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.

We have a fox red Labrador and he is amazing! Lovely temperament, great with children, short hair and doesn't malt that much (I know other labs can do though). I would also say get a rescue if you can!

I have a cockapoo. We were lucky enough to find a rescue puppy in a shelter.

She's got dodgy knees - one broke when she was 4.5 months the other will need surgery at some point.

She's a bloody princess. We've gone through 3 trainers because she figures out their methods and wraps them around her paws! She's an incredibly bright girl! Not just my opinion :)

She's gorgeous, loving I can't remember the last time I went to the loo alone. Her recall is good unless she's annoyed with you for some reason!!

I absolutely adore her but she's madam! She gets ear infections, so between her knees and her ears and a phantom pregnancy she's costing a fortune in vets bills bit worth every penny!

Oh and we've had her booked in 3 times to be spayed. First time she broke her leg and they wouldn't (obviously!). Second time, she came into season early. Third we went on bloody lockdown.

We have a Pomeranian

Do not get a Pom if you don't want fur everywhere or high grooming

Love him to bits though

We have a Wheaten - they are great family dogs. We hadn’t had a dog before we got ours but he was calm, loving and easy to train (he loves food!) They love people, don’t need much exercise (he gets about an hour a day) and don’t moult but that does mean they need a good brush at least weekly. I think we’ll be sticking to this breed now!

If you go for a rescue, as PP have said go via a smaller one that fosters the dogs so you can get some idea what it will be like to live with.

If you go to a breeder, do everything you can to be sure that they are legit and not a front for a puppy farm. I became FB friends with our last puppy's breeder so I was able to scroll through years of him out in the fields working his dogs. And he was able to scroll through years of us with our dogs, too.

Also be aware that a lot of breeds (cockers, springers, labs, collies, etc) come in working lines and pet/ show lines. Working line dogs tend to want to do what they were bred for now, lots, again, more. They can make fabulous pets if you're prepared to train them and understand their drives but they can go radically off-piste if not given proper guidance.

The right dog in the right home is a wonderful thing, though. I can't imagine not owning several at once.

My DM has a puggle and he is the most stubborn thing ever - both beagles and pugs can be nightmares and though he is quite sweet it put me off ever having a dog with any beagle or pug in!
I know you said DH not keen but we have a cavapoo and he is amazing. He can be an absolute lunatic but is so gentle with the kids and my 6 month niece. Very playful but a total lap dog, he's like my little shadow. Doesn't need massively long walks but will happily do them if you want to. Very intelligent and easy to train, virtually no shedding and he doesn't smell 'doggy' at all but you do have to keep on top of brushing. Prior to him, we had a cavalier and he was also wonderful but a lot more timid and not a fan of strangers.

@Pieceofpurplesky Does yours have a bucket sized bladder as well?

Oh yes. I don't know where he stores it all

@Pieceofpurplesky Little miss Marina can hold it for an extraordinary length of time. Especially if it's raining, or a bit cold or she just doesn't feel like going outside.

My friends have a rescue Bichon Frise , he was about a year old when they got him about 7 years ago , he really is a lovely natured little dog , likes a walk but not excessive , doesn't shed but needs a good haircut every month or so , not too fussy with food , very loving and kind natured , and great with kids , I've had other breeds but impressed with this little chap and think he would suit your requirements
Loads of dogs of all breeds are looking for rescue homes please go the rescue route and you will be richly rewarded

We've got a cocker X schnauzer and she's brilliant. Cheeky but still pretty easy to train, loves to play, soppy and cuddly. She's a really nice size too.

I have two Shetland sheepdogs-excellent with children and other animals- very loyal and super intelligent and a sweet disposition.needs grooming - ours gets a brush few times a week and we take them to groomers every few months although you don’t have to do this . Very hard to find breeder though and usually waiting list.If you had dogs before though- have a good look around shelters- would def day no to a birder collie though and please don’t buy any of the pug bulldog etc puppies- our vet is actively discouraging people from choosing them because they are so concerned about how many procedures this dogs have just to be able to breathe-alll because of the latest ‘in’ dog

We have a ten month old mini poodle. She’s our first dog since chn (so about 14 years) and we just adore her!
DH and DD both have fur allergies so a non shedding dog was vital. She’s really placid and lots of fun. She is happy to play with my daughters but also loves to snuggle up on the settee- she’s squeezed into a tiny space next to me right now! She can be a little bit vocal in the garden when the postman walks past.

She goes to the groom room every 6 weeks or so.... we have a teddy bear cute so defo not the traditional poodle look. She has a bath every week and I try to brush her most days. Right now though she is super shaggy because of course all groomers are closed.

We have a working Cocker Spaniel. He is lovely and quite simply a great family dog. He is very sociable and I've never seen him have any issues with any other dogs. Yes he can be a little on the energetic side but he has calmed down loads in the last 6 months. We have him groomed and clipped every 8-10 weeks so he doesn't shed much at all.

