S/O Dogs

[ny96]

After losing our 17 year old cat a few months ago, we will be looking to adopt a dog sometime this year and I’m stumped on breeds. We have 2 young boys (9 and 5) who can be very hyperactive and we want a dog that is fairly calm. Our house and yard are small, but the yard is fenced. We live within walking distance of a big park and lots of hiking trails. I know I want a medium size dog and when the time comes we’ll mainly look at young dogs, probably those being fostered so we have an idea of temperament and training.

ETA: I grew up with a golden retriever Great Pyrenees mix and loved that dog, but he was very high energy, not something we can handle. My H has no experience with dogs.

[icedcoffee]

How about an older dog? We have a beagle and as a puppy they are crazy but as an older dog he’s a rug with a heartbeat.

Otherwise maybe a bulldog mixed dog? Lazy But they can have very expensive health issues.

Bichon frises are very sweet and mostly calm. They’re a good size too.

[ny96]

Jan 3, 2023 18:50:44 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

How about an older dog? We have a beagle and as a puppy they are crazy but as an older dog he’s a rug with a heartbeat.

Otherwise maybe a bulldog mixed dog? Lazy But they can have very expensive health issues.

Bichon frises are very sweet and mostly calm. They’re a good size too.

Beagles are one of our top choices. I would love a husky because I’ve known some wonderful ones, but H won’t consider it.

[InBetweenDays]

I think this is so dog dependent. We have a dog who (according to a DNA test) is 50% lab, 25% Staffordshire Terrier, 12.5% Shar Pei, and 12.5% "Working Breed". He LOVES getting out for walks, runs, swimming, chasing the ball. He would chase a ball until his legs gave out if we let him. But he is also perfectly happy lazing around and it isn't a problem if he doesn't get out for a walk. We adopted him when he was around 8-9 months and he's always been like this.

Our last dogs were a purebred lab (supposedly - that is what the owners said that dropped him at the shelter) and a lab/pointer mix. The lab was very lazy but destructive if given the opportunity - even when he was older. The lab/pointer was very high energy but incredibly well behaved in the house.

Long story short, I would talk with a few rescues about what you're looking for. They and their foster homes should be able to help you find a good match.

[icedcoffee]

Jan 3, 2023 18:58:23 GMT -5 ny96 said:

Jan 3, 2023 18:50:44 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

How about an older dog? We have a beagle and as a puppy they are crazy but as an older dog he’s a rug with a heartbeat.

Otherwise maybe a bulldog mixed dog? Lazy But they can have very expensive health issues.

Bichon frises are very sweet and mostly calm. They’re a good size too.

Beagles are one of our top choices. I would love a husky because I’ve known some wonderful ones, but H won’t consider it.

I’m partial because I have one, but they are amazing family dogs. He is so good with children. Knows when someone is in pain, is gentle with my 93 year old grandmother but will rough house with my H. He does counter surf which is annoying but we use the crate or even a muzzle if we need to. He howls but not obnoxiously. Usually there is a reason. He’s amazing.

[pandorica]

Is there a reason you won't adopt one? I think breed matters less than individuals. For instance we know SO many people with labs (including us, which H got before we were together), and their personalities are all vastly different.

[ny96]

Jan 3, 2023 19:06:16 GMT -5 pandorica said:

Is there a reason you won't adopt one? I think breed matters less than individuals. For instance we know SO many people with labs (including us, which H got before we were together), and their personalities are all vastly different.

You mean rather than get a dog from a breeder? We would never consider a breeder. The dog we get will likely be a mix that we get from a shelter or rescue organization. I know all dogs have different personalities and energy levels. I just want to have some idea beforehand of what breeds would work best for our family so that when we go to the shelter or inquire about a dog on Petfinder for instance, we are no going in totally blind.

While my H is on board with getting a dog, he has a really hard time with stressful or high energy situations so I don’t want us to get ourselves in over our heads.

[ny96]

I’m bored at work, so I’ve done a few breed quizzes and don’t love any of the breeds I match to. My guess is ultimately we fill find a good mutt at the shelter who we click with and take them home.

[expectantsteelerfan]

Jan 3, 2023 18:58:23 GMT -5 ny96 said:

Jan 3, 2023 18:50:44 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

How about an older dog? We have a beagle and as a puppy they are crazy but as an older dog he’s a rug with a heartbeat.

Otherwise maybe a bulldog mixed dog? Lazy But they can have very expensive health issues.

Bichon frises are very sweet and mostly calm. They’re a good size too.

Beagles are one of our top choices. I would love a husky because I’ve known some wonderful ones, but H won’t consider it.

I was going to suggest a beagle or some other type of hound.  They are big enough to play and interact with kids, but lazy and independent enough to be chill when left to their own devices, and more interested in 'exploring' and sniffing out scents than being SUPER active (so something to keep in mind when walking, they will be nose to the ground and stopping to sniff every 2 seconds and not really able to be off leash without extensive recall training).  

