Ignorant. Help me make a good breed decision please MN

[SnotandBothered]

I confess to knowing little. I have always liked dogs but we always had cats when I was growing up and my only experience of dogs is via friends and family.

DH loves dogs. He grew up with dogs and they always had at least two Rescues in the home.

DC are now 9 and 7 (as keen as DH IN THEORY) and I feel that I have the time and stamina to devote to a puppy and have agreed that now is as good a time as any.

We can't seem to agree on a breed. I have looked at books / on line / and scrutinise all the dogs in the park but am not sure.

Factors are: Our House: 4 bed Victorian semi / 50 foot garden
Location: London suburb but very leafy with lots of open space (Richmond Park is a 5 minute walk)
My time: I work freelance and often from home so would be around a lot and am happy to walk for around 1/1.5 hours a day. Longer than that would be hard.
Training: Happy to put in whatever training / puppy socialisation would b best.

The only dog I really LOVE is a Beagle. I love the look, size, temperament - everything, but I have read so many horror stories and DH think it would be a nightmare.

DH has only ever had mutts (all rescue) and he insists that these are the best dogs but we want a puppy and I don't think such a thing as an ethically sourced mutt puppy exists???

IF I am brutally honest, I want a dog that drools too much and nothing too big. But equally don't want a handbag/toy dog. Beagle sized is ideal :)

Given our criteria, can anyone recommend some breeds that I should look into?

Second the post that said go and visit rescues on your own!

Also, google all those who are fairly new to you, join their FB groups. A lot of the more easy/small/family dogs are adopted before they ever appear on a website. You often get more up to date info from an FB group as it's quicker to post and update. Usually, websites are less up to date simply due to lack of manpower at rescues, especially the smaller ones.

Talk to the rescues, get a homecheck done, phone every now and again to see which dogs have arrived and be prepared to be patient!

Here's one more whet your appetite:

Lhasa Apso Tillikum Low shedding, small and very cute!

Sorry to post so much, but just remembered Holbrook Animal Rescue in Horsham, not too far away.

They may not have anything suitable at the moment, but worth contacting them and joining FB group.

Now I'll go away...

They do have a reputation for being inclined to nip but mine never has.

It's not an undeserved reputation. It's a true breed trait due to their herding work, isn't it? The only dogs I've been aggressively snapped at by have been corgis and airedales, so I'm biased but in corgis, it really is more than an inclination, it's a drive. I wouldn't have a corgi with young children, personally. I'm willing to believe that the drive can be quelled in some but it's a trait I'd be wary of introducing to my home

I was thinking the medium size poodle, they fit your size requirements and poodles are completely underrated - lovely dogs. No need to do the poodle clip.....

with regards to the corgi - the funniest thing I have ever seen was an interview with Prince charles over the jubilee...when asked about his mothers corgi's, hemade a very down played comment about being nipped more than once or twice....you will notice not his dog of choice. I would say avoid with children....

We got our first dog from Foal Farm in bigin hill. lovely place very small knew their dogs well

If a lab is too big, a miniature labradoodle would probably be the right size.

Be careful with miniature labradoodles they often end up not as miniature as you had hoped

I met a rather harried looking woman out on a walk once who had a Labradoodle.

The "breeder" had told her it would grow to be small-medium sized and be non-shedding.

It was a gangly, leggy beast that when it jumped up was tall enough to put its feet on my shoulders, and had a rather unpleasantly harsh, wiry coat that according to the owner was more or less constantly shedding. She'd got a 'doodle specifically because she didn't like dog hair. He was a very jolly, friendly chap and the owner adored him and wouldn't be without him but definitely felt she'd been somewhat conned....

No such thing as non shedding dogs, just said by greedy breeders who want to cash in on the idea and charge stupid amounts for what is effectively a mongrel with a fancy name! Guy who did the first lab x poodle said he wishes he'd ne we started it all off!

Assuming we're talking about the same well known rescue, also know of issues with poorly puppies and no help; behaviour issues that no support has been given to help and puppies younger than stated and too young to be away from mother being homed - you really do want to stay away from them!
Locally Fosl farm is brilliant, Pro dogs direct also great and get lots of smaller fluffy things in and dont discount homes on a blanket no kids rule but assess each individually.

I have a Bichon Frise and that is a non shedding dog. If you were to cross her with something else then the puppies would probably shed but pure bred Bichon's dont shed.

I have working cockers. They are obedient and biddable, but do need a lot of stimulation. I would say an hour and a half walking is fine, so long as they are in a busy household where they are occupied during the day, rather than just left alone. Not too bad on the grooming front if you keep on top of it.

I also acquired(!) a Staffie/ whippet bitch last year. She's our first experience of Staffies and I am absolutely sold :) She's playful, reasonably obedient (though our boys are trained gundogs so I may have set the bar unfairly high!) affectionate, hardly moults, happy with long walks or a quick trundle round the block :)

Definitely whippet!

Nearasdammit I think the owner was at fault there! I don't think you have to do too much research into labradoodles to understand that their coats vary hugely, and buy a puppy according to what you are looking for (in our case the wiry, laby, shedding coat, rather than a fleecy one that needs endless grooming). You can never tell entirely how their coats will be, but you can tell at a young age whether they will be fleecy or hairy. Some people amaze me with their inability to research this stuff!

If you are prepared to either find great breeder and wait or rehome (which I did) then a cavalier is perfect!