Tell me what dog to get!

[CabbageLooking]

Hello - I am an aspiring dog-owner. We are about to move into a dog friendly house (good sized garden, floorboards rather than carpets, lots of great walks nearby) and I am at home all day and myself DH and DS really want to add a dog to the family. Before you ask: yes, we can afford it; yes, we are willing and able to give it the time and attention it needs and no, we haven't had a dog before.

It's not going to happen immediately, we need to work out what we want, research it and get the house ready before we do but, on the basis of the following, what would you recommend?

1. We are new to dog ownership.
2. We want something soft and gentle rather than barky and/or aggressive (I realise that some of this may come from nuture rather than nature).
3. We want something from puppy rather than kennel (we're not experienced - we need to know where it comes from, we wouldn't know what to do with a dog that had a difficult background).
4. It may need to be left for around an hour each day (for a walking school-run, I might be able to take it with me but I can't be sure).
5. Dh and DS both have a tendency towards allergies - neither have been noticeably allergic to dogs but ones which are heavy shedders might not be ideal.
6. I am fond of: golden retrievers, old english sheepdogs, springer spaniels and west-highland terriers. This is not an exclusive list. I don't like muscle dogs (I know, I know, they're misunderstood. I still don't want want one).

Go on wise MNers - tell me what you recommend.

Agree completely, my retired GD dog is so well trained, I take him fundraising for Guide Dogs, he will sit at the entrance to a busy supermarket so calmly, obviously we're there for people to meet the dogs, and yesterday he had five toddlers his height all clustered round him, he just stood so still while they petted him.

I have a now 4year old shihtzu who I've had from a pup and has been the easiest dog I've owned (had 3 boxers before him!)
I will always recommend the breed to new dog owners.

He's small and pickupable if needed but sturdy... happy to go for a 4 mile walk or a couple of 20minute potters, never chewed anything or blinked an eye at things which I would have thought would have spooked him (man drilling up pavement when 10weeks old) just really laid back and been easy from day 1...
Doesn't moult either!

Oh all these pictures are making me dog broody (that is now officially a Thing!) OK, I'm adding shihtzu to the list. He looks lovely.

Ultimately it's all in how you socialise -and train them as a puppy... research dog behaviour and training well!

They do, but you can exhaust them far more mentally! Their natural instincts are to find things and it's really easy to incorporate that into stimulating games. You can hide their favourite toy and searching for it will give them a really good physical and mental workout! Also, a little time spent on training each day keeps them out of mischief! They are so willing to please they easily pick up on lots of little tricks. My pup - 8 months - is learning to find my husband's keys (he's always losing them). They're such good fun! YouTube has no end of videos on dog training ideas.

Ultimately it's all in how you socialise -and train them as a puppy

Whilst socialisation and training does have a huge impact it can't fundamentally change who a dog is, which is is why it's so important to go a decent breeder who is giving appropriate consideration to temperament.

This is an excellent article on the subject, written by a veterinary behaviourist.

I would highly recommend the FB group Dog Training Advice and Support for information about all kinds of training training, socialisation, caring for a new puppy, etc. It's run by very highly respected professionals and there's an absolute wealth of great resources in their files section.

This Doghouse thread has lots of interesting and useful stuff linked to on it as well.

OP please stay away from preloved and similar. You will find lots of puppy farmed dogs. It's not always easy to spot them.
Remember also that council registered or KC reg means very little.
Go through the breed club. Get to shows. Meet and greet people and ask around. That's how we got our girl. From a breeder who has been in the breed over thirty years but bred 3 litters. We were home checked and also had an informal kind of interview over the phone. She remembered meeting me at a show! It helped.
Yy to dog shows. But remember people who love that breed will generally share the good bits. Remember to ask what's the "worst" thing.
And be honest. Amount of exercise and grooming?
You mention wanting a friend for your DC. No puppy will really be that. They are biting and chewing fiends who mess wherever and whenever! Be sure you're up for that!

Cornflake thank you, this is all tremendously useful. I'm going to sit down with all your links next week (when work has calmed down) and start reading properly. And I think DS and I will be trotting around dog shows for much of the summer!

I found a good site which does the pros and cons of various breeds so I'm bearing that in mind but you're right, I will ask people about the worst aspects!

