Any dog experts/experienced owners here?

I'm going to get a dog, and I'm looking for a rescue - ie older and calmer dog, and one that is a very placid and docile breed. I don't like hyper ones like collies and spaniels, they make me nervous. I don't like Rotties, German Sheppards and bull terriers either, because they make me nervous too.

Mr P has said that the only breed he objects to is a greyhound, because they are stupid, but I think intelligence in dogs is overrated and really like greyhounds (and might get one anyway and ignore the sulking).

So far I've narrowed it down to a rescue lab (but I'm a first time owner and I think labs are a little on the large side for me), or a basset hound. People say that basset hounds are very stubborn and not particularly obedient, but they are meant to be one of the most docile breeds. Has anyone owned a basset or do you know anything about them? Also, can you suggest any other really chilled, docile, affectionate and placid breeds (preferably not too large)?

Thanks.

labs are the sweetest friendliest dog you can get. rotties are all big pussies when you are friends.

Get a beagle if you like walking and taking the lil dude out. Might be worth joining a dog training learning club when you decide which doggy you like.
Had a greyhound their cool but yeah kinda dumb.

Golden Retrievers are friendly and placid from my experience.

Hiya Lesley. Well, look-a you, going into dog ownership. I wouldn't be without one - and the few times I have been, I just stopped walking out anywhere.

Thing is, every dog brings its pros and cons. Like bats says, labs are big, bouncy blighters, usually very friendly but... they famously have trouble with recall and wandering off. Not all, but can be.

I wouldn't touch a bassett hound with a bassett hound pole. They are lovely too, but their problems are all health matters. Look at the body shape and features and you can see why. Heavy dog on short legs and very long back; eye-lids away from the eyes; ears too long, etc. They also have allergies (the four I currently know are so allergic to EVERYTHING they have to be fed special dried foods and bottled water!).

I went for a Springer Spaniel, lol.... so I must have had some really bad karma to pay back. PLUS, she has Learning Difficulties (yes, dogs can have that ) which a lot of dalmatians also suffer from.

I was going to go for a small but tough type - boarder terriers were the favourite, closely followed by cairn terriers. Terrific little dogs and famously great with children and people... but can be a littlke yappy at times and can be snappy towards other dogs (think Little Man Syndrome).

Golden Retrievers are God's Own Dogs. *sighs* I had my beautiful Beulah for 15 very happy years. They are fun, friendly and usually very keen to please. Their only "downside" (which never bothered me) is that they moult all year round.

There's no use trying to talk you into an alsatian if you are nervous of them - but if you knew one, you'd not only never be nervous of them again, you'd be a devotee of the breed, like me. I'm planning to get two at sometimes up ahead.

RESCUE DOGS. Okaaaay, I'll earn no Brownie Points for this but know this: whatever breed you rescue from a dog centre is likely to come with problems (almost always caused by their previous owners) and you will be some time undoing the problems before you can go on ahead with the training. It's never the dogs' faults, but the problems will be there and have to be dealt with. Hopefully, the rescue centre you go to will be honest about every dog's real needs and "quirks".

You're not too far from a Welsh rescue centre called Many Tears Rescue (or summat like that - if you want me to, I'll try to track the link for you) who rescue dogs and sometimes puppies from Puppy Farms. They are very honest about every dog's needs and they have some lovely little types - West Highland Terriers (sometimes skin problems), poodles (great for anyone with allergies or asthma as they never shed hair etc., but can have teeth and skin problems).

So, every dog will come with a list of pros and one or two cons. But you'll end up loving the Hairy Little Git anyway.

LesleyPumpshaft wrote:
My opinion is to go with your feelings who seem very knowledgeable, and also what type good medium size dog is available, if I was maybe going to recommend one for you to consider possible a Australian cattle dog would suit you and yours.
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Oooo, Rick.... I wouldn't recommend any of the collie types for a first time or unskilled owner. Lovely, lovely dogs BUT you have to know what you're doing with them and they need WORK!!!

