Please recommend a breed!

positron

My partner and myself are looking to bring a dog to our (new) home. We are open to adoption as well as buying, and we both had pets (dogs, cats etc) in our own families while growing up.

Now the dogs that I am familiar with are entire different breeds from the ones seen in Ireland, and so are their food, habits, weather and needs. Here, my gf is familiar with a few smaller dog breeds, but now we are both keen to get a large or at least good-sized dog.

We both work nine to five and commute an hour to city centre, which would mean we would have only four or five hours with the dog everyday, and rest of the day he/she will be in the garden (secure, good size), but I could take him for a jog in the evening, and to the beach on weekends for couple of hours.

Now, ideal would be a dog that’s low maintenance, very happy, friendly, intelligent, strong, muscular and slightly furry. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

tovalee

my German Shepard got very destructive when she was left alone in a fenced garden.( which was rarely) but even after an hour or two she was getting bored and digging holes chewing the wood fence, and according to the neighbors, barking incessantly. I got another dog to keep her company and the problems have stopped. Just something to think about if your planning on getting a good sized dog whos going to be left alone for hours at a time. bored or lonely dog + big size = destroyed landscape& annoyed neighbors .

peasant

Now, ideal would be a dog that’s low maintenance

Such a dog doesn't exist!

Dogs are highly social animals and can not stay alone for such a length of time, especially not EVERY day. Anything above four hours on a constant basis I would consider as neglect or even cruelty.

Having two dogs somwhat helps, but still isn't the correct solution. Dogs that are left to their own devices unchecked everyday for so long will develop habits that are not desirable ...you will end up having TWO problem dogs.

Possible solutions:
-Do not get a dog, until circumstances change for the better.
-Arrange for a friend, relative or professional dogsitter to look after the dog for a few hours during the day
-If you want a dog NOW, inquire in the neighbourhood. Maybe an elderly or sick neighbour would be happy for someone to walk their dog evenings and weekends. Or inquire with pounds/shelters/rescues nearby ...some of them might be looking for someone to walk their dogs / play with them occasionally.

If none of the above appeals ... please don't get a dog at all

Alun

positron wrote:

Now, ideal would be a dog that’s low maintenance, very happy, friendly, intelligent, strong, muscular and slightly furry. Any suggestions?

It's called a CAT

Peace

Cats are fickle, moody evil creatures.

But they are so cute when they are kittens.... aaahhhhhhh

Humblebee

Yeah, you're probably better off not getting a dog if you haven't a LOT of time to spare. Possibly go for an older dog, as they require a little less attention. Also, mutts are usually the best; the 'pure' in purebred can often be translated as 'in'. And every irishperson knows what effect inbreeding has!

Doper Than U

I would suggest two dogs, instead of one on it's own which really isn't ideal at all. Lots of people have 9-5 jobs and still keep dogs successfully, we have two dogs, and although they're rarely left alone, when they are they are more than capable of amusing themselves. Yes, we had to completely sacrifice our garden and utility room, but we knew that when we got them.

Also, while it may sound ideal to keep your dog out all day, don't forget, when the weather turns bad, he'll have to be kept inside. Wolves live in snowy tundra, dogs don't.

As for breeds, I would steer clear of anything resembling a shepherd/collie or spaniel. These need serious amounts of work and stimulation. Don't go for a siberian husky no matter how beautiful they are, I wouldn't go for a boxer either (wonderful as they are), both these breeds need, again, serious exercise and stimulation. What would be ideal for you might be a dog from the pound, something like a labrador or lab cross. Mongrels *tend* to do better in your kind of situation, but a caveat, you don't know what you're getting sometimes, the dog could have some issues. I've heard that there are loads of greyhounds looking for homes, and they make excellent pets, requiring little exercise (they are sprinters not endurance dogs), I'm not sure how well they cope with being outside all the time though, I'd imagine they're quite thin skinned.

Probably not a good idea if you can't be there all the time is getting a puppy. I speak from very recent experience when I say they need ALOT of work to get right. If you want a happy, well adjusted dog for the future, you won't get it by buying a puppy and leaving it to it's own devices in the garden.

I can't stress enough how unfair it would be to get a dog and the play with it only on the odd times you feel like it, or bring it into the house once in a blue moon when your guilt acts up. The only reason for keeping a dog outside all the time is if you *have* to. When you're at home, the dog should be in with you, as a member of the family.

