[muddyhill]

We are thinking about getting a dog in the next year and trying to work out the best breed and way to go about it.

We have two cats, chickens, ducks and sheep, and hopefully some pigs shortly.  We also have a 5 year old and a 2 year old, and to complicate matters further have holiday lets (Gypsy Wagons) and guests are allowed to bring well behaved dogs.

So whatever dog we get has to be able to cope with all of that!

I quite fancy a rescued greyhound/lurcher/whippet but my OH is concerned about getting a rescue dog and feels it would be getter to get a pup they we won't have concerns about it's history and we can train it and it will grow up used to the environment we have here (and he thinks greyhounds etc are too big).

So I know there will be lots of different opinions but I just wondered what people's experiences and advice were... 

[ZaktheLad]

I have a lurcher and wholeheartedly recommend them - they are totally and utterly fab!  If you are keen on a rescue dog this rescue centre http://bristoldawg.webs.com/home.htm is superb and all dogs will have been tested for suitability with cats and children.  My lurcher is 32" in height - a tall chap, but he can curl himself in to the smallest of balls when asleep!   He is the most mild mannered and intelligent dog and although we do not have children and he has never been used to them, he is excellent when he does come in to contact with them. 

We had our lurcher from the age of 8 weeks and he has therefore been taught to be around the sheep and horse etc and he will come out in the field off lead and sit with the sheep and let them nibble his fur!   

You won't go far wrong with a lurcher as your chosen breed 

[happygolucky]

Well I am a Lab women, easy peasy
 
BUT...there are some brilliant None KC pups that are crosses and make wonderful family pets.....maybe check  your local rescue or go to a particular breed rescue......

[doganjo]

I would not recommend a Brittany - far too specialized a breed.

[funkyfish]

Right, first of all well done for asking for help!!


I would put together what you want out of a dog, personality and looks wise then find a dog that fits your description.


1) it will need to be well socialised, to cope with new people lot s of coming and goings etc.


2) will need to have a low prey drive/chase drive because of animals.


3) energy levels as per how much exercise you can give.


Gu[size=78%]n dog breeds and crosses tend to have low prey/chase drives and are selected to friendliness and [/size]train-ability[size=78%]. [/size]

[size=78%]Terriers have high chase/prey drive but are out going and a good size. Can be [/size][/size]suborn[/size][size=78%] and not selected for handler focus.[/size]

[/size][size=78%]Sight hounds have a high prey/chase drive, can be sensitive/[/size][/size]nervous[/size][size=78%] and need careful socialisation. They are easy to [/size]exercise[size=78%]  don't take up much room (even Greyhounds), are loyal and love to spend time with people.[/size]

[/size][size=78%]working breeds can have high exercise needs and can need a lot of mental stimulation.[/size]

[/size]Herding[/size][size=78%]/guarding [/size]breeds[size=78%] don't tend to cope with change well and can be noise sensitive. The can also direct their behaviours ([/size]herding[size=78%] and being over [/size]protective[size=78%]) to [/size]inappropriate[size=78%] things like kids etc.[/size]

[/size][size=78%]Personally I would get a gun dog/ or cross- like a Sprocker or Or [/size]Springer[size=78%]/Working Cocker. Get it at 8 weeks old from a good breeder who has bred it indoors and started socialising it. and make sure its well socialised- take to a good puppy [/size]social[size=78%] group and puppy training.[/size]

[/size][size=78%]Thanks my 2p worth![/size]

[funkyfish]

Sorry no idea what happened with my post!

[in the hills]

 


I think you are going to get many different answers    because we all have our favourites and what suits one does not suit another.


Have you kept dogs before?  Some breeds are known to be more difficult to handle than others. Do lots of research. With young children, the temperament of the breed will be very important.


I love gundogs personally    and in your situation my thoughts would be to buy a pup. It will grow with you and your young family and you will know it's history and with good training and upbringing hopefully avoid problems.


I have always had Flatcoated Retrievers and they tend to be excellent with children. They are the Peter Pans of the dog world. My Flattie adores our children and there is not a bad bone in his body. However they tend to be VERY boisterous, very active and total extroverts and so can, especially the males, be difficult to handle. We now have a Labrador .... working line. They are generally thought of as good family dogs and tolerant of young children. In general they are easier to handle and calmer personalities.


My sister has cocker spaniels. Small, sweet but again very busy dogs.


You can read about all the breeds on their websites and even ring and speak to their breed secretaries etc. They should tell you the bad points of their breed as well as the good.


Have fun 

[HappyHippy]

I'm a German Shepherd fan 
But not sure that in your situation you'd want a GS - although they are great dogs they can be protective and intimidating to have running around compared to other breeds.

We've also had Labradors and Retrievers - both pretty much bullet proof round animals, kids and new people.

I'd agree that terriers of any sort will be inclined to chase chickens (my neighbours Jack Russell has killed a couple of hers) and could cause problems or worries if they take off after something.

In the hills make a good point - think about what you want from a dog ? How much experience of dogs you have and go from there. Every breed has it's plusses and minuses, and every dog owner will tell you theirs is best - and it is........for them 
Ditto that you'd be best to start with a pup too, but make it VERY clear to the kids that the dog is a member of the family and MUST be respected (not a toy for their amusement) that should make for a long and happy life together  My kids don't get smacked often, but harrassing a pet is a sure fire, bare bum spank 
Karen

[doganjo]

My sister has cocker spaniels. Small, sweet but again very busy dogs

.

