So I'm looking for a dog....

[Darwin18]

My girlfriend and I moved into our house a few months ago and we both agreed that with the new space and large yard that it would be nice to have a dog. We live in a suburb of Raleigh (Garner) and I was wondering if anyone would be able to recommend a breed for us.

I grew up with a standard size dachshund but I remember enough to know that that breed is probably not a good one for two beginner dog owners. We have some requirements have to be met:

1) The dog needs to be between 20 - 40 lbs. We want a dog we're both comfortable controlling without having that "toy breed" stigma.

2) We have two cats and since they were here first, they get to stay. I think this will probably exclude any herding or hunting breeds.

3) A dog with a calm temperment is an absolute must. Neither of us want a high energy/high strung animal that will need special attention. We want a dog that after a good walk will relax with us in the evenings.

I was thinking a cocker spaniel might be a good choice but they are difficult so far to find in shelters. We are in no rush and since we're going on vacation in August, any adoption would have to wait until we got back.

 

[Mutilated1]

cocker will not be a good choice if you don't want high strung

 

[Liquidicem]

I wouldn't worry about the cats too much if you get a puppy and raise it around them, but if your looking to adopt an older dog it is certainly something to look out for.

 

[Darwin18]

A dog that is calm and not high strung is probably the biggest characteristic we're looking for. If that strikes cocker spaniels off the list so be it!

 

[ChshreCat]

I highly recommend going to a shelter or rescue. They can help you get paired with a dog that would fit your situation, and you'd be saving a life rather than funding breeders and/or puppy mills by buying a dog.

 

[Darwin18]

I highly recommend going to a shelter or rescue. They can help you get paired with a dog that would fit your situation, and you'd be saving a life rather than funding breeders and/or puppy mills by buying a dog.

That is exactly and the only route I'm going to be allowed to take. My girlfriend randomly found a stray hound while working at the beginning of the year and since we were living in a rental we couldn't keep her. So we had to take her to the local SPCA where she was adopted before the end of the week.

 

[ChshreCat]

Petfinder.com is a great resource to see what sorts of animals are currently available for local shelters and rescues. It'll also help you find different groups that your usual county animal shelter to check out.

 

[homebeerbrewer]

+1 on the shelter or rescue. I'd recommend a mutt too. I have two rescue mutts, and both are good dogs.

 

[ChshreCat]

When you rescue a dog and bring them home, they smile like this:

 

[Gremlyn]

I don't think cockers are stricken from your list. My family has had three, and while they can be very energetic when playing/walking, they are pretty calm the rest of time time. If you wanted to go toward the other end of your weight spectrum, you could go for a springer spaniel. Don't get a border collie, they require A LOT of exercise and attention.

You can try this: Animal Planet :: Guides :: Dog Breed Selector

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

I'm 6'3" and 240 pounds. I have a lap dog. A Peek-a-Poo (Damn stupid name) 14 pounds

He is the most wonderful little guy in the world, he is tremendous with his affection and the smartest damn dog I ever had.

Stigma? Anyone want to call me on it? They will see the blunt end of my passion in an equal amount to the fun and love that he gives to me and my wife.

 

[Beerrific]

Personally, I would suggest looking at corgis. SWMBO got me a corgi for Christmas two years ago. He is herding breed, and does chase out cats, a lot, but the cats grew up with a dog and they like to play with him. And they have claws, they can stop the show if they want. He is not high strung, but is very active. We go on about a 1 mile walk every afternoon but anytime we are inside or in the yard he is eager to chase a ball or frisbee, but if we say 'no' he is OK with that too.

About 4-5 months after we got him, SWMBO was ready to get him a playmate. She saw a puppy at a shelter and they said it was a corgi-mix. I was nervous about it, we have a small place and I was worried about getting a dog that might grow up to be too big, this is why we got the purebred dog in the first place. But she pressed, so we went and picked her up. She may or may not be a corgi-mix, but she is almost the exact same size. She fits all your points above, but, sorry, as far as I know she is the only one of her kind.

Long story short...if you see a puppy at shelter described as a corgi-mix, I would go for it.

 

[Mutilated1]

I've owned three cockers in the past, and my wife owned one when we first got involved with each other back when it was just me and her shacking up and playing house before there was any marriage and kids in the picture.

Anyway, the problem with cocker spanials is that most of them are so inbred that they have nervous problems and neurosis - they are very high strung and they will piss on the floor whenever someone rings the door bell - stuff like that.

My sister still has a cocker spaniel, her stupid dog will leave a trail of piss around the house if anything even mildly exciting happens.

