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

Hi OP I am looking to get my first dog soon and have been researching the hell out of breeds!
For you, I would echo the suggestion of a retired greyhound. My friend has one and she is literally no trouble at all. Very sweet natured. Will come and say hi but is quite independent.

What about trying to find ways to ‘mitigate’ the issues as well?

Someone else may be able to help with this but, if you get a breed that sheds, could you afford a robot vacuum cleaner? And get a breed that sheds fur thats easier to hoover up? So not a jack russel as the fur is so wiry you have to pick it out of the sofa - it won’t come up with a normal hoover!

Also, what about hiring a dog walker to do the second walk of the day if you get a breed that needs a lot of exercise? Or sign up to Borrow My Doggy or task other members of the household with doing the second walk of the day?

Really? Do your dogs play nicely with other dogs? I have known people get staffies and bring them onto the rec, but they grab other dogs by the neck in their play and other dog owners don't like it so they end up not coming back. It is what puts me off a staffie.

Ditto , big dogs !

Fell in love with Colin from
accounts though (border terrier )

@Arran2024

They've mostly been oblivious to other dogs. They're too absorbed by their human to play. All have been extremely protective.

"Extremely protective"? You mean they attack or growl at any dog that comes near? I have 2 big bernese mountain dogs who would protect me if I was attacked, but they behave nicely around other dogs. I couldn't have a dog I couldn't trust to be nice on walks.

I'm trying to be helpful but no, that's not actually what I said!
I don't think you like the breed so probably no point continuing the convo.
Enjoy your evening

I have a Westie, yes he’s a bit barky but an absolutely lovely dog, good with children pretty quiet and sleepy as long as he’s had a decent walk - 40 mins or so - doesn’t shed and coat is low allergy. They do have health issues - like all pedigrees - but mine is 9 and fine so far so would recommend

if its any comfort, i have an 11yo King Charles, he is the 4th we've had, we really did our research on picking him, did all the looking into the background of the breeder, his pedigree, the parents health...etc. The last one before him made it to this age with only a slight heart murmur

This one has been stoically healthy right up to 10 years old, and then developed the smallest murmur and idiopathic epilepsy, something that can happen in any dog of his age in any breed.. At his vet check yesterday they commented that epilepsy aside, he's in incredible health for a KCC his age.

Yes the breed have problems, but honestly, do your research, get good insurance, feed them well, they're no problem :)

Toy or miniature poodle, fun and easy to train. Don't shed but you do need to either learn how to trim them (and have tiny fragments of wool soaring through the air and settling on every available surface) or pay someone to do it for you every 6 - 8 weeks.

Whippet just won Crufts again so Rescue Whippets might be hard to get. Lots of adult Lurchers and Greyhounds in rescues though. They’re not smelly (like Labs are, sorry), sleep most of the day and need a short sprint to keep them in shape. They're proper snuggle-bugs, great with kids, and keep foxes, badgers and cats out of your veggie patch. You will have to make room on the sofa for them though (and probably your bed too). :D

Lurchers - whippet / terrier mix, ideally.

pros:
Smallish, not at all yappy, great with kids, sleep a lot, only need short (fast) walks but can also do long ones.

Cons:
bony but want to be on your lap all the time, think they are cats but hate cats, don’t respect the furniture being for humans

If you like the terrier cheek but want something a bit less annoying, lurchers are the best.

Snap!

Bedlington Terrier!!!! Lazy and lovely!

Whippet would be a good shout

Defo a Chinese Crested - hairless one.

Ive had two spaniels - one lived till 16.5 and the other died last year at 17.5 years...

Why are people suggesting labs? OP said less than an hour per day walk. Labs need long walks off lead. Greyhounds good as an early poster said

Boston Terrier - don’t need much exercise, don’t shed, very gentle with kids, no crazy barking, v intelligent

I was reading your post thinking Labrador. Parents have black labs. I haven't grown up with that breed but from what I have seen they are super chill, smart and trainable, great pub dogs if you need that, and don't even bat an eyelid when my nephews used to trod on their tails or 'pat' them.

Try this - www.purina.co.uk/find-a-pet/dog-breeds/breed-selector

I do like whippets, my friend has one, but you def need good insurance. Her one has been at the vet several times because she would cut her very fine thin skin on branches, fences etc when zooming through woods and fields on walks.

My friend didn't feel it was fair to not let her have the freedom of off lead zoomies as we live in a beautiful rural area but her skin is fragile and seems easily damaged.

Again - as said before - Labs need way more than an hour walk a day!

You want a "chill" lab - exhaust them out first!

Can I ask? How much exercise does a lab need? I regularly go for 2 x 1 hour walks a day - would this be enough for a lab?

That would be fine as long as you have them a chance to be off the lead.

Another vote for retired greyhound. They are super chilled and need way less walking than you would think. I might be biased as we have 4 sighthounds, who are currently stretched out asleep on sofas. hey won't move until hey hear me making lunch.