Which breed?

[allwalkedout]

Hi all.
After some advice. After recently caring for a relatives dog. Our house seems a little empty without one and we’re considering getting one in the spring.

We’ve never owned a dog before So are a bit clueless even after reading and taking various ‘which breed’ quizzes.

We are a family of 4 with 2 young children (youngest is nearly 2).
They both LOVE dogs and are not nervous around them.

We live in a decent sized house with a good sized garden witch backs straight onto woodland. It’s a rural area. Both of us work long hours on a Thursday and Friday but I’m off all other days. The days I’m at work grandparents are around but I do t want to rely on them to walk the dog.
We could probably dedicate up to an hour a day to exercise, would prefer something g that doesn’t shed too much and that perhaps needs grooming once a week.

We are fairly active an enjoy long walks and Bering outdoors at weekends and wolf like the dog to join us.

Anyone suggest a suitable breed?

Which, not witch

Springer spaniel?

Pointer?

Both highly trainable

Cocker spaniel all the way, but make sure you get one with a good temperament as some can be wappy!

My parents have one and she's the softest sweetest dog I know, great with small children but I'd still make sure to give them a break from the kids too.

Dog training is worth every penny if followed through at home especially with a smart dog!

Springers are wonderful family dogs but they are very high energy. And they shed like mad.

How about a whippet?

I’ve been told that a springer will get bored too easily and is stubborn to train. I don’t know how true this is though. I thought about a show cocker though?

Yes, a cocker would be a good choice.

A lab or retriever. Both have great temperaments and are great with kids. They do shed though.

Airedale Terrier. Love to please, very affectionate. Easy to train as long as you do it with love/treats and not punishment. Really good with children. And everyone else loves them and tells you about the one they knew (and loved) when they were a child.

Get a fabulous rescue dog, my rescue Labx was the best dog and best friend I have ever had.

I wouldn't recommend a Labrador around very young children - they're big dogs and can be very boisterous and mouthy as puppies, plus they get destructive and eat everything!

I would recommend a cocker spaniel, border terrier, bedlington terrier or a staffy.

A friend has a chocolate lab. Absolutely beautiful but just so big and boisterous that I’d be nervous...and the constant shedding is a nightmare.

A pointer is an option I think. I looked at the Airedale terrier and apparently they can get aggressive if not given a lot of exercise and mental stimulation and they are difficult to train. They seem just a step above (in terms of needs) what we could look after.

I think we might go with the cocker.

What do I need to lookout for with breeders?

Puppies and very small children isn't an easy combination imo. Just a thought before you take the plunge. I'm very grateful for leaving it until my youngest was four because you really have to train them AND the dog!

OP, our Airedale is utterly soft, he was 15 months old when I brought our daughter home from the hospital and he has always been utterly gentle with her, even when she used his fur to pull herself up to standing. Exercise wise there has been the occasional day when we haven't been able to walk him and his temperament has never changed.

An Airedale may not be for you, but please don't believe anyone who tells you that as a breed they are aggressive or stubborn - our experience has been completely the opposite.

Another Airedale owner, ours is very sweet.

You can get show springers too - Battendog is one and that makes him a little bit calmer and easy going than a working springer. He has 2 x 1 hour walks a day, off lead plus about another hour of training and play time - split into smaller chunks. I brush him every other day but it only takes 10 mins.

I'd think a springer was more trainable ("biddable") than a cocker, though both are lovely breeds. Maybe I've just known (delightfully) naughty cockers .

It's worth noting the 'bad' of the breed as well as the good and I think all of this applies to both cockers and springers:

• mouthy so likely to chew up a few unchaparoned shoes before fully grown
• bouncy, so needs careful training to ensure they don't bounce all over people when greeting them
• can sometimes struggle to be left alone
• need to be aware of good ear and mouth health, more so than some other breeds with tidier ears and mouths
• likely to make your house muddy

Oh, and it's worth starting breeder research now. Bitches don't breed to a schedule so it can be a wait for the right dog. It's worth waiting.

Battendog took about 8 months from my starting to look, to him coming home. And that was with some charmed good luck thrown in.

What about a cockerpoo, I would say find a dog sitter/walker or day care for the Thursday and Friday. Puppies can’t be left for very long at all.

You can’t judge the suitability of a dog only by it’s breed. All breeds have varying temperaments which are shaped by genetics and upbringing, just like us. One Labrador, for example, can be wonderful with kids, another can be wary and snappy. I worked in dog rescue for 10 years and cared for thousands of dogs, some nice, some not. The most aggressive dog I ever cared for was a Golden Retriever, a breed renowned for loving children. He bit me hard on the hand three times causing me to go to A&E for stitches and I had to be off work for two weeks. I’d only pulled him by the collar. Sorry to put a damper on it, but temperament is not governed by breed. I have met some adorable Goldies too! Cockers are so cute but can be extremely high energy and need plenty of exercise.

I suggest you visit one of the well known rescue centres (Blue Cross, Battersea, Wood Green) who will help to marry you up with a dog that fits your lfestyle and family. They often have pedigrees as well as cross breeds, if you are set on a particular breed. Steer away from buying dogs via the Internet, so many of them are from puppy farms.

Sorry to lecture, but choosing “child friendly” breeds that are good with children is rather like choosing a nanny by the colour of her hair or nationality.

Agree with forza 100%.

We have a Rottweiler and a Labrador. Our Rottweiler is an angel, she is perfect with the kids and is just the best dog. The lab is very nervy, a bit scatty and whilst he is good with the kids, I wouldn't say he's the perfect family dog. We obviously love him dearly but his ideal home really would be in a working home.

Our chocolate lab is big and boisterous. He’s a total lunatic. He’s also got an absolutely bulletproof temperament and instinctively knows to be careful and gentle around our 4 month old baby. They are already the best of friends. He lies down next to her, wherever she is, and just looks adoringly at her while she kicks him in the face. I don’t think I could ever trust another dog more than him.

He does shed like a bitch though!

Staffies!

Super cuddly and great with kids.

Mine is super chilled out as well