Decisions Decisions, please help

Theimprover

Following up from this thread http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057073224/1/#post87287514 I thought it would be best to start a new thread. A few points I'm going to make.
The dog I get is not going to be a santa present anymore, it's going to be just a family dog but more so for me, I do a lot of walking, about 30 miles a wk, we go to the beach regularly as we live near one, even in the winter, my kids love walking the beach.
We live in the country with a stream running down the back of our garden, I work from home so the dog will nearly never be on its own for long periods.
Tbh I have found the boxers i have had to be very giddy but apparently males are, so we are used to this.
I had to give my last boxer away because of where we were living which was in my in laws and they kept leaving the latch of the front door and tbh they didn't really want the dog there so I found a very good home for him with plenty of land, we still miss Tyson to his day, almost 3 years now.
So come on boardies help me out, suggest some breeds to me, heres what I like and yes it is a big dog I want,
Love the Alaskan Malamute, other dogs I thought about, Chocolate Labadore, Rottweiler, really like Husky type of dogs too

So please make me some suggestions of breeds.

b_mac

Caucasian Shepard

Inexile

Does it have to be a pedigree. What about a trip to your local rescue and see what staff match your and your family to. Most rescues will also have pure breed dogs too.

There is also a site that asks you to questions re your lifestyle and it throws up a list of suggested breeds for you. It was in a thread on here a good few months ago but Im sure if you google it you will find it or something similar.

In fact on the resuces (the big one in Dublin) has something similar on its website.

Karl Stein

Rescue a dog of unknown ancestry from a person who didn't care about it.

Theimprover

I do want a pedigree, I must check out that site again, I was on it for a small dog, must see what it throws out for bigger dogs.

Karl Stein

Theimprover wrote: »

I do want a pedigree

So do pets.

ShaShaBear

With three small kids and little experience with dogs, I would completely forget about the malamute and any other husky type breeds. In fact, I would steer clear from any large, high energy dogs.

It sounds like you're just naming random breeds. The similarities between a bichon, labrador, rottweiler, and husky are practically nil and it sounds like you have no clue what you are talking about or what you want.

If you think a malamute sounds like too much work, you may just forget about a husky.

Your best option here for advice (and whether or not you are going to make the decision yourself is irrelevant) is to tell us what you want from a dog, where the dog will spend all of its time and what you can give a dog. Then we can tell you what breed will be happy with all of that.


OP, how much are you planning to spend on a pedigree puppy? What is your budget?

Theimprover

Made my decision after a good chat with my wife who has done some research and after speaking with one of her best friends who had one, a Rottweiler it is going on be, now just where to get the right one, my budget is around d €350, had a look on done deal, anywhere else I could look, I'm home from Norway on Sunday flying into Dublin and driving to Kerry so anywhere within that route would be ideal.

Knine

Theimprover wrote: »

Made my decision after a good chat with my wife who has done some research and after speaking with one of her best friends who had one, a Rottweiler it is going on be, now just where to get the right one, my budget is around d €350, had a look on done deal, anywhere else I could look, I'm home from Norway on Sunday flying into Dublin and driving to Kerry so anywhere within that route would be ideal.

I think you should do your research & start saving. You won't get a decent Rottweiler from a reputable breeder for €350.

andreac

Please please stay away from Donedeal if you are looking for any pedigree dog, especially a Rottweiler. I own, show and breed Rottweilers and trust me, they are not good specimens of the breed on that website.
I cringe at the advertisements and the awful breeders that advertise Rotties on that website everyday.

Donedeal is the last place you should be looking for a puppy on. Its full of puppy farmers and back yard breeders.

If you are looking for a pedigree dog, then contact the Rottweiler Club of Ireland get a list of reputable breeders and get in touch with them and put your name on a waiting list.

DO NOT buy a Rottweiler puppy unless BOTH PARENTS have been Hip Scored. I cannot stress this enough!! Trust me, you wont find any breeders on donedeal with Hip scores of the parents, they wont even know what Hip Scoring is!!

Can i ask what made your decision in getting a Rottweiler? Rotties are fabulous dogs but need a lot of training and socialisation from the word go. They need firm guidance and plenty of exercise. They are a restricted breed, so by law they are suppsoed to be muzzled out in public and are not allowed off the lead, so just be aware of this.

Id urge you to really think about the breed you are getting and whats involved in owning a Rottie.

Plus ill say it again, DO NOT BUY OFF DONEDEAL!!!

