hello all im new here, having recently lost 3 stone, and been given a new lease of life, im now looking for a dog to keep me company on my 2 mile run in the evening and one hour walk in morning.

im looking for a large dog (bigger than a golden retriever), who is not overly active but could take as much or as little as i can give.

we dont have kids but we have some visiting often, also the dog would need to get on with dogs and be friendly towards strangers.

which breeds should i look at??

thanking you in advance...

Why not an adult rescue lab?

I think the suggestion of a rescue dog put forward by admin is an excellent idea, please bear in mind that if you go for a larger breed puppy you must not over exercise them, ours gets walks limited to about 10 - 15 minutes at a time at most the rest of the time she's just sniffing and looking at things.

Congratulations on losing 3 stone and enjoying an active life! Maybe also consider whether you have had a dog before, how long your dog could be left alone while you work etc, how much time are you prepared to spend grooming - long/short hair? and your budget for feeding. You get into a routine with dogs so they expect to be out a certain time each walk or theres trouble :D so you must be consistent - whether its half an hour or an hour in the morning, stick to it!

Gundogs like Pointers, Setters, Viszlas and Weimeraners like to be out and about like Labs and GRs. Rescue dogs are also great companions. Any dog you choose will need time to train or mature in the case of pups. If you go to Agility later you will get plenty exercise as well. Good luck. :D

thanks for the reply, i really was set on a puppy, as i want to raise one from scratch, i have had small dogs all my life, but now want a large dog.

i would be very careful with exercise as pup is growing.

ive done some research and i like english setters, curly coated retrievers and german longhaired pointers, could people who own the above breeds, give me input on training, exercise and temperment.

many thanks

i dont any of the breeds you have mentiond but i do own r/w setters and they all enjoy the long walks and jogs with me, tho i only enjoy jogs with one!!!!

Well done on you losing 3 stone and i hope you find a lovely pup.

Rox

Thought a R.Ridgeback might suit
Archer

hey Archer

Arnt RR very stong willed?  The ones I know are very 'i do what i want when i want' attitudes!

Rox

not the ones I've met but maybe someone on the board who owns RR's could confirm/deny this.I have found that they can be 'reserved' with strangers but still freindly(just not ...lets' jump all over that strange person and lick them to death.... like some dogs can be)
Archer

What like certain grey c oated canines we know and love.  Leaving lasting momentoes of their passing in the form of hair for ever more. :D

I would not recommend a RR for a first time "Larger" dog person, they are a breed that are strong willed and need a firm hand when young, mine is now almost six years old, very loving and faithful, but he is still a handful, even now.

I wouldn't consider a RR either, they are very very strong and have a bit of a "guarding" tendency.

I am very interested to know why you are not considering a Lab?

im looking for something a bit bigger than a lab admin, i really dont know which breed to choose, been on doggie sites all evening, i quite like the leonberger!
i like so many, but not sure which one would be best i dont want a dominating dog.
yes id like a pedigree, sorry!

hey,  Just a thought that came into my head, if you are looking at dogs more the size of a leo then you will have to wait longer till you can take it jogging.  Mainly because they have bigger bones to grow.  The size of a setter/pointer would proberly be most suitable.

If you do go for a giant breed then just take care, you will still however have just the same amount of fun whatever type of dog you choose!

Rox

Hi,

Labs are smaller than a golden Retriever when looked in their breed standard  :-)

Briony :-)

You do realise that you can't run or walk a pup for the sort of distance and time you are doing until it is at least 12 months (depending on the breed)?

What about a greyhound? Not had any experience myself but they can take as little or as much exercise as offered can't they? I thought setters and Pointers needed a lot of exercise no matter what.

Setters and pointers need quite a bit of 'free' running and I don't know if jogging counts but I'm sure one of the gundog people will be able to tell you.

Are you set on a pedigree dog - there's lots of cross breeds who would be ideal and puppies will be hitting the shelters any time now :(

I know that my recue 'mut' will always be up for a long walk or run round the park but my Dane is likely to be a couch potato :rolleyes:

No gundog will be happy with "Just jogging" and as for a GLP...no....if they are anything like their German cousins (Large Munsterlanders) they need to use their noses, to run freely and use their brains.  These dogs are built for all day stamina, strength and endurance, not concrete running.

As for Irish R&W's, I have friends who own this breed and they need loads of exercise if they are to remain in good hard nick, I would say that they are quite a workmanlike setter who need to be out feeling the "peat bogs" under their feet!

