Hi all,

First of all sorry if this is a lengthy post, for "too long; didn't read" people, please just scroll down to the second-to-last paragraph.

After having lost my dog, I know I will be looking for another one sooner or later. While I loved him greatly and shared unforgettable moments with him, the next dog to enter my home will probably have to be the exact opposite of what he was...

I'm nowhere near ready to acquire one at this moment, however. I want to do things right this time, after having a bad experience caused by my own non-education.

Here are the mistakes I do not want to repeat:
1) Acquiring the wrong breed for me and my family
- Me and my girlfriend were sedentary, and we got ourselves... a JRT.

2) Trust faith as far as breeder go
- I got mine from some girl who bred her two random dogs (the male was 9month old at the moment of the breeding) and actually ended out sending half of her litter to the pet shop. My dog had health issues starting from like 6months after we got him, things like skin diseases, allergies, anal glands problems, and much more. The buying price was relatively cheap... but I certainly paid this amount 10 times in vet fees, and it the end it cost my dog his life.

3) Acquiring the dog in winter.
- I brought my puppy home in Febuary, where the temperature can go as low as -30 degrees here without factoring the wind. This made housebreaking and socializing very troublesome.

4) Inconsistent training
- I attended ob classes with yank and crank methods when my dog was 4months old. He "learned" that places with other dogs were bad, so he always was upset around dogs. That basically destroyed his socialization, amongst other things.

Now, point #4 will certainly see an improvement thanks to my acquired experience with a VERY handful dog which wasn't excessively successful, but nonetheless made me learn a whole lot about dog training.

Point #3 is decided in advance: I will wait the time it takes to be able to get a puppy in the summer. Preferably during my vacations where I can devote more time to him during the day.

Point #1 is my primary concern... logically, I must set my mind on a breed before looking for breeders. Again, keep in mind when reading the following points that I don't plan to get a new dog anytime soon, I'm just beginning my thought process and researches. So here is my situation:

- My girlfriend and I are both couch potatoes that work from 7:30am to 5:30pm. We also now have two babies which are respectively 2 and 1 years old. This mean I will essentially be looking for a low exercise breed that is inherently "lazy", easy-going, and good with children. This dog's main exercise would be fussing around indoor, with the occasional walk.

- I plan to have a dog that is in (supervised) contact with my children every time I can supervise them. The main reason being that if the dog isn't included in our family routine, then I might as well forget the idea of acquiring one (and consider a cat or goldfish). We both work from 7:30am to 6:00pm, and 6pm+ is currently dedicated exclusively to the kids until like 8pm, and it would be pointless to get a dog only to take care of him from like 8 to 10pm every day once children are sleeping. Also for this reason, I don't plan to get a new dog until next year, because I think 1year old is pretty young even with close supervision. My children both do like dogs, they had great time with my now deceased one even though I limited contacts between them.

- I have a relatively small, non fenced backyard. Meaning that every time I take the dog outside for a play, he will have to be on a long line and never completely free. I have no place to allow him to run freely, hence another point for the "low activity" breeds.

- We can have both extremes of weather where I live. The thermometer can effectively go from -30 to +100 depending of the time of the year and conditions (such extremes are very uncommon however). I need a breed that can somewhat tolerate both cold and heat. I can keep a heat vulnerable breed in my basement when its extremely hot, but the dog must be able to at least enjoy itself at -10 if I have to do anything with him during winter. My JRT was totally shutting down in the cold, and I learned later than these guys really don't like cold.

- I can handle a "standard" dog, but I'm no A-type guy. So no JRT/GSD/Rott or other reputed assertive breeds for me.

- Size is less important than temperament to me, but I'd like to avoid giant races if possible.

- I'm not really into "girly" breeds like Poodles, Bichons or Malteses. Even though this dog will be the "family" dog, I will be the main person responsible of it, so might as well take a breed I'm comfortable with.

Keeping "couch potato" in mind, I was looking primarily at "flat nosed" breeds like Bulldogs (English or their little French cousins) or perhaps Pugs. Cavalier King Charles also catched my interest, but apparently they don't support extended time spent alone, which might be a problem due to our work schedule. Bostons came to mind as well, but I think they can be more "energic" than the above breeds if I believe my researches. I know I'd have to be vigilant for heat strokes with most of these breeds, but can they tolerate cold?

Would any of you experienced people have any advice to add?

Regards,

I would suggest a hound.

From personal experience with two coonhound mixes they are just all around great family dogs. One is black and tan/treeing walker/? and the other we believe is Plott hound/lab/black and tan. No matter what they are hounds LOL
They are super mellow in the house most of the time, but also happy to go all day if you are out and about.

These aren't doggie mensa candidates, and you might have to throw a coat or jacket on them in the winter....this goes for most dogs I think at -30C.

But I would suggest them for anyone looking for a mellow family dog that isn't fragile or girly or overly common.

ETA: I have heard great things about french bulldogs, but I would think with their short coats and flat faces they would be cold sensitive as well.

Our local shelters seem full of Treeing Walker Coonhounds lately. The ones I've met have been such nice dogs, I'd love to have one myself.

My suggestion might be to look into a retired greyhound for it's couch-surfing abilities.

Treeing walkers a great dogs, and such a nice size too. As with all of the scent hounds they can be a little noisy, but to those that love them that deep bay warms the heart!

I thought I would clarify that when I said hound I meant the larger sized southern type of scent hounds.

Other than a retired greyhound I don't think a sight hound or a beagle would be a great choice.

My advice would be, if you don't have a particular breed preference, and just want a companion dog, go save a dog's life at the local kill shelter.

Thanks so far for your advice! I'll look up on those hounds. Although it could be a problem if they are renowned to be vocal.

I've heard about retired greyhounds, but I was more planning into raising a puppy. I also don't think I'd be interested into acquiring a senior dog, let alone a notorious chaser, even if he spends most of his time curled up on the couch.

Keep 'em recommendations coming please!

 Quote: Francis Daigle

I was more planning into raising a puppy. I also don't think I'd be interested into acquiring a senior dog...

Why? Why not?

I have never had a problem with it as long as they get enough stimulation. And it does not take much LOL.
Loki my male has a hell of an alert bark, and everyone thinks he is a doberman. So even though he is a giant ball of mush he makes a great deterant!

Hunh, I guess I have to ask, but how much time do you have to dedicate to a puppy or a dog for that matter if you can't give it any time between 7:30 am and 8:00pm?

Even hounds need walking time and outdoor time, probably more than 30 minutes a day....every dog, even seniors need more than that (not including potty breaks of course)

English bulldogs and pugs are both good for the lifestyle requirements that you describe. They are generally pretty sensitive and easy to train if you start them young, but the key with that is starting right away and keeping it positive. Left with nothing to do they will get so lazy that you might have a hard time motivating them.

My dad has an english bulldog that won't even go for a walk. They can leave the front door open all day and she will never even attempt to escape. The backyard, her people and her ball are her little world and she's happy with it. Over the years they have had many english bulldogs and they have all been this way.

Adopting a senior dog from a shelter is always a good thing to consider, too.

She is much happier in the winter than the summer, but doesn't do well in extremes either way. Since she prefers to snore away on the couch it almost doesn't even matter.

Both breeds do have a number of health problems to consider.

The French bulldogs I have met are kind of feisty. Bostons, too.