What breed of dog would suit us?

[Kakamora]

Can anyone recommend a breed we may like from Our preferences - short haired (not dead set, it’s a preference), small to medium, loves cuddling and affection but also would love to be outdoors going on long walks/mountain walks etc but also not a stereotypically cheeky behaviour dog iyswim.

Before anyone mentions adopting, our dog we had 10+ years had many many behavioural problems meaning we couldn’t do a lot of things with him like I’ve mentioned like walks with other people in close proximity or hsvinghim around children which we now have young immediate family members . We don’t want to have to sign on for that again.

Any dog, from any source, including well bred puppies, can end up with substantial behavioural issues. It's a bit like having a child - going through pregnancy yourself doesn't guarantee that the child won't have ADHD or autism.

Most breeds can cope with long walks on some days - but what will the dog realistically get for a Monday-Friday walk in term time?

This isn't a bad starting point www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/findabreed/Default.aspx

You say long mountain walks, but what can you realistically provide on a daily basis in terms of exercise and interaction? Are you both working? How old are any children?

Children are toddlers, morning and evening walk would be possible

There’s always somebody home 4 adults work shifts.

Most dog breeds would suit you, as long as you are prepared to spend the next few years training it. Dog training is for life. Keep it up and you’ll have a well behaved dog regardless of breed.

Morning and evening walk - how long are we talking in minutes and hours? There's an enormous difference between 10 minutes around the block twice a day and 2 x 90 minute trips to the park.

If you can commit to training and walks which it sounds like you can then most dogs (as long as you don't over do the exercise as a puppy and build up gradually as an adult) will enjoy long walks.

Therefore I would look about at the different breeds or visit discover dogs at crufts. The key is to look for the downsides of the breed and see if you are ok with managing that. What I mean by downside are things like is it a hunting dog, a sight hound, known for poor recall, certain behaviour characteristics etc and then decide whether those will be a problem for you.

Rescue centres are great now, a lot foster out their dogs so the foster carer can get a really good idea of the nature of each dog. We rescued our second dog - we wanted a male puppy labrador and ended up with an older cocker bitch! But she was exactly the temperament and personality we were looking for.

I can totally understand going the puppy route especially when you have young children, but I just thought I’d mention our experience with rescue.

On a daily basis, how much exercise is the dog likely to get, how long is it likely to be left alone, how much mental stimulation will it have throughout the day?

We have a lab/terrier cross and as long as he gets a good run during the day at some point, he is happy lounging about either next to the fire or out in the sun for the rest of the day. He isn’t particularly affectionate unless the mood takes him - sometimes he loves a cuddle but other times he like to have space to stretch out. Our cocker on the other hand, could be walked for hours and would still be full of beans, but if I take her into the garden for an hour and keep her 3ft away from me but playing games, getting her to do jobs for me, she will be knackered and much more content. She absolutely loves affection. She loves to be picked up, cradled like a baby, sprawled across your lap, any contact at all. She is very loving but it can mean she can be a bit needy too, whereas our other dog fends for himself much more.

Totally agree with above in my clueless naivety I didn’t realise there could be a negative in choosing a dog breed that is known for being really friendly loving the world etc but then you get that dog take it for walks where inevitably there are dogs and people who aren’t friendly and don’t love the world and it all becomes v v stressful particularly when teaching to be off lead

How long would the walks be? Puppies don't need much in terms of exercise but adult dogs generally do need a fair bit. Are we talking 2 x 20 minutes, or 2 x 60 minutes?

If you have toddlers, a large boisterous breed might not be a great idea. Puppies are clumsy and big dogs can knock small children flying - not intentionally, they just don't know their own strength!

See, terriers like a Border would suit but off lead....well it's not exactly a terriers forte. I've tended to find the recall generally rather selective, based on whether they want to come back or if there's something far more interesting to smell/chase/dig up/roll in.

Wire haired fox terrier? Mini schnauzer?

Parsons Russell.

Mine is the most talented dog I’ve ever had. For brains he beats collies paws down. He’s also got the best recall. Goes all day but also loves laps.

