Best Dog For Special Needs

[jasperlad]

Hi, We are looking for a new dog to replace a Labrador who sadly passed away. We have particular needs that in that first and foremost it must have a great temperament as it will be a home with an additional needs person. Secondly it must be a medium size animal (we found the good old Lab a little too large) due to peripheral blindness of a member of the family may not see it if too small and thirdly, minimal dropping of fur! We were looking at the 'mini - labradoodle' but does anyone have a view?

[woofgang]

..I would be contacting rescues and explaining your needs. I think you would be more likely to find a guarantee of good temperament in an assessed adult than in a pup.

[bednobs]

absolutely agree - go for a rescue - you don't want to be dealing with a puppy

[Clanad]

Alternately, if you had a choice at a Rescue center and one of the choices was a Golden Retriever, you couldn't go wrong.

They have a wonderful tempermnet, are quite obedient and, if you could know the lineage, they can be medium sized... certainly a little smaller than the faithful Lab. Some can be quite large though. If it's still a puppy, inspect the feet... large puppy feet equate to large adult dog.

Only difficulty with the Golden (Seen here: http://www.akc.org/breeds/golden_retriever/photos.cfm) is some skin conditions, including an undercoat that, while making them love the snow, needs to be brushed at least once a month. Some shedding, of course.

Wonderful with children, even babies and soon become protective but not aggressive. Easily trained to obedience, they are excellent companion dogs,

As to the mix breeds... I've personally found them to often be tempermental. A good thing is that they are hypoallergenic and as such, tends to shed very little. They can be largish. A neighbor has a 4 year old bitch and she's larger than the usual Golden. She requires trimming at the groomers nearly once a month. Somewhat reticient in behavior. They have two boys in the family ... 9 and 12. She'll sit outside in all kinds of weather... -20 F with 2 feet of snow and wait for them to come home from school on the bus. She avoids visitors and isn't comfortable with outsiders...

[Clanad]

Here's a good overview of the Labradoodle... http://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/labradoodle#

[FredPuli43]

Labradoodles were first bred as assistance dogs, in Australia. You need to be sure that it doesn't moult; not every labradoodle is like the poodle in its ancestry. The cockerpoo is an alternative, also used a lot as an assistance dog (for deaf people); most of the ones I bred went as Hearing Dogs. None of mine diverged from their poodle ancestry, but they were all first generation crosses (miniature poodle x American cocker spaniel). However later generations of cockerpoo to cockerpoo might still moult. All that don't moult have to be trimmed, clipped, every few months, otherwise they look distinctly sheep-like !

Why not 'go the whole dog' and get a miniature poodle ? Most people keep theirs in the 'lamb cut', just evenly cut all over; fancy trims are for show. Highly intelligent, not the tiny 'toy' variety, entertaining company, guaranteed not to moult, remarkably odourless, ideal

[jasperlad]

I find the recommendation to consider a 'rescue' interesting as my initial thought was that you really don't know about their character and felt that working with a pup, would develop the relationship and create the dogs behavioural traits better. I guess I have this wrong. Some great advice, thank you.

[FredPuli43]

re Golden retrievers. That is definitely not for you if you don't like dogs moulting. They are of perfect temperament; one breed which is remarkably good with children; and sloppy. But never imagine that they keep their attractive feathers (the long hair that adorns their legs) or anything else! All that hair and the undercoat drops. We had them as gundogs and come the moulting season, the floor was inches deep in fur, requiring a broom. Kept in a centrally heated house they don't have a noticeable moulting time; no, they just shed hair continuously.

[FredPuli43]

jasperlad, you are right. For preference, start with a puppy, not a rescue. Rescue dogs can be lovely,and pull the heart-strings, but you really don't know what the individual's traits and history are, though responsible rescue centres may have had the dog long enough to know odd traits and know its history too.

[murraymints]

Westie. !!! Lovely wee dogs..

[jasperlad]

FredPuli43, you suggest a poodle, can you say anything about their temperament around children and (in my case) young adult with additional needs who may not interact as well or immediate with it (him/her)

[FredPuli43]

Around children? Good. I always joke that you should train the child not the puppy, meaning that every child should be deterred from constantly picking the dog up when it's sleeping and so on, but that applies to every known breed and crossbreed; some are more forgiving than others, but still.

My mother bred miniature poodles when I was little and none ever displayed any unkindness to me or to any other child who visited; and there were lots, her poodles and pups being a local attraction for every child in the neighbourhood.

