Norfolkluegojnr
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| posted on 23/1/13 at 02:05 PM |
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Owning a Dog
Well, you lot seem to have the answer for everything 
Me and my little family feel now is the right time to enter into the wonderful world of dog ownership. Until mid last year, I had a lovely cat who
sadly got squashed 
I thought I'd ask LCB what they think about the impending dogging(?) (may have used that phrase wrong), as they've answered a lot of
questions for me in the last few years....
Firstly, we'd be looking for a puppy - we have an 11 month old little boy, and I wouldn't be comfortable bring a rescue dog into the
house, as much as I'd like too, you just don't know how they'll react with kids. Are we mad? a few people have mentioned puppies are
a lot like babies in the early stages - are they hard to house train etc? What the best way to approach stopping the inevitable poop-in-house?
Secondly, what breed? any to avoid? open to suggestions, but needs to be good with kids (i've been told we're having at least another one
 ), happy to go for walks (although i'm no marathon runner), but be calm enough to be by itself occasionally. My wife only works one or two
days a week, and will be home the rest of the time. Not too big, we live in a 3 bed semi, but have a good sized enclosed garden.
Finally, what kind of MPG should i expect? are there any hidden costs? i've rota'd about £50 a month, is this sensible or am I way off
base?
Please feel free to share all doggie stories, good and bad, plus pics too.
thanks 
[Edited on 23/1/13 by Norfolkluegojnr]
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theduck
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| posted on 23/1/13 at 02:21 PM |
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We have a Dalmatian that we got when she was 8 years old from a breeder. She had been a breeding bitch and had had her maximum litters so was rehomed
to us. She sleeps most of the day but still enjoys a good walk and a play. I would wholeheartedly recommend doing the same as a first time doggy
household. I had never had a dog before and was quite anxious about it, but I wouldn't be without her now.
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Slimy38
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| posted on 23/1/13 at 02:22 PM |
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Personally on that budget I wouldn't recommend anything pedigree. My sister pays that much just for pet insurance!!
There's also a big upfront saving with mixed breeds, although there are several 'trendy' mixes. Put pretty much anything with a
Poodle or Terrier and it becomes a fashion statement rather than a pet.
I'm about to start on what will be quite a mission to convince the other half that we want a dog, so I'll be keeping an eye on other
responses!
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Ivan
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| posted on 23/1/13 at 02:28 PM |
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We are big dog lovers and have always had a Corgi in the house, but would certainly not contemplate a puppy until the sprogs were at walking stage as
they (puppy's not sprogs) are also very demanding on ones time if you want them properly house trained and well integrated in the family and
also to make sure that it is properly socialised with other dogs.
I would not be too concerned about taking on a rescue dog if it was one of the smaller breeds, say less than 12 lbs and you took care to choose a
young and gentle dog that was willing to have a bit of a game, as you will want a dog that can rough house it with pre-schoolers and who won't
do too much damage if it snaps when they go too far.
Cost is also very size related in terms of feeding and mixed breeds are generally more robust and less likely to incur high vet bills.
[Edited on 23/1/13 by Ivan]
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Agriv8
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| posted on 23/1/13 at 02:29 PM |
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I would takle this another way.
What do you want the dog For ( comapnionship / Walks / Family pet ) ?
how long can you spend every day walking it ( & cleaning up after it ) ?
What will you do with it when you go on holiday ?
Have you had a dog before and who will train it ?
As anwsers to the above will assit in getting your anwer.
ATB Agriv8
Taller than your average Guy !
Management is like a tree of monkeys. - Those at the top look down and see a tree full of smiling faces. BUT Those at the bottom look up and see a
tree full of a*seholes .............
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Norfolkluegojnr
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| posted on 23/1/13 at 02:35 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Agriv8
I would takle this another way.
What do you want the dog For ( comapnionship / Walks / Family pet ) ?
All of the above. We're animal lovers at heart, and for the first time in my whole life (except uni) we're without a pet.
how long can you spend every day walking it ( & cleaning up after it ) ?
