Please help me narrow down a breed choice for a family dog.......!

[muffinchops]

I have always adored dogs and have never had one. I have 3 children (10, 6 and 4) and am a sahm. We are lucky to have a relatively large house and garden. I am putting in a lot of effort into researching the various breeds but am now becoming overwhelmed by all the pros and cons.

I was always intent on getting a Weimaraner, but I think they may be a bit too flighty and not so good as a first time owner. So, currently I have narrowed it down to labrador, vizsla, cocker spaniel, whippet/greyhound ( quite a varied shortlist, I appreciate). I had also looked at cockerpoo, but am a bit wary of the whole cross breeding issue.

I would HUGELY appreciate any wisdom from you lucky dog owners. I am prepared to take plenty of time to ensure we get the right dog for our family where it will be totally love bombed!

Please help, feel my head is going to explode. Have even started dreaming dogs!

I have a cocker and Melanie describes him to a tee.He is gorgeous now and is sitting at my feet while I mumsnet !We don't have separation problems with him,got to bronze level in obedience etc,I think he would enjoy agility but I can't find a suitable class at the moment .Adores the children and is very cuddly,excellent for soothing frazzled teens (and their mum)

However they are hard work as puppies , not called cockerdiles for nothing.He also sheds A LOT

Have to say both the whippets I know well are very nervous,need special food and blankets and are generally hard work .

What about a Schnauzer?

Wookie - I hadn't seen your post when I wrote mine. Well I never!

I would personally go for a xbreed or whippet/ lurcher type dog. Greyhounds are great pets too.
I'm a veterinary nurse though and the first thing that springs to mind when certain breeds are mentioned is a list of health problems. I would do my research in that area too before you decide.

Dalmatian !

I've had 3 and they are gorgeous, fabulous family dogs and great if you like to run and do a lot of exercise. Need lots of human contact, I wouldn't leave them for more than a few hours and not every day and yes they need a fair bit of exercise. They are just lovely but often maligned.

Need to be hearing tested as they have a tendency to deafness .

Without meaning to hijack .. hmc, flat coats are definitely "something a bit different"!

We have a greyhound and she's a wonderful pet, very gentle natured and adores being around people.

I have had collies and collies-x before, and she's much less work, but does sleep ALOT!

Wow. Thanks so much for the fantastic advice. I really appreciate all your input. I will look into poodles, but not a breed I naturally gravitate towards. Keeping an open mind though. I had convinced myself into a whippet, but do feel the pull of the labrador too although have heard they are more smelly. How bad does the shedding get?

I don't coo over babies anymore, I start asking questions about the family dog!

We have a 7 month old Toller (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever) and he is the most perfect family dog

Smaller than a lab or golden retriever and with a very easy to maintain coat - pretty much self-cleaning - and other than moulting twice a year hardly sheds at all. He is playful, very intelligent, mostly v obedient (although we're having a couple of minor teenage ishoos at the moment), very friendly but a bit more reserved than labs who can sometimes be a bit 'in your face', adults like/need plenty of exercise but don't go loopy if they have to make do with a shorter walk occasionally, great with children, don't bark much and look absolutely gorgeous (can you tell I'm completely smitten)

Every time I meet another Toller owner we'll just talk about how fantastic the breed is - the only downside is there aren't many in the UK so you may well have to wait a while but the good side of that is that puppy farmers haven't got into them

Look at the many tears website. So many gorgeous dogs needing homes

basildon bond I like the tollers too,my dog trainer is a breeder of them,really good gun dogs

We have a springer and a cocker puppy. Both easy to train, gentle temperaments, happy, friendly souls.

Intelligent and need a fair bit of stimulation. Folk warned us about spaniels as first dogs but we've had no issues.

Strangely, the cocker puppy hadn't mouthed us once, not once, which I am amazed at, but just shows they are not all Cockerdiles!

I like the size of both our dogs, they would be fine for children to handle, not too strong.

Friends of ours have just got a whippet puppy and she's fab, very easy apparently.

Borders are the best possible family dog bar none.

