If you need urgent support, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. To contact our Crisis Messenger (open 24/7) text THEMIX to 85258.
Options
First Dog.
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
in General Chat
I've always grown up with dogs, my mum bred Lhasa Apsos, Pugs, Chihuahuas, Yorkshire Terriers - all sorts.
I'll be moving out of my appartment into a proper house in April, and am looking to by my first dog of my own. Since I've grown up with a range of such small dogs, I'm looking for something at least as big as a Lhasa, but not really much bigger than a Labrador.
Taking into account a combination of how good pets they make, along with to a certain extent how popular they are, ie. no obscure Italian breeds no-one has heard of, which breeds would you recommend?
I'll be moving out of my appartment into a proper house in April, and am looking to by my first dog of my own. Since I've grown up with a range of such small dogs, I'm looking for something at least as big as a Lhasa, but not really much bigger than a Labrador.
Taking into account a combination of how good pets they make, along with to a certain extent how popular they are, ie. no obscure Italian breeds no-one has heard of, which breeds would you recommend?
0
Comments
If you were prepared to go bigger I would say a Rhodesian Ridgeback.
I'd agree with that, or get in touch with the RSPCA who can give you names of "foster" parents who are keeping dogs (either with puppies, or about to have) in your area.
If you want a thorough-bred my preference would be Lab or Golden Retriever.
briggi, I was looking into Golden Retrievers, they seem quite what I'm looking for. Anyone have a Boxer?
Yeah. He's called Ricky Hatton and loves being scrathed behind the ears.
I've got a cavalier king charles. They're lovely but they can have knee problems and heart problems...mine has both but he's coming up on 11 years now. The knee problems he's had since he was a pup though and it was £1000 worth of operations...
As far as I've heard boxers are great and really playful but they need a hell of a lot of excercise and have a habit of completely shredding your house and everything in it! Not one to be left alone at all!!
Get a West Highland Terrier. They're small, cute and friendly :yes:
Thanks :thumb:
We had one when I younger and usd to take her beating. Lovely dogs but it's quite common for the to suffer terrible arthritis when they're older. Long hair means they take quite a bit of maintenance too.
My mates got a couple of boxers and they're quality dogs. Dopey as fuck but very funny. They suffer from breathing problems and don't live all that long unfortunately.
:yuck:
Get a Staffy or an English Bull Terrier.
Yeah, that's the thing I remember most about childhood...my mum complaining about the dog hairs everywhere! They are very good-natured I've found (in my experience anyway) maybe even to a fault, although ours seemed to lack any sense at all which is uncommon - and got run over when she was 5.
Little_one, Irish Setters are gorgeous dogs but the ones I've "known" have been the dopiest, friskiest dogs around. Whether or not that's a bad thing is up to the individual.
With golden retrievers and labaradors, your going to have an 18 month maturity period but they respond very well for training. However, both are heavy shedders!
Springer spaniels make excellent pets but they need a HELL OF ALOT of exercise. They are mad, funniest dogs ever. Border collies are similar in temperament and amounts of exercise.
Cocker spaniels make good pets but are prone to obesity if owners have no self control and feed them treats all day.
As for staffordshire bull terriers, if you have been used to tiny little dogs its a difficult dog to deal with. they are extremely strong willed and if your not 100% confident with them they will take advantage and do what they want. Ive worked in kennels and rescue centres, the amound of staffies and staffie crosses is unbelieavable. And they all had behaviour problems because their owners we not consistant with training.
we've got a beagle, and they're nice if you like a dog who likes exercise but is placid at heart. they're pretty, friendly and a nice size, but they moult like nothing else, and have a tendency to get really fat if you're not strict with treats.
My dad's family had Irish Setters when he was younger. One of them was so dopey, he sat down to beg for a biscuit and kind of went backwards as he did so, and ended up sitting in the fire... he didn't notice until he got up again! Silly dog.
Staffys are cool, my friend's staffy is mental, really energetic.
What about a border collie? That's what I'd choose. Or a Dacshund because they are all wriggly!
If not, a whippet like LadyJade said. They're fabby