IF we were to get a dog (and its a big if) what would suit us?

[Jungfraujoch]

So everyone in my family wants a dog but I'm yet to be won over- sorry to say more of a cat person . Anyway - looking for advice on what breed for a family - DSs are 10 and 14. I don't want anything too big, DH who has always had dogs growing up doesn't want a small one. I don't want hairs everywhere either!! any suggestions please?

ah but look at the doggy in pjs so cute

We have a cairn terrier chosen for many of the reasons you mention. (We have 2 ds's too).
Terriers - small dogs with big dog ideas. (they love family rough and tumble, games of football and long walks).
But small enough to be quite happy on 40 minutes walk a day.
Coats - don't shed much at all (just require a strip a couple of times a year).
Cairns are apparently less snappy than other terriers. Ours has never ever snapped or shown aggression and is very very sweet-natured but I've never had another terrier so couldn't compare with other breeds.
Doesn't eat cats if introduced with care!

Downsides - selectively 'deaf' and they bark like shit for fun.

Frumpet, EIGHT! .
Sooner than I expected, tbh, given what the little bastard is like at 7 (two runs (as in, humans running) today, 3 miles with me and 4 with DH. He can run a half marathon, no sweat, and be demanding another 'walk' 4 or 5 hours later.

German shorthaired pointers: fun for all the family if you want to get very fit!

But they hardly shed....

Discussions still going on - I think whippets/greyhounds/lurches are a little on the large side for me.

DS2 wants something 'cuddly'! So, I'm thinking some sort of terrier maybe? Although cockapoo is my fave, but prob not DH's!!

my jrt crosses are pretty cuddly. they need a lot of exercise though

And Dita IF we do get a dog it certainly won't be wearing pjs!!!

Whippets are not that big at all really. They may appear quite tall but they don't weigh loads and they fold up nice and small

They also don't shed loads and even when they do their hairs are so tiny and fine that you barely notice them. They are lovely dogs, very sweet, gentle and loving. They're very flexible when it comes to exercise, mine will go all day if they're given the opportunity (providing it's not raining.....) but they're also more than happy to make do with a 30 minute blast around a local field. They need minimal grooming and even when they get filthy out on walks they rinse off quickly and dry in minutes with no wet dog smell. They're not very barky dogs (I won't mention the spectacular array of whines they can do when the mood takes them), one of mine will have a quick bark when someone comes to the door but that's it really. The other two rarely bark at all. They spend the vast majority of their time upside down, fast asleep on the sofa and there's something very relaxing about having pointy dogs artistically draped about the place.

As you can tell I really love whippets and I can never understand why they're not more popular as family pets than they are.

We've got 3 miniature schnauzers and they're really lovely dogs. They're non-shedding (we don't find dog hair on furniture or carpets etc like you would with other breeds, being miniatures they don't require as much exercise as other dogs- ours are happy with 2 20 min walks a day, not big dogs but big personalities in a small body! Ours are great with children and all other animals. The only problem (can also be considered to be a plus if there were any unwanted visitors...) is that they're very protective of their family and their property and will bark and anyone who knocks at the door but once told to be quiet, they're fine. They are not hyper-active dogs, they'll give you a good game of fetch but at the same time, they are more than happy to spend the day snoozing in the garden!

I have a gorgeous cavachon. Doesn't moult, very affectionate, lazy, but happy to go for walks but equally happy to sleep on the sofa all day.

Only downside is that they either need a fair amount of combing or to be clipped short. Must admit I only comb her a couple of times a week. I've also bought my own clippers as her fur grows so fast would have cost me a fortune at the groomers!

I couldn't decide between a cockapoo or a cavachon and went for the cavachon in the end as overall I think they look a bit cuter and also poodles can be prone to seperation anxiety.

I only work three days a week and we have a dog walker those days and I've an older dog but I was still worried a cockapoo might be more prone to SA. Though obviously any dog could have it.

Poodles are meant to be very intelligent so more likely to have it. My girl is quite dim.

Oh no I think I may be getting the dog bug I glanced out the window this morning and spotted a man walking a cute dog so I rushed out to ask him what breed it was! It was a Bedlington Terrier! I must admit I was quite taken (what is happening to me?!)

You are realising that dogs are fab. That's all...

Anything with terrier in the name can have strong characters, with recall perhaps being more difficult. Only a generalisation but ...

I would google all your local rescues and talk to them about your needs. You can also visit (without kids!!) and get a feel for what you like. Larger dogs don't necessarily mean more exercise although collies, pointers, working dogs usually do. My brother has bichon/poodle who is very easy in all respects. They are cute and fluffy but don't be fooled, she loves a good walk, mud etc bit is chilled at home.

Ooh Viva she is gorgeous! But possibly too girly for DH!

You can get ones which aren't so white. Some are more like a sht-zu in colouring so brown and white or black and white. Might be less girly? Dh loves my cavachon more than he loves my Podengo.

Podengos are very cute and small as well. Mine is a bad tempered arse but spent the first six months of his life in a barn and I think mentally impaired because of it. He doesn't moult as he's wired haired.

He looks like a terrier but is actually a sight hound so I was hoping for a terrier type but without being terrier mental. I got full on mental instead! His recall is perfect so that's something. Id be worried that a whippet would bugger off, had a greyhound who spent most of their walks five fields in the distance!

Golden retriever? Corgi?

Golden retriever a little large, corgi - don't like I'm afraid- no offence!!

<a class="break-all" href="//www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=www.dogbreedinfo.com/images14/LhasaApsoCassie.jpg&imgrefurl=www.dogbreedinfo.com/lhasaapso.htm&h=199&w=254&tbnid=zz9uniCDejz6HM:&zoom=1&tbnh=156&tbnw=200&usg=__okDlTSycppWdY65uK7plsrmFqJw=&docid=6MGyIQqjb_c-tM&itg=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lhasa Apso

We have one of these, he has everything, cute, sweet natured, will run all day or sleep all day (whatever we are doing really) clever, easy to train, non shedding. Doggy enough to bury bones, bark with a great big voice and chase rabbits.

He might not look 'manly' enough for you DH but he will soon be won over.
It also comes in a slightly bigger version...Tibetan terrier aka Pudsey off Britain's got talent.

Tibetan terrier