Setun

Would you think about getting a sighthound? They're often quite independent, very loving, and sadly there are always loads of them needing homes. I'm sure they'd love a good run on your local beach or around your garden

andreac

Theimprover wrote: »

Made my decision after a good chat with my wife who has done some research and after speaking with one of her best friends who had one, a Rottweiler it is going on be, now just where to get the right one, my budget is around d €350, had a look on done deal, anywhere else I could look, I'm home from Norway on Sunday flying into Dublin and driving to Kerry so anywhere within that route would be ideal.

Sorry but it doesnt work like that. You cant just expect to find a puppy or breeder that quick.
It can months to find the right puppy or breeder, not just when you are driving down the road one day.
Im really starting to question the credibility of your posts to be honest.

wexie

OP, while I have little experience with Rottweilers I have quite a bit of experience with dogs in general and large / giant breeds in particular and there are a number of things I feel you need to know

• there isn't a SINGLE reputable breeder advertising pups on DoneDeal, there are (or at least were) however a good few reputable breeders advertising on Donedeal to please please please not buy any dogs off Donedeal.
• You will not be able to find a large /giant breed pup from a reputable breeder for anything approaching 350 euro.
• Large or giant breeds need good quality food while growing up, I've had dogs that grew 4-6lbs a week as pups and were as large as a full grown lab at 4 months and a full grown golden retriever at 6 months. With a budget of 350 for the pup, are you willing/able to pay for the food and care for a pup like this? A bag of Royal Canin giant puppy food costs about 60 euro.
• Insurance, large pedigree dogs can easily cost 40 euro upwards to insure, and with dogs like these insurance isn't really optional unless you're swimming in cash.
• A high energy large breed pup can be like a bull in a chinashop, never mind knocking over kids, they'll just as happily knock over adults as well.
• Large/giant breeds (especially long haired drooling ones) can make quite a mess, hair everywhere, possibly drool (I've had drool hanging off the ceiling, literally).

Right, with that out of the way I also have to say that I'm a big fan of large dogs and, if you really know what you're getting into they are absolutely fabulous additions to the family. A lot of breeds are fantastic with kids (aside from obvious size issues) and will make a wonderful friend.

But, please do keep in mind that unless you really research what you want, what you're getting and what they will require from you, that little bundle of fluff at 10 weeks can be a full sized large dog at 6 months wrecking your house and your head. A poorly behaved Jack Russel is a nuisance, a poorly behaved Malamute can be serious trouble.

If you're set on a large dog go and visit a breeder. Most breeders will be happy to show you their dogs, talk to you about what to expect etc. etc.
You can see what you think, how your OH and kids are interacting with the dogs. It'll be an afternoon well spent, even if it involves a bit of a drive.

Ms Tootsie

Yesterday it was a bichon today (less than 24 hours later!!!) it is a Rottie - in all seriousness how much 'research' could have been done in that time? I gave you the benefit of the doubt yesterday and posted some good advice when you said you were looking for a Bichon but now the only advice I can honestly give you is slow the hell down, decide what you REALLY want from a dog, do some actual research and then spend a good amount of time finding a suitable breeder if you still decide to go with a pure breed.

When we decided to get a dog I think it was about a year before we actually got Frodo. From all the research into getting a dog that would suit our lifestyle, rescue searches and finally breeder searches. You dont decide to get a pure bred dog, and then 3 days later get a rottie from a breeder. Andreac has given you sound advice on this issue - rotties are common for BYB and getting an unsocialized rottie with poor un-diagnosed health issues will mean the poor dog will only go the same way as your previous dog Tyson - given away.

Sorry if I come across as harsh but at this rate I really am thinking you are trolling good honest pet lovers to get a rise out of them.

ElKavo

I Can only second and third the facts on the thread so far. Do not buy off Done Deal or the like. You will get an inferior breed which will have nothing but problems, congenital heart, eye and reproductive defects to name just a few. There are hundreds if not thousands of great dogs in shelters around the country. You will NOT get a good strong bloodline for €350 period.

I have kept Rotties for years and they are a brilliant dog and amazingly gentle with children once trained correctly. My then 5 year old son used to walk our Rottie ( cleo @ 56KG under supervision obviously) at the time and the lead never strained. They were always very aware of their size and strength. They are incredibly loyal but great protectors of you and your home.

