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Kathryn
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| Posted: Oct 05 2009 at 11:02pm | IP Logged
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Ok...I had no clue where to put this so "mothering" seemed the most appropriate area. ?! May be this topic isn't even appropriate for this forum but I couldn't think of another place to get the wealth of information that all you ladies possess. 
We had our beloved West Highland Terrier for 13 years before she passed away 2 1/2 years ago. Our big kids are now 9 and 10 1/2 and we're thinking of getting a dog for Christmas. We also have a 2 year old. Where can I go to find information about getting the best dog for us? Any books? Our terrier wandered onto our door step just a few months after we married and she instantly became a member of the family. Although we loved her dearly, she was def. "territorial" and I'm not sure I would choose this breed again esp. w/ a 2 year old and the medical issues common with this breed that cost us mega $$. (I guess that's relative but it was mega to us.)
We prefer a small-medium (20-40 pounds), non-shedding (son and I have allergies) child-friendly dog that can be happy inside and outside without incessant barking if the next door neighbor comes into their own yard. We have an average yard for Texas so there is some room to roam in the backyard but not a whole lot.
If you could may be share your favorite dog and why and also how to go about finding one for our family I would really appreciate it.
Thanks,
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Kathryn in TX
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Booksnbabes
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| Posted: Oct 05 2009 at 11:57pm | IP Logged
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I like this selection quiz. I would start with it, then research the individual breeds it suggests. The AKC site is a good place to go to further research individual breeds. And if you do a search, you will find clubs for just about every breed that give a lot more detailed information regarding the quirks, strengths, and weaknesses of each breed.
That being said, I'm a huge fan of mutts, so please don't rule out mixed breeds! And I'm a huge advocate of adoption over purchasing.
With your allergies, your choices will of course be more limited, but check out this site for poodle mixes that need homes. Friends of ours with requirements similar to yours adopted a cock-a-poo from there and it was a great match for them. The rescue from whom they adopted was willing to travel to place the animal, some will only place locally. It just depends.
We  our rescued Keeshond, and are very biased toward the breed  , but I do not know if one would work due to the allergy concern and the barking (Keeshonds were bred as watchdogs).
And as to barking, yes some breeds are more prone, but a lot of that will depend on the dog and how much you socialize it. Just an illustration, my aunt had toy poodles that barked all the time, my friend has one that never barks.
It's really late and I'm beginning to doubt anything I've typed made sense so I'm going to post now.  
May St. Francis intercede in your search for the perfect doggy friend! 
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Booksnbabes
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Oh, I like this site for its quiz and information as well.
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Kathryn
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| Posted: Oct 06 2009 at 7:17pm | IP Logged
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Thank you! My son soooo needs a "best friend" but this will still be a family dog. I'm thinking beagle but I'm def. open to a mixed breed and won't be buying any registered dog. I just didn't know when we starting searching shelters or rescue places where to lean so that first link you sent was prob. the most helpful in me narrowing it down.
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Kathryn in TX
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folklaur
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we just got a dog on friday!
we rescued a dog from a local shelter.
we wanted a dog that was either housetrained or almost so, and was good with kids (since even a puppy raised with your family can have a personality that isn't always what you expect.)
plus i didn't want to have to go through the chewing, pooping, peeing, nipping stage.
plus, most often if you get them from a shelter, their shots are up to date, they have been spayed/neutered, microchipped, and often you get an extra like a free vet visit, etc.
we needed a dog that would be good with our son, who is autistic.
she is a good dog, she is mostly Basenji with a little Australian Cattle dog.
i much prefer a mixed breed to a purebred one.
i hope you find the perfect dog for your family!!!!
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Sharyn
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| Posted: Oct 06 2009 at 10:39pm | IP Logged
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What about a whippet? You should be able to get an ex racer easily in the US. In Australia they have a Greyhound rehoming association which helps to place you with a greyhound to suit your family. Because whippet racing is bigger in the US there may be such an organisation close to you. They don't need too much exercise yet love a walk when you can. Short fur, not too excitable, love sleeping. They are an indoors dog though.
Beagles need lots of exercise, this is why they are often dumped. They are rated amongst the worst barkers too. But I think this is mainly if they are bored.
Some interesting dog dumpage facts
Exessive barking by breed
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Sharyn
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Select a pet This is a good dog selecting quiz.
If you think you are after a purebreed try to go to a dog show/event if you can. There's nothing like speaking to a breeder and seeing a dog breed in person to see if you are a fit. We just went to our local agricultural show and were able to speak with a whippet breeder, it was really helpful.
We will look for a 'rehome' whippet, but it was helpful to be more sure of our choice first.
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Sharyn
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| Posted: Oct 06 2009 at 10:58pm | IP Logged
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Sharyn wrote:
| Beagles need lots of exercise, this is why they are often dumped. They are rated amongst the worst barkers too. But I think this is mainly if they are bored. |
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I just wanted to add, that I love beagles. They would be my first pick if only they didn't need the exercise I currently can't give.
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Kathryn
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| Posted: Oct 06 2009 at 11:07pm | IP Logged
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It's funny b/c I looked at that list and right by beagle being the worst barking offender was the west highland terrier! ha ha
Well, I have a VERY active DS 9 plus of course the DD 2 which forces me to be more active than I'd like and then the DD 10. We're outside almost every day so my only concern is that we're in the front yard a lot and it doesn't sound like a beagle is one to be happy just hanging out on a leash w/ everyone else. We do have the fenced in backyard but it's not huge but certainly some room to run and roam and sniff. However our backyards share fences and a neighbor on one side is almost always on her back porch smoking and the neighbor behind us has 2 pit bulls so that's why I'm concerned about an over barking dog. We also would like it to be prob. an equal amount inside/outside dog like our terrier. We had a doggie door at our old house so we could always put one in here too. The beagle actually sounds a lot like the terrier we had. My son only has 1 neighbor friend he plays with a few times a week so I know my son would prob. "exercise" the dog like crazy!
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Sharyn
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| Posted: Oct 07 2009 at 3:19am | IP Logged
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From my dog owning experiences, I'd recommend trying to find a dog that matches your personality.
It is hard to find a suitable dog for the baby/toddler bracket.
Both whippets and beagles need to be on a leash out side of the home in area's where they could get run over. The whippet will chase after moving things without thinking, and if the beagle smells something he will be off with you running after him
Anyway, all the best trying to find your new pal!
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mom2mpr
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In defense of beagles.
I had one as a young single, and early married. Great dog but,yes, a lot of energy. More than my current lab. In her defense I worked all day and she was crated. But, a nice long walk and some frisbee at a park and she was OK. I would think with kids and a fenced yard and homeschooling the energy could be dealt with easily
Barking. She was always in a crate when I was gone, at work or out for errands. She never barked. Had no need to protect her territory. I had her in apartments and 2 family homes and neighbors never knew I had her. I think if they are left alone for long periods, tied outside, this habit might develop.
She was clean, compact, cheap at the vet because of her size, she did shed some but nothing like our current dog. Loved to play. Even though we did obedience, yes, her nose got the best of her and her recall was less than stellar. But, I knew that and she was rarely off a leash.
She was very food motivated and would steal it if you weren't looking.
Overall, a great dog that I wished I had kids for when she was younger. As she aged she got sweeter and sweeter and ended up being a great companion to ds as he grew up--pulling ears, falling on her as he was learning to walk, etc.
I also recommend a lab. But puppyhood was so hard with her. Lot's of mouthy behavior (nipping, tugging clothes, etc.) and naughtiness The beagle was easier when a pup. Lab is a great dog now at 3, loves to please, comes when called  , is very protective of us (barks a lot at strangers, cars, the meter reader), just enjoys hanging out with the family. Needs a lot less exercise, which surprises me.
I had to put a good plug in for the beagles.
Anne
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Kathryn
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Hi Anne,
Thanks for the beagle plug. I decided we're going on another field trip today...to an obedience training school to learn about dogs! How's that for homeschooling?! LOL
Quick question tho...I know labs are great, great dogs but because of the size, I'd prefer not to have one. I guess if I could find a beagle/lab mix on the smaller side, that might work! Labs are typically bigger tho, right? I really didn't want anything over 40 pounds.
Thanks,
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mom2mpr
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Our female lab is only 60 lbs. My beagle was 25.
Our lab has some English lab in her which makes her shorter and broader in the head and chest. I have heard females, overall, run smaller than male dogs for all breeds.
