Choosing breeds?

Breed specific discussion of your favorite breed.

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Newsomefamily

Choosing breeds?

Post by Newsomefamily »

A very warm hello to anyone who reads this.

I am sorry in advance for so much detail I just thought the more you know our situation you may be able to help more.

I think I will start by introducing myself and family and tell you about us and our family life first so you can give recommendations on breeds you think may be suited to us.

I live with my tow daughters in a medium size semi house and we have a large garden seculy fenced. I am at home all day as I receive ESA benifit as I was made redundant from my job of 35yrs because of arthritis in my knees and hands. I want to stress my arthritis does not cripple me in anyway and am still very active and healthy , I just get pain now and again.

My tow daughters Elsa 21yrs is at University studying to be a primary school teacher as she loves children she want to work with 3- 7 yr olds.

Yasmin 19yr is a junior fashion designer and is working full time.


All of us have always wanted a dog especially Elsa she see's things in dog body language that me and her sister can't see like when were sat in the park together she said that dog is not happy with the other dog being so close and is getting anxious and there going to fight I said how can you see that she did explain but I still don't understand. And she was right they started fighting the owners could not break up the fight and Elsa went over I was shouting at her to come back as I did not want her to get hurt and she made a really high pitched sound and they both stopped she got the attention of the other dog while she told the owners of the anxious dog to go now I was so amazed and there have been other times like this when she gets things right before they happen. She still mad we don't have a dog yet but at first it was because there farther did not want a dog and then it was because I did not feel we were ready. Now we are ready but we can't choose a breed or really we can't agree on one.

Both my girls and me of course want to be fully involved in training , socialisation , care, feeding , exercise both physical and mental. Our dilema with breed is that I believe we should get an easier breed like a Labrador but Elsa would not describe labs as easy and she really wants a GSD she has a passion for them after one saved her life again a long story I would rather not go into. She also does not want a lab because they were James favourite breed and he dreamed of owning one , one day.Yasmin is not bothered what breed we get as she loves all dogs which does not help however she does agree with me that me and her need experience first before getting a GSD , I love them too but I don't want to let my daughter down and it be my fault or Yasmins if Elsa gets it with training as she has trained my sister's dog and he wonderful he's a Cavalier and she trained my friends Rottweiler as she was having trouple with him but Elsa sorted it out it really is amazing how she understands dogs so much but then again she studied on dogs for 8yrs of her life and would always be at parks watching there interactions with each other and would watch Victorias shows on repeat.

Anyways before I tell you what we are looking for in a dog I really want your advice on if you think me or Elsa is right I am worried about having a GSD as our first dog because I don't think me and Yasmin are experienced enough and think a GSD should be our second dog when I'm more confidant and I don't have to worry about letting Elsa down. but Elsa said she can teach me and her sister but I'm worried if she wanted her time as I'm more of a practical person I'm not good at reading long periods ect. I also cant volenteer at a rescue because i dont drive and have no way of getting to our nearest one.Then if we did get one as our second dog we can't decide on what first dog to get as Elsa is not socible so labs and Goldie's don't suit her so I don't know what other large dogs are good for first time owners

What do you think with everything you have read?

And thank you very much for spending the time to read this
Last edited by Newsomefamily on Sat Mar 26, 2016 2:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
master2

Re: Choosing breeds?

Post by master2 »

Hello and welcome

As someone should be along to help soon there are a lot of knowledgeable members on here.

I just wanted to say that Elsa is a very brave person and can see why your so proud of her and I wanted to just say I'm sorry for yours and Elsa' loss.

I wish you good luck in your search. :)
Theo400

Re: Choosing breeds?

Post by Theo400 »

Hello

Not many members come on anymore like they use to so please stay with us you will get a reply when someone sees it. Nettle and Erica are both very helpful.

Iv only owned one GSD so can't really advice if there good or not for you. You will have to wait and see what others say but I think that if your worried of letting your daughter down then I would say stick to you feelings and get a GSD as your second dog. I know she said she would teach you and her sister which is very good of her but sometimes people can't learn from books or websites sometimes people can only learn from a dog like I did I never understood the books until I had Theo.
Newsomefamily

Re: Choosing breeds?

Post by Newsomefamily »

Thank you for both of you getting back to me. I am hoping someone more knowledgeable will be along soon :D

I did think maybe I have not got a reply because my post is too long so I have shortened it. I took out all the personal parts like about us loosing there farther and Elsa' boyfriend James passing away.

I hope this helps.
Fudgeandcoco

Re: Choosing breeds?

Post by Fudgeandcoco »

I don't think you will get a reply as this sort of question has been asked before.

You should just go and research yourself and come back when you have questions about a breed your intertested in.
Newsomefamily

Re: Choosing breeds?

Post by Newsomefamily »

Fudgeandcoco wrote:I don't think you will get a reply as this sort of question has been asked before.