Should you decide on going down the rescue avenue, I could recommend <snip>. Breda the lady who runs the place does so on a shoe string and never turns a dog away. We got our latest (Sally) from here. She is a Rottie / lab cross as best we can tell. IMO someone went to done deal or the like and bought what they thought was going to be a Rottie. when she didn't turn out exactly as they planned they abused the dog (smashed her Jaw) bred her and dumped her with three of her puppies after failing to sell them. When we got her 4 years ago now she would barely sit in the same room as me, she is now well settled and skips around when I come home. It is amazing to see the change in the dog and it makes me happy to see that you can really make a difference to an animal who has been mistreated and give them a second lease of life. She is an incredibly passive dog and my 4 year old daughter really knows how to put her to the test.

So please with your budget why not look at a rescue and donate your €350 to the shelter that you decide on. You will probably get an amazing dog and at the same time help out a probably underfunded shelter.

DO NOT BUY OFF DONE DEAL!!!!!

fatmammycat

Andrea here is pretty much an expert on Rotties, but if I may throw in my 2c. I think you need to be a bit more patient and have a longer rethink about the type of dog you and your young family require.
Rotties are smart intelligent loyal dogs, but they can be quite sharp ( like my own breed, the GSD) and need serious socialisation and firm kind training from day one. The jump from BF to Mal to Rottie is a weird hop skip and jump to me, and I would query your thinking behind it.
Regarding larger dogs, particulary RB dogs, please please slow down and wait for a good quality pup that comes from good quality parents. This is for healthy reasons and for psychological reasons too. Puppies are all adorable, but puppies turn into dogs very quickly and it is then that poor breeding (physical and mental) takes its toll. You need to source a good breeder of the breed you want, talk to them, visit, see their dogs, probably put your name on a list and then save for a terrific pup. This will stand to you and your family in the long run.
I hope Kaza is wrong and you're genuine in your questions, I also hope you take the answers in the spirit that they are intended.

wexie

fatmammycat wrote: »

I also hope you take the answers in the spirit that they are intended.

I very much echo what fatmammycat said above, please don't think anybody is trying to talk you out of getting a dog, or even a large dog.

But unfortunately a lot of people here have seen and experienced the trouble and sadness that can be caused by people getting a dog without the proper research and making sure they're getting the right dog for them and their family.

cocker5

Honestly guys….. why feed the troll??


Three separate thread in three days…


First one… looking for two bichon Frise.. then wanted to know if it’s bad to breed a brother and sister.. for his kids...


Second one…. Wanted to get an Alaskan malamute


Third one… now this was has resulted in a “deciding” on getting cheap Rottie


I mean come on…. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

ShaShaBear

cocker5 wrote: »

Honestly guys….. why feed the troll??


Three separate thread in three days…


First one… looking for two bichon Frise.. then wanted to know if it’s bad to breed a brother and sister.. for his kids...


Second one…. Wanted to get an Alaskan malamute


Third one… now this was has resulted in a “deciding” on getting cheap Rottie


I mean come on…. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Probably cause we're all genuinly terrified that this man might actually be considering buying a rottie off donedeal on the way home from the airport just because he can.
So many people do it, and we need to take what little action we can to discourage it.
A cheap donedeal rottie is a disgrace, but its a small step up from two cheap donedeal bichons from the same litter to be bred for profit!

cocker5

ShaShaBear wrote: »

Probably cause we're all genuinly terrified that this man might actually be considering buying a rottie off donedeal on the way home from the airport just because he can.
So many people do it, and we need to take what little action we can to discourage it.
A cheap donedeal rottie is a disgrace, but its a small step up from two cheap donedeal bichons from the same litter to be bred for profit!

<snip>

Either way from what he has already posted before and IF he does infact get a dog (probably an Irish Wolfhound at this stage) he will buy from Dondeal or buy and sell etc... you can sense it from the way he has been posting over the last few days.

But i do respect your effort in trying to change his mind set

Cocker5 please desist from backseat moderating. Either give the OP advice or stay out of the thread it's not difficult.

Theimprover

So basically when it says that the dogs are IKC registered and has all the information on parents etc, this is a load of crop or is it that the Irish kennel club is a farse, I seriously doubt it. I would never buy with out it been registered with IKC, here are 2 examples
<snip>

Please read the forum charter. No linking to sites selling animals.

wexie

Theimprover wrote: »

So basically when it says that the dogs are IKC registered and has all the information on parents etc, this is a load of crop or is it that the Irish kennel club is a farse, I seriously doubt it. I would never buy with out it been registered with IKC, here are 2 examples

The only thing it means that if they're IKC registered is that both parents were IKC registered and that they're pure bred. Means absolutely nothing with regards to whether or not there's a responsible breeding program, if the dogs are health checked, well treated or anything.

