Healthy Family Dog Breeds with criteria..

[DollyDayScream]

I've posted about the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel today and I learnt that despite being the perfect family dog the likely health issues make me pause considerably.

We want a sweet natured family dog that doesn't require more than 1 hour minimum daily exercise, isn't too big and is not yappy.

Must be steady around toddlers and not shed too much.

It will primarily live with mil, but will very much be a part of our family and come and stay at our house.

@AlpacaLypse they are shyster puppy farmers and backyard breeders.
The only way to find a decent breeder is to pick a breed and go through the breed club. Just because someone has a sweet cockerpoo doesn't mean the parents don't have a shit life and the dog won't end up with serious health issues.

@Wolfiefan my friend who breeds cockerpoos goes into considerably more care about who to breed her bitches to than many breeders of KC recognised breeds do. Her dogs are already cockerpoos, both sires and dams, and have been for the last four generations. They are starting to breed true, they are all the same size, coat type, shape and temperament. There hasn't been a throwback to something that looks more like a pure poodle or cocker for several litters now. They are living healthily to the age you'd expect that size dog to make - 13 to 15 years. The ultimate aim of my friend and the group of like minded breeders is to create a breed, and they appear to have succeeded. They are keeping a stud book between them so that they can avoid inbreeding, just like the recognised breeds are meant to. She is just as picky as any other breeder about who buys her dogs, she will visit potential owners at their home before handing dogs over and has refused to sell more than once.

How do you think all the breeds which are recognised by the KC were created?

In fact I'd say that one of the clearest signs of a reputable breeder is the level of third degree they give you as a potential owner. If they're happy to hand a pup over to you without questioning your ability to provide a decent home, then they're probably people to step away from.

It's not a breed. It's a money making scam.

Just re Cavalier exercise requirements. I think they are one of the few with the spaniel name to require less than most. Probably because that particular breed has always been a companion dog and wasn't bred for a specific job (other than to look cute and sit on laps). It was based on a much older spaniel type which WAS a worker. But Cavs were not.

That doesn't mean they wouldn't enjoy extra exercise, just that you're less likely to see behavioural problems if the dogs gets - say - an hour a day of interesting, fun walks than you might with a more energetic breed.

As always, low exercise requirements don't mean low attention requirements. All dogs benefit from stimulation and attention, even if it's not in the form of a walk.

Tricky to find a healthy one, though.

WillowDogs I'm really interested in the research behind varied exercise amounts each day. Do you have links or pointers where I could find it?

It was part of a behaviour study I worked on, the results have yet to be published but they would suggest that the key is variety. I suppose it's the same as with people.
Also in terms of fitness I often hear owners say they walk the dogs for x amount of time a day and they never seem tired. Much like people who do a set workout everyday it becomes easier overtime. But people are often surprised at how the dog who is never tired sleeps for hours after an agility class or even a proper obedience class!
I'm sorry I can't forward you the results yet, I guess you could always do your own independent experiment and mix up your dogs routine, see what happens.

I think variety is key with exercise. BiteyDog gets over 2 hours of walks and many more hours of play a day at daycare. With me he might get a short road walk and ball play in the garden or 'full ball chasing' at speed, or some hunting and a bit of play other days. Some days we do agility others hardly anything at all with no walks and he seems perfectly happy with all of that even though he's a working breed (we definitely don't need to do hours of walks everyday).

Thanks WillowDogs and no worries.

I am studying canine behaviour myself and just was interested to see the research. Guess I'll have to wait for it to be published

Totally agree bitey that variety is important. Battendog, one of the JRTs and myself have just come back from a game of ball in the river - not a huge amount of physical exercise but a heap of fun and nice and cool (it's in the shade).

A breeder can have their dogs tested in every possible way for inherited diseases but still cannot guarantee that their puppies will not be affected.
It is impossible to find a Cavalier which might not have heart disease later, 90% of them do. Same goes for other breeds with known risks.
Do your research scientifically, not through someone’s experiences on a general forum.

Any dog can have heart disease later on, regardless of how good their lines but a cavalier from bloodlines where the previous generations have been tested to have healthy hearts well into their teens is far less likely to develop heart disease than a cavalier bred from any old lines so long as parents pass the tests. That's why I always say it's so important to find a breeder who knows their lines well enough to know they are breeding from the small stock of heart healthy lines. That is based on science.

Also I thought the 90% develop heart disease was a figure from quite a while back...🤔.

A breeder can have their dogs tested in every possible way for inherited diseases but still cannot guarantee that their puppies will not be affected.

Well they can for some conditions where at least one parents was DNA tested clear and the condition requires both parents to have the faulty gene for the puppy to get that inherited condition. But yes for things like hips, eyes, heart etc where it relies on a physical check of the parent dogs then obviously no they can't, as it's not an exact science. but not breeding from affected dogs does reduce the risks, as does knowing the bloodlines well enough to know if dogs even as far back as great great great great grandparents remained healthy into old age.

Quick Google and this suggests research in 2016 showed 30% of cavaliers affected by heart conditions - although some that didnt have the condition at the time could go onto I suppose which would probably raise the percentage a bit.

www.thekennelclub.org.uk/press-releases/2016/november/cavalier-heart-scheme-proven-to-improve-health-approved-by-kennel-club/

Bichon Frisé might fit the bill, the one I know is non-shed, sweet-natured, not particularly yappy and as bomb-proof as a dog can be with small children. Not quite sure on exercise requirements but given their small size I can’t imagine it’s too great.

Nothing wrong with having a toddler and pup if you are committed. I think it’s actually great for them to grow up around dogs so they learn not to fear them and to respect them. It’s also good for kids to be encouraged to care for animals.

If the hour was off lead woodland type walk a cocker spaniel from show lines (when looking at the pedigree it should have lots of Sh ch. NO FTCH which indicate working lines). If not I'd want a greyhound. Had cockers but not a greyhound but the ones I've met have been v. Docile and sweet natured.

Staffy?

Puppies mouthe. They bite everything. They also require a LOT of attention. Like take your eyes off them and they crap on the carpet level of attention. They need training too.
Toddlers are unpredictable, can be scary for pups and likely to be bitten or scratched.
It's an awful idea.

I agree with @wolfiefan, puppies are more hard work than anyone remembers. And they quickly turn into bouncy teenagers whilst the toddler is still a toddler. I'd suggest 5/6 is the absolute minimum age for the child to get a pup but ideally a bit older.
And kids can grow up with an adult dog! Small dogs and Lurchers live into their late teens frequently so if get a 3 year old you could still have 12-15years even

Bichons can make lovely family pets, they tend to be a bit healthier than Cavs but often have same sweet temperament.
Cons - they are another breed popular with puppy farmers so if were to go to a breeder do be so careful.
They don't require tons of exercise but are quite lively and will want to have good walks everyday especially when younger.
Their coat is quite a lot of maintenance - regular trims at the groomers and you must brush them daily as very prone to matting. They don't shed though.

Top tip if going to a breeder - they should be willing for you to visit more than once. A good breeder will be the one that says I haven't got any pups at the moment but come meet my dogs and let's have a chat, come back soon after pup's are born and maybe more visits before they are ready to go.
Puppy farmers and smugglers are getting wise and will even use a show house to meet you with the pup rather than the service station. They pluck the dog from the crappy kennel two miles down the road, take it to the house, clean it up, sometimes even have a fake mother dog to show and all looks hunky dory.

Oh and don't choose a rescue dog based on a photo on FB especially one that comes from another country that gets brought straight over and dumped on your doorstep. There are so many excellent rescues here and you do not want to take any risk with a toddler, if can say roughly your area I can see if I know any that can recommend