Best breed for a family dog?

[Beautiful3]

After having a cat, we moss having a family pet. We're thinking of buying a dog. After some research I think that a king Charles cocker spaniel caviler would be ideal. Apparently they're great with children, mine are 6 & 9. I like the idea that after a walk they'll sit on your lap to watch a film. Can you experienced dog lovers give me any advice please?

[Floralnomad]

If a spaniel appeals to you what about a Clumber , much less commonly seen but great family pets and need less exercise than springers and cockers .

[GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman]

A show-line springer might suit you, or a show-line cocker. The working lines of both breeds can be manic, but are wonderful dogs in the right hands (plenty of exercise and training). The show lines are generally more chilled.

Cavaliers are riddled with health issues, which is a huge pity as they are very sweet little dogs. Between syringomyelia and mitral valve disease, you're unlikely to find a healthy one.

This has probably been suggested already, but have you thought about going to something like Discover Dogs to check out a wide range of breeds and chat to owners?

[gottaprettypup]

I agree to look at rescues..bide your time...occasionally there are puppies too...prettypup was adopted by us at 8 weeks having been born in shelter..our previous dog was handed over at 10 weeks for 'nipping ' . We had him 15 years and he was wonderful. All our dogs have been crosses/multiple mixed breeds.
I cant imagine being without prettypup..DH and I adore her..she is high energy, mad as a box of frogs, highly intelligent and huge fun..

[kunderscorej]

Our mini schnauzer isn't very barky. I think it can depend on personality though. He is very snuggly when we're with him, doesn't need too many walks and can be left on his own for a few hours no problem. He's a lovely dog

[hereforasillygoosetime]

Pain for these poor dogs unimaginable and they shouldn't be bred. Cruel cruel cruel.

[hereforasillygoosetime]

@Beautiful3 have you not read any of the advice on this thread about cavaliers then?



Syringomyelia affects 70% of this breed.

[Floralnomad]

Cavaliers can have horrendous genetic issues , I know a few and none will play ball . If you want a dog to play ball a border terrier would be a good bet .

[SafferUpNorth]

Have you considered a Border Terrier? Nice compact size, bags of character and an excellent family pet. Great with kids. Our dog-boy (4.5 years) is equally attached to all three of us (tho as his mammy who feeds him I think I might be his favourite!).

They are also fairly independent minded and not overly demanding of attention, which is good if you have young children and little time. But he's equally happy curling up on the couch with us in the evenings.

Good luck!

[Beautiful3]

Hi all, thanks so much for all your advice. I've realised from the feedback on here that the Springer would require more exercise than I'd want to give, so that's good to know. I saw my child's friends mother yesterday, who has a beautiful poodle. She loves hers but wouldn't get another. Because they pick a favourite person and follow that person all day/night. I'd want a dog that bonds with every family member. Also the grooming bill is quite high. Now we are looking at the cavalier king Charles. Can Anyone with one please tell me if they like to play fetch with a ball?

[Ihaventgottimeforthis]

All the people who get a 'something-poo' - I always wonder, why not just get a poodle?! Much more predictable what type of dog you will get in terms of origins, health, character and so on.
Really consider a poodle, OP.

I'd strongly recommend against a springer, if you want a calm dog that needs limited exercise. All the springers I know would walk for thirty hours a day and are truly happy following mountain bikes over the hills, searching moors for missing people, beating woodlands for hours or running behind a landrover 24/7.
Definitely not 'three short walks a day' dogs.

[Answerthequestion]

We have a cavapoo. He’s the most wonderful family pet, gentle, loving, brilliant with kids and needs minimal walking, happy with one good walk a dat. He is not from a puppy farm, but from a breeder who totally worships and adores her dogs.

[Girliefriendlikescake]

We've recently bought a puppy, we looked into rescues but none of the local ones would rehome a terrier breed to us as we have a cat.

Terriers make great family pets, we've got a yorkie/ jrt and he's been amazing so far. He was pretty easy to toilet train, loves to play, loves company but is also happy to play independently. He is only 12 weeks old at the moment but once he is older will be fine on long or short walks. He is also quick to learn and knows a load of commands already!!

I personally feel that cross breeds have quite a few benefits not least that their health is generally better.

[Micah]

Dogs trust are very busy. They also operate a “first come first served” method so you have to be able to drop everything to go visit a dog, and risk a walk in 10 minutes before reserving it....

I got incredibly stressed with DT/rspca and the like as I felt I was getting to a point where I would have taken any dog, rather than taking time to assess suitability.

Look at breed specific and local rescues. They are more likely to hold a file of potential adoptees and choose the most suitable.

If you are near wales Many Tears takes in puppy farm rejects and often has puppies. Most of their older dogs need a resident dog though to teach them how to “dog”.

My breed of choice was a yorkshire terrier. Will walk all day, or happy pottering round the house and garden. Tough little things, easily trainable.

[jokeys]

Is he just gonna be a pet? Are you gonna be able to give him the exercise as well as mental exercise. Spingers perhaps not so much for my family.

[rosydreams]

springer spaniels are really good natured but its the dog that never stops.Loopy does not even cover it completely bonkers on a wild caffeine trip.

