Thinking about getting a dog

[Namechange3007]

Ok please be gentle with me! My children are currently almost 9 and 12. We have been thinking for a very very long time about getting a dog. It wouldn't be until next year as we need to get a side gate fitted as we dont currently have one. Also we want to be prepared and not rush into this massive commitment. Neither I or my husband have grown up with dogs but I love dogs and I've always wanted one as do my kids. My husband is a lot keener in the idea than he used to be. He works at home which is great so dog wouldn't be alone. I am so think my kids are a really good age. I know its huge, I know it will be hard. I also have no idea what breed to get. I dont want a happy or ridiculously energetic dog or who one sheds loads. Or one who smells really bad! I'm probably asking for the impossible arent I. Ideally I would prefer an older dog but have heard of friends getting rescue dogs and it going horribly wrong. Any advice welcome!

Thank you.

[AgathaX]

Grooming is a consideration for lots of breeds. That said, our poodles are cut in a non-poodle cut, just a basic 1.5cm length clip all over once a month, so it's easy to do yourself with the right clippers and a bit of practise.

[Stellaris22]

Border Terriers: I had one growing up, but he was very reactive and couldn't be allowed off lead. However this is 100% due to my parents not training or socialising properly.

The few we know now are completely different and lovely. Lots of grooming as pp have said, but great off lead and very social. Lots of character but it shows how essential that early training is (same for any dog really).

[Branleuse]

www.dogsblog.com/

Check here for rescue dogs close to you

[getyoursocksoffhoney]

Poodles are great dogs I've had standard poodles all my life. Incredibly clever and easy to train and despite their size standard poodles can still be very cuddly!
Grooming wise we have ours go to the groomer every 6-8 weeks but we keep their hair quite short. In between that I will brush their head/ears/tail once a week which keeps matting at bay and also snip the hair around their eyes. They've not been groomed now for 10 weeks for obvious reasons but aren't looking scruffy at all.

[getyoursocksoffhoney]

Cost wise it's £40 where I am for a full groom

[LochJessMonster]

Papillon is a good shout, they can be a little yappy but small size, clever, medium exercise so happy with a large garden and a few short walks or happy to go on a longer family walk.
Low shedding and minimum grooming as such but need brushing regularly.

[LochJessMonster]

When you say medium size are you thinkIng more Shih Tzu/Westie size or cocker/springer spaniel.

[Turquoisesea]

Following as we are in a similar boat to the OP. 2 DCs 12 and 15. We’ve all wanted a dog for a long time but are inexperienced. I have been thinking about a poodle as they sound perfect for us and would prefer to get a rescue dog if possible. Can anyone recommend any reputable poodle rescues?

[Aworldofmyown]

I would have a look at greyhound rescue. My friends just rescued one and they seem to be great family dogs. Actually quite lazy!

[zombiepara]

@MissShapesMissStakes your dog is gorgeous! Can I just check - is he a mini, and how bark-y is he (realistically)

[MissShapesMissStakes]

@zombiepara - thanks. We think he's great! He's a mini. Though he's on the tall size.
He's not that barky. He will bark when there is someone at the door but I don't mind that.

He has bells by the back door to ring when he wants to go out. If for some reason he can't get to them then he will bark to tell us. But only once. Not continually. He will also bark to come in if I shut the back door. Again just once every so often if we don't respond. More like shouting us than barking.

Occasionally if a dog is barking in a nearby garden he will respond. And if he doesn't stop I take him in. He rarely does that though.

I think really with barking and similar behaviours, it's how you deal with it more than anything. He barks like crazy when my Dh is playing ball with him. But I don't let him do that. So he plays without barking when I'm playing ball with him.

[KateF]

A bichon frise might suit you. Not too big, doesn't she'd, not overly energetic and very affectionate. I've had my boy from 8 weeks (his mum belonged to a friend) and he was really a very good puppy apart from being quite nippy which he grew out of. Here he is, in need of a haircut!

