Breed recommendations for someone who's never had a dog?

[CruCru]

Hi all

We are not yet ready for a dog (our kids are 5 and 3 and I'm not sure I would be able to give a dog the attention it deserves until my children are a bit older).

However, in the meantime I'm enjoying having a nose at the Battersea Dogs Home website. I understand that there are quite a few breeds that are not a good idea if you don't already have experience of them.

Do any of you have any recommendations for dog breeds for someone who has never had a dog?

Depends what you're looking for in a dog!

My first dog was a cocker. Lovely lovely dog, happy, intelligent, lovely nature, but they're clever and need company as they're companion dogs, and keeping busy at home as well as exercise.

My current is a cavalier, who is just cuddly, muddy, cat chasing, loving everybody heaven.

I like companion dogs who want to spend a lot of time with you, and like to do things. Both those breeds love learning tricks and being part of a family, and also crashing out the sofa with you. On the downside, you'll never get to go to the loo alone again.

If you're going to be looking at rehoming an adult dog then you don't really need to get too hung up on breeds as rescues will want to match you with the most suitable dog and that may end up being an anomalous example of a breed you might not otherwise have considered. That said, having an idea of what sort of breeds or types might be most likely to be suitable means you can look at breed/type specific rescues as well as all-breed ones.

When looking at breeds you need to consider what you want from a dog and also what you can offer a dog. How much exercise and mental stimulation can you reliably provide? How much grooming (both what you do at home and potentially trips to a professional) are you happy with? What sort of size dog would be able to fit in your home/car/etc.?

Breed finder quizzes (like this one on the KC site) are a useful starting point for making a shortlist of breeds to research more thoroughly. Champdogs have some quite god little guides for some breeds and breed clubs or breed specific rescues can also be good sources of information.

Thanks both!

Golden Retrievers are generally lovely natured dogs and can be great with kids. They are quite often used as Pets as Therapy dogs visiting aged care homes and hospitals. Their only vice is greed! Labradors are another popular family pet, although I personally don't know much about them.

For a smaller dog, Jack Russell Terriers are smart little dogs with huge personalities.

I have a Border Collie whom I 'rehomed' when he was eight months old. He is sensitive, complex, loyal, hard work and I love him to bits. But I would never recommend this breed to first time dog owners, large chaotic families, owners who would be out at work all day, or even people living in town with little or no yard space.

Please don't consider a Border Collie as a 'first dog'. They are beautiful & highly intelligent dogs (& very cute puppies), but can be quite complex and require a lot of constant owner input & stimulation. I was so saddened to read a recent account on MN about a pet Border Collie being surrendered to a shelter because the owner couldn't cope, or on another recent thread where the owner was actually considering having the dog put to sleep because of "behavioural issues".

I'd never had a dog before and have a golden retriever - she's fabulous with the children, and I love her to bits, but she needs a lot of exercise, is very greedy and moults EVERYWHERE!!

Thanks Mum2OneTeen. I love Border collies but I wouldn't consider getting one. The sister of an old boyfriend sent hers back to the shelter because he kept herding her cats.

I do have rather a hankering for a Cocker Spaniel.

If you're interested in rescuing rather than a puppy and a cocker is pulling your fancy (you have excellent taste) then try Many Tears rescue who rescue many cockers in need of a good home, and you can also find current cockers looking for homes on the cockers online forum as several members have connections with Many Tears www.cockersonline.co.uk/discuss/

Forgot to add; Spaniel Aid website also has running lists of cockers looking for forever homes.

We've got a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
We had her when my DD Was 4 years old, my husband wanted them to "grow up together"
She is the most Caring,Cuddly, Funny charming little thing. She's 4 now, and is also brilliant with my DS Who's 15 Months.
We had a Jack Russel in the past. He was Yappy and overexcited all the time, but our Cav is Wonderful, amazing breed of dog x

Think too about the amount of space you have in your home. Larger breeds are often more docile and family-friendly, but they take up a huge amount of space, particularly as every dog I've ever known likes to lie flat out on the kitchen floor. Get a labrador or a golden retriever doing that and unless your kitchen is of the large, farmhouse variety you probably won't be able to move!

My MIL has a Bichon Frise. She adopted him and he's a sweet little dog. He's not hard work, doesn't take up much space, doesn't eat a huge amount, doesn't need long walks and he doesn't shed.

