What Dog?

[Ice-Man]

Hi to all you FT's - Hope your having a Great Time with the Elections happening today and all!! Over here in Blighty - its bigger news than our own -
Anyway, we are looking to FT and have to decide on one essential companion, a dog. We have had yorkshire terriers for 18yrs now and our last baby is about to leave us to join her sisters . But before this happens, we want to bring in another dog so that our little girl can help train the newby.
We are thinking of buying a larger dog, a Wirehaired Fox Terrier or similar sized as there will only be the two of us and the dog. What dog do you FT with (and I dont mean your respective partners either ) and why that particular breed?
Thanks for your answers.
Icey
in Blighty

[Ice-Man]

Hi to all you FT's - Hope your having a Great Time with the Elections happening today and all!! Over here in Blighty - its bigger news than our own -
Anyway, we are looking to FT and have to decide on one essential companion, a dog. We have had yorkshire terriers for 18yrs now and our last baby is about to leave us to join her sisters . But before this happens, we want to bring in another dog so that our little girl can help train the newby.
We are thinking of buying a larger dog, a Wirehaired Fox Terrier or similar sized as there will only be the two of us and the dog. What dog do you FT with (and I dont mean your respective partners either ) and why that particular breed?
Thanks for your answers.
Icey
in Blighty

[hondo122]

Hi Ice man, we have an American Bulldog. Plus's he doesn't bark ( from what I've seen it's a breed characteristic), great with other animals (cats, dogs, squirrels), loves kids and other folks. Cons, for a short hair dog he sheds a lot, big (100lbs), need a couple of bags to clean up after him. We wouldn't trade him for any other breed.

[AFChap]

Ice-man

We travel with 2 Maltese dogs ...one is 10 yr old and about 12 lb (overweight for a Maltese, but numerous medical problems and medications that cause weight gain), and one is 2 yr old and 6 lb.

We have had all kinds and sizes of dogs. We chose Maltese at this point in our lives because they are relatively small, in spite of being long-haired dogs they do not shed, and they prefer to be around their people rather than off by themselves so they do very well living in smaller spaces. We have left them (the older one by herself until we got the puppy 2 yrs ago) alone for up to 8 hours with no problems, but they are very glad when we return.

The best recommendation I can make is that the first Maltese girl we got converted the DW, who has always been a cat person!! ...she loves the Maltese dogs!!

[TXiceman]

We have had miniature schnauzers fro 39 years now. What I love about them is they are intelligent and they do not shed. They tend to be a little barky at times, but no worse than some other dogs. Normally 15 to 20# range and you can exercise then with tossing a ball the length of the coach. They love to walk and are generally people friendly.

The males are harder to leash train and will pull. The females are much better behaved on a leash.

They do require grooming about every 6 weeks or so.

We leave ours loose at home and in the RV. You can get a small crate and crate train them.

They do like people interaction. We lived full time in the 5er with two schnausers and no problems. Especially like the do not shedd plus.

ken

[paz]

We travel with our English Springer Spaniel. She has always been a good traveler, but I wouldn't recommend an English Springer for full-timing. She had already been a member of the family for a long time when we started full-timing, so there is no way we would have left her behind. Springers are high energy and they shed like crazy - both white hair to show on your dark clothes and dark hair for your light clothes and carpet.

[MonacoMama]

Ice-Man... I have put a shortcut to the RVing with Pets also...
We personally travel with 2 Min Pins. We chose these for their size. It is much easier traveing with a small size over a larger terrier. We have had a Sheltie that was a great dog...and a great companion - but I like the size of the Min Pins better...


MM

[Ice-Man]

MM thanks - and there was me thinking the earth had moved at last and it was only my thread being moved
Thanks for the responses and I will confess to looking into the mini Schnauzers - but I have just chatted to one breeder who made it sound like I have never owned a dog before. But there is still lots to learn and consider so anymore info to assist will be greatly received

Icey
in Blighty

[TXiceman]

I do not recommend buying from a Pet store as they usually buy from puppy mills. If you want a puppy, talk to some of the local breeders that raise the dogs in their home. These breeders generally have dogs that are better socialized.

Another thing to do is look at you local breed specific rescue shelters. Our female miniature schnauzer came from a schnauzer rescue in Tulsa. She was about 2 when we got her and has been a super dog. The rescue centers generally do a good job of assessing the dogs faults and qualities.

Another plus for the miniature schnauzers is they do not smell like dogs...

As for not having had a dog...some schnauzer breeders tend to be a little overly picky about who they let adopt (buy) one of their dogs.

ken

[hondo122]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">


Another plus for the miniature schnauzers is they do not smell like dogs...


ken </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

OK I'll bite. What do they smell like? My Dad had a mini and I don't remember him smelling any different.

[Digital Boy]

We've always owned mutts - from the animal shelter. Our present little darlin' weighs in a 45 lbs and loves living and traveling in the RV. She cost us $60 including shots, neutering, and a chip inserted under her skin.

If fur shedding is an issue for you, then you'll need to limit your selection of breeds and crossbreeds. But, I urge you to use a breed rescue or an animal shelter as your source for the new member of your family.

[Paulin]

We have had shih-tzus for the past 19 years. They are the most lovable pets and don't shed very much. We travel with 3 of them and think they are the perfect size for an RV.

Here is a pic of Murphy and his mom.

[mkminewine]

We also fulltime with a rescue league dog. She is almost 14 and is mostly English Pointer. At close to 50 lbs, she is the ideal size for us. We'll probably do another rescued pooch when the time comes. Our biggest considerations will be size (40-60 lb), short hair that doesn't need to be cut by a groomer and female. Icey, I've seen all types of dogs owned by fulltimers. Whatever breed you like will be just fine. A consideration though -- don't end up bringing a puppy/dog home to your old girl that will bother her a lot in her twilight years. She deserves the best to the end.

[Georgia Flash]

We had dobermans for a long time and loved them a lot. All registered. When we lost the last one we decided to go to rescue. Do it! Just go and look, the dog will find you. I have never had such a connection with an animal in my life as I have with this rescue dog. BeeBe, she is just a mut but man, we clicked and it is great.