Help picking a new dog

[yorketransport]

This question needs a little background first.

I've only had 2 dogs in the last 10 years, and they were my wife's pick. Neither dog lasted. The last one was a cocker spaniel which became aggressive, specifically towards me, by the time she was 2 years old. She bit me 3 times and finally bit my son completely unprovoked (we all watched as he walked past her 3 feet away and she bit him hard). This in addition to me having been bit 8 times while working (FedEx Driver) has made me very cautious about getting a new dog. But my kids (specifically my son who is desperately need a friend/partner in crime. I would like to try getting a working dog so that I can get some use out of it as well.

Here are my concerns:
- We don't have a very big yard. We're only on 1/3 of an acre and the house in only 1800 square feet. I'm worried that this just isn't enough room for an energetic hunting dog. We do live half a mile away from a huge chunk of timber land though.
- The dog must be a well mannered breed which is good with people. There are always kids and other people coming and going through my house. I need them to feel safe when they're over here.
- I know that some breeds tend to be loyal to one person more than anyone else. I work 75-80 hours a week, so I'm worried that I'll get a dog which won't respond to me since I won't be home often enough.
- I just want an all round hunting dog. I don't have much time to spend in the woods, but it would be fun to run a dog for general bird/small game hunting.

My first thought was to just get a Lab and be done with it. I know that there are a ton of different breeds out there. I just thought I should get the opinions of some different owners before I get out and seriously start looking.

Andrew

[johnr060]

German wire hair pointers are great family dogs. We have two of them and my 1 year old son lays all over them. They are excellent hunters for both upland and waterfowl. Very protective all around good dogs. Hope this helps

[runamuk]

I am living with a german wirehair and have to say awesome dog, loves everyone but really exuberant tons of energy.....

I dont usually suggest labs....but that is a personal preference thing, so instead I might suggest golden retriever, another great all around breed.  These are all big dogs however I am not a huge fan of most of the hunting breeds they are just wired higher than I typically like to live with.  This goofy wirehair has won me over.

[Maligator]

Big fan of Labs for all around go to dogs. There is a thread on this forum from a member that is selling pups ready to go. More than anything it is important to check the temperment of the parents as well as the health records...hips, eyes, elbows...

I'm sure there are plenty of breeds out there that might fit your needs and while having a yard is nice as long as the dog is exercised there wont be an issue. How old is your son? I know more than a few people who got dogs for the kids and then discovered that the dog still ended up being "your responsibility" (feeding, walking, picking up the poop) and "their responsibility" (playing with and hugging on).

Good luck to you in whatever you choose 

[Stilly bay]

of course you gotta be wondering by now; what is it about you that brings out aggression in dogs?

with your work schedule I would rule out any pointing breed , you won't be home enough to put the training time in. get a smaller lab or a field bred english cocker or even a field bred golden and be done with it.

[Dhoey07]

If you work 80 hours a week, 7-12's I guess  , maybe you shouldn't get a dog at all. It takes a lot of time and effort to train a dog. Unless the wife stays at home and can train it.

[yorketransport]

of course you gotta be wondering by now; what is it about you that brings out aggression in dogs?

This is a very real concern that I have. I still haven't figured it out, but I sure would like to! Most of the bites while working have more to do with the people and animals of South Tacoma. Most of those dogs were turned loose on me intentionally. 

If you work 80 hours a week, 7-12's I guess  , maybe you shouldn't get a dog at all. It takes a lot of time and effort to train a dog. Unless the wife stays at home and can train it.

I work 5 14's and then 5-10 hours on Saturday, depending on how much work my other 2 drivers have.

I love the look of the German wirehair and have a buddy with one. Beautiful dog, but I was worried about just how energetic they are.  My son is 8 and my daughter is 10.  While my wife doesn't work and is home all day, I've never been happy with the effort she put in to working with the last 2 dogs.

I keep coming back to the problems with the dog that I want, and the dog which will be appropriate for my situation. Thanks for the tips so far.

Andrew

[Maligator]

of course you gotta be wondering by now; what is it about you that brings out aggression in dogs?

The agression towards the Fed Ex / UPS / USPS workers is fairly easy to explain. Homeowner encourages a dog to bark/notify them when strangers come near and says "good boy/girl" when they do. Also dog sees stranger, barks and barks, delivery person runs up drops off package and leaves. In the dogs mind: I bark stranger leaves...It's good that I bark...mission accomplished. The biting comes into play when dog gets over zealous about "duties".  I am not excusing the biting of people but explaining the possible scenario.

