Dog recommendation URGENT please

[AJC]

I'm pretty bias when it comes to dogs, I would get a Labrador. I love Golden Retrievers too but they can be a bit nuts for the first 2 years or so, Lab's are a bit easier. Like any dog though they require time & attention and will only be as obedient as you teach them to be.

[Ginger]

you can't go past a golden retriever in terms of temperament, especially around kids, but they are not great guard dogs. our cars were robbed while our goldie slept on the couch.

[Visitor8]

I grew up with german shephards Love them.
My ex has a King Charles Cav and it's a horrible dog, growles and nips the boys all the time, then again he is old?
Labradoodles are supposed to be great!

[Lulu]

He he Cavies are beautiful, but guard dogs they ain't!
Lab's shed hair like there is no tomorrow but they are lovely.

I don't think you can get a good guard dog with a family in mind, it just doesn't work. It's not a rooly good idea to buy a dog in haste either.

Would it be better to get one of those security cars to sweep by? They are probably cheaper to keep....

[sushee]

I think I agree with Lulu here that if you get a good guard dog, you probably won't have the kind of temperament you want in a family dog. There are exceptions, but you don't find out which ones those are by the breed, but by the individual dog, and that's like playing the lottery.

My lab was a nightmare for the first 3 years. And he has quite a few health problems that have cost us quite a lot of money, esp now he's getting on in age. Would I get another lab for my next dog? Probably not. But he's been a great dog nonetheless. And yes he sheds like a demon. I have tumbleweeds of doghair in my backyard that could swallow my house if I didn't sweep up every weekend.

Next time I'm getting a small dog breed with a proven good temperament, and get an alarm system installed for security.

[ShootingStar]

I have a Lab x Boarder collie (lives with my parents).
She is a GREAT dog. Great family dog and great guard dog. Barks at anyone who walks on my parents yard and is always guarding the house. Very smart.. like another person really. But yeh would highly recommend them.

[AliBaby]

I would recommend a cross breed dog. They tend to have less medical problems and you can get the best of both dogs.

I have a poodle cross shihtzu who is absolutely fantastic around children. I have even trusted him to be around 20 five year old children in my class and he has not snapped at anyone, he even let them pick him up under his front legs, drag him around, pull on his tail and he just tolerates it.

We did however get him used to this from a pup with us doing it to him so he would learn that it is okay. (We never hurt him, we just get him used to people touchjing his ears, feet, tail, etc).

He also is an excellent security job although I am sure he thinks he owns the col-der-sac in our street. We jsut wanted a dog who would bark if someone came on our property to alert us or people around that something was up. He does the job very well.

He is also a breed that doesnt require alot of walks and exercise btu loves to get out if someone will take him.

Another dog that if a fantastic breed around children would be a labrodor croos poodle for very similar reasons to above.

I will post a pic up in the gallery so you can see what my little Max looks like. Oh he also doesnt drop hair which is great for around kids. he can be an inside or an outside dog.

[*Efjay*]

Pugalier.... Cavalier cross Pug.

eww, what kind of health problems would crossing those two breeds have?

[sushee]

More than likely far less health problems than a Pug or a Cavalier would have, FJ. Generally cross bred dogs are more robust as they don't have the breed-related health issues that pure bred dogs do.

Eg a Pugalier would not have the shortened nose of a Pug, and therefore wouldn't have the breathing, or even the 'bug-eyed' problems that pugs do.

[*Efjay*]

I wouldn't trust a boarder collie (even a cross) around kids.

eta- I realise what your saying about cross breeds Sushee but crossing those particular breeds?? Both have a lot of health problems of their own & your not guaranteed not to get the bad health problems of each breed in the new cross. Pugs have a short nose & big eyes, but Cavalier have bug eyes too & ear problems. the list goes on.
I just see them as 2 problem breeds health wise. Would be ok if you crossed one with a more healthy breed.

[christy]

FJ funnily enough the few I have seen have been fantastic, not the normal health issues you see in pugs or cavies. No heart defects, eye issues, ear issues, skin issues.... no brachycephalic issues.... good temperments... overall a bit more energetic than the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (cavies for short).

