Kavik Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 I think a bichon is a bit smaller than what I am after. Will research further though I've met a couple of Bichons that were awesome! One fellow that I used to walk wasn't that small either :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florise Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Cocker Spaniel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rascalmyshadow Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 While a bit different to the breeds you have listed I would also consider a keeshond. Even though they have a lot of coat a comb out weekly is all they need and when blowing coat a comb every few days. If maintained properly they shouldn't leave hair everywhere like a GSD would. All the ones I've met/groomed have been well behaved, happy go lucky dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 (edited) Hi All I was hoping to get some input into the very important decision of what type of puppy to get! I live with my husband and two kids (aged 7 and 4). I work part-time so for most of the week there will be someone home with the pup, although three days a week it will be alone from around 8.30am until 4.30pm. We have a medium-sized yard, where the dog will spend its time when we are out, but he/she will be an indoor dog for the rest of the time. I am looking for a dog which is fun and interactive with the kids, reasonably robust, but with mid-range energy levels. We will walk the dog everyday but I don't have time for a super-high energy dog like a kelpie. At the moment I am considering either a Poodle (mini probably), a lagotto, a bedlington terrier (these seem quite rare though) or a Boston Terrier. Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. In particular, I am interested in the energy levels and temperament of lagottos. I had a poodle growing up. Many thanks, I have Miniature and Toy Poodles and Whippets. I think any of these would fit. If you haven't considered a Whippet, you might want to consider them. I consider them the largely overlooked treasure in medium size family dogs :) You'd have to closely supervise the 4 year old with a pup but Im sure that comes as no surprise. Edited April 24, 2014 by Haredown Whippets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vbs Posted April 24, 2014 Author Share Posted April 24, 2014 Thanks all! I've never heard of a Keeshond, will read up about them. I love whippets but was a bit worried they would be too fragile- my four year old boy is very sweet and will be gentle with a pup but he is four after all and he does bowl around the house! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Thanks all! I've never heard of a Keeshond, will read up about them. I love whippets but was a bit worried they would be too fragile- my four year old boy is very sweet and will be gentle with a pup but he is four after all and he does bowl around the house! Apart from their skin, Whippets are as tough as teak. I'd suggest you meet some!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosetta Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 I think a bichon is a bit smaller than what I am after. Will research further though I've met a couple of Bichons that were awesome! One fellow that I used to walk wasn't that small either :laugh: Some of them are almost the size of a mini poodle! Gorgeous dogs - and very gentle. Though the coat is probably one of the most high maintenance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shapeshifter Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 (edited) Lagottos at present are $2500 minimum unless you go joint owner with the breeder. They also have some temperament issues in certain lines and honestly I don't know if anyone is doing anything to stop it. Poodles I researched a few years ago and found that in the standard lines there was also some genetic issues. I came to the conclusion that the only way I would look at one is if I imported one from NZ that bred from imported lines on both sides. Other than that at present I'm still searching for what type of dog I want, whippets were on the end list but we moved so they had to come off, cairns as well although I keep reading about how a lot have a tendency to just go in the house because they 'feel like it' not because they haven't been trained, they are smart dogs. Edited April 24, 2014 by shapeshifter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandgrubber Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Breed temperaments are tendencies. There are many dogs who don't meet the breed norm, some are better, some worse. I would be very careful to learn about the temperament of both sire and dam for any of the breeds you list. I've known a fair number of both Bostons and Lagottos; there are calmer individuals and more reactive individuals in both breeds. In Australia I had a Lagotto breeder next door whose foundation bitch was super-reactive, even after months of work with a behaviorist . . . but she won lots of show ribbons. The rat terrier is starting to fill some of the Boston's niche in the US. The rattie was bred, originally, for rat killing, but also to downplay some of the terrier traits. Hence, way back there, addition of some beagle and whippet blood. (They were recently recognized as a breed . . . the cross breeding was done many many generations back). Bostons (another breed created by cross breeding, but this back around 1900) tend to be expensive cause about 90% of them require Ceasars to whelp; you can expect a long wait and a big price tag if you want to get a Boston pup in Australia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vbs Posted April 24, 2014 Author Share Posted April 24, 2014 Shapeshifter- all the lagotto pups from breeders in Victoria bring born in the next month or so are $2000. