Best family dog breed suggestions please

[SarfE4sticated]

Hi everyone, since the sad demise of our lovely rescue cat, and my new career as freelance publishing goddess, I think we at long last might be able to get a dog. I have registered with all of the local rescues, and will hopefully get a rescue mixed breed dog, but would like some breed recommendations just in case.
My DD would love a soppy loving gentle dog as my DD (10) is a bit of a wuss so something like a Cavalier King Charles but without the health problems
My DH would love something sleek looking like a pointer (he's not really bothered though so we only slightly need to take his opinion into account)
I would love a Cairn, as i know and trust them as a breed, I like that you can have them on your lap for a cuddle, carry them on the escalators but also that you can walk them for miles and they're fun to be with.
I would also love to get another rescue cat, so a breed that is happy with a cat would be great.
I have no real experience of any dog types apart from terriers, so any advice you could give me would be great.
Thanks all!

I haven't read through all three pages but I just want to say:

Get a cat before you get a dog. We had our two cats for two years before we had our dog. When we introduced the dog, there was some playful chasing in the garden on the first day and that was it. Now, they sleep together a lot of the time. If the cat's already there, you're saying to the dog 'this is how it is. the cat lives here.'

Excellent point RapunzelIsHere I wondered how best to make it work.

Get a mini schnauzer! Happy to be either town or country dog. Will run all day or snooze all day - whatever you’re doing they’ll join in. Non- moulting, sweet natured, small but sturdy. My old boy loves everyone, people, dogs, cats, horses, birds, you name it (he’s scared of frogs tho). So gentle with kids and puppies. We lived in a flat when we first got him and it wasn’t a problem at all.

I'd snap either of those two up, recall depending.
I don't know how much importance the rescues place on location, regarding traffic etc with dogs that have poor recall but I'd definitely stress the fact if you stay in a traffic heavy area.
Save alot of potential heartache.
Mines STILL has her days where she refuses to go back on lead. It can start with her refusing because she's enjoying herself too much in the park and only end after leading me on a brisk walk a mile or so away with the direction being her choice.

Just something worth keeping in mind when choosing. A lurcher cross type may well be the solution.

Oh my God a lurcher would be amazing!

Out of all of our local parks only Greenwich Park is walled all the way round I think, so this could be a problem Earthmover. We go to the coast a lot which would be a bit better, but day to day walks to our local park might be a problem as it's open with a quite busy roads all around it.

Cadbury is adorable but looks like he's part werewolf! Those huge paddy paws look like he might be huuuge!

If you'd like to know more about Daisy, I can find out as my friend is fostering her, or just give Pip a ring as it says on the website. I know their fosterer says Maisie and Daisy are super lovely, but I don't know how big they are currently.
BTW, not all EGLR dogs are fostered in the Evesham area either, so don't be put off by the thought of the distance. Even then, for people coming a long way, we will sometimes get a homecheck done in advance then they make one visit to the fosterer and take the dog home that day if they are sure.

Another vote for a whippet, ours is completely ruled by our two soppy house cats, he sleeps99% of the time, snuggles like a pro, loves kids but is still capable of a good long walk if needed. Only downside is they can sometimes get a bit chilly in cold weather so having a coat for them is something most people do. (Ours has quite a selection he is a bit spoilt)

Lhasa apso, is never even considered this breed before and I can honestly say of all the dogs I've owned/fostered she is amazing.
Never snapped,
Loves everyone not just a one person dog,
Happy and playful loves playing fetch
Loves the cat and happily let's her drink out of her bowl etc,
Gentle with baby
Loves to sit with you or on you!!
Very easy to train, tricks and everything!

She in my opinion is the perfect family dog, she's a big dog in a small dogs body there is t a bad bone in her.

Mmm just read the flat bit, I don't think it's fair to have any dog in a flat. We live amongst miles of countryside I feel sorry for inner city dogs.

lola why do you feel sorry for them? My dog visits at least two different parks a day. Once a day, he goes up the hill by our house for at least an hour to two hours and plays with all his friends. Once a week, he visits a dog park - there are tons in our city, with agility courses, swimming pools and massive fields to run safely in. Once a week we go to the beach or the countryside for another massive walk. During summer, we spend all evening in the park by the river.

