Advice on breed please

[Greenmarmalade]

We are researching getting a puppy/dog but I have no experience with dogs. One of the motivations is that we have a dd with suspected asd and anxiety and we think a relationship with a dog will be therapeutic. We have 4 DC, youngest is a toddler. Which breeds are happy with a noisy, busy family with young children?

We will be arranging for a dog walker to look after the dog for a few hours every day, and we will be home in the afternoon, but need a breed that is ok to be left alone for a few hours.

We did want a rescue dog, but don’t think this will be viable with young children.

Any advice is really, truly welcomed!

Don’t forget dog training classes. I’m not talking six weeks of learning to sit, I’m talking a couple of years or so to cover all the basics, practice and proof them and then you’ll end up with a well trained dog for life. It’s as much about training you as the dog, so you end up with good behaviour as standard. Might be a nice hobby for your daughter but it will mean every Saturday morning for ages!

I couldn't agree more MsAdorabelle. In my experience of helping out at dog training clubs for a couple of decades most people do an initial 8 week course and then come back months later with multiple problems. Ideally, especially new owners who need to be taught techniques, should aim for a year of training sessions for a well rounded dog and another year after that for anything more specific. It's not just a case of, for example, teaching a recall, it's a case of teaching a reliable recall, a dog who recalls back from other dogs, and picnics, etc.

Thanks for the great advice. I’ll look into those breeds mentioned and also at training classes. All really helpful, thank you

Definitely look into doggy daycare.

Just touching on the breed here

I'm biased but as an adult I have always had staffies ( as I child I had a Hungarian puli)
We lost our old staffie girl in January at the age of 16. Her brother a few years previously at 10.
So a huge commitment.

We now have an 11 week old staffie. I forgot how much hard work they are but already I can see the lovely staffie traits coming through. He adores my DC already, his little face when they come down in the morning.
That and the fact he is already quite the velcro dog and is never happier than when having a cuddle.

He is a total lunatic though and constantly nipping and hanging off our trousers, curtains haha. I'm trying to focus on the cuddles rather than the needle teeth.

I thought I read somewhere that staffies are supposed to be good family dogs.

@pilates they are known as “nanny dogs” as they are good with children, I’ve never had one bit must say I’ve never met a staff that I didn’t like! Also did know a family who had one as a support pet for a child with autism and he was a lovely thing.

The 'nanny dogs' thing is a myth - it came from a news article in the 1970s.

Staffies, like JRTs, do have a rep for dog aggression, so that is something to be aware of.

In the nicest possible way... don't get a Tibetan Terrier as a first dog. Although the adults (18 - 24 months onwards) are re lovely calm family dogs that are utterly devoted to their humans, the puppies are very boisterous! They need firm traning by experienced dog owners.

The current climate is not the right time to get such a dog - who knows when we can resume dog training class.

I know, I currently have 3, 2 of which are re homed from families who had no dog experience....