Choosing a new dog.

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We have recently lost our beloved chocolate Labrador. He was 10 and it was all very sudden. He has left a big hole in our family.
We would like to get a puppy but don't want a choc lab again as we don't want to feel that we are completely replacing the last one.
My husband would love another Lab but I'm a little reluctant as the last one moulted hair everywhere!!
Can I have any suggestions for a shorter haired breed, similar size and temperament as a Lab ?

we have a short haired border collie and love him to pieces. There are lots of myths about them (mainly about the amount of exercise they need) but we have been told by the vet and breeder that you set the walk length and that's what the dog will get used to. we only walk him for 40-60 mins a day, and he runs around the garden himself. just make sure that you get a dog that has been bred from a domestic collie rather than a working one and they will most likely have a lovely temperament (all the border collies i have seen have been lovely) x

We have two labs. One moults but the other doesn’t at all, so it’s not a forgone conclusion. Don’t know how you determine which will and which won’t though as puppies!

Labradoodle? Less likely to moult than pure labs but clever and very family friendly

I'm hankering after a border terrier, although don't have one so just inspiration rather than a firm recommendation.

Australian labradoodle maybe. Little smaller than a lab, but lovely nature, and less shedding (though they do need plenty of brushing).

A standard poodle, no moulting and fabulous dogs.

I was going to say collie too but even flat haired ones do moult. Ours is a farm dog and brilliant at fitting in with the family because hes very self sufficient, doesn't need attention all the time and pushes off to his room (ok utility room but he sleeps there) for long periods but if you want to play he's there wanting to play ball, cheaper to feed because they don't eat as much as labs and he gets an hour or so of walks but split up and doesn't care if you miss them to be honest

I was going to suggest a Goldendoodle or Labradoodle. Wonderful dogs and low shedding.

We were in the same position last year. We had decided not to get another dog but the whole left by our boy was huge. Like you I didn't want another lab. Felt it was unfair as we would keep comparing the new dog to our last one.
We ended up getting a Spanish water dog. Smaller than a lab, doesn't moult and has a great temperament.
He doesn't need grooming but gets shaved 1-2 a year. Very biddable and easy to train.
We all adore him.

I also have a border collie.

The working ones if properly bred can make really lovely pets though a decent one will have a strong herding instinct right from puppyhood so you will have to work hard to desensitise it to things like cars, bikes etc and don't allow any herding behaviour towards people.

Mine (working) is very lazy in the house, she practically lives on the sofa but she will take as much exercise as I want to give her.
Really kind and gentle around children as well.
She isn't good with other dogs though but then repeated unprovoked aggression will do that to pretty much dog I imagine.

By 'working' I mean the proper collies bred on farms to work the farmers flock.
I wouldn't go for a agility/fly ball bred one which are still technically 'working bred' or one bred for sheepdog trials as the ones I've come across from those lines are quite neurotic with no 'off switch'.