Had three terrific black Labrador bitches over 45 years - absolutely superb temperament, adored youngsters and would tolerate any level of being messed around by them without retaliating.
Our first Lab, who my father trained for the gun, had lived on a chicken farm for her first 11 months and had never been in a house.
The first night she wrecked the porch trying to get out; the following morning the gas man walked into the kitchen to read the meter and she pinned him up against the wall knowing he shouldn't be on the property. At the age of about five she dragged a young boy off the road as a car approached to the amazement of everyone who saw it.
She basically came out of the blue and, after departing this world leaving broken hearts, the two following Labs also found their way through friends and family to our home over the years. We never went out looking to choose a dog.
By the way the Golden Retrievers can sometimes prove a bit of a handful, mainly because of the sheer joy of life - sometimes they have a more excitable temperament that the black Labs.
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>>Labrador might do it<<
No it won't - not for your criteria. We've got two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and they're absolutely great. I'd love to recommend them but the best they'd do is lick the burglars! (They're alright with every other one of your points though!)
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Why not?
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Why not a lab?
It depends - when you say you don't want to walk it 10 miles a day, I read it as not really having to walk it or exercise it too much. The lab we had (years ago) needed tons of exercise and we were always far more tired than it was even after the exercise.
Maybe we had a hyper Lab!
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>>Maybe we had a hyper Lab!>>
No, a Labrador is a working dog and needs exercise. That's why, as kids, we walked far more than we would have done if we didn't have a dog. Didn't do us any harm...:-)
Many dogs are working dogs which most people don't seem to realise.
One of the most popular is a Border Colie which is probably the most intelligent dog you can acquire and that includes German Shepherds; howeverr, it needs a staggering amount of exercise and will probably leave you gasping.
Re the mention of Alsatians. My brother had a magnificent Alsatian which could jump 6ft high fences without even thinkiing about it.
It was great with kids, friendly with anyone who was welcomed by the family, but woe betide anyone who shouldn't be either on the premises or the area surrounding the property.
This same dog never blinked when I arrived regularly on a particular night each week in a different car and wearing different clothes at my brother's house before a pub crawl. Yet it would bark the place down if a stranger entered the property.
On the same lines, our last dog was a Sheltie which we looked after when my daughter went to the Cayman Islands - my missus always knew when I was almost home because the dog would go to the front door to greet me about five minutes beforehand.
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I'd go for either a Labrador, absolutly fantastic with kids and a calm temperament, or a German Shepherd bitch. GSB's are lovely loyal dogs with very little of the the possibility of getting a rogue as you can with the male version. They also look the part as far as intruders are concerned.
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Robin Reliant, formerly known as Tom Shaw
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1/ Labrador Retriever. Black or Chocolate., Bitch. I have a black bitch., They are probably the best all round compromise dog for the average home owner. I have one of these. Its trained as scent dog,
DO NOT go for a golden retriever or golden retriever lab cross. There is a strange gene that makes these dogs capable of turning suddenly very dangerous, and switching back again.
2/ Malinois (Belgian shephard) Difficult to get, needs good training as a pup but very intelegent, confident, and brave dogs, very very very loyal and very dependable., Helped train a few of these, Cracking dogs., Will be my next dog.
3/ German shepard, another good compromise dog, take great car tho, tons of these around from very poor gene pools, prone to heart disease, bad eyes and a strong chance of displaced hips.
4/ Labradoodles., Labrador / poodle cross very trendy, very friendly soppy soft dogs, would help the burgler carry the stuff out. (the top gear dog BTW)
5/ Standard boxer. The tall one. Very good dogs to have around the home, dependable, friendly .
6/ Border collie, good dogs but a bit of a handfull.
7 Consider a rescue greyhound, They are actualy very good house pets and dont need to be over exercised.
whatever you get., you and your pup go to dog training classes. Always get a bitch
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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7 Consider a rescue greyhound, They are actualy very good house pets and dont need to be over exercised.
