Whats the best dog for us? So many criteria!

[timmygeorgeannedickjulien]

Don't wish to ramble on, so as brief as poss, here's our set of criteria:
*we have a small house and garden
*I am based at home with 2 children, both under 8
*The kids want a dog they can play with, throw a ball for etc, but also one they can cuddle

• I want a dog that isn't going to require stupid amounts of exercise, x2 30 min walks per day would suit, with much longer walks at the w/end *my DH wants a 'manly' dog, whatever the hell that means *I would prefer a medium sized dog, no bigger *I want a dog that can be trained for obedience relatively easily, I cant have one that's going to pull me around on the lead trying to chase all the neighbourhood cats *we all love dogs, I just want to choose the right one, its our first family dog, although Ive grown up with lots of rescue dogs

Which dog?!

our mini schnz is my 1st dog, and i'm not a dog fan at all, always been 'a cat person', but she's v lovely, great personality and temperament, my not at all expert opinion is that it's down to the breeder... we saw a few whose dogs were totally out of control, whereas ours was born and raised in a family home with both the parent dogs, breeder had 30 years experience and only had one breed... really well socialised dogs/puppies, and we've had the smoothest puppy/dog owning experience of anyone i know

Interesting.......I did actually go and see a cocker pup, show type. The mum was lovely, so calm and played with my kids beautifully. The only downside was it was the last pup of the litter and the most independent pup. Personally that suited me but DH thought both the pup and the mum were a bit aloof and he would have preferred to have the pick of a litter. He didn't personally like the look of a cocker either. V fussy if you ask me!
Im quite keen on getting a rescue pup, but wanted to have some possible breeds in mind. Quite a few seem to be sprollies or other collie crosses. What would think of these kind of dogs? Im a little fearful of anything collie crossed because I know collies are working dogs and I really don't think that would suit us.
Golden retriever, yes that would be one of DH's top choices, but I think too big and would need a lot of exercise? Any GR owners want to tell me about that? Ive also seen a few GR and lab pups and my kids were frightened of them as they are quite strong and bouncy!

I'll go and look up Tibetan Terriers too..........Im just not sold on terriers though, I really can't exactly say why either.

Tibetan terriers look nice but on the dog info site Ive come to trust I don't really like the description, it goes on about barking etc and how it can be untrustworthy around kids if you don't control it properly:(
Yes sorry, but really don't think Im going to be convinced on any kind of terrier.

Of the 3 miniature schnautzers I know at the moment, one is nice and the other two are horrid - both of them won't make eye contact even with their owner and I wouldn't trust them with my dog-savy 8yo. All of them are really yappy.

I've just rescued a lurcher and she's wonderful - an hour's walk a day and playing ball is fine (and she cuddles up next to you and sleeps the rest of the time) - and they come in all shapes and sizes. A greyhound might also be perfect in terms of the amount of exercise you want to put in - and you can get smaller ones too! A lot of the pointy hound rescues (and indeed quite a lot of other rescues) will rehome with children in the house - you just need to be prepared to take their advice on what dogs might be most appropriate with children.

If you get a lab you will have to suffer the awful moulting . Believe me it's bad. Yes, they are easily trained but they do need exercise and are a strong dog. ( I have two, both trained,excellent manners). I would recommend a whippet. Brilliant family dogs, they like nothing more than sleeping. A couple of walks a day is enough. No grooming costs, no moult to deal with. Lovely dogs for children.

Dh had a GR when he was younger...moulted loads and loads of exercise required! Lovely loyal intelligent dogs if you have the space and time to exercise!!! I wouldn't touch a collie or collie cross with a young family....IMO

With respect all dogs have the potential to be untrustworthy with kids if you don't control them properly . Tibetans are not proper terriers ( don't even think they're in the terrier group at shows although I may be wrong ) .The ones I know are very good with children of all ages and neither bark a lot .

Many tears usually have between 30 and 60 puppise at any one time needing re-homing Many Tears. We re-homed from them last year when our DD was four, so they have no problem with young families.

Our dog was a 14 week old puppy who was in a foster home so they had a really good idea of her personality out of kennels.

If you go into their website and look at Dogs, under 1 year, they have lab crosses, a cairn terrier etc at the moment

We also have a cocker and he is pretty much a perfect all round family dog , but they can be quite a handful as puppies because they definitely go through a cockerdile stage !The cockersonline website has lots of info on managing them.

The schnauzers we know are a bit barky but this seems largely related to the owners being very anxious types, the standard ones seem better than the minis .Have to say I have never known a nice poodle but maybe that's bad luck .

Have you thought about a cairn ,I had one growing up as well as cockers and springers and would say they have a big dog personality in a small dog body.

Would suggest considering a Westie or a Bedlington. Both pleasant natured, good with kids and like laying around.

Tibetans arent terriers., despite the name. my mums are absolutely amazing with kids and only bark when people come to the house... id suggest looking at more than one source to get a true reflection of what your chosen breed is really like ie contacting breed societies. i wouldnt go for any kind of spaniel unless you can give it masses of walks, they are working dogs and must be kept busy especially if youre looking at puppies.

I grew up with a cairn terrier. We got it after my dad had been to a meeting somewhere, and the guy was dog-sitting this dog in his office. My dad fell in love with the dog. It's a lovely breed, and I have noticed quite a few people getting cairns now. Our cairn barked a lot and he wasn't too keen on kids coming into the house.

