Which dog breed?

[Headbandbrigade]

I know this has probably been done to death, but all the online quizzes are producing ridiculous results. We’re considering getting a dog in the next couple of years. This is us -

House with small garden
Have loads of countryside walks on our doorstep
Two children who would likely be aged 6 and 4 by the time we get one. Always been around dogs and they’re respectful of animals
WFH so someone always at home with the dog but would need to be able to left for short periods of time occasionally
Regular visitors and children to the house
No other pets
Not a big drooler or shedder or barker
Occasional very long walks, daily 1 hour walks
Would like a people dog, can be like Velcro

I’ve always had dogs growing up and had a dog in adulthood. He is wonderful but became dog aggressive as he hit puberty and he was too strong for walks with small children in tow, as letting him off lead was no longer an option at all. He was trained to a high standard by me and would be muzzled, but if a dog approached us (‘it’s ok my dog’s so friendly!’ people), he would almost remove my shoulder from its socket. He’s now elderly but has been living with my parents for the last few years and they have acres of land for him to roam on risk-free.

We’ve ruled out staffies as our previous boy is a staffie mix and I’m sure that’s sadly where the dog aggression came from. Definitely no flat-nose dogs.

Any suggestions?

I'm a bit doubtful too, if you couldn't cope previously with small children in tow, how could you manage a bouncy impolite puppy? Could you maybe adopt an older dog?
Perhaps a retired greyhound? Not sure if they re-home to families with such young children though.

Or maybe those of us who end up dealing with abandoned dogs.

Or maybe those of us who end up dealing with abandoned dogs.

Apart from OPs dog NOT being abandoned,
why are you making it about you?

Like I said " the sniff of an opportunity ".

Don't really want to derail this any more.

I should have anticipated this. Lots of perfect people here and obviously I feel like I have to defend myself.

We had our dog until he was 5. It wasn’t old age that made him unmanageable. We see him every week and we know who he’s with and that he’s well cared for. We had two behaviourists and a specialist trainer work with him. We had three different dog walkers give up on him. We resorted to dog walkers occasionally because we knew our anxiety and loss of confidence in him was feeding a cycle of behaviour from us all. Our loss of confidence came when a dog approached us and he attacked it, drawing blood. This behaviour change happened very suddenly. Weeks later we were in a quiet area and walking him with a muzzle. A whippet came running towards us to circle and my partner put his foot out to stop our dog lunging forwards at it. The owner saw from a distance, thought he had kicked his dog and came running at my partner and beat him to a pulp. Police involved and our poor dog obviously witnessed all of this. This then became a fear of men and we found we couldn’t have people to the house or if we were walking with our DC we had to be careful about people approaching them, as he also reacted to that. It became an unstable situation.

So forgive me if we took our parents up on their offer to have him, where he doesn’t need to see outside dogs at all and he poses no risk. We weren’t able to walk him with confidence anymore at all, and not even all at his fault. But he is a strong dog and we had all become anxious messes. I have had dogs all my life and never seen one rehomed.

Cavapoo or cockapoo

Thank you for the actual suggestions so far. Reading with interest

Oh do pipe down! It was a fair comment on basis of the information the OP provided

i have a poodle-cross who largely fits your description (although does bark when she sees a squirrel or fox in the garden). She is adorable. I would not, however, recommend a cross breed because it is so rare to find a good breeder - we did not consider one (having looked into it) but ended up with one because my cousin got her then had a pretty awful change in circumstances and she knew we were on the look out for a dog and asked us if we would take her on (surprise, surprise the "breeder" was not keen to take her back). In the circumstances it was the right thing to do, but i still would not get one direct from a breeder despite her being amazing.

When we got her we were on waiting lists for a tibetan terrier which i would still consider if we were to get another dog now, or a mini poodle (I think most of the things you are looking for which ours have come more from her poodle side).

You do need to get them used to being left (building up the time) early on, particularly the velcro types. Lock down hit a few weeks after we got ours (and i dont think my cousin had left her when she had her) so we did not get this right. She is ok now for up to about 3 or 4 hours but it took a lot of time and effort, and was very constraining for a period.

