Advice on breed

[Lucysaysno]

First time poster here at the doghouse so please be kind! We are hoping to get our first family dog (I had dogs as a child but none since). We have a small/medium sized garden (40 foot long, 30 foot wide). The dog needs to be good with children, babies. I work part time so unfortunately the dog will have to spend some time home alone (not more than 5 hours and not every day). I will have no problem doing an hours walk per day. We would prefer a breed which doesn't shed or doesn't shed too much.

We prefer big dogs (labs etc) but are realistic that we don't have a big enough garden for one and won't be able to exercise one enough. Do you think that a medium sized dog is feasible in this set up? Cocker spaniels really appeal but I think that they are too reliant on someone staying home all day. What are the alternatives? My DH would like to avoid any toy dogs...

We really want to be fair to whatever dog we choose...

A couple of things...what would happen on the days where no-one is in for 5 hours, that's a very long time for a puppy and still quite a long time for an adult dog to be alone without access to the toilet.

Also size of dog has not a lot to do with exercise needs, an hour isn't enough for a cocker either.

Cockapoo? (Spaniel/poodle mix). Fabulous dogs. (biased)

Medium size, lots of fun, love people, low-shedding.

Agree that 5 hours is just a tad too long, in the early days at least. Would a dog-walker coming in mid-way be an option? That's what we do.

Look at lurchers - the smooth coated ones don't shed a lot as they are fine coated, don't need a lot of exercise, tend to like children, and are happy to snore a lot.

5 hours would be a bit long to not have a wee, so although they don't need a walk, mine need someone to let them out for a wee if being left past the 4 hour mark.

EGLR have some lovely puppies in at the moment looking for homes

Thanks for all replies. Taking on board what you said, I would completely avoid leaving a puppy alone for such a long spell. If alone for 5 hours later on when it is bigger, it would be on an exceptional basis but I want to be honest here and admit that it is a possibility that this could happen. I had been thinking of some sort of indoor/outdoor option to allow the dog to get out if alone for 5 hours like a dog flap in the utility door or a purpose built heated kennel in the garden so he/she could have free access to the garden. Would either of these be no-nos? I really really don't want to be cruel or neglectful in any way. For the most part, the house will be occupied and busy, with lots of interest and companionship for the dog!

Thanks for the feedback on breeds. The poodle cross is appealing. I'm afraid that the lurcher idea probably won't work due to a phobia of greyhounds on the part of a close relative! Any other breed I should consider?

Our cocker is ok being left (he'd nearly 7 months) BUT he loves company, so much so that his nickname is Shadowfax because he follows me everywhere when I'm at home and cries if I go upstairs without him. I understand it's pretty typical of the breed. So I'd agree that they are probably not the right dog to be on their own.

How much of that is the breed, though, and how much down to what they're used to?

Re: exercise, a friend's husband is a canine vet, and he told me that dogs will pretty much expect what they're used to. So, if you walk your dog 4 hours a day (which is what prompted the remark, as another person in the conversation said that was what her dog 'needed'), that's what you'll end up having to do. Whereas if a dog is used to less, they'll adapt to that. That's not to say, however, that you can get away without putting in the leg-work with most breeds.

SIL's cockapoo is a lazy lard-arse, who has to be dragged out of the door on a lead, whereas mine bounces around on springs with excitement if I so much as head towards the coat-rack.