My red and white setters don't need excesive amounts of exercise.  They get what they are given and the rest of the time they are quite calm.  Yes they have their mad five - ten miniuets.  My ASD need and demand much, much more exercise then any of my setters.

As I mention i do joggin and long distence walking on lead with my setters.  Adter a jog they come home and go to sleep.  They are very easy to exercise.

Rox

Well, I think my dog (a Briard) is the most accommodating regarding exercise.  She never pesters me to go out at any time, but is always ready for a walk rain or shine.  She is content with a quick walk up to the school, or hours over the country park. What I particularly like about her (not sure if this is common to all her breed) but when out walking she has a run around but always watches where you are and doesn't run off. She is a large dog and seems to suit what you seem to want (we also considered some of the breeds you mention before we chose a Briard). Saffy is very easy to live with, although she must be with you if you are at home. The main consideration with a Briard is the long coat which does require a fair bit of grooming.

best wishes

Fiona and Saffy

OOOOOOOOOOhhhhhh,

Have a lurcher.....go on, u know u want one! mmmmmmm lurchery goodness!

Go for a greyhound x deerhound, big but not greedy on the food, happy to have as much or as little exercise as you like, capable of trotting along with you for miles and miles and miles, but also capable of snoozing on the sofa all day as well.

Mmmmmmm pointy dogs are great.......ive got a bedlington x whippet x collie x grey, looks like a mini deerhound x grey, is great fun but a little bugger at times, my next one is going to be a deer x grey....(a little less sharp in the brains department).

Go on, have a pointy skinny doglet, they are lovelyyyyyyyyyy!

Em (not at all addicted to the pointy dogs!)

:D :D :D @ Theemx, re Lurchery goodness. :D

Well we've done it again, reccommended our favourite breeds ! :D Go to a dog show or breed club gathering to see your favourite types and chat to the owners/breeders so you get a good idea of what its like living with a breed.

I'd go for a pointy dog too as we're looking for one that will take as much or as little exercise as offered. Couch potato yet running fiend skinny doglet would fit the bill nicely :)

Did you think of a Gordon Setter? They are great jogging dogs and are wonderful with children and other dogs. Good luck
                                          
                                                                                                            Kate

why not try a retired greyhound?

Not sure whther a greys a good idea for jogging etc. Many retired greys have longstanding injury which retired them. Also greys are not known for stamina, but for short sprints. I think jogging with a grey might be detrimental to them, although I'm sure some would love it. Lurchers are a great choice too :)

Have you thought about going to crufts? There will be lots of different breeds there for you to see & discover dogs where people will chat to you about different dogs.  :)

PS Leonbergers are very big (dogs a lot bigger than the bitches) & need a lot of attention paying to their coat.

how about a dobermann they are beautiful dogs and are great with both children adults and other dogs ,i grew up with three dobes and a rotte .......
make sure you go to a reputable breeder and parents and pups have had all relevent health checks

thanks all for the replies, as there are just too many dogs to choose from, its a great idea visiting different breeds so im going to drive round the south country visiting open breed shows, crufts, so i can see these dogs in the flesh.

does anyone know where i can find out when such open breed shows will be taking place??

p.s i think im leaning towards a dog like a munster (large), or the german longhaired pointer (1st choice).
anyone who owns either of the above breeds, would anyone be willing to let me meet their dogs?

I don't have one, or know in-depth about them, so I don't know why this breed popped into my head - Italian Spinone?

Kat

If you email me with where you are in the country or PM I will see if I can get some contact for you with a Munster owner/breeder, as this breed and the GLP are from the same rootstock (A "mismarked" Brown & white Munster occasionally is born) you'll get an idea of their temperaments, although I still don't think they are a "jogging" dog unless you jog through forests??????????  

I have 4 Munsters & bred 3 litters, so I know a smidgeon about them!  ;)

The German Longhairs Pointers that are in this country (very few) are mainly worked.  The current custodians of this breed in the UK are very keen that they retain their strong working instincts and few litters are bred and potential owners are heavily vetted and working homes are looked for. 

It is doubtful if anyone would recommend them as purely a pet for "jogging" etc; they are a member of the HPR group (like the Munsterlander, vizsla, spinone, brittany, GSP, Weimaraner etc etc) and have a mind of their own, live to hunt and require, when mature, loads of exercise.

There are two "types" in the UK, those from Germany and those from Holland.  Discover Dogs at Crufts will no doubt have examples and owners there for you to chat to.