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leah82 Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Cocker Spaniel. Yay Cocker, seriously though they are proven to be a great family pet, I think they are just a bit out of fashion at the moment so not many people recommend them. They are relatively low shedding and need regular grooming, not as low as a poodle although I'm pretty sure my poodle x sheds more than our cocker Great with kids providing they have lots of socialisation in the early years and love to be inside with their family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Her Majesty Dogmad Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 I think you need to be realistic about how much exercise you can provide. A friend of a friend bought a Lagotto for showing and found them to be extremely challenging, loves the dog but says it's a massive commitment with exercise etc that she hadn't expected. Radically different from the other dogs she'd owned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christina Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 I wouldn't choose a poodle or lagotto with such young kids, neither breed are overly patient. I have owned and rescued poodles for the last 17 years, this is the first time in all those years I don't have one and it is going to stay that way mostly due to their unsuitability with children. Edited to add: I have had a few poodles (mostly toys) surrendered to me over the years for biting the family's children. All but a couple that have come through my house (all sizes) including my own have had very little tolerance for children's behaviour. What on earth is happening with the poodles now ? I had a mini when I was 12 & he was terrific. Have always had toy poodles around my 4 when they were children & never had any problems with snappiness or biting either. The rules were very strict about how dogs were treated & they were obeyed. Poodles love being with their families & are so loving & can always be bothered to play. I wouldn't recommend a tiny or fragile toy for children age 4 & 7 but a miniature or a toy that's a little over size & robust build should be fine as long as they are good children. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 I'v never met a puli I didn't like(and I've actually been lucky enough to meet a few!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussielover Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 I think because lagottos are so cute and fluffy, people assume they're kind of like an oodle type dog. When really they can be quite a high drive gundog, and in terms of energy and exercise requirements they're definitely equivalent to most of the high energy gundogs like brittanys, GSPs etc (at least the ones I know) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 I'm not sure I'd be that big a fan of a wheaten. They are very stubborn and it's pretty well considered normal for them to jump up on you. My kids are dog savvy and even my nearly ten year old found the one he was doing some show training with to be rather overwhelming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Bad poodles or bad owners?? Board & groom plenty of Poodles from families with kids/grandkids without any issues,there also used alot in the ring by junior handlers . The ones that we have had that where insecure where due to owners who would create the same from any breed of dog . I will say the ones we have had issues are Bichons but again due to people wanting a hand bag breed not treating them with the respect they deserve & that is a dog . We board alot of Soft Coats & they are super dogs & all with family pets ,even the ones i showed in my early years where so easy going & they where used as Juniors dogs aswell & owned by older people & they never saw kids It all comes down to the owners of any dog & breed . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vbs Posted April 24, 2014 Author Share Posted April 24, 2014 Thanks everyone for your responses, all of the advice is terrific. The comments about lagottos confirm my suspicions. I think my short list is down to poodle and whippet. I still like Boston terriers too but they are much harder to find. Will check out soft coats now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 I don't know what the prices are for them but I do think pulis would be a good option. I've met a few and they've all been lovely chilled out little dogs, bit bigger than a mini poodle but smaller than a wheaten. Nothing that says you have to have their coat corded if you don't want to of course, they could be clipped shorter as wit any other groomed breed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RosieFT Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 We have a fantastic family dog and she is a fox terrier - smooth. She is super robust, ready to play at a drop of a hat, but will switch off and laze around if nothing is happening. Has been excellent with my kids (my son was 3 and daughter 5 when we got her) and with my nephews. I did obedience with her for a few terms to ensure she was socialised with dogs who were under control and when she was older, I had a lot of fun doing low level agility with her. Unfortunately she injured her shoulder and I can no longer do that with her :-( . She loves to go for long walks but is also just as happy going to the local park and chasing a ball. She certainly is a character and has a zest for life that is great. She gets a 30-45 minute walk most days, and on the weekend she gets a longer walk. She does do zoomies around the back garden when the wind is up, which is how she keeps her trim figure :-) . There are times when the prey drive is annoying - we cannot water our garden with a hose and have her outside as she is obsessed with water!! She loves all balls and so you wouldn't take her to hang out watching a soccer match, footy game, tennis, basketball..... She is independent enough to not shadow your every move, but loves a cuddle and sitting curled up on your lap if she can. Not sure if the terrier temperament is for everyone, but might be worth considering. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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