Suggestions for a pooch...UPDATE

leftcurl

leftcurl

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Leigh
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The kids have pestered the life out of me for a dog for years now. They are 13 & 11.

i just don't want any pets, to me they just spell hassle. Guinea pigs, rabbits and all that genre are fun for 2 weeks then muggins will end up mucking out and feeding. So i've always said no.

Cats are just a waste of time... what do they actually do? :shrug:

But dogs.. yes, i can see why people love 'em. i love 'em too... when they belong to other people and you can give them back! We've got loads of friends with dogs and the kids have all got friends with dogs... so the pressure is building!! There's no real reason why we shouldn't get one.

The house is plenty big enough, big garden, missus only works part time (if that). So what do you reckon we should get? We want a small, friendly, chirpy cheeky chappy that doesn't drop loads of hair.

What you reckon peeps?
 
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All dogs loose hair, so try and get one that matches the carpet!
 
Alan Clogwyn said:
All dogs loose hair, so try and get one that matches the carpet!
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haha... we've got wood floors and marble tiles throughout the ground floor so i suppose we need a brown and cream dog!

off topic...i was thinking about you Alan the other week in anglesey when i saw a sign saying 'danger cliff edge', i found out that Clogwyn is cliffs in Welsh! You a Cliff Richard fan then? :lol:
 
leftcurl said:
The kids have pestered the life out of me for a dog for years now. They are 13 & 11.

I just don't want any pets, to me they just spell hassle.

But dogs.. yes, i can see why people love 'em. i love 'em too... when they belong to other people and you can give them back!

What you reckon peeps?
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Hi Leigh

At the risk of sounding blunt - It's a long term commitment and the dog's welfare comes first. If that really is how you feel I'd suggest you wait and see if the kid's enthusiasm fades before rushing into anything.:thumbs:
 
i know what you mean Phil.. that's why i've always said no in the past because i've said that it's not a toy you can just cast aside when you're fed up with it.
But now, the wife is onside with it and she had a dog before i met her, and if i'm honest i've always loved dogs so i've got no reason why we shouldn't have one now. i'm sure we could offer a dog a very caring and loving future at our place.

in fact, the place we were going to go and have a look was at the dog rescue centre in Warrington - i think the dogs there are defo in need of a family to give it some TLC.
 
Well done on looking at rescue - have a look at Cheshire dogs home on Knutsford road.
 
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knutsford road where Phil?
 
Leigh, check out Dogs 4 Us in Swinton. If you leave there without a dog I would be very surprised!!
 
mrbez said:
Leigh, check out Dogs 4 Us in Swinton. If you leave there without a dog I would be very surprised!!
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i thought that was a nightclub? :lol:

cheers craig.. i'll have a gander :thumbs:
 
Dogs don't generally like smooth hard floors, there's nothing for them to get a grip on and small dogs like terriers love to dash about. You'll love having a dog but your house probably won't survive it!
 
Glad you're thinking about giving a rescue dog a good home.

I just wanted to say a few words in defence of cats...

I never really took to them before meeting a woman who had two but over time I grew to love them and in fact one of the cats had never played before I came into their lives. Cats are just radically different to dogs and I think that they are harder work but once you get to know how they act and interact you can have a rewarding relationship with them. I prefer cats to be indoor cats as I find that I worry about them too much when they're out roaming.
 
Hi border collies are good dogs, they are very busy and love to run, good luck hope you find one that suits you. regards bob
 
dinners said:
Well done on looking at rescue - have a look at Cheshire dogs home on Knutsford road.
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just found it. that's the one we were going to look at.. in Grappenhall. Going tomorrow i think.
 
The point about hard floors is a good one - dogs tend to not like them much. Just choose carefully - no point in choosing a breed which thrives on loads of exercise if you don't have the time or inclination to make that sort of commitment.

Don't underestimate the tie that comes with the territory. Our Springer made nearly 15 years old before we lost him, but whenever we went anywhere we coudn't take him, we were always fretting about getting back to him. We don't have a dog at the moment for just that reason.
 
woof woof said:
Glad you're thinking about giving a rescue dog a good home.

I just wanted to say a few words in defence of cats...

I never really took to them before meeting a woman who had two but over time I grew to love them and in fact one of the cats had never played before I came into their lives. Cats are just radically different to dogs and I think that they are harder work but once you get to know how they act and interact you can have a rewarding relationship with them. I prefer cats to be indoor cats as I find that I worry about them too much when they're out roaming.
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how come you're called Woof Woof then? :lol:

the only pet we ever had when i was a kid was cats.. they were lovely, very friendly and loving.. but now i think a dog would get 'more involved' with us all as a family.
 
bobtee said:
Hi border collies are good dogs, they are very busy and love to run, good luck hope you find one that suits you. regards bob
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i love border collies.. my nan's neighbour had one when i was kid... used to play football with it when i was a kid (that could sound very wrong... but you know what i mean :D)
 
bobtee said:
Hi border collies are good dogs, they are very busy and love to run, good luck hope you find one that suits you. regards bob
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They also need a lot of exercise and can be hard work.

