Getting ready for a new dog

arrowman

Want to start getting set up to get a dog. Have been lurking on this thread for a while and the expertise here is excellent so I was hoping to tap into it to set me on the right path

We are 5 of a family – 3 kids ages 10, 8 and 6. They are crazy about dogs and are at an age now when they can really understand how to look after them properly. When I was a child we had a dog on the farm and I would like my kids to experience that too.

We live out in the country, large garden, concrete back yard, open fields out the back, house set back 150 metres from a busy enough side road off a main road. Not dog secure as hedges around the garden are the only boundary to the surrounding fields. There is an automatic gate at the road which is secure enough but dog could get to the road through the fields if they had a free run. The dog will be an outside dog.

My questions are

Breed: would love a medium to large breed. We had collies on the farm when I was younger. Wouldn’t mind another one. Have done some basic research on Irish setter or red setter and the recently posted Australian Shepherd breed look to be a super dog. I am conscious that picking a breed of dog is not like picking a car and looking for leather seats and heated mirrors in that every breed will have it’s good and bad points. Must have good temperament, good with kids and trainable. Both my wife and I work away from home usually so in normal times dog will be spending 6 hours plus a day on it’s own at most. Kids come from school to my mums house, which is 100 metres away and my mum is also keen on going for walks with the dog during the day. So dog will have some company during the day. Any ideas on breeds would be appreciated .

Dog run and house: have been looking into these online. Presume I’ll need an extra large dog run and house for the dog to sleep in at night. Saw post on dog crates- are crates needed for a puppy as well? Live in the border area so I have looked at a supplier in Armagh but have also seen posts recommending a supplier in Mallow, Cork.

Securing the garden: do I need to go the collar and buried wire route? Not sure I like the idea of this but I have a fear of the dog getting out and getting killed on the road. The dog would also have a free run of all the lands out the back so I would be worried they would wander out that way. I farm part time and keep cattle mainly and sometimes sheep over the winter. It goes without saying I know dog cannot be worrying livestock- I have gone to neighbours about there dogs causing problems with sheep in the past so I cannot be a hypocrite with my own dog. Presume that training will look after this and also ensuring that dog is closed in at night. Dog needs to be ‘findable’ at night though.

I went to our local dog rescue just before the lockdown and they put me on their list. Just want to be ready when something comes up either a suitable rescue or one of the breeds mentioned above. I don’t have any experience with training dogs and the kids like all kids will spoil the dog for sure. I suppose I will need to set a small number of basic rules and wing it after that.

pinktoe

Border collies would be top of the list. Good with kids playing ball etc, intelligent, can be trained easily, could help on the farm, easy to walk on the lead and rarely seem to have health conditions.
Puppies border collies are brutal for chewing and digging anything and everything.

Any dog can kill sheep/lambs unfortunately.

I grew up around a lot of different dogs between my parents and relatives, border collies, rough collie, gsd, Irish setter, boxer, retriever and different terriers. Favourites by a long shot, German shepherd followed by border collie.

GSD and border collies are in a different league to other breeds imo. Very trainable and intelligent. GSD can be trained not to leave the property once it has some type of boundary it will understand, ie the hedge and gate. Excellent with kids but needs to be involved in everything you do.

Did the dog rescue do a home check? Usually they want a secure area so they can't escape.

arrowman

Thanks for the reply pinktoe.

I told the shelter straight out that I hadn't the place fully secure for a dog at the time and needed a pen and house for it. We have an old dog house on the farm but I don't think it would be suitable so will probably get a new one.

Border collie is in the mix for sure

I've had both retired greyhounds and West Highland Terriers and found the greyhounds less trouble than the Westies! They didn't need much exercise nor grooming! I live in a rural area. I breed and race greyhounds so my property is well secure anyway. My kids loved both. They were aged 3 and 5 when we got our first Westie. They were used to the greyhounds from birth.

lozenges

German Shepherds are on the restricted breeds list. Fabulous dogs but something to be aware of.
Collies are very intelligent also but are very much working dogs. If they are not kept engaged and stimulated all the time they can get bored and destroy things. Could be an issue if dog would be inside the house for the 6 hours a day that it would be on its own.

If it were me in your position I'd probably go for a springer spaniel or similar - lovely dogs and very intelligent and trainable.

deadlybuzzman

If you are getting a pup DEFINITELY check out these 2 e books (they're also free)

https://www.dogstardaily.com/files/BEFORE%20You%20Get%20Your%20Puppy.pdf

https://www.dogstardaily.com/files/downloads/AFTER_You_Get_Your_Puppy.pdf

The info in here will save you so much hassle and make thing far easier in the long run, the dog will house train itself, not run off on you etc.

When lockdown started I did one of the authors courses and I found it so good that I'm now on my second course

arrowman

Sorry - took me a while to get back here

Things have moved on a small bit in that we had a friend contact us saying that they had heard of a family wanting to rehome their dog. They are coming with the dog to our house later this week. Its a 2 year old Springer/ German Shepherd cross I think.
Supposed to be very used to children and has good temperament. Has anyone her had any experience with this breed?
We still have to get a house and penning sorted and I am on top of my head with work at the moment. But I'll have to try around locally to see what I can find.

BTW thanks to deadlybuzzman for the eBook links - there's s alot of reading in those- very useful stuff

cocker5

arrowman wrote: »

Sorry - took me a while to get back here

Things have moved on a small bit in that we had a friend contact us saying that they had heard of a family wanting to rehome their dog. They are coming with the dog to our house later this week. Its a 2 year old Springer/ German Shepherd cross I think.
Supposed to be very used to children and has good temperament. Has anyone her had any experience with this breed?
We still have to get a house and penning sorted and I am on top of my head with work at the moment. But I'll have to try around locally to see what I can find.

BTW thanks to deadlybuzzman for the eBook links - there's s alot of reading in those- very useful stuff

Have 5 months experience with my rescue springer (also 2 ish we think) - he a fabulous boy, very energetic, and very smart .. learns super fast .. he a happy chappy with us but wasn’t socialised well as a pup so afraid / wary of strangers .. no aggression or anything just stays away from them (which I don’t mind) hopefully over time his fears will lessen.

Springers are a really fun breed - I would probably say maybe not for first time dogs owners as they do require a lot of exercise and interaction (our guy is very interactive.. it’s hard to explain but he’s always coming up and dropping like a ball or teddy on my lap to play) ..I had an amazing cocker for 14 years previous and didn’t really know much about springers before this guy but I am complete convert.

Sorry no experience with GS! But they are supposed to be smart too!

Dubl07

arrowman wrote: »

Its a 2 year old Springer/ German Shepherd cross I think.
Supposed to be very used to children and has good temperament. Has anyone her had any experience with this breed?

GS crosses are supposed to be on the restricted (ie on lead, muzzle) list too, afaik. Combine that with the high-energy and daftness of a springer, who are like Tiggers, and I'm not sure you'd manage without a very large garden and lots of exercise. I've had separate experience (minded, didn't own) of both breeds, but never a cross.

puppieperson1

I have had both i own a belgian shepherd at the monment my springer died of old age. The springer is the nicest dog in the world i cried for weeks after she was PTS due to illness the shepherd is super intelligent and easy to train and learn commands. A cross would definately be energetic but also intelligent and need a lot of exercise make sure you ask all the questions why are they re homing there is always a reason ask lots of questions off the previous owners