On a side note - please look into and consider raw feeding if you do get a dog

We have a 2 year old swiss shephard rescue. She was a rescue. OMG she is fab. Brilliant with the kids. Very protective of them .plays with them. So affectionate. Talks to me in a very funny way, like she's really making her point known. Adore her to bits. She sheds but nothing a daily hoover can't handle. Fuck all recall when out but working on that. Very clever. Did I mention I adore her?!

We had a staffie from RSPCA for 11 years - she was gorgeous, bonkers for the first five years then calmed. I miss her everyday, she was solidly my girl. Very loyal, funny, great with the kids.
We now have a 15 month old Lurcher from Dogs Trust (had her 4 months). I know you want small (so did I), but honestly she doesn’t feel big.
She’s perfect for us. Barely sheds, playful, obedient, gentle, tolerant of the children (we have 6 & 9 yo) doesn’t need excessive exercise, curls up small too! She and I canicross together, she’s so clever, learned left, right, pull, slow etc. Dogs Trust were great in helping us find a dog that is good with children.
Good luck in your search xx

I would highly recommend a lurcher.. Lots in rescue looking for good homes. They are calm, gentle, adore people and are great with kids and other dogs. They don't need a lot of exercise, but watching them zoom around is a joy to behold. They love their sleep, don't shed and are generally very low maintenance and have few health problems.

Retired greyhound, had her for nearly six years. Very gentle natured, surprisingly tolerant of small children but very nervy to start. Remember greyhounds spend their lives in kennels and have to be taught about the scary world outside. The retired greyhound trust has several branches across the country and usually states on the website whether or not a particular dog can be homes with young children.

Just remember these are dogs trained to chase. Cats, squirrels, small fluffy dogs... etc. My girl once caught a pigeon on the wing, luckily DH rescued it! Greyhounds are strong, capable of reaching speeds of up to 40mph in a few strides and generally aren’t great at recall unless you’re a good and patient trainer.

To those talking about rescue, I'm not having much luck as we have a child under 10. They mostly want people with children over 10 or no children at all
Are you saying that’s their blanket policy or that’s been the criteria for individual dogs? Firstly, as you say you can ’finally’ get a dog, does that mean it’s your first dog? If yes, I’d say definitely seriously consider a rescue. An adult rescue dog to be precise. If it’s your first ever dog, a puppy will be very, very hard work. Not all rescue dogs have issues, plenty have come from good homes but where circumstances have changed. Don’t focus on a particular breed, rather look for a dog that fits your family, in terms of temperament, exercise needs, whether it is used to children and people who may come and go in your home etc, visiting dogs, etc etc. Look at other rescues other than RSPCA. Dog’s Trust are very good at selecting the right dog for your circumstances. If (as quoted above) you mean you haven’t so far seen a dog that can be rehomed to a home with under tens, please remember you should expect to take as long to find a suitable rescue dog as you expect to wait for a puppy from a reputable breeder. IE don’t expect, just because they are rescue dogs, you can go and get one immediately. With Dogs Trust in particular, you can register outlining exactly the kind of home you can provide a dog with and they can see if they have one that fits now, or in the future, you and your family. All dogs, regardless of their breed, are individuals, you might one that fits perfectly with what you want/need exercise wise etc but is a breed (or non breed) that you would never have considered. Lots of Rescue centres are experts at matching the right dog to the right home.

My previous (rescue) dog was a lurcher staffy cross, great in the house and with people. Poor recall and liked a scrap!
Current (rescue) dog is a collie jack Russell cross and is actually a very sweet gentle dig.
But, I won't get another adult dog in a hurry, both of these dogs have been hard work due to the harm previous owners have done. If I get another dog it will be a puppy.

Lhasa apso. Great wee dogs. Don't need masses of exercise but still enjoys a good walk. Doesn't shed, very loving and loyal and full of personality. Does need groomed regularly though

We have a 10 year old Bichon Frise and a just 1 year old Whippet. both beautiful girls.
Bichon Frise was a nightmare to housetrain but super intelligent and absolutely bomb proof with my children who were 4 and 6 when we got her. Still a sweetheart.
Got the whippet for daughter for her 15th birthday and she’s brilliant. Very easy to housetrain (only ever had a couple of accidents) and they were our fault. She is also a clever girl and was really easy to train (very food oriented ).
When our whippet is on her own we will definitely rescue and it’ll be another whippet or a greyhound or possibly a lurcher.
Dogs are just the best!!

Miniature poodle.

Likes- the beach, cheese, his own space
Dislikes- metal, the remote control, coming home from the beach.

He’s a dream, perfect size, doesn’t shed, cost of keep is far lower than I had bargained for too

Border collie x whippet
The most perfect dogs. Loving, loyal, well behaved (recall brilliant), clever ... I could go on for ever, just perfect.

We’ve always had labs, i wouldn’t even consider a different breed!
Easy to train, full of fun and love, very loyal and they love a snuggle.
Grooming is easy and keeps the hairiness at bay... but you will always need to hoover everyday, so worth it though, all our boys have been absolute angels and our current one is the same, full of fun and cheek!