Probably an hour's worth of walking if i'm honest, more at weekends. The wife is at home all day most days, so it'll have plenty of
attention.
What will you do with it when you go on holiday ?
Two sets of parents who'd babysit, or preferably take him/her with us. not a fan of kennels, but if needs must. We only go on holiday once a
year at most.
Have you had a dog before and who will train it ?
Yes, but when we were both children. Training would fall to me i'd guess.
As anwsers to the above will assit in getting your anwer.
ATB Agriv8
Allq's answered! all responses so far appreciated.
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Alfa145
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| posted on 23/1/13 at 03:02 PM |
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Puppies require some dedicated training on a regular basis and if your missus is at home most of the time then she will be doing most of the basic
training. Find a local puppy class and attend that, its good for training tips and socialisation for the dog. To start with training isn't a
30min job each evening its every minute of every day while you're with the dog. Hard work, but very rewarding.
Main tip we had was with a pup, take it outside every 45-60mins for a toilet every day, whether it needs to or not. Ours picked up house training in
no time at all and we never had an accident in the house surprisingly.
Grab a magazine like "Your Dog" and read up in advance, loads of tips and advice in it.
Ours is now 16months old. Can run for hours or can be happily left all day if were both out at work, although if he doesn't get a walk he can
become a handful but luckily we have a decent garden to exercise him a little without having to go to the local fields.
Find a breader that asks you as many questions as you do them, a decent breeder will only let their pups go to decent people they have vetted
themselves. Always see the mum (and Dad if possible). Avoid puppy farms and people that don't let you see the mum.
If possible find one early like we did and we saw the pups being born and visited every week until we could take him home at 8 weeks.
This is our mutt (Lab cross Collie):
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Norfolkluegojnr
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| posted on 23/1/13 at 03:09 PM |
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lovely looking dog
thanks for the tips - I'll pass that on to the mrs. There is a training class only about 5 mins walk each week, so thats sorted.
Like the idea of the hourly toilet break - makes sense.
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nick205
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| posted on 23/1/13 at 03:16 PM |
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Don't rule out rescue dogs, just make sure you understand where they're from and why they're being re-homed.
To give an example, one of my folks current four dogs is a rescue Labrador. She was given up very unhappily by a family who had a drastic change of
circumstance and could not look after her. She is a joy to have and has played with my 3 kids from birth.
Agriv8s advice is spot on IMHO, answer the questions and you will be guided to the right sort of dog.
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T66
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| posted on 23/1/13 at 03:22 PM |
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Your children/child is not old enough to share the house with a dog.
A colleague a lot younger than me did this conversation with me about 2 years ago, he didnt listen and finds the dog a complete (but canny) pain to
walk and occupy while balancing a baby on his arm age 2.
It nipped the baby about 6 months ago, and he didnt listen to me then. Dogs are great family additions, but imho you need to wait till your through
the baby stage of your marriage before dogs ever become a consideration.
Taking the kids out in the countryside with your dog is rewarding and fun, but they need to be older so they also can be trained and coached how to
co-occupy the house with a dog.
My colleague is 30, the reason I spoke to him the way I did, was because at 30 I did exactly that, bought a German Shepherd with an 11 month in the
house. He was great around the house, and yes we got on with it, but with hindsight I should of waited till they were older. He actually was that
good, he stopped wagging his tail around them, as he knew he sent them flying !
Give it a few years, get the babies sorted and old enough to understand how to live with a dog. Ps make sure you do dog classes with a young pup, take
the kids - I did....
Sorry to put a damper on it, but there are decisions you make in life, that you wouldnt of with hindsight. Mine is free.....
Good luck with whatever you end up doing.
Ivan
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Norfolkluegojnr
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| posted on 23/1/13 at 03:22 PM |
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I've answered Agriv8's questions above - not sure i its clear?
thanks for the advice about rescue dogs - its the route i'd prefer to take, with some many needing homes already. All my cats previously came
from rescue homes.
