Breed sugestions please.
- Thread starter martin_b
- Start date
NewForester
Well-Known Member
I have been going down a similar thought process to you (but my two old dogs are still plodding around).
I had not heard of a Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen (I had to google GBGV) and so I have learned something and it certainly looks interesting.
I had been thinking about a Breton "Spaniel" (technically not a Spaniel, I am told). I saw one once, so not a big sample, but it seemed placid and well behaved.
Although I love Working Cockers and Springers, I remember someone on here describing the difference between the two as: "Springers are completely mad; and Cockers even more so!".
Labs are great but have tails that appear to have designed to clear everything off a coffee table, and I am sure that a Lab would be intelligent enough to train my wife to feed it and it would end up the size of a house.
Rob-E
Well-Known Member
I have a GSD and honestly I wouldn’t recommend them to people. She was my third dog (previous 2 Flatcoats 1 working 1 show) and I thought I knew what I was getting into.
The biggest thing with GSD (mine is show lines) is they’re very sensitive. Mine now has so many issues from bad experiences as a pup (other dogs) that she’s pretty much a wreck. My wife refuses to walk her off lead and she’s genuinely a really big handful.
Would I only recommend them to someone who can commit hours (mine spent 20 odd hours a day with me for the first 9months) a day especially in the early years to ensuring it becomes the most balanced dog it can be.
Are they quiet? No.
Does she retrieve. No.
Would she make a good deer dog? Undecided she’s not steady enough to have a proper try.
Also she’s 40kg (her dad was 54kg) if you’re getting on a bit and she ends up having a high prey drive for let’s say cats, you need to be able to control her when inevitably you see one.
Dunwaters
Well-Known Member
This one is mine, theres not a bad or neurotic bone in her body despite a rocky start in life, she likes to tag along on bird hunts and will track a deer if you ask her nicely. She’s rock solid with kids and other dogs, loves the car and is probably the best all round hound I’ve ever had, she even barks at travellers.
You seem to have had a bit of bad luck with yours, but don’t discount the breed just because of that, there’s a reason that police forces and armies all over the planet use them in sensitive roles where human lives are at stake. Try one from a stronger working line.
The one fault they all have is shedding, she can turn a clean tiled floor into a deep pile carpet just by lying on it, despite being groomed several times a week.
long_range_rob
Well-Known Member
I’ve had Labs for 50 years (God that statement makes me feel really old, I still remember the first one like it was yesterday) I cannot fault the breed as you get out what you put in. I desperately wanted a BMH when it was time for a new one but when I close my eyes and think “dog” all I can see are labs.
Respectfully I must disagree with Rob-e. What you have to differentiate is the breed from an individual who may or may not exhibit the characteristics in question. I believe Rob hit the nail in the head when he says ‘from bad experiences as a pup’. Any dog can be ruined if not treated properly in those most impressionable early months.
I have two GSD’ and neither fit the description given, both loyal, confident and rock solid. Unfortunately neither would make a good deer dog as they have incredibly high prey drive, makes a rifle somewhat redundant.
The GSD was actually the first breed to be used as guide dogs. The placement issue is nothing to do with capability but that of owner perception and prejudice.
As for being quiet, again early life experiences may have an impact of future life. The GSD is a guarding breed and known for being vocal when performing this role.
40Kg for a bitch is heavy, and 54kg for an adult male is far from normal, that is unless it has some American GSD in it. I always see the term show line as a massive red flag.
Precision123
Well-Known Member
I have a brilliant Flatcoat, but he thinks he's my equal which can be a tad annoying.
But very clever - the Peter Pan of dog breeds. Retrieves, tracks deer, swims, one in every room of the house. Same dog, he's like my shadow.
But very clever - the Peter Pan of dog breeds. Retrieves, tracks deer, swims, one in every room of the house. Same dog, he's like my shadow.
I have a black lab now, and he's probably the best all round dog I've had. I have had 3 GSD OR Alsatian's and my black one was my absolute favourite dog, superb temperament ,great guard dog, I wasn't into tracking then but I think he would have nailed it .Happy to have toddlers ride on his back but hated pikeys so obviously very intelligent .Black lab ok at tracking but still gets over excited when stalking near deer, starts sniffing too loudly which gets really annoying but dont want to put him off it,
Black lab probably best choice. or any colour as all labs matter
Black lab probably best choice. or any colour as all labs matter
Bo Diddley
Well-Known Member
Show lines explains it all. It's ruined many a dog, why breed for looks instead of ability.
German Shepherds are a good example of idiots breeding in problems to dogs, you have to find the older lines to get a good one now, not the sloped back ones with bad hips etc.
They are out there but you have to look hard now thanks to the idiot show breeders
They are out there but you have to look hard now thanks to the idiot show breeders
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
Get a good small working lab or lab cross other good working dog. Look at the temperament of the parents.
Our LabxBMH is a wonderful dog.
She paid her respects ti the Queen and was just by my side for several hours as we waited. And plenty others came and stroked - from the very young to very old.
I am sure a lot of a dogs behaviour is both genetic and also how they are treated and trained.
Our LabxBMH is a wonderful dog.
She paid her respects ti the Queen and was just by my side for several hours as we waited. And plenty others came and stroked - from the very young to very old.
I am sure a lot of a dogs behaviour is both genetic and also how they are treated and trained.
Quite agree but it's not just limited to GSD's, in fact most breeds suffer this breed for looks fate, Labs do not escape it. Unfortunately with GSD's due to so much interbreeding any line can be prone to hip problems, breeders do not seem to care, as long as they look pretty and make money. My oldest GSD, a superb flat back working line, has Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), though not a hip problem, a degenerative spinal problem that it genetically inherited.
Even the Czech Wolf Dog (CWD), a breed only since 1955, is Prone to hip dysplasia.
Yet another vote for a Lab, preferably black! Such lovely temperaments and undemanding, ideal for the more mature male!
Nothing wrong a yellow lab either..
Attachments
243 fallow
Well-Known Member
Labrador job done.
Norfolk Horn
Well-Known Member
Certainly isn't I had one called Will after Will Carling and I put a lot of time and effort into him and he was excellent. In those days it was rough shooting and wildfowling.
I loved that dog, and boy did he make me proud !!!
Mind you I have loved all my dogs
Similar threads
