Questions?

Breed specific discussion of your favorite breed.

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Suzette
Posts: 1518
Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2011 6:45 am

Re: Questions?

Post by Suzette »

Except for the grooming part, you are describing a golden retriever as your perfect dog. There's a reason why they are so popular - they are great dogs!! I had a golden years ago and she was a wonderful, smart, loving companion. I have to admit, I wasn't great with the grooming part. She did get brushed, just not every day or even every other day - perhaps four to five times a month. But even with that, she was never matted (I would not have let that happen).

If you still don't like the idea of the longer coat of a golden, have you considered a mix? A golden/lab cross might get you everything you want, assuming the dog had the shorter lab coat.
My avatar is Piper, my sweet Pembroke Corgi. b. 5/11/11
Lara575

Re: Questions?

Post by Lara575 »

Suzette wrote:Except for the grooming part, you are describing a golden retriever as your perfect dog. There's a reason why they are so popular - they are great dogs!! I had a golden years ago and she was a wonderful, smart, loving companion. I have to admit, I wasn't great with the grooming part. She did get brushed, just not every day or even every other day - perhaps four to five times a month. But even with that, she was never matted (I would not have let that happen).

If you still don't like the idea of the longer coat of a golden, have you considered a mix? A golden/lab cross might get you everything you want, assuming the dog had the shorter lab coat.
Thanks Suzette , I was hoping someone with experience of the Goldie would see my post. I prefer the Golden to the lab I just prefer more elegant looking dogs. With grooming brushing is fine I don't even mind brushing everyday , what I meant was like a Shih Tzu for example who needs to go to the groomers every tow months :)

It's looking like the Golden is my perfect dog :D
ScarletSci
Posts: 463
Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2013 3:44 pm

Re: Questions?

Post by ScarletSci »

Hi Lara, sorry, I only just saw this post. You mentioned a comment I made; "Like I don't understand when Scarletsci said that bullmastiff are one heck of a breed to choose for a first dog. But if the new owner is dedicated and has researched the breed and is willing to get help when needed then surly a bullmastiff can make a good first dog?"

Nettle is spot on about why I said it was a heck of a breed for a first ever dog. I didn't mean it was impossible, or even a terrible idea.. just that they are indeed, HUGE, and powerful, and other people can be apprehensive about such a big powerful dog. If you read up on the history of the breed and what they've been bred for, you can see why. But every mastiff I have ever met has been a gentle giant, so I don't think they're inherently dangerous for a newbie. Then again, I haven't dealt with one going through adolescence.

Put it this way, I've had dogs all of my life. I'm comfortable and confident. But even I would brace myself if taking a mastiff out for a day! :D


[quote="Nettle"
Male/female - males are generally bigger and stronger. They also can be more challenging through adolescence in respect of not liking other males in their space. And they take longer to mature. Once all that is over, a male or a female may be chosen.

In respect of the particular advice on a particular breed that I gave - terriers are equally feisty whatever gender they are, so it makes no difference. But a male mastiff/bull mastiff is HUGE and very powerful, and it takes a big strong human to hold one if it wants to go. Experienced owners of course would never let it get to that stage. But to get that experience with a massive strong dog that has a strong guarding instinct is not ideal.[/quote]

I also like your questions and thoughts though :D Bear in mind that some differences between posters is just that, a difference of opinion. For example, I have my views based on my life and experience, and I like to post, but Nettle has far, far more knowledge and experience, so her opinion holds more weight!

Personally I agree with you that if you really do your research (which includes spending real time with the breeds you're considering, not just reading about them) and are fully prepared for what may come your way, good and bad, and have asked yourself the hard questions (like, if push really came to shove, would I be prepared to rehome my dog if this really isn't working out? Can I cover the vets bills/insurance excess if they have a heredity condition or develop a lifelong illness? Can I truly give them the extra time and training they need, with a professional if necessary, if things go wrong?) then no breed is truly off limits to a first timer. But some will be harder than others. Some of them much, much harder. This is why some breeds aren't the best for a first time owner.

Male vs female: Same reasons Nettle gave earlier - my main concern is that males go through more of a stroppy period as they mature and take longer to mature, and are also more likely to be on the receiving end of aggression and posturing from other dogs when out and about. Which can lead to reactivity or aggression from your own dog. If you prefer males, and are prepared for handling that period of time (it does pass eventually!) then go for a male.

If you're still thinking of a goldie, I can say that I've never met anyone who has regretted getting a goldie. Beautiful dogs, with a wonderful nature. Shepherds can need a lot of grooming too, so might even be easier to get your hand in and get used to how to train a dog to accept grooming when dealing with a more tolerant and patient goldie, than learning on a Shepherd!

Good luck with whichever dog you choose, and please post puppy pics! We love puppy pics! :D
Lara575

Re: Questions?

Post by Lara575 »

Thanks for your reply Scarletsci.

Since my last post I have been meeting some goldens in person and they are on my list. I also was looking at the Italian spinion however I have met one around an tow hours ago and there not for me I was walking away with drool on my hands :shock: .

I don't mind drool but that extent is not for me. When I was walking home a couple have just moved in tow doors down from me and I saw there dogs in the front garden as I was going past and they both came up to meet me and they were gorgeous they were Afghan hounds. I just lit up inside when I saw them and they were so friendly. I asked what there like and she was telling me all the good points as well as the bad like how there sensitive to pain and that there stubborn and you need really good recall as there sight hounds so will be off after a small fury. But everything she said sounded perfect and I did not mind the grooming as she said if I did decide on one she will show me how to groom mine. However she told me she would never recommend one to a new owner :( :roll: .

I know the Goldie would be easier but I really like them which I never thought I would like another breed in the same way I love the GSD.

Can anyone tell me what there like or if you know an afghan? Also if you agree on them being for experienced only? I'm researching online at the moment.
JudyN
Posts: 7018
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 1:20 pm
Location: Dorset, UK
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Re: Questions?

Post by JudyN »

I do hate it when I hear people refer to sighthounds as stubborn :x It suggests you need to be really firm with them, not to give them an inch or they'll take a mile, and getting them to do what you want is a constant battle. If that's how you approach it, you'll screw up badly, and screw the dog up too.

Sighthounds are independent thinkers, they know their own minds. They will say 'Actually, I was planning on doing this...' and need a good reason for doing something else - just like any self-respecting person. You need to let them communicate with you so you know what they're thinking, and then be clever enough to mould them so they think that what you want to do is likely to be a really good idea.

With most sighthounds, recall is likely to be fallible at times, and you need to consider where you can safely (or reasonably safely) walk your dog. If small (or large, e.g. deer) furries are likely to crop up, and you haven't got enclosed areas or areas far from any roads, or there's a lot of barbed wire, you may need to keep them on lead which to my mind is a crying shame. But if you start with a puppy, make sure it's well socialised, and work on recall from Day 1, you can hope to get, say, 95% perfect recall and it won't think that any small dog is there to be chased.

Grooming is the only thing that would put me off an Afghan. Bear in mind this isn't just a case of an hour's grooming each evening. When you come back from a walk you are likely to find a whole load of leaves, twigs, mud, seeds, slugs, etc. coming home with you, nicely tangled in the long hair. if it's been a muddy wet walk you're going to have muddy wet carpets, sofas, beds... wherever the dog has access. So you can't just come home from a walk and settle down for a cuppa or head out to work/shops.
Jasper, lurcher, born December 2009
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