Which breed would you recommend for us?

[stumblymonkey]

We are considering getting a dog (subject to approval of landlord). Both DP & I grew up around dogs and our parents still have dogs so we understand the commitment involved.

Obviously I've been spending some time researching breeds but would be interested for other opinions on what you would recommend:

• We have a large house and decent sized garden
• No children but hope to have some in a couple of years
• We've got four cats so need a breed without a strong prey drive
• I work full time but DP is at home most of the time but the dog might have to be at home for 2-4 hours sometimes
• DP grew up with Labs and Collies
• I grew up with Staffies (love their personality but don't like their look so much)

DP doesn't like toy size dogs. I don't like muscly dogs (e.g Staffies, Boxers) or thin dogs (e.g. Greyhounds), just personal preference.

The obvious choice is a Lab but wondering if there is a breed I haven't thought of without the obvious doggy smell and shedding that Labs have.

(Would obviously happily deal with shedding and smell or wouldn't be getting a dog, it's just a practical consideration when thinking of Labs).

Well done for researching and ignore the doom bringers. Clearly, millions of people own both cats and dogs, without any problems! My friend fosters rescue dogs and cats - and has new temporary members in her household all the time. You'll find cats and dogs curled up together in the same basket all the time at her house!

Anyway, I think it's sensible to consider all of the points of dog ownership, including how much hair/shedding. I love my GSD but would never have a long haired one as even the short haired ones are ridiculous shedders!

Bearded Collies are fab dogs and might suit you.

Very loyal, friendly, easy to train, very good with kids and cats . A medium sized dog and "fluffy!" They don't seem to shed so much as labs/ GSD's - but they are mud magnets so be prepared for baths and brushing. If you have them clipped every 6-8 weeks their coat is much easier to look after. They can be nervous of loud noises - so socialise a lot as a puppy.

We have a working cocker. Does chase stuff outside (seagulls) but has grown up with our cat/toddler and just tries to play with them. If you want kids I'd suggest thinking through how old they'll be when introduced.

We have a pointer cross, about 20kgs, hardly sheds any hair and was amazing around our children! We got her when our middle ds was under a year and she didn't bat an eyelid when we bought another baby into the mix!
Pointers are so loyal and love to be in a family. I couldn't recommend them enough!

We don't mind about the amount of walking. We both love to walk a lot at the weekend and in the week DP will be in charge and he's a personal trainer/fitness nut.

When we have kids DP will walk the dog with child in a rugged terrain buggy/in a sling. When toddling we'll get them a little scooter.

The thing with kids is making sure you aren't introducing a bolshy adolescent dog (6-18mo) to a new baby/toddler, and that you aren't introducing a grabby toddler to a new dog. So my advice would be kids before dog and dog with a baby or +4yo, but obvs there are lots of different approaches. Dog & baby worked for us but wouldn't advise for 1st time dog owners tbh.

Oh- or of course adult dog over 2 then kids

Yay! GSPs really are fab, OP. Glad you've added them to your list. There are several GSP facebook groups, all of which have regular links to GSP rescues, showing dogs waiting for new homes.

A Viszla? Wire haired or short haired. Or a GSP. Both lovely dogs. We have a Wire Haired Viszla X and she has the best temperament of any dog I know. Was also very quickly put in her place as a pup by our old tabby cat.

Have you thought about an irish setter? We have one, along with two bengal cats and a baby. She is our first dog. Here she is curled up with one of our cats:

As with most gun dogs, irish setters are energetic and friendly. I have to say setters seem to be particularly bouncy though! For the first year she desperately wanted to run up to every person and dog we passed, and loved to try to play with and chase our cats. She calmed down between 12 -18 months. She is now 21 months and loves her walks, but otherwise lays quietly around the house during the day. She was unfazed by the arrival of our baby when she was 10 months old.

Basics: Doesn't have a high prey drive, though perhaps pheasants excluded! Their coat isn't very thick, my girl sits around shivering if she gets wet. I brush her about once or twice a week at the moment, and cut off the hair where matting could take place (behind ears, where legs meet body). She doesn't have an overly strong dog smell. Trainability is ok, I have never trained a dog before so I can't really comment on this! We started a little bit of agility with her during the summer and she loved it.

And yes part of the reason I got an irish setter is because I think they are absolutely stunning!