I did have a Fed Ex guy who thought it was ok to throw dog treats to my two dogs to "bribe them" first...it pissed me off and we had a discussion about it.  Second, my lab (being a foodwhore) ate it but my Malinois, who is trained not to take food from strangers, just left it laying there. The Fed Ex guy was astonished that the dog left the treat there and kept barking.

[runamuk]

 You might need to sit down and as a couple discuss the wants and expectations each has of dog ownership. If you are coming from opposite places it will make finding a suitable dog more difficult.

[Waterfowldoglover]

I cant recommend labs enough great family dogs. I have a black lab female she will go nuts retrieving but is very laid back in the house and great with my 5 year old.

As to your getting bit and being worried about it are you afraid of dogs? If so the dogs can sense the fear and may react badly due to that either trying to push you since they know your scared and they are trying to bully you or due to your fear makes them anxious and unsure and then they are biting due to that.

I have owned several labs in my lifetime and will always have them around love them great great dogs and should do fine if they can get the exercise they need. Raising a puppy is not easy though they require a lot of time and training so if someone cant be home to do that more then your schedule maybe an older dog might fit your requirements better. Some people wash out older dogs that wont cut it in field trials or higher up hunt tests but they would still make great hunting dogs and family pets so you might consider an older dog that's not as active and time consuming as a puppy.

Best of luck in your search.
Jana

[Maligator]

Some people wash out older dogs that wont cut it in field trials or higher up hunt tests but they would still make great hunting dogs and family pets so you might consider an older dog that's not as active and time consuming as a puppy.

[Bmcox86]

I'm going to go outside the box and recommend an English setter. I live in an apartment and mine does fine. He is ten month old and has very good house manners.  He doesn't take long to get worn out and I am already able to leave him alone,not in his kennel, at home for a few hours at a time


Very easy to train to hunt, and mine loves kids

[Stilly bay]

of course you gotta be wondering by now; what is it about you that brings out aggression in dogs?

The agression towards the Fed Ex / UPS / USPS workers is fairly easy to explain. Homeowner encourages a dog to bark/notify them when strangers come near and says "good boy/girl" when they do. Also dog sees stranger, barks and barks, delivery person runs up drops off package and leaves. In the dogs mind: I bark stranger leaves...It's good that I bark...mission accomplished. The biting comes into play when dog gets over zealous about "duties".  I am not excusing the biting of people but explaining the possible scenario.

you would think that it would be that easy, however I was a delivery guy for a number of years ( coincidentally in south tacoma/olympia) and there were some guys on the crew that never had problems with dogs and then there were guys who were getting bit or chased regularly. the guys getting bit were usually tightly wound to begin with or afraid of dogs to begin with and IMO the dogs sensed that and it triggered an attack.

just like the guys who never got bit were pretty cool and confident with alot of common sense. I believe the dogs could sense that these crew members knew that they could handle themselves and they could sense their purpose at the customers house.

I'm going to go outside the box and recommend an English setter. I live in an apartment and mine does fine. He is ten month old and has very good house manners.  He doesn't take long to get worn out and I am already able to leave him alone,not in his kennel, at home for a few hours at a time

I did the setter in an apartment thing once and it was a bloody nightmare.

you might do best considering an older dog from a rescue. then you know what your getting into and if it will be able to handle long hours in the house. plus you would be saving a life

[jrebel]

My wire hair pointer lives on 1/2 acre and 1700 sq ft house and she is awsome.  I have two kids 3 and 5 and she is the most loving dog ever.  She is very mellow mannered, unless she wants to play fetch...then she is down right annoying  .  Buy a female and get her spade, this will help with temporment a ton.  I will never own another male dog in my life. 

Good Luck.

[lokidog]

Agree on the female thing....  I'll put another vote in for golden retrievers.  Our female was about 65 pounds, not too big.  They are smart and loyal.  It might be best to go for a non-puppy since the initial training sounds like it might be complicated.

There is a nice looking female english setter, 6 yo at petfinder.com. 

Also Evergreen Golden Ret. Club has a rescue page but don't know if any are available.  http://www.egrc.org/rescue.aspx

Another rescue site, in OR.  http://www.goldenbondrescue.com/ready-for-adoption/available-dogs.html

[jrebel]

Forgot to add...I will never buy anything other than a puppy.  I am a firm believer that once a dog learns bad habbits it is harder to break those habits than it is to train it right the first time.  Even with limited time.  Puppy all the way, it will be way more loyal.   

