Seeking Advice On Selecting A Puppy

[leopuppy04]

I always find it amazing in these type of threads when people try and steer the OP away from their own breed due to them being too much work. If they are so much work and so unenjoyable, why does anyone own them?

Just because they are a lot of work does not mean they are not enjoyable. I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat! I am super puppy clucky and would be thrilled to get a third dog. Just pointing out the realities of life with a puppy. Some people like the idea of a breed but may not be so thrilled with the idea of waking up at 5.30am in the morning to go for a walk in the rain.

and yet you said you would definitely not recommend your breed due to the amount of work involved. If you enjoy it, why wouldn't someone else enjoy it as well?

Someone might read my post and think “Ohh goodie! Can’t wait to get a golden and do all these activities!” or they might run.

In this case, I don’t think goldens are suited to what the OP is looking for. If the OP reads my post and thinks they will enjoy all these activities then good for them!

I agree here - although I haven't read the entire thread

I always steer people away from my breed because I want them to know the realities of owning this breed. If I only paint the good things then they'll get a rude shock when things don't go to plan. Infact, I think I (and another friend) scared the cr@p out of Bub before she got her pup with all the things she had to/ recommended to do. Now to Bub's credit, she listened, raised a wonderful pup who is better behaved than mine!

I had the same speech given to me when I was looking at Aussies - how they are a working breed, lots of activity, stimulation etc. Not a breed for people who want a dog to love everybody. While MOST do, what if they end up with the one that doesn't?! You have to be prepared for every situation. So that's why we research.

The number of times I've heard people on the phones say 'oh but nobody told me that Labs could chew, I always thought they were calm" or something along those lines I have run out of times to count. So I use the motto prepare for the worst, expect the best.

[Gayle.]

Btw airedales aren't cute. I can think of lots of positive words to describe them but cute isn't one of them. Handsome, regal, bold ....... But not cute. Very insulting to an Airedale. I get the impression you've never seen one.

[Crazy Daisy]

Airedales aren't small. They are quite big and a lot of work. I have groomed many over the years and they are very boisterous, especially when young and up to about 4 or 5. I believe they need an experienced owner. I wouldn't suggest one, especially if your wife isn't a doggy person.

[Gayle.]

If there were any breeders in the world who even thought about mating a lab with a Wei, they should be lined up and shot. The potential result of that cross makes me cringe with horror.

[shortstep]

Can Whippets handle being left outside all day year round? I am thinking I always see them with coats on in the winter.

I have had some experience with Airedales and I would strongly NOT recommend them for your situlation, I know you don't like this site but please read this.

Airedale Terrier Temperament

What's Good About 'Em,

What's Bad About 'Em

By Michele Welton. Copyright © 2000-2010

A rowdy handful as a puppy, the Airedale Terrier matures into a dignified, self-assured, courageous adult.

This athletic dog romps and plays hard. Without vigorous exercise and lots of personal interaction, he is easily bored and may become destructive as he seeks to entertain himself.

Young Airedale Terriers are especially rambunctious and can turn your garden into a moonscape of excavated moles and tulip bulbs.

Mental stimulation (hunting, obedience, agility, playing games) is essential for this thinking breed. You can't just leave him alone all day or stick him outside and hope that he'll lie down quietly and be happy.

An Airedale's attitude toward strangers varies from enthusiastically friendly to sensibly polite, but even the friendly ones tend to be vigilant watchdogs. Some individuals are more protective than others.

With other dogs, most Airedale Terriers are bold and aggressive, and with their strong hunting instincts they must be exposed early to cats, else they may not be safe with cats. Rabbits and rodents are not a wise addition to the household.

This breed is very smart, but also independent. Unless you establish yourself as the alpha (number one), he can be headstrong. Yet assertive owners who know how to lead will find him eminently trainable.

If you want a dog who...

Is medium to large, sturdy and athletic

Is energetic, yet when well-trained and well-exercised, can also be calm and dignified

Is exceptionally versatile -- can learn and do almost anything

Makes a sensible guardian (some individuals)

Sheds -- but less than many other breeds

An Airedale Terrier may be right for you.

