Good family breeds?

[OrchidFlakes]

We are considering getting a dog on 6-12 months and starting to look at breeds and the ins and outs of ownership.

I am home most of the day and we have 2 DC who are 5 and 2. We do have a cat but is elderly so we’d wait until she passed before getting one.

Are there any suggestions of good family dogs who want approx 30 Mins twice a day for a walk, (more at weekends!) smallish to medium sized...?

I’d prefer to rehome than get a puppy but apart from that we’re clueless!

Do most dogs cope with kennels for an annual holiday whilst we travel abroad? Other holidays he’d come along and join the chaos!

We’ll go to crufts to the discover dogs section in the spring but I want to start my homework first.

Get a 2+ year old rescue mongrel. You'll never get a better dog.

I'm a twat and responded twice!!

I’ve got a terrier cross and he’s absolutely brilliant with kids. Although he needs more than 2 half hour walks. He needs at least a fair few miles off the lead and he’s destructive at home - I’ve barely any lawn left as they love to dig

I’ve also had a rescue lurched and he was also really great with kids. He’d be more than fine with 2x 30 minute walk and would sleep the rest of the day if he wasn’t entertained. Far easier than a terrier.

wait a minute - 30 minutes each way - does that mean 30 minutes to school and 30 minutes home? That is 2 hours per day!
That's loads!

Even if it is 15 minute walk to school, being able to vary the route home and make it a bit longer means he'll be getting some good walks.
We used to live rurally and walk 15 minutes to school through the woods, most dogs would have loved it, then home in a loop to exercise/sniff

We've got a rescue beagle from Many Tears. They really struggle to rehome beagles because you need a garden like Alcatraz to keep the buggers from escaping and they eat anything (our kitchen bin now lives in a cupboard). Oh and if you let him off the lead he buggers off exploring until he's ready to come back. However, he is the most lovely gentle snuggly dog. Our spaniel loves him and he loves her, same with the kids. So, if you are prepared to beagle-proof your life, they are well worth a look.

I know I always always come on to these threads and say this but please do consider a retired greyhound. They need limited exercise, they shed very little (once you've got through the kennel coat period) and they are extremely easy and adaptable. As far as you can say a breed is good with children, they are.

We've had ours 6 months now and it really was the easiest process you could possibly have imagined. She has slotted in beautifully to our family.