Getting a dog…

Ours is Barney a Bedlington/ Greyhound cross.
He is very family friendly but does require quite a bit of exercise. Busting footballs is his favourite game.

 

This is the correct answer.

 

I’d recommend something crossed with a poodle: Cavapoo, Cockerpoo, Labradoodle (these can be extremely tall though, we had one we called a dog on stilts who could have easily eaten his dinner off of the table and would have needed to lean down to do so!)

Consider how much time you have for exercising the dog and how much time you expect it to spend alone as both of those things will heavily influence what type of dog you should get or if you should even get one at all.

I’m actually going to advise against rescuing a dog. They generally have complex needs which are better suited to experienced dog owners and are not ideal for small children. It adds an extra layer of complication which a first time dog owner doesn’t need.

Next tip: get pet insurance. It’s expensive but so are vet bills and it doesn’t take many of those to get all of your money back plus more. Just make sure you get a whole life policy and get it early before your dog has any pre-existing conditions that would be excluded.

 

But often don't; the responsible charities will have a full known history for most of their dogs and will advise in detail on their suitability.

Please don't rule out rescues. Many have been loved all their lives by responsible owners who, through old age or ill health, just can't take care of them properly. There are hundreds out there just waiting for another chance.

 

Massive commitment but life changing and affirming. Went 20 years without one and really regret it. Got a Rottweiller 18 months ago. The most playful dog I've had but probably not for a novice. Believe it or not I get people coming up to me in the street admiring her and she is very friendly. Other dogs she likes to play with unless they start being aggressive, (mostly cockerpoos and french bulldogs). We have a small cat who the dog respects. Plus my Daughter can walk her late at night and its unlikely I'd get burgled! NB for OP Whippets aren't good with cats.

 

I am a Cavalier King Charles owner - have had three. Lovely temperament, but not always that energetic. Cocker spaniel's are more energetic, if that's more what you want. You really need a bit of garden for either breed, but a Cavalier would be okay with a smaller garden

 

We’ve a cockapoo and he’s a brilliant family dog, he turns 8 on Wednesday. He’s been wonderful ever since our no 4 year old daughter was born, which as you can imagine was a massive shock to the system for him.

He will walk as far as you want him to but is also happy with a couple of short 15 mins walks a day.

I would say though when he was a puppy he was extremely energetic and chewy so it took a lot of effort in the first 12 months to get him in line. So make sure you have the time to train him when he’s young if you get one. I think we would struggle now our daughter is here.

I suppose the last point is a general one. You don’t know what personality of dog you will get until it comes home. I know people with cockapoos who have had really chilled puppies but they’re all different. So make sure you have enough time before you get one.

 

Check out local rescues like Homeward hounds at Manvers(We got our lab Bruno from these), Bark, Radar, Badaw

 

We have a three-year-old golden Labrador, he’s an absolute joy and the most precious thing in my world. The missus won’t see this, so it’s ok.

Also have a one-year-old Jachsund, and she’s the cutest little long thing, and a delight with us. However, she’s very protective and guardy outside, quite yappy when she sees others. But she’s getting better.

Boils down to effort, training and love.

I’ve adored all the dogs I’ve ever had, and they’re all unique, all individuals. Couldn’t be without at least one. They just want to be loved.

 

Shame it wouldn’t post. Just a bloke pushing a roundabout type ride in the park with his dog on it

 

When I was a kid, our Border Terrier loved going on the roundabout at our local rec, and would sit there happily for however long we kept spinning it.

 

We got our dog from Homeward Hound, too.

 

One of the dogs we had as kids, mentioned above in my post, Bonnie the jack Russell cross with border terrier, used to love going in a rucksack on my back when I went out on bike rides, head sticking out of top. She'd be out with us all day.

 

We have two rescues. Darcey the cocker is 9 and she's been with us 4 years. She had been used and abused on a puppy breeding farm then discarded when not useful. No idea how many pups of different varieties she's given birth to. For that reason I wouldn't entertain getting a pup from a breeder. Masey came from Romania as 6mth old, off the streets.

 

My previous two dogs a Staffie(Ty) and an American Bulldog(Ozzie) both sadly now departed, Ty was raised when son number 1 was himself just a pup , Ozzy came a few years later when the kids were older, both brilliant dogs although I wouldn't recommend an Am bull with small kids as they can be a little too boisterous (a bull in a China shop).
Staffies are brilliant with young kids mind.
Image below is my 6 month old American bulldog called Blue............sithi.

 

Yep, Staffies have a bad rep for no reason whatsoever. They were overbred and bought by daft lads who thought they were aggressive looking and would give them some street cred with the other daft lads. When they realised they were anything but aggressive, they dumped them; hence the rescue centres being full of them. The Victorians called them 'nanny dogs' due to their gentle, protective nature around children. Our last dog Oliver was a crossbreed, but predominantly staffie and you couldn't have hoped for a better temperament.

 

I've never had a dog, but I used to take my daughter's Golden Retriever out for lots of walks and looked after him when my daughter and her family were on holiday. My experience when out with him was exactly the same as yours. So many people came up to stroke him, and he absolutely loved it. My two young grandsons could climb all over him and sit on him, and he never objected. When any other dogs barked at him, he just ignored them. You could not imagine a gentler creature. I was really upset when he succumbed to stomach cancer. If I ever buy myself a dog, it will have to be a Golden Retriever.

 

Our pack consists of 1 elderly Great Dane, 2 Mastiffs, and the little one a Rottweiler. Who graciously allow me to live in the house with them and the Wife and go to work to keep them.