Printable View
We sadly had to have our 13 year old labrador put to sleep last week. I've been wondering what breed of dog would make a good family pet and running partner. Unfortunately I only started running after our old girl started suffering with arthritis. Any recommendations?
My Lakeland terrier will run loads of miles but is also happy to sit around in the sun all day, good with the kids, typical 'rascally' terrier but not yappy:thumbup:
how old are the kids? i'd say colliexlab.. sane version of a collie..
Kids are 2 & 7 both really missing their labrador
We had a 5 year break after our old dog left us. We replaced him with the same cross - Rottweiller x German Shepherd - and Blue is just fabulous. Runs forever, great with everyone except he's a bit boisterous and the worst he'll do is knock you over. Puppyhood was challenging as he ate everything but he's now such a valued family member who runs and plays hard!Quote:
Originally Posted by Markollyh
Merlin's a springer/poodle cross. Good for up to 25 miles (so far), great with the kids & highly entertaining. H'e stopped chasing vans, horses, cows, & now we're working on sheep & ducks.
You could consider a German Wire Hair Pointer,
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...asher/Igg1.jpg
They are built from the ground up as an endurance machine, in Germany you can only breed your GWP if it meets strict breed standards that ensure the dog is able to work all day. They are breed like all pointers and setters for running all day on the moors.
I have ran with mine all day on the hill along with my mates Collie, and the collie is lying on the ground knacked after the day while the GWP is still running around. Mine are super with kids, but also bark if anybody comes around the house. Being a working dog (Gundog) like a Labrador they are also breed for their biddable nature making training easier.
Any of the HPR Hunter Pointer Retriever breeds would make good pets and running dogs, True pointers and setters are not quite as intelligent as HPRs in my experiance.
A good friend of mine is ex- world and European sledge dog racing champion, his dogs are ¾ pointer ¼ husky, it is the pointer at gives it the ability to run all day at speed while the Husky installs that wish to haul the sledge and follow the lead dog.
ATB
Tahr
Had Barney the border terrier for a year. Loves running. Really soft and fantastic with kids. Hardly barks. Good to train if a tad wilful. Doesn't take up much room either. Spotted a couple at anniversary waltz on Saturday. Good luckf
I thought using the word “train and terrier” in the same sentence was an oxymoron :wink:, even when applied to a Boarder terrier.
ATB
Tahr
Attachment 6927
Top notch running mate made out of 50% Labrador and 50% springer. Good for 20 miles whilst carrying half a tree in its mouth.
None. Take them out for a steak instead.
Can this man please be Moderated? (see also chased by dogs thread)Quote:
Originally Posted by Yelsew
Lurcher, from a rescue home.
Will tick every box.
Finnish Lapphund.... reindeer herder so will run all day, happy to chill-out for 2-3 days with little or no exercise if you're injured or, in our case, visiting family and friends in London and brilliant with children... the nomadic Sami people use them as child minders when in camp and our two are never happier than when sat by a baby in a pram.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Yelsew
This is Yelsew being moderated. Having seen the stuff he comes out with on other threads. Welcome back Yelsew - where would this debate be without you?Quote:
Originally Posted by Multiterrainer
I'm getting boring and repetitive, but please rehome a dog which would otherwise die or be incarcerated for months/years. Approx 250,000 dogs a year are destroyed in the UK because there are no homes or kennels for them to go to. Every time someone buys a puppy they tip the laws of supply and demand in favour of breeding more surplus dogs, and that means more healthy dogs die or suffer. Be part of the solution and go to your local dogs home- you will get good advice and get a suitable dog for you and your family. Don't fall into the trap of thinking you must get a puppy for it to be safe with your children. Its an old wives tale, based on absolutely no evidence at all. If you go to a good place e.g. the Dogs Trust, you will get a dog that has been thoroughly assessed, and you will have support before and after homing if needed. And free up a space for the next one on the production line which would otherwise be destroyed in the council pound.
Stagger is right, lurchers tick every box, but if they don't take your fancy there is every possible type of dog out there you could hope for. You do not need some fancy breed just so you can have the ego gratification of saying "I've got a [insert name of this years dog breed fashion]". A non-pedigree dog is also much healthier, and therefore cheaper. I knows what i'm on about because i work in this field day in day out and have been dealing with this situation for 20 years now.. hence the rant. Ta ra.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Longdogs
Couldn't agree more..... My reject dog who was due to be PTS is fab and I would rehome another rescue any day instead of adding to the surplus dog population.