I also had not appreciated quite how bitey some puppies are. I obviously knew they could be bitey - but not the relentlessness! Ours was crazy at certain times of day and we had to sit with our legs on the sofa so she could not reach them! One of my teens actively avoided her in the evenings until she calmed down. Having experienced that, i am glad we waited until ours were teens and would not consider it at the age of your children. I think again it is probably possible to manage this better than we did with strict routine, making sure they sleep before getting over-tired. but may be hard when you are meant to be working.

I dont think the fact your last dog is now with your parents necessarily means you should not get another dog, but i think you do need ask yourself if it was the best thing for the dog (rather than you) and whether you tried everything you could.

Oh do pipe down! It was a fair comment on basis of the information the OP provided

Err it wasn't. it was ignorant and aggressive.

I’d go for something like a cairn or yorkshire terrier.

grew up with both, lovely little dogs. Very intelligent and easily trained, the problems start when people don’t bother because they’re only little 🙄.

will go on long walks, but quite happy entertaining themselves at home looking for mice. No shedding from the yorkie, although does need kept clipped if you don’t want to deal with the long hair.

added bonus, both are unpopular breeds at the moment so less likely to find them in puppy farms or byb. I could only find a yorkie in the show community, anything else was a yorkiepoo or some such designer cross.

It wasn’t aimed at you so why are you getting so upset

I wouldn't recommend a terriers tbh. Sounds like your nerves are shot.

Love mine but there are elements of waywardness that I wouldn't call 'velcro'.

You're brave.

Always had Great Danes. Last two ere rescues. Calm, good with children,( once found step grandchild covering dog with her mothers very expensive face cream, dog quite happy!) don't need too much exercise, don't like rain!

Nerves are shot is a good way to describe how we feel 😥which is why this is something we’re allowing a good year to think about and research. Definitely need a dog that could build confidence rather than challenge it. I’m comfortable and really enjoy obedience training but it’s the social aspects where we need to feel sure we’ve chosen a solid character.

I don’t think they’re being aggressive, to the point perhaps.

It’s a fair point too, if this pup doesn’t work out (pups are bloody hard work, they bite, they draw blood, they teethe, chew, poo, pee, require training, socialisation etc.

There are thousands of dogs in rescues because people like OP can’t handle them.

I would wait until the children are older and rescue one.

I'd wait til your youngest is about 7. Given the previous history and knowing how hard any puppy or young dog is. Or perhaps a cat?

There are thousands of dogs in rescues because people like OP can’t handle them.

Don't you love it here. The home of decent advice. eh

“The owner saw from a distance, thought he had kicked his dog and came running at my partner and beat him to a pulp. Police involved and our poor dog obviously witnessed all of this.”
Good lord, that is terrible, what the hell….

It’s a blessing your parents could have your old dog, but a new dog may have different issues. I think that’s what people are trying to get across.

It's a shame pugs are , well, pugs... I got my pug when I was very young and she's always been so easy. No nipping, no nothing. Loves children and babies, couldn't hurt a fly if she tried. Fine to be herself but is very much a lapdog. Exactly what I'd call a confidence raising dog. They're such adorable, funny little things.
If only you could transplant the pug personality into something else 😅

@sunglassesonthetable 😂

What do you want? A ling list of suitable dogs that will be “perfect”. You first!

What do you want? A ling list of suitable dogs that will be “perfect”. You first!

Here we go. 🙄

Honestly you definitely don't sound ready to get another dog. It doesn't matter what breed you get, if you don't put a lot of time and effort into training and correct socialisation in the first 6 months you will end up in the same situation. I would really put it on hold for at least 2 years minimum and in the meantime learn about dog behaviour and training. If you are determined to go ahead then don't just go to any old puppy training but try to find a good breed specific local trainer and read books like Easy, Peasy, Puppy Squezee and Total Recall amongst others.
Be ruthlessly honest with yourselves and look at what you can offer a dog rather than what you want to get out of it. It may be that a cat is more appropriate.
The fact you have already surrendered 1 dog will put warning bells out for people as your OP really sounded like you had given away an old dog and now wanted a shiny new puppy. That is highly emotive for many dog owners.

We have a great dane who I absolutely adore. Absolute velcro baby, happy with a long walk (as an adult) but super easy if you. cant. Low energy in the house and essentially just a 60 kilo cat. Not drooly but does require his chops wiping after meals. For ease though, with kids, I'd probaly suggest a whippet too!!!