Which breed should I get?

[katch_this]

I know you must all get sick of people asking this so I'll try and keep it short.

This will be my first dog but I have been dog sitting for a friend for over a year now and have had a fair bit of experience with dogs and trainig (My friend used to do obidience to a very high standard and she's been teaching me a bit)

I work in a fairly large workshop making marquees, the fabric side of them only, so although there's occasionally a bit of hammering it doesn't get too noisey or busy (there's only me and one other guy working there plus a couple of part-timers who come in through the week.)

My boss is very happy for me to have a dog there at work. Their irish setter used to come in untill she was sadly put down last year. Occasionally a 6month old springer spaniel comes in but thats not very often and he spends his time mainly in his crate.

There is also a cat but she pretty much just keeps away form the dogs, 'you don't bother me I won't bother you'!

My dog could be loose, tetherd (my spelling is terrible, I'm sorry) or in a crate depending on the dog / age

I'd love to hear opinions on what breeds might suit this lifestyle. I'd also like to do a bit of agility and/or obidience, but just for fun, not competitively.

Size of dog is only limited by having a small hatchback car and although work is only a 5-10min drive away I don't want my dog to be cramped.

Finally I have had mixed advice on whether it would be better to get a puppy so it can grow up used to my lifestyle, or an adult dog (possibly a rescue). (my boos is extremely understanding and would allow for puppy potty training time etc)

Sorry to have gone on, I hope you will give me your opinions, I hope I haven't missed out anything too crucial (probably have).

Thanks in advance
K_T

[brunosmom]

Hi K_T....:wave2: Welcome to the forum.....Labrador, Golden Retriever..spaniel...I always suggest rescuing...there are too many dogs put to sleep in shelters and rescues and not enough homes...everyone wants a pure bred puppy :(..local shelters are full of adult dogs that are already housebroke and that have already had training....:)

[katch_this]

P.s i live in the uk if that makes any difference, oh and I don't really want to spend more than £200 (£300 max) although I don't mind have a cross breed and not having a pedigree dog

[Kaos]

You need to decide roughly what size of dog you would like, then think about whether you want long or short hair (do you like grooming?), what sort of exercise would the dog get - do you like to walk fast for miles, or just amble quietly? Do you want to take part in any dog sports, do you relate to active playful dogs or more sedate types?

If you want to let us know the answers to these questions we would have a better idea of which breeds to suggest.

[Borzoi mad]

I too am in the UK and I would suggest a retired Grreyhound they make great pets o but I see where you work there is a cat you would have to ensure that the dog had been cat tested. or
a Whippet if you want a smaller breed. It is difficult as Kaos says to advise you without knowing a bit more about you and your lifestyle so you can match a dog to that. let us know and we can then perhaps help you further. And a big welcome to the forum.

[vagreys]

Just about any dog you get will absolutely love being nearby while you work. High-energy dogs need more exercise more often during the day, so if you don't have time to provide some exercise breaks, you might want to avoid a high-energy dog for your lifestyle.

If you want a dog that will be patient and quiet while you work, and you want to go low-maintenance on the grooming, then I suggest adopting a cat-safe retired racing Greyhound. The adoption fee should be within your spending limits, and you get a purebred rescue. I'll spare you the sales pitch, but it you'd like to know more, PM me.

If you want a dog that will be patient and quiet while you work, and you don't mind a little grooming, then an English or Welsh Springer would be worth considering. Excellent companions, obedient, quiet, and a nice size, so consider a breed rescue.

These are two that I think would do well for you, but there are many excellent choices. There are a lot of mutts out there just waiting for a home, and all would make excellent companions.

[katch_this]

Thanks for the advice so far. I'll try and answer a few of your questions:

I want a small-medium sized dog ideally (a small JR terrier upto maybe something like a big spaniel) although I would consider something bigger if it didn't mind travelling in a small car (e.g greyhound)

I don't want anything too hyper active although a bit of spirit is good because I want to do a bit or agility if I can.

I had seriously considered either a greyhound or a whippet (I was told greyhounds can't do agility, even just for fun- don't know if this is true?!?)

The only reason I am put off a greyhound or whippet is because I will only have a small enclosed run in my garden where they could be let off. (I was told sight hounds are not safe to let off leash in an area that isn't enclosed) So I am worried that he wouldn't get enough space to gallop in. I have plenty of fields and parks to walk a dog in, but they are not enclosed.

I don't want to do a huge amount of grooming but I don't mind a once a week good groom.

I am not into walking for hundreds of miles but a couple of good walks a day would be welcome, plus going out for a shorter one or two during the day if neccessary.

[Keiralinn]

Hi. Just an FYI for a group of dogs-terriers. I personally love them, but terriers, including JRs- LOVE to chase cats. That, and they enjoy digging to a large extent and are great escape artists.

Good luck!

