on having a dog that we can take with us and have fun with.
The OH won't consider a Dalmatian as he thought they were too lively/badly behaved.
We want a large dog (no smaller than a Dalmatian), with short hair that will enjoy long walks (+7 miles), and be good with pets and kids.
It seems that when looking into breeds a Labrador ticks all the right boxes, but i dont want to rule out something a bit more unusual first. OH likes Weiamaranas, but they are meant to be quie a handful too.
Any suggestions of breeds we should look into?
We now live with our male cat, but as keen hikers we feel that we are missing out on having a dog that we can take with us and have fun with.
The OH won't consider a Dalmatian as he thought they were too lively/badly behaved.
We want a large dog (no smaller than a Dalmatian), with short hair that will enjoy long walks (+7 miles), and be good with pets and kids.
It seems that when looking into breeds a Labrador ticks all the right boxes, but i dont want to rule out something a bit more unusual first. OH likes Weiamaranas, but they are meant to be quie a handful too.
Any suggestions of breeds we should look into?
A dog is as only "too lively/badly behaved" as you allow it to be. So if you are used to dalmations and can discipline them, there shouldn't be a problem.
Otherwise a collie or a lab. They still might have some brains. Forget the 'fashion accessories'.
( Dons Fire-proof suit for mentioning the word discipline.)
Otherwise a collie or a lab. They still might have some brains. Forget the 'fashion accessories'.
( Dons Fire-proof suit for mentioning the word discipline.)
tenex said:
A dog is as only "too lively/badly behaved" as you allow it to be. So if you are used to dalmations and can discipline them, there shouldn't be a problem.
Otherwise a collie or a lab. They still might have some brains. Forget the 'fashion accessories'.
( Dons Fire-proof suit for mentioning the word discipline.)
You are correct! Our Dalmatians were not at all well trained from aOtherwise a collie or a lab. They still might have some brains. Forget the 'fashion accessories'.
( Dons Fire-proof suit for mentioning the word discipline.)
young age and with each additional one the bahaviour got worse as the older ones realised that they could get away with more. I remember one family member who didn't live with us often but took them out hen he was arounds and could control them very well though, so thu definitely were intelligent to know what the could do around certain people.
Black lab is the fave at the mo.
Not too fond of collies. They seem to go a bit mental when they get older and to me a bit like prefects!
I had pretty much the same requirments. I looked at German Short-haired Pointers, English Pointers, Dalmatians, Hungarian Vizlas, Beagles and a few others but ended up with a Weimerama.
He was 3 on Friday, weighs in at 40kg, will run all day and then want to play (recently did Snowdon via the Watkins path then spent an hour swimming in the river once back at the car). Sleeps whenever he's not doing either of those and gets somewhere compfy to lie down, like currently snoring next to me alongside the cat (who he's dominated by). Yes, they can be a handfull (and seen a few that are) but shouldn't be with enough exersize and a bit of training. I made sure to pick a quiet pup(also a big one though as it happens). He gets 2x 40-60min walks a day off the lead for most of it. He's my first dog so I was no dog training expert and he could be better but he's very good at what he does and useless at anything thats not in his nature (don't think I'll ever get him to speak on command). He's happy to be left alone (just sleeps) even for the whole day on occation but often 1/2 a day. Great with kids, partly I think due to the breeders also doing emergency foster care and there being loads of toddlers around for his first 9 weeks.
He was 3 on Friday, weighs in at 40kg, will run all day and then want to play (recently did Snowdon via the Watkins path then spent an hour swimming in the river once back at the car). Sleeps whenever he's not doing either of those and gets somewhere compfy to lie down, like currently snoring next to me alongside the cat (who he's dominated by). Yes, they can be a handfull (and seen a few that are) but shouldn't be with enough exersize and a bit of training. I made sure to pick a quiet pup(also a big one though as it happens). He gets 2x 40-60min walks a day off the lead for most of it. He's my first dog so I was no dog training expert and he could be better but he's very good at what he does and useless at anything thats not in his nature (don't think I'll ever get him to speak on command). He's happy to be left alone (just sleeps) even for the whole day on occation but often 1/2 a day. Great with kids, partly I think due to the breeders also doing emergency foster care and there being loads of toddlers around for his first 9 weeks.
AdiT said:
I had pretty much the same requirments. I looked at German Short-haired Pointers, English Pointers, Dalmatians, Hungarian Vizlas, Beagles and a few others but ended up with a Weimerama.
He was 3 on Friday, weighs in at 40kg, will run all day and then want to play (recently did Snowdon via the Watkins path then spent an hour swimming in the river once back at the car). Sleeps whenever he's not doing either of those and gets somewhere compfy to lie down, like currently snoring next to me alongside the cat (who he's dominated by). Yes, they can be a handfull (and seen a few that are) but shouldn't be with enough exersize and a bit of training. I made sure to pick a quiet pup(also a big one though as it happens). He gets 2x 40-60min walks a day off the lead for most of it. He's my first dog so I was no dog training expert and he could be better but he's very good at what he does and useless at anything thats not in his nature (don't think I'll ever get him to speak on command). He's happy to be left alone (just sleeps) even for the whole day on occation but often 1/2 a day. Great with kids, partly I think due to the breeders also doing emergency foster care and there being loads of toddlers around for his first 9 weeks.