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T66
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| posted on 23/1/13 at 03:23 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Alfa145
Puppies require some dedicated training on a regular basis and if your missus is at home most of the time then she will be doing most of the basic
training. Find a local puppy class and attend that, its good for training tips and socialisation for the dog. To start with training isn't a
30min job each evening its every minute of every day while you're with the dog. Hard work, but very rewarding.
Main tip we had was with a pup, take it outside every 45-60mins for a toilet every day, whether it needs to or not. Ours picked up house training in
no time at all and we never had an accident in the house surprisingly.
Grab a magazine like "Your Dog" and read up in advance, loads of tips and advice in it.
Ours is now 16months old. Can run for hours or can be happily left all day if were both out at work, although if he doesn't get a walk he can
become a handful but luckily we have a decent garden to exercise him a little without having to go to the local fields.
Find a breader that asks you as many questions as you do them, a decent breeder will only let their pups go to decent people they have vetted
themselves. Always see the mum (and Dad if possible). Avoid puppy farms and people that don't let you see the mum.
If possible find one early like we did and we saw the pups being born and visited every week until we could take him home at 8 weeks.
This is our mutt (Lab cross Collie):
He has A levels ! lovely dog ....
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Norfolkluegojnr
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| posted on 23/1/13 at 03:25 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by T66
Your children/child is not old enough to share the house with a dog.
A colleague a lot younger than me did this conversation with me about 2 years ago, he didnt listen and finds the dog a complete (but canny) pain to
walk and occupy while balancing a baby on his arm age 2.
It nipped the baby about 6 months ago, and he didnt listen to me then. Dogs are great family additions, but imho you need to wait till your through
the baby stage of your marriage before dogs ever become a consideration.
Taking the kids out in the countryside with your dog is rewarding and fun, but they need to be older so they also can be trained and coached how to
co-occupy the house with a dog.
My colleague is 30, the reason I spoke to him the way I did, was because at 30 I did exactly that, bought a German Shepherd with an 11 month in the
house. He was great around the house, and yes we got on with it, but with hindsight I should of waited till they were older. He actually was that
good, he stopped wagging his tail around them, as he knew he sent them flying !
Give it a few years, get the babies sorted and old enough to understand how to live with a dog. Ps make sure you do dog classes with a young pup, take
the kids - I did....
Sorry to put a damper on it, but there are decisions you make in life, that you wouldnt of with hindsight. Mine is free.....
Good luck with whatever you end up doing.
Ivan
Thank Ivan, I appreciate the honest advice - its exactly what I want to hear, all good and bad aspects. I'm not going into this blind, or
without thought, and If it means waiting a while, so be it.
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sdh2903
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| posted on 23/1/13 at 03:36 PM |
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Ivan I see where your coming from but it's not always the case, granted our Labrador was already here when our baby Lily arrived but now
Lily's 18months old they are inseparable. Walks are great, Lily enjoys the fresh air the dog enjoys the walk and its gets me off my arse. I am
lucky as there are loads of farm tracks within 5 mins of my front door.
Lily plays with the dog all the time and Oscar (dog) is always the first one on the scene if she starts crying. We've taught her not to go in
his bed as that's his little space and there's been no issues even when she tries to use him as a horse!
Steve
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Peteff
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| posted on 23/1/13 at 04:17 PM |
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I didn't see it anywhere else so I will say get a bitch. We don't have a dog any more but have had both dogs and bitches and bitches are
easier to train and don't have as much to prove. I've been walking a pair of Springer bitches for the last few weeks as my friend can
hardly walk after a back operation a few years ago and his wife fell and broke her leg a week before Christmas. They are a bit lively being ex working
dogs but they are so obedient. If I had another it would be a Collie cross as they are so eager to please, our last one never did anything naughty
from about 6 months old and she would wee on command in the garden at night before bedtime. She lived to 18 and was a lovely dog.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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plentywahalla
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| posted on 23/1/13 at 05:06 PM |
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We have been looking for another dog. We lost one before Christmas and the surviving one is wandering around looking lost and is demanding of
attention. Two dogs are better than one, as they entertain and exercise each other.
