WantzChas
Hi, random question for a guitar forum, but I figured guitarist also have dogs so why not?
I'm looking to acquire a new puppy to the family as my old faithful Labrador is 7years old, still very lively, but is getting older. Fritz (the Labrador) is a male and very well tempered, not fixed so another male is out of the question. We had to puppy-sit a friend's Golden Cocker Spaniel during the holidays and everyone, including Fritz got quite fond of her.
Now my question is, what breed do you recommend and why? At the moment I'm considering another Labrador Retriever, Staffie and the Spaniel.
Thanks guys...
Bob-Dubery
Consider your own lifestyle. Some breeds need more exercise and/or have more energy to burn than others. Dogs originally bred for working (EG Collies, Dalamatians) may require a lot of exercise. If you can't accomodate that then that's no crime, but consider another breed.
Do some reading, consider the attributes of the various breeds and try to find one that fits your lifestyle.
Whatever you get, take it for some training as soon as it's old enough. Good clubs will offer graduated training, and even if you just do the preliminary classes, which are mostly about socialisation, you'll have a happier dog and a happier owner. Those early classes will give the dog a better idea of how to interact with other dogs and how to behave around people.
lindsmuse
Pavement specials anytime. They need homes. You give joy they give you more. The more the merrier. But if you go for the purebreeds - like Bob says they must suit your lifestyle - the one's who need exercise really NEED exercise. Labby's and Staffies need lots of exercise. Beautiful breeds ...
aja
Not spaniels. We had two and found out the hard way that no garden is big enough. They destroyed ours in a matter of months, digging holes everywhere. Pretty looking dogs though. Eventually we gave them away to a lady with a plot.
Dogs with a lot of character are definitely jack russells, but they need lots of attention. They are intelligent too. My fiancé has one who once locked himself in the bathroom - he closed the door and jumped up to turn the key. I'm not joking, it was a big thing to get him out. They are very cute dogs, but very energetic.
Dachshunds are very nice too, we have had a few. Get short haired ones for little maintenance. One thing though - they tend to bark a lot. But they are not your average small "lap" dogs - often taking on much much bigger dogs.
But I must admit, our black labrador is still a really nice doggy. Very playful and extremely loyal, although a bit disobedient and honestly the dumbest thing I have ever come across. He is scared of his own shadow, as well as potplants. If you move a potplant to a new location, he will bark at it at night and refuse to go near it. He is also very scared of his reflection in windows. Yeah, dumb as a brick.
The most loyal dog we ever had was a St. Bernard. But expect to require a huge garden, plenty of cool shady spots, lots of brushing, and playtime means wrestling with something that can stand up and put its front paws on a 6ft wall. Fun but scary if you are still a kid haha! Giving in and playing dead will result in (literally) buckets of slobber all over your head. Noone understands slobber until they own a bernard...
Next on the list for me is a basset hound and greyhound. Also fantastic dogs, but can't comment on personalities though, never owned one.
@Lindsmuse - be careful with this. We found a stray doggy, possible cross between maltese (I hate them usually) and something else. He has really long legs and can jump high and run fast. He is extremely playful and friendly. BUT he must have been abused or something since he bites newcomers and is scared to death of most things in general. It is like taking in an abandoned child. Expect to give lots of emotional support and you need patience like you cannot believe. You cannot discipline them in the normal way. But at the end of the day, pavement specials have the best personalities, albeit complicated, and will be a rewarding experience for their owner.
Th...Th...Th...That's all folks!
Bob-Dubery
Just to reiterate my point about training. All the dogs that I have owned have been Heinz 57. One in particular appeared to be a destructive dog, routinely shredding pillows and chewing at the furniture. A little advice from the trainer (that required me to change my behaviour) sorted that problem out in about 2 days. Increased happiness all around.
nicovlogg
We've owned many miniature schnauzers, and all I can say is that those are some of the best dogs ever. There's also a standard sized schnauzer and if you like bigger dogs, a giant schnauzer. Ask anyone who's had one of these dogs - intelligent, playful and best of all - low maintenance!
aja
nicovlogg wrote
We've owned many miniature schnauzers, and all I can say is that those are some of the best dogs ever. There's also a standard sized schnauzer and if you like bigger dogs, a giant schnauzer. Ask anyone who's had one of these dogs - intelligent, playful and best of all - low maintenance!