If you don't want to deal with...

Vigorous exercise requirements

Rowdiness and exuberant jumping, especially when young

Destructiveness and barking when bored or not exercised enough

Providing enough socialization so his natural protectiveness doesn't become aggression

Aggression toward other animals -- chasing instincts

Strong-willed mind of his own, requiring a confident owner who can take charge

Frequent trimming and clipping of the wiry coat

An Airedale Terrier may not be right for you.

If I were considering buying or adopting an Airedale Terrier

My major concerns would be:

Providing enough exercise and mental stimulation. Airedale Terriers MUST have regular opportunities to vent their energy and to use their busy minds to do interesting things. Otherwise they will become rambunctious and bored -- which they usually express by barking and destructive chewing. Bored Airedales can destroy your home or yard in a single day.

If you simply want a casual pet for your family, and don't have the time or inclination to take your dog running or hiking or biking or swimming, or to get involved in agility (obstacle course), or tracking, or dogsledding, or schutzhund (protection), or a similar canine activity, I do not recommend this breed.

Airedale Terriers were never intended to be simply household pets. Their working behaviors (following scents, searching for prey animals, chasing things that run, digging, exploring) can be a nuisance in a normal household setting. Trying to suppress these "hardwired" behaviors, without providing alternate outlets for their high energy level, can be difficult.

Bounciness. Young Airedales (up to about two years old) romp and jump with great vigor, and things can go flying, including people.

If you have small children, or if you or anyone who lives with you is elderly or infirm, I do not recommend Airedale puppies. The temptation to play roughly is too strong in many young Airedales.

Providing enough socialization. Many Airedale Terriers love everybody, but many others have protective instincts toward strangers. Thus, Airedales need extensive exposure to friendly people so they learn to recognize the normal behaviors of "good guys." Then they can recognize the difference when someone acts abnormally.

Animal aggression. Airedale Terriers were developed to hunt other animals. Many Airedales are dominant or aggressive toward other dogs of the same sex. Many have strong instincts to chase and seize cats and other fleeing creatures. If anything goes wrong in the breeding, socializing, training, handling, or management of this breed, it is capable of seriously injuring or killing other animals.

The strong temperament. The best Airedales are versatile working dogs, capable of learning a great deal, but they have an independent mind of their own and are not pushovers to raise and train. They can be manipulative, and some are willful, obstinate, and dominant (they want to be the boss) and will make you prove that you can make them do things. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.

To teach your Airedale to listen to you, "Respect Training" is mandatory. My Airedale Training Page discusses the program you need.

Grooming. To keep their wiry coat free of mats, Airedales require regular brushing, and also clipping and trimming every few months. The coat care requirements are one reason casual owners give up Airedales to rescue groups.

Edited June 3, 2010 by shortstep

[lanabanana]

Hey OP - Good luck with your search.

I was in a similar position to you...kinda.

My partner (a man - I am the female this time) likes dogs but would prefer to not have pets at all. We both work full time and also have a child.

The below are my opinions on a few breeds:

Vizsla - My friend owns two of these dogs. They are goergeous and beautifully trained but they never leave his side. They are literally glued to the guys hip. He is home with them all day and they spend most of the day out walking along the beach, or in the forest.

Staffy - (when i talk about staffies, I am talking about proper ones, not those Am Staff creatures - no offence to Am Staff fans). I grew up with a Staffy and she was awesome. Fantastic size, super easy to toilet train and train fullstop because they are really eager to please. Excellent with kids (nicknamed the nanny dog after all). They can go for a decent amount of exercise and can be good for a play. however, our one was dog aggressive and had to be kept separate from our other dog. She was a beautiful little dog and was socialised but just developed an attitude. So if they are not socialised well (and sometimes that doesnt matter) you may not be able to take them to the dog park. They leave a bit of hair but its short so you don't really notice it. they do love their owners though.