The sad thing is looking at the re-homing websites and seeing how many dogs are on there because the owners have 'a young family'. It must
be the majority reason, and causes are lack of time for the dogs needs, dog too boisterous for the little ones, kids developing allergies, and so
on.
I think that the comments above are all valid ... sadly.
Rules are for the guidance of wise men ... and the obedience of fools. (anon)
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dhutch
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| posted on 23/1/13 at 05:08 PM |
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We had a greatdane when I was a kid, I dont know exact dates, but as eldest of three I think she predated me by about two-three years.
She stood on me a fair bit when I was small, particuarly around the backdoor before walks, but only by mistake as she was otherwise very good with us.
I think I was about 8-9 when she was put down, which would have made my brother (youngest of the three) 2-3ish and we got a rescue dog fairly much
straight after that, a puppy fonud straying in the streets, presumed to be some sort of greyhouse/airedale mongrel thing. Greyhound size and shape,
but fully, and airedale colours, also very nice. Second dog saddly met and end during my a-levels and as both parents work full time and we have left
home, they are currently without do, as are we. Interestingly after 25years of living there in the last four years without a dog they have had four
breakings to the garage where before we had none. Both dogs spend the night in a kennal in a small compound outside as soon as they where but a puppy,
bar nights it was below -5 come putting out time.
I once got nipped by my grandads dog, another greatdane when we where house sitting him and I put my hand in his mouth. I wasnt as freindly as our
great dane because I put my hand in/around her mouth all the time... Remember it hurting at the time but in dont recall much blood and its left no
lasting damage!
Im a great beleaver in going for it anyway and hoping it will work out but cant speak from any exerience of raising a dog withs kids myself, other
than as one of the kids, as above.
Note to self, buy dog a year before your first child... :p
Daniel
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snakebelly
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| posted on 23/1/13 at 05:12 PM |
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Personally I would go anywhere other than a breeder of any pedigree type, most rescue centres have puppies or very young dogs, go for a cross breed,
lab + something is normally good as you get some of the labs easy going temperament with less of the health issues labs are known for. We have had a
lab boxer cross since a pup and he's fantastic, looks like the spawn of satan, has a bark to match but regularly gets beaten up by the cat, soft
as muck. He is 15 now and lost his lifetime chum, a lab Alsatian cross last year but is still soldiering on, we got him when our eldest was 3.
Whatever you get the amount of work you put into socialising and training is directly related to the kind of dog you will end up with. With very few
exceptions there aren't many bad dogs just badly trained/treated ones
HTH
[Edited on 23/1/13 by snakebelly]
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dhutch
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| posted on 23/1/13 at 05:15 PM |
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Also, you dnot really mention what the dog is for, other than to say your dog lovers. So I presume in effect, its in the main as a companion? This is
certainly all our dogs every really where.
With the greatdane my parents did consider showing her, but never really made the time. Ditto the second dog, where they considered doing dog handling
with her as she was button sharp, but also never made the time. Although both would reliablely walk at you heal, come when called, sit when a car
passed, run beside a bike, etc.
The great dane was fed on tripe from the butcher, the second dog on a 50/50 mix of biscuits and tinned meat. As far as I know neither had insurance
and the only significant vet visit bar putting down the greatdane was to banage the leg of other dog when she ran out of the front gate as it was
opened and had a minor run in with a car.
Daniel
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T66
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| posted on 23/1/13 at 05:17 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by sdh2903
Ivan I see where your coming from but it's not always the case, granted our Labrador was already here when our baby Lily arrived but now
Lily's 18months old they are inseparable. Walks are great, Lily enjoys the fresh air the dog enjoys the walk and its gets me off my arse. I am
lucky as there are loads of farm tracks within 5 mins of my front door.
