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.

greatly though i love poodles, the large ones are quite pushy and exuberant (the small ones are too, but less of a prob in a small dog). get the feeling the op wants a medium sized, calmer dog...

Hungarian vizsla is a fabulous breed. Short haired don't shed or smell (much), great with kids and extremely affectionate.

What about a retired greyhound.... they surprisingly do not need heaps of exercise - 2 x 20 minutes a day and have a fabulous temprament and are not demanding - I have been seriously bowled over by the retired greyhound stand at a local farm show .... can you tell!! I think the other bonus is you would not need to do puppy training!

My only advice would be don't get a staffie. They are short haired, not too big and non barky, and generally good family dogs, so they seem to tick all your boxes. BUT they can out bounce a spaniel any day.
I've never lived with an English Bull Terrier, but I have a suspicion from ones I've known they might be more chilled, whilst still being short haired and sensible sized?
BTW to whoever said that poodles are the nearest to a wolf, this is a dead ringer for my dog . . .

we have a ridgeback and she is a fantastic family pet
Quiet around the house
not too much walking
very loving and sweet

I keep seeing this thread on active conversations and although I have tried my hardest I can't resist taking the opportunity to show off my new Cocker pup called Eccles!

(see profile)

But... somehow, OP, Cockers don't seem right for you.... uuurrrmmm...

What about a Bassett Hound?

to be fair...any dog can be great...

if a dogs trust dog is not for you, then you can still start your search by looking up the breed club of whichever type of dog, and phoning the breed rescue person for your area - even if they don't have a dog up for rescue, they will be able to recommend a breeder. generally speaking, you are less likely to put the way of a puppy farmer by this route (though follow the buyers guide..see mum with pups before you buy)

Norwegian Elkhund. I don't have one, but wish I did.

OMG, PaulaPlumpBottom... I haven't seen you in a million years. How the heck are you. Ath ene here, btw, I changed my name. Was time for a new owl identity.

Hiya ..

we have a Labrador - we got him when our children were 3 and 6 years old and he has grown up with them .. We knew we wanted a gentle dog and so we decided on a Labrador - then we approached the lab rescue trust - we gave them our spec of the ideal dog - lol - for me that was approximately 1 yr old, gentle, playful and well behaved .. We got Charlie who is a Chocolate Lab who was 14 months old when we got him..He is totally gorgeous - we couldnt believe anyone would ever not want him .. So my advice is to definitely have a serious look at Labs, but whatever breed you decide on, try the rescue society for that specific breed..
Good luck !

{grin] at SouthEastWhippet - I know what you mean about not being able to stop! I've got four now...a couple of pics on my profile if anyone wants to say "awwww".

If you are not going to be home that much I wonder if you might be better not to get a dog at all.Certainly not a puppy; they are more work than you think, almost as much as a baby to start off with.

I've a feeling you're not going to like it, but there are reasons why rspca are reluctant to rehome dogs to young families where both parents work.

cocker spaniel. they get over the bouncy stage and their bounce isn't as large/destructive as a labs. totally in love with ours - except when she chewed everything as a puppy. so good with children. they are in high demand - you might need to do on a waiting list

so my short list at the moment is:
german pointer
speagle
spandor
cockerpoo
springpoo (that sounds wrong - but guess you know what i mean)

anyone want to suggest any more silly sounding combinations of breeds.

you forgot the whippet...

i have to post again about how lovely cockers are, really pleased there are so many owners on this thread alone.

Albert is only 2 so still quite bouncy but not in a bad way.

he is incredibly obedient and his re call is second to none, he literally just about turns and runs straight back to me when he's called.
he is fabulous with the children and other dogs.
he will chase cats but has never ever even barked at one. and we have neighbours cats in the garden all the time.

I have had lots of breeds of dogs over the years but he is by far the most family friendly i think.

springpoo should be springoodle

We've had our Cocker Spaniel puppy for three weeks and he is great with our DS who's 2. They play and run together and are very affectionate together. I;ve had springer spaniels and they are much more energetic than our cocker spaniel. We're hoping our DS and the dog end up having a very close friendship.

DH is upset that cockers cross poodles are not called cockadoodles

we do want a dog schroeder and i would like pup. as i said when both DH and I are out all day the dog will be at my parents so won't be left for whole days on its own. I realise pups are hard work. I've grown up with dogs and know that they need a lot of attention/exercise/time. It's why we haven't got one yet. i wanted to wait until DS wasn't a baby.

I am able to go out shopping all day and leave Albert. he is fine.

i have checked with the neighbours and they all say that other than an initial couple of minutes of crying he makes no noise.
he doesn't mess teh house and we've not had any issue's with chewing.

choufleur I hate to be a party pooper, but it will be very hard for you to find any of the crosses mentioned above from a responsible breeder. Sadly, most people who breed them are only out to make money and don't health test, care less about temprement, or rear their puppies as they should be, so you risk a puppy that may get sick with temprement problems. That's not to say there aren't any responsible breeders of these crosses, but they are few and far between.

There is already a breed suitable for whatever someone desires, and if you go to the right breeder you'll have a lifetime of back up, someone who will be prepared to board your dog if you go on holiday (much better for the dog than kennels) and a pupyp from health tested, well mannered/even tempered parents.

Good 'beginner' breeds are things like Cockers, Golden Retrievers and Labradors. They are very easy to train. (In fact, my friend who has working Springers and Goldens says Goldens are born half trained,Spingers die half trained )

Just to add, if you find a few breeds you like and contact the breed club, they will be able to point you in the direction of good local breeders who would be ahppy for you to phone, or maybe even visit and meet their dogs and discuss the pros and cons of owning such that breed adn they are likely to have absolutely vast experience of the breed, over years and years, rather than owning one or two pet dogs.

choufleur, honestly if you are a novice dog owner I wouldn't say a pointer is an ideal dog - although all the English Pointers I have met are very laid back.

I posted earlier about my HPR breed (a Slovakian poiner) a breed which started 150 yrs ago from a Czesky Fousek, a German Wire Haired Pointer and a Weimaraner.

Pointers are busy dogs, even my dog loving friends baulked at taking her in when my DH was bluelighted to hospital recently!

Bearing in mind they have to have very limited exercise for 18months they have to be kept entertained with hours of hide and seek/find the dummy (gun dog retrieval toy)/child/biscuit etc

I do not work, have school aged dc and have had dogs all my life and have regularly been in tears with the strain of having such a demented spirited dog.

Labradoodles are totally wonderful! All the great bits of a Labrador- but with non shed, non smell coat (if that is what is putting the OP off a longer coat?) and all the intelligence of a poodle.

We've got a minature labradoodle she is our first dog and is a dream- easy to train, loving and puts up with much rough handling from my 3 year old DS. She hardly barks- I haven't seen her with cats but I would imagine she would be quite timid and the cats would rule the roost.

The breeder we got her from is incredibly responsible and all her assurances as to temprament were spot on. She's even told us that if we ever can't look after the dog she'd buy it back off us to ensure it went to a good home.

Hope you have lots of fun puppy hunting- oh and don't think it will work as a baby replacement as that is what we got ours for and then a few weeks later I got preganant!!

Ok so german pointer may not be the best option.

I like the idea of a non-shedding dog though myhands

Not ALL labradoodles are non shedding though, despite many breeders of them claiming they are.