Have a look at Blue Cross for how to introduce dog to cats. I have recently needed all the advice I could get as introducing a wolfhound puppy to two cats!
Wouldn't introduce dog to very elderly cats.
FWIW my puppy has been very hard work. Don't undestimate the time it takes to train etc. sleepless nights! Puddles of wee. And the mouthing. Dear lord those teeth!
Think ahead too. Wouldn't want an adolescent dog with a baby. Plus a dog walk with a baby in a sling may make poo picking very hard!
Love setters. But can be mad as a box of frogs.

Spaniels are wonderful dogs. Great temperaments, boundless energy, lots of fun. We have had springers and cockers and love both (both rescue and from pups). Several excellent rescues around but do check background and suitability if you are planning kids. Our 18 month cocker is wonderful with our 3yo DS though. They need a lot of exercise and they do shed.

Also have an older lab who was rehomed to us. He is a lovely boy and soft as anything. He's a big boy though and he does pong. Grew up with labs though and they are great family dogs.

All our dogs have been fine with our cats. We've had 4 cats and 2 springers at one point and they got on fine. We currently have 2 dogs and 2 cats and they co-exist peacefully. The cocker does get a bit giddy when he sees the cats but they keep their distance and he doesn't chase.

I've got a cockapoo who is absolutely amazing. Beautiful temperament and very playful. He gets on with anything and everyone and thinks everyone is his best friend. I got him as a new pup when my DS was only 8 months and they are like best friends now 18 months on.
Alternatively my mum has 3 mini Schnauzers (not really that mini), and they also have lovely temperaments and are brilliant with my DS and Kevin my cockapoo. They also don't get phased by the cats that come into my mums garden all the time and they are still playful but much calmer than a cockapoo. The Schnauzers also don't shed and are very easy to train so quite a clean choice too.

Also FWIW, to those saying you should adopt, most places will not allow you to adopt if they know you have or plan to have young children within the first few years because many cannot be sure just how well the rescue dogs will react to small boisterous children. So if you are planning on having children then it really is best to get a dog from a reputable breeder as a pup, and consider a rescue dog once children are of secondary school age, that's exactly what I will be doing when DS is 10 year older

Damn this thread! Now I want a spaniel and a setter

If you like gundogs then you should add Tollers to your list. They're the smallest of the retrievers (sort of springer spaniel size) and make the perfect family dog. They're playful, especially love children, very intelligent, easy to train, don't shed anything like as much as a lab, energetic and agile but as long as they're getting enough stimulation they have an off-switch when they're in the house. They are working dogs though so definitely need things to occupy their brain - we do obedience and agility with ours (not seriously, just for fun) and he loves it. Oh and they're gorgeous too ...

Oh my....

Spaniels, setters and tollers all added for consideration.

Your dogs are all beautiful

I'll put my head above the parapet too, I have a standard labradoodle and she is wonderful. No shedding, fantastic temperament and wonderful with cats, people and other dogs. She does get the zoomies at dusk, which apparently is a doodle trait. She's a monkey though, they need leadership but very easy to train.

I have a cockapoo and she is fab, quite laid back for a dreaded poodle cross! We have three cats, yes their noses were put out of joint at first but they have their own safe places in the house and still get lots of love. Two of them will now sleep in the same room and bat pup away if she gets too boisterous. As Op said, things change, people adjust. The cats didn't like the arrival of my son five years ago either, but we didn't let them dictate our family planning! I saw an Australian labradoodle out on a walk the other day and he was fabulous too.

You haven't added cockapoo to your list Op but they are definitely worth considering, good luck with your search!

I had two cats before I got my dog growing up. Cats adjust. At first they weren't too keen, but never did anything to the dog. Then it was as the cats existed in a different world to the dog, to eventually the cats being happy to cozy up with the dog and share a bed (even though they all had their own beds!). I would love to own a cat and dog now. But my husband is allergic. I suggest a laberdoodle or cocapoo. Usually mixes w poodle don't shed as much.

We have a spaniel and a collie, they are easy to train, love to walk, and our cat was happy when they came.
They are not too big in our house (good size 4bed family home) and we have a bigger than average garden (plot older than 20). The collie is particularly good with our kids and the spaniel is energetic around them! Usually not a problem.
Is there a Collie's trust near you?

TBH I'd go to some local rescues with absolutely no preconceptions, and see what appeals. If you have cats, some will only rehome a puppy to you but many rescues have pups.

Sprocker! I've got 2. Amazing dogs, we have cats and they are all fine together. Check out Sprocker assist website and facebook, if you apply to adopt they match you with the perfect dog for you