To ask for your dog breed recommendations?

[766j]

I have only ever had one dog who was a terrier, and he was a typical terrier in that he would bark all the time no matter how much I tried to train him. He hated cats, would bark any time someone walked past the house and would bark at the TV a lot. This was despite extensive training and getting a behaviourist round. I am wanting something a bit quieter (!) and more affectionate this time around.

I work from home, and want it to be good around children. Ideally one that only needs less than an hour of walking per day and is low/no shedding. I have a pretty good sized garden if that helps too. A friend has a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who I adore, she is so sweet-natured and gentle and I would put up with the shedding for one of those, but the breed has so many health issues that it concerns me.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

Thank you

Labrador

Most people will just come on here and recommend the breed they have which isn’t helpful. Just remember that small doesn’t equal low energy.

I would go to an All About Dogs show and meet different breeds before making a decision, but doing the research is great.

Eurasier, although they do shed. And no, I don’t have one 😉, though I do recommend visiting a show or something as I have met other breeds on walks I would never have considered til I met some and thought hmmm, maybe next time.

Labs are the best! 🐾🐾🐾

I would definitely recommend a King Charles cavalier, mine lived till she was 14 and I never had any health problems with her, she was the best natured dog ever!

I won’t say what breed mine is, you either love them or hate them (not an XL bully)
When we were choosing I did a couple of online quizzes re what size, fur length etc and this breed came up tops for us every time.
He’s the best dog ever!!
Try a quiz, see what it says x

I think my mums been unlucky. Hers is a nightmare! 😂
Barks constantly and scavenges for food all the time, she doesn’t get a minutes peace!

Retired greyhound, they need minimal exercise and are actually very lazy.

Ours didn’t shed a whole lot, they’re very chilled and affectionate.

They might seem like a large breed, but because they’re so graceful and calm they seem smaller somehow.

Labrador

I don't have a Labrador - it's not quite true what a PP said about only recommending your own dog breed.
We've only had rescue dogs, so you get less choice than if you decide to buy a puppy. Our current dog, we have had six years and we found him abandoned. He's a scruffy little mixed breed terrier and although we of course love him dearly, if I was to choose a dog again, I'd get a Lab.
Not only are they just gorgeous, they're friendly, loyal, good with children and highly intelligent. They're big enough to intimidate intruders but extremely docile. Neighbours have two and we love them almost as much as our own boy.

As a vet, I’d say cavaliers are usually lovely. You’d need to purchase from a breeder that does all the health tests and I’d still recommend good insurance.
You could also consider a lurcher/greyhound but get insurance that covers dentals!

Good question OP, I’m not a dog owner but did thorough research when I was thinking about getting a gig. In the end I didn’t and stuck with my existing low maintenance pets (cats and tropical fish). Any dog is extremely demanding compared to a cat or fish, having said that I had decided that the best and easiest dog would be a lurched (sighthound cross) although I never followed through!

Less than an hour walk per day and non shedding and people are suggesting labradors!!

They are the best dogs in the world but need plenty of exercise and at times I could knit a sweater from the contents of my Hoover bag

Most dogs need more than an hour walk a day. As PP said, small dog doesn't equal low energy.

I have a small staffie x and she needs lots of exercise. (And I would recommend a staffie)

Rescue Chihuahuas rule!

Mine only barked for a few seconds if someone came to the door, and not even then when they were older. Most loving, sweet and intelligent creatures ever.

Samoyed - they are barky but everything else is amazing. They don't shed much, just 2x per year - my BF had a boxer who literally shed all year around which was really annoying. Sammies don't drool either and a couple of half hour walks with off lead running a day is good, they love outside too so a
Good fenced off garden is perfect

Yep this. And they don’t take up nearly
as much space as you think. They are also pretty silent. Mine probably barks once a month and that’s when playing. Lots of people saying labs, but they are very high energy, especially when young and really should be getting an awful lot more than 1hr a day walking (I have read 4hours which probably
explains why so many are so fat!).

Cavapoo. Cavalier and poodle.

Have lots of the great traits of a cavalier, plus no shedding.

That’s what I was thinking! I’ve got a black lab and he sheds constantly! I could make a new rug every week

I read an article recently that says some labradors carry a gene that makes them fat, the DENND1B gene.
I think I carry it too 😂

Labradors are wonderful BUT they shed, need a lot of exercise and constantly think that they are puppy sized.
Bichons are very affectionate, don't need a huge amount of exercise and don't shed. However they are exceptionally clingy dogs who cannot be left on their own.

Terriers or jack russels maybe more suitable

I'd go for a labrador or a golden retriever. But I think they, and most dogs in fairness, do need more exercise than one hour each day - if an hour is all you can do though, there are other toys you can buy that work electronically (a ball that moves buy itself, for example) and toys that you put treats in that they need to figure out how to get them out. Mental stimulation helps tire them out too.

My friend has a samoyed and her house is covered in fur.

A golden retriever for someone who doesn’t want to deal with shedding? 🤣 Don’t be ridiculous.

Show cocker maybe. Definitely not a working strain, be very sure of that!
As with anydog you should be checking out the breed and what health tests the breed club recommend and finding a trustworthy breeder and be prepared to wait for the right one. But generally I think they ate a healthier and better looking dog than the king Charles.

A retired Greyhound might suit you.