Family dog what breed?

[Blarblarblar]

I would like to get a family pet after the summer. I want a puppy. Looking for advice on the best breeds for family life. I loved having pets as a child and would like to give my children the opertunity to experience this as well.
I appreciate that a rescue dog is the kindest most ethical choice (and have had them in the past) however there are requirements that I want and you just don’t know what you are getting. Previously have had two rescues one amazing lovely beast and the other to much for me to cope with and really aggressive due to his abusive background.
My husband is not a big dog fan but agrees good for kids so.
I will from now on own my Own business and the dog can be with me all the time plenty exercise company etc
We want one that doesn’t shed too much and doesn’t have lots of drool (DH requirements)
Good with kids and not Yappy.
I want plenty of time to look into reputable breeders so......
Advice welcome

[Snowydaysarehere]

You need one of these :can't recommend them enough!! The Lovely Lurcher!! Great with dc +dcats!! Don't shed, barks to command only!! Don't need as much exercise as you may think!! Very friendly!!

[Blarblarblar]

We had a rescue greyhound and he was gentle, loving and amazing are there similarities?

He is gorgeous btw

[Blarblarblar]

He might grow a bit big for us.

[bunnygeek]

Lurchers as crossbreeds come in a range of sizes. Typically they're Greyhound crosses, but can also be a Saluki or even Whippet mix. Temperament and energy levels can vary depending on what they've been mixed with, such as Collie or a Bully breed. There are tons of those in rescue, including whole litters of puppies. For example:
www.dogstrust.org.uk/rehoming/dogs/dog/filters/~~~0~~n~/1186181/barker

A good ol'Staffy could also work. Can be amazing family dogs, short hair, don't really dribble. Can be chatty though. Terriers after all.

If you go for a purebred puppy either go for a puppy from a reputable rescue, or go to a KC assured breeder (KC registered litters are not the same thing as a KC assured breeder). Don't fall for a litter advertised online!

[SleepForTheWeek]

Aw we have a lurcher and she's the best dog ever ❤️. She was a rescue - very lazy and gentle, doesn't shed or bark

[Queenofthedrivensnow]

I'm envious of the lurchers. I had a rescue grey before I had ddog and she wasn't a family pet - scared of small children and other dogs but I might have another when my dc are older.
Anyway we have a show cocker he's fab. No drool whatsoever. Very minimal shedding and nothing like a short coat dog.
My spanner is very tolerant with the kids and had no aggression - unless you poke him in the eye (dd2) and he's amazing with other dogs just ignores them if they give him grief.

[Blarblarblar]

I hadn’t even thought a cocker if I’m honest their big eyes scare me. No idea why just worry things get stuck in em

[Blarblarblar]

I take that back I was thinking a King Charles. Cocker is lovely.

[Snowydaysarehere]

Here's my girls fully grown
(big boast)

[Blarblarblar]

Awe snowy they are gorgeous I want one now! I just feel a home needs a dog. I want one I can cuddle for sure (but of course it’s really for the children )

[skinnyamericano]

Good old Labrador
Hungarian Vizsla
Working Cocker

All lovely with children and good family dogs.

[bunnygeek]

Spaniels can be great family dogs as long as you're an outdoorsy, training focused family. They have lots of energy and the ones I've met have been a bit daft and love jumping in muddy puddles, so muddy paw prints are a thing. The Cocker/Springer office dog we have has grown up with kids, he's territorial towards other dogs though. He loves jumping in any water he sees and is a real food ninja. He's stolen many lunches from desks.

[Bonkersblond]

You can’t go wrong with a Labrador, or a Border Terrier, both brillliant family dogs, good with children and love people. We’ve had both.

[Blarblarblar]

Don’t want a lab. Too big and just eat anything in my experience.

[Blarblarblar]

Also very sheddy (that’s a word honest)

[villainousbroodmare]

Setter.

[Bythebeach]

Aah see you’ve said no lab but I am amazed how easy our 8 month old is. She practically toilet trained herself, she is sooo friendly, exuberant and amazing with the kids. People went on and on about how hard a puppy would be but she just hasn’t been. She is greedy but we say ‘basket’ at our mealtimes and she just stays there. No shedding so far (although all our floors our hard and we got prepared with super hoover). I just can’t get over how lovely she is so have to put in a lab vote anyway!!

