New Puppy - What to get?!

hc

Hi all,

Looking for a bit of advice:

My fiance and I want to get a new dog in the summer. (Once the 3 week honeymoon is out of the way, since we'll be stuck in Ireland for a good while after that!)

Anyway, we both love dogs and have grown up with them, but we haven't got one since we moved in together. As our house is quite small we are limited to a small dog. But we aren't 100% sure what to get.

So this is where you guys come in. If you have any suggestions / past experiences of what we should or shouldn't get, it would be much appreciated!

We love Cocker Spaniels and Daschunds, but have heard that both bark excessively, which is not good for where we live. I also heard that Daschunds aren't great with children, so they are out since I have two nieces!

Ideally we would love labrador temperament, but something smaller!

Would love to hear from you all!

fits

Well do you want to buy a pup from a breeder, or would you like to rescue a dog?

Here's my two... and we live in a small (tiny) terraced house with no garden, albeit in a country estate. They dont bark except when there are strangers outside, and they are couch potatoes. They get two half hour walks a day.
They are both lurchers.. one a whippet greyhound cross, the other we reckon is a borzoi greyhound cross (v unusual). The whippetty boy can exist on less exercise than the other fellow. But they're both easy peasy to keep. (and good with children, which is more of a socialization and training issue than one of breeding anyway as a rule).

Personally, I'd stay away from terriers (they'r too busy and noisy for me) and working types such as collies, huskies, springer spaniels.

Heres the borzoi greyhound cross.. he's a very 'deep' character.. unlike the other fellow who's very straightforward. I think he is stunning looking.




The whippety boy broke his leg two months ago.. he's feeling very sorry for himself here as its just after his op, but he's just doty. Always has his head on my lap... major mummy's boy.








anyway, thats my suggestion, others will think different.

Schlemm

Try to get a rescue dog if you can, there's no end to them out there! If you're going to have kids around the place and you're worried about problems etc. get a rescue puppy and get it used to kids while it's young so you don't have problems. Put up ads or check out rescue shelters or read the ads in the newspapers for rescue dogs, you'll come across plenty of rescue pups in need of a home.

We have a rescue dog, she's an English setter, and we also have a Dachshund who we got from a breeder. Hound breeds do tend to bark quite a bit, but if you train them not to, they are cute enough and will learn quickly. Our Dachshund loves a good bark but he knows when to stop too! He's a great little guard dog, even if he is tiny! He's been around kids since we got him and he's well used to them, so no problems there. As for getting a rescue dog, the setter fit right in with the family.

With regards getting a rescue dogs, cross breeds tend to have less health problems and cheaper health insurance is available to such dogs, so it's worth considering. Have a look at http://www.irishanimals.com/dogs/index.html

Glowing

Beautiful dogs fits!

I'd second that about the greyhounds (I know yours is a cross) - small dogs can have big noisy yappy personalities, whereas the greyhounds are a lot more gentle and placid, and love a soft bed and will curl up in a corner for hours. There are so many in rescue centres and surprisingly, they don't need a lot of space or excercise.

http://www.greyhoundsaspets.org.nz/default.asp?page=greyhounds_a

Try get out of the mindset that small house has to equal small dog. Couldn't be farther from the truth!!

Strokesfan

Fits - that last dog is gorgeous!!!

Leeby

Glowing wrote:

small dogs can have big noisy yappy personalities, whereas the greyhounds are a lot more gentle and placid, and love a soft bed and will curl up in a corner for hours. There are so many in rescue centres and surprisingly, they don't need a lot of space or excercise.

Try get out of the mindset that small house has to equal small dog. Couldn't be farther from the truth!!

I have to disagree on the comment that small dogs are noisy and yappy. I was never a fan of small dogs myself but when I moved out of home and got a dog for myself I went for a small one as I felt it made sense in a terraced house with a small garden. I got a rescue dog and they had no idea what he is but as far as I can tell he's a corgi mix of some sort. He's neither noisy or yappy (exception bein when someone walks up to the front door) and he also happily curls up in the corner for hours.

OP I would agree with you that a small dog would be better in a small house, if for no other reason than space, but as long as they're exercised and well looked after I don't see any reason why you couldn't get a big dog just as easily. A dogs behaviour around children would depend on how often they're socialised with them so just bring your nieces around a lot when you first get your puppy.

Glowing

Yeah you're right - of couse you can get lovely small quiet dogs. I was just trying to point out that getting a small dog doesn't always mean he has a small personality, and sometimes they can make up for their size in noise and attitude!

