New here & still not sure what breed to get

Based on a few things you said I think you'll need a dog that qualifies as follows:

1) no working breeds. Anything that has shepherd, retreiver or any breeds that were bred for hunting are off the table because they all generally require more exercise that you will have time to give them and they are susceptible to bordem, anxiety and destructive behaviour when left alone for long periods of time.

2) I think you should look for a breed that is highly adaptable to changes in routine. Some dogs can be like little autistic 2 year olds that need a highly structured routine.

3) The dog will have to do well in an urban environment. I think from your flag that you live in Singapore. You might consider a small dog.

To that end I think you might want to consider a Maltese (or a cross with a maltese). It's a socialble, easy-going breed generally that can tolerate a fair amount of alone time, a chaotic schedule and doesn't need a huge amount of vigorous excercise. It's a small breed and needs some light brushing on a regular basis, but on the whole I think this breed might match your needs. At least this will give you a starting point for comparison. I can also recommend the site www.akc.org for information about different breeds.

As always, I must give a disclaimer that each dog will have its own personality so even within breeds there can be significant differences in personality.

Finally, a point about taking care of the dog. Be aware that there are walking services that can help with busy days and will allow your dog to interact with other dogs. You don't necessarily need to do everything alone.

Good luck.

The 12 week bonding period is important, but working with a good breeder can make up for that. A good breeder will ensure the puppy gets exposed to normal household activities while waiting to go home. I've heard some really sad stories of people buying pet shop puppies that probably came from puppy mills in the the former Soviet bloc; the puppies were socially maladjusted and often ill with things like worms and parvo for a bit of extra disappointment.

I agree about avoiding herding and hunting breeds: Collies, Weimaraner, Vizsla. They need too much exercise. I would also avoid any brachycephalic breeds: Boston terrier, French bulldog. They don't handle heat well and and may also have breathing trouble during air travel. If you want a medium sized dog I think a regular short haired whippet might actually be ok. Whippets tend to be a very healthy breed. They have a decent off button as well.

As far as smaller breeds go, I do like Maltese. They don't have the extreme smushed faces of some toy breeds, and they are very sweet. They do require regular bathing and hair cuts; you will need to get them into a groomer unless you are prepared to learn how to do it yourself.

SilasAlias said:

Hello!

I’m completely new to getting a dog but it’s been something my family has been discussing on and off for quite some time, I thought it’s be best to get outsider opinions mainly because I don’t think I’m doing the right research and at this point I’m starting to doubt the idea of getting a dog

some details that might help:
- we’re living landed in an estate with a teeny tiny back garden, but we’re near a forested park

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That’s fine - I don’t have a garden either, really, I just take my girls for shorter but more frequent walks.

- thinking about a medium size dog, 2 daily walks an hour each is probably the best we can do

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What about mental stimulation? A 5min training session or game or treat dispenser can be as tiring as an hour long walk.

• family of 4, all adults with 8 hour jobs, no other pets
• family of 4, all adults with 8 hour jobs, no other pets

- our schedule is a bit erratic (late/early meals/ night shift/ work from home)

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I know you said you all work 8hr shifts, but on average, how long will the dog be left alone? As I’m sure you know, with your own “hectic” schedule, not all 8hr shifts start and finish at the same time.

- we travel 1-2 weeks per year, I’m afraid the dog might become anxious in a pet hotel

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Start your research as soon as you get your dog. In fact, you can start now - check websites, read reviews, visit the most promising looking ones, ask for recommendations from friends and family.


If you get a puppy, you have the advantage of time to get them used to being away from you, being in kennels and knowing that you will come back for them.

- dog is likely to be imported and will be 12+ weeks old so we will miss the bonding period (heard it’s crucial?)

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Not bonding - socialisation period. If 12wks were a crucial bonding period, then adult rescue and rehomed dogs wouldn’t be a thing because they’d never bond with their new owners, and yet it happens all the time. My Lurcher was 1 and my Chihuahua was 5 when I got them.

- weather gets pretty hot, it’s practically summer all year, but at night I turn on the air con , it can get to 20 Celsius, not sure if long or short fur will be good

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20*C? I would have thought that would be fine for most dogs.

and some issues(?):
- no one in my family can decide on the popular first time owner dogs, everyone has issues with them, we found other dogs to be better but I don’t see them recommended for first timers, at most they say they’re friendly and are good family dogs (tolling retriever, longfurred whippet)— I don’t trust myself or my family to make the right judgement on the reviews we see, at this point we’re thinking a smooth collie might be okay but I think their activity level is beyond what we can handle

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Whippets are short (smooth) coated. Do you mean the Silken Windsprite? (See link below).

Any opinions and suggestions would be great, I’d like to know if my family is being way too picky about our choices. I know it should be a ‘what can we offer to the dog’ kind of thing, so I won’t be surprised if we’re not giving enough

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Contrary to the suggestions above, putting you off working dogs, I think a Whippet or Greyhound could be ideal for you. They tend to be couch potatoes in the house, although of course, as above, every dog’s an individual.

Despite the link below, I wouldn’t recommend a Windsprite - they don’t yet seem to be recognised by the KC or the AKC, which, alongside its ancestry, makes it either a Lurcher (any sighthound cross any terrier/collie/lab. In this case, Whippet x Shetland Sheepdog) or Longdog (two or more sighthound breeds crossed together - in this case Whippet x Borzoi, and most often called lurchers). The founders of the Lurcher type were looking for a dog with the speed of the sighthound and the intelligence of the other parent - so a bored Lurcher really is a bored athlete, and you really don’t want a bored athlete, as I learned to my cost. 🙄🤣.

Depending on how cold it gets in winter there, a Whippet or Greyhound may need a coat. They are thin skinned and thin coated for the speed (think a canine cheetah), but they could be happy in your situation. The dog in my avatar is my Lurcher (Milly’s a Whippet cross Jack/Parson’s Russell).

One thing I will caution you about the sighthound group in general: they are really sensitive souls and do not take well to harsh handling or raised voices.

Finally, (because I have a bored teenaged cat on my hands at the moment), we recommend to all new potential dog owners;

For the next 2 months, pretend you have a dog now. Get up an hour earlier and go for a walk. Do the same as soon as you get back home/finish work - no stopping off at the shops, no meeting with friends for a drink, Pup’s been alone all day and needs a walk and a change of scenery plus quality time with you.

Meanwhile, put away how much you think it’ll cost to keep a dog - food and water bowls, beds, toys, harnesses/collars/leads (IMO and IME, I’d always recommend walking a sighthound on a harness - if they bolt on a collar and lead, they could snap their necks) food, vet fees/insurance/health care plan, boarding costs, etc, and then add 10% because we always underestimate.

Good luck with your search, and please keep us updated.

Links;
Windsprite
Whippet Dog Breed - KC

English cream golden retrievers up for rehoming now. PM for more information!


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