[pandorica]

Jan 3, 2023 19:23:06 GMT -5 ny96 said:

Jan 3, 2023 19:06:16 GMT -5 pandorica said:

Is there a reason you won't adopt one? I think breed matters less than individuals. For instance we know SO many people with labs (including us, which H got before we were together), and their personalities are all vastly different.

You mean rather than get a dog from a breeder? We would never consider a breeder. The dog we get will likely be a mix that we get from a shelter or rescue organization. I know all dogs have different personalities and energy levels. I just want to have some idea beforehand of what breeds would work best for our family so that when we go to the shelter or inquire about a dog on Petfinder for instance, we are no going in totally blind.

While my H is on board with getting a dog, he has a really hard time with stressful or high energy situations so I don’t want us to get ourselves in over our heads.

Oh I see! Yes, I think you should focus on going to see dogs in person and see who you click with. Or even start fostering, it will give you a better idea of how the dogs will actually interact with your family once it gets comfortable.
My mutt is my favorite dog ever ❤️ she's some kind of hound mutt (she's got the howl/bray) but we have no clue what she's actually mixed with. Sorry that's not very helpful!

[penguingrrl]

I have a cocker spaniel that fits your description very well. She loves a good 5 mile hike, but is totally fine with a chill day and is a total couch potato. She’s also awesome with any and all kids who visit (which is a lot).

[statgirl]

We have had lots of terrier mixes. Our current dog came to us when he was a senior and we love him—he is a terrier crossed with cocker. The dog is my son’s spirit animal. He came with our house—his prior owner’s moved to an apartment overseas and he likes to roam. When he passes, we may get another adult who needs a home.

[redheadbaker]

I wouldn't put a whole lot of consideration on breed. Most shelter breed labels are guesses anyway and likely wrong.

I'd focus more on activity level, grooming needs, neediness, etc.

[countthestars]

Not super helpful because we had no idea on her breed until we did DNA testing after adoption, but our dog is a Great Pyrenees, Bulldog, Hound mix (she looks like a big hound!) and she is super sweet, calm, lazy. I think it's the bulldog in her! I agree with meeting some dogs or if possible, fostering in your home to learn more about temperament. Good luck!

[redheadk]

If you are open to using a rescue that fosters in-home rather than a shelter, you can tell them what you are looking for in terms of what will fit best in your household and they can help you figure out which dog will be a good match. You do need to find a rescue that has the types of dogs you want (or a general one).

We knew we wanted a small dog, strong preference for a shih tzu. We have a great rescue we use. It's a tiny operation but they do good work! The owner has done a great job of recommending specific dogs in the rescue that are a good fit for our home. The dogs are primarily pulled from shelters (to prevent being used as bait dogs) and puppy mill/hoarder rescues.

We weren't as concerned before we had DD but we've adopted 3 since we had DD. Finding a dog that was comfortable with kids and other dogs was crucial for us.

[keweenawlove]

Jan 3, 2023 23:01:11 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

I wouldn't put a whole lot of consideration on breed. Most shelter breed labels are guesses anyway and likely wrong.

I'd focus more on activity level, grooming needs, neediness, etc.

Agree. We had a lab/husky mix who on paper should have been a high energy dog but she ended up being kind of lazy. I thought she'd be a dog I'd run with but she'd pull to turn around after a mile.

[CrazyLucky]

We've always had mutts. The one that my kids grew up with was mostly lab, we don't know what else. We got him as a puppy. He made it to almost 14. The dog we have now is a stray mutt, rescued from the dump and then by us. They guessed he is part shepherd, part hound. He's really not smart, but he's loyal and well-behaved and the kids love him to death.
I think you have a great idea with going after fostered dogs so it's less of a crapshoot on what you're going to get. But don't get hung up on breed too much, especially if you're going for a mutt (which are DEFINITELY the best dogs!!!)

[osulori]

Jan 3, 2023 19:43:21 GMT -5 ny96 said:

 My guess is ultimately we fill find a good mutt at the shelter who we click with and take them home.

With what you're looking for from a temperament/energy level standpoint I think this is a fabulous approach, whether it's through a shelter or a rescue/foster home. We lost our beagle mix a month ago and it'll be a long ass time before we get another dog (part because our remaining dog is a dick and part because our schedules are fairly busy and not conducive to adding a new dog) but when we do that'll be the approach we take as well. 

[shauni27]

Jan 3, 2023 19:43:21 GMT -5 ny96 said:

I’m bored at work, so I’ve done a few breed quizzes and don’t love any of the breeds I match to. My guess is ultimately we fill find a good mutt at the shelter who we click with and take them home.

exactly what I would suggest. Contact your local shelter, tell them you want a calm dog, they will help match you

[brooke77]

Greyhound? Maybe doesn’t fit your size criteria, but they are great dogs. Wonderful with kids, don’t have a super doggy smell, and are happy couch potatoes.

[osulori]

Jan 4, 2023 15:50:59 GMT -5 brooke77 said:

Greyhound? Maybe doesn’t fit your size criteria, but they are great dogs. Wonderful with kids, don’t have a super doggy smell, and are happy couch potatoes.

Omg yes. My dog nephew is a greyhound and he is the absolute best!