Yes, a beagle lab mix might be the best of all worlds. We should have the AKC work on that.
Enjoy your field trip. Best wishes on finding your new friend....
Anne
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SallyT
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I've seen some small labs.
Our dog, whom we got from a shelter last winter, is a Plott Hound/lab mix. He's a bigger dog than we had been looking for (more like 60 lbs), but a fabulous family dog, very very patient and calm with our highly energetic younger children.
Pluses for this kind of dog (and he's far more hound than retriever, btw):
gentle temperament, has been excellent with all children he has met
very little barking
very, very affectionate and friendly, eager to please
strikingly good-looking (Plotts tend to have distinctive brindle coats, and we get lots of compliments when we're out walking)
short hair
Cons of the breed:
like many hounds, either scent or sight, does not do well off-leash (ie, cannot be off-leash in an unfenced area, or he takes off)
stubborn -- if he doesn't want to do something, he digs in and refuses!
DROOLING. Major drooling. We've just gotten used to it.
We haven't found the leash business to be a problem. We walk him daily (well, almost, when people aren't sick . . . ), and he has our average-sized backyard to run around in. When he's inside, he likes to lie around. He's an energetic dog, but not unreasonably at all -- never been destructive in the house or especially jumpy. Mostly he seems just happy to have people around him.
He was three when we got him, so we also got to skip all the puppy phase. We did deal with some initial separation anxiety -- and he's still totally attached to me and is anxious if I'm in a room with the door closed and he can't get in -- and minor housetraining issues, but he has been a wonderful dog overall, especially as a kids' dog.
So that's my Plott plug. They aren't as well-known a breed outside NC, where they're the state dog, but they are around, and they are fabulous family dogs.
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Maria in WI
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Just a note about non-shedding mixes- if you are looking for a non-shedding dog, not all dogs that are mixed with a non shedding breed will be non-shedding. We adopted a labradoodle last spring, and I thought I was getting a low or non shedding dog, and instead, I got a dog that sheds very fine hair that floats through the air and gets in everything.
But, after the initial transition of getting used to our household and his place in the hierarchy, he is great with our kids, even the 11 month old can climb on him. He is 85 pounds, though, so considerably bigger than what you are looking for.
Good luck!
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chrisv664
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SallyT wrote:
Our dog, whom we got from a shelter last winter, is a Plott Hound/lab mix. He's a bigger dog than we had been looking for (more like 60 lbs), but a fabulous family dog, very very patient and calm with our highly energetic younger children.
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We adopted a dog from the shelter this past January and he is also a hound/lab mix. Sounds alot like Sally's dog, from her description. He was only 4 months old when we got him. Housebreaking was incredibly easy and now that he is just over a year old, many of those "puppy issues" like jumping on people and chewing up pencils and shoes have disappeared.
I second what Sally said about them being strictly leash dogs... they are very instinctual and just follow scents without regard to where they are being led. If you have a household where little ones hold doors open it may be a problem. Other than that, though, I think he is a great family pet. My 9yo son is very attached to him...he has become a great best friend for Thomas.
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Kathryn
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Oooohhh...I hadn't thought about the hold the doors open! YIKES. hmmmm
We went to my SIL's this week-end and she had 2 dogs in the backyard and one was a beagle but it was about a 1 1/2 yrs. Alan went out back and both dogs jumped and licked him like crazy that it actually scared him! He had been soooo excited to go play w/ the dogs and then sooo disappointed. Well, my SIL reminded me that these dogs have NOOO interaction b/c everyone's too busy I guess. Then she said we could have the beagle but after seeing her behavior, I was waay less than likely to take on that challenge. We'll prob. start looking at shelters and rescue places soon...still trying to convince hubby!
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Kathryn in TX
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anniemm
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We have a Goldendoodle. He's smart, wants to please, obedient, and was easy to house train. He doesn't shed. He's gentle with the children and an all around good companion. I grew up with a Lab, so his calm disposition is very appealing to me! (Not to mention he's super cute!)
I just noticed I put up a picture of him here and here's when we first got him.
If you can't tell, we just adore our dog around here!
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Kathryn
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Ohhh...he's CUTE!!! How big will he get tho?
By the way...does your mom attend SEAS in Keller?
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Kathryn in TX
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: Need advice for getting a dog
