dididog

GSPs, Viszlas and Brittanies have all been mentioned but have you considered an English Pointer (Pointer)? They always seem to get overlooked in the 'large active friendly' breed discussions. IME, a showline (emphasis on the showline) Pointer is a fairly mellow house pet but still with an insane amount of stamina out of the house. My boy could run or trot all day. He can also not leave the house for 3 days and only get slightly antsy. If you have other dogs with good off switches to lead by example with a puppy they get the hint. Generally they are very amicable with all sorts of people and dogs. My boy isn't super outgoing but not a mean bone in his body, so gentle and sweet.

I have an almost 3yr old showline Pointer, my first and only (and likely last). He is a lovely sweet, silly dog. In general they're a great active family dog. He is actually really quite biddable and loves to work with me but my main issue with him is maintaining engagement outside the house, he is so intuned with his environment so that has always been an uphill battle for us. He's not a deep thinker, it's pretty easy to get him to do something. Common issues I was wary of going into the breed were separation anxiety, extreme energy requirements, destructiveness, timidness and hit or miss recall. He doesn't have separation anxiety but he isn't an only dog. His energy requirements aren't extreme, he could go all day if I needed him to but has an amazing off switch and copes well with dry spells without exercise (which from what I've observed is not typical of the breed). Outside of the puppy phase he is great around the house, very few casulaties other than the odd tissue or shopping bag. He is a lot more timid than I'd like but I think that a lot of that is due to faults made by me during early socialisation but they are very sensitive. His recall is really good but their natural tendency to run hard and fast and not stick close gives me so much anxiety that I rarely let him off leash if it's not fenced. That's a me problem though. My favourite things about him are that he is a massive pacifist, never witnessed a shred of aggression from him and will tolerate a lot. Loves to cuddle. Really really loves to cuddle. He's super fun loving and impossible to not feel joy around. I will just never own another because of the shedding. I thought I could handle it but it's just too much for me!

I live in the inner city with a small yard. My english pointer has a good recall but not to the point I trust him in unfenced parks in the city and the only fenced areas that dogs are allowed off leash near me are... dog parks. My pointer is extremely dog social and pretty oblivious to aggression so is generally not phased. You can lower the risk by getting to know the park users, picking a time it's not busy, and being extremely pro active. I follow my dog and make sure I can recall him or within arms reach to intervene. I might talk to other users but always have eyes on my dog. I closely observe the body language of all dogs and generally keep him close when a new dog enters to suss them out. I won't hesitate to leash up and leave the second I get a bad feeling about a dog rather than leaving anything to chance. I intervene and leash up for a time out the moment my dog is being rude or is being bothered by another rude dog to allow tensions to settle. And I'm not afraid to tell someone when their dog's behaviour is inappropriate for the dog park. My dog is large and not likely to react to confrontation so I am rarely confronted with a situation where he may be at risk but I can see why with a smaller dog the risk might not be worth it. For me it gives my dog the freedom to run off leash safely and play with other dogs which he enjoys but it is not the main way I exercise him (we go maybe once a week or fortnight). My other dog I never took to dog parks, just normal parks or beaches that had off leash areas. She has been attacked so many times by other dogs that she is not a fan of being approached by strange dogs and for my own peace of mind is now only walked on leash. I kind of prefer the fenced in dog parks because its easier to have a full handle of your situation. I can see everyone there and keep an eye on the entrance and have as much control as possible over the situation which is a lot harder to do in an expansive off leash park. I do wish they had a ranger pop in more often to some of our local parks and warn people off bringing their dogs. It sucks that some people don't see how inconsiderate it is to bring aggressive dogs to the dog park where they are one of the few places city dog owners exclusively have to utilise. The last time I tried a new park I saw one such owner, brought a massive GSD on an e collar that was on edge and hackles up the entire time it was there and constantly lunging and snarling at any dog that even looked at it funny. It was ultimately not following up on its confrontations because it was getting yelled at and nailed with the collar but if the other dogs had not been so submissive it could have easily boiled over. I leashed up before it enterred because it was snarling on the other side of the fence and left the second it was away from the gate, I don't bother hoping for the best anymore, I always assume the worst as losing out on some park time is not worth losing my dogs lovely disposition to other dogs or his safety.

