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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

what breed would you recommend for first time dog owners?

102 replies

gessami · 18/10/2015 23:32

hello wise MNers

we are looking to get a puppy soon and have been doing lots of research. but i'd love to have your suggestions.

i have 3 DCs aged 10, 8 & 5. we live in london and have a small garden.

we have never had a dog before (only a hamster!)

our ideal breed would be:

  • easy to train
  • kid friendly
  • lovely temperament
  • good for people with allergies
  • small-medium sized
  • and cute!

we will happily take our dog for a walk daily but we would struggle with a dog that needs a huge amount of exercise.

also please tell me if there's something important I'm missing from the equation! is there something else I should consider when choosing a breed?

OP posts:
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BestIsWest · 19/10/2015 21:53

But then I think all dogs are cute.

Original poster
gessami · 19/10/2015 22:08

Thanks for all the amazing advice. I only wish I'd thought to ask earlier Smile

In terms of exercise per day I guess 2 or 3 short school run trips (15 mins there & back) plus it seems a night time round is a must?

OP posts:
TempsPerdu · 19/10/2015 22:11

Check out the bichon breeds (bichon frise, havanese, coton de tulear and bolognese). My parents have a bolognese and she's adorable - incredibly sweet natured, brilliant with kids and other dogs, playful without being hyper and non-shedding (DP has severe fur/dander allergies and he's totally fine with her). The one downside with all the bichon breeds is that they will need grooming/clipping, but my parents have theirs in a puppy cut which seems fairly low maintenance.

TempsPerdu · 19/10/2015 22:22

Found a picture - here she is chilling out during one of our regular dog-sitting stints!

what breed would you recommend for first time dog owners?
Original poster
gessami · 19/10/2015 22:27

cute!

I was imagining a spag bol looking thing

OP posts:
TempsPerdu · 19/10/2015 22:32

Lol at spag bol! Think they're quite an obscure breed - supposedly from Bologna but even my Italian teacher hadn't heard of them!

LyndaNotLinda · 19/10/2015 22:43

I don't take mine for a night time walk (single parent) - he just does a wee in the garden.

Original poster
gessami · 19/10/2015 22:46

yey lynda. I am a STB single mum. that sounds good. (and yes I am trying to replace STBXH with a puppy, do you think DCs will notice?)

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 19/10/2015 22:51

I don't walk my dog at night anymore ,I used to but I now do 2 longer daytime off lead walks ,one at some point between 7-9.30 and the other at some time between 1-4 .

LyndaNotLinda · 19/10/2015 23:12

Ooh I shouldn't think so :o

I do try and give him one really decent off lead walk a day but can't always manage it. So we play lots of stupid games with him indoors (bostons like frenchies aren't keen on rain but they're really good at playing keepie uppy). Generally he spends a lot of time sleeping

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 19/10/2015 23:22

Whippet? They can get separation anxiety, though, but you said someone would be in during the day so that wouldn't be such an issue. And they are super-cute.

clam · 20/10/2015 23:34

Late night walk? Nah. We've never done that. Can't think of anything worse. We started letting him out into the garden for a last minute wee, but couldn't really tell if he'd done one once he'd hared off into the dark. So, then I caught lazy teenage son leaning half asleep on the doorpost at the front door one night, With dog on extendable lead trotting up and down the front lawn looking for the exact perfect blade of grass to wee on. Now we do this ritual every night. Probably could do it without the lead now, but am wary of foxes.

Original poster
gessami · 22/12/2015 01:54

we got a cockapoo! he comes home with us in 3 weeks. so cute 😍

what breed would you recommend for first time dog owners?
OP posts:
knobblyknee · 22/12/2015 04:11

Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or Labrador x Staff.
Labrador, or Lab cross Border Collie.
Border Collie cross German Shepherd Dog.

All short coated, and good for novice owners and kids.

ChairRider4 · 22/12/2015 05:46

I go whippet or poodle as crosses you don't know if will shed

Would you be able to do any offlead walks at all ?or would you just be looking at school run walks only .A are your children old enough and happy enough walk in from gates alone as many schools will not allow dogs onto grounds ? And would not want to risk tying dog up as thefts do occur

ChairRider4 · 22/12/2015 05:48

Not a Labrador while I adore my boy and he is fantastic natured and laid back
he does moult and he requires a good amount of walking(1-2 hours a day at least and that is mostly offlead and training or mischief occurs

CheerfulYank · 22/12/2015 05:52

Was coming to say NOT A LAB but I see you've got your pup. :o Oh isn't he sweet!

WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 22/12/2015 06:37

He's beautiful.

Noitsnotteatimeyet · 22/12/2015 07:51

He's gorgeous and I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun with him
But .... You've chosen a cross of two very active breeds - you might need to rethink how much exercise you're going to need to give him once he's mature

financialwizard · 22/12/2015 07:58

Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Doesn't shed much. Very food orientated so relatively easy to train. Loves children, and all other people. Rubbish guard dog, incredibly affectionate.

Downside: smelly bum!!!

what breed would you recommend for first time dog owners?
harryhausen · 22/12/2015 08:11

We have a 8 month old Border Terrier. We were first time dog owners too. I also had allergy concerns but rather than go for a poodle or poodle cross I contacted a breed club and asked to gang out with them a bit to see how I reacted! Plus side was I met a good breeder there. He's adorable, friendly, loyal, great with kids. We are having to walk him a lot though - at least an hour a day minimum.

On my walks though I've met lots of breeds regularly. We regularly meet a young cockapoo who's utterly gorgeous but very very active (but all puppies are). My biggest surprise though has been a whippet. I've met lots and they're small, friendly, don't need walking more than lots of breeds and then they're couch potatoes! Many don't like the rain. I thought a whipper would need hours of walking but no. Very very short hairs too.

WaitrosePigeon · 22/12/2015 08:36

We have a 12 year old Yorkshire Terrier. He does pretty much fuck all! He's a bit deaf and dumb now though. He still loves a couple of short walks a day and he's very cuddly. Follows you everywhere.

WaitrosePigeon · 22/12/2015 08:37

Just seen your update Blush

ThatWentWell · 22/12/2015 08:44

Aaaaaaaaaaaaah, cuteness overload! Good luck, lots of good advice on this board.

Hoppinggreen · 22/12/2015 09:33

We babysit a poodle cross (poocock) and although he is really sweet and cuddly he's batshit crazy too. He doesn't settle for a moment and has no recall at all. To be fair to him he hasn't had much training and we only have him once a fortnight so I do much

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