Border Collie - I grew up with a border collie called Missy and she was the best dog. Super smart and easily trained. However they really have to be stimulated - especially mentally but ours did OK with being at home alone. Not sure about shedding but they would probably want a decent amount of exercise.

Poodles - A guy I know was a major anti-poodle person until his daughter brang one home. They kept it with the "dreadlocked" appearance and he used to absolutely rave about the dog. Noone was home all day and they said the dog handled it fine, was super smart and they used to take her our rough and tumbling.

Greyhounds - We looked into gettign a greyhound before we got our little mixed girl. They usually do not have any of the other bad dog behaviours other dogs have (like scrounging, pulling on lead etc) because they are brought up differently. They are quite happy just to laze around and chill.

I personally generally always own mix breeds (though a Bulldog will be the next addition to our family) and have had the following - which will give you an idea of soem good and bad traits that can appear in mixes:

Staffy/lab mix - gorgeous dog. Was quite happy to stay home alone. Was very easily trained and super well behaved. Not destructive at all and was very happy with a half hour walk or trot per day providing she got lots of love when we got home. Bit of a shdder and smelly dog though. Good size - about knee height or just above and pretty robust. Great with other dogs.

Staffy/boxer mix - dont recommend this mix at all. What a little power pack this dog was. Just on the go 24/7. He had a gorgeous personality but had a very very short attention span so was never properly trained, though he was always well behaved. He was great with other dogs, unless they displayed aggression and then he would become super sggresive. He had minimal shedding and was about the same size as the dog above. He was really fun, but he never got as much exercise as he needed. He could run for hours on end. He was also a bad escape artist, managing to jump 6 foot fences without even touching the sides.

Lab/rotty mix (assumption as his true parentage is unknown) - lovely nature. Major shedding issues. Beautiful dog but soooo ridiculously clingy as to be annoying. He weighs 40 kilos and thinks he can sit in your lap. Was destructive when young and we were at work (even though he had the staffy/lab mix above to keep him company) although he will not now chew or destroy anything he thinks isnt his. he hates being told off so is generally well behaved. 5 years old though and still super supe rboisterous so has knocked me over a number of times.

Foxy/Shih tz mix - this dog has turned me right onto small breeds. She is pretty little - 5 kgs...head like a foxy, body like a shih tzu. I think she has thrown more to the foxy nature as she will dig and is highly energetic and her little short legs will happily go for a run as long as you want to. On the flip side though she is also quite happy to just have a play in the yard or house and then have a cuddle in front of the heater. She has a big attitude. Can be very naughty and if not watched will chew everything in site. She is a great little dog and doesnt shed too much although she has that "scruffy" look. However, she can be quite obnoxious and arrogant and when being called will often look at you and ignore which means she is no good off lead....she is literally the onyl dog I have ever met who when called inside the house does not come running in a split second (if she even deigns to come). She is super friendly and gorgeous though so that makes up for all her crap traits lol.

Personally, I think the fact you are working is not an issue, providing you make the effort to put the time in when you get home. ANY dog will adjust to it's environment providing they get adequate care when the rest of the pack gets home. Some breeds are definitely better suited than others but most will adjust once they know the rules.

I think it is fantastic you are waiting til you have time off, that is what we do when we bring a new addition in also.

I am sure your wife will come round once you get that small bundle of love home - how anyone can resist a puppy, or a dogs beautiful eyes I have no idea.

I would personally recommend to you a greyhound, or a staffy (yep they are quite different breeds) based on what I personally know about each breed (I am not an expert by any means however and a breeder of each would be more qualified to give a proper opinion).

Or, I would go the rescue route and get a pure rescue or even a regular old mutt. Most dogs with the right family and training will turn out OK temperament wise and it is sometimes nice to get a bit of a surprise looks and personality wise.

Good luck - I am sure you will provide a fanastic home.

Disclaimer: I am currently typing this at work so if it doesnt make sense its because I didnt proof read LOL

[bryan_mannix]

Lambo. What fun the selection process is. Lots of great advice on DOL. Ignore anyone who is being a bit cranky you can get that on here.