:-)
Wow ... amazing response. I have been made aware of a couple of local dogs that need rehoming. Apparently one owner doesn't have time to walk a dog and look after a child (makes me angry) as they watch their child get closer and closer to obesity! Some great suggestions and I do think some form of terrier may suit us. Will sit and ponder for a while...
Good idea.. if i can be any help PM me :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Markollyh
Our Border Collie was a rescue dog and she is amazing. Will run all day and is great with kids. My daughter came to stay with the 3 grandchildren aged 8, 6 & 5. My daughter said if she could mail order the perfect dog for her girls it would be Winnie. Winnie is 5yrs old.
I hope you find yourself a lovely dog. I will keep my fingers crossed that you decide on one that needs a good home :-)
BTW, it was Longdogs that found us Winnie :thumbup:
Longdogs I was almost going to put a link on to GWP rescue,I don’t think anybody here has suggested any breed of dog that is unsuitable for running with although some breeds/crosses are more suitable than others IMO, one factor has to be how far you are running as to what will be best, but irrespective the owner has to have a dog they like, even if everybody else thinks it is a hairy ugly mutt.:confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by Longdogs
One point I will challenge is that mongrels are inheritably healthier that pedigree dogs, while some breeds especially show breeds do not have the best history of health that is not always the case and is a big generalisation, how many mongrels have had the family tree checked for inheritable diseases? Hips scored? Blood tests? Physical examination by a vet of the parents before mating? A enthusiastic and responsible breeder will do all this and then would only breed the best dogs to the best dogs for the benefit of the breed not profit, unfortunately this is not always done as too many breed for profit and for this corners are cut when chasing the pound.
Dogs I have had “rescued” have always required more effort than pups, but maybe that is because I have taken on the worse cases, but being extra work is not a reason not to give a dog a second chance just be aware of it, of course you could have a dog that requires less work if it has had a good home and the situation for the owner changes rather than the dog had been badly treated.
In general I agree if you can find a dog that needs rehoming then do so, plenty of pedigree and mongrels that need our help, most pedigrees breeds have a rescue charity looking to rehome that particular breed you might like the look of and you think will be suitable for your needs.
One thing because of our chosen sport our dogs get an almost ideal life style with the time spent in the hills instead of being shut up inflat or small garden all day.
ATB
Tahr
Tahr, while i would agree that the GWP is much healthier than most pedigree dogs, the fact remains that the incidence of disease in even these dogs is way way above that of cross breeds/'mongrels'. The evidence is overwhelming and is out there. Cross bred mutts aren't subject to testing for inheritable disease because they don't need to be. The incidence of inherited disorders is negligble, we mainly see these dogs for things like trauma and old age stuff. A larger gene pool is simply better, that's just biology. Even the most 'responsible' breeder is still producing a product that is more unhealthy than a cross bred 'mongrel'. The best case scenario is still bad- why do we need to 'improve the breed' when there are a quarter of a million excess dogs per annum already. A breed is just what someone in the past decided it should be and employed artificial selection to produce. Why is it assumed that we should perpetuate this? It's not necessary. There are plenty of dogs as it is..
And i can count on the fingers of none of my hands the number of times i've been asked by a dog breeder to examine their dog/bitch prior to mating!
I'm often amazed by the reasons why some dogs were bred. I think the most staggering is Leonbergers. They were bred to look like heraldic lions! And they only live to about 7 years.
Our Max is still going strong at about 13. His previous owner got rid of him because Max chewed the video, and as the video cost more than the dog, they got rid of the dog. Flawless logic!!
That's one of the dumbest things I've ever heard in my life. Dogs chew, it's what they do. It used to drive my Mrs insane when our dog chewed things up. He was young and was probably bored, it was a pain, but that's not a reason to get rid of a dog.
Some people don't realise when you have a dog you need to look at your own behaviour as well, your it's pack leader and need to use your brain. Like if you don't want your video to be chewed up while your out put the dog in the kitchen or other suitable room where there aren't so many things for it to damage. Failing that get a crate for your dog. It may sound cruel, but our dog loved his crate. It was his space and no one elses.