Lily plays with the dog all the time and Oscar (dog) is always the first one on the scene if she starts crying. We've taught her not to go in
his bed as that's his little space and there's been no issues even when she tries to use him as a horse!
Steve
Steve your right, hear where your coming from.
My colleague asked what dogs were suitable, my advice was Labrador , something laid back who is happy to sleep and be discrete. Avoid terriers and
working dogs....
So he bought a Collie (shep style) really intelligent and boundless energy. If you went for a steady family dog, you would be hard pushed to beat a
Labrador. My GSD was good, but if he slept it was always on a trigger switch awaiting me standing up, if I did he did. He followed me everywhere.
My ex wife could tell a tale about the dodgy tea towel salesman knocking on the door, then becoming abusive when she said no thanks, he stupidly put
his foot in the door, and raised his voice. The trigger switch flipped, and Khan the 8st GSD pushed past and chased the bloke down the street.
So laid back dogs are the key if you do it now.
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plentywahalla
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| posted on 23/1/13 at 05:33 PM |
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If you go for it I would endorse the Labrador cross. The one who died before Christmas was a Lab/Collie and the surviving dog is a Lab/Springer. As
said before, you get the easy going docile nature of the Labrador without the hip problems and the overweight tendency.
Good luck.
Rules are for the guidance of wise men ... and the obedience of fools. (anon)
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froggy
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| posted on 23/1/13 at 05:41 PM |
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Having the time and patience for a baby and puppy seems like a stretch to me , a mature dog will know what's acceptable around a toddler but a
pup or adolescent dog would need supervising IMO .
I've recently taken on a rott/ Akita dog from a shelter with serious food aggression and nervous aggression that came from a family with a 13
month baby and another on the way . Sadly there are thousand of adolescent dogs in shelters for the same reasons .
[IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r187/froggy_0[IMG]
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Norfolkluegojnr
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| posted on 23/1/13 at 05:50 PM |
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Thanks everyone, all useful honest feedback - keep it coming.
My childhood dog was a lab cross, and I guess what I really want for my son is the bond I had with her. She was a wonderful friend and playmate, and
come into the house not awfully long after I did.
I appreciate all the feedback re timing though It was my only real concern;obviously my son is the most important aspect of my life and if it means
waiting a few years its not the end of the world. Love and attention wouldn't be in short supply, but if he was bitten badly I'd never
forgive myself.
I'll make sure the wife reads this too - why don't women have LCB style forums ill never know.
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dlatch
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| posted on 23/1/13 at 05:51 PM |
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had dogs all my life and they have all come from rescue centres, all of them are mutts or various cross types and all of them have been superb family
pets, never had any issues with them biting anyone or being vicious at all in my view there is not many bad dogs but plenty bad owners.
i would visit your local rescue centre as they could advise on a suitable mutt and there are sadly many out there desperatley needing a loving home so
it is win win imo
a bitch would prob be the best option though
 
Description
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morcus
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| posted on 23/1/13 at 06:07 PM |
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I'm going to go against what seems to common opinion and say, don't get a Mongrel. Dogs are of course individuals and everyone different,
but pedigree dogs are much more predictable and also don't buy a puppy without seeing the parents. Go and get a copy of 'What Dog'
if it's still in print, it lists a large number of breeds and tells you whats what and what to look out for along with alot of brilliant
infomation on how to look after dogs in general.
They don't have dogs any more but my parents have kept show dogs for less than £50 a month, including a rhodesian ridgeback which was a huge
dog. Insurance wasn't too bad, and covered alot because the dog was intended for showing.
I wouldn't get a small dog, from experience they always seem to be mean. Also avoid anything with out of proportion body parts as they're
very suseptible to damage, so big dogs with small legs, dogs with big ears, that kind of thing.
Have you got somewhere for the dog to sleep and if need be stay to be out of the way of the child?
As others said, I wouldn't want to raise a puppy with small children about.
In a White Room, With Black Curtains, By the Station.
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