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 !

You can't go wrong with a Staffie! Friendliest dogs ever and they adore children. I have two and I simply adore them 💕

Darling Eric

We rehomed a miniature poodle from an elderly woman who couldn't cope walking her anymore. We couldn't have asked for a lovelier dog. She's got a brilliant temperament, fitted right in from day one and loves being everyone's friend as well as being super cute.

Cockapoo or cavapoo - there’s a reason they’re so popular. Our little girl is the cutest, smart and quick

I have a Norfolk terrier and he is the very best dog, he is kind and gentle, he let my daughter dress him up when he was younger and push him round in her toy pushchair, he is now 8 and spends all his time giving me cuddles. The other dog I’d recommend is a cavapoo (King Charles/poodle) my friend has one and she is adorable and has the sweetest nature and the longest eyelashes ever!

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. They're a great medium sized dog, such funny characters and don't shed hair.

Tibetan Terrier. Go to a reputable breeder. Wonderful, loyal, loving family pets. My mum kept them when I was growing up, and we now have our first. She's an absolute diamond with my 3 young children and only needs about an hour of exercise a day. Some days she can't be arsed. 😊

Also known as the Lhasa Apso.

Please adopt

Would recommend a greyhound. I don’t have personal experience of a greyhound with children but my young adult DS who has been scared of dogs all his life has been transformed by ours in 3-4 months. And DH, who was ambivalent to say the least, is the soppiest of all over him.

I recommend doing the Jc online quiz and also listing the qualities you are looking for and the "downsides" you honestly can cope with.
The great thing about buying a breed is you by and large should get a known quantity but it's really important to look honestly at what characteristics you can happily live with.
For example we had previously owned a working cocker but needed a smaller dog.
Our criteria was:
Small Size
A working breed
Not too barky
Good with people
Biddable
Smart
Healthy in general

I got a shortlist of 3 or 4 breeds from that list to look at more closely - some of that criteria ruled out whole groups of dogs due to size and temperament.
Also some of the points had "downsides" that we needed to consider carefully eg a working dog will normally be biddable but be high energy - can we exercise them enough each day every day?
Smart - easier to train but may have a mind of their own!
In the end we were between a Norfolk and a border terrier and chose a border.

I recommend doing the Jc online quiz and also listing the qualities you are looking for and the "downsides" you honestly can cope with
I wouldn’t take the Kennel Club (I assume JC is an auto correct) quiz too seriously personally.
I’ve done it a few times and it never matches me with my breed, which is in fact a near perfect match for me.
Nor does it ever match me with other breeds I’d seriously consider!

We have a Sprocker, and a cocker. Both brilliant dogs and wonderful with DS who is three x

Greyhounds are great with kids! We got ours when my son was 9, so she's been a regular feature at the primary school gate and cubs drop offs, etc and is so calm and gentle with littlies as well as larger kids. Ours sleeps a lot and basically follows the sun round the house to sprawl in comfort and warmth. Barely sheds and never barks, though she embarrasses herself if she sees a squirrel by standing on her back legs and howling!

You need a WHIPPET.

Golden retrievers are the best dog in the world. I always said I'd never have one for the same reasons as you but ended up with one and I can forgive any amount of hair. She is just beyond adorable. She's been easy to train, gentle, affectionate, slightly daft. Love her more than life itself!

@yearinyearout

Golden retrievers are the best dog in the world. I always said I'd never have one for the same reasons as you but ended up with one and I can forgive any amount of hair. She is just beyond adorable. She's been easy to train, gentle, affectionate, slightly daft. Love her more than life itself!

I absolutely agree with this. When my daughter got married she insisted that our Goldie came to the wedding, as she saw her as part of our family. The venue weren't keen on having a dog there but she refused to get married if they didn't allow our dog in.

I think Jack Russells are fantastic family pets. Tons of energy, love to play, very cheerful, hardy, few health concerns. They're funny, loving and loyal. They're very, very clever and enjoy training which can be done easily with them.

Rescue is the best breed. Any decent dog rescue should be able to match a dog's personality to your needs. Too many dogs being bred to line people's pockets whilst unwanted ones end up on death row through no fault of their own.

Thank you but I just find our local rescues won’t give to homes with children ?

Schnauzers are lovely and pretty good health wise.

A breed specific rescue that fosters dogs in people's homes is more likely to re-home to a family with DC

That being said, rescue is not for everyone. Plenty of rescue dogs come with issues that need at least time and patience, and possibly experience, to resolve.

@Dogsarebetterthanpeople Our JRT is not quite as groomed as the ones in those photos . Very very scruffy. She is possibly crossed with something but is rescue so impossible to know.