Pretty Miss Emma Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Just to add, I was wondering if a Golden Retriever might be too powerful/strong for me to control it... After the one I've handled a couple of times in the show ring I'd have to say without exceptionally good training while young they are so so so so strong!!!! And this girl isn't very big. But that sort of thing comes down to training as much as anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rascalmyshadow Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Out of the three chosen breeds I would go for the westie as long as you don't mind the grooming, they are loyal little dogs with good stamina. Pugs are one if the heaviest shedding dogs I have ever groomed it doesn't stop no matter what you do, also it's a short coat that sticks in everything probably one of the worst coats for an asthmatic. A retriever while not as bad if the coat is groomed and blown out regularly having such a big dog could make it harder when you are ready to move out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huga Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Pugs and GRs both drop a lot of hair, I can't imagine that would be great for your asthma. [bWould it still be very bad if they were constantly groomed?][/b] If they were anything like the Golden I owned it won't help enough to make a difference and the Pugs I help show never, ever stop shedding :laugh: Yes. It's weird. It's like they have a never ending supply of coat to drop. Batmanforever - go to a show and check some out, talk to the breeders when they have a minute and watch that coat drop out all over the place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batmanforever Posted January 6, 2015 Author Share Posted January 6, 2015 Pugs and GRs both drop a lot of hair, I can't imagine that would be great for your asthma. [bWould it still be very bad if they were constantly groomed?][/b] If they were anything like the Golden I owned it won't help enough to make a difference and the Pugs I help show never, ever stop shedding :laugh: Yes. It's weird. It's like they have a never ending supply of coat to drop. Batmanforever - go to a show and check some out, talk to the breeders when they have a minute and watch that coat drop out all over the place. Thanks guys for all the great advise, will surely check and talk to some breeders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandiandwe Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 I'd be thinking about what you you are planning to do in the next five years. How about ten years? Will you be moving out? Going to Uni? Locally? Studying what? Will you be working? How much time will you have for a dog, any dog? Because you're at an age when things are likely to change a great deal in the next ten years. If you move out, what are your chances of finding accommodation which will allow you to have a dog? Are your parents happy to have a dog living with them if not? If you're working full time (40 hours a week or more), will you be happy not socialising and coming home to spend time with the dog? If you're at Uni, how will you juggle study, work and a social life? You said you were originally planning to go overseas. Is that something you may want to do in the future? What about the dog then? Can your parents manage a large dog? An active dog? Are they prepared to? If so, what sort of dog? Are they prepared to pay the vet bills, food, boarding if you go on holidays? Will you or they get up to walk it before school, work or Uni? After work? In all weathers? I ask all of this because I work with Uni students. They have lives which are incredibly busy, changing, in flux. That's as it should be. But it's also a time when taking in a commitment like a dog isn't ideal without a great deal of support. Some people your age or a bit older do manage, but I think they are the exception rather than the rule. You may also be the exception, but I think you need to think through all if the above questions and talk about them with your parents. And to choose a dog which you all like. Or wait until you have the financial and social stability to support and manage a dog by yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 good for you in doing research :) Sounds as if the dog will be in your parents' care a LOT . This means that they also have a say in the breed- accommodation, house rules, all that stuff ..Something to consider ! THEY will be the ones who have to cope with a piddling pup inside --- the runs to the vet , the chewing of stuff .... Would you be willing to search for a young , but not puppy dog ? That way you and your parents would stand a better chance of a dog slotting in to the household with less drama ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dididog Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 I agree with Brandiandwe and definitely would suggest taking a hard think about it at your age, especially if your parents aren't huge dog people. I got my first puppy in the summer holidays between finishing year 12 and starting uni and while I managed quite well and my dog has an awesome life, I also still live at home and rely on my parent's support for her a lot. My biggest problem is moving out, I have faced the fact I will probably have to wait until I have finished uni (4 more years) and am working full time before I can afford to move out and support my dog. I won't be able to travel the world like most of my friends have. I can't go on uni camps or go on exchange without putting a lot of unfair strain on my parents. During my last end of semester assignments and exams I also at the same time came down with glandular fever and for that whole month I barely had time for my dog and relied on my Dad to walk her and am just lucky she isn't much of a handful. Right before the start of summer holidays my dog got an ear infection and I had to drop a fair bit of money that I would've enjoyed spending going out and buying clothes on her treatment and most money I have goes back to the dog. The fun social life I should be having as a student does not really exist, my free time is mostly spent with the dog. You get the point, the list of restrictions and complications goes on and I definitely would not have been able to