Dog breeds - which for a young family?

[legallyblond]

So annoying - I just wrote a really long post and it got deleted!

Slightly more briefly:

We are a young family (finally) moving out of our London flat to the country (yay!!!) and that means we can get a dog, which we've wanted for years. DH is a SAHD and plans to be for many years (all the time we have young children - we've only got one so far, so it will be another 6 or 7 years at least!), so there would be someone at home all the time for a dog, apart from the usual classes and shopping etc.

But looking for a dog seems to be a TOTAL minefield.... we are completely unsure as to what breed to go for.

We have no experience of being solely responsible for a dog, but my parents have a dog (rescue dog - lab cross) that we know well and have looked after for a week at a time (house sitting for my parents!). DD (who is 15 months) and my parents' dog are literally in love with eachother so no issue of her being scared of dogs or anything like that! That said, he is VERY tolerant of her (she naps on him!) so she would need to learn to give a new dog some space.....

But we are totally stuck as to breeds! Our, somewhat random, thoughts so far are:

Priorities:

• Brilliant with children
• Good with other dogs (ie my parents' dog - we are moving to be near them)
• Not too much grooming - I can handle brushing a couple of times a week and the odd trip to a groomer
• Not needing more than about 1.5 hours of exercise
• Fairly easy to house train (if this is even a breed thing - I guess it falls within trainability etc) as DH, while he is up for it, has not done it before
• Not massive, although not necessarily tiny!
• Obviously, we'd love a dog that doesn't bark too much, is afectionate etc etc, but I suspect that's down to us, not the breed!

Breeds (possibily all wrong!):

• Cocker Spaniel
• Cockapoo
• Border terrier (but we also want to get DD a rabbit, in a hutch - is this a problem? Also, are terriers ok with small children?)
• Lab or golden retriever
• Havanese (although they seem nigh on impossible to find and expensive)
• Minature labradoodle (ditto)

I am not averse to a rescue dog, but I wonder if that is suitable with small children....

So sorry to ask, but any advice or opinions (even "we have an X and s/he is great!") would be really, really appreciated.

Greyhound. They tick all your boxes. Or a rescue staff who is proven with other dogs. Not all staffies hate other dogs. Doris Banham would be a good rescue to contact for a Staffie and they will rehome to families with young children, plus they try and get as many dogs into foster so chances are your dog to be might already be living with young children.

No to border terrier (I've got one).

Yes to Cavalier King Charles (also got one)- perfect for what you want. Make sure it's health checked though and from a reputable breeder, not an ad in the paper.

'Its not the breed, its the dog'.

I've got a standard dachshund who'd fit your bill (except for the barking) but you wouldn't find them listed as 'good with children'.

Do look at rescues - a mature dog, one which is known to be good with children and already housetrained, may be a lot better bet than a pup. Good rescues should assess adopting families individually - no harm in seeing what they have to say.

Terriers = not so great with children a lot of the time. V high energy. Lots of exercise.

Labs - working breed. V clever. Needs lots of stimulation. Prone to eating furniture and toys.

Labradoodle - a cross of two extremely intelligent working breeds. Needs everything a lad does and then some.

I know nothing about Spaniels or Havanese, but someone will be along shortly who does. I can talk your ears off about Greyhounds and how suitable one would be for you. Likewise with Staffies.

Here she is, helping with the laundry...

I have a cocker/springer spaniel pup. He's gorgeous, but high energy, and I certainly know other spaniels that require a good two hour off lead run a day or else they destroy the house. It seems to vary dog to dog. Show cockers seem to need less exercise, but in general are more scatty. The one I know well walks on a harness, and just spins continuously. It's like walking with one of those floor buffers

LeBOF - lovely!

I am happy to be educated about grey houds D0oin!

I am happy to be educated full stop, to be honest!

We will certinly look at rescues (we're moving to eevon - my parents used Dogs Trust) but I think DH would ideally like a puppy (crazy man thinks he doesn't have enough to do with DD and a new house....).

Honestly, thanks so much!

Duh - we're moving to Devon

Thanks chickens - we could do up to about 2 hours I think, but I thought best to anticpate a busy day and how much realistically we can do in the rain etc! 1.5 hours is probably around the time we'd have for dog walking, but could do 2......

Look at this picture before getting a springer I have a springer and a sprocker (working types). They are amazing dogs but you need to give them a good 2 hours a day, outside and off the lead, and your house will always be muddy!

