Which dog?

[dogshopping]

Just about to move back home. Promised the kids a dog. Northern Europe climate, detached house with about 0.6 acre garden. We will be living amongst countryside and near a big field so we can take the dog out for a run around frequently. We want a dog that is child friendly (4 and 7 year old),that doesn't molt too much. Other criteria is that whilst we are not looking for a guard dog, I'd like a dog that can make a bit of a fuss if an intruder comes along. I will be spending a lot of time working in my house alone and I would like to feel a bit safer with the dog around. I am not keen on dogs like Dobermans, Rottweilers, Labradors or Pitt Bulls. I like long haired German Shepherds! I have done a few online questionnaires and they keep telling me to get a miniature schnauzer! But then that was based on living here.

Any ideas on a suitable dog for our family? I'd like to put a lot of thought into it, before we decide on the dog. We will not be buying it here so any advice on where to get recommended dogs in the UK would be great. When I was a child we did have a dog for a long time but we found it when it was a few days old abandoned in a  plastic bag with the rest of it's dead litter. Sniff, we loved that dog for 15 years   So obviously I do not know the first thing about getting a dog.

[Old Mike]

The china dogs are the best for Singapore conditions. The dog has his paw on a ball, the bitch on a puppy, They come in all sizes.

[Belgian Shepherd]

Nuff said

[Wlt]

Labradoodles.  Come in three sizes and twelve colours.  
Saw some in greenwood avenue, near a pet shop.  Very cute, great fun.

B

[Ruff Times]

Dogs 101 is a good show to watch about different dog breeds - you may be able to catch some of the shows on youtube - they used to show it on Animal Planet but not sure if it's on at the moment.

Anyway, some of the things I've discovered through having my own dogs and watching shows like that are things like:

- Greyhounds make excellent pets, and contrary to popular belief don't require a lot of exercise (they run and run for about half an hour and then sleep for 2 days........whippets are similar).  Greyhounds aren't particularly good guard dogs though, they're too dim to notice anything unusual going on 

- Terriers are often purchased by people who think 'small dog, less exercise' and they couldn't be more wrong.  You take a terrier on a 5 mile walk and get home, then 10 mins later it'll want to go out again - they are yappy though and likely to notice anyone within a mile radius of your house 

- Dobermans, Rotties and Pitbulls are lovely dogs given a bad press because of people training them up for all the wrong reasons.  However, I have to say that with kids, probably not the best idea because if a dog like that does suddenly bite then it's going to do damage.  Best for older people I always think.

- Chow Chows are apparently not good with kids (they're quick tempered), likewise Chihuahuas, Yorkshire Terriers and surprisingly Dalmations.  The little dogs have Napoleon complexes and Dalmations can be skittish.

- German Shepherds are supposed to be good, Labradors (or doodles), Wowzers (Schnauzer/Westie crosses), Retrievers, Boxers, pugs.

If you're getting the dog when you get back to Europe you may even be able to get one from a shelter.  A friend got a Lurcher pup from a shelter and it was a lovely dog - very lovable but a 'sight dog' breed so slightly dopey (sight dogs seem to get themselves into all kinds of trouble, always falling into rivers and down holes etc, but they're very nice natured dogs).

[Mixed breed]

If you want a dog that also protects you when necessary and you like German Shepherds then you've almost answered your own question... the big problem with German Shepherds though are their hips, HD is something that most of them get at some point. I love them too, but personally I would never get a pedigree dog, because of all the breeding problems. Our dog is a Husky/German Shepherd cross. It's my second one, they are incredibly strong, agile and he'll definitely bark when something happens. He's fab with kids, listens well, is very loyal and calm. You see quite a few of these types of crosses and I couldn't recommend it more.... first stop I would make if I was you was the SPCA. (pls don't get a labradoodle, they are silly and all over the place)

[Mixed breed]

Dear Op, if you go to google uk and you google adopt a dog you'll get plenty sites! Happy hunting!

[snoop dogggy]

A Labrador or if you are energetic and like walking a lot, a dalmatian !  If you have energetic kids, the dalmatian should help to tire them out !!

[Mixed breed]

Don't you guys read the original posts? She wrote she doesn't like Labradors. She also wrote that she wants a dog that will make a bit of a fuss when an intruder comes along... so no Dalmatian then, hey? D'oh.

[googly]

google 'animal planet dog breed selector'.  you put in what you're looking in a dog and it'll come up with a list of breeds for you.

[English Springer Spaniel]

Mental as anything, great fun and will bark at strangers

[OP]

If you want a dog that also protects you when necessary and you like German Shepherds then you've almost answered your own question... the big problem with German Shepherds though are their hips, HD is something that most of them get at some point. I love them too, but personally I would never get a pedigree dog, because of all the breeding problems. Our dog is a Husky/German Shepherd cross. It's my second one, they are incredibly strong, agile and he'll definitely bark when something happens. He's fab with kids, listens well, is very loyal and calm. You see quite a few of these types of crosses and I couldn't recommend it more.... first stop I would make if I was you was the SPCA. (pls don't get a labradoodle, they are silly and all over the place)

I like the sound of your cross breed German Shepherd. I am not really into pedigree dogs or designer dogs (sorry!) as I call them. We had a good old mongrel when I was a kid and we loved that dog. It was a cross between a pointer and a whippet! There is a great story of the dog barking and scaring away a burglar and when the police came they found footprints leading up to the door and then turning around and heading back over the fence. What a funny sight. I'd never expect a dog to protect me, but I would want it to bark/ growl if it thought someone was around the house.

Thanks for all the great recommendations.

[ittybittyspider]

check out the pound or local shelter...I'm sure they'll have a puppy or dog that would fit your criteria. Please don't go to a pet shop- only backyard breeders and/or puppy mills (aka 'greeders') would sell to a pet shop. greeders don't breed for health or to the actual standard of the dog..they just want to produce and make money.  that's seriously the worst place to buy a dog- and it could cause a lot of heartache and vet bills down the road.

On another note-What is up with all these miniature schnauzers here? whew- that is one seriously UGLY animal. I can't bear to even look at one and they're all over the place here.

I'm thinking that it's just because someone bred a boat load of them and people just aren't 'thinkers' in general so they get what everyone else gets, because NO personality in the world could make up for that dog's looks- they look frightening.

[not here]

check out the pound or local shelter...I'm sure they'll have a puppy or dog that would fit your criteria. Please don't go to a pet shop- only backyard breeders and/or puppy mills (aka 'greeders') would sell to a pet shop. greeders don't breed for health or to the actual standard of the dog..they just want to produce and make money.  that's seriously the worst place to buy a dog- and it could cause a lot of heartache and vet bills down the road.

On another note-What is up with all these miniature schnauzers here? whew- that is one seriously UGLY animal. I can't bear to even look at one and they're all over the place here.

I'm thinking that it's just because someone bred a boat load of them and people just aren't 'thinkers' in general so they get what everyone else gets, because NO personality in the world could make up for that dog's looks- they look frightening.

They're buying it when they move back to Europe, not here.  Countries in Europe often don't sell dogs at pet shops - you have to go to a breeder or a shelter.

[Dr. Phil]

If the dog will be close to children better steer clear of the pound because you don't know what past suffering the dog has been subjected to, therefore you can never be sure it will be safe with the children.

You want a smart dog not a killer dog. The best in my experience is the border collie. These dogs are very protective, good with children and loyal. They can make a noise and will even attack an intruder. Remember dogs need attention and exercise.