Can recommend a greyhound. I got a rescue one 3 years ago from a so called re-homing centre that wasn't looking after him. Laziest breed I've ever known, great temprament, love kids. Just keep them away from cats!
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Was Charles {P} but someone c o p i e d my name with spaces.
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I had a Labrador of my own as a child, when I was 12, and my parenets replaced him with another when he passed away, both fantastic dogs albeit very different characters. We would only ever have a Labrador though at the moment have ruled out a family dog, too much of a tie.
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We had a Labrador bitch and it was truly a lovely friendly dog who was wonderful with children but could be aggressive if she thought a visitor was an intruder.
I believe they can be trained to be any type of dog required.
I was in Malaya in the 50s and we had a war dog section of labs trained to lead patrols on tracking terrorists in the jungle.
They were extremely fierce dogs and walking past their caged kennels they would explode in fury against the mesh. Don?t know how they were trained to be so contrary to their usual nature. They were marvellous at following any trail and would think they could teach bloodhounds a few tricks.
When the children were young we would camp in the Forest of Dean and the children would go off and hide giving them time to get well away. It was amazing how she would locate them in seconds.
She didn?t like heights and I remember having to blindfold and carry her across some suspension bridge over the Wye.
I don?t think you can go wrong with a Lab but they do moult quite a bit.
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>>a war dog section of labs trained to lead patrols on tracking terrorists>>
A dog basically follows its nature - i.e. Nature's programming as to its role in life.
It's very easy to convert any young dog to do something it wasn't originally bred to do, such as be a vicious guard dog in the case of larger breeds, but it is really alien to the animal's true nature.
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....4/ Labradoodles., Labrador / poodle cross very trendy, very friendly soppy soft dogs, would help the burgler carry the stuff out. (the top gear dog BTW)
magic, LOL
We´ll get a dog as soon as we´re not on the 5th floor....
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Agree with most things said about Labs except for the guard-dog element. Ours is quite big so his size might deter an intruder who is already scared of dogs but the only real danger would be a beating from his tail or being slobbered to death. Very friendly dogs and brilliant with children - will tolerate incredible levels of abuse with no complaints!
That said, ours is male - I think bitches are a little more defensive so might make a better guard dog.
Don't believe the hysteria about Rottweilers they are fantastic (good natured) family dogs.
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Have two black lab bitches now and one previously and probably about to get another! Almost foolproof, but don't overfeed. Despite what whingers say you should still see ribs.
Best of luck......................................MD.
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Despite what whingers say you should still see ribs.
YES. Black labs look fabulous when at the correct weight, Superb muscle definition and body shape. I hate to see fat labs. Trouble is the damn things would eat till they explode
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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And they must have a sense of humour?Had a mate who had a phobia about dogs. He was literally terrified of them. When he came to the house Dawn must have sensed this and she used to draw back her lips and show her teeth. At the same time growling softly like a lion.
Frank would go white with fear and cower in the doorway and she loved it.
And they can be calculating. I once read many years ago a newspaper report where a burglar was breaking into a house through the window. A Lab sat in the darkness without making a sound until he had cut a hole in the glass and reached through to unlatch the window. The dog then grabbed the hand and crunched it.
The Police caught the man in the A&E and he had severe injuries to his hand. This was back in the 70s and I imagine today the owner would be sued by the burglar, but at the time we thought it was one up for the good guys (or dogs).
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>>Don't believe the hysteria about Rottweilers they are fantastic (good natured) family dogs.>>
Thoroughly agree. Once they know you are accepted by their owner they are as soft as putty and demand attention.
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DO NOT go for a golden retriever or golden retriever lab cross. There is a strange gene that makes these dogs capable of turning suddenly very dangerous, and switching back again.
Agree re Labs being great, not heard that though re Retrievers, any more info?