[Girliefriendlikespuppies]

We got a terrier cross puppy last summer, he's a Jack Russell/Yorkshire terrier cross and has been a brilliant little dog. He loves people, kids and is a happy sociable little chap. He's not yappy at all and is generally very quiet, he does need some grooming but it's not excessive.

I like terriers as think you get the benefits of a larger breed in a small package! You must must must properly socialise them though (this is true of whatever puppy you get.) The book easy peasy puppy squeezy was a useful guide.

[Spanneroo]

Something worth mentioning about greyhounds and lurchers is that, yes they are big dogs, but they take up very little room at home. Once they've been for their walk, they'll find somewhere comfy and just chill out until it's time to go out/eat. In my experience, they take up less room than many smaller dogs for that reason.

Whippets are really fairly small, so I'd definitely look into a whippet rescue. Could also go smaller and consider a Italian greyhound, though I don't have experience of them myself.

The border terriers I've met have fallen into 2 categories: high energy, head-strong, tenacious little things or family-oriented couch potatoes. They also require clipping, so that's worth considering. Very few health issues though IIRC.

[Skyla2005]

Hi we rehomed a lurcher / greyhound from our local kennels and it was best thing we did. They are very quiet dogs rarely bark and don’t need loads of excersise but do enjoy their walks. They have a very gentle nature Unfortunately they are often thrown out after their racing life is over or used for hare coursing and discarded if not good enough so lots of them are in the rescue centres it’s so sad 😭

[CMOTDibbler]

Lurchers are tall, but not heavy - my larger one weighs 25kg. They are all legs and lungs really. And they are mostly very cuddly. ddog1 sleeps with ds and adores cuddles from anyone. When I have a puppy with me they are normally found snuggled up on the sofa with me, usually with their nose pressed up against me. Right now ddog1 is curled up next to me huffling into the back of my knee and ddog2 is sleeping next to ds.
Apart from the puppy stage, they are very easy to wfh with as they aren't needy dogs. Some people take this as stand offish, but I like the quiet love where they want you to be around (they often sleep under my desk) but theres no in your face nagging you for attention. Unless there sausage.

[getyoursocksoffhoney]

@Turqouisesea The Poodle Network are really good if you are thinking about getting a poodle I follow them on Facebook, I wouldn't have any other breed!

[froggers1]

We have children roughly the same age and we just got a labradoodle. He won't get too big as he is half miniature poodle. He is 8 months now and amazing. Doesn't bark, is affectionate, is ok on his own for 3 hrs or so, just a happy dog..

[Giganticshark]

Cross breeds are worth a look. We have a sprocker, springer x cocker.
Maybe look at collie crosses or labrador crosses. Don't be swayed by the cockerpoo obsession so many have fallen into. I have met way too many aggressive ones. People get them thinking they'll be a doddle and don't train them or they come from atrocious puppy farms with health issues

[Giganticshark]

What do you mean by a dog that requires little grooming? Ours gets a hair cut every 6 weeks, at a groomers. We don't do it ourselves. You're going to have to accept that dogs will need a regular hose down in the garden though haha 😂

[Turquoisesea]

@getyoursocksoffhoney, thank you, will take a look

[zombiepara]

@MissShapesMissStakes
Thank you for that!
We used to have a standard when I was a kid, and I remember he was quite barky (although that was down to inconsistent training on our part... I had read online minis could be barky, but I'm glad to hear that isn't necessarily the case!

I loved our standard so much, but we just don't have enough room in our house for one at the moment, but could happily get away with a mini!

[MiniChoc]

I'm another one voting for a miniature poodle! Small, non shedding, happy little buggers :)

[MissShapesMissStakes]

@zombiepara - standards are beautiful but so big! It always surprised me how big they are!
Love the kids bedtime - my mini follows me round lying down next to me for stories etc. If I sit on the settee with anything on my knee (cushion, iPad) be pushed it off gently with his nose and sits as close to me as possible.

This is him right now

[rossKemp]

Are you ready to never have more than a maximum of 4 hour blocks of time to yourself ever again? If not, don’t get a dog.