Can anyone recommend a dog breed?

[Freddiefox]

Just as a starting point really.

Don’t want a rescue, don’t think they would have us anyway as I have children under 12. Although have been looking a older puppies that have been purchased in lockdown, but nothing yet.

We live in a three bed, small to medium garden.

Work part out the home part in, more at home.

Looking for a medium type dog. If I had a choice I’d have a lab but I don’t think our home is big enough.

Looked at beagles, but I think they would need more stimulation than we can muster, so they are a no.

Poodles - not sure about the coats and grooming, same with the doodle type.

Don’t want a pug type due to breathing or Dalmatian.

I’ve had suggestions of cocker spaniels, and sprocker spaniels, but reading up on them they maybe are a bit needed and crazy.

Any suggestion of breeds I can look into?

Thanks

I have always had a poodle, but not in the horrible poncy pom pom cut. They are intelligent and do not shed/ moult and mine have always been a lovely temperment

Rescues do consider you with children. Maybe not the mainstream ones but look at the legit, smaller ones, maybe dogs from abroad. I have two kids under 12, live in rented etc and awaiting a home check.

Shih Tzu, a very loyal Velcro dog, cuddly, doesn’t shed, mine hardly barks, but I don’t know if that’s a normal trait. Happy to go on long walks but also equally happy playing in the garden instead on the days we can’t get out. No prey drive. Great with the kids.
Needs regular grooming if you keep the coat long. Will need to visit the groomers regularly for clipping if you want to keep the coat short so that’s an extra financial commitment.
Have you narrowed it down yet?

Fox terrier

Whippet for the following reasons :
Very quiet and calm in the house
No moulting/smelly fur
Incredibly cuddly and good with children
Doesn't need miles and miles of exercise
Amazing to watch running at full speed
I think they are beautiful
Stranger shy (generally won't jump over people they don't know, will actually ignore them!)
Robust dogs that aren't prone to health problems

we have got a working cocker through kennel club this year, she is 8 months and crazy but perfect. our house isn't huge and garden small but i walk her on the school run x2 a day (1hour x2)and then she has off lead on my days off and weekend . she chewed everything at the beginning and was really nippy but is growing out of that although is still partial to socks and slipper! my kids are 7,14,& 12 and the nipping was painful to start of with so when rescue say no primary kids, do consider them wise. my 7 year old coped well but it a kid panics, recipes for disaster.
we did consider a cockerpoo but with lockdown the prices were massively inflated and some people who did get them got surprises when went to vets as dogs weren't quite what they seemed (at a huge price)

Thanks all for your help and suggestions, I like the cockapoo’s but worry about their popularity and puppy farms. I thought a lab popularity is pretty stable and less of a trend so maybe less likely to be puppy farmed.

I love the look of a lab, and think I’m erring on shorted haired. Not much experience to be honest, just borrow my doggy type thing.

I feel a beagle would be too too much and a working cocker maybe the same.

Would you consider a Bassett Hound? Similar in personality to a beagle, but with less energy. Both can be stubborn at times and require patient training, but that can be said for a lot of dogs.

Labs shed a lot. Really fine hair everywhere!

If you like the size of a lab, how about an Airedale, or standard schnauzer?

Unfortunately any breed can be puppy farmed. Whatever you decide on you need to ensure both parents have any breed specific health screening prior to mating. Eg. Hips, eyes etc.

It really depends on your needs.

Some dog breeds are known for being velcro dogs. Some are a little bit more independent.

Some could go jogging with you. Others definitely can't.

Some dog breeds tend to have strong prey drives. Others may have a guarding instinct. Or herding.

Soo mich of this will obviously come down to training but there are still massive differences between dog breeds.

What would be your ideal dog? (apart from size)

I'm with @MozzchopsThirty and @HeyLala with a Cavachon. We went with the Cavachon as my other half really wanted a King Charles Cavalier but I was extremely hesitant due to their health issues. Discovered the cavachon and haven't looked back.

Can't speak for the other cavachon owners but my one is amazing with my kids (he was here before they arrived) as well as being super cuddly and affectionate. Is more a small walk type of dog but does well on hillwalks. He's my wee shadow.

Only negative is he's a nosy neighbour and will window watch and bark like crazy at the cat who teases him across the street.

Hope you find the right dog for you and your family

Trailhound if you like how beagles look!

They have the same 'look' as a beagle but very different personality

They are generally quiet, very gentle, intelligent and trainable, enjoy playing, and don't chase small furry things

Rescue would definitely consider rehoming with kids as they are generally great with them

@lilbumblebee totally agree cavachons are just perfect
I adore ours

@MozzchopsThirty @lilbumblebee

Cavachon appreciation club 👏👏

Meet Marley

@lilbumblebee @MozzchopsThirty

Labrador all day long. The best thing that ever happened to me

Cavachons also lovely! My Labrador is best friends with one.

@TipsieM

It really depends on your needs.

Some dog breeds are known for being velcro dogs. Some are a little bit more independent.

Some could go jogging with you. Others definitely can't.

Some dog breeds tend to have strong prey drives. Others may have a guarding instinct. Or herding.

Soo mich of this will obviously come down to training but there are still massive differences between dog breeds.

What would be your ideal dog? (apart from size)

@TipsieM

My ideal dog would be a lab, or a sprocker spaniel, or a Working cocker.

The lab, A friend has a lab and he’s soo big, looking at a sprocker and I read not great for first time owners and the working cocker maybe more suited to rural farm houses.

Your dogs are lovely, don’t kings Charles have health problems due to head sizes?

@Freddiefox

Yes they do but not Cavachons.
If you have children they are just perfect. Very cuddly and wonderful temperament. I can't speak more highly for them. I got one for many reasons but size was a big issue for me. I needed a smaller type dog but not too small and yappy.
Marley has a proper dog bark for a little one, and fits on my lap perfectly 😍

@HeyLala Marley looks like such a cheeky boy

We have a labradoodle, will need a couple of hour walks a day when fully grown, but, doesn't shed, trainable, medium sized, good with children, non drooling, fairly chilled (though you need to watch out for your shoes).
We rang a few breeders and then put our name down after meeting the dog family.
Personally, I wouldn't re-home a dog if I had children. You can't see the parents and you don't know what their upbringing has been like.

My cavalier king charles is perfect for us. He's on the bigger side of standard and has a longer muzzle, although he is pure bred, but I like that about him.

He is a proper spaniel, he swims, tracks out birds in the hedges and loves country walks like a larger spaniel but he is small enough to be a nice manageable size in the house. He has plenty of character but is gentle and loving with everyone in the house. Very happy with my choice.

Labrador forever