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There are numerous stories about goldies. "Lovely pet, great with kids, happy friendly, then it just bit me/child/postman/cat/rabbit" And its not a play nip, or a warning bite - I have seen it happen. Its a serious primeval bite to kill reaction. Seen the results of a goldie maim and kill pups.
IN retrospect, when you think about it, and watch goldies with other dogs or people its quite obvious. They appear calm, happy, playful, tolerant, BUT they never offer the slightest hint of a subservient behaviour, nor any indication they consider anything else to be a pack leader. They dont lead the pack, or want to lead the pack, just dont consider anything to be leader. Other dogs know it, they never take liberties with a goldie.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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How about a Bulldog?
Ours was fantastic with children but hated walking. You just had to spend an hour or so on the carpet every evening playing tug-o-war games. The rougher the better, you can't hurt them, they have a sky-high pain thresh-hold.
When she heard a noise near the front door she would charge full pelt and smash into the door with her face, it was absolutely terrifying but she never bit anyone in anger. She eventually knocked all her front teeth out.
They do dribble though and they get dog food trapped in their chops which they like to wipe off on the furniture. There was always a "tide mark" of dog food stains around the wall of every room.
I don't really like big furry animals in my home, I prefer my fish, but I'd have another bulldog in a shot. Maybe...
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>>There was always a "tide mark" of dog food stains around the wall of every room.<<
Always easy to blame stuff on the dog isn't it?
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Adam
Have you been to sarcasm night school? The standard of return barbs shows a distinct and sudden improvement.
I would like to think the tutoring by myself and BBD has paid off, I am almost proud of you.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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Thanks - that means a great deal to me.
Now stop or you'll make me blush.
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You might do well with your original thoughts of an Airedale, we had one for years when our children were little and she was gentle with them every time. Certainly enough of a presence for burglars etc and no problems with moulting.
We now have a lekeland, same coat, shape etc but small size.
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"Always easy to blame stuff on the dog isn't it?"
Been racking my brains for 10 minutes Ad and I have to admit I've got nothing. Nothing clean anyway.
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I wouldn't expect anything less Dave.
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My personal choice would be a labrador, having had 3 bitches in the past. Sometime in the future I will have another one.
The other breed I would suggest to add to your list is the Weimaraner. This breed would be my second choice after a labrador.
Have a look at this site to see lots of characteristics on all dog breeds.
www.petplanet.co.uk/petplanet/breeds/dogs-breeds.h...m
This site may help in locating a suitable puppy.
www.breederdirectory.co.uk/
If you are interested in a club for a particular breed, either for puppies or group training.
www.dogclub.co.uk/dogs/list-A.php
Hope this helps.
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Roger
I read frequently, but only post when I have something useful to say.
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We had a doberman went I was a kid and it was a great dog - though this was not in the UK. It doubled up as a guard dog at night as it was free to roam the large garden and ajoining fields at night. Sadly it got bitten by a snake and came to an untimely end. Had a few mongrels after that but they never quite had the same charisma.
If I was to get a dog now (with 3 young kids), it would certainly be a black lab, no doubt about it.
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I have two resuced greyhounds - sisters, just over 3 years old. They're absolutely ideal house dogs: they don't chew, don't chase things, don't shed, don't bark without good reason and sleep about 23 hours a day. Very easy-going with guests once you introduce them to the guest, but otherwise they don't make friendly with strangers. They can get on well with cats too, provided they're socialised in a cat-friendly environment.
Exercise isn't a problem: they get a 10 minute walk each morning and another 30 minutes in the evening which is plenty for them. The lazier one practically has to be carried back to the car if her walk extends to 40 minutes!
Besides, there are 15,000 ex-racing greyhounds destroyed in Ireland alone each year, so there are plenty deserving cases out there looking for adoption. Whatever dog you choose, I'd really encourage a resuce dog - there are dedicated rescues for most breeds, and plenty "mutts" looking for good homes too.
