For a family with older children who want a GSD but are not really ready or committed to go through all the necessary training, socialization and exercise for the dog?

These are their requirements - medium to large size (40 lbs +), social as opposed to aloof, moderate exercise needs, and "easier." By easier I think they mean they don't plan on doing obedience classes, don't want to spend a lot of time and energy on socialization (at least not what's necessary for a GSD), and don't want to spend 2+ hours on exercise/training a day. I think they are in love with the looks and temperament of a GSD, but when I told them how much dedication and interaction raising a GSD requires, they started looking kind of worried and asked me if there was another breed that might be better.

I know a lot of people are going to say, if you don't want to put in work then you shouldn't get a dog at all, and I agree. But I think this family is willing to put in time and energy for exercise, just not what is necessary for a GSD.

I can think of some small breed dogs that might be a good match (like a pug) but I'm drawing a blank for larger breed dogs. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Is going to a rescue or shelter an option? I have a dog that meets all their criteria, but he's a mutt from a rescue. 65lbs (though in profile is bigger than my GSDs), social, easy going, loves kids, zero drive, needs very little exercise (a short walk a few times a week and some yard time during the day).

How about a life size stuffed GSD from Toy'R Us?



I'm kidding. Let me think about this one.

get 'em a Lab or Golden Retriever.

Top 10 Dogs for Lazy Owners

If they want a social family dog, I would recommend a Siberian Husky. As long as they don't want a dog with protective instincts, because a Sibe would open the door to an intruder. On average, they're wonderful with kids and dogs and they don't tend to have many health problems. And they're very clean dogs and easy to maintain, despite the appearance of all that fur. Of course, they do have some faults, like their desire to run, so owners must be careful about fencing and not leaving them to their own devices. Here's the good and the bad from the Siberian Husky Club of America:

http://www.shca.org/shcahp2a.htm

http://www.shca.org/shcahp2b.htm

Seriously??

I don't know any retrievers that were born laid back. High energy until at 3 years old in most cases and they like to work.

ugliest stuffed gsd i have ever seen!! LOVE LOVE LOVE the REAL mutt, though!!

Some of the hunting breeds, sighthounds and setters mainly, can be pretty laid back. With most sighthounds they need a few minutes a day running like crazy full bore, and they're on the couch the rest of the time. Retired racing greyhounds can be great pets for lazy owners so long as they have a fenced yard or nearby park where the dog can run for a few minutes.

Bulldogs are about as lazy as it gets, but loads of health problems.

Getting into the really big breeds, Danes and most of the mastiffs are very laid back and lazy too. Most American line Dobermans I've met are as well.

As long as it's not a Gordon Setter. Mine is almost 4 years old and still bouncing off the walls. And she's all showlines. Had a field Gordon before and he didn't start settling down until he was 8!

Beat me to it!

True, I haven't met any calm Gordons that I can think of. But several really laid back Irish and English. English especially.

Vin, are they wanting a puppy or young dog, or would they consider an older dog? A middle aged dog of most any breed could fit the bill, including GSDs. Though there are some serious couch potato GSDs and breeders of that type that produce the perfect dog for them in a GSD looking package if they are dead set on a GSD.

What about Sparkle Monkey? Am I reading that right? Sparkle Monkey?
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/21300049
What's up with that one paw?

Beagles? They are great family dogs but different - they may not listen. I just saw a bajillion of them on Petfinder.

Look at Sally's paws crossed!
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/21350135

Okay, so I need to step away from the Petfinder.

I think if you are just looking for a pet to love, and to love you, you cannot beat a nice mix that has the qualities that you are looking for, whatever those are. There are plenty of PBs on that list too of course.

I 3rd that! I work at a house with 2 GH's and they are couch potato, sun spot seekers. They live on a lake, so the house takes up all the property, the dogs get on leash exercise only. They could care less and are fairly stable nerve-wise.
One is crate anxious/drools when crated(possibly due to her past,possible crate stacking?) but she is fine, not destructive if left out.
GH's rescues are eval'd very well too, so that is a bonus, you know what you are getting for the most part.
One of the GH's has a SLO immune problem(which is managed), but otherwise they are really healthy.

Actually, I think your's is the 4th vote.

Good suggestions everyone! I'll pass them along. All I could think of off the top of my head when they asked me was "uhh...lab?" and most labs I've met are pretty energetic.

This is actually for a family involved with the GSD rescue that I volunteer with. I think this family is going to go for a rescue dog either way, not a breeder dog, but based on their criteria, willingness to work with the dog and a few other things, I wasn't sure that a GSD would be the best fit. I actually recommended that they look into an all- or mixed-breed rescue, so that they could find their perfect dog without giving too much consideration to breed. A mixed breed like Lies' Coke would be perfect for them.

