Give me your expert opinion on my two final breed choices

[Pollycazalet]

Am doing lots of research and think I may have narrowed possible dog down to lurcher and poodle.

Here's my criteria - what do you think? A good match?

A dog which needs an hours walk a day plus one shorter one but can do longer at weekends.

Good with kids -ours are older 11 and 14 and want at least the older one to be able to walk the dog independently.

Minimal moulting and smell - don't mind grooming.

Smallish in size as our house is not huge and garden is tiny.

Cat friendly or at least not cat aggressive!

We are all out three days a week from 815 until 4 so the dog would need to be walked by a dog walker/ friend.

Bright and easily trained ( not sure if this is so much a breed thing as character thing though)

Don't really think I can cope with a puppy so might want an older dog.

[roadwalker]

We have a miniature poodle
She is great. We did get her as a pup and was not difficult to train the basics
Great nature and good with other dogs. She can walk for a long time but can happily go with sort walks without going nuts
No moulting or smell

[basildonbond]

Poodle

[basildonbond]

Not that lurchers aren't great but poodles will be easier to train and be safe around cats

[WitchOfEndor]

Poodle, due to your size, moulting and cat friendly requirements.

[Pollycazalet]

How miniature is your miniature roadwalker? Roughly how big?

[nuttymutty1]

Lurchers can moult (loads) and are generally brilliant hunters so recall training will be essential.

Poodle are high energy dogs and will need more than just two walks a day - they will need mental stimulation to be fully content or will find there own things to do.

Both pretty high energy dogs

[nuttymutty1]

Didn't see the bit about a cat forget about most lurchers!

[MagratGarlik]

8.15 till 4pm, three days per week is a very long time for any dog to be left alone, even with a dog walker coming in at lunch.

[boobyooby]

another vote for poodle .... or if you want something a little larger but still with a poodle-type coat there is a great breed called a Lagotto Romagnolo (I suggest ringing their club secretary to get numbers of reputable breeders for any dog you are interested in).

[roadwalker]

My miniature is the top end of miniature
She stands from floor to top of her back 15"
She may be a bit higher that that now as I haven't measured her for a while
Poodles are all the same dog they are just categorised by height
Over 15" is a standard so she could creep into small standard
She would be useless to show because of that but she makes a lovely pet, the perfect size for us

[roadwalker]

She can happily not be walked for a day as long as she is not alone all that time
We do have a big garden though. She will not go out in the rain!
She is a bit of a baby and like to be close to us

[roadwalker]

I work 3 days too but go home at lunch time
DS is home at lunch time too
I leave her with a kong and she never seems distressed. She gets a good morning walk on the days I leave her

[Pollycazalet]

She sounds lovely roadwalker.

I do worry about the days we are all out. The dog would have the cats for company!

[Floralnomad]

Why have you narrowed it to those because you have a problem with both ,a lurcher may not be good with your cat and may need more exercise than you can offer and a poodle will probably not be that happy being alone for all those hours .

[Pollycazalet]

Floral I have done quite a bit of research and those dogs seemed to fit with our family. DH is keen on a lurcher and to be honest I hadn't thought they would be an issue with cats.

I know our working hours are not ideal but dog ownership isn't limited to households with an individual at home all day so I assume people find ways round it when they need to work. I have already said I will look into dog walkers and perhaps friends to have the dog for a period on those days.

If you have any more breed ideas for me I'd be interested to hear them.

[Floralnomad]

I've got no problem with people having dogs and working ( with a walker/ visit during the day) but from everything I've read poodles tend to be quite people orientated and something a little more independent might suit better . I have a Patterdale x and he is quite happy being left for a few hours but I wouldnt recommend them because of the cat . What about a border terrier ?

[Pollycazalet]

Thanks Floral - looked at Border terriers but I think they might need more exercise than we can commit to every day.

[hoppingmad]

Have you considered a miniature schnauzer?

[roadwalker]

My poodle is very easy going. We did build up the time we left her and she doesn't seem distressed
She is a happy little dog

[roadwalker]

Schnauzers are lovely

[schoolchoicesdrivingmecrazy]

Think a poodle would be great. I've had standard poodles for 12 + years and they meet all your criteria. They do like company but if there isnt any they curl up and go t o sleep. your will have a cat for company anyway so i guess it will be fine at home by itself if it is used to that from puppyhood.

Brilliant dogs. People who have poodles rarely move to another breed... That's because they are so bright and amusing and good mop any and relatively undemanding. Enjoy!

[YNK]

Grayhound or staffy maybe? An older rescue dog? Pups need so much attention and training.

[schoolchoicesdrivingmecrazy]

Good fun not good mop

[Aked]

A crossbreed rescue:) Then you may find an older one that has been cat-tested. Probably lots of poodle cross breeds too in this day and age of whateverapoo fashion!

[Pollycazalet]

Don't greyhounds need an awful lot of walking?

Schnauzer was the third choice! It's a very fashionable dog round here though which puts me off a bit sadly. As in lots of dressed up schnauzers out and about!

Am v keen on poodle as all the feedback I have had is similar to schoolchoices - funny happy little dogs with bags of character.