The right breed for first timers, with cats and a disabled child?

[OrangeSamphire]

We are ready to add to our family with our first dog, next year. I've been doing a lot of research online, talking to dog owners, borrowing dogs to walk etc and have honed in on the following breeds for further research before we go any further:

• Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
• Portuguese Water Dog
• Schnauzer
• Boston Terrier

We can, I think, give a good home to a dog. We live on a dog friendly beach, I work from home a great deal as does DH - there's always an adult home. We are active and like to walk, surrounded by great places to dog walk. We have a large house with a medium size garden with an area that can be secured.

DD is 9 and has been practising puppy training with some friends locally and is taking every opportunity to spend time with dogs and learn about them.

DS is 6 and severely disabled. He enjoys the company of a chihuahua and a labrador when he goes to respite.

We have two cats who are pretty bombproof.

I have considered a rescue and ruled it out on the basis of cats, young children and us being first timers.

I have considered poodle cross type dogs as there are allergies in the family, but reading up I'm unsure about finding a reputable breeder so have ruled that out too.

Does anyone have any of the above breeds with cats and children? Any tips of advice from experienced dog owners? I'm learning here and keen to do the right thing

Oh yes. My girl had separation anxiety. I couldn't leave her to go off to appointments. And obviously she can't come to the hospital!

The most loving dog I've ever owned was a tiny little Cavalier King Charles. He was amazing, was great with both kids and cats and was a proper character. Also had a lovely placid Yorkie.

I wouldn't risk a sight hound in a home with cats.

I don't believe you can health check syringomyelia though.

There is a Chiari Malformation/Syringomyelia screening scheme though it's rather like hip scoring in that it doesn't quite offer absolutes but it does allow breeders to make choices which reduce the likelihood of puppies being affected. There's some good information on the current recommended SM breeding protocol here.

Anyone breeding CKCSs (or their crosses) should always be having the CKCS parents/parent MRI scanned before breeding from them. It's a common misconception that a first cross with another breed is "safe" in terms of avoiding CM/SM however the condition has been seen in the breeds the CKCS is most commonly crossed with (bichons and toy/miniature poodles) so the MRI on at least the CKCS parent is still absolutely vital.

I know three miniature schnausers. One is barky and bad with younger children (they move too fast and it makes her nervous and snappy). One loves children but is very disobedient (and chases everything). The third is placid and easy going. I don't think you get any guarantees with breeds, even when they have been brought up well. Double that with crosses as you never know which traits will be dominant.

If I was the OP I'd be more inclined to look at adult dogs that are in foster as good rescues are very careful with matching and fostering means that you get a really good idea of temperament. Of course you might have to wait quite a long time. But then that's true for a well bred puppy too, especially from one of the rarer breeds.

I'd look to avoid any currently popular breeds and especially cross breeds (especially the poodle crosses) because it will be really hard to avoid puppy farms.

Having said that about breeds, my university has a day for therapy dogs to come visit to destress students, and while there are lots of different sorts of dogs that visit I have noticed a lot of golden retrievers. Probably a bit too big for the OP though.

If you are really unsure about breeds definitely go to discover dogs at crufts but go early as it will take you a long time to see all the dogs. The owners love talking about their dogs and you can get up close and look at them yourself (I had a lovely cuddle of a mini schnauzer when the owner put her in my arms when I asked about their weight and his easy they are to pick up etc ).

The problem is all breeds (and x breeds) have their pros and cons. Whilst every dog and environment is different just make sure you are happy with any potential negative traits of that particular breed.

The dogs at discover dogs tend to be really good examples of their breed so it might not give you a true idea of the breeds behaviour. Don't take it as gospel that the breed you get will be the same as the dog you saw at discover dogs.

Smooth Collie would be a good fit, not as large a dog as you might think particularly if you go female rather than male.

Do not get a Welsh Terrier. Yes, they are cracking little dogs but they are not for first timers.
Any breeder who is willing to let you have one is not a good breeder.
I'd say Standard Poodle, whippet or flat coated retriever.

I think a poodle fits well. They are fabulous dogs. Tbh whenever disabled child and poodle are mentioned I always think about that miniature poodle assistance dog that featured on Rescue Dog to Super Dog (I think that's what it was called and possibly available on all4 - I think it was channel 4 that showed it anyway).

