The Dogmother Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 Or it might be worth taking a dog-savvy friend with you for advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pips_pekins Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 Or it might be worth taking a dog-savvy friend with you for advice. I agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Our first dog we got from Battersea, I always thought she was a staff x whippet. She was about 18 months old when we go her and she died at 15. I meet a man in the vets a couple of weeks ago with a dog that looked exactly the same as my Sally and he said his was a lab x whippet. I had tears in my eyes and couldn't stop looking at his dog. He probably thought I was very odd. The next dog was also from Battersea but was totoally the wrong mix and dog for us I'm afraid (they matched her to us) and we had to take her back for the sake of our cats and my sanity. We then got Cookie from a breeder, they are the breed specialists in the back of Dogs Today. The breeder interviewed us and told us that Cookie was only available as she'd turned one family down when they came for the interview as the children were unruly and misbehaved. Thankfully my boys were impeccably behaved. Cookie has been wonderful as was Sally so it really just is luck of the draw with rescues and go by your own instincts with breeders. You can tell if they're only after the money. Good luck. p.s. Dogmother - those lurchers are beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted March 12, 2012 Author Share Posted March 12, 2012 Well........ hubby unfortunately mentioned to YD that we are going to have a look at Dogs Trust on Thursday The girls are quite excited but DS is really not bothered. He hates the chicken poo in the back garden and thinks it will be full of dog mess (it certainly will NOT be!) I have said not to get their hopes up too much as DT might say we aren't really suitable. I am quite excited and I really hope something suitable will come up I have come to the realisiation it is very much like having a baby (without all the physical pain ) planning all the things you need (bed, stair gates for cat protection etc etc) I'd better start reading up on how best to train. I think now is the best time as after the summer hols, ED will be doing lots of revision and GCSE exams, so I don't want her sleep more disturbed than it is by a crying puppy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hens@HalfMoonLane Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Another staffy fan here too. The breed never appealed to me but we've had our mainly staffy cross almost a month now choosing her for the temperament description. She's absolutely perfect and at 8 months old it's a miracle. Good with dogs and people, great recall, lovely nature, warm and cuddly I can't believe how lucky we've been. I'd recommend them to anyone. She actually plays hide and seek with my 6 year old son! Saying that I've had all sorts of rescue dogs, collies, xbreds, ex racing greyhounds, gsdx and border terrier cross, we've loved them all but this little staffie is just wonderful, right up at the top of my list. I'll bore you all with photos later. I could love any dog as long as it was mine but having a lovely easy dog like rolo just makes life so much more wonderful and relaxing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 I'd better start reading up on how best to train I'd recommend finding some good training classes near to you - you want to find a trainer who uses positive training methods, the APDT is a good place to start but also ask around and see if anyone can recommend a class nearby. The advantage of training classes is that, whilst the environment is a little false (ie very structured), the dogs have to work with the distraction of other dogs and people around them. We found this really helpful when we got Tango as she was totally obsessed by other dogs, however in the class she had to learn to be calm and not charge across to all the other dogs. We also had to pratice things like walking past people sitting down with food in their hands and keeping the dogs' attention on us rather than the food - not easy when you have an extremely greedy dog! Then we covered all the basic commands such as sit, down, stay, walking to heel etc. Good luck on Thursday - let us know how you get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Have a look at some of the Victoria Stilwell videos on Youtube - as good a place to start as any. Just make sure that you and the children are all doing the same thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted March 13, 2012 Author Share Posted March 13, 2012 Is she the one from Me or the Dog? She had some really good methods, which even I thought as a non dog owner. I will give her a look. I will ask my friend today where she took her dog for training classes. I will consider a staffie if we happen to fall for it and its right for us. I guess I am just going by the medias portrayal of them. I am really quite nervous now about owning a dog. I was thinking about where it will sleep, what I can do to protect the carpet from accidents, how many times a night I will be woken I'm sure we will be alright. The unknown is always scary I find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Good luck with your dog finding mission. I think they make a house a home, I have one snuggled up around my feet at the moment - One of the rabbits is contemplating pouncing on her tail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Brave rabbit! Mine stay in their hutch if the dogs re out and about..... especially Cyrus; he has a very strong prey drive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted March 15, 2012 Author Share Posted March 15, 2012 Just got back from visiting Dog Trust. No dogs there suitable, but was worth the visit. Lucky we have kids and cats, otherwise there were an awful lot who we could have brought home with us The good thing about the trip is hubby is now behind me in my decision to get a dog *phew* It so easily could have gone the other way. We've discussed where it will sleep, where the little tray would be (for a pup, I am assuming you don't need one for a house trained dog?), getting stair gates for various doorways, how we can close off the kitchen so it doesn't get in there at night and eat defrosting meat before it will hopefully be okay to sleep in with the cats in the living room. I know that may never happen, but one can hope. I do know after seeing them that we really don't want a SBT. I don't like the look of them and would be nervous around them which wouldn't be helpful in making sure we were the top dogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 I don't know of anyone who uses a dirt tray for a puppy; you just take them outside in the garden every hour and after every meal/sleep. There will be accidents but a tray or puppy pads will make the dog think it's OK to go inside. Maybe best that you read up on toilet training Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted March 15, 2012 Author Share Posted March 15, 2012 Ok, I take the hint I thought they were like cats. Will start reading up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kazmac Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 We have a westie and got her from a breeder near Edinburgh. She's fantastic and has a great-grandad who won best in breed (I think) at Crufts some years ago. We got that breeder via the Kennel Club and made sure we asked lots of questions - as she did us. And rightly so. We were happy with her and happy with the dog, kennels, her knowledge etc. The pup took to our younger daughter straight away anyway, so that was that! We've never looked back and she's 10 tomorrow (there's a photo of her on another thread - Corrie). You'll probably find that you don't choose the dog anyway - it will choose you! I've also been following the Staffie discussion on this thread - I second what everyone else has said. They're absolutely fantastic dogs and are nicknamed 'nanny dogs' because they're so good with children. I'm an absolute fan - my brother has two and we adore them. They get a terrible reputation, but sadly that's more down to the idiotic owners who favour this type of dog and raise them as aggressive dogs for fighting or 'protection'. It's a shame, because it couldn't be further from the truth. My brother's a policeman and and their breeder commented that it's more his clientele that end up with staffies! Not from her, though - she homes very selectively. They have a million teeth and they're curved, so yes they would give you a devastating bite if they did bite - but they would have to be pretty provoked to even think about doing that. They were originally bred for bringing down cattle, hence the strong jaws and curved teeth. But you'll go a long way to find a dog better in temperament than a staffie! Right, putting my soap box away now ..... Good luck with your dog-hunting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Round here - you have to be so careful of puppy farms! There are so many in Wales, it's a known fact! I have signed numerous petitions against them since moving here. I would be very afraid if I was to ever buy a dog. The secret is to see the puppies with both parents in their home & I mean home as in 'house'. I would never buy a dog from someone that takes me to a shed or outbuilding or arranges to meet me anywhere but their home. I think if I wanted a certain breed of dog, I would go to local professional dog show & get a proper breeders list. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