I have had all three sizes; toy, miniature and standard; none were any trouble with children (even mine!). My little girl had her own, a miniature, as a puppy; again perfect with her. I gave one, a toy, already adult, to my elderly mother-in-law when her dog died. This little dog became her lifelong companion and she was devoted to it. She developed Alzheimer's later, but the dog didn't care , of course, and it remained one thing that she was always sure of.

What my mother-in-law found , as I could have told her, is that they are very intelligent and entertaining company . As pups, they are not destructive, they don't wander as adults and they regard the owners as the centre of their lives.

That's why I suggested one. The miniature is a reasonable size but can always be carried easily, which helps. Oh,and it won't eat like a labrador !

[carrust]

My daughter has a retreiver/poodle & you couldn't meet a nicer dog. It's temprement around adults & kids is excellent, & for such a big dog he's very gentle

[lankeela]

Whatever breed or cross breed ensure they parents are health tested - for example both Poodles and Labs or Retrievers suffer from a condition called PRA so can pass this on if the parents are carriers (despite some breeders telling you they are healthier than pedigrees). Remember that you won't know how big or what sort of coat they will get if they are crosses as you don't know which parent they will take after. Have you considered a Smooth Collie - short coated version of the 'Lassie' Rough Collie - there are several who are PAT hospital visiting dogs and there are even some who are therapy and search and rescue dogs. Not as heavily built as a Lab but big enough so they won't be tripped over.

[lankeela]

I would also be very wary of taking on a rescue dog in this situation, as you often don't discover all their traits/hang ups during the first few weeks/months. Finding the right adult dog is going to be very difficult, whereas getting a puppy will allow your family to get used to the dog as it grows up and vice versa.

[Clanad]

While I respect Fred-Puli43's insight and obvious knowledge about such dogs, I've found that rescue dogs... those that are grown, not puppies, display their traits and qualities that are not likely to change throughout their lives.
Traits such as quietness, introspection, submissiveness, etc., are part of their makeup and give the prospective owner a pretty clear indication of how trainable they'll be once they've settled into their new surroundings.

Obviously, the prospective buyer needs some guidance in the matter if they have no experience in observing canines...

Personally, I feel, through some experience, this is more reliable than buying a puppy, no matter how dependable the breeder... for what it's worth.

[jasperlad]

I had a separate recommendation for a Parson Russell Terrier. Dropping its coat cant be helped but I am assured as to its temperament, and told of a number who are used as PAT dogs, being good natured, intelligent, keen to get involved in anything that's going on, but when its not, being satisfied with the quietness too. Parson Terrier rather than just a Russell Terrier because of its slightly larger size. What do you think, I would welcome your views? We are experienced dog owners in that we used to have a Labrador and before that a general mongrel, but our next dog needs to be right for our particular needs and your opinions are very welcome.

[rsvp]

How much exercise and stimulation will the dog get - is it a quiet house - are there lots of children in and out - other pets - periods when the dog is on it's own - town or country environment? You've been given lots of very creditable advice (as is usual on AB!) and the animal fraternity on here is very knowledgeable - before I answer I'd just like a bit more info.

[jasperlad]

rsvp - thanks for joining in on this. Myself and my wife are both employed and parent carers, which means that between us, there is always someone at home/with the dog throughout the day. We have a son with restricted mobility, but is able to get out and about with the use of a wheelchair. Our new dog will have the benefit of regular exercising and company throughout the day and we have a large garden in addition to surrounding countryside. In truth our home inside tends to be calm rather than overly active, saving our energies for my wife's and my love of Hiking and rambling. does this give you a view?

[rsvp]

jasperlad you sound like the perfect owner - in the original post you mentioned a sight impairment - this is overcome by a hi viz vest for the dog - as far as type of dog.........my personal opinion is that terriers are often prone to exciteability - there are obvious exceptions. -greyhounds are large but very gentle and highly visible in a vest! - beware of crosses that say they don't shed - many second/third generations may. My suggestion is that you research shortcoated dogs with quiet, tolerant temperament. I'll be very interested in learning you choice. Good luck

[RATTER15]

Jasperlad, Jack Russells are great dogs but they do have a will of their own and very spirited, they are very intelligent but you do need to be very strict as puppies or they will rule you, they also need plenty of exercise and they need to be entertained to keep them out of mischief.

Ive had a few of them, fantastic dogs with a great temperament. just choose wisely.