Love the comments Re: handbags and high heels. You might be able to sell it as the event of any damage would just be an excuse for more shopping

I'll back up the comments Re: the Airdale. We meet up with one to exercise and it is quite demanding and pushy. It gets an hour exercise in the morning the same at night and according to the owner is still on the go (read digging, barking etc) all day. That aside it is a good looking dog...athletic, moves well. It is pushy with my kids.

Don't worry about comments about whippets offending. Their look is an acquired taste but it has grown on me. Maybe dating a ginger would be the same! There is something satisfying about having a slightly less common dog. Most walks I would get stopped and have questions asked about him. When we went to Byron on holidays at Christmas we would have been stopped every 50m along the beach to have him admired. (My wife nearly stopped me walking the dog as a high number of his admirers were 20yo backpackers).

Where in Australia are you guys. I think you profile says QLd but that is the default. If you are in Brisbane I am happy to meet up somewhere. Dog shows are in Durack and are a good way to see lots of different breeds at once. Be aware that people there are mostly competing so it can be like wandering through the middle of a football game and trying to get one of the players to stop and chat with you. Best to stick with looking at the dogs.

[poodlefan]

As someone who has been through this process not once, but twice ( I have two different breeds), take your time Lambo. The effort will be rewarded in not only you getting a breed you've thought through carefully but in preparing you for the effort you need to put in to raising it right.

Kick a lot of tyres, meet as many different breeds as you can and do your homework (which you obviously are).

There are some less popular breeds that you may not have heard of but that might suit you.

Here's a few less common breeds to tyre kick (just putting them out there as I think of them):

German Pinscher

Flat Coated Retriever

Border Terrier

Norweigian Elkhound (OK they shed but they are great dogs)

Pointer (fantastic dogs, brilliant temperament as a rule but a bit less hyper than the utility gundogs IMO)

Portuguese Water Dog (very low shedding)

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier (a non-shedder)

Edited June 3, 2010 by poodlefan

[dee lee]

Goldies do have some GOOD points!!!

Now, I have only owned the one and I got her as a nearly 3 year old from NSW Golden Retriever Rescue.

I chose to go this route because I have a 7 year old who is nervous of dogs.

I researched (on here and elsewhere) which dogs were known as being calm and easily trained. I then decided Goldies were for us, but didnt want a pup because of the bounciness.

When I called GRR I outlined my situation and gave them my wishlist- young adult (between 2 and 5) and calm. They get so many dogs through and it didnt take long before Honey came along.

I highly recommend this route- we saved a dog who was a perfect match for us.

With a puppy, you just dont get that kind of guarantee and to be honest I was terrified of stuffing up early training (have had a bad experience with that in the past).

As for what Honey is like?

She is not a big barker, and from what I understand Goldies are not known as nuisance barkers- not like some spitz breeds- and are probably no worse than GSDs, Weims or any other dog.

If she does bark inappropriately (I'm happy for her to be a "watch dog") a firm NO shuts her up.

She is kept inside all day while we are at work- today she will be alone for 6 hours. The only issue we have had was that recently she chewed some mail.

This has been rectified by giving her pigs ears, a treat ball and reducing her access to the mail area. She just sleeps, I guess.

She is gentle with the kids, but this is always reinforced- she is still a bit boisterous at times so we stay on top of this. Its easy though- Goldies are soft in temperament and Honey does not need to be harshly reprimanded, again a firm NO does it.

She adores me, but is not a velcro dog, just a quiet companion.

I hope you havent been put off by all the negative stuff, Goldies are gorgeous dogs and if you make an effort to find a compatible dog for your family (by talking to breeders or rescue orgs) then they can be a delight. Especially if you can see past the shedding.

[SparkyTansy]

Jesus christ Shortstep- that makes them sound like friggin nightmare!!!

LOL they do lay it on a bit thick, but the do make the points they are trying to make.

I do recommend though that anyone interested in a breed should also speak to people in that breed. Lines of dogs in the same breed can be very different too.