Hard to train but sweet but very high energy needs long walks and lots of interaction

[Beautiful3]

We visited a dogs trust yesterday. We were shocked at the size of the queue! At least 25 people clutching pieces of paper waiting to take home a dog! Wow! Only ourselves and 3 other families were 'looking'. Not many dogs on show. I spoke with a lovely staff member who explained that none except one would be allowed with children under 12. The only one suitable was a whippet thats great with children, but recently killed a neighbours small dog. I declined. We are still researching breeds, we would get a puppy due to the home's age restriction.

@kunderscorej
The miniature schnauzer looks adorable. My friend says they are quite barky? Does yours bark a lot? The girls really want a medium size dog to play fetch with and cuddle up to at night. So the lab seems too large. They play with a neighbour's lovely young lab, who is so sweet natured. She does jump a lot and accidentally pushes the little one over. They're saying they love the neighbour's dog but would find it overwhelming 24/7.

@ jokeys
My husbands now researching springer spaniels. Should we be looking at working ones?

[jokeys]

I have a re homed working Cocker, a gun dog is what he is breed for. He is 5, and he is amazing, he has a his crazy moments, but right now, he is asleep on the sofa, at the end of my feet, whilst the rest of the family are asleep. I believe it's all about how your train them, your family life, what you want from a dog, he will go mad when he sees his lead and ball, as he knows its walk time. He is the most loving soppy, family dog I could ask for.

[ImogenTubbs]

Yes, please do get a rescue if you can. There are so many lovely dogs who don't have homes. Good luck!

[kunderscorej]

We have a miniature schnauzer, great loyal family dog. Smallish so he doesn't need masses of walks (we usually do one 1 hour walk and a couple more 15 min walks through the day).
Ours is very loving and cuddly, loves to curl up on the sofa with us in the evening 🥰

[user444444]

It is unsolicited. The op hasn't asked.

These threads always go the same way. Someone asks for advice and gets rescues and puppy farms rammed down their throats, as though they've just said they toured all the puppy farms and found the perfect crossbreed.

You think you're giving great advice, but all that happens is people go off and have to do their research elsewhere when they realise they're just going to get lectured and told they have no idea about dogs.

[bluebluezoo]

It isn’t unsolicited though, it’s a natural direction for the discussion.

When people start suggesting “breeds” which are designer crosses, poos, doodles etc, then the puppy farm issue absolutely needs to be brought up.

Rescues again, part of the discussion. Sometimes novices will be better with a carefully matched older rescue. Worth saying, as some people only think of puppies.

[thatfailmailrag]

We have a fully papered Staffordshire bull terrier. Loyal. Easy to train. Smallish. Low maintenance coat. Complete people pleaser, loves games. Only barks when we try and sweep, weirdo.
And does not have a jaw that 'locks' before anyone trots that lie out.
Grew up around working spring spaniels. High, high energy with a real mischievous streak. 3 daily walks won't tire them out. They are machines!!!
Good luck OP, owning a dog is a complete joy.

[user444444]

@LolaSmiles this always happens on MN. The response is always either 'get a rescue' or 'you don't know enough about dogs and shouldn't own one'. Puts me right off the dog forum. I agree it's unsolicited advice.

[SweetNorthernRose]

Another vote for whippet. Not too small, not too big. Love a cuddle on the sofa but on their own terms (so a step up from a cat if that's what you're used to). Don't need loads of exercise - 3x30mins would be perfect. Sleep rest of the time. Gentle temperament, good family pets. Not many genetic health issues compared to other breeds. Not massive barkers. Don't smell like a lot of dogs. They do tend to suffer from separation anxiety but not a problem if you're at home (ours is ok left for 4 hrs or so after being built up over a year).
Greyhounds are similarly lovely and relatively relaxed dogs, just bigger (they can vary quite a lot in size so depends how big you want).
Of all the dogs I've known or owned I would struggle to consider anything but whippet or greyhound now.

[LolaSmiles]

Beautiful3
That's a sensible approach to have. Do your research and then take it from there.

zebrasdontwearbras
I'm not saying a car and a dog are the same. I'm saying the situation of people giving unsolicited advice is comparable.

It is because it's someone seeking advice on one thing and then someone giving their own views on where to buy it from whilst trying to draw it up as only one option is correct.
Saying I feel people jumping in about rescues without being asked has been taken to mean not caring about puppy farms and ignoring cruelty. Even now you're taking the approach of rescue Vs puppy farm (just like someone who would argue it's either a car dealer or a conman selling death traps) when there's more options than that and people should follow due diligence and research when making their decisions.


You see the same problem of people weighing in with their personal high horse topics with parenting too (seeing as you object to a valid analogy based on the inanimate nature of the thing being bought). Someone asks about topic X and asks for recommendations. Then someone else argues that they must do Y in a certain way because it's either their way or this horrible way, and there might be some others but really Y is best and if you don't do Y my way then you're basically doing this horrible thing that will damage your child.
Thing with commenting on unsolicited advice and opinions (on most topics) is that those who who like to give it take a point about unsolicited advice as proof you must disagree with their view and start defending the view.