Help me choose a breed

[T00much]

Have been thinking of getting a dog for a couple of years and now seriously considering it so want to do more research on what breed is right for us.

1. size - small to medium (our house isn't massive)
   
2. exercise - we have a small garden but live round the corner to a big park. We would enjoy taking dog for walks so don't want anything that wouldn't cope with a longish walk (3-5 miles at weekends)
   
3. We have kids so needs to be good with children (8&12)
   
4. shedding - as little shedding as possible
   
5. grooming - nothing that needs to be brushed every day
   
6. no droolers
   
7. temperament - friendly, playful but not too crazy and bouncy. One that can be trained to sit/fetch ball
   
8. Appearance - quite like a natural/scruffy looking dog. I like miniature shnauzers but have read that they can be barky and dislike strangers and a bit moody, unpredictable temperament and prone to blindness.
   Also like wirehaired datchunds but they are prone to back problems I believe.
   
   
   Any ideas? I know a lovely cockapoo who ticks all the boxes but I'm worried about dodgy puppy farms

[userxx]

Ha ha border terrorist, brilliant! I live next door to one of these feisty little critters and I swear she was shoulder barging the fence yesterday whilst I was pottering in the garden, desperate to know what I was up to.

[tinymeteor]

A beagle fits the bill in every way except scruffy looks. They are exasperating little shits quite distinctive characters as puppies, and require very very consistent training. But super lovable and make great family dogs. Once full grown, they would be fine with the kind of walks you're proposing and will snooze on the sofa the rest of the day.

[knockknockknock]

Working cocker spaniel. Don't believe the hype that they're mental and on the go all the time. Mine has two 45 min walks a day and sleep the rest of the time and are only 2&3 years old. Amazing loyal dogs.

[RubberJohnny]

And for a first dog, ( I know it's only your sisters suggestion) do not get a wolfhound. We've had two over the epyears. Lovely boys both of them but with health issues and complicated puppyhood nutritional needs to do with fast growth rate, they aren't a beginners breed. Nor can they walk miles till at least two when mature and then only live till eight or nine. Our first lived till 11 but he almost needed a mini digger to get him up in the mornings and out of the door to stand and pee by the end. And they do have a hound smell and you can stuff pillows with the shed hair.

[T00much]

HRH as my work is from home we have a lot of 'strange' people in and out so I do worry about that..

framey When I was younger I always imagined I'd get a spaniel

[Wolfiefan]

Wolfhound? Doesn't quite fit your brief!!

[Icantfindausername]

I'm not sure how people can comment about the cavapoo club on fb when they aren't members of it but hey ho...
I would not recommend looking online for a puppy but the cavapoo club is for people who love and are interested in that breed - it is a lovely group and people will recommend breeders and report known puppy farms (which just make me sick yo the stomach) xx

[Eryri1981]

We have a Cocker Spaniel X Bedlington Terrier who is 16 months old. He meets 7.5 out of 8 of your criteria but is still very bouncy and crazy. He looks like a shrunk down Irish Wolfhound.

[Wolfiefan]

No decent pedigree breeder would breed cross breeds.
Cross breeders can breed as many litters as they like. No KC registration so no monitoring at all.
Cross breeding is never done for the good of the breed. It's a money making business.
Cross breeding does not result in a known outcome.
I can comment. Cavapoo and cockerpoo et al? I would avoid like the plague.

[Eryri1981]

Trying to post pictures now

[T00much]

Will have a look at miniature poodles & beagles (not scruffy no but am open to suggestions and they are lovely looking)

Don't worry, not getting a wolfhound, my sister can get her own!

My aunt had spaniels and they were a bit nuts

[Eryri1981]

Egon

[cheshiremama89]

Highly recommend a mini schnauz

[Wolfiefan]

Poodles do need grooming and may be higher energy than you want.
Beagles aren't really first dog material. Recall can be a big issue. Very high energy.
Different types of spaniels are very different. I'm very fond of cockers but again too much grooming for me!

[Wolfiefan]

Egon. You're stunning!!

[Eryri1981]

And more...

[dotdotdotmustdash]

Get in touch with some reputable rescues and tell them what kind of home you can offer. They're absolutely the best place to find what you're looking for even if you don't know what it is yet.

[MumofBoysx2]

Cavapoo but go to a reputable breeder.

[T00much]

egon so gorgeous
cheshire I do absolutely love them and have met 2 recently that were lovely.
How is yours with kids/strangers & is he/she particularly yappy?

[T00much]

Poodles & beagles a no then..

[Wolfiefan]

Egon. Gorgeous.
There aren't good cavapoo breeders. You could end up with cavalier health issues and poodle health issues too.

[sweetkitty]

Tibetian Terrier - friend had one and he’s the most laid back dog ever. Bit bigger than a Lhasa Apso, scruffy looking (coat does need a lot of looking after), happy with shortish walks or a long hike, doesn’t shed, great nature with kids, rarely barks.

[olivetor7]

Oh Egon, you beautiful scruffy boy. I have a soft spot for bedlingtons.

[T00much]

I know dotdot if I didn't have kids I would take a rescue but am worried about their background plus the local rescue centre only seems to ever have staffies

[Icantfindausername]

My cavapoo is from a KC registered mum and dad so that's absolute rubbish. I've seen the papers and they have been fully health checked and tested, I've fully researched it with assistance from a qualified vet. Mixing the 2 breeds reduces the chance of health risks from both breeds in not going to argue about with on here with you because I've got better things to do x