Had a bit of time on my hands lately and was scrolling through this thread in the lead up to Didi's 5th birthday this week. So many great memories with my girl which seem so long ago. I'm so glad she has fit so much fun and love into those five years. We don't live by the beach anymore (now we are on top of a valley!) She has slowed down a lot and gotten a bit chubby in middle age but we are currently on the path to fitness now that I'm living somewhere I can walk both dogs together easily and my parents aren't around to stuff her full of table scraps and treats. She has been such a good big sister to little brother George who has been with us for over a year now. I love seeing them interact and watching him drag the silly puppy antics out of her. Thought I would share a few photos of Didi (and the pointy interoper!) for any of you still around that remember her when she was but a wee pup and I was new to the whole dog thing and full of questions!

Done but just a suggestion, perhaps clarify what is considered an attack? In my instance the target was my dog who got attacked and I was bitten in the ensuing scuffle but the dogs were not trying to attack me so to speak. I figured the survey was more aimed at attacks directed at humans but it wasn't clear if other situations could be considered.

I am in the municipality over from Brimbank (Hobsons Bay) and am able to have an entire dog no questions asked. I mean he is limited registered but its not like they asked for any proof of that... just went and paid my fee and got my rego tag on the spot. Strange that a neighbouring municipality would take such a strong stance, would just result in a lot more people not regostering their dogs rather than encouraging it if you ask me. Hobsons Bay is a really nice place to own a dog though if you'd consider moving over this....

I started seriously considering breeds for my 2nd dog at least 2 years before I got him but choosing the exact breed and breeder was a quicker process as ideal timing presented itself. I have been fairly opportunistic with both of my dogs (especially the first one). I made sure with the 2nd dog that I had a better idea of what I wanted and made sure I got the important things right. Neither dog has turned out perfectly how I anticipated and while it would've been nice if I could go back and change a few things, I would never change having the dogs I have. Maybe things would've turned out differently had I made different choices or waited longer for the 'perfect' pup both times around... but at the end of the day I have 2 dogs that I love and more or less suit what I want and need in a dog so who's to say they werent the perfect one for me all along? I have seen many people get burnt by being too hasty and settling for 'near enough's good enough' but many more where it all works out just fine, I guess your criteria will end up shaping exactly how long you'll have to wait!

Pointers (the english variety) can be somewhat aloof and in some lines, timid with strangers. My boy could be a bit timid as a pup but with growing confidence is growing into a dog that is mostly indifferent toward strangers. He is friendly and has a soft temperament but is not overtly affectionate or interested in seeking attention from strangers. They tend to be massive clingy sooks with their owners though and normally a breed that gets on well with other dogs. On the higher end energy wise and resort to destruction easily if bored/understimulated. Full grown they make great running companions. Difficulty training recall is a very real concern though as even showlines are very birdy and they are QUICK. So if you are planning offlead bush and beach adventures, potentially not the best match.

Yes one of his many amusing quirks is that he likes to stand up and look over every fence he comes across... even if that fence is see through!

Didi is also doing well! She is four now, slowed down a fair bit in the last year or so but I think George is doing a good job at keeping her young. This whole puppy experience would have been absolute hell without her being so patient and understanding and it is also much easier to manage a two dog household when one of them is such a good girl!