I agree with this completely... lines vary greatly. I have had weis most of my life and the wei I have now leans towards the horrible description of the breed and I am very glad that I have the experience to train her and handle her temperament. The weims I have had in the past, while having some of the characteristics described, certainly didn't have all of them and all were extremely well behaved... it really does depend on the line, and the understanding of the breeder to match the pup to the owner.

I own a weim but i never recommend them to anyone i dont know extremely well, was experienced with active dogs, used to training, doesnt worry about their kids being knocked over, doesnt like to feed birds in their garden and isnt going to find it the end of the world if their belongings get destroyed . Yes there are exceptions, and yes all breeds can do those things, but given the OPs partner isnt fully convinced of needing a dog i would consider a weim a little too much of a challenge.

If i was the OP i would consider a collie smooth, less grooming than the rough though they do shed, but generally they are gentle unobtrusive puppies who weedle their way into peoples hearts...just get on top of the territorial barking before it starts.

Completely agree with this...

Ok so weimaraners you like the look of... but temperament wise you risk getting something that may end up too much for your wife and family to handle....

In all honesty, apart from the fact that you think your wife might not want to hang out with the dog during the day, your family situation would suit a weim quite well. It is just that the one consideration you have to make is that weimaraners above all else were bred to be the ultimate companion to man... they were bred in Germany and still are today to be companion, hunting dog and protector (always by mans side). If your wife would consider allowing the dog to be with her or around her for much of the day, and certainly not shut away, the dog would end up being a very good companion for her (and dare I say it probably attach itself to your wife)

Weims in Australia are not good for protection because their sharpness has been toned down somewhat, however I find that most weims are wary of strangers (depends on the line) and will only alert you to a noise if it is a definite concern, unless encouraged when young to bark at noises you hear (we made this mistake with one of our weis).

They do shed hair, sharp little grey ones that stick occasionally into your skin! but they are very manageable coats - they blow coat usually twice a year.

Exercise, well, they do love to run - free run, fetch, jogging, obedience training they will do it all and they will do it all day... however so long as they are with their people during the day, they generally are happy to hang around until you choose to take them out.. so long as you are committed to it daily. They can be destructive if left alone for long periods, because of that inbuilt desire to always be with you. They can be prone to separation anxiety, however this is actually not as common as people think in weims... the best way to ensure that it is never an issue is to give the dog a reason not to be upset when you leave them - entertaining toys, no fussing when you leave and when you return, and ensure that they have been exercised (mentally or physically) and are tired first. A very common saying in the weimaraner world is a tired weim is a well behaved weim.

Your kids already loving dogs is a good thing too... but they have to learn to ensure they treat a weim with firm commands (but never ever cruel or harsh in punishment of course). Weimaraners, particularly if brought up with kids, will attach and devote themselves to them as much as they do with any other member of the family... but they do have a tendancy to chase and can nip if not trained correctly to understand that this is not an acceptable behaviour with other pets and kids... again firm commands and supervision is key with having a weim with kids. They are extremely tolerant, but they are clumsy and can tend to run into you. I have seen a wei take my 48kg mum right off her feat because the dog wasn't looking where she was running.

Socialisation is a must with weimaraners. They can be as wary of other dogs as they are of people and they will make sure that the other dog knows about it... obedience training is a great tool for not only ensuring a well behaved dog but also for learning social behaviour in a group setting.

To be honest when I first read about your requirements and your wifes attitude towards dogs, I thought a weim would be a terrible match for you... but on further thought, so long as you are willing to accept the fact that that awful description that shortstep posted about a weim CAN AND DOES happen in weims, and that you could end up with one just like it was described, I think you'd be fine...

You have to be willing to alter your behaviours and lifestyle for ANY breed of dog... I just don't think that any dog will come along and just happily slot into peoples lives (except for maybe a stuffed polyesterr one).

Best of luck with your decision.. I am sure that you will be a great family for the right dog... whatever breed you choose.

[aussielover]

My Aussies don't require heaps of exercise. When we were in town they got a walk most days....around 30-45 minutes....but if were working the mushroom hours I'm working now, sunup til dark, they wouldn't get walked all week and they didn't seem to mind.