They are very intelligent though which makes training them fairly easy, even if my 6 month old collie will do everything except give his paw :bang: but it can also make them badly behaved if they aren't trained and disciplined well.
 
A few rugs on the hard floor wouldn't hurt - have a read about associated cruciate problems.

So much to go into regarding getting a dog but consider the breed based on lifestyle rather than what you like the look of. Springers, Border Collies etc (in fact gundogs and pastoral in general) require as much mental stimulation as they do physical.

If you do find yourself taking the plunge you can do a lot worse than looking at.....

http://www.dogsey.com/dog-forums.php

.....for info.
 
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Have you thought about a greyhound, contrary to popular belief they are couch potatoes and don't need loads of exercise :shrug:
 
Once again well done for considering a rescue :thumbs: My other half and I have had 2 rottweilers for 3 years now that we rescued and have never regretted it.
 
leftcurl said:
how come you're called Woof Woof then? :lol:
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I agree that dogs are more family/pack animals.

Ref Woof Woof... it's a play on words - Way Out Of Focus - reflecting my love of narrow DoF shots :)
 
harrisp said:
They also need a lot of exercise and can be hard work.

They are very intelligent though which makes training them fairly easy, even if my 6 month old collie will do everything except give his paw :bang: but it can also make them badly behaved if they aren't trained and disciplined well.
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it also means they need a lot of intelectual stimulation as well as exercise - great if you've got the time for flyball or agility (or rounding up sheep) not so good in a busy schedule

mine has a bunch of different puzzle type toys (she has to roll the different ways to get treats to come out) plus shje comes to work with me so she's rarely left.

also due to the intelligence factor they can be destructive if bored - ours sleeps in a crate so that she cant chew stuff during the night.
 
Alan Clogwyn said:
All dogs loose hair, so try and get one that matches the carpet!
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Actually they don't. Miniature Schnauzers don't moult and have to be stripped or clipped. They are also very intelligent dogs and need a lot of stimulation.


Barley2624 by Mike Jackson1, on Flickr
 
Chinese Pug for the aaaah factor

had one for many years..didn't mind being left alone all day, as we gave him lotsa stimulation/play/walks in the evening
 
I'm glad that you're thinking about a rescue dog - all 3 of the dogs we've owned have been rescues and it's been one of the best things we ever did.

If you're not sure which breed is best for you have a chat to them at the rescue centre. They'll know the personalities of the dogs they have there and will do their best to match you with a dog that fits your lifestyle and experience level.
 
Mike Jackson said:
Actually they don't. Miniature Schnauzers don't moult and have to be stripped or clipped. They are also very intelligent dogs and need a lot of stimulation.
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Poodles/ poodle crosses don't moult either.

I suspect, though, that you'll fall for one at a rescue centre, rather than be able to choose a particular breed/cross. :thumbs:

We came home with a Collie cross, who has been ideal for us, reasonably active, very clever, but also happy to be quiet & spend time at home.

Good luck with your search.
 
Cavalier King Charles spaniel, the nearest you will get to a cat in a dog:) absolutely adorable lapdogs.

How could you not fall in love with one of these:). Branden on the right and Serge on the left.

6070316162_4210be0ee4_b.jpg
 
Lots of good advice here already.

Border Collies are great but there is a chance that BCs in rescue centres may be there because a previous owner has not provided them with what they need, though good rescue centres should give you background information.

I would also suggest greyhounds or lurchers. As already mentioned they do not need loads of exercise and take up less space than you'd imagine for a large dog. The ones I've know have reacted very well with people. The greyhound/lurcher rescue centre seem to be very good at being straight about the dogs reactions to other dogs and cats, so you know what you are getting.

Dave
 
Having had dogs for years, currently a Springer, before that a Flatcoat and before that heinz 57's from the rescue centres my one piece of advice (as I could be here all night) is to treat your dog like a dog and not like a human! Sounds like strange advice but really try and mug up on the pack mentality that dogs expect and if you provide the right messages that show the dog his/her place in the pack (ie at the bottom) then you will have a very happy dog. Give your dog mixed messages about this and you WILL have a problem dog. This not about treating your dog badly but more about "appropriately", much of Cesar Millan's stuff is worth a read in advance of getting your dog and briefing the family - kids included - in how to behave with and around your new member of the pack! :thumbs:
Whatever you get, good luck and enjoy! :clap:
 
thanks guys... loads of helpful information (which is why i thought it would be a good idea to ask on here). :thumbs:

