Can anyone recommend me a nice family dog breed?

[Areyousureted]

We are considering getting a dog. My dc are older (youngest is 8) and I am a sahm. We have garden and I think I would do a great job of looking after a puppy. One of my dc is quite nervous around dogs (but loves them) for this reason I think we need a fairly placid breed. I always liked King Charles spaniels but having researched them I discover they are a breed often with health problems. I also like golden retrievers but I am put off by their size and hair shedding as our house isn’t that big. Also, although I currently am at home with the kids I may like to do a part time job in the future so I am thinking that it would be good to have a dog that can be left at home for say 4 hours at a time. We are an active family though so don’t mind doing regular walks. Thank you in advance if anyone thinks they can help with my decision !

Provided this pandemic thing has calmed down a bit, going to Discover Dogs next year (presuming you're in the UK) would be a good idea. You'll get to meet loads of different breeds and may find the perfect dog is a breed you would have never considered on paper.

Don't rule out rescues either, they get puppies and kid-friendly dogs, albeit they're very popular.

This year is a bit mental (understatement) for trying to get a dog. Rescues are inundated with applications, with popular family-friendly ones getting up to 1,000 applications. Many good breeders haven't bred this year but LOADS of puppy farms have picked up the pace and there's tons of stories of sickly dying puppies or people being scammed with no dog at all. Might be better to hold off until next year before adding to the family!

Yes I am aware of the current situation and certainly don’t want to be supporting illegal puppy farming. I have been trying to look for adverts that are kc registered do you think that is best or are non kc registered ok too? I Don’t want to rush in to any decision as I am aware it’s important to get the right breed to fit in with the family so trying to do lots of research first. I saw an ad for a golden retriever that was rehoming at 9 months due to no fault of its own apparently, but I can’t help being wary that if they are telling the truth. I don’t want to take on a dog that someone is rehoming due to behaviour problems.

Miniature schnauzer. Fabulous dogs!

Show cocker spaniel. Fabulous little dogs.

Always go through a reputable rescue to regime as they will have done checks. If you want a puppy the kennel club have lists of registered breeders and they will tell you when litters are due. You could look at a breed specific rescue eg Labrador. Loads around. All dogs can be family friendly it depends on their training really. You will need to have time to devote to a puppy and it's training so do think of that, as well as exercise every singl,e day

@Areyousureted

Yes I am aware of the current situation and certainly don’t want to be supporting illegal puppy farming. I have been trying to look for adverts that are kc registered do you think that is best or are non kc registered ok too? I Don’t want to rush in to any decision as I am aware it’s important to get the right breed to fit in with the family so trying to do lots of research first. I saw an ad for a golden retriever that was rehoming at 9 months due to no fault of its own apparently, but I can’t help being wary that if they are telling the truth. I don’t want to take on a dog that someone is rehoming due to behaviour problems.

I would use online adverts for window shopping only. Good breeders have waiting lists now stretching into next year and beyond. Anyone who has bred and magically has puppies available right now has done it for the £££ and there's a risk those pups are not what they seem or may be from unhealth-tested (not checked, tested, different things!) parents.

You're right to be wary of people selling older puppies as well. At 9 months that Goldie is likely to be insane, well into their "teenage" phase where they've forgotten any training. That's probably why it's being sold. It's literally bouncing off walls and has chewed everything up. Someone experienced with training teenage puppies and without children to get bowled over is what those dogs need.

This is not something to rush into at all. Take a step back, do lots of reading, speak to breed clubs. If you have to wait until next year, do so, dogs will still be around next year haha!

There's some advice on buying a pup, including questions you should ask, here:

I have considered spaniels. I wasn’t sure how much the different spaniel breed made a difference to temperament. I hadn’t consider miniature schnauzer I just looked them up. They are very cute, do they tend to bark a lot ?

