Hi there all, I was wondering if I could get a bit of advice from you guys. I have just discovered the pet forum and I have found the posts really interesting.

I am thinking of getting a dog / puppy and I was looking for advice...

I want one who....
[LIST][*]Isnt in distress by being left alone (I am a teacher but could get home on lunchtime most days)[*]Is quite chilled out / likes sleeping [*]Affectionate[*]Good with kids[*]Doesnt bark loads[*]Short haired[LIST][*]Size wise, medium sized. [*]And cute![/LIST][/LIST]
Can anyone recommend a breed?

Or a good online breed type questionnaire?

Any advice would be v much appreciated!

Lab every time

Black.

Thats what one of my friends said too.

How much walking do they take?

Don't get a Shih Tzu whatever you do - a (first) cross terrier are great and clever, and usually portable!

And one question I forgot to ask...

Do I get a male or female?

Are males livlier?

Which is best and why?

I'd say don't get one at all if it's going to be left alone all day apart from lunchtimes 'most days'.

i've always been under the impression that males "wander"

and from getting a collie dog versus the bitch we already had, this rings true
as for affection between sexes if you ever wondered, he is currently about 2" away from my face wanting hugs & will jump into your arms on command for the same

generally too, bitches (when spayed) tend to out live entire dogs, and neutered dogs actually have a shorter lifespan, in some cases
males tend to be easier to find than bitches, however (and can be cheaper)

any dog, if introduced to being left for a while most days adapts to it really well.
we have always done this, combined with periods when someone is always in and they've all been fine with it

if you're looking for a short haired breed for the grooming side, i would bear in mind the utter difficulty that comes with trying to brush the loose out of a labrador
never works
i look after a yellow for a family friend and whenever she's been round we've ended up with beige carpets :-/


generally, yes. but for this they could employ a dog walker, or simply ask a friend if they would go spend an hour or so with the hound whenever possible.
i do this (for the lab mentioned above) for a lady who works from 8 am until 6 pm monday to friday
we walk her , then bring her back around to my house to play with the boy for a while

I agree, especially if it a puppy or a younger dog.

From your checklist, I would suggest an older rescue greyhound. Very chilled, and despite common misconceptions don't need a lot of exercise.

How about a retired greyhound, very laid back until they spot a rabbit! Loving, docile, friendly and in need of a good home. Plus a puppy of any type isn't suited to a home where they are left alone.

I see your point definitely.

But I have a colleague who has a happy dog and she does the same. I work 2 miles from work so I can get back no problems at all. I also ive v v near a huge park so walking not a problem.

Also, when I plan to get a pup, I will time getting it with the start of the summer holidays, so I will be able to dedicate pretty much 2 solid months to it...

Was going to suggest the same. We got ours back in June. He has a few problems like being out on a walk for too long. We have discovered he was with a family before us and they just dumped him back the the shelter one day. I think he thinks he's not coming back when we go out. They require little excercise as they use up all their energy in shorts burts like going round the garden and 40mph. You could not ask for a better dog around kids. But like any breed, don't leave them alone with younf children.

A retired greyhound ticks every box except size - though you can get smaller greys. And 'medium' is relative - they are smaller than Irish Wolfhounds Or perhaps look at Lurchers - again from a good rescue that fosters its dogs as they'll be able to tell you about the personality.

I've had bad experiences with Labs temperament wise (admittedly entire males) so I shouldn't really comment. But yes - they cast terribly!!!

A pup wouldn't be suitable with your work pattern unless you time it to start at the beginning of the summer school holiday and employed a dog walker when you go back. In which case I would say Staffie (Staffordshire Bull Terrier) from a reputable breeder (if you want a pedigree) who has performed all health tests and bred for temperament.

Of course, I could push my favourite - the Glen of Imaal Terrier If you aren't showing, keep them clipped out (though the grooming is an easy 5 mins a day) - ticks all your boxes

i too would look at retired grehounds or lurchers as being out all and coming back only at lunch will be hard for a lot of breeds i am not saying they dont get used to it they do but with pups and younger dogs it is very hard and demanding.

personally i would not get a lab and leave it for that long they are eating machines and get bored easily and you could end up with either a lot of damage to your house or a very ill lab.

I would really think about the exercise you are going to be able to give consistently as dogs vary widely dependant on that requirement

Please consider a rescue dog. There are many many breeds in rescue and a good rescue will be able to match you and your lifestyle up with the right dog.

The breed is less important than the dog's temperament & history. At least if you get an older rescue dog you know what you are getting. Any problem behaviours will be pointed out to you or dealt with. With the best will in the world a puppy can develop problem behaviours that could be hereditary or to which it is genetically pre-disposed.