We found the book Choosing the Right Dog for You, by Gwen Bailey, really helpful for this question when we were thinking about dogs. It goes through all the breed behaviour characteristics in a way which is more useful and practical than other dog breed books. We now have a Labrador who is a great family dog, and I think would work well for your needs except it would be bigger than you want.

You need one of these....

Bulldog! We have an alpha blue bulldog, she is amazing-gentle, loving and great with babies/children. Probably a bit too big but bulldog breeds are amazing.
Because Frenchie's have become so popular in the UK now there is lots of Frenchie Adoption sites and they are very honest about any behaviour issues so you can find the perfect one for your home.

A poodle no shedding, comes in three sizes, intelligent and easy to train and hardy and adventurous and like people.

Staffie - mine ticks all your boxes (and so did the other one I had when I was a child). My current one is a rescue. Lots of them do NOT have behavioural issues. If you are in/near London (or Windsor), Battersea is excellent.

Cannot see many bulldogs going up a mountain , none of the ones I know would manage it . Border terrier sounds ideal .

I wouldn't recommend a bulldog. Far too many of them have breathing and mobility problems and I've never met one who could manage a long walk!

Mine can! She doesn't have any of the typical breathing difficulties of an English bulldog, just the great bulldog personality.
All the Frenchie's I know NEED long walks and are well bred so they don't have breathing difficulties either. But it is definitely something to look out for.

Also second staffy. Mines cuddly, friendly, loves to please, will happily walk for miles but also happy to sleep a lot! Not too big but well set sturdy dogs. They're little tanks that will plod along wherever you go.

If someone is always home, a cocker spaniel would be perfect. Mine has horrid separation anxiety, but he's a great size, very loyal and loving and will walk mile after mile. Equally he's satisfied with a short walk and some mental stimulation ie hiding tennis balls or squeaky toys through the house. He doesn't shed too much, and is terrific fun. We've had a tibetan terrier and a chocolate labrador before getting him. My only comment is that you need to put the early work in with training but that's the same for any puppy really.

I love staffys but didn’t I hear they’re getting banned ?

All breeds need the initial hard work with training and socialisation but some are more naturally gregarious and more suitable for family life.
Most young adult dogs (1-5 years) will need fair amount of exercise. However some breeds are likely to sustain this lifelong (working breeds such as collies, labs, spaniels, terriers) whereas others can become more sedentary well before old age (my whippet cross is 6yo and raises his eyebrows from his sofa if I suggest a second walk on a wintery day, although will happily stay out all day in fair weather!).
Poodles and their crosses are non-shedding, yes, but require considerably more grooming than my low-maintenance whippetx who hardly sheds anyway.

Working in the veterinary industry I also have to be cautious about recommending breeds such as bulldog and frenchie - although some examples of the breeds can have reasonable health and fitness you cannot often differentiate these as pups. There are other breeds that will be more at home on long hill walks.
There are lots of questionnaires you can do to help you select the right pedigree breed for you, but don't rule out the 'right' rescue or crossbreed - mine was from a loving family home that just had too many animals - he was well-socialised and adores children.

Good luck and happy hunting!

Another thing I would say is PLEASE be aware of puppy farms. There's a post on here now about someone who paid £900 for a Dachshund who clearly isn't a Dachshund.

Puppy farms are getting better and better at hiding their tracks. They get families to pose as the owner of a lovely dog who had an accidental litter. It's likely in these scenarios that the "mother" dog you see isn't at all related to the pups. You'll collect the dog from a family home, there'll probably be children and even another dog around. It's moved on a lot from buying dogs in carparks or on the side of the road. These people are really clever and know exactly how to fool people.

A good breeder will have a waiting list before the pups are even conceived. They'll ask loads of questions about you, your lifestyle, your experience, whether you'll be home with the dog, whether you've got daycare and walkers and insurance organised. You'll feel as though you're being grilled for a job interview.

I just see a lot of posts on here from people who fancied a dog and got one the following day - getting a dog from a decent breeder and who's been properly health-tested doesn't work that way. We were in touch with our breeder for a good nine months before we got our pup, on a waiting list for three until the pups were born, and waited another three months before we brought him home.

But the upside is he's a wonderful dog - healthy in every way, fully health-tested and in great condition. He came with all his jabs, he was chipped and everyone has said he's an amazing example of his breed. He was so worth the wait.