Does this breed exist?

[PosiePootlePerkins]

Thinking ahead to a few months time when we will hopefully be in a position to get a dog. We would like a dog which is:
Friendly - we have two boys aged 7 and 12 and would like an affectionate dog
Not too big - can cope with a medium size dog but not a huge one
Doesn't need loads of exercise - could manage two walks a day but not long ones in the week. Longer walks at the weekends. We do have a large garden which we would dog proof.
Can be left for a few hours, up to 4 maximum. Would use a dog walker twice a week when I work until 4pm to break up the day. Other days I am in at lunchtime.
Obviously I know that each dog has its own individual temperament and personality but in general, do any breeds fit the above?
Thanks

And they're the lucky ones Dubious. Thousands of greyhounds simply 'disappear' each year if they don't make the grade.

Thanks TheMortificadosDragon I am really aware of what a responsibility it is to take on a dog and don't want to make a mistake, that would be unfair on the dog and on us as a family. Everyone has been really helpful, so many knowledgeable MNers!

Except for labs who are designed to eat and eat and eat some more.

A lab will only eat what you feed it. If you don't over feed it, it can't get fat!

Sounds like you need a Border to me.

But I can't think of any dog that doesn't need more than 30 minutes of exercise a day........

I am currently training as a dog groomer. The first breed that sprang to my mind after reading your post was a Tibetan terrier. A couple of things to note with them though...they can be left for that amount of time though some can get a bit of seperation anxiety. Most I have met seem to be fine. They don't shed much fur so would need to go to a groomer every few weeks for clipping. Some have a funny sounding bark that sort of sounds like a scream! But they are happy, gutsy and cuddly friendly dogs that don't require a ton of exercise.

Pic for reference

Bertrand I did state in my OP two walks a day, plus we have a large garden. Longer walks at the weekend.
Daisy that is one gorgeous doggy! Will look into that breed, thank you.

Whippets might also be worth considering Posie.

I will admit to being a bit biased (I've got three ) but they are such lovely little dogs. They're very flexible when it comes to exercise, mine will happily make do with a 30 minute off lead blast of necessary but they will go for miles and miles given the opportunity. They're very much at the trainable end of the sighthound spectrum, recall has never been an issue with mine and pretty much all the whippets I know go off lead just fine as well.

They do tend to be quite prey driven, though exactly how much varies between individuals. Mine are show bred but two of the three are absolutely ferocious hunters. That said, I don't find it difficult to deal with. Even with an extremely prey driven dog it's just a case of being sensible where you choose to let them off lead.

They're a nice size (and fold up surprisingly small when they want to) and are the most loving little things ever. It's impossible to sit down in my house without ending up with at least one whippet joining you. They're not really heavy shedders and their hairs are so tiny you barely notice them anyway. They're super easy to keep clean, even after the muddiest walks a quick rise and mine are spotless again. They don't smell doggy, even when wet. They're very playful, mischievous and are constantly making me laugh. I've not got kids but they're brilliant with my DNiece and with any kids we meet out on walks.

Sorry- it was someone else talking about 30 minutes walk a day.

This is what you need.

This is how mine spend the majority of their time........

Wrong picture. This.....

I've met a fair few poodle crosses (cockerpoos, labradoodles). Lovely dogs but nuts! In a good way... but full of energy and mischief, strong and intelligent. I really don't think they're what you're looking for. Poodles are working dogs, they're bright and independent minded - so are spaniels and labs.

An older Lab might fit the bill, but you must walk it. Or another vote for a greyhound - or perhaps a whippet?

Our friends have a cockerpoo- he needs hours of walk to be civilized! an I would be very wary of anything with husky in it.

Greyhound gets my main vote, they might be bigger than your medium but our old girl lady was nothing short of a couch potato, she could run mad if she was excited but for all of 5 minutes. Needy in the sense of we spoilt her and sat with a hand on her 24/7 for the best part of 5 years

Second would be between shitzus n staffies, both can be a tad daft but that's more in their personality, my biggest girl now is a staff cross n is just a big attention sponge, could walk for miles but happy with half hours and big enough to be considered manly for the oh compared to my chihuahuas

Pomskys are 100% not low energy low attention breeds, they need a lot of training, stimulation and exercise. Considering they're half working breed, that's prone to chewing and destructive behaviour when bored and half neurotic fluff with wee man syndrome, both have been bred to insanity recently with being popular and can you honestly thing a tiny Pom and husky can breed naturally n safely if they've to take the Pom side the mother would be Pom. A lot of the smaller pictures are rare breeds laphunds off hand. And often Pomsky pups are from doggy Ivf, which is just plain odd and apparently common in the US.

Bertrand lovely dog! Is it a border terrior? I'll look at that breed too!
Trionic your whippets are beautiful, all curled up together.

Interesting about the cockerpoos needing loads of walking, I know I couldn't cope with a high energy dog like that.

We have a shitzu x Lhasa apso (he looks like a shitzu bus doesn't have the flat face) who is an absolute doughnut. He's just as happy to veg out on the sofa as he is going for a long walk. He does spend a lot of time chasing squirrels in the garden and the kids often spend hours throwing his ball for him. He's a very tolerant dog as well. I've discovered our 2 year old leading him around by the fur on his face and he just plodded along behind her (obviously we are trying to get said toddler to stop).

Remember poodles were gundogs! So bred to be on the go all day - and in water too. They're tough!

As for cockers - mine is a show type but I'll take him beating this weekend and he'll be flat out all day. It's what they're built for.

If you're looking at cross breeds, always consider what the breeds being crossed were created to do

Theres a border terrier living in an over- busy family nearby whose hobby is escaping and massacring hens, ducks and apparently even geese. The fault of the humans, but even a cute teddy of a dog may still be a wolf inside.

My lazy cavachon

Borders are a good option and ours isn't that keen on exercise, but that is individual dependent rather than it being a feature of the breed iykwim. Out of the four dogs that we have the only one that doesn't have a regular walk is the madam on the right. She refuses to go out if it's cold, windy, wet, raining, just rained, looks like rain, frosty, foggy, misty, too hot or if the weather isn't to her exacting standards.

Oh my goodness so many beautiful dogs! I want one! My neighbour has westies, they are a bit yappy, I don't know if that applies to all westies. My DH would find it hard to cope with a very yappy dog. (Obviously all dogs bark but some more than others!) Francis your westie is gorgeous.

Our Border never barks. Even when I wish she would, like when the cats are bullying her or she wants to go out and I haven't noticed.

The one I mentioned upthread gets left in an outdoor run sometimes and barks incessantly

I vote greyhound too- I have a gigantic boy who is so lovely. He spends his days sleeping so even though he is massive he doesn't feel like he is overtaking the house as he is always on his bed. And he doesn't bark, never not even once. He has one 30 minute walk a day and that's enough for him.
I also have a lurcher (the sandy one in the picture) but she's a nightmare so not recommending her!