Cavaliers I think it depends on the disability. Cavs can be quite sensitive to some things like shouting, which can obviously happen a lot with certain types of disability. They are however the most loving of lap dogs in the house and then cheeky energetic spaniel outside (don't be fooled by all the obese, unfit, on leash ones that you see everywhere - that's not how a cav should be). They thrive on a good hour off lead and will happily go all day when you want to. They don't moult that much (what mine moults pretty much all comes out in the brush rather than around the house or on my clothes, so I don't have dog hair around the place).

Thank you for all the excellent food for thought. I think a poodle will suit us well.

Must seek out that programme on all4 too swimming, thank you

We will keep researching and find some poodle owners locally to get to know too before we take the leap next year.

Not a collie. Dear God. Not a first timers dog.

The collie has to be a joke, right?

Must be!
I have a wolfhound.
A collie would be too much for me to take on!

Lurchers I think depends on the cat as much as the dog.

Parents had a lurcher and took her to stay with me and my two cats. Disaster - cats were used to neighbour's calm retrievers only and legged it at first sign of lurcher which set off her prey drive. We assumed that lurcher was not cat safe thereafter.

Until lurcher struck up a friendship with a cat that lived near my parents, crucially with dogs and so wasn't bothered by them at all. Cat assumed she was the boss, held her own and lurcher didn't argue.

Lurcher would have been an ideal dog for you if not for the cats. If your cats are bolters, then it won't work at all.

There's a massive difference between a Border Collie (which most people think of when they hear "collie") and Smooth Collies, which are a completely separate and very different breed.

Smooth Collies are the short coated variant of the Rough Collie ("Lassie dog") and can make really fabulous pets for moderately active families.

They definitely are worth looking into OP, the breed club has some good information about them and there's also a handy little breed write up on Champdogs.

Smooth collies are nothing like border collies... and I've no idea why they're not more popular tbh as they make much better pets than border collies.

Clever and trainable, but with an off switch and a nice wipe clean short coat.

I've had border collies and they were a breeze compared to my other large breed. I've known a lot of completely batty smooths, much worse than the borders I've known! Good at Flyball though.

I quite like smooth collies, much less driven than a border collie and nothing like the type most people are thinking of!

As others have said, Smooth Collies nothing like a (working type) Border Collie at all!

Also something to consider is what are they bred for ,do the parent dogs do any activites
Eg labs vary tje working labs tend to be smaller but more active lots of walks

Show style are thicker set more laid back

My boy is from show mum but working lines for dad he is working gun dog .they wantedybest of both

Personally i think my boy is, he is laid back show looks , but goes for hours which suits as am very active so oftrn 4/5hours a day of walking etc

Sorry forgot to add im in a wheelchair with disabled child and at times i did think took to much on did redeuce me to tears

I think a cavalier may suit better than a poodle. Poodles are quite sensitive and thrive on being the centre of attention as much as possible. Need a lot of input as they are quite smart and are can be fragile and hold a grudge.
Whereas cavaliers are typically a bit more sturdy, loving and typically forgiving after a bit of a fuss and some food (typical spaniel). Healthwise you need to do your research and find one from tested parents. Kennel club registered doesn't mean from good stock at all.

Or maybe even a cocker spaniel, a bit bigger, but still small. Nice and hardy, loving, playful.

Poodles and cockers are more dogs with jobs, Cavaliers are more lap dogs, but all three can be energetic or cuddle bugs.

That said poodles are really good are reading moods and cues, so depending on what your children are like, a poodle's sensitiveness or a spaniel's hardiness might be better suited. That said all dogs are individuals so I'm basing this off what I've seen in the dogs I've been around and worked with.

Have you thought about a cross? They can often bring out the best of two breeds.

They can, but they can also bring the worst of both.

I don't want to turn this into a cross=bad thread because I don't necessarily believe that. However, in choosing a cross you'd need to be prepared to handle the worst aspects of the two breeds. The random nature of genetic inheritance means you are as likely to have bad characteristics come through to to the puppies as good ones.

A Jack/Bichon cross could be an especially reactive dog that barks at everything and requires almost constant activity to keep it happy. Or it could be a playful dog who is up for walks but equally happy to lounge about on the sofa for a bit. I am very happy to hear you have a great dog that suits you but wanted to warn people that they need to look at the bad as well as the good of the contributing breeds.

I have a cat and a disabled child. We have just acquired a rescue poodle cross and she is fantastic. So loving and good natured, and playful. Loves walks and sniffing around, but sleeps most of the time at home. The cat is slowly learning to tolerate her. The only issue is the guinea pigs, I have had to be pretty resourceful to stop her chasing them