Help please. What dog should we get?

[Luunaa]

Hi Doghouse regulars,

I hope you won't mind helping us. We've been ready for a dog for a few years now, but haven't had the time to commit to a puppy. I've now stopped working and won't be going back til September - very part time in a SEN school and DDog can come with me. DS is also at home now of course too (he's 9) so it would be great to get him involved.

Sorry to sound like such a newbie but it's great to get real life perspectives. What dog would you recommend to us please? We'd like something small, and ideally hypoallergenic - I know there's a risk with all dogs but minimising the risk would be great. I've got a disability so can't commit to lots of walking, although we'd get a dog walker to give it one good walk a day on top of the mini walks we could do.

I've been thinking of a small poodle or a cockapoo- friends have cockapoos and they're absolutely lovely.

All help and ideas really appreciated.

Also- where does one go about finding a reputable breeder once we've chosen a breed?

I think Given that the animal charities’ websites are currently full of ways to mentally stimulate dogs in a time when walking them is virtually impossible is a clear indication that while hours long walks are preferable where possible, they’re not actually as necessary as people would have us believe.

I do wonder what is going to happen to the rescue charities though, given there’s presumably no chance of dogs being rehomed for the foreseeable future I’m guessing that many dogs will end up being pts as it just won’t be possible for rescues to accommodate all of them.