He sounds lovely. Any pics? He was 3 on Friday, weighs in at 40kg, will run all day and then want to play (recently did Snowdon via the Watkins path then spent an hour swimming in the river once back at the car). Sleeps whenever he's not doing either of those and gets somewhere compfy to lie down, like currently snoring next to me alongside the cat (who he's dominated by). Yes, they can be a handfull (and seen a few that are) but shouldn't be with enough exersize and a bit of training. I made sure to pick a quiet pup(also a big one though as it happens). He gets 2x 40-60min walks a day off the lead for most of it. He's my first dog so I was no dog training expert and he could be better but he's very good at what he does and useless at anything thats not in his nature (don't think I'll ever get him to speak on command). He's happy to be left alone (just sleeps) even for the whole day on occation but often 1/2 a day. Great with kids, partly I think due to the breeders also doing emergency foster care and there being loads of toddlers around for his first 9 weeks.
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
GALLARDOGUY said:
Black ladrador gets my vote.
+1The MX5 / Golf / Ford Focus of the Dog world.
I have just taken the following Action shot for you.
8 Days of Hill walking over Christmas = Happy Lab
I have two german shorthaired pointer (GSP) b
h's. As pets they need a lot to keep them occupied or they get bored very easilly. Great breed, real people dogs and easy to train although you do need to be very firm but fair with them. You also need to be prepared to spend lots of time with them in the first 18 months for training, although this is true of any dog and pays dividends when they are older.
see link below for more info on GSP's - http://www.riverside-stud.co.uk/about_gsp's.htm
GSP's are a good alternative to the usual labrasnore choice. Other HPR breeds are also available! vizla, wiemeraner italian spinone, german wirehaired pointer etc.
h's. As pets they need a lot to keep them occupied or they get bored very easilly. Great breed, real people dogs and easy to train although you do need to be very firm but fair with them. You also need to be prepared to spend lots of time with them in the first 18 months for training, although this is true of any dog and pays dividends when they are older. see link below for more info on GSP's - http://www.riverside-stud.co.uk/about_gsp's.htm
GSP's are a good alternative to the usual labrasnore choice. Other HPR breeds are also available! vizla, wiemeraner italian spinone, german wirehaired pointer etc.
Why the short hair thing?
We have a Bearded Collie- he looks like a big dog (because of the mass of hair), and weighs 28kg (so he's somewhere between medium and large), but he can run for hours, has an amazing personality, and doesn't shed or smell- hence the house and car doesn't smell of dog. Yes the hair can be a bit of a pain to brush, but its certainly not onerous.
he's likely to live until he's at least 16 (both his parents lived to 18 and 19 and were very active to the end), he's great around kids and has no hereditary problems.
We have a Bearded Collie- he looks like a big dog (because of the mass of hair), and weighs 28kg (so he's somewhere between medium and large), but he can run for hours, has an amazing personality, and doesn't shed or smell- hence the house and car doesn't smell of dog. Yes the hair can be a bit of a pain to brush, but its certainly not onerous.
he's likely to live until he's at least 16 (both his parents lived to 18 and 19 and were very active to the end), he's great around kids and has no hereditary problems.
Just get whatever dog you fancy. All dogs can be trained to do what you want if you put the effort in some are just more easy than others. Just makesure whatever breed you go for look into common problems for them before you actually buy. For eg Labs can have eye and hip problems if i remember correctly. If i was going for a larger dog id defo go for a lab the only reason i didnt was because of the hair. That does my head in !
I have 2 Cockers 1 is only 10.5 weeks old at the moment but my other is happy to go for big walks / bike rides with me.
I have 2 Cockers 1 is only 10.5 weeks old at the moment but my other is happy to go for big walks / bike rides with me.
PugwasHDJ80 said:
Why the short hair thing?
We have a Bearded Collie- he looks like a big dog (because of the mass of hair), and weighs 28kg (so he's somewhere between medium and large), but he can run for hours, has an amazing personality, and doesn't shed or smell- hence the house and car doesn't smell of dog. Yes the hair can be a bit of a pain to brush, but its certainly not onerous.
he's likely to live until he's at least 16 (both his parents lived to 18 and 19 and were very active to the end), he's great around kids and has no hereditary problems.
Becasue I had a german wirehaired pointer GWP and although he was very special but so hard to train, very stuborn and typically of a GWP only took to 50% of people he met. GSP's are a much easier going breed hence my choice. We have a Bearded Collie- he looks like a big dog (because of the mass of hair), and weighs 28kg (so he's somewhere between medium and large), but he can run for hours, has an amazing personality, and doesn't shed or smell- hence the house and car doesn't smell of dog. Yes the hair can be a bit of a pain to brush, but its certainly not onerous.
he's likely to live until he's at least 16 (both his parents lived to 18 and 19 and were very active to the end), he's great around kids and has no hereditary problems.
Personally I wouldn't get too fixated on breed. You have several considerations, not just being able to go for long walks, but must be good with kid, etc. I would be looking more about the personality of the dog.
Although people are right in saying you get out what you put in, some breeds need more input than others, so I would also look at what you can give in terms of training and play time, as well as walk time. All dogs need all of these to become a well rounded member of the household
And no - they don't need discipline. Boundaries and training so they know what we expect of them, yes
Although people are right in saying you get out what you put in, some breeds need more input than others, so I would also look at what you can give in terms of training and play time, as well as walk time. All dogs need all of these to become a well rounded member of the household
And no - they don't need discipline. Boundaries and training so they know what we expect of them, yes
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