I am at last self employed working from home and have promised my self that if all goes well, I will seek to look for a dog in a few months for a companion as well as to help me get out and about for excercise. I wondered if anyone could make any recommendations of what type to go for. I would really like to get a rescued one from an animal shelter. The most important requirements is that:

The dog must be very well behaved around chickens! And hedgehogs and other birds!

Hmmm... I am not a dog expert as I don't have one, and never plan to.

If you are looking for a big dog, then possibly a Golden Retriever or a German Sheapard. the German Sheapards are well built so they will be good to help you excersise.

A small-ish dog, then you could go for a West Highland Terrier, they are absolutley splendid dogs, and they are pretty quick and have good fitness.

I have a westie. He's as good as gold really but a real bind when it comes to going away anywhere. If you enjoy travelling and dont have someone who can look after the dog when you are away, i would advise not to get one at all!

I agree about not going on holiday if away a lot - you can't do that with chooks either, luckily I never seem to get away and when I do I just worry about the chickens and birds in the garden.

Perhaps a herding dog of some sort? They can certainly be trained to not hurt the animals. You would probably not want any kind of nippy little terrier.

Kingfisher

Having to leave a dog in a dog home while you go on holiday can be a shame, because I've had friends who swear that their dogs come back more aggressive from them, at least for a short period after. Whether that is just there imagination or not I don't know, but it can't be a good thing. Although everyone needs holidays from time to time, even dog owners!

This post was last modified: 27-03-2008 05:53 PM by Xeract.

I've had dogs for many years, some for sheep work, one for search and rescue, and now as just a pet. Most have been collies and had from pups. My present dog, and the search dog I had before her, were both trained to ignore sheep, but a previous dog that I got from a home and which was 18 months old proved impossible to train and in fact became so much of a menace, that I had to have him put down.

The type of dog you decide on really depends on how much exercise you are prepared to give. A collie will wants lots and will probably never get tired, this goes for several of the terrier breeds too. The labradors and golden retrievers seem to be very placid, but are large.

German shepherds can be a problem with weaknesses in backs and hips, so are best avoided unless you can be certain that these traits are absent (blame the Kennel Club for the ruination of many breeds of dogs)

As for holidays, we plan ours so that the dog can come too. Since we almost always go to walking areas, this is no great difficulty. Luckily we have friends who were happy to look after her for the months we were in Egypt.

As I'm not too far away from retirement, this will be my last dog, as I feel that when she goes, I will be too old to give a young collie all the exercise and attention necessary and I just can't imagine having any other breed.

Good luck with your choice.

Collies are wonderful dogs, all the ones I've met are very gentle. I agree with you about how much time you can devote for walks. It's very frustrating for an owner and dog if its not getting the walks it needs.

My opinion is that you might do better with a pup rather than an adult rescue dog. This would then mean you can train it. As a rule I would never have a terrier about other animals.My opinion might change if it was a Border terrier or a Bedlington terrier. All the Bedlingtons I have met seem very placid to me.
Depending on size German Shepherds are good dogs & usually good with other animals, as long as they are trained but are not really long lived & like wild canon said they can have trouble when older with their back end but so can other dogs. Hip dysplasia can be a problem in quite a few breeds. I wouldn't recommend a pure bred border collie either unless you are very active & have trained a dog before . They need to have a lot to think about.
I have a standard poodle & anything they latch onto as a good game get a bit wearing as they do everything with gusto . Our bitch teases the rabbits to death although her grandmother was quite placid.
On my list of recommendations would be Border terrier, Bedlington terrier, Labradors, Golden retrievers,Curly coated retrievers & Flat coated retrievers. Don't forget the issue of moulting. Bedlingtons & possibly Curly coats don't moult.
Saying all that , it doesn't mean that you cannot have a very placid mongrel or cross breed. I once had a Golden retriever X Border collie & she was first class with everything.
Don't forget you can always have a look at Breed rescues.
As for hols ,ours goes away to a kennels which I trust & she is always fine.

Basically as they say, you pay your money & take your choice & the dog is only as good as their trainability & the quality of your training , beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Please keep us informed as to what you decide.

This post was last modified: 31-03-2008 05:17 PM by tibbar.

Thanks for all your suggestions everyone. My parents have had two border terriers and they were right little terrors! The first one used to chase horses then chased sheep and the farmer got his own back when he hit him with his gun. He even got thrown out of obedience class - I think it was my parents not being strict enough. Monty the other one is kept on the lead at all times its such a shame, but he did pounce on a rabbit once and my dad had to kill it and he was a bit too interested in my chickens and guinea pigs so I think they are out! Its a shame becuase I think Monty should be doing what he was bred for - ratting and that. We once went to the Dorchester show and there were loads of borders all enjoying themselfs doing terrier racing.

There was a dog at a local rescue centre who could be agressive towards people but was fine with chickens! I think that one is out as well.

I will let you all know what we decide on!

Please let us know, I love dogs and even though they can be hard work at times they are brilliant companions. We will want photos too!