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

This is why whippet lurchers are my favourite - bit scruffier and less nesh than the pure breds.

We tend to treat minor injuries ourselves, but I was brought up in the countryside where everything was rinsed and liberally doused with purple spray. Unless it was hanging off, the vet wasn’t called!

My brother has several lurchers and a whippet, and they are the most chilled out dogs I've ever know. I've never heard them bark even once. They love a walk, but once they're back home, they'll stretch out and cuddle up and be perfectly content. They have a similar cheekiness to terriers too - they're just much more calmer than my Bedlington and Border!

I know they're not exactly small dogs, but might be worth thinking about anyway.

I'd like to second that. Our 3/4 lab one 1/4 poodle needed 2 full on hours of walking every day, whatever the weather. They are lovely but terrible scroungers and hoovers and shed enormously. I could never stop mine barking at the neighbours, no matter how I tried and trained, we did lots and lots of training.

I've met a couple of nice cockapoos but again, that might be just luck.
neighbours who needed a dog which wouldn't set their child's asthma off got a Havanese. Cute as a button, needs moderate exercise, likes a cuddle, needs clipping regularly.

Of course, that’s the best bit surely

I don't know what breed would fit all those requirements, but I definitely won't recommend what I have, as I believe all spitz breeds are fairly heavy shedders (and most if not all tend towards barking, too). Mine are not all-day barkers, but they do react loudly to anything out of the ordinary, which makes them excellent watchdogs. The house will be covered in dog hairs, but at least they don't require stressful and expensive visits to the groomers. They very rarely need bathing, and though everything online insists that they must be brushed frequently (2 or 3 times a week), ime that's a fib. They're actually quite low-maintenance, as long as you can accept a life with dog hair on everything. My personal dog breed deal-breaker is that I'll never choose another breed that truly does require frequent grooming to avoid matting. It's a nightmare if the dog doesn't enjoy being brushed.

I always think greyhounds look like the absolute bores of the canine world. All big 'poor me' eyes and the shivers Sorry to any owners - I'm sure I'm probably wrong!

I agree 😬

They're so popular on here but I just don't get it, haha.

Rescue greyhound - if just retired from racing, you'll need to be prepared for house training though.

I think your own idea of a Cavalier KC spaniel is ideal. I'm very breed experienced and ironically, I was having a chat with my vet last week because my DS is talking about getting his first family dog, but keeps looking at working line breeds which I absolutely know, are NOT the right choice for him. Yes, he likes dogs, but he absolutely will not and cannot, be doing 2-3 hours plus, walking and training a day, so I've suggested a few different breeds.
My vet said a CKCS would be his choice as a good, all round little companion. When I queried the health issues, he said he wouldn't be at all concerned as every breed has its problems and he sees no more in the CKCS than any other breed. Just make sure you get a pup from a breeder who has health tested. (Not just KC registered).

Champdogs is always my go to for a properly health tested puppy. Breeders often list the health tests for their sire and dam so you can see before you even make contact.

Here you go:-

www.champdogs.co.uk/breeds/cavalier-king-charles-spaniel/breeders

I was one that suggested a retired greyhound to the OP and I agree with you! They’re an ideal breed for what the OP wants but I wouldn’t have one. I think they’re a bit boring and lacking in character or personality

Honestly, greyhounds are really amazingly affectionate and so full of character. If calm and gentle is boring to some, then so be it.

Some of these responses are batshit. A lab, for goodness sake?

Please don't get a poodle cross, OP. None of them are from reputable breeders and you'd be adding to the puppy farming issues that we have in the UK.

As for breeds, if you really like the CKCS, as long as you get one from a decent, reputable breeder who does all the necessary health tests, breeds to improve health, has good show results and endorses their puppies, then you shouldn't have any issues. Obviously get good insurance with any dog, as shit happens. They're lovely little dogs.

Other breeds that are relatively easy, small and non-shedding - Miniature or Toy Poodles. Really underrated, highly intelligent, fabulous little dogs with lovely personalities. Bichons are nice, but can be barky. Havanese are lovely. Mini Schnauzers if you can handle the barking. The issue is with non-shedding dogs is that they usually need professional grooming every 6-8 weeks, so budget for that. It's worth it, for the lack of hair, though. I have a perpetually moulting breed and am forever cleaning our the shower and washing machine filters, we go through hoovers like nobodies business, there is hair in and on everything despite constantly brushing, hoovering, cleaning, lint-rollering etc. It's an actual nightmare sometimes 😂

Also, be careful with Champdogs recommended above. Some of the breeders on there are puppy farmers. Completely avoid anyone who advertises on websites like Gumtree and Pets4Homes. The best breeders don't advertise their puppies.

Thus speaks someone who has never spent time with a hound. They are hilarious and very affectionate. They are lazy, which some may mistake for boring, but definitely not the case.

Where do people go to find mongrels?

The issue is with non-shedding dogs is that they usually need professional grooming every 6-8 weeks, so budget for that. It's worth it, for the lack of hair, though.

My cocker needs grooming every eight weeks and sheds hooverloads of hair daily. I feel we could have planned better...

Doxiepoo - Dachshund x poodle .

Doesn't shed, smart, playful, house trained quickly , a bit stubborn , very affectionate

Rescue centres.

Oh yes, there are so many breeds that shed who need regular professional grooming too. My dog groomer is now a close personal friend, we see her so often 😂

Another one for retired greyhound. My friend has one who is gorgeous. She's affectionate, quiet, hardly sheds at all and is extremely lazy. In the rain, she point blank refuses to go out and even on a dry day is happy with a shortish walk.
Definitely not a Labrador/retriever. Lovely dogs but a lot of work and the shedding is crazy

Hounds are underestimated on MN, which is a shame. Recommending poodle crosses and labs is completely ignoring OPs requirements.

Hounds are amazing, happy to sleep all day and wonderful affectionate temperaments. For a small dog whippets would be perfect but don’t rule out scent hounds like basset hounds which are the most perfect family dogs.

Bichon frise would meet your requirements. Gentle, happy with an hour a day walk, no shedding, small, calm.

other similar breeds like Havanese or Maltese would probably also be good. Not sure if they shed.

portugese podengo pequano would also be good.

But a nice mixture of the barky breeds!

Why on earth would anyone in their right mind mix those two breeds together?

@766j we're looking to get a dog in about 2ish years and have started doing some research into breeds.

Our criteria is "good with children" and "not too bouncy" but we aren't bothered about shedding as we're used to clearing up after a white cat and guinea pigs who get hay absolutely everywhere at the moment 🤣 We could probably do up to 2 hours exercise a day, DH works from home, I work part time, we're all together from early evenings and weekends. We go on UK holidays so they'd come too. We're always at parks, woods etc. We'd like to rescue so we'll wait until it'd be the only pet and ds would be older (about 8)

We're looking at greyhounds, cavalier king Charles spaniels or maybe a beagle. We'd love a golden retriever or lab but I think they'd be a bit big and bouncy for us to handle.

Absolutely. Add a cockerpoo to this list. Great dogs, low maintenance and no barking.