As many of you know, I’m a student and once I move out of my parents' place, I’m planning on getting a dog of my own as soon as I can (either during the second year of my Master’s when I’ll be getting paid, or during my first year of work).
I’ve been looking into all the different options.
I’m considering adopting from a rescue, but the idea of getting a pedigree dog really appeals to me too.
I’ve absolutely fallen in love with the Golden Retriever’s temperament: they’re so sociable (with dogs, cats, and children), they love their walks without necessarily needing to tear around everywhere, and let’s be honest, they have such lovely faces. They have good recall if trained properly, generally listen well, and don't have much of a prey drive (I panic as soon as Hava wanders off too far to chase shadows, so I definitely don't want anything more than that).
A few days ago, I came across another breed I’ve fallen for: the Eurasier!
They seem to meet my criteria and are a bit smaller (I want a female), which is a plus for me. I’m certainly not looking to enter any obedience trials with this dog, but that’s not what I’m after anyway.
Just to recap:
I’m going to be a secondary school teacher, so I won’t be away from home for long periods. For the first two years at least, we’ll be living in a flat, but I hope to have a small garden before long (for myself, and it’s a nice bonus for the dog). I love walking—at the house, I do about 1 hour 30 mins every day, often more, but let’s go with that. In a flat, I’d be doing at least 2 hours. I’ll have a cat that gets on with dogs. I just want a companion for life that I can train well.
I’d love to hear some of your stories or experiences with these dogs if you've met them? I really like what I’ve read so far, anyway. Thanks everyone!
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I don’t know much about it and, to be honest, I’m a bit lost with all the different types and sizes out there. Bulldogs would fit those criteria, wouldn't they? They're not to everyone's taste, but I think every owner without exception is absolutely thrilled to have one.
If you want good recall, then terriers and hunting breeds are out... that leaves shepherds and cattle dogs, but many of them are a bit too high-energy, especially the medium-sized ones 😁
How about a Collie?
Calm, affectionate, and slightly smaller (females are around 40-44 lbs).
I know two brothers, Newton and Mozart; honestly, they are always under their mum’s feet. They just have a few seconds of the zoomies at one point during their walk and that’s it...
I know an Eurasier owned by an acquaintance who’s been a lifelong dog owner... and the recall is a total nightmare!
That’s exactly what I’m dreading.
We’ve mentioned it before, but I really feel like there’s a gap for a medium-sized dog (roughly 33 to 55 lbs max) that is fairly obedient, doesn’t have a high prey drive, is friendly with everyone, and has sensible exercise needs (like a Golden Retriever)...
I mentioned the hunting side of things because I've heard that they're sometimes used as hounds to track game, whether wounded or not. But that might be wrong, I don't know, I'm just doing my research.
What I'm looking for is a friendly dog, a good walking companion who doesn't wander off too far and isn't *too* high-energy either—someone who is adaptable to the different situations we'll experience together. I know a lot of it comes down to training, but a good portion of it depends on genetics too.
The activity levels of a Golden Retriever—one of the breeds I know best—suit me perfectly. The main issue with them is their size; I’d be worried about one feeling a bit cramped in my future flat and when travelling. I’m not sure yet if I’ll be taking the train sometimes or not at all. Anyway, I’d like to have a few options.
Regarding barking, when we lived in a flat before, we came across so many noisy dogs... it’s really not something I want to inflict on other people. I hate being a nuisance.
I’ll keep looking into it if no one else knows these dogs and I'll make my choice later. I’m starting early so I can really think about which dog would be the best fit.
The Finnish Lapphund isn't a hunting dog; it’s a herding breed. Is it more athletic? I don't think so—it’s a relatively calm shepherd, even a bit lazy at times. They don't really have much of a working purpose anymore and are very much seen as companion dogs. Honestly, they’re hardly more active than a Golden Retriever. More vocal? The ones I’ve come across haven't been too barky, though many primitive breeds, even those that don't guard, still feel the need to "talk" to their owners.
The best thing to do is get some advice from breeders. Just be careful not to assume the Eurasier is inactive, either—it’s not a Frenchie or a Chow Chow. They’re chilled out, but definitely not lazy.
I’m currently living in the Home Counties but I’ll be moving for uni soon. I’m not sure where I’ll end up yet (maybe Bristol or Nottingham, I think), but it won’t be anywhere too hot, anyway.
I’ve also looked at Finnish Lapphunds, but they seem a bit more driven and athletic (not sure to what extent), and quite barky... that’s really not what I’m looking for since I'll be in a flat.
As for the Eurasier: apparently, they’re a cross between a German Spitz, a Samoyed and a Chow Chow! Some lines look more like Samoyeds than others, and those are the ones I prefer.
I’ve just found a really lovely girl on Instagram who’s been telling me about her 3-year-old and all the ones she meets at dog shows. She strongly recommended her breeder. Her girl is stunning and the breeder looks amazing! Definitely a lead worth following!
I know their coat provides protection too, but I remember Yuki last summer and she seemed to struggle with the heat so much more than the other dogs, that’s why. Let’s just forget that bit then.
A dog’s fur actually protects them from the heat; it’s not like a coat that they’ve just put on. A Boxer will suffer far more in the heat than a Northern breed will. I have a Nordic dog and we live down south; in the summer, I only take him out first thing in the morning and late at night. It's the same in the Caribbean—don't forget that in some Nordic countries there’s a massive temperature range between winter and summer, and they’ve even seen 37°C in Siberia. It’s not at all unusual for it to get above 25°C in the summer there. It’s not the length of the coat that determines whether a dog struggles with the heat, so we really need to stop with this common misconception. It’s especially frustrating because people often think the opposite about short-haired dogs, which are often mastiff-types—the very dogs you actually need to be much more careful with. You're honestly taking much less of a risk having a Northern breed in a hot climate than you are with a Mastiff.