I realised that I kind of just mentioned I was getting a new puppy several months ago and disappeared again It feels like he's been here for ages now but he's only just turned 6 months old! He is a very strange dog! Keeps me endlessly amused with his antics and just how absolutely strange he is but he is turning into a very lovely dog, albeit a bit of a scaredy pants but oh well. I had no idea how Didi would handle a new sibling as we hadn't so much as had a doggy guest in the whole time of owning her. She wasn't the biggest fan during the first couple of months after the initial excitement wore off but they seem to have everything worked out now and are good buds for the most part! Here are some of my least horrible phone photos from my brief time with George

Thanks guys, he's such a lovely puppy, exactly what I was hoping for I hope the next week flies by, I can't wait to bring him home! Yes his face makes me melt every time I see it, he has a perfect little spot between his ears for kisses haha. I'll definitely pop in and update every now and then! I'm hoping he'll turn out a bit like his father who is absolutely stunning

Okay well it's finally confirmed. This is George. He is coming home in a little over a week and I'm already in love! I flew interstate to meet him last week and took a few photos while we were there. He's just shy of 6 weeks in these

Ahhhh okay I wanted to tease it out a bit longer but yes I am getting a Pointer I did spend the last two years seriously considering Pointers, Brittanies and Boxers and a few other contenders came into the mix (like the German Pinscher) but ultimately decided Pointer was going to be the best fit now and long term. I've found a lovely breeder with lovely dogs and will be bringing home a little boy! Breeder is still evaluating litter so I'm not 100% sure which puppy I'm getting yet but I do know it is between two boys at the moment. I might wait till I definitely know which one to share pics.... but rest assured they are both stinking cute!

Bumping this thread because guess who is getting a puppy in two weeks! I forgot I'd even made this thread but was searching my chosen breed to look at past topics regarding them. Wonder if anyone can guess which of the many breeds mentioned I ended up selecting? Can't believe I started preparing for this exactly 2 years ago and now it's all coming together! I think Didi is going to make a very good big sister as well

I'm acquiring a new addition at the end of June and am trying to decide what to do regarding training schools. With my first pup I had very little money and couldn't drive so went to a crappy pet store run puppy school. Now can drive and don't mind investing a reasonable amount of $$$ for a good experience so would like any recommendations/insight! Looking for something that's not a free for all, run by an actual experienced trainer who knows what they're talking about and a light hearted environment where fun for the pup is the focus. Not really after something aimed at first time owners who don't know much about dogs. Doesn't even need to be a puppy class persay just looking for a good introduction to working around other dogs and socialisation in a controlled environment. Would be nice to find somewhere to continue doing classes long term too. I'm in the inner west but will consider anything under 45mins drive away!

Yes good point thanks for clarifying that haha I'm also in the habit of calling frames carcasses too!

Yes they need organs and a much higher overall ratio of meat to bone than the average chicken carcass would have. Might be cheap but it's a very unbalanced way to feed raw when you consider only around 10 to 20 percent of a diet should be RMB and not suitable as a complete diet. Sorry to go slightly off topic OP!

What kind of chicken carcasses are you feeding? The chicken carcasses I have always bought are mainly bone with a small amount of rogue meat and skin... definitely not appropriate as a complete diet and not very calorie dense. I don't think this dog would need more than one carcass a day, Didi is a similar size and breeding and if I gave her more than one she would struggle to poop!

He's definitely on the thin side but that's better for a growing large breed than the opposite. So while I agree he needs to be eating more than that you don't have to go too far overboard and you should still keep him lean (to what a lot of people might seem too thin). Seems like others have pointed you in the right direction with the Great Dane rescue resources which is a good start! I have a dog also labelled as a Dane x Mastiff by rescue but don't get too hung up on that or expect that size. Mine really doesn't have mastiff in her and is basically just a Bull Arab with a fair whack of Dane in the mix which I think might be true with your boy too but he looks a bit more daney than mine. We thought she would end up at 60kg or something but she's only 45-47kg fully matured which while still a large dog is definitely not in the same size league as a purebred Dane. He probably won't reach his final weight until the 3 year mark as they take a long time to fill out so he will probably look scrawny for a while yet and that's quite normal. I'd suggest picking up a high quality kibble (although you don't have to worry so much about phosphorous to calcium ratios at his age as he's probably almost finished growing skeleton wise) and slowly upping the quantity. My girl was only eating a bit more food than yours at a similar age (2 cups of high quality kibble and a chicken carcass a day). I suspect because she was desexed very early she's always had a very low metabolism and I currently feed her much less than recommended as she really doesn't need much and gains weight easily. My girl was eating raw meaty bones like chicken carcasses since quite a young age so I'd recommend trying that also, good for teeth and stimulation. He's almost at an age where you could probably feed him raw if you wanted to and it not be too risky (feeding a giant breed puppy raw when you're a novice is not recommended as the balance is very important) but that might be a bit overwhelming for the time being! Good luck though, sounds like he's in good hands