As for the dog being left alone for part of the day, why not get 2 dogs that are already friends so that they are company for each other when you're not there. I'm not saying this is without potential problems but we need to remember that dogs are social species & social isolation is unnatural for them. Having a trusty companion around can sometimes make all the difference to how a dog copes in life.

I think you're going to struggle to get a dog that matches all of your requirements

Retired greys do love to sleep, are great with kids, have short coats and don't tend to bark. Their prey drive also varies so if you get a dog that isn't suitable for racing as it won't chase the lure, you might not have many problems in terms of them trying to charge off anywhere.

However, exercise will depend on the dog itself. We were told twenty minutes in the morning and twenty at night as a standard exercise pattern. I've seen greys lie down and refuse to walk another step if their owners try and go beyond this. Our girl, however, would walk and walk and walk forever if she could and is very restless in the house if she only gets twenty minutes walk of a morning.

Greys also sometimes need to be shown how to play as it doesn't come very naturally to them. This can be quite a disappointment if you have children who want to be running about throwing balls for them and things. Our dog is only interested in chewing fluffy squeaky toys, if a ball gets thrown she's not in the slightest bit concerned about it.

One last thing, though, is that when we got ours, we were very carefully vetted by the Retired Greyhound Trust who seem rather strict about ensuring the dog isn't left alone for more than five hours a day. So that might be something you need to consider.

I dont think the OP would be able to get a rescue dog due to the ours she is working.

I tried once, and because the dog would be left alone for 2 short days a week .... they wouldnt let me.

I would like to put a word in for Golden retrievers (I know you said short haired but they match all your other requirments so thought id suggest them anyway)

I have a golden retriever (Female) and she is a little angel. Weve had her since she was a puppy and was easily trainable, she is now very obidient(sp?) and can do most 'tricks' (a good one for the kids they love it).

She was left home alone and let out at lunch time and then when we got back from school for a good few years. (My mums a childminder now so works from home but shes still fine being left all day on her own)

She is the most chilled out dog ever. She can be quite lazy and will happily sleep all day, although is equally happy to go out or play. Shes so lazy she sometimes doesnt even move for the kids who end up running her tail over with pushchairs and what not, to which she doesnt even lift her head lol.

She has to be the most affectionate dog in the world, i call it soppy she always loves a cuddle.

She never barks we used to think she never had a bark. (she does bark on command thou)

Now with kids - I have never known a dog so well behaved around kids, as i said my mum is a childminder plus i have a 5 year old sister. The childminding kids are forever stroking her and hugging her, playing with her toys with her. She knows the difference, if i play tug a war with her she pulls like mad yet give it to a young child and she pulls ever so gently. Its actually adorable to watch her with them. My mum once went into the kitchen and she was curled up with 3 of the kids on her bed with her. My 5 year old sister always holds her lead on walks and she always walks nicely beside her. One of the childminding kids was terrified of dogs when they started, now they adore her and their parents are thrilled to bits. As the young girl used to be quite difficult as wouldnt go near dogs at all, they were so happy they bought my dog an Xmas pressie. Basically she is an absolute diamond with kids.

As i said she is not short haired but very easy to brush literally takes 5mins and she loves it. My dog fitted all your other requierments so well i had to suggest them. Now ive had a Golden retriever i will never go back

Go to the dogs home/rspca and find a perfect little Mongrel and one that bonds best with yourself/family.

Do not go out and 'buy' a dog when there are so many needing a decent life.

Also Mongrels are normally alot cheaper on vets fees and tend to have less 'pure-breed' issues. Thats just my experience though.

Completely agree -no good rescue would give a dog in those circumstances and with very good reason.

most of the time our dog is left all day, but she is with us the rest of the time, we take her to friends houses and she sleeps in our room.
When she is left, she doesnt tear anything up, we leave the tv on for her with biscuits, water and toys, so as far we know she is fine. Considering we found her tied up starving to death under a tree, she is having a much better life than what she was going to have or the possibility of being destoyed if she was to get handed in to a home.

After re-reading more carefully (oops!) I would also recommend this.

The only pet that really fits your requirements is a Cat

Yep a cat sounds the best fit!!
However you sound very 'green' about dogs - to have to ask about dogs that fit that list of requirements is imho somewhat silly!
There is so much more to dog ownership than finding one tailor-made
What next? Babies to order??

I have to confess that when I read your list I instantly thought you should get a cat too

At first I agreed that you should get a cat, but then decided that if you were an unsuitable owner for a dog then you'd be no better for a cat!