Like ordering McDolanlds! Kiddies, medium or supersize!
Ray
Staffie or mongrel. Have had 3 staffies - heck I'm not an animal lover but they are hard not to love. Why not go to some animal rescue place and prevent a euthenasia or something? At the moment that is what I've got, two unidentifiables.
NorioDS
I'm with Bob on the training. Our "Romy" was a crazy, psycho little dog. We did some training, focusing specifically on alpha dog training and she came right very quickly.
We also had some aggressive behaviour between her and our much smaller "Tumbles". Alpha dog training sorted that out. (We re-asserted Romy's position in the hierarchy as higher than Tumbles'. Now Tumbles is more submissive and there's no fighting.)
FatBoy
Fritz is a male and very well tempered
Why thank you, I am a bit grouchy in the morning though! A whiskey sorts that out...
I am also looking at getting a dog, and I'd go to the SPCA and get a pavement special, much less hassle methinks. Also there are way too many unloved dogs out there as is, I'd rather take one off that list if I could.
chris77
We currently have 4 cats (all SPCA graduates), so getting a dog is a bit of a touchy domestic subject... I am totally Gassing for a Basset though. Spoke to our Vet (when the missus was busy paying, well out of earshot!) about it and he reckons they are the dumbest, laziest most stubborn dogs ever - so now I want one even more. So if obedient, bright eyed and peppy is your thing, look elsewhere, but if like me you want a dog with oodles of character and personality, maybe have a look at them.
nicovlogg
chris77 wrote
I am totally Gassing for a Basset though.
GAS just takes on new forms every day
TomCat
nicovlogg wrote
chris77 wrote
I am totally Gassing for a Basset though.
GAS just takes on new forms every day
Just as long as the Basset does not get gas...... ???
chris77
Hehe, ja well. The only other words this duchmen could think of to describe it is Yearning, Coveting, Longing and Dying for - all of which sounds a little more amorous than what I feel comfortable with... ?
WantzChas
Hey guys. I got my Golden Cocker puppy this afternoon and she is just gorgeous. I will soon post some pics. Now the catch, what shall she be called?
At the moment she is Bella which means beautiful.
aja
WantzChas wrote
Hey guys. I got my Golden Cocker puppy this afternoon and she is just gorgeous. I will soon post some pics. Now the catch, what shall she be called?
At the moment she is Bella which means beautiful.
Congrats!
The name? That depends. Are you a Fender, Gibson or Ibanez kinda guy?
WantzChas
Here she is, Bella
lindsmuse
Bella, Bella, BELLA! SHe is bella indeed.
Fingerpicker
nicovlogg wrote
We've owned many miniature schnauzers, and all I can say is that those are some of the best dogs ever. There's also a standard sized schnauzer and if you like bigger dogs, a giant schnauzer. Ask anyone who's had one of these dogs - intelligent, playful and best of all - low maintenance!
Couldn't agree with you more. No hair all over the place, very pleasant loyal dogs. When our first dog Ollie died, it was a family tragedy. That little guy had character. His party trick was the high five. "Gimme five, Ollie" and he would raise his paw above his head. The cat taught him everything he knew, how to crap in the flower bed and cover it up afterwards, how to stalk birds with his head on the grass and his bum in the air, and even how to jump from the couch to the kitchen table. Sure do miss that ole dawg.....
But we have a stray Miniature Schnauer now, handed into our vet and then to us. A very well trained little girl who is serious about her music. When I practice she sits in front of me for hours on end. When I ask her what she thinks she shifts from one foot to the other and grins.
