Thread: Breed Suggestions

We are considering getting another dog. Problem is we used to have two dogs but because the collie became a danger around me and would have been a danger to baby tree (who was at this time still being grown) I had no choice but to offer her up for rehoming.

She was very much my dog and when we got her I knew all was not right but when I held this shaking shivering mess who was obviously being mistreated (we got her from a farm and it was very obvious things were not as they should be, it was reported to the rspca) my heart just wouldn't let me leave her there even though my head knew I probably should have. So it broke my heart in a massive way to have to be the one to accept that nothing we could do for her was going to solve her problems and we had to let someone else try for her own good.

So I am extremely wary of the same thing ever happening again so it is going to have to be a very careful considered decision before we decide for certain.

I would like a rescue dog but we have a dog, a cat and a child under 5 so we've got a snowballs chance in hell with most rescue centres even though i've already seen quite a few little creatures I know we could give a great home to. But because of this we know there is a good chance we'll have to buy privately.

If we do it will be a puppy or less than 2 years old no matter what. I would also prefer a male. This is where my favourite group of people come in.

Breed wise we have a golden Lab already and as much as he is absolutely perfect in nearly every way he is a bloody strong, big dog on his own so we think we would ideally like a dog a bit smaller than him. I like dogs filled with character even if that makes them a bit more difficult. My house tends to be manic so the more bouncy breeds fit right in.

I know I don't want a staffy (i know they are wonderful with kids and don't deserve their bad rep but I lived with one who was a right PITA for a while and it's put me off) or a yappy rat type dog (chihuahua, jack russell etc) I am very drawn to spaniels, and love king charles spaniels but know that this particular breed can have chronic ear problems. I also like beagles, GSDs, Retrievers and Labs (obv).

This is by far not a done deal and there is no chance I'll get a new addition until we've been in our new home for a few months and I am absolutely 110% certain our family dynamic is such that we can give a puppy/rescue dog a fabulous home so the next 3/4 months I intend to spend doing a hell of a lot of breed research to help make the decision.


My ideal doggie would be a mongrel, which is easy if we get a rescue dog but much more difficult if we buy privately. But I am very open to having my eyes opened to any breeds I might have overlooked.

If you're prepared to wait a while why not look into getting on the guide dog rejects waiting list? Not sure how long the wait is mind. A friend of a friend has recently got one, she says that the reason he didn't make the grade was because while training in harness he got an ear infection, and so got it into his head that harness equalled eat pain.

He's a stunning black lab/GSD cross, 18 months when she got him, already toilet trained, good manners, she knew that he came fr a loving background and by all accounts is a real character. He did however come with a name, Zinzan.

Had I known before I got my lad I would have looked into it.

That's one to definitely think about and look into GS thanks. Not that I mind training dogs but I wouldn't say no to one with impeccable manners already!

I have a boxer x collie who is a big Softie, really good with kids etc but as with every breed it depends on the dog, we had him from a puppy so he was brought up around kids and other dogs. I love mongrels, our first family dog was a mongrel and you minimise the risk of the heriditary problems you get with pure bred dogs. My Mum wants a labradoodle, her friend has a lovely one and they don't shed hair but I don't know much else about them.

shetland sheepdog ?

Border Terrier?

Originally Posted by padme

shetland sheepdog ?

I just wiki'd that, i always thought that was a bearded collie. You learn something new every day.

We've decided we're going to stay away from any collie type dogs. It doesn't seem right that we had to give one up only to replace it with another a few years down the line.

I really don't know much about terriers so that's definitely one to look into further.

me, I like Hounds and Working (or non-sporting) dogs. my all time favorite is the great Dane, I have had 4 and they are ACE. I've also had an English Mastiff, a boxer, a golden retriever- each had their own idiosuncracies and perks but if your lab is big enough, then all my favorite giants are no good for you.

I FULLY support a mutt. Go to a shelter, pick a mix, any mix. At the shelters I've used, I've been able to bring the dog and cat we already owned into a "meeting room" to see how the prospective adoptee interacts with them. it's a great system. You can see how the kids and other pets will sort themselves out pretty quickly.

Have you considered a Dachshound? My mother had one called Timmy, and I adored him. He was, like most hounds, NOT a barker (a talker but that's not the same thing). He was a clown, which the breed is known for. They are So funny to watch. He ignored cats and got on really well in a 'pack' with other dogs and kids. Timmy was the most mellow, laid back, couch potato of a cuddler. I don't think that is standard of the breed personality but I did just love him to bits. Obviously they are small so easy to wash, feed, medicate and exercise. Down points are that the over bred may have back problems (Timmy didn't), any dog with ears that long may get ear infections, and what we called his long curly dachshund guts, which made the notorious doggy farts in the world. Oh, and the breed was developed to go after rats and badgers so they will dig to get at vermin.

I would avoid all terrier breeds, if I were you. They are very vocal and can be very aggressive. Great for families that can lavish one dog with all their attention but not so good in a larger 'pack' family.

If you don't mind enthusiasm coming out of it's ears then it's a spaniel but they need lots of exercise (being bred originally to be working dogs), I've known English Springer (shorter haired, I think they are the field type) and Cocker spaniels both have been fun, energetic and cheeky dogs, but very much family orientated, although seem to bond with one person most.