[Kaos]

Not to everybody's taste, but poodles seem to fit your criteria. You can choose the appropriate size to suit, and they excel at dog sports like obedience and agility. They are very trainable so are likely to be able to be exercised off leash, and the smaller ones won't need a huge fenced area (assuming they are getting enough exercise on walks).

[Wags]

I just got a second dog as a companion for my nuetered male Rottweiler.

"Freddi" is a 7 month old, spayed female Sheperd/Akita cross ( more or less)
and will go maybe 60/70 lbs. when fully grown.
She is medium sized dog, and is very loving, & loyal. Quite content to be laying close by, but loves to play with my other dog, "Diesel", when he's into it.
Like most *working* type dogs, she needs to get out and run for a bit, and I take the two of them out twice a day for this.
Before, and after work, typically.

The advantage of getting a young/juvenille dog is that they are usually house-trained, but have not had too much time to develop bad habits; and will bond to you quickly.

Terriers are wonderful dogs, but are not as content to 'hang' with you, and are not "known" for their loyality and devotion. I hasten to add, that this is not to say terriers are NOT loyal, - it's just that they tend to have a "mind of their own".

Adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue agency, is a wonderful thing to do I.M.H.O.

Bottom line, - get a dog that you are comfortable with, and who is comfortable with you.
Remember too, that some breeds are not for 'everybody', Rottweilers, for example, and ex-track dogs, as nice as would be to rescue one, may not be the best choice either.

- good luck!

wags :cool:

[Cassiepeia]

Any of the spaniels would fit. :) Although they don't need intensive grooming you will have to make sure their ears are free of knots, but that's not difficult or time consuming. Apart from that just a good bi-weekly brush should do it. Although there a few that need a little more attention.
They're very calm, friendly dogs who tend to do well with cats and other dogs especially when raised with them.
And they're fantastic at obedience and agility.

Oh and can I say I LOVE your boss. What an amazing thing to be able to bring your dog to work like that. I'm so very jealous. :D

Cass.

[vagreys]

...I want a small-medium sized dog ideally (a small JR terrier upto maybe something like a big spaniel) although I would consider something bigger if it didn't mind travelling in a small car (e.g greyhound)...I had seriously considered either a greyhound or a whippet (I was told greyhounds can't do agility, even just for fun- don't know if this is true?!?)
Out of 27 hounds in the past two years, I've only encountered two that had any problem at all with travel in cars. I know folks who transport two Greys in a small Honda. Most Greys I've dealt with travel very well.

As for agility, I've personally observed Greyhounds participating in just-for-fun agility competitions and loving it. You can visit Never Say Never Greyhounds on the web and see someone who has multiple retired racers competing in agility. There are also champion flyball Greyhounds, and freestylers, and coursing (of...course).

The only reason I am put off a greyhound or whippet is because I will only have a small enclosed run in my garden where they could be let off. (I was told sight hounds are not safe to let off leash in an area that isn't enclosed) So I am worried that he wouldn't get enough space to gallop in. I have plenty of fields and parks to walk a dog in, but they are not enclosed.
Greyhounds and whippets are different. Whippets are more active and jump; they are not just small Greyhounds. It is true that sighthounds cannot safely be let loose in an open space, without running the risk of having them take off after something that catches their eye. I don't have a large yard, either - just big enough for my Greys to go out and do their business. I know lots of folks who keep Greyhounds in apartments, and have no yard, at all. I take mine on leashed walks in the neighborhood, daily. I had to work mine up from a 1/4 mile walk to where they are now (1-2 miles, twice daily). On Sunday mornings, early, I take them to the fenced dog park or ball field, so they can open up and run. Greyhounds love to run, but don't need to run. They are sprinters, not long-distance runners. Their exercise is over in a few minutes; in fact, it takes longer to get to the dog park than the time we spend there before the hounds are ready to go home. Retired racers are generally very good on lead, and your walks would be on lead.

Grooming a Greyhound is tough. They need a bath at least once or twice a year. They need a once-over with a hound mitt, weekly. They need their nails trimmed, periodically. They greatly benefit from having their teeth brushed, daily.

I won't kid you, though, Greyhounds are not small to medium-sized. They stand 28"-30" at the shoulder and range in weight from 60-80 lbs on average, with some being larger (up to 100+ lbs) and some being smaller (down to about 50 lbs) than those ranges. I know someone who has two retired racers and a whippet, in a one-room apartment. Each hound has a dog bed, and that's where they stay. They don't take up much room. If you have room for a dog bed and a pair of raised dog dishes, and you are willing to take your dog on leashed walks, you have enough room for a Greyhound.

[Chuy's dad]

Not sure if anyone suggested trying this, or maybe it was another thread.

http://www.k9country.com/perl/dogBreed.pl

[Cassiepeia]

That's a great breed selector test, Chuy's dad. :D

Cass.