What kind of dog?

[chummer]

My wife wants a house dog, a small one. She thinks she wants a jack russell. We have a 13 year old son at home, so there's no small child issues. Anyone own a jack russell or have suggestions or alternatives.

[Old MAn River]

How about Cocker spaniel? [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img]

[jimh]

Jack Russells are really, really, really, really active. Please see this link for more information about why you don't want one. :smile:

Jack Russell Terrier Club of America

Cocker Spaniels have quite a few health issues, and it is very hard to find good ones. Some of the more annoying problems include fear biting and bladder control problems.

Personally, I'd go with a hunting strain springer spaniel. They are just a little bigger than a cocker without the health issues. My wifes Pomeranian is a good pet, but they are somewhat fragile with very small leg bones (expensive to repair). A pug or boston terrier is a good choice if you like short hair.

[STGRule]

Go to the pound and get a dog. Pound-puppies are good dogs. May I also suggest a beagle. They are great dogs but you can't let them off lead or their nose turns on and the brain shuts off and away they go.

[lost_sailor]

Labrador Retriever. Oh ... small ... a SMALL Labrador Retriever.

Jack Russell terrier, as in "benzedrine" ?

I know a Corgi that's pretty cool ... then I know her dad, who's all barky.

[Fishfeet]

How about a St. Bernard pup. It would be small for a while. All seriousness aside, My brother has a Jack Russell. It seems pretty high strung but is well mannered. Bob.

[FallRiverGuy]

Until we got one I never would have suggested it, but a poodle is a nice housedog. Our dog is an apricot poodle that is a cross between a toy and miniature. He weights about 8 lbs will plays fetch for hours.

Pluses:

Smart
Does not shed
Very social

Minuses:

Needy(always wants to be by your side)
Can be yappy if you let them

[ 11-14-2003, 04:32 PM: Message edited by: FallRiverGuy ]

[Tagster]

We had a cockapoo (cocker spaniel/poodle mix) when I was in my teens...great dog. She never had any health issues and lived to be a ripe 16 years old...

her name was Misty...(she was white)...

Kinda miss that dog.

Tag

[Moley Molson]

I second the beagle.....if you have patience. [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

[Slowpie]

I second the toy poodle - very smart, easy to housebreak, I had one that would kill ground squirrels almost as big as she was. I would never have had one until my husband gave me one, but she as a great dog. I also have to second the "pound-hound" idea. I have one now and had another for 11 years. Both have been great dogs and there are sure a lot of unwanted ones out there. You usually have to get on a waiting list ofr the smaller dogs - they go fast.

[MightyMo]

I would go with a Minature Schnauzer. My family and my 2 Aunt and Uncle's have had 'em. They are great dogs and perfect for a 13 yr old. They will run and play all day long without you worrying about them chewing the house up. On top they are tough little guard dogs and very protective of the family. I would get one before any other small dog. Most little dogs come across girlie and such, not Schnauzers!

But I would see if you could push the size and go with a Lab! Get a yellow and life will not get any better!
Lab Owner 4 Life!!!

Just my .02... Keep us posted on what you do go with.

[Thumper]

I own Nikki, a 6-year-old semi-rough Jack Russell one generation removed from a ratting line in England. She is the first cousin of Moose, the real name of Frasier Crane's dog. She is also two generations removed from the Jack Russell on the syndicated OPB show (name escapes me at the moment).

Nikki is a marvelous dog. She is full of energy, loves everyone (people of all ages, other dogs, cats, etc.) and demands that they love her.

She needs to be physically exhausted every day. Every morning two of us roll a hard rubber ball at high speed down our 30-foot hall, back and forth, until she nearly drops. It takes about 5 or 10 minutes. If she gets that kind of fun exercise every day she is a superb and gentle pet. Without it she gets antsy and can be a pest, though she has never been destructive in any way. She just may be the world's greatest Frisbie dog.

Nikki is not a digger, not a chewer, does not appreciably shed, and is truly a drip-dry dog. The breed needs no special grooming or attention beyond the need for exercise. She loves to play aggressively, and loves to be tossed around very physically. She has a weird sense of humor, and it is very evident. You can actually see her grin.

I am told that she is very smart, but I think she is dumb as a post, much like Jennie's Kilchis.

She would be perfect in a family with a couple of young kids who want to "wrassle" with her. She would also love to go one-on-one, three minutes, no gloves, with the lawnmower, is convinced that she can whip the leaf blower, defends the house against the vacuum cleaner monster ..... but is terrified of a firecracker a block away.

If you are thinking about a Jack Russell terrier, DO NOT buy one from a backyard breeder. Buy only from Horsemasters Kennel, the #1 breeder in the western U.S., which conveniently is located in Portland. All of their dogs are only a generation or two from hunting lines in England. Plan to spend about $500.

Nikki would also love to have you come visit. Any time.