My parents now have a working spaniel. Spaniels are lovely too, but completely different from the terriers. I personally prefer the mild temperament of the spaniel.
Their working spaniel needs hours and hours of exercise and training every day. And 10-15 minute walks every 6-8 hours. They can't skip the exercise, as she'll be bouncing on the walls.

We have a show cocker, which is as mild and lovely as my parents' spaniel. But she requires far less exercise - she's fine with 30-45 minutes of training/exercise as well as the normal walks (10-15 minutes every 6-8 hours). Sometimes she gets more, sometimes less - and she's fine with skipping the exercise some days without bouncing off the walls.

I've found that the cocker is very easy to train, mild and happy. She loves kids - all of the kids in the neighbourhood know her and run over to kiss and hug her when we're outside.
As a bonus, she doesn't bark.
She's a velcro-dog, but loves playing - throw a ball, and she'll get it for you!
The cocker might be quite pretty to look at (especially if looking at show cockers ready for the ring), but they are hardy little ones. Mine might be a bit stupid, but she's happy to run through brambles to retrieve a ball. Not a girly dog at all.

My parents dog-sat our dog for a couple of weeks last summer, and they were so surprised that our dog requires so little exercise compared to their dog.

Thanks, I actually really regret not getting the cocker pup when we saw her, but DH just wouldn't budge on it and I really need him on board because I want him to walk the dog too! Im a bit afraid its just going to get left to me!
Kitsmummy thanks I will check out manytears website:)
I really hope I haven't offended Terrier lovers out there, you are right, I should check a variety of sources for info. I just have the least amount of experience with terriers I suppose and so I have nothing in real life to base my thoughts on. Just going by what Ive read, which probably isn't fair!
My friend has a labradoodle and he's so gorgeous, he's bred with a miniature poodle I think, so not too big, though bigger than Id like. He is so loyal, a bit thick though:D All these poodle crosses seem so expensive, so cannot see us going down that route, but did wonder about cockerpoos and cavapoos? Can anyone explain why these are so popular? Is it the lack of moulting?

There is no guarantee that the 'designer 'cross breeds won't moult , they are popular because a lot of people just want what the neighbours have . Also some people are under the illusion that because they are called labradoodle or cockapoo that they are a 'breed' and hence will pay the ridiculous money . TBH if you want something smallish and not too much exercise or hair you really should look at whippets .

You want a whippet.

Perfect size for kids to cuddle and walk, fun without being too bonkers, happy with that amount of exercise, loves relaxing on the sofa with the kids and very intelligent.

We have a 2 year old bitch from show lines as opposed to working lines and she fits into our lifestyle perfectly. I have 1 dd aged 9 and am nearly 22 weeks pg and have no worries about the new baby coming.

She comes on the school run with me twice a day and is happy with that and longer walks are fine too.

DP adores her and she is manly enough for him to walk and actually gets lots of lovely comments.

And because she is short haired she doesn't moult all over and needs minimal bathing. Unless she finds foxpoo to roll in lol.

Scruples whippet rescue may be able to help.

Our GR is huge, about the size of a Bernese Mt Dog bitch, moults permanently and needs plenty of exercise. He's lovely and cuddly and v child friendly but I do think Goldies are prob on the large side for your requirements.

And yes, they are very bouncy when young .

I have a Westie. She is a rescue dog. She is absolutely perfect. Fab with children and doesn't require loads of exercise.

I cant see why anyone would buy a poodle cross when they could just get a poodle! Intelligent, trainable and dont shed. if you cross a poodle with a labrador for example you cannot guarantee ending up with a dog that doesnt shed. i think your dh was right not to get the cocker ... the advice is not to go for the most confident pup or one that hides away. If you pick from the litter you can spend a bit of time with all of them usually and pick one that you like instead of the one thats there.

labradoodles all seem to be totally insane, and they vary a lot as to whether they are more labra or doodle

Froubylou, I am interested as to why you specified show over working strain. There's no difference. All are sight hounds. All have the instinct to chase. Working whippets are trained to work, without that training they are just a whippet. Many dogs from show kennels don't make the grade looks wise whereas many, many working whippets can and do meet the breed standard and are highly placed at shows. ( I'm a whippet breeder with working, show and coursing bloodlines)

I have a labradoodle (I didn't buy him, long story - it was because the neighbours have one but not as Floral means!) - He sheds like a labrador and is bonkers, we adore him but he really doesn't fit your criteria. He needs plenty of excercise even though we have 15acres, he still likes to be taken out for walks, endless ball throwing etc. He's also quite big despite being a 'minature'.

I love the Tibetan terriers but was put off by the grooming requirements. My next dream dog is a Westie - I just think they are lovely.

(saying that, my friend has a Boston Terrier and I love him!)

Only because my little girl is from show lines so that is what I know personally. I wouldn't recommend any animal to anyone that I didn't have personal experience of. I know some of the other groups of working dogs differ in tempremant quite a lot according to what info I found out research such as working collies and spaniels and a puppy from those lines wouldn't suit a family home.

Am pretty sure that there isn't a great deal of difference between a puppy from show lines or working lines in whippets. But I'm not a breeder so couldn't 100% say either way.