BTW, this is my main man, Jake! Ex-racer (a crap one at that, much prefers a cushion and a doggy chew)

andrawolf

FITS LOVE YOUR DOGS.
I have had both small and large dogs and I don't think it is the size of your house but How much time you will have fo your new adition? They are like children in you only get out what you put in. If you work full time and so does your partner I would advise to think again. dog left on there own no matter the size will bark and rake if there is no one about. I don't Know your situation but my sis works full tim and so does her parnter they have cairn terriers. They have to cage them when they are at work( cruel) and her neighbours say they howl all day. When they where not caged they chewed the walls and even her pipes. she chame home to water every where. I don't want to put you off but think first if you have the time.

fits

Thanks for all the compliments. I'm ridiculously fond of my boys

houndsoflove

Hi HC, I would recommend you get a cavalier king charles. They have a lovely personality and are a happy go lucky dog.

Nicola / hounds of love.

Lizard Queen

i work with animals and is it always the small dogs that would bite you before a big dog. I find because they are small owners tend not to train they as it is not as dangerous to have a visous small dog than a visious big dog. Caviler king charles are brillent with children not an agressive bone in there body. Yorksire terriers, papllions , bishon frise are very cute.

ambro25

I've had quite a bit of experience with Dachsunds, and my tuppence, for what it's worth -

(i) If kids are going to arrive at some stage, get a female (I was born during ownership of, and grew up with, a female Dachsund - kindest dog ever, she even raised a kitten!)
(ii) They're high-maintenance, insofar as owner attention is required: absolutely not the kind of dog to leave on their own all day, else incessant howling to be expected. Very much 'pack' behavioured, they'll expect to be considered a fully-fledged family member.
(iii) They usually have BIG personalities that bely their size, especially males AND especially wire-haired males. That does not necessarily translate as excessive barking (in fact no more than other breeds), but it can translate in aggressivity towards other dogs (and other pets - e.g. cats, rabbits and the like). That can translate in big bills, and I still remember the vet bills after all of my wire haired male's skirmishes over the years (doberman, pair of Samoyed, Great Dane :eek:).
(iv) Also linked to (iii) above, they are (usually) extraordinarily single-minded. A donkey would have nothing on them. Depending on the situation, that can be a blessing just like it can be an absolute bane - but it's usually a bane!
(v) And also linked to (iii) and (iv), they still very much retain hunting instincts, no matter the training. Dachsunds are not pet dogs, they were bred to hunt badgers and wild boars (not the easiest preys, by a country mile!): they could be the model pet for months and years and suddenly kill a chicken in the neighbour's pen or a duck in the pond in the park. Insurance compulsory, I'd say.

All that considered, and because of all the above, they are also (IMHO) one of the most rewarding breeds to own. I'd have another tomorrow if circumstances permitted.

peasant

It's always somewhat pointless to recommend a specific breed, at the end of the day the dogs are all individuals and could turn out to be totally different than "what it says on the tin".

It's much more important that you get the training right and that you keep it up all throughout the dogs' life.

A hyper Terrier type will be more work than a relaxed Grey or Lurcher ....but they all need "work" on a constant basis.

It is not a case of get the "right" breed and "train" it for a few months and ...hey presto ...you've got the perfect companion.

Your relationship with your dog hinges on the amount of effort and commitment that you are willing to put into it on a continous basis.

Once you're sure you're willing and able to provide that, picking a specific dog really is just a matter of personal taste ... as long as you don't pick something that's totally unsuitable (i.e a Husky if you don't like excercise or a Basset if you're an avid runner, etc)

Oriel

Sounds like you need a King Charles!

Schlemm

If you decide to get a King Charles, make sure you ask about the breeding that's gone into it, they can be quite prone to a number of health conditions. A lot of King Charles dogs get heart conditions late in life which need management and medication. They tend to get eye problems and obesity too, so they'll need a good bit of excercise.

Schlemm

If you decide to get a King Charles, make sure you ask about the breeding that's gone into it, they can be quite prone to a number of health conditions. A lot of King Charles dogs get heart conditions late in life which need management and medication. They tend to get eye problems and obesity too, so they'll need a good bit of excercise.

rubyred

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bailey 2.jpg

I have a cocker spaniel puppy (nearly six months old). She rarely ever barks - maybe twice a week she would have a one minute barking session. Other than that you wouldn't know she was there (noise wise).