deal with her initial puppiness while doing year 12. But despite all of those cons (with the exception of travelling) I wouldn't trade anything and don't regret getting her. However I only feel that way because I am quite introverted so spending all my time with the dog suits me, she is a very easy dog to live with and copes with me being too busy for her sometimes AND my parents are wonderful about picking up the slack sometimes and I know if it ever came down to it they would look after her if I could not. If you are dedicated enough I don't think your age should be a problem though, as I see it there is no 'ideal' time to get a dog. Dog ownership still complicates matters whether you're a student, working full time professional, have children or are retired and is much more about your individual circumstances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simply Grand Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 I can't remember if I've said it before or not but Terri, I want to be as wise as you when I grow up! (Yes, I am 35) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dee lee Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 My choice would be a Goldie, obviously. :D They are wonderful companions, love to be with their humans & have beautiful sweet natures. They definitely need a decent amount of daily exercise, but they are not overly energetic. The major downside I find is the shedding. In summertime, even with daily brushing (which I generally don't do), it's particularly relentless. Easy to sweep up though because it's long hair & it clumps together. I swear about it regularly, but to be honest, I find it's a worthwhile price to pay for such a wonderful dog. Their hair isn't known for causing asthma, but you probably should visit a breeder & check whether it does affect you. Too powerful? I wouldn't say so. While they can be strong (I've met some very big, powerful boys), they are generally pretty biddable as a breed & if you start training straight away, you shouldn't have a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batmanforever Posted January 6, 2015 Author Share Posted January 6, 2015 (edited) Thank you all VERY much! I will keep this all in mind when either choosing a breed or talking to my parents about it. Right now, I'm leaning to a golden retriever. Does anyone know more major cons of the retriever apart from the constant shedding, the health problems and the constant chewing on things? Edited January 6, 2015 by batmanforever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batmanforever Posted January 6, 2015 Author Share Posted January 6, 2015 good for you in doing research :) Sounds as if the dog will be in your parents' care a LOT . This means that they also have a say in the breed- accommodation, house rules, all that stuff ..Something to consider ! THEY will be the ones who have to cope with a piddling pup inside --- the runs to the vet , the chewing of stuff .... Would you be willing to search for a young , but not puppy dog ? That way you and your parents would stand a better chance of a dog slotting in to the household with less drama ... Where would you suggest I look for one? The 'Mature Dog' section of dogzonline.com? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 good for you in doing research :) Sounds as if the dog will be in your parents' care a LOT . This means that they also have a say in the breed- accommodation, house rules, all that stuff ..Something to consider ! THEY will be the ones who have to cope with a piddling pup inside --- the runs to the vet , the chewing of stuff .... Would you be willing to search for a young , but not puppy dog ? That way you and your parents would stand a better chance of a dog slotting in to the household with less drama ... Where would you suggest I look for one? The 'Mature Dog' section of dogzonline.com? That may help - or go to General Dog Discussion - and ask this as a new thread/post :) Explain that you are thinking of XYZ breed/s - and are seeking a young adult ? Once you decide on a breed - you may also find one on the pet rescue pages- or the pages of whatever breed it is :) an example- a Goldie rescue page HERE a Westie Rescue page , HERE Good luck :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dididog Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 I can't remember if I've said it before or not but Terri, I want to be as wise as you when I grow up! (Yes, I am 35) Haha SG, unfortunately I am literally the worst decision maker in the world so nothing to aspire to here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dee lee Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 good for you in doing research :) Sounds as if the dog will be in your parents' care a LOT . This means that they also have a say in the breed- accommodation, house rules, all that stuff ..Something to consider ! THEY will be the ones who have to cope with a piddling pup inside --- the runs to the vet , the chewing of stuff .... Would you be willing to search for a young , but not puppy dog ? That way you and your parents would stand a better chance of a dog slotting in to the household with less drama ... Where would you suggest I look for one? The 'Mature Dog' section of dogzonline.com? That may help - or go to General Dog Discussion - and ask this as a new thread/post :) Explain that you are thinking of XYZ breed/s - and are seeking a young adult ? Once you decide on a breed - you may also find one on the pet rescue pages- or the pages of whatever breed it is :) an example- a Goldie rescue page HERE a Westie Rescue page , HERE Good luck :) Oh yes, great idea, Perse! Batmanforever, 5 years ago, we adopted our Goldie when she was 2 years old from Golden Retriever Rescue. Best thing we ever did. :) I didn't want a pup (for various reasons) & GRR personally picked our beautiful dog to fit in with our young family. They could not have found a dog better suited to us. Cons of the breed? Aside from the shedding, I think they are pretty easy dogs to live with. I believe individual personalities dictate the more troublesome issues. My dog doesn't chew everything, but we are careful not to leave tempting items (such as textas and soft chewy plastic toys) lying around- in my experience most breeds have the potential for chewing, retrievers aren't necessarily known for it. In fact, most I know of prefer to (for example) carefully carry shoes around rather than chew them!! With the health problems, hips can be an issue, but by ensuring they don't carry extra weight & they are fit, my understanding is that goes a long way to assist in helping any potential problems developing prematurely. As my dog's breeding is uncertain, I make sure she is slim & exercised daily. So far so good, at nearly 8 she's still jogging with me. I can't think of any breed specific cons though. You get the full range of overly boisterous & destructive to calm & biddable in all breeds. I mostly chose to adopt an older dog to take a bit of the guesswork out of that. But the flip side of that is that my dog has her own nutty quirks that I possibly could have avoided by getting her as a pup & training her from the beginning. I wouldn't trade her for the world though. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batmanforever Posted January 6, 2015 Author Share Posted January 6, 2015 (edited) good for you in doing research :) Sounds as if the dog will be in your parents' care a LOT . This means that they also have a say in the breed- accommodation, house rules, all that stuff ..Something to consider ! THEY will be the ones who have to cope with a piddling pup inside --- the runs to the vet , the chewing of stuff .... Would you be willing to search for a young , but not puppy dog ? That way you and your parents would stand a better chance of a dog slotting in to the household with less drama ... Where would you suggest I look for one? The 'Mature Dog' section of dogzonline.com? That may help - or go to General Dog Discussion - and ask this as a new thread/post :) Explain that you are thinking of XYZ breed/s - and are seeking a young adult ? Once you decide on a breed - you may also find one on the pet rescue pages- or the pages of whatever breed it is :) an example- a Goldie rescue page HERE a Westie Rescue page , HERE Good luck :) Thanks a lot! That definitely sounds like a good idea. Edited January 6, 2015 by batmanforever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batmanforever Posted January 6, 2015 Author Share Posted January 6, 2015 Oh yes, great idea, Perse! Batmanforever, 5 years ago, we adopted our Goldie when she was 2 years old from Golden Retriever Rescue. Best thing we ever did. :) I didn't want a pup (for various reasons) & GRR personally picked our beautiful dog to fit in with our young family. They could not have found a dog better suited to us. Cons of the breed? Aside from the shedding, I think they are pretty easy dogs to live with. I believe individual personalities dictate the more troublesome issues. My dog doesn't chew everything, but we are careful not to leave tempting items (such as textas and soft chewy plastic toys) lying around- in my experience most breeds have the potential for chewing, retrievers aren't necessarily known for it. In fact, most I know of prefer to (for example) carefully carry shoes around rather than chew them!! With the health problems, hips can be an issue, but by ensuring they don't carry extra weight & they are fit, my understanding is that goes a long way to assist in helping any potential problems developing prematurely. As my dog's breeding is uncertain, I make sure she is slim & exercised daily. So far so good, at nearly 8 she's still jogging with me. I can't think of any breed specific cons though. You get the full range of overly boisterous & destructive to calm & biddable in all breeds. I mostly chose to adopt an older dog to take a bit of the guesswork out of that. But the flip side of that is that my dog has her own nutty quirks that I possibly could have avoided by getting her as a pup & training her from the beginning. I wouldn't trade her for the world though. :D Thanks dee lee! That makes me want a golden even more! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dee lee Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 (edited) Lol, I do lay it on thick a bit when it comes to my dog! :laugh: But I do want to temper my glowing review with a touch of general dog ownership reality- dogs are all very different & you have to be prepared to roll with various problems that do pop up. Even within one breed, no two dogs are the same & even if you end up with (and I hope you do) a gorgeous pup or dog perfect for you, that dog will at some stage cause you to have to deal with "something". It may be that a neighbour moves in with a roaming cat that stirs your dog up to bark & the neighbours complain, or that your dog ends up with hotspots, or develops a bad habit of humping others at the park, or any number of unanticipated naughty things. Trust me, there will be something... (eg my "perfect" dog chases sky writing!! ) so you just need to understand whether you get a Goldie or any of your other breed choices, you need to be prepared to deal with whatever pops up. But it will be worth it. :) Edited January 6, 2015 by dee lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hankdog Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Considering your stage in life I would be going with something robust and portable. Have you thought of a JRT? When I was a student many of my friends had them and they could lug them around anywhere although small they could keep up their owners all day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batmanforever Posted January 8, 2015 Author Share Posted January 8, 2015 Considering your stage in life I would be going with something robust and portable. Have you thought of a JRT? When I was a student many of my friends had them and they could lug them around anywhere although small they could keep up their owners all day. Not really, I don't know why, but they really freak me out and I feel really uncomfortable around them. Haha. But wouldn't a pug also be robust and portable? :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yonjuro Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 A miniture schnauzer should fit your requirements - they are great little dogs. You will have to clip them every 5 weeks as they shed very little :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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