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www.dogstrust.org.uk/help-advice/buyer-advice/

Thank you so much for all this advice

The online ads are very convincing saying the parents are family pets etc. It would be very easy to be conned I think

Once you have chosen your breed research as much as possible. Join a breed specific Facebook group where owners will give you the good and bad aspects of the breed. Take into account what the breed was originally for, ie working breeds need plenty of stimulation and exercise - lots of people like Poodle Spaniel crosses but ignore the fact that both breeds are gun dogs.

@Areyousureted

The online ads are very convincing saying the parents are family pets etc. It would be very easy to be conned I think

100%!! And people get conned every day :'(

Not a dog, but I rescued a rabbit two weeks ago. Being given away for free online. A "girl" and just rehoming because the landlord said no. Was actually a boy with serious medical problems and has now had to go to a rescue sanctuary while his health is assessed. People lie. Don't trust people!!

I have a show cocker spaniel and would strongly advise against getting one as a family dog. I'd never do it again, although I love her.

Why do you say that outingmydog?

The miniature schnauzer looks good and is little shedding but older threads on here seem to suggest they can be very bitey when young and bark a lot when older. I know this is likely to an extent with all breeds but just trying to work out temperaments of individual breeds is quite difficult. I keep asking random people in the street what breed their dogs are !

My vet said he would always recommend a Border Terrier as a great family pet, especially for first timers.

Not as terrier-ish as some terrier breeds, pretty healthy, love people, bags of character. We've had two so I'm a bit biased but we love them.

Just make sure you do the work on early socialisation as they can be funny with other dogs if you don't.

Mini Schnauzer
Border Terrier
Retired Greyhound
Staffy

They would be my recommendations.

Vet once recommended a miniature schnauzer as a good family dog. They don't cast much.

I think as much as choosing the right breed, it's as important to consider finding a reputable APDT trainer near you and making sure you have the funds and time to focus on training. Not just at the start but consistently for at least a year.

You can choose the 'perfect' family-friendly breed and royally muck up through poor, or little, training.

I saw a super cute cavapoo the other day but I am wary of these “designer” breeds especially at the moment with people cashing in. It’s a bit of a minefield trying to work out where is best breeder to get a dog from

I would avoid the "poo" crosses, especially at the moment when puppy farms are churning them out for the "cute" factor - but not the health-tested factor!!

In fact, don't rule out Poodles. At least you'll be able to find a KC breeder. They don't have to have that fancy show cut - in fact sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between a shaggy-coated Poodle and the ever-popular Cockerpoo! Poodles are intelligent active dogs - check out some of them go on Youtube at Crufts Agility.

Without a couple of hours walk a day she is a nightmare. She gets bored very easily and destroys things (such as doorframes, cushions etc) to get my attention when she is. I'm currently looking for work so at home full time, and I still find it very hard to keep her amused.

Are you averse to taking a mongrel or cross breed? I'm a bit biased as that's all we've ever had, but they've all been fabulous. All the mixes we've had have had lovely temperaments, been very healthy and loving, and had none of the health problems that pure breds can suffer from.

@Swallowzandamazons

Are you averse to taking a mongrel or cross breed? I'm a bit biased as that's all we've ever had, but they've all been fabulous. All the mixes we've had have had lovely temperaments, been very healthy and loving, and had none of the health problems that pure breds can suffer from.

I would add that while crossbreeds, especially rescue crossbreeds, are fabulous, it's not true that a crossbreed can have none of the health problems that purebreds can have.

They can just as easily inherit all the health problems all the different purebreds have that make up their genetic make up. They're not immediately immune to things like hip dysplasia or heart murmurs. These things still happen in crossbreeds. Especially as it's much less likely their parents were health tested, especially for accidental litters.

Just want to reiterate getting a pup from health TESTED parents, health check is not the same. Do not listen to anyone, eg. a breeder, who tells you testing is not necessary or is indeed the same as health check. If you want a CKCS go to a breeder that tests. Please don't support puppy farming and back yard breeders.