You should just go and research yourself and come back when you have questions about a breed your intertested in.
I'm quit shocked by your reply as Victoria told me to join here as I will get great advice and I don't feel like I am. How can I research when I wanted expert advice on if me or my daughter is right or not. If a trainer or behaviourist told me that they agree with me that we should get experience before getting a GSD then my daughter will accept us waiting for one as our second dog.
Theo400

Re: Choosing breeds?

Post by Theo400 »

Fudgeandcoco wrote:I don't think you will get a reply as this sort of question has been asked before.

You should just go and research yourself and come back when you have questions about a breed your intertested in.

I disagree with you fudgeandcoco , sorry but members do have work and volunteering to do and most can be busy. Clearly newsomefamily was happy to wait.

Don't worry you will get a reply and Victoria is right for telling you to join.
Sanna
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Re: Choosing breeds?

Post by Sanna »

This might help answer some questions: viewtopic.php?f=23&t=21588
Newsomefamily

Re: Choosing breeds?

Post by Newsomefamily »

Hi sanna

Thank you for the link. I have read through it and it does give me really good advice on the GSD but I'm still have my doubts.

From reading that I would be worried with this being my first dog if I get the socialisation wrong like if I can't read my GSD is nervous but Elsa can. Were like Erica said that labs seem to be oblivious to new things that they come across like she said a traffic cone. So that then makes me think we should go for a lab ect so we can not only train him but learn even more from him, so that I'm more confidant the second time round for a GSD.

I think it's hard when Elsa is ready for a challenging breed like a GSD but me and her sister are way behind in knowledge and experience.
Erica
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Re: Choosing breeds?

Post by Erica »

I wonder if you've considered a shelter dog? It sounds like labs would be difficult for your daughter, emotionally, and a GSD is intimidating for the other two of you. A good shelter can help you find a dog that matches well with your family. And who knows, they may even have a GSD/lab mix. ;) There certainly seem to be a lot of them in my area.

If you go with an adult dog, you could learn about dogs without worrying overmuch about socialization specifically.
Delta, standard poodle, born 6/30/14
Newsomefamily

Re: Choosing breeds?

Post by Newsomefamily »

Erica wrote:I wonder if you've considered a shelter dog? It sounds like labs would be difficult for your daughter, emotionally, and a GSD is intimidating for the other two of you. A good shelter can help you find a dog that matches well with your family. And who knows, they may even have a GSD/lab mix. ;) There certainly seem to be a lot of them in my area.

If you go with an adult dog, you could learn about dogs without worrying overmuch about socialization specifically.
Thank you Erica for your reply. Again this proved Elsa knows what she talking about she said about shelter dogs ( or rescues were in the UK) and we have looked into this but the trouple we had is there are only a few near to us (we live in a small village and there are none were we are just a few near) and as we don't have a car and none of us drive none of the near by rescues will allow us to rescue as they won't allow one of there dogs to go home by train, only a puppy they said however I would prefer to get a puppy from a breeder.

So unfortunately we can't rehome even though we want to. So it will be a puppy.

I think your right that labs are not for Elsa as I did read they are very socible dogs and Elsa is not she is very confidant but she just is not one to stand there and talk to a complete stranger.

I would not say me and Yasmin are intimidated by the GSD more worried if anything goes wrong because of us as we don't want to let Elsa down that's why I feel it would be better to get a GSD when me and Yasmin are more confidant. Would you agree?
JudyN
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Re: Choosing breeds?

Post by JudyN »

A lot of good shelters will arrange 'transport runs' for dogs - if you ring around you might find one that does.
Jasper, lurcher, born December 2009
Sanna
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Re: Choosing breeds?

Post by Sanna »

I was going to suggest a rescue dog as well ;) And Judy is right, many good rescues will arrange transport to get dogs to the right home.

It might be worth taking the fact that neither of you drive into consideration when you decide on what size dog/ breed to get- if you potentially have to rely on public transport/ taxis to get the dog anywhere further than walking distance, or say to the vets in an emergency; remember that this will be much more difficult with a larger breed like a GSD or lab than a small or medium sized breed..

Maybe look at staffies or similar as well, there's A TON of them in rescue and many are absolutely smashing dogs that would fit your criteria well.
Newsomefamily

Re: Choosing breeds?

Post by Newsomefamily »

Hi

We tried our local RSPCA which is in Crewe (we live in Cheshire) and I tried a local dogs trust plus Cheshire dogs home , Alsager animals in need , Windyways.

Do any of you know any good rescues who would do transport as I asked all the local ones when we tried that route but they don't do transport?
JudyN
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Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 1:20 pm
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Re: Choosing breeds?

Post by JudyN »

Newsomefamily wrote:Do any of you know any good rescues who would do transport as I asked all the local ones when we tried that route but they don't do transport?
Only if you fancy a lurcher, I'm afraid :wink:
Jasper, lurcher, born December 2009
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