[Bythebeach]

Shameless puppy eyes shot!

[Eleanorsummer]

Bythebeach- she's adorable.

[Merrz]

In my experience lurcher/greyhound type dogs are lovely but a bit wimpy, ie scream the house down if accidentally get stood on and don't really like getting cold! More suited to a quiet, chilled home rather than a busy family surrounding.

Best family dogs in my opinion:
Labrador - very friendly, great with kids/other animals and eager to please which makes them very trainable but do cast a lot and prone to becoming over weight because obsessed with food, also are large if you wanted a smaller dog.
Springer/Cocker Spaniel - friendly and good family dogs, bit more compact than Lab's, hair can be cut so little/no shedding, again usually eager to please and very trainable. As you said can be a bit mad out on walks but tend to have a mad all go frenzy while out for a walk then sleep when back in the house.
Border Terrier - lovely, hardy little dogs, tend to be very friendly towards people and children but don't always tolerate other animals well. Being a terrier they will usually chase most things that move and can be quite free willed. Coats need specially stripped twice a year but this means they don't cast much.
Boxer super friendly, love children. Very affectionate and full of energy so need plenty exercise if you don't want a ball of furr constantly bouncing around your house. They're very comical and will love to be part of the family. Short hair means little shedding. They do tend to snore and be a bit slobbery though.
Staffy or Dalmatian are also great all round family pets but i haven't had as much experience with them personally apart from a Dalmatian who casts excessively.

[Merrz]

Bythebeach what a cutie.
My Collie was the same, i don't feel like i really trained her, she just picked things up effortlessly. I am a big vote for working breed dogs for this reason, they are generally so smart and eager to please.
Although i wouldn't really recommend Border Collies as a top family/young children breed

[Snowydaysarehere]

One of my Lurchers was an outside dog. Quickly learned to love home comforts though - like my couch!! They don't bark at all unless I tell them to 'speak'!! They are so patient with ds 3 who reads to them and dozes along side them!! Have told dh when we are old (er) I am going to be a mad Lurcher Lady and have lots!!

[tkband3]

If you like the idea of a greyhound/lurcher, why not go for a whippet. We've had ours for about 16 months now - he is gorgeous, loving, loyal, loves a long run round the park, but then crashes out and snuggles up at home. Very friendly and easy to train (mostly because the breed is very food driven) - his recall is brilliant, so I have no qualms letting him off the lead in the park. Can't imagine having any other breed now.

[WeeMadArthur]

What about a Labrador, I’ve had two, and a springer and even though labs get a reputation for needing exercise they are much more calm, steady and trainable (IMHO) than spaniels, and are happy to snooze for longer than you would expect.

Cockapoos seem to be the dog of the moment round here, they are by far the most common dog in our area but we meet a bunch of springer/cocker/cockapoo dogs daily and they are very high energy and seem to ignore most of what their owners shout at them, and they all jump up (in a friendly way but still cover their owners and myself in mud). I know some of this can be blamed on a lack of training but they all seem to be hyper and hard to recall. They also need time and money spent on grooming, the cockapoos we know in particular seem to have easily matting coats.

An alternative would be a Cavalier King Charles (not the plain King Charles with the buggy eyes) as they are much lower energy and I’ve never met a bad tempered one, as long as you look into the breed genetic diseases and go to a breeder who checks for them.

French bulldogs are also quite popular here but, apart from the obvious breathing issues, they do seem to be hard to train, especially toilet training, they seem to have accidents way past when you would have expected them to have got the message.

My neighbour have Border Terriers, they are great if you like furious barking.

[Dipitydoda]

Mini schnauzer great family dogs very adaptable, love kids, easy to train very minimal shedding, don’t have many genetic issues, breathe without sounding like about to have asthma attack. Not big and not small. Doesn’t have a doggy smell Downsides some a bit yappy but not generally my experience, chase small animals can be a bit stubborn/v intelligent knows own mind.