I'll disagree with you a bit there SG, I found a martingale very useful for teaching LLW and not because I was using it as an (intentional) physical aversive. Personally I prefer to have control over my dogs head (when needed, leave its and focussed heeling are usually sufficient but definitely not reliable during puppyhood!) afforded by walking on some sort of collar, especially when you have a large dog and walk in busy situations like I normally do. With my next dog I think I'll be using a harness in association with a martingale just for safety sake, because yes little puppy necks are sensitive. Anyway, since I wanted to be able to walk on a flat collar eventually the martingale was primarily to get her used to yielding to pressure on the neck. Now with a flat collar I didn't find it very easy for my dog to notice subtle changes in pressure and when there was pressure it was all exerted to the front of her throat. Obviously avoiding puppy hitting the end of the lead like this is ideal but not a very realistic goal when you have no yard and a large puppy that needs to go outside on lead everyday irregardless of training! The martingale wasn't used to correct or jerk her around so much as help convey the sensation of pressure on the collar and distributed the pressure more evenly across the neck/throat when the inevitable did happen. I would pair her increasing pressure on the leash with me stopping or changing direction and would reward easing off the pressure and walking nicely with me instead (and also heavily rewarding all other instances of nice walking and focus, not just after an incident of pulling/pressure). Eventually she began to make the connection that if there was pressure on the collar she needed to ease off and would self correct to a pace where there was no pressure because loose lead = thing mummy wants and I get rewarded for!! Not to say this is actual training advice or anything, I've only trained one dog and it took us a realllllllyyy long time to get nice LLW but I just wanted to point out that martingales can serve a training purpose beyond intentionally inflicting pain or corrections. I will admit there have been a few tugs and jerks out of sheer frustration or instinct reaction but I never did them thinking I was making a solid training decision and my dog doesn't find even quite harsh tugs aversive enough to change behaviour anyway. I still walk her on the martingale as she does actually have neck thicker than her head and I like that she can't slip out but the skills have transferred to a flat collar too. It sounds like you have the right intuitions when it comes to how to approach puppy training, it always amused me at my old (and not highly recommended) club all of the trainers telling puppies NO! like they would instinctively know what that meant. Unless you've been proofing something in that same level of distraction for a reasonable amount of time (ie not puppy preschool!) then it is completely unreasonable to expect a puppy to know what it should be doing and the only thing you can and should be doing is redirecting to a more desirable behaviour and rewarding your pup for its efforts. Unfortunately a lot of puppy preschool environments set puppies up to fail and make even redirection difficult if not impossible. If I had my time again with my puppy (well dog, she's 3 now) it would be upping the amount I played with her A LOT. The best thing you can do is play with your puppy and teach it that interacting and engaging with you is the best thing ever and it's so easy to slip training all the boring necessities in amongst that playing. I didn't do enough playing when my dog was a baby pup and we had to rediscover it when she was a year old, the improvement in EVERYTHING was amazing and even though I'm now not actively training her, we do play almost everyday and she's almost as polished as when we were going to a club twice a week because she still thinks I'm pretty alright. I'm very much a novice trash trainer though and I'm sure some much more respectable trainers will pop in this thread for advice :) I just saw your reply to SG I think you should either a) find another puppy preschool because you're right that's a completely unnecessary and unnacceptable way to act toward a puppy or b) stick it out but make it VERY CLEAR next time you go that the trainer is not to do anything to your puppy without your explicit permission and definitely not correct him. I'm sure your puppy will bounce back fine and I know it can be very hard to speak up in a situation like that especially when you aren't sure what's going on so please don't blame yourself (I've been there too with pushy club trainers with much worse repercussions I'm afraid). I used to get so upset and flustered trying to be firm about my boundaries that I would nearly cry sometimes but I realised quickly I was my dog's only advocate and that you are always within your right to tell a trainer to back off. Unfortunately though when you're in an environment that clashes so completely with how you approach training, it's hard to last very long without it getting to you. Even when my club let me do my own thing, being surrounded by people punishing their dogs and trainers advocating woeful techniques made me too upset to want to go anymore. If you're planning on doing further training after puppy preschool please ask for some suggestions through these forums or help on what to look out for when choosing a new place! It can be very hard navigating when you're unsure :)