[Stilly bay]

older dogs will bond with you just as well as any puppy. sometimes its the human that has a harder time bonding with the older dog vs the puppy.

most older dogs that have not been abused or traumatized are perfectly capable of learning new tricks and losing bad habits through consistent training and reinforcement. I will even go out on a limb and say its a helluva lot easier teaching an older dog new tricks than it is teaching a puppy the basics.  in the end it really depends on the person doing the training.

[ribka]

I would suggest a lab. Unless you can devote time every day to exercise and training  your dog  with your limited area would stay away from pointing breeds. They are working breeds and require quite a bit of time or Will develop behavior problems because they are bored and not exercised.


I see a lot of pointing breeds in animals shelters that are needlessly  put down because clueless owners do not understand their needs and do not spend the time to train and exercise them. 

[GrousePointer]

Get a Spinone Italiano.

If you are willing to wait and have some coin (they are expensive) I can recommend a breeder.

Look up WalkyDog bike leashes. They are poor men's roading devices and work great to keep your dog fit and calm. Take it from me, I've lived with English Pointers in a townhouse, two urban housing areas, and in the country on gravel roads. The thing is a life saver and keeps the dogs fit for hunting season.

Speaking of great dogs, English Pointers probably fit the bill for you but your work demands won't work with their exercise needs.
But if you want a great family hunting dog that is an out of the box natural, they are second to none imo.

Sent from my Lumia 710 using Board Express

[runamuk]

older dogs will bond with you just as well as any puppy. sometimes its the human that has a harder time bonding with the older dog vs the puppy.

most older dogs that have not been abused or traumatized are perfectly capable of learning new tricks and losing bad habits through consistent training and reinforcement. I will even go out on a limb and say its a helluva lot easier teaching an older dog new tricks than it is teaching a puppy the basics.  in the end it really depends on the person doing the training.

I prefer non puppies I love year to 2 year olds dont have to go through the housebreaking or chewing BS.  Mind you I did rescue for over 20 years often taking dogs no one wanted.  I have purposely only had about 3 puppies ever 1 was a disaster also was the only mutt I ever took in and kept.  1 was the poodle the ex and boys hunted with, and one was my last chow.  I also mostly prefer females but a good dog is a good dog.  right now I have everything I usually cannot stand in a dog and love her...she is a two year old chi/rat terrier, I dont usually like tiny dogs and terriers are an absolute no for me....yet oddly she fits in quite nicely, her partner in crime is a german wirehair who is about a year and a half and had been rehomed twice and when he came to us he had been in a yard chained he was raving nuts and yet within a couple weeks settled right down, just needs lots of exercise...I am quite smitten with him to be honest....
I've taken everything from bottle babies to 12 year old blind deaf dogs mostly it was chows but there have been some others, my borzoi came to me as a 4 yr old and she was probably one of the best dogs I ever owned she was with me until she was 14-15 years when I had to put her down due to cancer, don't write off an older dog

[Special T]

You can't go wrong with a golden. All they want to do is please.. male/female don't think it really matters. There is a reason why they are the go to dog for seeing eye dogs... I don't own one but know several people with them. They can be great hunting dogs, and you have ZERO worry about them eating some one.  BTW I love that Walkie dog leash GP great looking product! 

[ORCA_SIX]

German wire hair pointers are great family dogs. We have two of them and my 1 year old son lays all over them. They are excellent hunters for both upland and waterfowl. Very protective all around good dogs. Hope this helps

My wire hair pointer lives on 1/2 acre and 1700 sq ft house and she is awsome.  I have two kids 3 and 5 and she is the most loving dog ever.  She is very mellow mannered, unless she wants to play fetch...then she is down right annoying  .  Buy a female and get her spade, this will help with temporment a ton.  I will never own another male dog in my life. 

Good Luck.

German Wirehair Pointers are the way to go. Very loving dogs, energetic but can chill out. At least mine does. Like all hunting dogs you will have to get them out with exercise.

How can you pass up a dog that looks like that. Also, get a female and get her spade.

[Tman]

Just got my first bird dog, a german wirehaired pointer last week. So far the most laid back pup ive ever had.

