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