My pup gets about an hour a day during the week, but longer at weekends. He isn't fully grown yet, though. We're looking in to agility training when he's older. Working breeds are intelligent and need plenty of stimulation, but if you put in the time they make fab dogs imo :)

blah! Now THAT is why I keep Jasper on an extending lead near the pond

I have a cocker spaniel and a border terrier, both great with kids, border not great with other dogs, both require a lot more than 1.5hr per day excercise. they are both great dogs, the border needs about 2 hours a day and loads of training, the spaniel will need up of 2 hours when he is fully grown he is a worker though so probaby more energetic than show types.

The Dog's Trust sometimes have puppies :) You might have to go on a waiting list though.

Oh - interesting. I thought 1.5 hours as a minimum was a fair bit! We could def do more at the weekends, but yes, would not want to under exercise.... havoc in the house I imagine!

Every family needs a Greyhound or three. They just don't realise it.

They walk well on their lead. This seems to be a natural occurrence. I have never witnessed a Greyhound walking it's owner. They're far too laid back to bother.

They are very affectionate, even with small people.

They only need around 2 x 20 minute walks a day, unless it is raining, then they will attempt to convince you that they actually don't need walking at all and of course they will look at with eyes that tell you they know it is your fault it is raining.

They like to sleep lots, mainly in this position and very laid back in the house. They're often nicknamed the 30mph couch potato.

They are very clean dogs and need very little grooming.

And then of course, their is the collar porn. Your new Greyhound will open up a whole new world of shopping for you. One collar is not acceptable. You need at least 6, if not more.

Their only bad points are terrible farts (although this can come in handy if you have guests round the day after a Vindaloo, or so DH tells me ) and they are terrible food thieves. I have had to rearrange my whole kitchen to keep food safe.

Don't rule out rescue, just because you are after a pup. Many Tears always have puppies, and although they are based in Wales they re-home across the UK.

LOVE that Springer photo.

We have a maltese x cav and she is really fab. Daphne

If you are going for Cavalier, think about a cross breed as some cavs have health problems.

Maltese or Bichon Frise are great dogs. Don't shed, very affectionate, loyal and don't need too much walking. Ours doesn't like rain so won't go out in it.

I can second the mud. Spaniels seem to actively hunt out mud/wet, and then gleefully share the joy. I am contemplating tying a mop head to Jasper's tail, just to try and keep on top of it

We have a working cocker and he is a brilliant dog. So keen, easy to train and loves being around people. Off the lead for over an hour a day (furious running!) with a ball then home for a sleep in front of the fire. My DS crawls all over him, tried to ride him and pulls his ears and he just lies there. I think he secretly enjoys it TBH! I would thoroughly recommend this breed and would definately get another after this one, or maybe a black lab :) They do say that labs are born half trained and spaniels die half trained but ours seems ok

How about a Beagle?

we're thinking of getting a dog for our young family soon. we live near a guide dog centre so i'm hoping to borrow a puppy for a year to break us in to being dog owners.

our dream dog is a beagle so i think we might need to wait till our boys are a bit older/all at school so i have serious time for puppy training. i also quite fancy a cocker spaniel or a west highland terrier.

Cocker are brilliant I have 2 (no bias here)

But it does depend on the individual dog, we have had both from pups and dog1 is bomb proof has never snapped and will take being tortured all day by small children...

Dog2 has never snapped but has done a warning growl and removed himself when tail/ ears pulled (accidently)

Both have had the same 'upbringing', easy to train but dog1 loves killing rabbitys & small mammals/birds... (he was taught by his trerrier cousin)!!

If you don't have your heart set on a particular breed then deffo go down the rescue route. A good one should match you with the perfect dog for your requirements.

I have a lab, and apart from the exercise requirements (they ideally should have 2 hours a day that includes lots of mentally stimulating activities, so for labs this is usually retrieving work) the breed fits your list of requirements.

VERY mouthy and chewy with hideously sharp crocodile teeth when she was a pup (my kids really didn't enjoy her much when she was tiny) but all that has stopped now. Very quiet, gentle, laid back and a delight to have in the home.

Lovely breed so long as you are prepared to put the time in with the exercise and activity stuff. Most breeds will have a specific breed rescue organisation that you can talk to and get advice from.

Thanks!!!

Re Greyhounds - are they ok with more exercise than 2X 20 minute walks? we like long-ish walks at the weekends (not really serious, just 5 miles or so).

MmeLindor - I originally wanted a bichon frise - DH has said no for some weird reason.... honestly don't know why!