Getting a dog - advice please.

[Giraffe]

You do realise we're not helping Moshe make a well informed balanced decision.

I hope not! Get a dog, so you can dress him in all kinds of Albion gear. That should be the message.

Oh and a dog is for life not just for Christmas. Although tell that to the snowdog and the snowman.

 

[piersa]

Get a rescue dog.

Don't get a rescue dog if you have kids, you don't know their history.

 

[Badger]

I have some sympathy with that view, but the dog does live there as well, you are on their territory. Same as raising kids, when you have a small child that is misbehaving, the tuts from disapproving adults, are not particularly helpful. Socialising small humans and dogs, is not something that just happens it takes time and patience.

Yes, but you're raising the child to become an adult human with all the intelligence and social skills to go with that and the dog will just grow up to be...a dog.

 

[Brighton Breezy]

Don't get a rescue dog if you have kids, you don't know their history.

In fairness, most rescue centres now do in-depth assessments of any animal they rehouse. They will also know the history of whether or not the dog has successfully lived with children in the past.

Not something I would worry about -it is probably best to be careful of any dog around children regardless of where you got them - but I can completely understand why some people would.

 

[piersa]

In fairness, most rescue centres now do in-depth assessments of any animal they rehouse. They will also know the history of whether or not the dog has successfully lived with children in the past.

Horses for courses Walt, I just like to play it safe when kids are involved.

 

[Brighton Breezy]

Horses for courses Walt, I just like to play it safe when kids are involved.

I can completely understand that. Better safe than sorry.

I think the most important thing is getting the dog from somewhere you trust which can give you good information about its past. Some rescue centres, for example, will have dogs who come from all sorts of backgrounds and are suitable for all sorts of potential owners.

Best to be fully informed on the breed, their habits/typical behaviour and any history before making a decision. Important not to rush in.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

You'll get out what you put in.
Puppies are fabulous fun (and pulling machines!!), but you need to be there to train the beast.

As said it won't take to long if your completely consistent and know what your doing.
From then on it'll be a blast, but an expensive and tiring one.

Food, INSURANCE, vets bills, the excess alone can cripple you.

What do you do about holidays, 2 weeks in Benidorm might be out of the question.
That odd weekend away becomes more selective.
'A spur of the moment lets go to St Andrews to watch the Albion isn't so straight forward'.

I'm a postie, this has been the wettest winter in 250 years, but my lab hasn't missed a walk even though I've just spend 4 hours trudging through biblical rainstorms.

Very much this, but get a rescue lots of great people out there can help you get the right dog for you and your family

A good starts here

http://www.sussexpetrescue.org.uk/new_dogs_for_adoption.htm

or here

http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/rehomin...gSize=&dogAge=&dogGender=&breed=#.UwTIGXkobnc

 

[CheeseRolls]

Yes, but you're raising the child to become an adult human with all the intelligence and social skills to go with that and the dog will just grow up to be...a dog.

It might grow up to be a dog, that doesn't want to jump up and lick your face when you go round to visit friends, was the point I was trying to make.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

This sounds like fundamental advice.

Everyone else agree? Or has anyone done it successfully with a couple of trips home during the day?

Get a retired Greyhound. They sleep 22 hours of the day so they don't need you to be home for them. They also come fully toilet trained and easy to handle on a lead.

They are also good with kids and tolerant of being poked and prodded without snapping.

They also time friendly for excercise and don't need extended and full on excercise sessions to keep them happy.

 

[Moshe Gariani]

I think I might be fighting a losing battle if I try and say no...
-----------------------------------------
E-mail just in from Mrs.G. ...
-----------------------------------------
Shall I ring and enquire? x
________________________________________
From: xxxxxx@lxxxixxsxxerxxx.com
To: MrsG@outlook.com
Subject: RE: Enquiry about Labradors
Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2014 15:06:05 +0000
Hi MrsG, many thanks for your email. I am dealing with Mrs Martins emails as she does not have a computer!
There is one yellow girl in the litter, and she is just gorgeous.
Please do give her a call on 01xx0 8xxx29 and she can give you lots more info.
I can tell you they are lovely, well socialised, used to children, reared in her home, she has been a breeder of labs for over 40 years. I know mum and dad and they are health tested with great temperaments. Emma is the mum, and Laura has grandma and Aunties too.
Good luck and I hope you get to see the little yellow girly.
If I can help anymore then please do get back to me.
Xxxx Xxxxxxx
-----------------------------------------------------------------

E-mail from other breeder contacted said all puppies are booked but they have a two year old black bitch available.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Crossbreeds are much healthier and less OCD about their natural instincts which can be a pain at time

Crossbreeds are like playing russian roulette.