I am curious what breed did you end up with?

hello, well ive decided that im either going for the spinone or the leonberger! Ive spoken to some breeders and am probably leaning towards the leo as im a little weary of CA in the spinone!
anyway im going to crufts next month, and will look at the two in depth.

thanks for all the suggestions! 
p.s i know leos wont be able to run for 2 years ish! im just looking at trainability wise, im not sure if i could handel a HPR breed yet.

thanks again!

IF YOU A GERMAN LONG HAIRED PIONTER WHAT A ABOUT A ADULT FLATCOATED RETRRIEVER THEY LOOK MUCH THE SAME,FCR HAVE A GOOD TEMP LOVE BEING WITH HUMANS AND LOVE TO EXCERISE.TO ONCE THEY ARE AN ADULT.

the cancer :(

what about a dally?

That's an excellent idea - werent they bred to run alongside carriages? Might be a good match. Jeangenie, any thoughts? :)

Lindsay

The ideal jogging companion in terms of long-distance, steady-paced trotting, would certainly be the dalmatian. They are, however, smaller than a Golden Retriever, and once they are into the habit of plenty of exercise, do not easily adapt to having less. An adult dal would certainly thrive on as much exercise as you could give it, but not as little.

They tend to be very good with people, especially children, but can be bolshy with other dogs - but generally not if you keep moving - they hate to be left behind!

A fit male dally would be maybe a bit bigger than a Golden Retriever? Or am I having a senior moment....all dogs seem so small next to Willis :)

I did find that my old dally bitch was more reasonable with regards to exercise though....? Is that normally the case JG?

Although the breed standards for both goldens and dals say that the males should be between 22" and 24", all the goldens I've seen seem to be far larger than dals - though they too are getting very oversized! Perhaps the goldens look bigger than they really are because of their different shape (more bulky) and thicker coat.

As for the amount of exercise - since I've been working and the dogs are missing out on the occasional long afternoon walk (down to half-an-hour instead of an hour, though they still get their 3 miles, about an hour in the morning) they have been getting more and more off-the-wall! Today they have been a nightmare - maybe it's the weather or something - but I've taken them out for 3 hours today and Clover (aged 11) is the only one who's settled down. The others are still doing a wall-of-death around the house!

Hi Dog Madness

You've mentioned that you are thinking of either the Spinone or Leonberger and I'm pleased to see you are going investigate both further at Crufts :)  We have Spinoni, and they are a delightful breed if they suit your circumstances, but you did wonder if you were ready for an HPR breed yet.  May I give you my thoughts from what you have said from your posts in relation to Spins :) 

As others have said, they're an HPR breed and the TYPE of exercise which suits them may not suit what you want from your dog.  Certainly a mature one will have the stamina to jog with you, but this type of exercise will quickly beome monotonous to them - they are much better suited by being taken to freely exercise on woods, moors etc where they can really get their hunting juices going and be stimulated both mentally and physically.  In terms of training, they require you to be firm but fair and do not take kindly to harsh methods.  They are also extremely good at doing rapid cost/benefit analysis of situations and doing what they choose is the better outcome for them!  Stubborness is a word often associated with Spins, but the stubborness, if it is that, comes from their high intelligence and abilty to work out what suits them :)  They adore company, be it human or canine, and can become naughty if left to their own devices for too long.

Also, the teenage times with them, especially the males, can be trying and can last for quite a while as they can be very slow to mature.  Oh, and they slobber something awful!  Please don't take this post to be negative, its not meant to be.  I am delighted when others fall in love with this breed, but I do want you to know the practilities of the breed to help you come to the decision about whether its right for you :) If you are at Crufts on  the Friday, please do come up and introduce yourself and you can meet the boy we'll have there, our name is Fletcher, and we can introduce you to others too :)

With regard to CA in the breed, if you make contact with the ISCGB, they will be able to give advice on what to look for in the breeding.  There is currently no test for it, but there are guidelines for breeding in place which ethical breeders will adhere to.

Sorry to have gone on a bit, but hope it helps :)

Lesley

cant thank you enough for your post, very helpful!
yes i will come see you on the friday of crufts, if i can find you lol!

again thanks, they are beautiful dogs, ill just have to be practical about things.

Hopefully see you there :)  Our bench number is 6884 in case you don't get a catalogue.  Look out for a not very tall, short dark haired, plump thing (me) and a tall follicly challenged bloke (hubby) and a brown roan male Spinone (he's the good looking one :) )

Lesley

Hi,

To be fair, I don't think me personally speaking , Goldens would enjoy a constant jog of 2 miles talking from someone who owns 3, and until after at least 16 months of age probably would not do their hips much good either.Some road work yes,free running -yes,but it is broken up with sniffing,walking,good run playing with other dogs etc.

Briony:-)