Any working breed will be the same - show cockers aren't so hyper - I know I bred them for 20 years before i got into these mad French things.  The KC website is very informative if you want a pedigree, adn remember hybrid vigour does not apply to dog breeding

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/getting-a-dog-or-puppy/

[Old Shep]

well done for thinking it all through before committing. 
A retriever type (either pure bred or cross) would fit the bill quite nicely as they don't have the urge to beggar off into the great unknown (unlike setters :-) ) and are usually fairly bomb proof.
I wouldn't be put off a rescue dog as long as you go to a GOOD rescue.  If you feel you are being interviewed and that its not a done deal that you can have whichever dog you choose - then that is probably a good rescue. Adopters need closely matching with adoptee dogs. Don't go to stray kennels (pounds) as some will just take your money and let you have the most inappropriate dog!  I can personally vouch for Black RetrieverX rescue as I have now fostered 2 dogs for them.  Sadly puppies are very often found in rescues today - so you needn't have to get an older dog.

[in the hills]

Yes Doganjo, my sisters cockers are from a working line and that is something else to maybe consider.


The breeders I contacted when searching for my current lab pup were all people that worked their dogs and competed at trial level. I obviously quizzed about temperament since although I intend to work my girl she will also be a house dog. One lady had started off with "show" line labs and commented that although she now preferred "working" line labs, she did think that in general the show/pet labs had less tendency to be "over-sensitive" or "nervy" around strangers than the working line. 


Labradors, show or work line, tend to be biddable and adaptable. (Can someone just remind my 10 week old pup of this ).


 Illustrated perhaps by their many uses as eg. search and rescue, guide dogs, gundogs,


So ..... more to consider.

[ladyK]

Here's another opinion to add to the many

I have a (rescue) staffie cross and he's a fantastic dog, a real piece of gold. And although this might seem an unlikely farm dog he is doing really well here since we moved out of town.
He is very intelligent and quite mellow at the same time, has learned not to chase cats nor chickens, respects hirses and cattle we meet out and about, and now learning to leave alone my newly arrived flock of sheep (I admit I wouldn't trust him alone with a flock of somebody else's sheep). He doesn't chase anything much, actually, hardly takes notice of squirrels or rabbits (but he's addicted to tennis balls) and can be very relaxed and patient too - while certainly active he is not hyper at all.
I don't have any kids, so can't comment on that, but staffies were once renowned for being good with children (hence called 'nannie dogs') and they are very focussed on their owners (less so on other dogs, mine prefers to be left alone by other dogs).
Of course, no two dogs of the same breed (or litter!) are the same, but staffies should not be discounted as family dogs 

You may not have the time to (re)train a rescue dog so for your situation a puppy whuich will grow with you and your family might be best, I agree with others here.

[Rosemary]

I wouldn't recommend Border Collies - they have no "off" switch. You could get one that's fine but I suspect there are better breeds for you.

I met a lovely Staffie on the bus the other day - what a sweetie he was

[happygolucky]

Its a case of what you like and suits your life, I love loads of breeds, in fact most dogs, I love Staffies and GSP's as well as Great Danes and Newfoundland's, then I love pugs and westies. and a lot of the new designer breeds......I have what suites me as I cannot run after a dog that pulls or runs off or is too hyper but we  have room in the house, and I can trust our dogs with other children or dogs.  Although 2 of our Labs are frantic active dogs, they hate being told off and so do nothing wrong anymore but if  bored or left alone, a Lab and other big working dogs like GSP, can chew happily through a kitchen or sofa.  I also think, small dogs = small damage and small toilet accidents, so therefore, big dogs,  big damage and bigger accidents

[shygirl]

I wouldn't recommend Border Collies -

i wouldnt recommend terriers either til the youngest kiddie is 5 at least. we got a terrier pup and he is just fab as a walking companion for me but at 9 weeks old he bit my 10 yr old daughter quite badly and aggresively when he wanted her pasta    and we have to be careful about feeding times as he has been known to start a fight and not stop. its alot better now he has been neutered but he still needs watching. terriers dont tolerate rough handling in the way a labrador does. if you are getting a labrador - please - be alert to the health testing, our 8 yr old lab is very lame to elbow dysplacia, but is the most loving dog ever. they are perfect for families but can knock little kids over by accident in their enthusiasm.
our gsd is a very lovely family pet, we spent alot of time training and socialising her when she was young, and she has always been a bit daft. people/strangers are quite daunted by her size though, she has never shown any signs of aggression but is a bit batty 
we have a lhaso apso who is very lovely but incredibly jealous over affections. he has started a few fights over who was allowed to be stroked first, which left a permanent scar in my sons arm.

we had a lovely springer x collie as kids and she was a softy through and through 

wev tried to rehome a rescue dog but werent allowed as we have children under 12. its a shame. but on a positive a puppy can be moulded  into what ever you want. essential when your kids are so young and you have animals.
our little dogs are much cheaper to feed and bed than the bigger ones, and often come out with us for the day, when we dont have room in the car for the bigger dogs, but they also manage to wiggle under gates and wander off.