What dog next? Please sell me your breed!

[CokeyCola]

I would love another dog so that we end up with a lovely mix of old and young dogs. It wouldn't be for a couple of years and we have the room to keep them all separate if a puppy is annoying. I like to think about my next dog breed like most people plan their wardrobe!

I'm thinking spaniel sized but not necessarily a spaniel.

Musts:
Friendly genetic disposition to people and other dogs
Intelligent/biddable
Preferably non shedding or not crazy shedding. Can send to groomers regularly.

Must not be:
Not a lap dog

Oh, and pics please

Most of the gundog breeds are lovely in terms of loving people, being trainable and so on.

BUT think hard about the time commitment and the dog's needs: working-line dogs are full on and very energetic and since you can't exhaust their bodies you have to wear out their minds. As you probably know, cocker and springer spaniels come in both work and show varieties. Both can make fabulous pets, but you have to put in the time with the workers to nail recall and prevent chasing of squirrels, rabbits and deer. They also shed, and pick up burrs, and bits of bramble, and grass seeds, so you need to keep on top of that.

Goldens are usually lovely gentle dogs, but they also shed. Labradors shed LOTS.

The hunt-point-retrieve (HPR) breeds can also make great family dogs. They don't have the big show/work split you find in the spaniels and retrievers, but you can find lines where they haven't done a day's work in generations. These should be less full-on than ones out of working parents, while still being great as running companions. They range in size from the Brittany, which is about springer sized, to ones like the German Wire-haired Pointer, which can be very big and chunky (and also a bit more of a handful than some of the other HPRs).

I think you are probably looking for a working cocker or other sociable gundog breed, though I’ve heard the pointers can be a bit challenging.

I can’t stand the idea of work/show splits myself and think when you do that you ultimately end up with a dog with an entirely different temperament and look, it ceases to be a ‘cocker spaniel’ or an ‘English setter’ or whatever anymore.

As an aside, while they might be a bit more lively, I find the working line cockers have a far nicer temperament than the shows in my experience.

Duck toller might fit the spec, but I don’t know their shedding levels - otherwise yes think they are a good fit

Border terrier - pick your lines as some seem to be a bit dog reactive

Cavalier King Charles spaniel - again, pick your lines as some aren’t healthy but plenty of breeders trying to improve them

Miniature Schnauzer

Miniature poodle fallen out of favour for the various doodles but they are lovely as they are

We have a Spanish water dog.
Slightly bigger than a spaniel but not nearly as big as a lab.
Very clever and biddable.
Non shedding but does need shaved twice a year.

Meant to add, defiantly not a lap dog (though he loves cuddles!) He walks miles with us.

I have a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Definitely not for someone who minds shedding. Very intelligent breed, but they have a mind of their own, and they need a "job", even if it's chasing a ball. So high on the intelligence scale, not so high on the "biddable" scale.

We had a Parson Jack Russell who definitely doesn't fulfil any of the criteria but he was such a funny boy and we miss him so much.

I've joined Borrow My Doggy and have two lovely pups to look after. One a Cockerpoo who is gorgeous but has a little bit of a naughty side. He's young though. Also a Labradoodle who is a sweetheart. As you can imagine most breeds are easy after a Jack Russell. Both Co jet pop and Labradoodle are non-shedding. I know MN is not a fan of these mixed breeds but don't shoot me, I'm only the dog walker

For Co Jet Pop read CockerPoo 🙄

This is my bedlington. Such an awesome guy, doesn't shed

Border terrier. Eager to please. Loves being part of a family. Happy to exercise.

One of these will keep you busy op..

@Sunnydaysstillhere

One of these will keep you busy op..

I have two. I have a blower its keeps the shedding down in the house. Top tip dont wear black lol

Mini poodle.
Fantastic dogs. No shedding. Clever. Love people (mine thinks he's one of us). He's laid back, fast to learn, wants to please.

No crossbreed or mongrels to expensive better to get a KC Reg pedigree with all the checks and probably cheaper than a cross these days. Stupidity of people amazes me.

We have Lurchers..
Very dc friendly and other ddog friendly.. All round great pet. One from a dpuppy and her dm from aged 7..
Guess which is which.....

Ha! Was also going to recommend a Golden until I saw the bit about not shedding 🙈🙈🙈. Apart from that, they are the most perfect, intelligent, loving family dog I can imagine 🐾❤️🐾❤️



Perfect dog ❤️❤️❤️

She's an old girl now ❤️

Border Collie but from a show, not working, line. Our boy is the soppiest, happiest, friendliest dog you could want. Doesn’t shed much. But he will be a lap dog given half the chance.

But honestly, most breeds will do well of trained and socialised from an early age.

Collies shed SO much. I have four. You have the exception not the rule

Irish terrier: medium sized, non shedding, non lap dog. Huge personality, massively devoted to their family and wonderful with children. Need socialising well as puppies.

You need a Lagotto Romagnolo.
They tick every single one of your boxes and then some. Superb dogs, water dog so has curly hair rather than fur as such. Fantastic personality naturally interested in pleasing owner and able to join in with all the family activities.

Thank you for all your suggestions - I am having a good read through and looking up the breeds I'm not that familiar with. Lovely photos.