Irish Setter or Newfoundland or Cocker Spaniel?

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My dp and I have been considering a dog for a long time, and these are the breeds that we both favor: Irish Setter, Newfoundland and Cocker Spaniel, but we're open to more suggestions of suitable breeds. I'd really appreciate your advice, suggestions, comments, your experiences with these breeds or more info.

Our situation and specs:

I'm ttc child #1 so, obviously, the dog would have to be baby-friendly.

We both work full-time jobs so the dog would be left alone a lot in our house during the day so we do need a dog that we can leave. But, we could probably manage to ensure that at least one of us would be at home, during the first few months at least. The dog would live in the house, but there is a reasonably large yard out back for it to play on, there is also a swimming pool.

We're both very active and we would prefer a dog that we could take for long walks and is playful, but not overly so. We don't want a toy dog that looks more like an oversized guinea pig than anything . We both like big, strong, hardy dogs.

We live in an area that dogs that bark all the time are prohibited, so we really need a dog that's from a quiet breed.

Wouldn't mind grooming daily, but I can't say we're mad on the idea . Similar with training: wouldn't mind a semi-difficult to train dog, but would prefer something easy to train.

We don't have any other pets.

So, what do you think? Any of these breeds right for us?? Do you have a better suggestion?

TIA

There is a big difference in size between a cocker spaniel, which weighs around 25lbs and a Newfoundland, which can weigh 150lbs.
My SIL had a cocker, which died this year aged about 9 - she was very good with the children, but very scatty.

I had a cocker spaniel years ago he was absolutely lovely but nuts .He was eccentric and bit us a few times and boy could he bark,he barked at everything.

However i know someone with a cocker who is completely dosile.

cockers are known to have problems with their ears especially as they get older that can make them snappy

lovely little dogs but known bitters by vets

Irish Setters - can be crazy, scatty things. Newfoundlands - huge, smelly, dribbly, not brilliant for really long walks. Cockers - gorgeous, but also scatty, can be yappy & need a lot of discipline. All 3 breeds you mention need a fair amount of grooming, TBH. I'm also not keen on the idea of being out most of the day (the main reason i don't have a dog ), but i know it can work for a lot of people.
I'd prob go for a black lab, pointer, spinone, dobermann etc. Border Terriers are smallish, but v hardy. Avoid brainless breeds (sorry to offend) such as dalmatians, weimeraners & vizlas.
HTH, xx

Anyone suggested rescue greyhound?

Agree with hercules - a rescue greyhound would suit your needs, and would be happy to be left for most of the day. They're also very docile and generally good with children.

I personally wouldn't choose any of the breeds that you're suggesting for the reasons caspercat has stated. Plus if you're out for a lot of the day, who will be around when they're a pup?

Agree about rescue greyhounds, beautiful dogs. It's just the exercise bit that stopped me - despite their 'profession', most of the ones i've met have been lazy buggers, preferring to nap in front of the fire the rest of their lives! But, there are always exceptions!!!

Definitely not a setter if you re going to be out most of the day. Setters need companionship more than most breeds.

Greyhounds don't like long walks. Happy exercising in a largish garden and don't need a lot of walking at all - built for speed not stamina.

Newfies don't like long walks and love to be around people.

They are lovely family dogs but they are very messy.

I really think that if you and your dp work full time, a dog isn't really for you.

I wouldn't advise anyone who worked all day to get a dog, unless they were going to make proper provision for it's daytime care - a dog walker or pet creche.

A Newfoundland cannot go for long energtic walks, a setter will need copious amounts of walking every day, cockers less so imo.

I used to take my greyhound out next to my horse or bike, he could go for a few hours, but we had to build up to it.

I have a better suggestion, how about you contact a charity called the Cinnamon Trust. They are always looking for volunteers to walk dogs for elderly local people.

You get the pleasure of walking a dog without having one in unsuitable conditions, which leaving a dog all day whilst you are out at work equals.

None of the breeds you have mentioned. In fact, I doubt a decent breeder or a rescue organisation would give you a dog if it was going to be alone all day every day.

Don't get a dog just yet. Wait until you are a sahm or work part time after you ahve had your first child.
Now really does not seem teh right time.

As for hte breeds you have chosen, all of them are hard work in terms of grooming. All of them are dogs who crave human contact. Irish Setters can be highly strung adn I think once you have a new baby in teh house aswell it will be hard.
Newfoundlands are huge and can be slobbery.
Cockers are smaller but if they are anything like mine you will have a messy house forever more. He is as mad as a box of frogs, high maintenance in terms of attention needed, and comes back from walks covered in mud as he loves to roll and swim.
Cockers are quite vocal, mine will bark or grumbe all day in response to things I am doing. (sometimes I have conversations with him )

Agree wholeheartedly with all that hippo has said.

Re: the greyhound suggestion, I'm looking into homing an ex-racer at the moment and they are definitely not happy to be left all day. Well, no dog is really, but greyhounds are used to company, both human and canine.

thank you bella

Newfoundlands are enormous (my parents' newfie was 12 stone), needs loads of grooming, can be very boisterous and will spend all its time in your swimming pool. They can also be very stubborn. I have memories of being pulled around Bristol Downs by Boris (the newfie) as he tried to attack other dogs. He ended up having to wear a muzzle when out.

There is no way you can leave a newfoundland in a house all day.

my Newfie was about 12 stone too

He was a real gentle giant with the children though

He couldn't be left for more than a couple of hours at the most. He was happiest when the house was busy with people.

Agree with Molesworth re the greyhound suggestion. Mine used to chew the car if I left him to pay for petrol, so anxious was he at being left.