Best dog for running and kids

[Tahr]

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.

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.

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