Tell me about your dog

[KenAdams]

DH is likely to work from home for good after this so we could finally get a dog.

We're after something that's not too big - we have a medium sized garden and an 8 year old DD so will need to be ok with those. We live semi rural so lots of open space around.

We looked at a beagle but thought its tendency to run off might be too strong so currently thinking of a cross breed, maybe a beaglier.

DH isn't keen on cavapoos or cockapoos which I quite liked.

Ideally it won't shed too much either.

If you have a dog that might suit our lifestyle please tell me about him/her.

A jackadoodle who was going to be put down because she was born deaf. She's an utter twat but I love her, she's sweet, full of energy, very clever, good with the baby and she's learnt signs for her commands.

My first dog was a four year old rescue lab-he was absolutely lovely. Well behaved, calm, fitted in with us really well. We lost him last year when he was almost 15-I’ll miss him forever.

My second rescue lab has been a bit of a nightmare-we’re his fourth owners, he’s very boisterous, clingy, anxious, no recall, no training-I’ve had him almost two years now, he’s a lovely dog but can test my patience!! I’ve worked very hard with him and managed to sort out his behaviour at home & on walks but we can’t allow him off lead as his recall is still awful.

I’ve also got a 10 month old lab puppy-got him at 9 weeks old. He’s been a dream in comparison to my 2nd rescue! They are, however, the absolute best of friends.

We have a working cocker. Mad as a box of frogs, full of energy, excellent off the lead, crap on the lead (but she rarely is anyway), inveterate stealer of socks, bras, and tea towels, hugely loving and cuddly, makes us laugh every day.

I would never recommend a beagle for an inexperienced dog owner. We had two. Jesus Christ, I was not prepared. BastardDog has given me less trouble in two years than they gave me in the first two weeks...

Gorgeous, loving, loyal, funny...but fucking wilful little bastards...

If you get a Patterdale, you have a lifetime of this in front of you. It will be touching you All.The. Time. Won't let you go for a wee/upstairs/into the kitchen without coming to find you. Will bite/try to bite your friends/the postman/the cat/cushions/

It's like having another toddler.

@Fuss I've got a Scottie too. He's the most loyal dog I have ever had. They really love their people don't they? He has no interest whatsoever in anyone outside of the family. I love that about him

We have a cockapoo. She’s a great dog but it took a lot of training, she’s very stubborn and has a tonne of attitude. We know quite a few cockapoos and none have as much attitude as what ours has. I do love that about her though, she has so much personality. She is fantastically well behaved but her attitude did make the teen years hard. Excellent recall, excellent walking to heel on lead and off, excellent leave it commands, even when she was being a pain in the arse during her teenage years. She has a tendency to go swimming in the stinkiest ditch she can find and she’s got the uncanny ability to find a stinky ditch from about 2 miles. She can be excitable but we worked on calming her. We did a number of exercises for when she has to be calm but also things where she can burn off the crazy, like flyball. She’s a pain in the arse to groom though because she doesn’t shed so everything gets stuck in her fur. Depending on where you live, you’ll need to be on the ball with hunting for grass seeds that can get stuck in fur with any non-shedding dog.

How about a poodle though? Non-shedding, so you might have the issues of grass seeds as above. However, lovely dogs, really trainable, really eager to please and really food driven. Less driven by a strong prey drive (although an individual can have a high prey drive). Generally really snuggly. A miniature poodle is probably a good size and they don’t have to be groomed to have the poms poms. Our next dog is a lab (whilst we’re still young enough to deal with labs) but after that I’m moving onto poodles (or maybe westies... or both).

OP your opening sentence brought a massive smile to my face... What a silver lining from this whole shitty situation.

Like your DH I didn't want a "poo" dog, but did want small/medium size and low shedding. We have a Bedlington terrier X Cocker spaniel, he is from working parents so fairly high energy, but one from show parents might be calmer. He has a fantastic temperament, let's my 2 year old dd do anything to him, very loving, and playful.

There seem to be a few breeders out there, if you look for #cockerton on Instagram there are a few to see.

I've had a Rescue pet Cocker - lovely, gentle, loyal, no recall.
Rescue working Cocker - mad as a box of frogs, no recall, hard work.
Rescue Basset hound - amazing dog, smelly, stubborn, loyal, incontinent
current - Rescue Golden Doodle - lovely, calm, clean, quiet, gentle, affectionate - perfect dog!