They do love a good run, play, chase of the frisbee, they adore a long sniffy walk and they both love running alongside the bike, but if they don't get it they don't take it out on the house, garden, our belongings etc.

Mine need more exercise than yours Gayle! After 3-4 days without going anywhere they are climbing the walls, the yard gets destroyed and if they are kept inside, anything in their reach cops it too.. But mine are younger than yours, so maybe they will outgrow it, doubt it, but I can dream

I think one Aussie by themselves will require more exercise as at least your two can play together at home. My girl got over 2hrs a day and she definitely needed it.

[shortstep]

German Pinscher

Flat Coated Retriever

Border Terrier

Norweigian Elkhound (OK they shed but they are great dogs)

Pointer (fantastic dogs, brilliant temperament as a rule but a bit less hyper than the utility gundogs IMO)

Portuguese Water Dog (very low shedding)

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier (a non-shedder)

Yes agree Poodlefan.

I was thinking Flat Coat, a little calmer than a golden, but not sure about leaving it outside, might bark a fair bit, they can be hard to find. I know a breed expert in the states, top field retrievers and show dogs, if interested in chatting with them about the breed PM for their email address.

Border Terrier and Australian Terrier are also breeds to look at. If they could be house dogs I think either of these might be perfect. Both are strudy dogs.

Portuguese from when my friend had one to train as a service dog (it failed), needed a lot of attention and was stubborn, also a lot of grooming and was a big bouncy rather hyper puppy for several years, but that was only one dog I knew.

[poodlefan]

German Pinscher

Flat Coated Retriever

Border Terrier

Norweigian Elkhound (OK they shed but they are great dogs)

Pointer (fantastic dogs, brilliant temperament as a rule but a bit less hyper than the utility gundogs IMO)

Portuguese Water Dog (very low shedding)

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier (a non-shedder)

Yes agree Poodlefan.

I was thinking Flat Coat, a little calmer than a golden, but not sure about leaving it outside, might bark a fair bit, they can be hard to find. I know a breed expert in the states, top field retrievers and show dogs, if interested in chatting with them about the breed PM for their email address.

Border Terrier and Australian Terrier are also breeds to look at. If they could be house dogs I think either of these might be perfect. Both are strudy dogs.

Portuguese from when my friend had one to train as a service dog (it failed), needed a lot of attention and was stubborn, also a lot of grooming and was a big bouncy rather hyper puppy for several years, but that was only one dog I knew.

Dog will be allowed inside Shortstep.. wouldn't have recommended too many of those breeds otherwise.

[aussielover]

Shortstep- what is this website you are quoting from? I'd like to have a look- wonder what they say about aussies!

[poodlefan]

Shortstep- what is this website you are quoting from? I'd like to have a look- wonder what they say about aussies!

Your Purebred Puppy

For what it's worth, I pretty much agree with the assessment of Mini Poodles and Whippets.

[Nik]

My neighbours have a cocker spaniel and he's home by himself most of the day. He speaks to us through the gap in the fence, but seems otherwise happy. They love their garden, and he doesn't dig it up. Lovely nature with my kids too. They have hardly trained him past the very basics, but he's a well mannered boy nonetheless.

I second Shorstep suggesting Aussie Terriers. We had 3 growing up, and they were a great dog. Didn't bark for no reason, and were happy outside all day. Relatively easy to train (I trained mine by myself when I was 11), and very loyal. Didn't shed too much, but I wasn't doing the cleaning at that stage of my life, so I could be wrong.

I currently have an Aussie Shepherd, and she's been hardly walked the last few weeks, yet she's still happy to just hang out with me and the kids, but I'm also happy to have her hanging around under my feet all day. She's never chewed anything except a cardboard box, but she does leave HEAPS of hair... my wardrobe is changing from mostly blacks to mottled grey colour .

[shortstep]

German Pinscher

Flat Coated Retriever

Border Terrier

Norweigian Elkhound (OK they shed but they are great dogs)

Pointer (fantastic dogs, brilliant temperament as a rule but a bit less hyper than the utility gundogs IMO)

Portuguese Water Dog (very low shedding)

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier (a non-shedder)

Yes agree Poodlefan.