There is a show on at London Olympia in Oct each year called 'Discover Dogs', which showcases hundreds of different breeds and allows you to meet the dogs and chat with the breeders/owners to get a sense of what they're like.

I love cocker spaniels and mine is amazing with my children and has the nicest temperament.

The only thing is that she does need a lot of exercise and she wants to be with someone all of the time. This is why you find they get rehomed - people find them too energetic.

If you do go for a cocker, the show type rather than working are calmer and don't need so much if you don't feel that you can exercise it enough.

Other than that, I can't recommend the breed enough for a house with children!

Whippet!! So loving, don't need a huge amount of exercise (contrary to popular opinion), great with kids, cuddly, soppy. Very food-driven - but that makes them easy to train. Sleep on the sofa when not running around. And beautiful too (not that that matters).

We used to have a yorkie - gorgeous dog who we loved dearly and I'd have loved another one. But having got a whippet, I doubt we'll ever have another breed.

I would definitely want to rehome a dog I think. A while ago I had a look at a couple of sites for retired greyhounds but they all said that they couldn't go to houses with children younger than 10ish (from memory).

We do have space. We live in central London in the week but go away to the country most weekends (we have a much bigger place there). However, there are quite a lot of dogs I wouldn't want to have in London - there's someone near me who has a husky type dog, which I think must be very hard work.

Okay, so I've just put in my details on the kennel club quiz and it's come up with:

Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Lakeland Terrier
Kerry Blue Terrier
Sealyham Terrier

I used to have a boss who said I was a bit like a Terrier (I assume it was a compliment). Are terriers good dogs for someone who's never had one?

Golden Retrievers are wonderful. They're very loving, want to please and good with children, adults and other dogs. They don't bark much.

They do shed though. If you're into doodles, then a Goldendoodle might be the answer.

www.kizzabelladoodles.co.uk

All dogs need loads of training, lots of attention, company and lots and lots of walks.

Personally I wouldn't go near a spaniel. They're very active, excitable and yappy.

Staffy, playful and energetic without being too OTT, really biddable and eager to please so easy to train, but without being clever enough to outwit you.

Small enough to fit in normal sized cars and not take up loads of space inside but sturdy enough to play with kids.

And dead easy to find one that'll suit your family from a rescue because there's so many of them.

The problem with a Staffordshire Bull Terrier is that they can be stubborn, they don't always get on with other dogs, they can suffer separation anxiety, and they have a bad reputation.

Boston Terrier.

Dog Owning 101. Don't moult, loving, friendly, don't need vast amount of exercise, hilarious, intelligent, cute.

Greyhounds and lurcher types are generally the easiest. Staffs are lovely affectionate family dogs and very playful but they do chill out as well.

You definitely should go for an adult dog as house training is the worst part of having a dog in my opinion. Followed by training the dog to be left alone for a bit. You can avoid those draining bits by getting a rescue pooch.

Rescue greyhound - promise you won't look back!

Easy going, love to sleep, only need two short walks a day, although ours will happily come on a big country walk providing we stop for pub lunch en route (with dog snacks of course), and you get the feel good factor of homing an animal that has spent its whole life unloved.

Notorious for being good with kids/other dogs/and often with cats too.

I wouldn't recommend most types of terrier as a first dog. I've had loads and they have all been absolutely nuts, they NEVER run out of energy and can be noisy and iffy with their recall. Loads of personality though. JRTs are my favourite breed of all.

Just saw your update - in my experience, terriers are great, but hard work. Game little things!

I would consider the amount of grooming and walking you are prepared to do. Research the worst of each breed and see if you can handle that.
I'm surprised that greyhounds weren't considered suitable for children under 10. How about a lurched? Smaller. But sighthounds need to run. And do chase small furries
I wouldn't go for a terrier but I'm prejudiced! Too many have attitude and are stubborn little buggers. Most of the terriers we meet try and square up to my soppy hound. Daft dogs! She's a wolfhound FFS. Thankfully she's soft as butter.
How about a visit to a dog show or discover dogs at crufts? Chance to meet dogs and ask questions.

Bassets are very docile and lovely dogs.

Dont get a Dachshund. I have one and shes bloody hard work. Luvs her though. Definitely look into breed temperament and trainability. Dachshund is grumpy and stubborn.