But if you want to get a cocker, if you don't just have to have a puppy you shouldn't have any problem getting a grow dog that someone else has surrendered because it was a basket case or it pissed everywhere.

springers or brittanies are much better

Also, if you want a calm dog - get a male and get it fixed that will make it calm and lazy, it will want to lay around and get fat instead of worrying about the doorbell just rang or that someone is in your driveway

 

[Mutilated1]

oh and my current dog is a german sheppard, you don't want one of those either

for one thing, she weighs 104 pounds so she's bigger than what you want

but also she eats a ton, and she's a busybody worry wart of a dog - its the female in them that makes them that way I think

one good thing about her though, is she won't let anyone or another dog walk up to our house or approach our kids without challenging them

 

[Skins_Brew]

Steer clear of Beagles. We got our back last October. He is very calm and well behaved when we are home. The problem is when we leave him alone he gets separation anxiety and goes nuts. He is fine with other dogs when left alone. We should be picking up our Chocolate lab mix tomorrow from the shelter so that should really help him get over his anxiety. The separation anxiety is common among beagles, so I would avoid them unless you are getting more then one dog.

As far as the shelter goes, its a great idea. As I mentioned we are adopting a 1.5 yr old chocolate lab mix. He was given up because the people were moving. He is already house trained, knows some basic commands, and crate trained (or so his give up sheet says). Well find out over the next few days I suppose.

 

[Joker]

I will put a lab into the mix although they are a bit bigger than you are looking for they have very good temperment (atleast mine does).

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

How big is your yard? Do you have a plan for exercising your dog? Will it be able to run around outside on its own, will you actually have time to exercise it? These are serious concerns and any dog that does not receive enough attention will be a nightmare and you will have become a bad owner. I know small dogs have a stigma and I personally do not like them, but they are the right choice for many people. A small dog can get enough exercise running around in the house without breaking stuff. Yorkshire Terriers are great IMO and the toy ones are rather cool and mild tempered (although expensive and I would guess near impossible to find in a shelter).

I really love labs if you can exercise them. Yes they are batshat crazy as puppys, but an old lab is probably the best dog on the planet.

If you live in the burbs and have a yard where the dog can run free, I would seriously consider getting two dogs. That way they will chase each other around and play and keep each other in shape. Seriously it does wonders for their health. My black lab is now 15 years old, and still outpaces my brothers lab who is only 3 because my bros dog never gets outside (poor thing). Winston (my lab) has to keep his little brother Bentley (a golden) in check so he is running and playing everyday. This is a great way to have happy and healthy dogs if you have the option.

 

[Cape Brewing]

I'm 6'3" and 240 pounds. I have a lap dog. A Peek-a-Poo (Damn stupid name) 14 pounds

In the words of Nelson from the Simpsons.. HEAAAAA HEAAAA (pointing and laughing)

 

[Joker]

Here is mine. At 2 years old he will lay around and watch me work on the house all day. We get very lucky in the fact that he has never chewed up anything ever but the Mrs stays at home so this probably helps a lot not to mention the fact that we have an acre and a half to keep him occupied.

Very laid back dog, just don't pick up a tennis ball around him unless you mean it or he will pout.

 

[gratus fermentatio]

Never saw a cocker that didn't shake & pee at the drop of a hat. Never had a beagle, but they would seem to fit your criteria. Except for size, I'd say get a golden retriever, they're the most even tempered dogs on the planet. I've always had med-lg sized dogs like shepherds & malamutes.

Maybe something like a bulldog, or a scottie? I've seen a few springer spaniels that were neurotic, and a few that seemed rather well adjusted. Basset hound maybe? They usually like to relax at least as much as humans, but some of them tend to bay at their own shadow; they are a hound afterall. I'd avoid all the terriers if you don't want an energizer bunny on crack. I think all terriers are nuclear powered.

You know, the more I think of it, the more I think you need a basset hound. They're small, reasonably laid-back, even tempered, and will act as an early warning system/ alarm. http://cdn-www.dailypuppy.com/media/dogs/anonymous/bentley_basset_hound_01.jpg_w450.jpg

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

I thought of a basset hound too. Good dogs.

Or a miniature Schnauzer, great dogs.

 

[macabra11]

+1 on shelter dogs.
DO NOT GET A COCKER! OMFG!
English bulldogs are mellow, don't require a lot of exercise and you can put them on skateboards and roll 'em down the driveway!

I have a Brittany (bird dog) and love him to death, but he needs to RUN! RUN MORE! RUN MORE! RUN EVEN MORE!

 

[Trencher]

My wife and I got a Treeing Walker Coonhound from the Wilson County Humane Society a few years ago. She really wanted a dog but I was nervous about a puppy or anything too energetic, but growing up in the country I've always loved hounds. When we saw him we both knew he was perfect.

He was raised as a hunting dog so he's very well behaved, quiet, and fully trained. The only drawback is that you can't let him off the leash outside or he disappears into the woods- while camping with other dog owners, for instance. At 75 pounds he's also a bit larger than your ideal. But I could not have asked for a calmer, gentler or more loyal dog. And he doesn't have any interest in our cat- she definitely keeps him in line.