What about a mixed breed? Does it have to be a purebred dog? There are many lovely "mutts" around. This one Leeloo is just an example. She's just come over to the UK and is in foster. Many more in UK and other rescues.

You could google local rescues, get on their lists and see what comes up. If they foster their dogs with families, even better.

Another vote here for the pointy cushion, we have a lurcher and they are the most even tempered of dogs, great family pets.

My brother in law has a miniature schnauzer who 'comes to stay', my 4 yo DS adores her, proper best friends and she is a pleasure to look after. I have never had dogs either, always loved them and would consider one, if I wasn't a ftwm

I know lots of people say cockers but my parents bred them, I grew up surrounded by them and however lovely they can be, I would never have one. Every cocker I have ever groomed stinks ( like a dog of course) but they do hold that doggy odour.

Whippets, well I'm slightly biased towards them as I was a breeder. I had a small kennel and only bred to order, maybe a litter once every 18 months/2yrs.

They, to me, are the perfect family pet. They just seem to fit in.

Despite looking fragile, believe me they are not and watching one at full speed having a good run is breathtaking ( this applies to all sighthounds though). They are grace and elegance canine stylee.

They are very low maintenance, happiest when curled on someone's lap with their head resting on your neck. Their coat just needs a good rub ( mine liked light hand slapping all over. It's good for them, honestly :) )

Non of mine were/are picky eaters and I never had any trouble with them healthwise, except for when they disturbed a wasp nest and were very badly stung. They need exercise like all dogs but it's as much for mental stimulation as it is for physical benefit. 20-30 mins twice a day plus the opportunity to have some off lead bombing around.

Non of mine were nervous or had/have a problem with loud noise. Part of socialisation is introducing them to noises and we lived on a shooting estate. Mine happily sleep through the quite deafening heavy metal music my Boys insist on playing.

I bred mine or had them as pups but I would recommend having a look at any whippet rescues close to you. They do an absolutely amazing job. Oh and please don't be put off by the working or show label. A good breeder breeds for temperament before looks, a show dog can be trained to work and a working dog can win Crufts ( as long as it's K.C. Registered ).

If you want a sighthound and don't mind not having a pedigree please consider a Lurcher....my collie/whippet/greyhound was with us pre children, quietly watched them grow up and left us an old lady at the age of 16. A more beautiful natured dog you will not find. Every photograph of my children has our lovely Elsa on it. Even the studio portraits.

Happy hound hunting. :)

Choc lab. Beautiful, loving,soppy as hell. But will chew everything. Charity shop soft toys are the answer (if I'd realised this sooner the bannisters would have been safe......).
She's nearly 12 now with liver disease but still acts like a 8 month old!

Labs are lovely too ( I've had 3 but just have one at the moment). I find they need a bit more to do to keep them content. Mine could go out with the guns all day long and still chase a ball, go swimming or goof around for as long as anyone would let them. The shedding is another thing to consider, kennelled dogs and it's a nuisance , house dogs and it's a blooming nightmare.

For chewers my tip is, towels with knots tied in them. They last for ages and if you get them from charity shops for a few pence you don't mind replacing them.

Another vote here for a pointy. As you're an active family, a lurcher would be perfect. Friendly, laid back, very, very healthy yet able to run and play. For instance, have a look at Max here on the EGLR website (a very reputable rescue that specialises in gorgeous lurchers). here I met Max on Saturday. He came with us to the pub in Chipping Sodbury, met our dogs with pleasure, sat under the table while we had lunch, then back to the house where he played with my husband in the garden, then attached himself rather like a lurchery parrot to DH on the sofa where he promptly fell asleep. He's a collie x, so would love to come running with you. If Max doesn't fit, there's lots of other lurchers who iwll be perfect for you.

Ooh Scuttle Max does look gorgeous! Not usually swayed (is that the spelling?!) but he is rather special...

Lurcher or greyhound

We have a Lancashire Heeler most loving and gentle creature I've ever owned

Whippets and Greys are the BEST family dogs. They are super easy to maintain and need more couch time than out time.

I adore my two - they are the gentlest souls. Perfect with the kids.

Whippet!! Whippet!! Whippet!!!

Go Team Whippet......yay. :)