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Breed recommendation for first time pet owners?

12 replies

Beiron · 06/09/2023 15:25

First time posting on here! I am looking for some advice from pet owners. My partner and I are trying to decide on the right breed for our first dog together. We have both grown up with dogs in the past so aren't total newbies. Here is some general info and a bit about what we are looking for :

  • Hypoallergenic (or close as possible)
  • Small - medium size
  • We have a medium sized garden and live in a place with lots of parks
  • I WFH but would want to be able to leave the dog alone for a few hours occasionally without major issues
  • We have about 1-1.5 hours a day to dedicate to walks midweek and longer at the weekend
  • Ideal traits would be sociable, affectionate, playful, intelligent, good with kids, active but not too hyper/demanding

Any ideas?

OP posts:
EyesEars · 06/09/2023 15:34

Poodle or labradoodle (health checked).

EyesEars · 06/09/2023 15:36

EyesEars · 06/09/2023 15:34

Poodle or labradoodle (health checked).

Though meant to add - not hypoallergenic and in the doodle, depends on genes.

SleeplessinSeattle53 · 06/09/2023 16:06

EyesEars · 06/09/2023 15:34

Poodle or labradoodle (health checked).

Cavapoo would be better. Labradoodles can be huge.

Ostryga · 06/09/2023 16:09

No poo crosses, there are no such thing as ethical breeding of these (as much as people who have them will swear blind their breeder was - they weren’t).

I would go for a poodle personally. They are excellent dogs and without the classic poodle cut looks exactly like a poo-cross without the insanity.

They are very intelligent though so need brain stimulation as well as physical exercise, or they can be destructive. But that is the same for any intelligent breed.

SleeplessinSeattle53 · 06/09/2023 16:25

Judgy much.

bunnygeek · 07/09/2023 09:43

Technically there's no such thing as "hypoallergenic" as you can be allergic to fur or to dander, and all dogs, even hairless ones, will have dander. A lot of poo crosses end up in rescue because their owners were conned into the "hypoallergenic" myth and they were still allergy triggers. Are you allergic or did you just want a low-moulting breed?

Labradoodles are also not small, they can easily grow larger than a regular Labrador and are usually crossed with a Standard Poodle who are large leggy dogs. Poodles in particular are very active and intelligent breeds so you have to be prepared for that. All "doodle" type crosses, if crossed with a low-moult and a regular-coated dog, can just as easily inherit the regular moulting coat, or sometimes grow a thick wiry coat instead. They are often puppy farmed :(

The behaviour things you mentioned such as being able to be left and being good with kids is down to the individual dog and your training. They don't come ready made like that, you have to put in a lot of work initially for that to develop. And even then you could have some incident in the future which means it all goes to pot and you have to pivot your whole lifestyle to accommodate the dog. My little one came to us with separation anxiety, she can't be left at all, she even gets mad if we leave the room without her. Loves people including children, but hates other dogs. She's a Chihuahua cross.

I would recommend doing lots of reading around behaviour, remember a dog with a lot of intelligence is going to need a lot more work than a dog that's biddable instead. For instance, a Collie, that's intelligence, but a Labrador, that's a biddable breed. I saw a litter in rescue which were Collie x Malinois, they are going to be extremely active, extremely intense dogs when they're grown up, I hope that was an accidental litter!

Don't write off something like a retired Greyhound, they do fold up small, but don't all come with perfect behaviour so will need work with house training, training to help them be left, and may well need to be walked on-lead and muzzled out and about as they often have zero recall if they see small furries. BUT they don't need mountains of walks that a more energetic breed like a Spaniel would need.

wetotter · 07/09/2023 10:04

Some of the low-shedding terrier breeds are counted as hypoallergenic, because they don't moult much, and you can get rid of all the excess coat when it starts to loosen by stripping (learn to do yourself, or groomers 2-3 times a year). But is hair or dander that is the problematic allergen?

andrainwillmaketheflowersgrow · 09/09/2023 07:41

No such thing as hypoallergenic.

I would go for a mini poodle in your circumstances.

Newuser75 · 09/09/2023 07:43

Miniature poodle with plenty of early socialisation and habituation and definitely puppy classes although research this carefully as you want one run by a qualified trainer or behaviourist with adequate, off lead play which is well controlled and well matched and not just a free for all.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 09/09/2023 09:48

Agree with no fog is hypoallergenic. DN & DSIL are allergic to all dogs. There isn't a single one they've come across that doesn't give them a reaction.

Baxdream · 09/09/2023 09:49

Lhasa apso - lovely, lazy and perfect for children

Ylvamoon · 09/09/2023 09:52

Chinese Crested Powderpuff!
... or a hairy hairless!

Fab little dogs and sooo underrated!

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