Concidering a first dog

[Nik_B 3,790]

Cheers ricky will update when we've made our desision.

 

Sed - That is exactly what I've read about getting them used to you not being there. Did you have to reward it for not barking?

 

My job is disruptive on my family as it would be on a dog, for 4 weeks I'd be at home with lots of time to spend with a dog but then 4 weeks would be with wife and kids who are out a fair bit. I was also thinking about wether two dogs would be better? Do they keep each other company?

 

cheers

[rickyspringer 15]

Nik i would go with the option of kenneling the dog throughout the day,obviously the dog could come in when suitable, but that would be a good platform i think, wouldn't matter if your wife and kids were in or out,the dog would have it's safe haven and own space.

 

You could then integrate the dog into the family at night time and if you chose allowed the dog to sleep in the kitchen or maybe put him back in his kennel after some family time.

 

2 dogs definitely keep each other company, but don't go with the option of getting 2 pups in "you will have your hands full"

 

Have you thought of maybe giving a home to a dog which may be in need, maybe a dog who has to go due to a change in circumstances something that bit older than a small pup??

[Dan Newcombe 58]

In your situation i would shy away from getting 2 dogs, especially young dogs.

 

You will run the real risk of them forming themselves into a 'terrible twosome' due to the amount of time that they will be spending together and not forming a pack with you.

 

If you are going to take on 2 dogs at the same time then they also need to have 1 on 1 time otherwise they will not bond with you and their ability to work (especially if you dont take both dogs) will be very comprimised.

 

You in effect have 2 dogs making up one whole and without the other they have no confidence.

 

It is possible to have 2 dogs at the same time but in my opinion, in your situation it is unwise if you want to work them. Pets are different because they effectively just do their own thing, with workers they need to recognise you as the boss.

 

It is worth saying that although you may well end up with a dog that you can take into the shooting field (whatever way you do it), it is unlikely to reach the standards of dogs kept specifically as workers. Its important that you bear this in mind and dont get wound up, i have seen it happen with people bringing their pets out and then coming down hard on them because they arentgrafting like the 'specialists'.

 

Dan

[big SED 0]

Cheers ricky will update when we've made our desision.

 

Sed - That is exactly what I've read about getting them used to you not being there. Did you have to reward it for not barking?

My job is disruptive on my family as it would be on a dog, for 4 weeks I'd be at home with lots of time to spend with a dog but then 4 weeks would be with wife and kids who are out a fair bit. I was also thinking about wether two dogs would be better? Do they keep each other company?

cheers

 

Nik, to be honest, she has never really been a big barker as such. If she gets startled by something she will bark a couple of times, but nothing more than any other dog would do.

The other Lab we have is a cross so she was a different kettle of fish. She was the disruptive one who was always chewing etc and it got to the point where she became the dominant one, and they were always fighting. We do not leave them in the house together anymore. The Black lab gets the roam of the house where as the Cross gets kept in the kitchen. 2 dogs may keep eath other company, but they may try and tear each other apart also. We did get our 2 at different times, so this might not have helped the situation.

Hope this helps a bit?

Scotty.

Edited December 8, 2009 by big SED

[Nik_B 3,790]

Last three posts have been very helpful dan, ricky and sed cheers! Definately having a good tink about this and talking with the wife.

 

I'm thinking kennel in our garden which is 20 x 7m in the day and a basket in the kitchen for night time if it is cold. Also allowed to roam down stairs when the family are home so it gets plenty of attention and my little girl would love it, but probably not allowed to go upstairs as we had cats before that enjoyed sleeping on our beds the little buggers and were quite persistant about it.

 

I'm trying to make sure that the wife is happy to walk the dog a fiar bit and keep up training so we're learning stuff off the net about sit/stay and retrieving things.

 

Is one x one hour walk in the afternoon and 20 mins in the morning ok for a grown dog or does it need more?

 

I'm looking at NOBS as well with a view to seeing if it could eventually be taken beating to get it used to guns and discipline, will have to look in to that.

[rickyspringer 15]

www.pubs.myfunforum.org is a good website also Nik, it souds like the dog in question will have a great life and you have thought everything out so good luck.

[Countrykid 1]

We have a black lab who is descended from a working line, however we do not use it for working. It is more a pet for the wife and my son. We did not have any problems with regards to house training etc. Sure, she chewed a couple of things, but nothing major. Overall, she is a good dog and pretty obiedient (not to the standards of a full time working dog of course).

I work away and my wife works also, so we started off just leaving her for a short period of time, say an hour or so and gradually worked up to the full time that we would be out during the day. She got used to it pretty quick and we were coming home from work to no mess, chewed items etc after a short space of time. We walk her for an hour or so most days which she enjoys, plus its good exercise fo r the family.

IMO, a lab would be ideal for your needs. Ours is brilliant with my son and i am quite sure that if she came shooting with me, she would pick it up with no problems.

 

 

I hope you don't try to shoot with a un-trained dog.

[j davies 8]

The best dog for that description would be a (COCKER SPANIEL) good gundog and good general family pet very easy for the kids to walk to.

i got 2 cocker spaineils mate one of 4 and wow what a dog he tells me were to shoot and were the rabbits are and also one good house dog well he sleeps were he likes the house is his got a new one and she is a year old not and is the same.

if i just get my coat on and they no its just a walk if i get my whisle they up and go mad as they no they going huntning get the ferrret or gun out wow they like in a trance switch to hunting mode

air gun they walk slow if i creep they do if its the shot gun god they hunt like hell