go on then everyone ... what sort of dog is best?

[choufleur]

We're thinking about getting a dog (well puppy, want something DS (4 by the time we get a dog) can grow up with) in the spring/summer.

DH and I both work, although DH does shifts and when i'll be out all day dog will go to my parents (they have a springer spaniel).

I like spaniels, but they're a bit too bouncy for me and i'd rather a short hair dog. DH like collies, but they need far too much entertaining i think, so any suggestions for good breeds to get. We also have two cats and i don't want a little jappy dog.

oooh mitchy - we drove past our Dogs Trust today and DH refused to go have a look, because apparently we can't leave those places without a dog...

He has a point though....and we were on our way to research getting a turtle

To OP
I would recommend shelters - there are always puppies there, and they offer so much support in the way of training advice, crate loans etc.

Our 2nd dog is a mixed something (part bearded collie, part god knows what) and he is LOVELY. Very good tempered, healthy, affectionate.

Go for a whippet - I've got four and they are brilliant with kids. They'll put up with all sorts, but also do the 'bonkers' running around during walks and are usually placid enough for littlies to hold leads etc. I would suggest that whippet dogs are much more biddable than bitches IME though.

Also, (very important) if the weather is crappy (raining/cold) then a whippet will not make you feel guilty for not going for a walk, it will happily curl up next to you and watch kids tv

Don't get a Jack Russell! I've got one and had her for eight years we do love her but she is such hard work. She chews everything and wont do anything she is told and we are on constant guard to stop her running away. Before anyone suggests it she has been to obedience classes and even graduated (although they did say we should just stop bringing her as she was getting a bit big). She is very friendly at least as some can be really nasty. I would go for a mongrel although they are really hard to find these days, we looked for one before we got our dog.

JR are great dogs. Very intelligent. Not so good with young kids though. Have you tried agility classes Darcymum? They love them. They are a working dog breed so need loads of mental stimulation, to stop them getting bored.

We are lucky with our dog that she is so good with the children (ages 1, 2 and 4) we wouldn't keep her if we felt we couldn't trust her with them. We did take her to agility classes years ago but she would just run off half the time when she was let off the lead. She still got her certificate for going to all the classes though.

Dachshund! They are such lovely dogs, very placid and great with kids.

OP - if you can find a rescue that will rehome to a family with small dc then great. Sadly many do not.

Now listen, all you mad Springer folk - the OP stipulated short hair! Springers are awesome, though.

Mitchy - your dd bandaging the dog: that was me 30 years ago Does she lunge him too?

Greyhounds are lovely dogs. Very good with kids. Not so good with cats although there are plenty that are cat friendly. Very lazy and sleep alot but amazing to watch running around the field.

Dachshund. big dog in small snuggly body.
best dogs in the world.

what i really want is a money dog (DH works for the police and they actually have money sniffer dogs!), but they are usually springers, which are lovely but far too manic and bouncy. are cockers much less bouncy?

I love these threads as everyone piles in, ignores the OP's preferences unless they happen to describe their own dog, and proceeds to recommend the same breed.

As always I say go for a Maltese Terrier, if you can get a Maltese/Cavalier King Charles Cross, all the better.

Cute, loyal, fab with kids, fluffy, makes everyone go awwwwwwwww and do not shed. Do not get manic if only walked for an hour a day.

You might find that your DH is slightly unwilling to walk the dog though.

check out petplanet.co.uk - excellent breed profiles and you can type in your preferences (size, amount of exercise, etc) and it gives you suggestions. cockers and labs come up very frequently. for good reason

bedlington terrier (google the name). best dogs ever.

We keep our springer well groomed as I am allgergic to him, I still love him though. That is how fabulous they are.

haha Bella, no but she does make him jump v complicated show jumping courses - real ones and home made ones

See if you can get one of those dogs that can sniff out cancer, they sound good.

I just googled bedlington terrier. The pics look like a lamb gone wrong.

spaniels again then darcy - they have been best in most studies so far

rasputin I am in love

thing is, when OP is at work her dog has to spend the day with a springer

so is best to choose something similar so they can have maximum fun isn't it?

so another springer or a lab would be ideal

Rasputin
Gorgeous.

My parents had a springer, she was mad but lovely.

oh my GOODNESS am broody for a baby spaniel now