Which dog?

[Glutton4...]

Golden Retrievers are the bestest dogs in the whole wide world! Fact. However, they do 'shed' but if you groom them, you can keep on top of it - it really isn't difficult. I have a friend with a Fox Terrier, and he doesn't chase her Chickens, because she has trained him not to. My Goldie, on the other hand regularly bounces up to my Chooks' electric fence and goes WOOOOOOF! and they just stare at him He would chase them if he could, but we'll get there.

I like most breeds, but grew up with Goldies, and that's where I'll stay.

[cardiffsteve]

All I can say is Ahhhhhhhh!

[Curlykale]

Oh my, all your replies have made me smile - there are some seriously loved dogs out there! Thank you for sharing your lovely stories and gorgeous photos. I agree with the comments about training with discipline and love, and letting the dog knows who is boss, and do understand that all dogs have their own characteristics and faults and don't come with any guarantees! I grew up with dogs but they were all rescue dogs and all had 'baggage' of some sort, and I am a bit anxious about getting a dog whose history is unknown when it will be around children a lot. Also, our local rescue centres are full of staffies and not a lot else. If I end up as a dotty old lady living on my own I will have a house full of hairy slobbery dogs (including my own secret favourite Golden Retriever), but as I currently have an OH to consider, who never had pets until he met me and has only just come round to the idea of ANY dog, we have to start small! What ever we decide to get, it will certainly be well loved, whatever its character and foibles!

[cardiffsteve]

If you have their foibles removed it makes them less aggressive, apparently.

[Curlykale]

Cardiffsteve - what breed are those little teddy-bears? They are ADORABLE!

[Feral007]

When we brought home our we were given some information about how to manage him. It was stuff from some american guy who I can't remember the name of now.

One of the things they said was that the children needed to feed the dog not just the adults. And that the dog had to be fed after the family sat down to dinner so that he realised 'the whole pack' ate first before him. My daughter was cute - when I set her to feed him, she was only 4, so I was in the kitchen doing things and she was outside the glass door - I looked up wondering what was taking her so long and she was sitting there with the teaspoon and the can of dog food. He was sitting quivering in front of her as she held out each teaspoon and he ate it off it, and sat quivering for the next one. And of course, she was chatting to him the whole time!

The other thing that was mentioned, and also by our dog trainer (we took him to adult classes for a course) was that young dogs learn to mouth rather than bite at a certain age. I don't remember if it had to do with them being taken from their family early or not, but they said that a dog that had not learned to play/grab without force was always a danger esp round kids. Ours was good. Altho he did get stressed if anyone tried to pick him up he would make a snap at you but not ever break the skin, rarely even made contact with the skin in fact.
The shelters ought to be able to help you assess what the dog has been through. And whether they are likely to be safe or not.
The problem for us and shelters was that we wanted to take them all home - all those sad eyes! Torture.

[julesapple]

I guess you could always get a Benji dog



This my Mum's wee dog. He's a ShihTzu with a sensible haircut. He's very gentle, loves kids and is doing a good job of keeping my APs on track. Found my Dad's lost mobile phone the other day - it was tucked into a pocket of a suitcase, he could hear it beeping for low battery but they couldn't, so he stood and barked at the suitcase until they looked inside.

[kentishgal]

Another breed that hasnt come up yet is Mini Schnauzer. They fit all the criteria and are supposed to be fun, adaptable little dogs.
(I love Benji!! so cute....will def be getting a Shih Tzu one of these days)

[Mikey]

I was offered a spanial x jack russell cross yesterday, 10 weeks old, what on earth would it be like. I haven't seen one?

[veggiechicken]

Who knows what it would be like but it sounds like a good mixture.

[ancee]

Well,3 years ago we got our first ever family pet - a dog Bob. He is now three and weighs 42k. He has the best temperament ever and everyone who meets him - after they get over their racism/dogism loves him and can't beleive what a gentle soul he has. For my own peace of mind I never leave him with other peoples small children for fear he may smack them with his ever wagging tail or squash them when he tries to sit on their knees.We got him when our 2 children were teens so that they could help with him (he is their best pal) - so he is madly in love with any teenager he meets, his mantra is a stranger is just a friend I haven't met yet! Try and guess his breed?

[veggiechicken]

I thought Rottie but do they have tails?

[taff]

let's not guess, it'll all go bad again.....

[veggiechicken]

let's not guess, it'll all go bad again.....

I like all breeds of dog - its some of the owners I can't stand!!

[cardiffsteve]

Cardiffsteve - what breed are those little teddy-bears? They are ADORABLE!

They are cavoodle puppies. Enjoy