It might be time for a new dog .... come and help me choose ...

[GeoHound]

I think we might be at the stage of getting a new dog. How on earth do you choose? If I tell you my criteria, can you suggest some breeds to look a?

NOT:
tiny and yappy
a collie requiring hours and hours of exercise every day
a giant breed (Newfoundland etc)
a terrier (we have hens and rabbits, caged but don't want to risk it)

MUST BE:
fine with children (9yrs)

WOULD IDEALLY BE:
happy to participate in dog agility
sociable with humans and animals
large enough to give a decent 'woof' when people come to the door, but compact enough for easy travelling

We have a large garden. I work part time and both myself and husband work within a mile of home so the maximum 'alone' time will probably be 3 hours for 3 days of the week.

We will probably be looking to rehome from a breed rescue once we have worked out what to look for.

has to be a cocker, mine is great for cuddles, brilliant with kids, has a big bark for a little dog, no possession issues, loves a big walk but is equally happy to mooch around and a is a happy little dog who just makes you smile.

Re grooming: ours is a show cocker who is shown, grooming not a problem if you keep on top of it each day, I usually spend around 20 mins to half an hour each day but will spend longer getting ready for a show. he does seem to shed a lot but again this is helped by regular grooming.

love Italian spinones, Italian bracianos (not sure of spelling) and large munsterlanders (likened to an overgrown cocker spaniel with the work ethics of a springer) I like gundogs btw!

spaniels yap.

i know some don't but it is a trait that i hear see all too often.

seen a lot who once they see a ball won't stop high pitched yapping till it's thrown for them.

My spaniel doesn't yap he actually has a very deep bark , most people are surprised when they see him if he has barked at the door as they are expecting a much bigger dog .

My cockapoo doesn't yap either. In fact he rarely barks. To he honest, he used to sound a bit weedy, but now he's fully grown he's manned up a bit and could probably make a burglar think twice. Until he met him, when he'd be licked to death.

Standard Poodle - absolutely brilliant, family orientated dogs. Real characters. Ours is getting on now, but has just been fantastic with our children when they were growing up. Plus, for big dogs, they are surprisingly un-clumsy (not a word, I know ) around the house.

They are very intelligent, easy to train, active although not demanding. Downside is the grooming, but I learnt how to clip him myself and just shower him then clipper his coat to 3/4 inch all over (including muzzle, paws etc) every 6 weeks or so. One shower in between times (although more now he is old and less mobile). Run a brush over him once a week and he doesn't tend to get any matts.

A rough collie would probably fit the bill (if you can handle the coat). Good with kids, don't need loads of exercise, good for agility etc. My parents had a standard poodle. She was a lovely dog but liked to chase birds - would push her way into their raspberry cages and sit and wait on birds getting in there. She would also go after baby crows - I remember her being dive bombed by adult crows to get her away from the babies.

I think lots of dogs will chase, given the chance. We have lots of squirrels in our garden and ours doesn't bat an eyelid at them (even when the cheeky devils come into the kitchen for nuts). We doesn't react to cats or birds either, but maybe that's because he's never been allowed to.

The dogs I see chasing the most are the various terriers - I get that's a breed characteristic for them.

If you want a good 'woof' at the door, in a compact dog then you need a standard dachshund. Sounds way bigger than they really are. Don't know about agility but I've seen a youtube of a dachshund flyball team whupping a team of labs

Daxies are so cute and def seem to have small man syndrome. Least the ones I've met have. I've read online that It's quite common for them to be difficult to toilet train so it must be taken as gospel.

My American Cocker doesn't yap or bark (he only barks at my parents house weirdly, he has NEVER barked at home).

We have an adorable 10 month old Springer who is calm, chilled, loving, easy to train. He also doesn't bark very much at all, never seen a Springer bark excessively but guess there are some! He is very gentle so doesn't easily offend other dogs. Adores water, half dog half fish I reckon . Wonderful with children (our house is chaotic) and very good with livestock and ponies (big bonus for us a DD has a pony but I guess he's very used to them)

He does love a lot of exercise and likes to be near the family though happy to be left.

Our friends have a Vizsla who I am in awe of, she's so beautiful and full of life, like a sports car of a dog. Very talkative! She gets an hours exercise a day but that hour is full on charge around like a loon exercise but a loving, gentle easily trainable dog too.

Arrrrrhhhhh! I can't cope with all the lovely dogs out there.

The amount of bark isn't a huge issue, but I guess I've just got used to a lovely deep 'woof' when ever anybody comes to the door. I'd have to buy a door bell if I had a dog that didn't bark . To me there's a huge difference between a yap and a bark. Barking is fine and good, yapping is irritating .

I know I could get another lab, and it would be lovely and perfectly trained and be totally bomb proof, but in my head I just have this idea that I feel I should try something new.

Agility isn't a vital requisite I guess, but I do enjoy it. Mind you, my dogs were always far better at knowing what to do than I was, I think I just used to stand there and confuse them!

Oh Clam , he is just adorable

[adds cockerpoo to the potentials list]

GeoHound two wonderful dogs for you on SOS Animals Mutley and Dexter! Mutley sounds like he'd be good at agility.

Both are about 6 months old so housetraining might be easier than with a tiny puppy. It's also not too expensive to bring dogs to the UK, usually about £250-300 I think.

A couple of MN peeps have adopted from this charity so they might come on here and be able to recommend them (I haven't adopted through them just keep an eye on what they're doing through FB