There are probably plenty of people that can give you some feedback on the IKC and I'd imagine tell you whether or not it's a farse....

andreac

Seriously, i cannot stress enough to stay away from Donedeal!! I am on the committee of the Rottweiler Club of Ireland so i know what i am talking about.

The pups that are advertised on there are absolutely terrible examples of the breed with breeders not doing it responsibly. Very few, if any will be hip scored (the parents) so thats a major red flag.

If you dont want to take advice from the people who know what they are talking about then that is your choice, go ahead. But do not say you werent warned!!

IKC reg means nothing, bar that is shows the parentage of the pup, nothing more. It guarantees absol nothing else. Its only a piece of paper to prove the pup is registered and the parents are. Any eejit can register pups once both the parents are, but it doesnt mean the pup is well bred or that the parents are health tested.

cocker5

So OP you have actually listened to all the previous posters about done deal? and particularly AndreaC who is the guru on Rotties on this form? and yet you still look up done deal??? Thought as much :cool:

tk123

Theimprover wrote: »

So basically when it says that the dogs are IKC registered and has all the information on parents etc, this is a load of crop or is it that the Irish kennel club is a farse, I seriously doubt it. I would never buy with out it been registered with IKC, here are 2 examples

Second link - pups can be sold without being registered is a strong indication that it's a puppy farmer not wanting the IKC to know that they're breeding so many litters - sorry if that pi$$es off any of our resident puppy farmers here who I'm sure will be along to derail the thread to justify themselves or ask for proof etc etc

I don't have any advise to give that hasn't already given in your other threads. Speaking from expereince though what you save now on a cheap pup will be spent ten fold in vet bills and training bills when your pup develops heath issues and then behavioural issues because of it. Not to mention the stress and worry of a dog that's in pain or sick.

I called the breed club and got a list of breeders when I was getting my pup - the one I settled on was fantastic - took excellent care of the puppies and they came from good heathy parents. If I could go back in time now I'd be walking away from where I got my other dog.

anniehoo

Ok, this thread is on a slippery slope. If you have a problem with a poster please use the report function.

There is also no linking to ads that sell animals. It states this clearly in the Charter, this also refers to quoting these links in your replies.

Theimprover

cocker5 wrote: »

So OP you have actually listened to all the previous posters about done deal? and particularly AndreaC who is the guru on Rotties on this form? and yet you still look up done deal??? Thought as much :cool:

I don't want your input tbh as your just throwing out a load of bull for the sake of it and for your information I am taking a lot on board from most of the replies, my wife has already been onto IKC and has emailed several breeders that she got from the breeders club which I probably would never have done only for here, it's not your first reply with the intention of having a go, I'm not going to reply to anymore of your posts.

I want to thank all the other honest and valuable replies, I am going to slow down and take my time:), I might not have come across as a genuine dog lover but I and my wife really love dogs and we were just waiting for the opportunity to get one again and this time has come where we are in a much better situation.

I will update here when we do find our new addition to the family or might be even back looking for more info

andreac

Well you def did not contact or email the rott club of Ireland as I'm in charge of the website and club email and I haven't received anything.

Theimprover

andreac wrote: »

Well you def did not contact or email the rott club of Ireland as I'm in charge of the website and club email and I haven't received anything.

Don't know exactly what breeders club my wife contacted but I do know that she did contact breeders in Clare, Down and Dublin, I'm away so only spoke with her briefly. Maybe you might be able to recommend some breeders to me, I'm living in Kerry btw

oppenheimer1

I don't get the hate for Donedeal. My parents neighbours dog had a litter of pups by accident and without done deal and being able to give them away they would have been destroyed.

From the posters here it would seem the destruction route would have been preferable. :rolleyes:

andreac

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

I don't get the hate for Donedeal. My parents neighbours dog had a litter of pups by accident and without done deal and being able to give them away they would have been destroyed.

From the posters here it would seem the destruction route would have been preferable. :rolleyes:

Why would they have to be destroyed? There you go, you said it yourself. An accidental litter, so not a responsible breeder.... Done deal is full of these type of breeders.