Help me plan next puppy!

[LabradorMama]

I have one remaining dog, a nine year old Labrador bitch who is absolutely perfect in every way - except she moults like fury and my house is constantly covered in her hair despite daily vacuuming.

I’m planning to get my next puppy next year and have decided that (sadly!) it won’t be another Labrador. But what should I be looking at? Any suggestions/experiences welcome.

I have a decent sized house and garden, work two short days (5 hours) a week out of the house and have a dog walker come in. I have a four year old DS. I have joint hypermobility syndrome so daily walks are good for me and I live in the countryside with plenty of woodland, open fields etc around. I have trained and competed gun dogs for years so training not an issue.

Big issue for me is hair - low shedding is a must.

Any ideas anyone?

German wire haired pointers are one of my dream dogs (smooth too but I have a thing about dogs with beards.)
I have irish terriers, one of whom is perfect in every way and does not shed the other is a naughty, cheeky, funny little monkey but she is only 4 months old. Her saving grace atm is that she is truely devoted to me.

I have free range chickens and cats and pointies. No one has eaten anyone, but one of my foster pups did catch a chicken (chickens usually go in their run when pups are out, but pophole wasn't secured and chicken wandered out). However, we've taught everyone else to leave them alone with training - and thats the key I think

Giant Schnauzer

No one has eaten anyone?!

thewolfsjustapuppy now I’m ashamed to say that I’ve never heard of an Irish Terrier but a quick google shows me that they are bloody gorgeous and possibly fit my criteria! Are yours very woofy and how do you look after their coats?

CMOT I quite agree, training is key and relatively easy if done early
I did like your post. Brings a whole new meaning to ‘everyone fed, no one dead’

Whippets and cats you ask?

wolfie if I could guarantee a Labrador looking dog with a poodle coat I’d be happy

maiden OH MY GOODNESS!! All the heart eye emojis!! Have they lived together since they were young?

Jody or jet from rehoming Cyprus pointers will satisfy your gun dog sensibilities, less shedding than a lab and doing a Good Thing by rehoming. Our boy is a pup from them and he’s pretty much perfect 👌🏻

I had 4 ( now just one old lady left) & 2 lurchers and a whole pile of labs. All were brilliant with cats. The only problem I had with chickens was my big lab boy who bit my bantom game cock's head offRIP Sidney Larkin.

Another option may be a short-haired collie: DH is trying to convince me, whilst I am arguing for a boxer. Nice , easy coats: it's just the bonkers adolescence you need to worry about!

Izzy The whippet was 12 in the pic and has lived with cats all her life. Kenneth was about 18 months old there. They loved one and other. I think they liked the heat they gave each other.

Kenneth is no longer with us ( We are broken hearted😢) but we have his sister Helga who also loves Izzy and sleeps on her too. They are both blue though so pics look peculiar, like a dog spawning a cat!

Labrador they are rare but I have no idea why they are so out of fashion as they are, in my humble opinion, the perfect family dog. Mine are not woofy but they will sound the alarm if they suspect an intruder. They have a deep, big dog. bark. I have learnt to hand strip which I love, it can be hard to find an experienced groomer if you want to pay, but it is worth it as they look amazing when properly stripped. All low shedding dogs will take a fair bit of coat maintenance as the coat may not fall out but it still dies and gets itchy, or just keeps getting scruffier and scruffier. Mine are very family oriented, loving and gentle. Very trainable despite the terrier killer instinct they always seem more keen to please me than tear things apart. (We have ducks and the puppy has chased them but is learning to leave).
They are not first dog owner dogs as they are slow to forgive mistakes and they remember every slight against them so positive training is an absolute must!

haint they are both beautiful but they are lab crosses

TheABC I’d LOVE a collie, I really would, but I think they may be a bit high energy for me. I trained one once years ago and it was SO EASY! Wonderful, intelligent dogs but perhaps not suited to my more sedentary lifestyle these days. Do you have one?

Boxers are definitely not for me, though I’ve heard nothing but good about them. Anything with the bulldog type face does nothing for me I’m afraid

maiden your animals’ names are amazing, I will be seeking you out once new pup is in situ

thewolfsjustapuppy they sound absolutely perfect, thank you so much for your advice and all the information! Could you post a pic?

If you're interested in Irish I have this if you can use it. If so, pm me your address and I'll pop it in the post. I had an Irish too but I was Championing Whip Whippy Whippets tonight

Argggg, won't let me post pic. Never mind. It's a book on Irish Terriers.

Soft coated wheaten terrier! Beautiful, funny, clever, active and non shedding!

My older girl is so long suffering over the puppy who truely is a little menace. It’s just as well she is cute and loving as well or we’d have all have lost our shit by now

Wolf. They are made especially cute so you don't strangle them!

@Thewolfsjustapuppy They are adorable 😍