Ok you'll have to suspend all judgment but the Brussels Griffon is definitely worth consideration, I mention suspending judgment only because most people think they're ugly! I heartily disagree because I obviously think mine is gorgeous! But most people say he's only cute because he's so ugly! We've had him from a puppy and he has been the most amazing dog I've evr experienced (he's 6 now).
They pretty much take their queue from your lifestyle ie will be as active or non active as you are. He's fantastic with children (my son was 3 when we got him) and I've never had any problems around other dogs.
He's small but not as small as a chihuahua (fully grown he's a little smaller than a Jack Russell...but he was the runt!) but he's not a happy dog in the slightest.
They're classed as companion dogs so they do need some kind of company either in the form of another dog or a person so they don't do well on their own for long periods of time. They're not working dogs so while they're really easily trained to do tricks they don't have very big attention spans.
In short they're fantastic family pets, very loyal, full of personality and extremely eager to please! Just as happy on the end of my bed at night as he is downstairs in the kitchen.
So if you're after low maintainence and high yield they're the breed for you...think of them as extremely well behaved children!

Hmm, should really proof read posts...when I said he's not a happy dog, what I actually meant was he's not a YAPPY dog! Bloody auto correct!

Originally Posted by Mrs_America

I would avoid all terrier breeds, if I were you. They are very vocal and can be very aggressive. Great for families that can lavish one dog with all their attention but not so good in a larger 'pack' family.

I don't agree. I have a terrier and aggression isn't something I have a problem with. The only dog which has ever shown me aggression and actually bitten is a bloody labrador!

I adore my little welshie and she hands back my adoration ten-fold. She's naughty, talks constantly and bar my children (and husband on occasion!) is the love of my life.

We've just got a yorkshire terrier always thought we'd get a bigger dog but a friend need to rehome her before a move and my little ones fell in love with her, she is great with my little ones very playful, my 1 year old spends most of his time playing with her and she seems to be very happy with this.

Otherwise Springers are great had 2 growing up very playful but really easier to train.

I think with your lab, you'd be better off with a dog that isn't know to be hyper by nature. A terrier cross, i'd stay clear or springers, another lab or retriever could be good. GS are fabulous but do you want a large dog? This organisation is good;

The Mayhew Animal Home - Welcome

what county are you in?

Siderian huskeys are fabulous with kids, they are very pack orientated, a lot of them around here and i'm not kidding when i say it's like a huskey mother's meeting, down the local park. Altogether, there is usually 11 of them, very welcoming but they are a tad noisy.

Even a rottie would be good, if you have the time to train. I fully support reescue dogs and there are many organisations out there that rescue breeds from pups to adults, as well as mutts. I'd love a terrier cross

We're currently in Hampshire but by the time I would get another (if we actually do) we'll be in Herefordshire.

Huskey's we've thought about. I mean who can't appreciate how beautiful those creature are! However I think they're going to be too big and powerful.

while I've been reading peoples responses (massively appreciated) mr tree and I have been throwing ideas around at the same time. We've now totally ruled out a big dog. We decided we definitely want one that big tree can get involved with. He has always wanted to help with the lab but he's absolutely pants on a lead (the dog not the child) so has to be walked by an adult, he's also too big for a child to really help with bathing as well.

Top of our list so far I think are Spaniels and Terriers. Terriers had never even crossed my mind but I've been furiously googling and there's something about their scruffy look and mischevious eyes that really appeals to me. I also think that size wise and strength wise big tree shouldn't have a problem walking one, especially if he does it from being a puppy and that's what the pup gets used to.

Nearer the time when we have actually made a decision I'm going to contact the local rescue centres and see if they will consider us on a case by case basis. I'm hoping that the fact that we already have one big dog with a toddler will stand us in better stead for being allowed to adopt a smaller dog. It just seems criminal that in a time when so many dogs are being abandoned because their owners just cant afford to keep them that we would go out and get one privately.

I had a 2 year old and a 6 week old when we got our daft hound from the Blue Cross. They just vetted us and the dog up the ying yang before they let us have him. Fingers crossed they're as helpful in your neck of the woods!

siberian huskeys arn't that big actually, malumutes are bigger. Huskey would actually be the same sizde if not, slighty smaller than a pure bred lab.

i'd get a calmer spaniel breed, springers are bl**dy nosy gits, well, possibly until they are trained and they need a lot more exercise than the average. Think of a hyper kid 24/7 lol

Amount of exercise isn't really an issue. The lab would go all day if he was given the chance so he's already got us trained!

It's not so much the size of the Husky that would be the problem more the strength. I reckon if my six year old tried to walk a Husky it would have his arm off if for whatever reason it decided to pull!

I don't want people to think I'm anti-terrier! the first dog we ever adopted that was 'mine' was a terrier based mutt from a shelter, and I ADORED him. But his terrier traits bred true- he was dominant with other dogs, he dug like a maniac (to get out of our yard and chase rabbits, we lived in the sticks), he was very protective of me around strangers, and he BARKED. A lot.

Brutus was my first puppy love, and if you have the time and attention to be good to a dog like that, they will repay ten fold.