Oh sorry! I definitely saw your approach regarding the yard alone change, I should've specified that I was more referring to others in the thread who said that the yard size would be an issue because the dog was big. Yes I definitely agree in this case that there's too much potential for things to go wrong! Also it sounds like a fairly new property so I can definitely understand wanting to err on the side of caution for as long as possible. Our current landlord is a bit... odd to say the least but was considering moving back into the property once our lease ran up because she didn't think she'd find another tenant who'd look after the house so well so Im hopeful I can get a good referral from the property manager.

While I'd agree that in this case the application would be best knocked back, it must be really hard to get your first dog while renting if you don't have a good relationship or dialogue with the landlord. When we got Didi we'd never had a dog before, lived in a small inner city house with a deck and tiny patch of grass and yet our landlord was cool with us getting a 9 week old Great Dane x because he knew us and how we treated the property well enough to know we'd make it work and he wasn't wrong. It would be really cool I think if there was a questionnaire for pet tenants. Same with a pet bond, I'd willingly pay it if it meant landlords felt safer renting out to me especially since I know I'd probably never need to use it. I'm about to move out in the next year or so and am a bit worried about finding somewhere to live with Didi as on paper I guess I'd look like a terrible tenant prospect. Young, new to the workforce and renting alone, own a large powerful dog and probably wouldn't be able to apply for many places with large yards. I'm lucky that Didi's grown up in rental homes and only caused damage once which was a one off, minor and easily fixed by us out of pocket, so I have some good tenant history to use for her at least. I was a bit disappointed to see even amongst the 'dog savvy' in this thread that there's still a prevailing notion that big dog (regardless of breed) = needs a yard, a big one too. I'm sure some large dog breeds or individuals might need a yard but I don't think blanket judgments on size are necessarily useful or accurate for the majority or large dog breeds and owners. Didi has grown up both with a tiny yard (basically a toilet patch) and now has a medium sized one. In both cases she's rarely outside and if she is she's just eating, toileting or lying in the sun. She only plays or runs around if someone is out there with her inciting it. That's why when I'm gone I don't really feel bad leaving her locked inside because I know it's safer for her and she's not missing out on anything. On paper it might seem like the arrangement is completely unsuitable but every spare minute I have is spent with her, she goes on walks and gets played with almost everyday and for all intents and purposes is a happy dog that is well suited to her living arrangements. You could take the same type of dog and the same type of renter and you might end up with a very different situation as some dogs are just prone to being destructive and not all dog owners arrange their time and priorities around their dog. Hopefully I'll be able to figure things out with her and luckily there's no time crunch on me moving so I can wait till I find a place but I'm still not looking forward to the process

Awh thanks everyone :) Glad you all enjoy her shiny coat, shame it makes her terrible to take photos of She is a lot happier out here I think, she feels at home in the water and it's a lot quieter, we can do our thing with little disturbance! Thanks! She was originally listed as a Great Dane x Mastiff and had a few quite random and highly unlikely things pop up in a DNA test the rescue did but now that her and her litter are all grown up (all of which are bigger than Didi but the looks of it) and I know more about dog breeds I'd say her mum who I've met and is about 28-30kg is a Bull Terrier x Pointer mix and that Dad was mainly Great Dane possibly with some sighthound, so essentially a pigging mix! I think her disproportionately long legs are more due to having a pediatric spay at 8wks rather than just her breeding though