Good luck!

 

[Yooper]

I will put a lab into the mix although they are a bit bigger than you are looking for they have very good temperment (atleast mine does).

Labs are the world's best dogs for a calm and gentle pet, but they are too big for what you're describing. Maybe a mixed breed dog, that way you can get the best of several breeds. A beagle/lab/spaniel mix for example. I really dislike cocker spaniels, and springers can be hyper, but there are other spaniels that might work for you. Watch out for husky mixes (need much exercise), or other breeds that are known to have issues like aggressiveness (like rotts) unless you really have time to deal with them.

I got this guy about a year and a half ago at a shelter (he was about a year old):


He'd be too considered too big, but he's calm and gentle (but still needs to be walked and have a tennis ball thrown a couple of times a day). He gets along with other dogs, cats, people, etc. He's only barked about 5 times since we've had him, when he got surprised by someone coming up the walk who he didn't see. He's no watchdog, that's for sure! The only thing "wrong" with him is that he's 80 pounds. He was 70 pounds when we got him, and my husband almost said "no" because he's so big. He is, but he never has been out of our control. Labs are docile and submissive, so even my 5 year old nephew can give him commands and control him. I know 40 pound dogs that I can't say the same for!

I don't know much about terriers- maybe there is a breed of terrier that isn't high strung and would fit your needs. A mixed terrier breed might work, if those breeds are calm.

 

[Joker]

Great looking dog Yooper. We have thought about getting a second lab probably a yellow this time to keep our current lab "Porter" company.

 

[Bernie Brewer]

Labs are the world's best dogs for a calm and gentle pet,

Nuh-uh, Goldens are better

Just kidding, Yoop, labs are great dogs, I'm just partial to Goldens.
Mine didn't come from a shelter, but she didn't come from a mill, either. I knew both of her parents, and their owners, before she was even conceived. If you decide to up your weight ceiling, Goldens are awesome dogs. Great with kids and other pets.

BTW, +1 on don't get a cocker. I've never seen any that weren't mean as hell with other people or strange dogs. If they were any bigger I bet they'd be bred for dogfighting.

 

[Yooper]

Bernie's right- goldens are great! I have a friend who has a petite female golden, and she's about 45 pounds. There are some massive male goldens, though, so you'd have to either get one as an adult or know the parents of the dog you're hoping to get.

Someone else mentioned petfinder.com. That's where I found Toby. They have a search you can do for a "100 mile radius" so you can see what's available. The other thing you can do is talk to those shelters that pop up, and tell them what you're looking for. Then, they can give you a call when they get a dog with your criteria. To be honest, most "good" dogs go pretty quickly around here. We looked at the local shelter for about 5 months and never really found what we were looking for. "Oh, we had a _______ yesterday, but he's been adopted" were heard each time we stopped in. But, we got on petfinder, and there was Toby. He was about 45 miles away. I called, and we went over there and he was ours immediately. He's a purebred Lab, but I don't care. We adopted him, had him neutered and he's been the best dog. No chewing, no barking, no accidents in the house, etc. I really recommend petfinder.com!

 

[Bedlam]

Oh, yeah, go the shelter route, petfinder.com, for sure. That's how we ended up with Goodman, our mostly-yellow lab (possibly labra-MOOSE) mix. On the other hand, we also ended up with a "pure bred" boxer from a puppy mill that got busted. No doubt seriously inbred, he's certainly dain bramaged. We have to keep a close eye on him and he's now on Prozac for aggressiveness towards Goodman.

Because of Otto, I'd NEVER get a purebred anything, ever again. It is heartbreak how they breed these dogs.

 

[Darwin18]

Wow, thanks for the all the great comments guys. Good call on the cocker spaniels. My mom has a minature dachsund that pees on que anytime the door bell rings, a person walks in the room, or a squirrel runs by. That is a quality in dogs that I would very much like to avoid.

The corgi size dogs do appeal to me. I've met a few corgi's and thought they were a good size. A beagle would be nice but the seperation anxiety is another trait I'd like to avoid. We do have a detached house so if the dog did have anxiety issues it would only piss the cats off.

Our yard is a good size but is not fenced in. The dog would have to walked on a leash until trained to stay away from the road. The local SPCA offers training classes which we are going to enroll in for our benefit and the dog's.

 

[Bernie Brewer]

Just on a lark, I went to petfinder.com. Yikes. They wanted $275 for a dog. I got my purebred for only a little more than that. The humane society around here only charges $75-100.


I've no problem with shelters, but that is a bit steep, IMHO. And don't write off purebreds because of one bad dog. You just have to do the research on the breeder. (It helps if you know them personally) If it is a mill, don't go there.