[aspentosh]

I'm going to say NOT a boxer, lol. Our boxer was puppy-like until a year before he passed from cancer around 12y.

Our AmStaff is a pretty big couch potato. She can easily bust out 5 miles hikes but also loves sleeping in the corner of our couch. And she's great with kids. She's just under 50lbs, so we consider her medium sized but may be too big for you.

But like others have said, if you're going the rescue route, find an organization that works in the fostering space and you can get a lot of great info from the foster family. We have a kid and another dog, so when we fostered most of our interested adopters were families because we could give firsthand experience. We were brutally honest about energy levels, shedding, comfort with dogs/kids, how they are with commands, potty training, etc. On the other hand, don't rule out any dog that may seem high energy at adoption events. A lot of those dogs live in a kennel and don't get to be out except for little chunks of time so may present as high energy. So if you do go to a kennel, spend longer chunks of time together so you can see what they look like after getting some energy out and then getting comfortable with you.

How exciting!

[simpsongal]

The older the mutt, the better idea you'll have of temperament. Our mutt is part lab and maybe GSD and something else (he's 58 pounds). We got him at 6.5 weeks old, he's over 12 now and a rug w/heartbeat. He was never super hyper, but his energy levels tailed off around age 5.

I gather labs can be medium to low energy - my friend has a young lab mix who is basically a puddle/lap dog.

[nicolewi]

We have some rescues here that I've been following that are really awesome about giving a lot of info about the dogs and temperament. I would think you could find one in your area that can share the info and help make a good match for you. I'd just get on the list now and talk to them so that you are ready if a good match comes up.

If it weren't for the allergy factor, there have been some really great looking dogs that have come up on our rescue, but the young ones tend to go fast. Adults last longer, obviously, but if you are open to that there could be something. Some of the dogs do have issues or need a very specific housing arrangement or something, so that can remove a lot from consideration.

[dcrunnergirl52]

We have a Cavalier King Charles, and she's the perfect combo of playful, likes long walks and adventures, but also a super snuggly lap dog that is great with everyone, including kids. There are several Cavalier rescues..this is the one I most often see come up with dogs who are being fostered but up for adoption.

www.cavalierrescueusa.org/rescues/?region=Northeast

[fancynewbeesly]

We have three dogs. Great Dane, Weimaraner and Dachshund.

The GD is huge but by far the easiest dog. She literally is a real life Scooby Doo.

The Weimaraner is the hardest one. She tests all the boundaries. All the time. She tends to be the ring leader. If she isn’t around the other two are way easier.

The dachshund is east but was a pain in the ass to potty train.

Despite their faults all three are amazing with kids.

[zarapipe]

Good luck in the dog search!!

We have three now (!!) and one that passes about 8 years ago.

Our Boston terrier was a rescue and deaf. A little crazy but lazy in his older years.

Then we got what we think is a Boston mix and she was a great mix between playful and lazy. She is 14 now and sleeps all day due to her age.

We have a 3 year old lab who around 1 settled down and he is happy to play and go for long walks but can also just sleep all day while we are at work. He is huge- 90lbs even though he was the runt when we got him.

We just adopted a 100% mutt from a shelter who they guess is 7 months. No idea what he is but I think part hound for sure. The rescue was phenomenal. I originally called about a different pup but after she heard our needs (young dog, who’s energy level matched our lab- playful but not super hyper and would know how to chill down) she suggested another dog. We went to meet him and she was right- he was perfect. He has puppy energy but then can sleep for hours if the lab decides it’s rest time. She said he would mirror the other dogs in the house and she was right. They are a 100% foster rescue meaning they do not have any of their dogs in an office with lots of kennels. They get to know their dogs very well this way and I’m so glad we got the pup we did. He slid into our house with ease and it’s been an easy transition.

Prior to getting our last dog we fostered through a different rescue for about a month. We thought he was a dog we wanted and while they waited for him to get neutered we fostered him and holy smokes. Thank gosh we fostered him bc he was the wrong dog for us. He was a terrier mix of some sort but so high energy and he fed off my high energy kids and never ever stopped. I was so ready to bring him back to the rescue when he neuter day came. But he ended up being adopted my by in laws. He is a totally different pup there though with no kids. He is calmer and less hyper.

[redheadk]

Jan 5, 2023 22:23:37 GMT -5 fancynewbeesly said:

We have three dogs. Great Dane, Weimaraner and Dachshund.

The GD is huge but by far the easiest dog. She literally is a real life Scooby Doo.

The Weimaraner is the hardest one. She tests all the boundaries. All the time. She tends to be the ring leader. If she isn’t around the other two are way easier.

The dachshund is east but was a pain in the ass to potty train.

Despite their faults all three are amazing with kids.

My in-laws had a GD that they rescued from their neighbor (neighbor told my MIL to take her if she wanted her, otherwise they were going to shoot her since she couldn’t have more puppies. Awful). She was the NICEST dog. She was so patient and peaceful with dd. GD’s are big leaners and think they are the size of a puppy, lol. If you can handle the size and the shorter life expectancy, they are great dogs! I’ve never met a mean one. They are really majestic looking, too.