I was thinking Flat Coat, a little calmer than a golden, but not sure about leaving it outside, might bark a fair bit, they can be hard to find. I know a breed expert in the states, top field retrievers and show dogs, if interested in chatting with them about the breed PM for their email address.

Border Terrier and Australian Terrier are also breeds to look at. If they could be house dogs I think either of these might be perfect. Both are strudy dogs.

Portuguese from when my friend had one to train as a service dog (it failed), needed a lot of attention and was stubborn, also a lot of grooming and was a big bouncy rather hyper puppy for several years, but that was only one dog I knew.

Dog will be allowed inside Shortstep.. wouldn't have recommended too many of those breeds otherwise.

Was under the impression it was only for a few hours in the evening and only in one room of the house (family room type) ???

[juice]

"those amstaff creature's" are a different breed to staffy's

glad you know about dogs

[HollyMilo]

3. Beagle - If I was going to get a smaller dog (which I still have not fully ruled out), it'd probably be a beagle or king charles (or a staffy);

Do you mean a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Lambo? The King Charles is a much smaller dog than a Cavalier.

The cavs are wonderful family pets but they do shed quite a bit, it can be reduced with regular brushing but they will still shed. I seem to be forever picking up balls of cav fluff off the floor even though I vacuum regularly (sometimes every day) but still we have the 'cavalier tumbleweeds' floating around the floors. Also consider that a long coated breed like a cav will bring leaves, twigs and all manner of garden crap into the house on their coats.

They are a dog that NEEDS to be with their family, if they are left downstairs away from the rest of the family it really will break their little hearts.

If your wife is really particular about her clothing then I'd not reccommend a cavalier because everything you own will eventually have cavalier hair stuck to it

Edited June 3, 2010 by HollyMilo

[Ker]

1. Airedale Terrier - cute but probably too small for my liking;

2. Whippet - still mulling over this one, but I'm still thinking it looks anorexic (no offence to Whippet lovers);

3. Beagle - If I was going to get a smaller dog (which I still have not fully ruled out), it'd probably be a beagle or king charles (or a staffy);

7. Weimaraner - This is still my preferred breed - but I'm still not entirely convinced that my family could satisfy all its needs.

Oh Jesus. DON'T get a beagle! I love them, but I have had three in rescue and one was a TOTAL nightmare! It barked, it dug, it chewed and was so stubborn that it was a total challenge to train. And one of the good ones ran like there was no tomorrow. My stupid neighbour opened the gate and the dog got out. I had to chase him, and the only reason I caught him was because he found a nice scent that he liked.

Airedales are big dogs?? Not sure where you got the idea they're small.

Weims, I don't know a lot about.

Whippets and greys - I never liked them until I met a beautiful one of each. Actually, I met 2 greys I'm in love with. One was owned by a family who adopted one of my rescues. He was so lazy and placid and laid back. The other one and the Whippy are Dolers dogs, that I see at meets. OMG they are both GORGEOUS! I love love LOVE them!

Mum has an Amstaff. GREAT with the kids ( family kids range from 3 to 10). Excellent guard dog, doesn't dig or chew. Is too fat to like a LOT of exercise but he does like to be inside and inn the middle of family things. He hates being excluded. He's also not good with small furry animals.

I've had 4 cockers through rescue. One was only 9 months old when I got him and he was hard work. He did the normal puppy thing and chewed things up, dug holes. Wasn't a nuisance barker though and he was VERY good inside and TT'd in a matter of a few days. The other 3 (American cockers) were GORGEOUS! LOVED them to death!!! They are robust little dogs, LOVE having a run (not sure how they'd handle an hours jogging though), were great with the kids, well behaved inside. They never put a paw wrong, except for the fact Maggie liked to play when it was bed time and I'd have to chase her to get her inside to bed I used to clip them so they were easier to manage, however they never shed much.

I miss my cocker foster ;)