We have finally decided to get a dog. How do we decide on a breed?

[CurrentlyNothing]

I had a Springer Spaniel as a small child. I loved her dearly but we need a less energetic breed.

A kind temperament and tolerance of children is key. We have three kids: 11, 8 and 5. The 11 year old will be very involved in walking and caring for the dog.

We live in the middle of a city. We can easily walk in the local park several times a day. It has a a fenced area for dogs being off the lead and it's not huge. At weekends we can go further afield but huge country walks will be rare.

Three days a week the dog will be alone 9-3.30pm.

We have a decent sized garden.

I would prefer a dog that isn't too yappy. I really want a spaniel (see above) but can't due to exercise constraints.

[SlaveToDisney]

Are you looking to buy a puppy or rescue a dog from a shelter?

[Showandtell]

I am so glad you are considering getting a dog. Just to say that we wouldn't ever leave our dogs alone for that long so regularly. Occasionally we leave them on a Saturday or Sunday but they have each other and the run of the house. Dh is lucky enough to be able to take them to work. Would you be able to get a walker on those days?

[CurrentlyNothing]

I could definitely get a walker on the three days I work.

I am torn on the puppy vs shelter question. We all adore the idea of a puppy and I also like the reassurance of knowing the puppy from birth and training it and there not being any nasty surprises in its temperament due to a traumatic past. However, I feel a shelter is a more moral way to source a dog. So I am torn.

[SlaveToDisney]

I understand you being torn my reason for the question was that if you get a puppy then you would have to decide on a breed whereas if you adopted the dog then my way would be to go to the shelter and then see which dog you had the most connection with. In other words then the dog chooses you! The shelter would also be able to advise you on which dogs (breeds) would be best suited to your situation.

[Showandtell]

I bought puppies. I bought them from friends whose dogs I knew already and knew that they had fabulous temperaments.

[DottyBlue2]

Do you value your sofa?

[CurrentlyNothing]

Ha ha. I wish I had a sofa worth valuing. I don't.

[PosiePootlePerkins]

When I was considering getting a dog, I asked for advice on here and so many people recommended a retired/rescue greyhound as the perfect family breed. They are on the whole very chilled, very affectionate and love to snooze! Of course they need regular walks as any dog does, and you would need to find the right one as some have a strong chase instinct and it can be a problem when off the lead. Definitely worth looking into.
(By the way we ended up getting two rescue cats instead, so I can't speak from personal experience )

[toomuchhappyland]

I would say avoid a working breed or terrier. They need more exercise than your lifestyle will permit. A retired greyhound is an option as they are lazy in the house and need two walks of 20-30 mins a day. They have a high prey drive so generally can't live with cats but are good with children. Whippets are also fab little dogs, if you wanted a puppy.

[CurrentlyNothing]

Hmmmm. This sounds awful but I've always hated the way greyhounds look.

Is a Maltese terrier out do you think? Too yappy? My eldest loves the idea of a Maltese. She also keeps talking about Jackapoos but they are terriers too.

is there any way I could get away with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel? We could do 3 park walks a day. It's not a huge park but we can throw lots of balls.

[Janika]

Get a mongrel for sure. Much hardier. I have a 11year old Norfolk/Westie/Yorkie cross whose only been to vet for jabs. Wonderful temperament, not yappy, loves all other dogs and people. Not too big and not too small.
Love my dog

[crookedpinky]

IME Cavaliers are happy, I have had several. Sorry.

[crookedpinky]

*yappy

[llangennith]

I've had Cavaliers for 40 years. Sometimes two but just one the last four years. I've never known an aggressive Cavalier.
They enjoy a daily walk but some are not too keen if it's very wet, so thinner coats need a dog-raincoat.

[llangennith]

Just read crooked's post. Never had a yappy Cav!

[BLUEsNewSpringWatch]

Cavaliers aren't yappy! (plus when they do bark (not often at all) it's not a yappy sound, it's a singular big/deep bark, for a little dog).