[krism83]

We have two dogs right now and both are excellent dogs. We have a 7 year old Pit, and I know everyone will say how horrible Pits are and that they aren't family dogs. Those people have obviously never owned one or had a bad experience with a Pit who had a crappy owner. We also have a 1 year old Black Lab, and he is the goofiest, dumbest, most loyally awesome dog I have ever had. This little guy can be a terrorist one minute trying to play and getting into stuff, and the sweetest cuddler on the couch the next.

They are both pretty protective of the house and property, especially if its only my girlfriend at the house. They will bark when people show up but if it is someone who comes over often or that they have met a couple times then they usually can it and go back to chewing on their kongs. I have never seen them bite another dog or person, never seen them even attmept to act aggressive towards one for that matter. They love it when my girlfriends little brother comes over so they can rough house with him and then they can all lay on the couch together and watch TV...for some reason my dogs LOVE the disney channel.

I think either of these are good family dogs, its all about preference.

[Carl]

Tagging to follow the thread.

[coachcw]

I have a female choc lab and bread her with a english pointer . great temperment and loving dogs . we kept a Male Tanner tott is the most laid back pup you could imagine , he is now three and is a assume dude , he and my daughter are practically unserperatible . Either way a lab or a german wire hair you cant go wrong . from my experiance the pointers arn't barkers and the labs can be .

[MuleySniper]

I don't have the time for a "working breed" IE, labs, gsp's, gwp's, spaniels etc... Not saying at all they are not great dogs, I just honestly don't have the time for a bird dog (which most spoken above are bred for) I grew up with first a Springer Spaniel.... Spent most of my adolescence with an awesome snow white Lab... Graduated highschool with yet another awesome Springer Spaniel... With all of those mentioned dogs only one of them was used, very limited I will add, was for hunting... As I grew older, got married, my own place and a family, knowing I'm not a huge bird hunter,  I wanted a guardian dog. My place is not huge by any means... Nearly ten years ago I bought a male brindle bullmastiff pup... Big brindle colored male. He has been the sweetest most loyal dog I have had. I can leave to go to work and know I that dog will protect my family and my home with all he has. My 6yo son has lots of friends, we have lots of friends with kids and myself and the parents don't think twice about my dog. He his great with children of any age, non aggressive at all. Slightly to other dogs but again, his home is his turf, not the neighbor dogs. He's getting up there in age and I wont hesitate at all to replace him with one exactly like him. He is primarily an outdoor dog but he does have a spot in the house for cold and rainy days. He also sleeps inside the house in his spot. Not saying that I don't love other breeds, they just don't fit with my lifestyle and needs at this point in my life. Most dog owners treat their dogs like their children, a good thing to keep in mind when choosing a breed. 
MS

[yorketransport]

Wow, this is a lot of info to wade through!

As far as my gift for being bit by dogs, I've never figured it out. I'm not scared of dogs, but I typically don't trust them. I should say that for every dog that's bit me, there have been 20 which didn't. And that cocker spaniel we had loved my wife, she just hated me. My wife always said that the dog could just sense the evil in me.

I love the idea of a golden retriever but I hate the thought of all that hair . I have to say that the first dog to bite me while working was a golden retriever though. It was a fluke though. Looking back I should have noticed that the dog had been neglected and abused and I should have known better than to even go into the yard. That one was all my fault.

I need to do a lot research still before running out and getting anything. I let my wife pick the last two dogs and I think she chose based on how cute the puppies were. I will look into an older/rescue dog as well. While everybody loves a puppy, I like the idea of a dog which already knows the basics.

Keep the info and suggestions coming. I need all the help I can get on this.

Andrew

[lokidog]

Yes, goldens produce a lot of hair.  So do labs.  Ours was not allowed to go upstairs to the bedrooms so there was a relatively hair-free zone.  Brushing as often as possible will pretty much eliminate the problem as well as providing lots of bonding time.

BTW, ALL puppies are cute, even the little yappers.   

[yorketransport]

What about wirehaired pointing griffons? Anybody have one? They sound like a toned down version of the German wirehaired pointer.

Andrew

[jrebel]

pretty sure that is what mine is...they jsut have longer hair on their legs and ass's.  She is a pleasure and at 1 yo she loves to just sit and cuddle.  Her two down sides are she loves birds (tweety birds) and she loves to play fetch.   When she has it in her mind she is going to play fetch she will not leave you alone.  She sleeps with her fetch ball, she is obsessed.