Meant to add some pictures...

@horrayforharoldlloyd
I'm interested in your recommendation for a soft coated wheaten?
I've always fancied one of these but when researching some websites say they are not recommended for first time owners.

P.s. we are also getting a dog as I am now definitely off for several months rather than the several weeks from June , which is when we'd originally planned to get one. It just so happened that my old boss had a litter of jack Russels and had one left. We'd planned a terrier albeit not a JRT but it almost feels like it's meant to be. Rescues aren't suitable for everyone especially for those with under 10's

Springer spaniel and they're a batshit crazy twat and so, so needy.

Elderly but think they're still a puppy.

Costs a fortune in insurance now due to being elderly.

Love 'em though despite driving us all totally bonkers.

what about a whippet?

All Greek rescues. The labrador is a sock-eating, cat shit-eating, bin raiding, hairy nightmare. The one in the middle says Epagnel Breton on his passport but I have no idea what that is. He's amazing. The little one on the left has sadly passed away but she was amazing too.

I think your Epagnel Breton is a Brittany Spaniel, @Fedupandpoor: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittany_(dog)

I do agree with others that a rescue dog would be a really good idea for you guys.
We have a sprocker (cocker x springer). She’s not a proper sprocker though- most sprockers are bred in the gundog dog community for a specific working purpose (they are very much NOT designer cross breeds) ours however was the result of an accident between a springer and a show-type cocker which means she’s much smaller, stupider and calmer than your average springer/sprocker. She’s a lovely, lovely family pet but so much is down to the individual dog, their breeding and their upbringing that id struggle to recommend one particular breed. My mum has the sweetest, calmest cocker poo for example but my best friend has a cocker poo who is very high energy and can be aggressive. I’ve known sweet labradors and aggressive labradors...in the same way that my human children are very different personalities, even canine litter mates can be very different. There are just so many factors to take into account. That’s why a rescue with an assessed and matched personality might be a good idea.

Cavapoo and he's scared of his own shadow. We had an issue with resource guarding but this is better now he's one. Looooots of energy. Doesn't shed.
I wouldnt advise rescuing from abroad as you risk importing diseases we do not usually have here (heartworm, leishmania etc). Plenty of UK dogs in rescue centres that need homes.

Not a beagle. Our rescue one would go off an 3 day walkabouts.
Our springer spaniel was gorgeous but so energetic and a real handful until she turned 10.
Our Yorkshire terrier was yappy but a cute lap dog.

So none of them!

I'd say a cocker spaniel. Loving, affectionate, enjoys walks, cute as cute, but not manic.

We have a cocker spaniel.
Excellent with the kids. Excellent temperament. Will walk miles or not. Easily trainable. I used to do agility with her pre kids.
Is an old lady now and deaf as a post and sleeps most of the day (pre lockdown! Now she is dragged out daily!)

Retired racing greyhounds make amazing pets. They tend to be very affectionate and lazy. It doesn't matter if you only have a small garden or yard, as a greyhound only needs enough space to lie down!
Please don't get a dog from a breeder, rescues are full of animals waiting for a loving forever home.

PS I also used to have a patterdale. Don't get one. They are lovely but will drive you mad.

@YgritteSnow definitely! He's the second Scott we've had and though both were very different personalities they were both proper family dogs.
He has to be where the family is, spends most of his day in the window watching life go by.

DD had a Sausage just after Christmas and he is also a lovely little thing. Huge personality in a very small body and is properly keeping her on her toes through lockdown.

I understand what people say about rescues. I wanted a rescue but was not able to rescue with pets already in the household and primary school aged children. It wouldn't be fair on the children or the other pets. We will rescue at a different point in our lives.

We chose from a kennel club assured breeder and had a good idea about the breed. We chose a puppy who seemed gentle and sweet as well as clever. Our DDog is a working cocker spaniel and a dream.

2 labs here - lovely dogs but big, clumsy and very high energy. Love them but I don’t have an 8 year old.
I would suggest a schnauzer, either miniature or standard if you can find one. Lovely lovely dogs, quite laid back when left alone but with great personality. Had several in our extended family and they have all been fab. I think females are easier in most breeds.

I'm going to get a whippet. Calm in the house and low shedders. Don't need long walks.