Feel sorry for dogs that are abused or live in a shelter their whole life or get stuck in a shelter when the family gets bored of them. My city dog has a great life.

@lolathedarkdestroyer dogs in flats, if kept by responsible people of course, tend to have MORE walks than dogs in houses with gardens. Especially as many flats aren't that far from parks or even wilderness to play in. Active people can live in flats too! And remember flats can have gardens as well.

bunny exactly. My dog goes out five times a day. Each time a minimum of 15 minutes with at least one long walk. No throwing him out in the garden to pee - chance would be a fine thing. I’ve had dogs my whole life - this is the first time without a garden, and it’s definitely the most work but he is also the one who gets the most attention and most walking.

We have a cavapoo exactly for their temperament... Cavalier king charles qualities without the health problems, poodle intelligence and zero malting. He is the calmest and kindest dog around kids and is equally happy snuggling on the sofa as he is walking for miles! Amazing family dog!

Haven't read whole thread but if you fancy a specific breed you could research the breed rescues as they often have puppies and older dogs that for one reason or other haven't worked out for other families. I used to foster for a breed rescue and it was lovely to help people find a good new home.

Labrador.

I wouldn't get viszla if you live in a flat!!! You need a small dog!

April your dogs are gorgeous.
Re Italian Greyhounds - ours is the cuddliest dog I've ever known and utterly and completely adorable.
BUT.......they are known as a breed to be hard to house train and our little bundle of sweetness is so exception. We are nearly there but she's 2 and a half and still makes messes if she thinks she won't be caught.

SarfE4sticated. Sounds like you have the sensible head on so I'm sure whatever you choose it'll be a good fit.
Never had a rescue, but considering the insight regarding individual temperament it sounds like the way to go.
Best of luck.

We have dogs in a huge house!! They don't spend their days covering every square foot of space!! A flat is more than acceptable as long as you are in it!!
Our ddogs choose to curl up in stupidly small spaces - they have beds /sofa and my bed if they get chance!!

Thank you CMOT (I love your username by the way!) I found *Evesham on the map and it's miles away from here, but we could stay overnight somewhere. Have just looked at Maisie and she is gorgeous too! Oh I feel a bit teary.

(*For some reason I thought it was in Sussex not sure why. Is there some kind of Constable connection to the area as well?)

Lola London dogs are pretty happy with their lot I think, as long as they haven't been snatched from a life at a stately home and then crammed into a 2 bed garden flat. We have masses of parks, and other green spaces, and most of us will go into the countryside at weekends too.

April your dogs are divine - so squidged up! They are so cat-like aren't they!

Thanks everyone else, you've been so helpful!

We got our pup from rescue at eight weeks. When we picked him up they told us that his mum was a spaniel but they had no idea about his dad, with guesses ranging from terrier through husky to rottweiller. He's turned out to be roughly the same size as his spaniel mum though with none of her other looks. Not sure about the rest of his litter, four looked like him (short haired yellow lab colouring) and two were very different (shaggy black and white). I see that both Bounty and Cadbury are listed at 6mth old Saulki x whippet/collie so I wonder if they are litter mates. Both gorgeous!

Personally I'd go for the rescue that a) captures your heart and b) is available and matched with you. I love most dogs really, and wouldn't be picky about breeds except for brachycephalic breeds because they look deformed and very large breeds because they tend to have short lives both of which make me sad. Mixed breed mutts have a special place in my heart though, I like that they are all unique.

border terrier.

@Lola the only thing that distinguishes a flat from any other dwelling is that there are no stairs. Please can you enlighten us all as to why stairs are vital for canine wellbeing?

If you mean small dwellings, or dwellings without gardens, say so.

My inner London flat inhabiting dog is perfectly happy with his lot - and he's much better off with me than he was when he lived in a house in outer London and was barely walked. Here he's walked daily and we're within walking distance of 800 acres of parkland. It's the quality of the ownership that matters, not the shape of the dwelling they live in.