So yesterday we went to Manchester Dogs Home, then to Cheshire Dogs Home (but i HAD to be back to watch MUFC of course). What we found was that 90% of the dogs are staffies or cross breed staffies. Much as they were lovely, i don't want the risk of taking a dog like that, which has more than likely been used a 'status symbol' for some chav and chavettes to walk round with and then cast aside when they're fed up / CBA feeding it / walking it etc.. and there's a risk that they've also been encouraged to be aggressive. I don't know... i may be talking a load of carp but that's what it got me thinking :shrug:

we saw a shih tzu (had to google it so i didn't upset the swear filter) called Maisy at the M/cr Dogs Home which was really placid and lovely so she's on the shortlist. Wife and kids are going to Macclesfield, Tameside and maybe one in Huyton today to continue the search. i'll keep you posted :thumbs:
 
staffies can be really nice dogs and the vast proportion are soft as butter, but you are right about the possibility that some chav ****witt was the previous owner.

its worth bearing in mind if you want a particular breed that most of them have rescue societies dedicated specifically to them which will have branches all over the place, e.g cavalier rescue, collie rescue, lancashire heeler rescue etc
 
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ok, so yesterday the wife and son went back to Windyways in Macclesfield to take a couple of Jack Russells out for a walk. One of them was really friendly and gave my boy loads of attention and as a result we said we'd take her. She'd been owned by an old chap who lived in a flat and couldn't give her enough exercise so he took her to the dogs home rather than let her live a miserable life. She's about 18 months old.

The set up at Windyways is very good, yesterday afternoon they drove over to our house to make sure she would be living in a suitable home. They said we need to put some trellis on a few fence panels at the end of the garden so she can't jump over and when we've done that we can come and get her.

She fully chipped, wormed, injected etc.. so we're getting the fence panels today and picking her up tomorrow.

The kids are delighted, me and the wife are delighted.. and i dare say Lucky will be delighted too!
 
Jacks are wonderful dogs. We have two and I can't recommend them highly enough! They're small dogs with huge character who don't realise they're small dogs!

But you need to know this is their theme tune ... you might even catch her whistling it some time ;)

If your experience of a rescue Russell bitch is anything like ours, you're going to find that if she can't scramble over the fence panels, or burrow under them, she'll have a go at chewing through them!

Don't worry, she'll grow out of it in a few years ... by which time you'll have fitted your garden with watch towers with Daschunds with machine guns! :lol:


You and she are going to have a great fifteen years together!! :thumbs:
 
Jack Russells are great little dogs - little dogs with big personalities. My nephew's Jack died last month at the age of 16 and was a fantastic dog, great with kids, full of fun and tolerant (he even sat patiently as my 3 year old niece once coloured him in with a marker pen!).

He was a pretty nifty rugby player in his younger days too!


Sammy by gm43uk, on Flickr


Hope you have as much fun with yours.
 
Congratulations on your impending arrival. As stated - Jacks are blooming superb fun and it sounds like you have struck gold with a corker! Especially if an instant bond with your son and Lucky was made!

Enjoy! and take LOTS of pictures for this thread :D

Yves Geza said:
Don't worry, she'll grow out of it in a few years ... by which time you'll have fitted your garden with watch towers with Daschunds with machine guns! :lol:
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:lol:

As a previous Daschund owner you just put a BIG smile on my face Mr YV. :D
Thank you!
 
gm43uk said:
Jack Russells are great little dogs - little dogs with big personalities. My nephew's Jack died last month at the age of 16 and was a fantastic dog, great with kids, full of fun and tolerant (he even sat patiently as my 3 year old niece once coloured him in with a marker pen!).

He was a pretty nifty rugby player in his younger days too!


Sammy by gm43uk, on Flickr


Hope you have as much fun with yours.
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Wasn't he a cricketer? IIRC, he mistrusted foreign food so always took a suitcase of beans on tour.
 
you should have gone for the shih tzu just to make the joke

'I went to a zoo today that just had dogs in it'
'really thats strange, how was it'
'well to be honest it was a s*** zoo (shih tzu)'

that probably works better out loud than written down :P

gratz on your new purchase, look forward to the photos :P
 
I have two dogs; I didn't want one that shed it's coat all over the place so I got a Lakeland Terrier.

Two years later I was asked to home a Jack Russel, for free! In less than 2 years this dog had been living on the street and had four homes after the dog warden. How could I say no? the fencing for the back garden cost over £1000...

Three years later and they are beloved brothers who ensure I get out and about every day, in fact it is time now...according to the Jack ;)

Enjoy your family member :thumbs:
 
cheers guys.

since we agreed to take the dog yesterday i've never seen my boy (incidentally called Jack age 11) work so hard.

we have a brand new fence down one side of the garden which is about 8 feet high so that's no issue but there is a danger of Lucky burrowing under - so Jack set about laying granite cobbles all along the edge of the fence to stop Lucky burrowing!

the other side of the garden needs about £100 worth of trellis attaching to the top - which the retired 'fencing maestro' father-in-law is sorting out today. My mate sells horse tack and doggie stuff (www.equiport.co.uk cheap plug) so he's bringing round a bed, a cage, some toys and a lead tonight.

It's all systems go! No doubt i'll be joining the dog tog brigade soon! Seems like only yesterday i would pffft at all the doggy pics on here. :lol:
 
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