I definitely support the idea of rescuing dogs rather than buying puppies. So many lovely dogs that want a loving home and make wonderful pets. Makes me cross that so many people it's too late to train a dog when they're older. That's not true it just takes more effort. Our Max (collie) was completely untrained and a bit of menance but a year later he is fairly well trained. Ok it's too late to train him to be a working collie and it's harder to keep his herding instincts under control tha n if we'd trained him forma puppy but he has taken to training well and is overcoming some of his previous poor behaviour.
I would note two points of caution though. Whilst undoubtedly pure breds generally are more prone to genetic disorders cross breeds can also suffer a mix of those genetic disorders and also can be affected by poor diet and exercise when young. Our last rescued dog, Ben, was a GSD / lab cross and max'd out our pet insurance every year with arthritis in his hips and spine, as well as stomach and bowel disorders. Both prone in those breeds. Key lesson is get good pet insurance because when it goes wrong it can be expensive.
Also note that just because a certain breed may be better suited to running that doesn't mean they will want to or like running.
By the way steer clear of collies with kids - well known for being snappy (obviously not all of them) and so most collie rescues won't rehome with young kids.
That's a good point. I knew a friend of a friend who got some sort of sighthound (greyhound or lurcher, I forget). It took a long time for the dog to get used to the idea of running for an hour at human pace.Quote:
Originally Posted by Flopsy
(Falling back on breed stereotypes here), I believe typically they like to run for less time at about 30mph. And obviously, they prefer something fluffy to chase.
Mine isn't the keenest, as she loses interest I boot gravel/ stones, being a terrier she automatically sets of in hot pursuit, I have found that when I want a steady run she want to pull like a sled dog (I run her on the lead) and when I want a proper run she wants to lay down and play dead:thunbdown:Quote:
Originally Posted by noel
Springer spaniel everytime although we rescued some kind of French hunting dog a few years ago and he is absolutely fantastic with our 5 year old and Gary has yet to tire him out on a run.
Attachment 6931
Debbie
www.pyrenees-haven.com
That's good to hear Debbie. I have a 5 month Springer that I hope to run with one day. She's from working stock, is smashing and great fun, although my boys (7 & 11) are still learning how not to take their play too far. She needs clear signals.
Ben was the best dog ever, he was as strong as an ox, he had the heart of a lion yet was as soft as a teddy. He lived to please. He died a couple of years ago at the age of 14 from cancer. Fairy feet you will not be disappointed with your springer, I miss Ben everyday (wipes a tear way!).Quote:
Originally Posted by Fairyfeet
Attachment 6932
Debbie
www.pyrenees-haven.com
Just spoken to someone who is going through a divorce and looking for a home for their long haired black lab (I assume a lab cross). Maybe fate ? Worried we'll see her and rush in!
gotta disagree with that statement, some strain of lurcher would just walk the other way if you started running, they would chase a rabbit/hare down till its last breath, but go for a 2 mile run, nee chanceQuote:
Originally Posted by Longdogs
Yes its a fair point, they're not all big on endurance.. you need one with a good helping of terrier or collie.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheReverand
Decided on a cocker spaniel. Would have liked a rescue dog but fate seems to have poited us to this puppy. We get her in 2 weeks...sleepless nights here we come.
Good choice although mine has got a bit lazy at 5 1/2 years old. We now have an "agreement" that he only comes for a run if he looks excited about it!Quote:
Originally Posted by Markollyh
A couple of pics of ours on a run up Moel Hebog earlier this year :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/89042851@N04/8729816456/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/89042851@N04/8729812572/
What a lovely looking dog. Ours is black with a white bib...can't wait to get her
Thanks, they're great fun and brilliant family dogs - enjoy
Congratulations. Someone, right now, is giving a lethal injection to a healthy dog because of the space you didn't vacate by rehoming one. And the puppy breeder is already planning another litter because of the profit made on this one. So that's another 6 or 8 unnecessarily killed, and 6 or 8 new dogs with a propensity for heart disease, eye problems, skin and ear problems, epilepsy, other neurological problems and gastrointestinal/liver disease. The drugs used, avoidably, to treat all these things, have to be tested on less fortunate dogs to recieve a product license. Isn't getting a new puppy a lovely feelgood thing!
You are blaming the wrong person.Quote:
Originally Posted by Longdogs
Why not start a tirade against those people who abandon unwanted dogs, rather than a responsible person who buys a dog from a reputable breeder?