My advice would be to go to a pet rescue type organisation and get an older dog (or two) that has become homeless because the owners have moved away or died. You may very well find a pair of dogs looking for a home. Ring around and explain your situation, you may find some places reluctant to offer you dogs because you both work 9-5. Silly IMO, dogs can cope quite well if they have company from another dog, and get your attention in the evenings and weekends. Just be aware, it will be difficult initally (first 6 months really) and you will have to put alot of effort in. Get pet insurance, make sure the animals are neutered, and good luck.

peasant

One more remark on breeds:

General breed characteristics are just that, general.
Dogs really are individuals though. You might very well get a Collie that's just happy to lounge about all day or a St. Bernard that's totally hyper and needs to be "entertained" all the time.
So don't rely on breed characteristics too much when choosing a particular dog. The only thing they are good for is that they tell you what kind of appearance and size you can expect your dog to be.
And lots of the breed descriptions, when it comes to character and attributes (especially on breeders websites) are just a load of bull**** anyway.

For the first time owner I would really recommend to get a fully grown dog (from a rescue), because there you get a fairly good indication about its character and traits and whether that individual dog fits you and your particular circumstances. A general breed description can't do that.

Sigma Force

Two dogs won't necissarily entertain each other while you are out and if you haven't enough time for one then two = double the trouble with behavioural problems as they get older.

However there are dogs out there, mabey more mature ones that can fit in well with a working home as long as they have a routine and plenty of walks etc when you are home. You should visit the irishanimals http://www.irishanimals.ie/ site and mabey get in contact with the breed rescues and the regular dog rescues.
If you talk to them they can match you up with a dog that suits your needs and vice versa, there are always dogs..pure bred and mixed on there that are looking for a good home.


As Doper said it's best to steer clear of any working breeds or dogs that have a working breed mix in them. Then again lap dogs or smaller house dogs eg King Charles may be easy going but they really need the company of another dog and human most of the time.

I think going to a good rescue that will help you deceide is a good idea.

positron

Thanks a lot for your comments, and at the risk of repeating myself, I am from a background where dogs (and other pets) are fed before the other members of the family and I wouldn’t get a dog if I have slightest doubt in my mind that I wouldn’t be able to look after him/her and give it the right amount of attention and care he or she needs. I understand and appreciate all the concerns expressed here too – I would do the same if someone asked me a similar question!

My question was purely about various breeds, based on the attention they need, how expensive they are to look after and how big a dog is too big etc. Also the dog has to be very caring and child friendly, as my gf is actively looking into starting her own crèche and play school! We are willing to invest in training, and hopefully, once my gf has the business up and running (fingers crossed), the dog would never be on its own, always playing and looking after the little ones!

Thanks again for all suggestions and links, we will look into that! If everything goes well, we would look into getting a second dog as well to keep the first one good company!

Cheers!

peasant

Also on the danger of repeating myself;

A dog is not a consumers item like a telly, computer or a car - enter your requirements and out comes the perfect product for you.
All dogs are individuals. A breed description describing character or behaviour is not worth the paper it is printed on. At maximum it can give you tendencies. For example the nordic breeds like Huskies, Malamutes and Samoyeds TEND to be dog (pack) orientated and fairly independent, not really a "people dog" ...but even here you get exceptions.
Every single breeders website for Gelden Retrievers ,for example, will tell you that they are THE "family dog" with "child friendlyness" bred in. Nonsense.

The behaviour of a dog is the result of its individual characteristics, its upbringing and socialisation at a young age and its training or lack thereof.

The best advice still is to get a fully grown dog, whose character can be judged by people in the know. This especially makes sense in Ireland, where there is no lack of grown dogs without owners and enough competent rescues and shelters to give you advice about them.

One more thing: NEVER leave young children and dogs together unsupervised ...not even for a minute. The dog might be "child friendly" ...but what about the children? Young kids just grab or lunge at everything that excites them ...any dog will only tolerate that for so long until it snaps a warning. And even just a warning can draw blood.

Doper Than U

The behaviour of a dog is the result of its individual characteristics, its upbringing and socialisation at a young age and its training or lack thereof

Never a truer word spoken. Agree 100%. Having worked in a vets, I know labs that come in and try to take the vets hand off, and Wolf hybrids who are as quiet and friendly as a dog can be. My own dogs are Jack Russells, considered a feisty, yappy, nippy dog, sharp in temper.. well no-one told that to my dogs. I was there within hours of the birth, handled them, and knew the parents well. When we got them home we were strict but fair with them, socialised them early with both dogs and children. Now they are the friendliest dogs you could ever meet. I have two young cousins who took the brother of my two dogs, and he's the same. I have no problem leaving these dogs alone with the kids (though not recommended). We have trained them to accept childrens poking, prodding fingers in their mouths, and they are completely okay with this. It's sometimes the children you have to train, not the dogs :rolleyes:

the_syco

Get a West Highland Terrier.


They're small, don't eat loads (compared to a bigger dog), cute, easy to take care of, and they can be let inside, without fear of them knocking something over

Also, your garden doesn't have to be huge, as the dog is small.

