What dog breed?

[ProfCoxWouldGetIt]

After many years of gentle nudges DP has finally relented and agreed to let us get a dog (he'll be doing most of the caring, so I had to have him on side)

But we're stuck on what sort of dog would be best for us, so I was wondering if the guru's on MN had any advice on what breed/mix would be a good fit to our family.

I used to breed GSDs, and grew up with lab's, rotties, and a variety of mixed breeds (although most had a basis of lab somewhere in the mix) so I obvioulsy favour those breeds because I know them, but DP is dead set against GSD's as he thinks they're too posessive, thinks labs are a bit slow and stupid (although lovely) and he won't get collies as his parents have two untrained working collies who are a nightmare.

So our requirements are....

1. Gentle with DD, and happy to be around people and our cats (I think a lab type would be great for this)
2. It must be large enough to cope with a 10 mile run, with us on our bikes
3. It must be smart enough to train to run with bikes and have a decent recall (I think this is mainly down to us, but have heard that pointers have bad recall as a breed)
4. It mustn't be too big (Not Great Dane size, as we'd like it to be able to fit into our house
5. Ideally short coat or low maintenance from a grooming point of view.
6. Must be a fairly active dog (don't want a small dog that will require carrying everywhere)

So - fire away, tell me I'm stupid and will never get all these things met, or is there a good breed or mix that would work well for our family

Thanks

Ridgebacks are available in the UK but as with mist hounds recall can be an issue asks I'm not sure they'd be particularly suited to running alongside bikes.

In fact, there aren't many breeds that I can actively think if that would particularly enjoy running alongside a bike for 10 miles other than Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute and Dalmatian - breeds that have been designed for distance running. Mental stimulation is as important as physical exercise for dogs and mooching along at walking pace where they can explore undergrowth and sniff their surroundings will give them the mental exercise that being forced to run for miles on end won't. Also, for breeds that aren't bred with such exercise in mind, I dread to think of the impact on their joints, particularly if they are expected to run on Tarmac or similarly hard surface.

Poodles can be quite neurotic. Not a dog I would of ever considered with a toddler.

I would stick with the gundogs and certainly easier to train (well most of them!). If you like the poodle look, have a look at the Spanish Water Dog, it is medium sized, coat like a poodle, loads of energy etc.

Why not try and get along to Discover Dogs at Crufts in March, there will be at least 1 of every dog breed in the country there! More importantly there will be people there who can tell you the good and bad about the breed.

A husky or malamute would love to run with you while you bike that distance, especially if you do it often. Every day would suit it perfectly; once a week would not be enough and it might eat your house. Northern breeds are wonderful dogs but also very stubborn so if you decide that's what you want, make sure you read up on them first.

Get an Italian Spinone, brilliant temperament, great with kids, big and lol loping stride that can go for miles and quite happy to be a sofa loafer at home, downside , terrible thief!

I met an Italian Spinone with its owner in a bookshop the other day. I was blown over by his beauty and his gently nature. His owner told me how he ran along as he (i.e. owner) cycled to work every day but he was just as happy lying in front of the fire (though due to his size no one else could get a look in!) or, indeed, mooching in a bookshop. I've added the IS to the list of dogs I'd like to get next!

We went to Discover Dogs show at Earls Court - it was really helpful. Amazing lots of the experts looked at me with my three little ones and just went no, our breed is not appropriate (including the huskies by the way). We went round the gundog area and my kids were just loving the GSPs and vice versa. They seemed a perfect fit. The GSP expert said she would advise us waiting a bit (our youngest was 16 months at the time) but that she would not have a problem with GSPs as a dog for our family. The rest was history.....apart from the fact that we couldn't wait .