We had one in last week which we were all in love with, it had been hit by a car...

[ShootingStar]

Border Collies are very smart and loyal dogs.. like labs.. we've never had any problems with ours.

[*Efjay*]

So your working here too Christy? Where?

[1MOREPLZ]

I would recommend a cross breed dog. They tend to have less medical problems and you can get the best of both dogs.

hmmmm quite a broad statement to make considering you have no idea what hereditry disease are being passed down from each parent, because most cross-breeds wouldn't have all necessary health testing that all reputable breeders should do

good dog for children and will let you know about strangers..

staffordshire bull terrier
boxer
labrador

[Ellee05]

We have a maltese ****zu and he is great. So friendly and we never have a shortage of people wanting to look after him when we go away But at the same time he will bark if he needs to, especially when DH is on night shift, he feels like he has to protect me I'm sure. We are going to get another dog after the bub has come and planning on getting a maltalier (cavalier king charles x maltese) I've done a fair bit of research and found that the terrier in the maltese is good for alerting you but without being annoying and the cav is easier to train and very easy to look after.

Burkes Backyard website has reviews on all sorts of dogs.

All the best.

[LuluHB]

I would have to disagree that boxers are great dogs for children. Boxers are fantastic dogs (I had two) but I would never, ever have one with my young children. They are incredibly exuberant dogs and one of their dominant breed characteristics is that they are habitually puppy-like. That's a fantastic trait in a dog but given my male weighed in at just under 60kgs, that gets damn dangerous when they are playing with young children, however well trained they are. They would be great if you had teenagers but not for anything like MummaB's babies.

Also, I think those condemning mixed breeds should probably give a little consideration to the fact that EVERY breed of dog, horse, cat, guinea pig is derived from mixing breeds at some point. Its not as if one day there simply existed hundreds of different breeds of dog and one has nothing to do with the other. While I agree that there are a lot of "designer" puppies out there and a lot of them are the result of backyard breeders who mix whatever cute dogs they have on hand, there are also some reputable breeders who are responsibily going down this road too.

[*Efjay*]

staffordshire bull terrier - very "talkative" dogs. Also very destructive. very solid dogs also. Good control will be needed so they don't try & push you around. Same with the kids. You need be sure the kids can assert themselves well.

boxer- Very bouncy dogs. Remain puppies for some time & can be rather destructive with digging, chewing etc if not given enough stimuation. They love their squeaky toys also. I like boxers, I have a 5 yr old Boxer who is just lovely. She was a handful as a pup though. Would chew everything. They need to be shown how to be good dogs. They are very smart, just need to know how to use those brains.

labrador - personlly can't stand Labs. Too in your face IMO. But again a very smart breed that needs to be shown how to be good. Lots of training etc. But can be a handful with out the right attention.

[christy]

*whoa* girls...

I have worked with dogs for the past 10 years. I have specialised in behaviour as a nurse for the greater part of my career, including working with a behavioural specialist.

There are some broad statements being made, and mostly with personal experience. The problem with that is dog behaviour is 1/3 genetic, 1/3 environmental and 1/3 based on the first 6 weeks of the dogs life.

So most labs are goofy personified. I whole heartedly agree! Most staffys are noisy, most boxers are goofy as well for the first few years, most terriers are nippy.... etc etc these are "most" and it is generalised.

However, there are some statements here which I definately disagree with. I think if anyone wanted to choose a dog, it should be done in person with a vet check prior to purchase and with research from... um... how should I say.... objective information? Most posts I've read here are biased.

My biase is towards dogs that have a low bite hibition. So dogs which over and over and over again have proved themselves to not bite. The best way to get a guarantee that your dog will be that way is to : a) get a dog from the RSPCA or animal shelter which does behaviour testing prior to adoption (it is manditory that the RSPCA does this!) b) take a dog trainer to test the parents of the dog c) have a health check done on the parents as well as the pup prior to buying.

If you are spending lots of $$ on a dog, its worth doing your research. I mean if anyone told me they wanted a Shar Pei, I'd tell you to save at least $5000 for your first 2-3 years. Thats without the purchase of the dog.

ETA: sorry Katones but I totally disagree on the cross bred thing....