PS: whoever mentioned the Samoyed - they are pretty but look like hardwork!

Not sure if already been mentioned but Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are awesome. Extremely dopey and loyal, eager to please, didn't take long to toilet train, don't need masses of exercise......in fact, my parents' one hates walks!

They're very good with children, and are great little lap dogs. They can be very greedy though, our second one ended up very fat so you have to be careful there. But from a superficial view, they're very pretty and are fairly easy to look after.

I love cavs but syringomyelia would put me right off. It's a horrendous, painful and life limiting condition.

We have a Maltese who is probably the easiest, laziest dog ever. Loves people, loves cuddles , incredibly friendly! We got him because dd fell in love with an older Maltese - she's quite skittish around bigger barely dogs but adores ours!

gwen bailey has writted some useful books. One is The Perfect Puppy, and another is The Rescue Dog.

As with PP cockers don't need as much exercise as reported but they do need to be exercised mentally as well. However, mine has a very strong hunting drive so has been a pain to tame on walks but that is because he has lots to hunt in the forest. He is very calm in the house though and loves people.

An Australian labradoodle

We have a lurcher that came home when he was 8 weeks. He is the kindest nature dog I've ever met, he loves humans more than other dogs.

Well done OP I see you are slowly falling for a Tibetan.... I really can't see why not! Do as cornflake suggest read up on all aspects of the breed, including health testing.
Also, a bit further down the line, get in touch with the Tibetan Terrier Association (the breed club) they hold shows and fun days that anyone instead in Tibetans can attend.
Lastly, when I got mine quite a few years ago, breeders (the top ones!), would not operate a waiting list. I just got given possible due dates, and once puppies arrived, it was first come first served.
Also, try this website below when looking for puppies (of all breeds), it gives good info on pedigree and existing health tests on individual dogs, only issue is, you need to know which tests should have been carried out.
www.champdogs.co.uk/breeds/tibetan-terrier

Billy, my lurcher loves humans too

There is something touching about dogs who trust humans

Sometimes I am not sure we are worthy of their absolute trust!

Am determined to have lurchers for life now, best "breed" for me

I have to say that I'm not 100% convinced by the breed selector quizzes... We have a breed that suits us brilliantly, but which rarely comes up in the top six suggestions when I try the quizzes. I think they help you put together the start of a list of possibles, but nothing beats meeting the dogs yourself.

I did the breed selector KC quiz three years ago when I was daydreaming about a dog. It came up with a rare native breed Terrier that I had never heard of. It turns out that it was absolutely right! 2 years later I found my perfect dog who is indeed a rare native breed Terrier and she couldn't be a more perfect fit for our family, I love her as one of the kids And she is devoted to us.

Hi

I've had numerous Cavalier King Charles Spaniels over the years - they are lovely, loyal and laidback, but oh, are they riddled with health issues or what! Also need clipping in the summer months.

We now have a long-haired Dachshund, who is gorgeous! They are regal and snooty like CKCS, but don't have the numerous health issues, apart from damage to their long spines - careful of jumping off sofas etc.

He is loyal, obedient(ish), doesn't shed, friendly and utterly gorgeous as I said - he looks like an elongated spaniel! He has many admirers - human and canine, doesn't need a lot of exercise, only needs an occasional brush, gets on with our rabbit, sleeps a lot, will bark at strangers, but isn't aggressive. Definitely recommend if you are looking for a medium size all-rounder.

Hope this helps!

None of our cavs have had health issues other than heart murmurs although our last one did get dementia in her old age but I don't think that's breed specific. Our current one doesn't have any health problems, no heart murmurs (which I was pretty surprised by), nothing. I think the majority of cavs do have heart murmurs so we got lucky with our current one. Our others lived to be 13 and 14.

Ooh I've had 2 King Charles both lovely but very different, one had an attitude the other a wallflower but both affectionate lapdogs with no health problems. I think my lab is easier though.

I agree with shitzus and King Charles both being relatively easy dogs. I have a springer and a Boston terrier- wouldn't recommend either .

Get a schnauzer! Non-moulting, loyal, loving, gentle and daft. Great with kids and gorgeous.

You're right - they ARE gorgeous! Oh God, I've been away marking and I've come back and I'm confused! I shall come back on Monday, probably with more questions.