We have finally decided to get a dog. How do we decide on a breed?

[CurrentlyNothing]

I had a Springer Spaniel as a small child. I loved her dearly but we need a less energetic breed.

A kind temperament and tolerance of children is key. We have three kids: 11, 8 and 5. The 11 year old will be very involved in walking and caring for the dog.

We live in the middle of a city. We can easily walk in the local park several times a day. It has a a fenced area for dogs being off the lead and it's not huge. At weekends we can go further afield but huge country walks will be rare.

Three days a week the dog will be alone 9-3.30pm.

We have a decent sized garden.

I would prefer a dog that isn't too yappy. I really want a spaniel (see above) but can't due to exercise constraints.

I wouldn't go near a Cavalier. They are lovely little dogs but have been appallingly bred and the chances of finding one without heart or brain problems (look up syringomyelia - it's horrendous) are slim.

Another vote for Border Terrier.

I've had two, neither were yappy. Love people, can be funny with other dogs but if you get a puppy and put in the hours with socialisation they will be fine.

Big personalities, love cuddles (especially boys) and contrary to what you often hear about terriers and exercise BTs are moderately not massively active. Our boy is nearly 2 and after an hour he wants to go home for a lie-down .

Our vet says he recommends them as a great first dog for a family and 3 of the vets in the practice have BTs. But then I am very biased!

How about an older rescue spaniel? It wouldn't need as much walking as a young dog.

toomuch like any breed that has been popular, you get badly bred ones. However it is not a 'slim chance' of finding a well bred one, you just need to do your homework, make sure the health tests are being done and be prepared to travel. There are plenty of healthy cav bloodlines out there, where there aren't heart or brain problems.

Must say I'm surprised re border terriers. I avoid the ones when out walking around here because they are usually (the ones local to me anyway), extremely dog aggressive. So is that not a breed trait/tendency?

Mine has been dog aggressive twice. He absolutely hates an enormous rodesian ridge back that lives near me.

Ive owned all types of dogs over the years big ones small ones working breeds terriers lap dogs hounds all have had their positives but for us
this breed of dog has been the best ever. Not the same as the ones the Queen has, they are wonderful friendly easy going people loving dogs, ours now elderly has never had a days illness. Even my dog hating DH loves him. He will walk as far as you want if you want him to or not if you dont want him too, he rarely barks, happily lives with cats, he's a big dog personality but at only 35 cm to the shoulder you havent got a bloody great big mutt flopping around the house. He won't eat you out of house and home or steal from the work top. He is one of the rarest breeds in the UK and everyone tries to speculate what he is "so is that a collie crossed with a jack Russell?" And he's universally admired by all.
His only failing he sheds hair twice a year like it's going out of fashion but if you comb him as he starts to shed or even better get a dog groomer to comb him it's not a problem.
We now wouldn't own anything else.

Mine loves other dogs BLUEs, once he gets to know them, though his meet-and-greet skills still need some 'refinement' (he gets a bit excited and jumps about, though this is getting better with training.) But then I've worked really hard with him, doing lots of things where we meet other dogs and managing his behaviour carefully. The other BTs we've met locally have always been friendly but maybe I've been lucky.

I did a Terrier Day Workshop with him a few months ago and the leader said she thinks BTs are less 'terrier-ish' than some other terrier breeds.