What I can offer a dog and what I would like from a dog. What breed would suit us best?

[LovelyMuffins]

thanks to some wonderfully helpful posters on my last thread I have ended up here seeking advice on potential breeds that would suit our set up. I will be totally honest about what I can offer and my expectations including what I do not expect to deal with. I was ( still am) on the verge of committing myself to a golden doodle puppy from someone I deem to be a responsible and trustworthy breeder. However...........MN has made me think twice so here goes with my spec!
I do not work (no need ) so I have lots of time to devote to the puppy stage. I want a puppy, not an older rescue dog as I want my children to experience the entire 'journey' even though i know at times I will probablly want to tear my hair out and give the dog back! I have a medium sized home and garden. I live very near the sea so would like a dog that likes water. There are loads of parks and countrywalking routes nearby. A dog wil not be left for more than a couple of hours at a stretch. I don't want an oer large dog. It has to get on with chidlren (my children and visiting children). It has to be non threatening to cats. I don't want a barkie or yappie dog. I don't want a lap dog. I want an intelligent easily trainable dog as I would love teh whole training thing. Walking requirments: Would enjoy an hour walk then one or two smaller walks during the day. Want a dog that is happy to join us on family days out traveling by train, bus, car etc. Would LOVE a dog that can be used as a PATS dog when old enough. Not fussed about moulting too much as we have cats anyway. Not too keen on fussy, pretty dogs who need 'hairstyles'!
so..........what's the verdict?!
thank you

Have you contemplated a whippet? Minimal moulting, a good run once a day and they are more than happy. If they're brought up with cats, they won't chase them Ours sleeps with the current litter of kittens!! Not too big, but not something you would trip over either. And they love nothing better than an evening in front of the fire with their feet up!!

If you love near South Coast, you could contact Dorset Dog Rescue, they always have a variety of dogs, also many tears.co.uk, they are based in Wales but have dogs fostered all over UK, usually in families with children so you could be reassured that the dog would be good with kids. They have loads of dogs, all ages and types, INCLUDING puppies - and they seem to give honest write-ups for their dogs concerning temperament and suitability. They don't just have "mutts", you'd be surprised that they have many purebred dogs that have been given up by breeders or because of family circumstances. You'll be paying about £600 for a breeder pup, rescue dogs are about £150approx. A slightly older dog will be spayed/neutered by rescue, saving you another £200 a vet will charge...
A friend recently got a retriever puppy, her kids are 12 and 10 y/o, their arms are covered with scratches and bites from sharp puppy teeth, pups also seduce us with their pretty faces but they don't stay like that for long! Kids lose interst really quickly as dog becomes something else that's around the house.
You could also apply to foster a dog first so you could see what it was like actually having a dog in your home. Good luck.

I've now read all the posts so I know you're thinking of a golden retriever. Lovely dogs but please think about it. They grow very quickly into BIG dogs. By the time it's six months old it will be pulling like a train, be bouncing all over the place, knocking over small children. I think it's mad to pay a breeder £600/700 for this dog when rescues have PUPPIES!!! Please look at some suggested. You might imagine long walks on beach, woods etc but you'll have to wait til after 12 weeks because of vaccinations, then they can only have short walks, chew everything, a 1-2 year old dog could be so much better...

LadyTurmoil, thanks for your post. I wll look at rescue centres. The cost is quite shocking to be honest and I have been weighing it up. I do have the means but it does scare me rather! I don't think that I would like fostering but would consider a rescue dog. I wil look up rescues and see what I can learn.

Hi Muffins (great name btw) I know what you mean about fostering, if you know it's not your own dog, the feeling is different. www.actionaidforanimals.com has Snowy, A 3mth old Labrador mix (not retriever, I know but similar!) and rescues like Sirius Dog Sanctuary have loads of sweet dogs. Even with shipping costs it still wouldn't be as expensive - and you can feel virtuous for ever as you've saved a dog from death! (lots of brownie points). Lots of the bigger rescue places like RSPCA only ever seem to have manic Jack Russells or Staffies. Dorset Dog Rescue has some ultra-cute Cocker Spaniel x Weimeraner who are practically irresistible...
Good luck - let us know what happens!

Hope I'm not being a right pain in the arse about rescue dogs but just seems a shame to line pockets of breeders...

not at all Lady Turmoil, I am open to ideas and suggestions. Iwill glsdly investigate rescue dogs and how the whole thing works or can work for us. :-)

I've just seen an adorable golden retriever 3month old puppy called Teddy on Rescue a dog from Cyprus website rescueadogfromcyprus.com/index.php/menuadopt/available-dogs

we got a 5 month old lurcher via LurcherLink 2 years ago - a lurcher would fit your requirement.

He's medium sized (his back is around my knee height), he's happy with a 15 minute ball chase in the morning and a 30 - 45 minute walk to collect DS from school in an afternoon. Apart from that he sleeps! We have 4 cats and he doesn't chase them, my son is 8, dog was a bit bouncy when we first got him but calmed down after a couple of months, they get on great together.

He's probably bull terrier / whippet / greyhound cross, so smooth haired = no moulting or grooming required, minimal doggy smell in the house... he's fab, and there are so many needing homes at the moment :(

www.lurcherlink.org/llink/forum/index.php?sid=7abfa41881f37aaf962b349a03f0518a

LovelyMuffins - have you found your dog yet???

Weimaraner? Just watched an incandescent owner shout at his to get out of the lake, so that's one box ticked!