Hi All,

What are people opionions regarding a first dog, I am able to think about getting one from May time, but i am unsure about which breed to get,

I am not to bothereed about size, really love border terriers (but wouldnt have one for various reason no ofence to anyone!) and Goldies but fancy someting a bit more mad than a goldie but about the same size!

Grooming wouldnt bother me and there will be pleantly of time for walks and i am willing to put the time and effort in to having a well trained socialised dog so there are no worries there!

What would people advise? I am not into slobbery dogs tho or dogs with pointy ears although i dont like droppy ears :-) maybe kinda small flappy ears!!!!!, and i wouldnt mind having a go at showing!

Hope someone can advise me!

Joanna xxxxxxx

Make sure that you do loads of research on whatever breed you decide to get. I am completley in love with my Bullmastiff and she is fantastic, very loyal, loving and I wouldn't have any other breed but thats me :D Why not register with CD you can then ask as many questions as you like and get some really helpful advise.
Good Luck with your search
Kelly

As Kelly says do lots of research first .
A dog will be living with you for a long time so you need to know that you have made the right choice .
Maybe make up a list with all the things you are looking for in a dog - colour/size/how much exercise it will need/the type of temperament it has / etc etc and then read up on some breeds that fir into the catergorys you are looking for .
What about visiting crufts and getting an idea from speaking to people there . You sometimes learn more from speaking to dog owners than reading a book about a breed
I posted a thread re; what made people choose the dogs they have - maybe that will give you some tips
We chose a Staffy because they are so good with people and children , energetic outside but couch potatoes inside and they just are so much fun to be with although they are quite strong and need lots of discipline
:D
Lel

Hi Joanna!
Well you certainly have a lot of choice!!!

I found the kennel club website very helpful for research, because each breed is listed along with likely temperament, amount of excercise required, etc, and it also shows size likely to grow to, along with registered breeders details on every breed so that once you have decided what breed to go for, you can get a lovely healthy one! Best of luck, The deciding and looking is very exciting! (we have only had our pup for two weeks, a miniature daschund, very lovely!!!)

Best, Jools

Hi Joanna, I wouldn't normally recommend one for a first time dog, but if you are willing to put the time and effort in and want a bit more of a challenge then how about a Dobermann. There are plenty of breeders that could give you help and advice. Be warned though they are definately not for the faint hearted.

Good luck

Clair
xxx

ive just got my first dog, a mad Dobermann and have never met a dafter dog (apart from my mums staffy)she has given me so much fun at shows and at home. the only problem with her is she is so spoilt. Which ever dog you get make sure you do lots of training and get along to your local ring craft.
bye joze

I am predujiced as we got ours 3 months ago but an Old English sheepdog ! Apart from the floppy ear bit this would fit your requirements! they are mad and stay puppy mentality for quite a few years but are also fast learners (house trained in 9 days!) and willing to train for their owner as they are dedicated dogs.

For general everyday grooming they are not the work up that a show dog would require though if you wanted to show!

Exercise is not as great as other breeds of this size, a bitch would be about the same as a Labrador in height (I think!)

I could go on and on but having done 2 years of research before we committed ourselves I feel loike I have digested the book on OES !!
at one stage we did short list a few others Italian Spinnone is another lovely breed and giant schnauser (although a breeder told me this is not a breed for the novice owner! so that one got crossed out !) Bouvier De Flambres (but they have a terrible wind problem I was told!)

I think it depends what you want from your pet, we were restricted because Macho hubby would not have a small breed whish is a shame as there are several I would of looked at !

Good Luck!

Jude

If you want something a bit more mad than a Goldie - you need a flatcoat!!! (Yes - it was me that said it!)

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Hi Jude,
This has got me really puzzled - can anyone help? You said that an OES bitch would be about the height of a labrador...seemed odd to me...I know they have a lot of coat which makes them look bigger than they are, but I would have said an OES is way bigger than a lab....looked in all my books...help! One book says 22+ inches for a bitch, another says 26 inches for a bitch Four inches is a huge difference - which is right?

Hi Joanna

Of course, ALL of us on this board are prejudiced - we ALL have the best possible dogs, and EVERYBODY should have the same breed as ours! I would suggest that if you can, you take a trip to Crufts, and look at the Discover Dogs stands - you will find examples of most breeds on display, with owners, who can tell you about the pros and cons of each breed - then you will find you are confused even more!

Margot

LOL Loki's Mum, I think my breed the perfect family companion, but restrain myself from saying so. I always say to posts like this One mans meat is another mans poison.

Couldn't live with some peoples idea of an ideal dog (some have already been mentioned:D) and I am sure some people would through theri hands up in horror at the suggestion that my breed is the best"!!!! :D :D

Ideal opportunity, get yourself to Crufts!!! It is on from 6 to 9th March at the NEC Birmingham, and the Discover Dogs section will have examples of all the KC recognised breeds on show with their owners to give warts and all advice on their best breeds!

Well the books I have read state a bitch can be 22inch if a small one & 26" if a large one so yes there can be a difference of 4 inches!! Our boy is large! his mum was a large bitch and he seems to have inherited this as he is tall & heavy at 4 months! Well Iused to think he was heavy until someone posted on here about their Newfoundland puppy!! roughly the same age & about 10 pounds heavier! That is anothe rLOVELY breed for playfulness but I believe they drool afair bit

I think the Crufts idea is a really good one! Since getting monty I stop & chat to so many dogs these days and every time I walk away thinking oh I love that one and so on and so on! I reckon if we had space that I would have about 10 different breeds already!

It is very true to say what suits one wont suit another with regards to breeds though, most dog owners we know think we were mad for getting an OES size, hair, boisterousness etc & all kept trying to guide us towards their breed & it was a very hard decision to make when so many experienced dog handlers were laughing at us or warning us off this breed.

Isnt this fun!! and time consuming researching etc !! once you get pup it will be even more LIFE consuming !!!

have fun!

Why not go here and have a go at the Select-a-Dog questionnaire?

M.

Hmm ..I just went and did that questionnaire for a giggle :) I answered as though I already had an Alaskan Malamute (in order to sway the answers) ...I said I wanted a Large to Giant breed for example. Anyway ..the top 10 answers for me were:

Australian Terrier
Border Terrier
Fox Terrier
Irish Terrier
Papillon
Parson Russel
Welsh Terrier
WHW
Whippet
Norfolk Terrier

Hmmm ...anyone for a large/giant WHW? It IS a nice site though and would maybe give someone an idea of what breed would suit

:D

Melody

I just did it (twice), asking for large/giant breed and it recommended lots of small ones like Yorkies, Whippet, Toy Poodle. I am beginning to think it just throws up breeds at random. Nearest to the right size was Rhodesian Ridgeback.
Jean

I've just tried it too - their recommendation for a medium-sized, smooth coated dog ranges from Fox Terrier through English Setter to GSD!!! Are we all speaking the same language?

i just tried it out of curiosity and it brought up The Staffy which I have !!!!!!
along with a pug(????) as well and a beagle
nice mix there :)
Lel

I have tried these questionaires on lots of sites, and have never yet had my own breed come up! Often getting dogs that are a definate no no as far as what I like!!!