Like most novice dog owners, they originally wanted a (GSD) puppy, but after some chatting, they decided that an older, more mature dog would probably be best. These are great suggestions, never would've thought of them myself since I work almost exclusively with working breeds. I'll send them over, along with the Petfinder links. Thanks all!

I vote for Sparkle Monkey! He looks like a lion!

Seriously, I recommend finding an breed rescue that has dogs in foster homes and giving a home to a great mutt.

Yeah, agree, that is definitely the ugliest stuffed dog I've ever seen lol!!

They could also look into the Leonbergers ("Leos" for short). I considered a Leo, but they were too laid back for me. They're big, fuzzy, floppy-eared couch potatoes. They're exceptionally cute and very social too. The draw back on Leos is that they have a short life span, only about 7 years do to their size. Also, they're a bit rare (= expensive).

I would suggest a sweet, middle-aged Golden.

Another vote for a retired Greyhound. Molly's boyfriend is a rescued Grey and I would love one! He is so laid back and only needs a good half an hour a day of exercise. Couch potato!

It's my understanding, too, that labs & retrievers are most often high energy dogs that need to work, some even more than gsd's.

Huskies, too ... they were born to pull ... thinking walks may not be so pleasant.

Wow, that surprises me, I thought they'd still want to run ... and run ... and runnnnn until they drop at an old age

Cocker Spaniels come to mind. There are I think the English and the American and I heard one is high energy the other not but don't remember which is which.

A bloodhound? Aren't they really lazy'ish and laid back?

Another greyhound here. Our neighbor rescues them a well as a family friend. Our neighbor is retired and takesnice leisurely walks around the neighborhood with their dogs...nothing more. Sometimes I am jealous! Lol

Ditto, I was surprised about the greyhounds too. I do lure coursing with my dog so all the greyhounds/sight hounds that I've met are super energetic and raring to go. But I have heard from various people (in addition to everyone in this thread) that retired greyhounds are a great, laid back pet.

Did anyone see 50/50? I never thought of greyhounds as cute dogs until I saw that movie, lol.

Actually, when I lived in Madison, WI a lot of people had retired greyhounds (there is a racetrack near there) and would bring them to the dog park. Occasionally they would zoom around the park but they'd usually just walk. I was surprised when I heard how mellow they were!

My problem with sight hounds and huskies is that they should never be trusted off lead- for me that would never work.

I think a lot of which dog is the right dog will come down to individual temperament. Going with an older dog should allow some personality traits to be known and they can decide accordingly.

Just reread original post, the children are older- you didn't say they wanted an older dog- what age dog are they looking for? I would think all puppies are going to have higher requirements in regards to exercise, socialization and training.

All the kids are teenaged or older. They were originally looking for a puppy (less than 1 year) but after we talked I think they agreed that an older dog might be better - more mature and calmed down a bit. I don't think they were looking forward to all the necessary training, housebreaking, socialization, etc. that came with a baby.

With an older dog, I think they could look at pretty much any breed or mixed breed rescue that has their dogs in foster homes and find a dog that has the right personality and energy level for them. That's what I suggested to them actually, and I hope they take that to heart - we have lots of reputable rescues in the MD/DC/VA area.

Would they be open to a very large dog? The reason I ask is with the economy and such alot of people are giving up mastiffs, Saints and extra large mixes because of cost. I mean the food bill makes my eyes bug out of my head, the drool is like OMG I just polished the dining room table, but I really love Dolly. Take her for a walk, let her play with Oz in the yard, she tires before him and he's an old man Other than that, she would sit beside you all day for ear rubs. The training is slower, but she's super smart. One incidence of counter surfing since she's been here and hey it was a nice roast, I would have done it too. Yesterday she was a bit sulky, but in the morning I gave her a treat and she was excited and grazed my hand with her teeth, it shocked me, I didn't yell, but she acted like she had done bad all day after. Soft, sweet personality, really wants to work for me.

Collie. Smooth Coat if they don't want to deal with all the hair. Next time I have a collie it will be a smooth coat white or blue merle. They are beautiful!

Tell them to look up Collie rescues. I know there are some in the MD area.

I would suggest a hound....a bloodhound is a laid back dog, good with kids, great temperment, just need to watch the nose....they follow their nose so a fence is manditory. They can also look into a GSD but a senior one that doesn't have much of a chance in a shelter....I'm all for the rescuing out of shelters b/c there is no sense in buying a dog from a breeder and let a shelter dog die. and there are TONS of purebreds in shelters. and honestly APBT's are good dogs despite their rap they have. I've had Pits and they are awesome dogs for families

Huskies are pullers and they are diggers if they don't have any mental stimulation, they can become destructive, as any dog can but my neighbor has a huskey and he doesn't have alot of stimulation so he's highly destructive.....digs like crazy...eats plants....lol just all around he's a hot mess...adorable....but a hot mess

+1 on the mutt suggestion.