=-=

My dog hates children, tho. The house we got the dogs from had children, so I think something happened. As with all dogs, if you have children, ensure that the dog gets on well with kids first. A West Highland Terrier down the road is with a young family (small kids), and the dog gets along with them, so it depends how your dog was brought up.

Nala

There's online quizzes you can do that'll tell you what dog would suit you.

Try

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/search.htm


http://www.petnet.com.au/selectapet/dogselectapet.html


http://www.ie.pedigree.com/pedigree/en-ie/

*Page*

i have a liver spotted dalmation(sorry not furry) but he is a dream i work in town 1+travel time both ways and work 10-6 i bring him for a long jog each night and for mountain walks at weekends. we had to alter our garden to accomidate him and my child but it was worth it.(to keep it really easy to clean decked out the garden and put down slabs so we could wash regular)

tck

Shelties, miniature collies, from the shetland islands, small dogs, great with children, their breed live till 16 years of age.

They come in three flavours (tri-colour, blue merle and sable) and they like chicken and chasing cats :P

Be warned, they aint cheap

*Page*

i thought that perdigry(sp) dogs were all 500€???

positron

Thanks for the links Nala and others, usually I am very wary of online surveys, but all of them consistently came back with similar suggestions, most repeated was German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers – no surprise there, I suppose!

Sigma Force

Paying a large amount of money for a dog does in no way gurantee that the dog has the character you are looking for. ALWAYS make sure you see the parents of the dog if buying one. Puppy farmed dogs are sadly all too commen and they are not properly socialised. If a pup isn't properly socialised from a very early age (even beofre the 8 week mark) you can have problems on your hands before you have even begun.

"A dog is not a consumers item like a telly, computer or a car - enter your requirements and out comes the perfect product for you.
All dogs are individuals."

Totally agree there Peasant.

If your g/f is thinking about opening a creche then you woul dhave to make doubley sure the dog was suitable..in fact Creche = lots of small kids which means too much attention and too many kids pulling a poking at it which can lead to trouble too.

peasant

most repeated was German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers – no surprise there, I suppose

The Control of Dogs (Restriction of Certain Dogs) Regulations, 1991 impose additional rules in relation to the following breeds (and strains/cross-breeds) of dog in Ireland:

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German Shepherd (Alsatian)
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The rules state that:

These dogs (or strains and crosses of them) must be kept on a short strong lead by a person over 16 years who is capable of controlling them
These dogs (or strains and crosses of them) must be muzzled whenever they are in a public place
These dogs (or strains and crosses of them) must wear a collar bearing the name and address of their owner at all times.

Something to think about when opening a creche ...
That muzzled German Sheperd MIGHT just scare away the customers


In case you now feel like telling me that ..."not All German Sheperds are the same. I know so and so many that are really friendly and not dangerous at all" ...EXACTLY my point !! Generalising dogs by breed only makes no sense.

(And not all Golden Retrievers are child friendly either ...)

positron

peasant wrote:

In case you now feel like telling me that ..."not All German Sheperds are the same. I know so and so many that are really friendly and not dangerous at all" ...EXACTLY my point !! Generalising dogs by breed only makes no sense.

I wasn't going to! Thanks for bringing up that point about regulations, exactly the sort of details that I didn't know when I started the thread! Now, I am not overlooking your other point (don't generalise dogs by their breed), but isn't it known fact that certain kind of dogs (if brought up properly, looked after well and trained well and at the right time), good with kids (with adults around) than certain other types of dogs?

Thanks again for all the advice, peasant and everyone else, very helpful indeed!

peasant

positron wrote:

... but isn't it known fact that certain kind of dogs (if brought up properly, looked after well and trained well and at the right time), good with kids (with adults around) than certain other types of dogs?

Let's agree on types of dogs, rather than breeds, ok?

A pastoral type dog will usually be keener to listen to and work with you than for example a livestock guardian type, which was bred for independence for centuries.
A working type dog will usually be more responsive to training than a nordic type that was bred for only two jobs ...pull or hunt.

And so on ...

But the main point still is: (if brought up properly, looked after well and trained well and at the right time) and that goes for any type of dog.

So now you've got two choices:

a) you take roughly a year off work, get a puppy, good advice on training (maybe even a professional trainer) and start from scratch to get your ideal dog that suits your requirements. (And hope you don't get it wrong along the way)

b) you take your time, look around in shelters and rescues, ask the right questions, be honest about your circumstances (present and future), listen to the advice that you are given, be patient and you might just find a dog that is perfect for you.

Never forget: allowing a dog into your life is a ten to fifteen year commitment to a living, feeling being. Hughely rewarding, but also very demanding.