 

[Titanic]

I think I might be fighting a losing battle if I try and say no...
-----------------------------------------
E-mail just in from Mrs.G. ...
-----------------------------------------
Shall I ring and enquire? x

Might be worth talking to Little Miss Titanic first about specific breed issues etc??

Then again, if Mrs G has made up her mind...

 

[Badger]

It might grow up to be a dog, that doesn't want to jump up and lick your face when you go round to visit friends, was the point I was trying to make.

Even it's well behaved it's still a dog though, not a member of the family, which is the point I was trying to make.

 

[Lincoln Imp]

Out of interest how much does a Labradoodle cost to buy as a puppy? as when I was a kid cross bread dogs were given away or were cheap to buy, I've heard they are selling for hundreds of pounds now, but how do you know if the mother is 100% poodle and the father is 100% Lab( or whatever way round)?
I have seen a few Labradoodles but they always look different.

We got a Cockapoo last year.

If you spend pedigree money on a purebred dog then the Kennel Club family tree will give you some assurance about what you're getting. With a mongrel you don't. The high price of all Poodle crosses - ours was, um, £800 - means that there are a lot of sharks and puppy farmers about. So you need to be careful.

We discovered that there was a breed club certifying a small number of dealers. It's still no guarantee but dodgy breeders wouldn't tend to join. Our breeder in Lincolnshire was a member and provided Kennel Club records showing that both parents were purebreds - and of course allowed us to see the mother and pups very early on. We saw ours when she was a week old.

There is little downside to getting a poodle cross providing you are very particular about where you get it from. The poodle strain will give you high intelligence and a coat that doesn't moult. In our case we also got the affection of a cocker spaniel. I've come across a couple of Labradoodles on walks and they were both lovely.

 

[HovaGirl]

Get a rescue dog.

Not with a child in the house. You don't know the way the dog has been treated in the past.

 

[MattBackHome]

Not with a child in the house. You don't know the way the dog has been treated in the past.

Don't be put off by this type of scaremongering, OP. Rescue centres will be able to tell you exactly how good the dog is around kids. Go and speak to the experts and they will tell you.

Get a rescue...

 

[Gwylan]

Not with a child in the house. You don't know the way the dog has been treated in the past.

As Walt pointed out, rescue centres are fully clued up on this. Most rescue dogs will not be rehomed with families with young children but that's not to say that all rescue dogs are unsuitable - the home will make careful assessment. When we were looking for our dog, we avoided a centre that seemed to let any dog go with any family - the RSPCA and Dogs Trust are much more aware.

Having said that, no dog (rescue or otherwise) should be left unattended with a young child

 

[piersa]

Don't be put off by this type of scaremongering, OP. Rescue centres will be able to tell you exactly how good the dog is around kids. Go and speak to the experts and they will tell you.

Get a rescue...

Not that the "experts are trying to get you to buy a dog or anything like that. Conflict of interest anyone?

 

[Horses Arse]

Definitely would recommend a greyhound or lurcher of some description. Fantastic dogs. Labs are ok as puppies but get fat smelly and drool unless you get the gun.dog type, and they need to work.

Would recommend staying well clear of these attempts at generating new pedigrees such as cockerpoos etc, just plain daft and a means of paying 4x what you should for a cross breed.

 

[HovaGirl]

Anyone who doesn't consider dogs as members of the family shouldn't own them.

Dogs aren't just any animal, they have evolved alongside human beings and have emotional intelligence unparalleled in the animal kingdom.

Unlike cats, rabbits or hamsters your dog will GENUINELY love you and you will love him back. It is that unique bond that makes them family members.

Our cat genuinely loves us, and is very much part of the family. All our cats have been like that. And other than request food (yes, he does), cats look after themselves.