[ 11-14-2003, 08:08 PM: Message edited by: Thumper ]

[Fish mojo]

I love my Border Collie "Corkie", great dog. He can get obsessive chasing that damn ball and trying to herd the cats!!

[kayakfisher]

Chummer,

This is too hard to resist...I need to know a lot about you guys first, including what you mean by "small", what kind of place the dog will live in, inside or outside mostly, your experience with training or owning a dog...

If you really mean small...a West Highland Terrier is in many ways a good possibility...but then again there is much about your situation unknown to me. a Westie is small enough to be easy to manage, and stout enough to not have to be totally pampered. Has enough of a mouth to even be inhibiting to an unwelcome stranger, although these dogs are not usually unfriendly or excessively aggressive.

Border Collies tend to be great dogs...but take a lot of attention, are usually very trainable, but a very high energy dog that sometimes turns out to be more than some people want to have to deal with daily. (I have one and she is a very very good dog for us) They don't like to go sit in a corner and wait for you to come to them...and they tend not to like to be alone for hours at a time...like many dogs, but a border collie will definitely find something on their own to do if you don't keep them busy.

A toy poodle, if well bred, is usually an easy dog to train and live with...


M.

[dampainter]

miniture schnauzer!!! they don`t shed, are great for the whole family, are a great lap dog, they are very "portable" we have two,both great dogs......have had all kinds of breeds my life the best were labs (great if you have room, but get a black,labs shed really bad and the black hair will go better with your furnishings than the other colors of lab ) after my experience with schnauzer`s I will be sticking with this breed to my end. can tell you that jack russels can be great escape artists and are very active.

Get a cat :smile:

[chummer]

I'd like to thank everyone for your opinions, just one of the many reasons why I like this board so much. My wife was pretty set on a jack russell. Thumper, you confirm what we've been hearing about Horsemaster kennel. We did bring home a female from them yesterday. While researching this breed and breeders we noted numerous references and photos of horsemaster kennel dogs in the books we read. My wife's sister also owns a jack russell so we're aware as to this breed's activity level.

[O'City Fisherman]

Chummer,
do you have a web page for the place you got your dog? I am interested in looking at one of these dogs for my wife also.

[Thumper]

Chummer --- Congratulations and sympathies, all at once. Jack Russell's are an experience. What do they cost these days? Which fur type and color did you get?

[kayakfisher]

Interesting sites for choosing a breed...

I have occupational knowledge and years of experience with dogs...and took the tests of each site for fun only...

The Purina site was really off base I think...and did not in the end reflect my preferences very well...even when I tried to get it to pick a certain breed(s) of dog.

The Waltham site seemed more on base to me...and came up with a pretty reasonable list of suggested breeds based on my answers.

Have fun with your Jack Russel...they are truly fun loving dogs.

M.

[pdxkevin]

Pets: under 40 lbs ===> get a cat

Here is a good test to find the "right" dog for you. Here is one from Purina. Here's yet another dog selector quiz.

I like to see which one is in the top 5 from the three different 'dog selectors'. I was suprised by some breed... some I hadn't considered are now in our pool of choices.

[chummer]

O.C.Fisherman, Horsemaster kennels are in your neck of the woods! Go out beavercreek rd. past CCC about 8 miles on your left, look for the sign.

Thumper, We paid $450 for a white and tan female with a smooth coat (We hope)

[husker]

get rotweiler.....love em......great family dogs.....great with kids.....and nobody walks in the yard anymore without an invite.. :grin: :grin: :grin:

[Thumper]

Chummer --- My black and white had a few black spots when I got her from Horsemasters. I suggested a discount since color conformation for Jack Russells apparently excludes spots. They assured me that she would "outgrow" them so they would not discount her.

Yeah .... right. They just got bigger. Nikki is still embarrassed by them. :whazzup: There goes my world champion show dog.....

[Airborne]

Go for the Jack, they are awesome dogs.... PERIOD
you wont be disapointed.

[El-Kabong]

not a small breed, but she is my little doggie



EK

[ 11-19-2003, 04:19 PM: Message edited by: El-Kabong ]

[pdxkevin]

Newfoundlands Rule! (and drool)

The Great Pyrenese and Great Swiss Mountain Dogs are both up in the same great league as the Newf!

[Thumper]

EK --- What a cool lookin' dog. Would you trade it for a slightly used Jack Russell? With spots. :depressed:

[Miss B Haven]

pdxkevin - I had a Great Pyranese (SP?), One of the best Dogs I have ever been around. He was a small one only 130 lbs.
I've got some pics somewhere of him "babysitting" a litter of beagle pups. They liked to crawl all over him and hang off his ears by their teeth. He just put up with it.
Really good natured dog. He would kinda "woof" when somebody pulled up and go see them with his tail wagging, For some reason they would never get out of their car though! :grin: