What breed of puppy should we get?

[gremolata]

I'm a newbie here, both to Mumsnet and dog ownership... Have been thinking about getting a puppy and doing lots of research, but still unsure about breed. We love labradors and golden retrievers but a bit worried that they are too big for our house (which isn't tiny but has lots of smallish rooms and is on 3 levels) and car (VW Tiguan - can't get a very big cage in the boot). But we live in the country, have a decent garden and walk to school every day, so exercise isn't a problem. We want a breed which is very family friendly (obviously, I guess...!) and relatively easy to train. Can anyone recommend a breed?
The other thing I'm feeling confused about is pedigree vs not. We're not bothered about showing the dog but do want a degree of certainty about the health and character of the dog.

[SmileAndNod]

Was going to recommend a beagle but then I saw that you wanted easy to train... they are lovely with children though.

[gremolata]

Just checking back in after a hectic week to say thanks everyone. Really appreciated.

[AlexPKeaton]

I've owned and come into contact with many, many dogs, from purebred show dogs to scrawny strays of indeterminate origin, and what I've learned is that there are great pedigree dogs, and not-so-great pedigree dogs--even from the best breeders. Likewise, there are great rescue dogs and not-so-great rescue dogs. A pedigreed pup is just as likely to grow up to be a good, healthy family dog as a rescue pup. I have nothing against pedigreed dogs but I can't stand to waste money, and I've seen too many absolutely lovely dogs get euthanized because they couldn't be rehomed. So these days I am much more likely to choose a rescue dog.

Keep in mind that people who spend lots of £££ on something, no matter what it is, will always want to validate that choice. Nobody wants to think they spent all that money unnecessarily. And of course a purebred dog is something of a status symbol, if you care about that sort of thing. But the truth is there are NO guarantees with ANY dog. If you choose carefully and train well, you can significantly improve your odds of finding the right dog. A good rescue organization will extensively observe and behavior-test the dogs and should be able to give a fairly detailed profile about a particular dog's temperament and what type of home would be appropriate. If you add that concerned about breed, these days you can even swab a dog's cheek and get a DNA test to see what breeds are in his lineage.

One final word to the wise: if you have young children, you will need to be very careful with ANY dog you bring into your home. Too many people assume that because a dog is a "nice" breed they don't have to worry.
But even a beautiful lab from the best breeder in the world is still an animal and can be unpredictable. Little kids are unpredictable too, and are less able to read the cues a dog is giving off. It can be a bad combination. That is not to scare you, but just saying you shouldn't be complacent even if you choose a breed with a gentle reputation. Like people, dogs have all different personalities, even in the same family.

Good luck, OP! Having a dog is such a lovely thing for a family.

[tinymeteor]

Agree with smileandnod, beagles are brilliant family dogs but not at all easy to train. Prob not ideal as your first dog.

I'd second border terriers. Could also consider Cairn terriers? They have a rep for being great with kids once mature, though the one I know is still a pup and VERY mouthy.

[JoffreyBaratheon]

Rescues have puppies, too. We got our pup at 9 weeks from Dogs Trust and they have litters or singletons come in all the time and in the time when we were looking, everything from black labs to staffy crosses to GSDs.


For £80 we got a pup that was later spayed (the spay alone would probably cost 3 times that), vaccinated, flea'd, wormed, checked by a vet and subsidized puppy classes too!

[WeeMadArthur]

Labs are fab but DDog is having real trouble on the stairs now he is getting older so I would be cautious about having one in a three storey house unless you can keep them on the ground floor easily. He is far too big to carry down the stairs once he has run up enthusiastically and then been too scared to get back down! Agree with pps that going to a reputable breeder who tests their dogs for their breeds known health problems is safer than assuming that a mixed breed is automatically healthy; it may inherit the worst of both parents, rather than the best. Labs need up to two hours exercise a day once they are fully grown, and can be quite destructive chewers if bored, so you need to be honest about how much time you can spend walking your dog. Cavaliers are lovely dogs, my neighbors have Border Terriers and they have quite piercing barks at six o'clock in the morning which would put me off having one. If you can get away this weekend it would be good to to to Crufts and visit Discover Dogs, they have about 200 breeds there with the breeders to ask for advice, they are quite good at making sure you suit their dogs, as much as do their dogs suit you.

[LaurieLemons]

Shih tzu? I have 2 they're amazing. Good for family dog.

[SmileAndNod]

After just chewing up my designer sunglasses I retract my statement about beagles. They are naughty little buggers but cute as hell. He'll be back on the sofa come 730. It's those eyes...

Had dogs of different breeds and sizes all my life (and 3 v stubborn children) but my God I've met my match now

[ElsieMc]

Labs are not always that easy to train and can be heavy on the lead. Whilst not a naturally snappy dog, they are very greedy so woe betide you come between a lab and his food. The problem you have is that they can knock children over with their exuberance.

Having said all that, I have had my lab for nearly twelve years. She came from a reputable breeder and had eye tests, hip scores. She has never been ill. She is also a kind, happy and beautiful dog, affectionate and loving.

She has also been absolutely infuriating, has run off and been found in nearby villages and even begging outside the local pie shop. She has hitched lifts with people in cars, but always returns. As she has got older, this has stopped although she is still known to visit the large, stately looking house nearby taking up residence in their kitchen.

She is also crapper of the century. She casts twice a year and you could knit jumpers with it.

Having said that, I absolutely hated the way she barged back into the house to get to her food bowl often knocking the kids flying. She has been taught to sit at the door, then sit again before going into the kitchen. I was told I could never train a choc lab and I am certainly no expert but yes you can.

I would buy from a good local breeder. Another way forward rather than a rescue is that the breeder I bought from sometimes lets his older bitches go to good, reliable homes. I was asked if I would be interested in a four year old who had had a terrible labour and her pups died. I had to sign never to breed from her, which he knew I wouldn't in any event. I know who took her and she is just lovely. Just ask.

[Teapot101]

Another cocker vote here. I've got 3, 2 show, 1 working. If you go that route think v carefully about each time and make sure you research the diff.s

[HaveNoTimeToThinkOfName]

I too will type and run...we have a Cavapoo (cavalier king Charles x poodle) she is gorgeous. I have 3 DC's and she is great with them. I had a cavalier growing up as a child, had no health problems at all and she was perfect temperament, I just didn't want a dog that sheds fur so cross with a poodle is perfect for us. She is loveable, easily trained, eager to please, loves being handled by DC etc...I could go on, she is the perfect dog for us so would highly recommend to anyone with a young family. I also had a Labrador as an older child/teenager, she was lovely but did have a few issues, not sure what really but she just liked us and nobody else much! I wouldn't have trusted her around children.

If cost is a consideration for you also, I am glad we got a smaller dog...cheaper everything! We love walking her but with a smaller dog they don't need a good run everyday, a consideration with young children who might be a bit too tired one day!

As others have said, make sure you see the mum and do as many checks as you can, then lots of early socialisation and training and you should have a lovely family dog! Good luck.

[CalliopeTorres]

We've got a 16 week old cocker and he's adorable. DS is using him as a pillow as we speak!

[LaPharisienne]

To echo other posters, most people will recommend the breed they have, which isn't necessarily helpful.

I recommend going to the crufts website and doing their quiz to get some suggestions.

I would also recommend pedigree but doing your research and insisting on a right to return if a problem comes up in the first month - when I got my dog I did this. Sale was conditional on a clear bill of health from my vet after one month and the breeder was more than happy to do so.

Doesn't avoid all problems, but a good way to expose obvious/ more serious problems (both in terms of dog's health and breeder integrity).

Don't buy an animal:

• without getting a vet check, preferably from your own vet;
  
• from a dirty/ stressy home;
  
• not raised in a family environment;
  
• that you can't see with other pups and mother; or
  
• without checking the pedigree I.e. Sight of the papers themselves.
  

The uncertainty is why I would never get a rescue.

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

We've got a year old lab and he's lovely. He adores the dds. They're now 9 and 6 and old enough to be responsible. The way they enjoy each other's company just warms your heart. He'll follow them round, sleep on their beds, lay on the floor with them when they're doing their homework all over the living room rug. He is turning into a big dog though and could easily knock someone over. And he loves everybody and thinks that everybody loves him so thinks nothing of running up to people to say hello, although his recall is coming on nicely so I am able to call him back. He also thinks every dog loves him and will pull like a train to get to another dog. He has been snapped at before for invading space. He is still young though and is learning all the time. He is shaping up to be a fantastic family dog and I'm so glad we got him.

He came from a lovely lady who bred the family dog because she wanted another one from that bloodline. She's a really lovely example of the breed and he is too, he's stunning and his temperament is fantastic. The father is a stud dog so health tested to the hilt. We've already said that when she breeds from the bitch she kept from the litter we'd like to have another one. He's absolutely super and a real find. We've been very lucky.