@ Lesley: if you're going to adopt a dog, try the Guide Dogs For The Blind Assoc. They always need puppy walkers (okay, so it's the pooey end of the stick with you having to do the house-training, lead training and basic stuff, then give them back, lol, but it's a great way to get to know the lab/retriever/alsatain breeds) - and NOTE: the Alsatian is one of the trusted breeds put in with vulnerable people... in the right hands, they are the best of all dogs. *swoons*. But the Guide Dog people also sometimes have ex-breeding bitches for rehoming and dogs who just won't make the grade as guide dogs for some reason (not viciousness ever, but perhaps the dog won't take enough of a pull on a lead to be of use guiding, or pulls that bit too much, etc). These dogs are less likely to come with "bad problems".

Thanks for everyone's suggestions, much appreciated and there's plenty to mull over . I found Many Tears Res­cue, thanks Cantata. They're quite a way from us, near Swansea, but it's a good excuse to go for a jolly in Wales.

I currently have a jack russell and a labrador - and have previously had a rescue lab collie cross. When I was looking into dogs and what breed I would suit labs came out as the best match as they are gentle, intelligent and respond well to training and food. I am a huge softie so none of the breeds that require a disciplined owner suit me at all - I would end up with an uncontrollable dog.

My advice would be to visit your local rescue centre and talk to them about what sort of dog would suit your family and situation they are pretty good at matching dogs temperaments and needs to owners - the main difficulty is that rescue centres tend to have certain breeds such as staffies and greyhounds in abundance as well as the odd heinz 57 so going there with a particular breed in mind limits somewhat. Particularly as said before each rescue dog will come with its own issues.

I hope you find a gorgeous bundle of love - I would not be without mine

I'm a also huge softie thoreau and quite a nervous person. This is why I'm looking for a laid back and docile dog, and I'm worried about ending up with an uncontrollable dog too. Labs do seem to be one of the nicest breeds. The only thing is that my parents friends had a really dodgy one. It used to growl at me when they left it on it's own in the same room as me. That's quite frightening when you're little. I know they aren't all like that though.

Visting some local centres is definitely the next logical step.

LesleyPumpshaft wrote:
The meanest dog I ever had, and the most attached to me as a one person owner ever, was a big black chow

If your nervous of dogs a bit it would probably be best to get a puppy, (beagle) that way he/she knows your ways from day 1ish and you know his/hers

IDK, labs are supposed to be hyper and chew, but they are great family dogs.

I've had many furry friends throughout my life, golden retrievers, chows, and now a pit bull... pit bulls are hyper chewers, GR are docile and friendly, chows depending on how you raise them can be anywhere in there but are good family dogs too.

batou wrote:
+1

You can generalise to some extent about breeds, but really each dog's got its own character, like people.

My jack russell (see the pretty pets thread) is unbelievably clever. It took about a day to house train her, and from being a tiny puppy, if she's ever needed to pee in the middle of the night, she puts her mouth right next to my ear and does a 'whisper' bark, so that she doesn't wake anyone else up!

Mongrels can be superb. In the past I've had 2 that were each part lab - one was phenomenal, and the other (crossed with a kelpie, which I think is another name for the Australian cattle dog that Ric mentioned) was untrainable and crapped everywhere & rolled about in it, and ate the fire-place, furniture & window sills, before my husband gave him away to someone while I was out.

What I will say is that any dog we've ever had that was an idiot, was a dog selected by my husband for its appearance.

When I pick a dog, I look at their behaviour properly and have never picked a bad one. I picked my jack, for eg, because, unlike her brothers, who were very beautiful, but were overly excited and giddy, she sat there (at 5 weeks old) and looked at me, cocking her head, like she was calmly weighing me up.

Aw damn! Now you've got me wanting a puppy for myself.... I want:

2 Alsatians.
2 Golden Retrievers.
1 Standard Poodle.
1 Boxer.
1 Border Terrier.
1 Cairn Terrier.
1 West Highland Terrier.

That, and 3 National Hunt Type Thoroughbreds should do it...

I've had mostly labrador mongrels in the past. (all rescue dogs)
Difficult to manage along with kids and a nomadic lifestyle though.

My mum used to breed & show border terriers, Cantata. They're good little dogs, but like most terriers, can enjoy instigating a good scrap - generally with any beast that looks bigger & harder than themselves.

Gilly wrote:
Yep, Gilly, most of the small terriers are the very embodiment of Little Man Syndrome.

cantata wrote:
Yikes, that sounds like my ex!