Cavaliers are friendly and energetic, like springers, but would be happy with around 1hr of walking a day. Fabulous dogs who are always full of joy, happy to play when you want or by themselves but equally happy curled up in your lap. Very forgiving dogs who are fabulous with DC. In fact the biggest challenge I had with him was getting him to the point where he could be off lead without running up to every living being to play or be fussed - it took quite a bit of work. Cavs love anyone who makes a fuss of them.

The biggest problem is finding a well bred one (avoid their crosses - even more chance of terrible health problems). Check the list of health checks needed because I can't remember fully what they were but for the genetic conditions a reputable breeder will not be breeding carriers at all, so pups should be genetically clear (can check on KC). You want well heart tested lines. Also as many as possible in their lines MRI scanned (it's very difficult to find a breeder who has many of their bitches done).

[Showandtell]

I have a border terrier. He is like a cat. Sleeps on my lap as much as possible. Loves walks. Fairly well behaved. Only goes bark crazy at the hoover. I wuv him. However, his overriding desire in life is to catch and probably kill any cat that dares to run past him

[ArcheryAnnie]

Have you thought of getting a pair of dogs, if you are going to be leaving them alone for a big chunk of the day? Shelters sometimes have dog pairs that they don't want to split up, which makes them harder to rehome - the advantage of this for you is that their time in foster care will mean that their habits and temperaments will be well-known.

(I would look at The Oldies Club - oldies aren't always very old at all, eg there's a pair of terriers on there only 2 years old = and there's some lovelies there. www.oldies.org.uk/?cat=1,2,3,8&tag=pairs-of-dogs )

[Hillingdon]

I had a black and tan Cavalier 15 years ago and it was a first dog with young children. They are everyone's friends! Hopeless guard dogs and the rubies are especially soppy! Good size as well. We went onto bigger dogs but they come with bigger problems!

Great first choice and I second the greyhounds although the kids need to be gentle. They are sensistive dogs.

[Shadowboy]

What size dog do you want? I find the bigger, the less happy. We've only had one small dog- border terrier. He was sweet but very much into chasing/trying to kill stuff! We've owned German shepherds, malamutes and Doberman breeds. The dove is mega chilled and amaaaaazing with the kids but big! Never barks. You would t know she was in the house. Our chimney sweep didn't and she was in the same room as him. How about a basset? They are fab with kids (friend has two) and don't require mega long walks but you do need to get a well bred one as they are prone to skin and eye problems otherwise.

[Lucisky]

I looked into maltese terriers and I was put off by the fact they are apparently notoriously difficult to housetrain and are rather delicate little flowers. I wanted a small dog that liked long muddy walks! We opted for a toy poodle, who loves long walks, but is just as happy with a short walk and a few games if you're pushed for time. If you got a pup you wouldn't be able to leave it at all for the first few weeks, and then gradually build up the time as it matures. I have left older pairs of dogs for up to 4 hours, but 6 hours is really too long.

[Hillingdon]

I am not sure I agree with the bigger the less happy. You get the dog you get despite reading all the breed traits. Dobbies are lovely, known as guard dogs yet Shadow had one which seemingly hadn't read the charactistics of their own breed.

I have experienced the same. I find the dark coloured dogs tend to blend into the furniture and you don't often spot them especially if they are lying on a dark coloured sofa (and are banned from them!)

[Shadowboy]

That should have said yappy not happy!

[Greyhorses]

I think your looking at the toy or giant breeds if your wanting something that won't want lots of excersise. They typically are lazier. If not then perhaps something like a greyhound that would be happy with a long run then to sleep the rest of the time!

Pretty much rules out most working types as they all need lots of stimulation and don't tend to have much of an off switch.

Maybe consider an older dog that is past the puppy stage?

[Thewolfsjustapuppy]

Staffies are great with kids and don't need endless exercise. There are a lot of older ones in need of rescue. But there is some prejudice about them - I love them but my DH would not have one in the house!

I have a terrier who is the perfect family pet for us - 7 year old DS2 manages her on walks (not alone) she has no interest in prey and barks (not yaps) to warn us of real intruders (postman mainly). She needs two medium length walks a day and loves a good long walk at least once a week.

I generally dislike designer crosses but I do know a JRTxChihuahua which is absolutely gorgeous.