Alternatively, a German Shepherd cross would be a fine dog, and my next preference to a Grey. But you do need to be accustomed to handling dogs properly (Jan Farrell's Dog Listener books are a good guide) to get the best from them - for your good and their's alike.
Email me via my profile if you have a breed in mind, I can probably offer a recommendation for a reliable rescue who can match you to a suitable dog.
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I'd second the greyhound recommendation. We have a rescue collie and they need miles of walks and hours of stimulation every day. She's also a rubbish guard dog, barks at the telephone and tears up the lawn but she is ours and we wouldn't change her for the world.
Can I be the one who pleads with you to go to a rescue centre? There are thousands of ideal pets in those places, and I can't understand why anyone would pay hundreds of pounds for a dog when the rescue centres are full.
I sponsor a dog from Dogs Trust (formerly NCDL) and it's also where we got our dog from. www.dogstrust.org.uk
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We have been toying with the thought of getting a dog for a while now. Like Cheddar the problem is the thought of the tie to a dog (never had one before). Other than that we're in an ideal situation, always someone home during the day, couple of young kids and lots of parkland for walks etc.
Coincidentally we were thinking of a greyhound - heard lots of good things about them and their profile has been raised because of recent stories.
But PG, if we did get one, the thought is leaning towards a puppy. We inderstand the plight of the dogs in rescue centres but surely isn't part of the ownership thing watching the mut grow up? We'd miss out on that stage otherwise.
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The puppy phase has its good points and its bad points. Yes they are cute and great fun and trainable.
They also need housetraining and accidents last a long time (ruined carpets - the smell) they nip and bite, demand attention constantly, chew the furniture, rip things up - Its a very trying time requiring a lot of owner input.
An old dog CAN be taught new tricks. They quickly bond with new owners, and somehow seem to appreciate the new owner more than a dog thats always been looked after properly.
My dog was not a resuce dog but a re-homed dog. Got it at two years old. Never been anything less than an absolute joy and delight.
Unless you have a very special requirement for a puppy, its slightly imorral to want a young pup when there are loads of dogs needing new owners.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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::Greyhound promoting mode ON::
Good racing greyhounds are retired around 5 years old. Once they've been socialised in a domestic setting (a good rescue centre will have a programme to do this), what you get is a calm, wonderfully even-tempered adult dog that makes a great house-dog. The lack of puppy-like behaviour appeals to many people.
Racing greyhounds that couldn't run to save their lives (sadly, literally in most cases) come up for rehoming at 12-18 months. That's when we got ours. They still showed all the most appealing aspects of puppy behaviour when introduced to their new home: they were agog at the newness of everything, eager to be affectionate and receive affection in return, full of fun. The plus side is that they did much less chewing and pup-like destruction, and were house-trained in short order. You'll also have the pleasure of seeing a dog that may well be timid to begin with blossom as it bonds with you - greyhounds thrive on human company.
::Greyhound promoting mode OFF::
For any breed, you'd be astonished just how many pups end up in rescues looking for homes. There seem to be lots of people out there who pick a breed of dog on a whim, only to find it doesn't suit their needs/home/lifestyle/fashion expectations. Again, a rescue that specialises in the breed (or cross) you're interested in will quickly point you in the right direction.
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Thank you to everyone for your responses.
How are greyhounds at being guard dogs? My friend has two (rescue) and they fit the descriptions above to a tee, but can't ever remember them barking when we've knocked at the door. I'm not looking for an attack dog but longstanding desire for dog has been brought to the front burner by kids now being of age when they can take some responsibility for its care coupled with being burgled for the third time in 5 years - we live way off the road with neighbours out of earshot.
Hold on, my mate's dogs are lurchers how different other than lurchers are a bigger/beefier.
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>>How are greyhounds at being guard dogs>>
They have never been bred to be guard dogs - you need a breed that will defend its territory and that of its master when the occasion demands.
A Labrador will do so to an extent but, even so, it's a working dog bred basically to retrieve.
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Rescue centres have puppies too - especially at Christmas :(
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