Help me choose a bread please

[Nochangeplease]

I’m hoping to be able to get a dog next year. Something I’ve wanted since I was a child. I know it’s hard work and I want one so badly that I’ll overlook the mess, the sleepless nights ect.
So there’s me and 2 kids both over 8. I work in a school so I’m out from 8-3:30. Can pay someone to come over during the day and would originally get plan to get a puppy during my 6 weeks off.
I’ve narrowed down several breeds but would love some opinions based on my preferences.

1. Good with kids
2. Easily trained
3. Not big
4. Doesn’t bark a lot
5. Doesn’t need loads of exercise because I can’t do this every day. But capable of coming on long walks on days off.
6. Doesn’t suffer terribly with separation anxiety.

I should also mention I do not have a garden. Willing to walk before and after work though but realistically these won’t always be able to be long walks.

Oh I will add that mine is trained to puppy pads indoors, and prefers to use them sometimes- ie it’s raining, windy, cold, or he just doesn’t feel like going outside.

It depends on your feelings as to having them use puppy pads long term. His aim isn’t that great either 🤨 so we prefer not to have them down.

@Nochangeplease Fair enough, I'm the other way around, never known anyone to have a dog without a garden. It's bad enough getting up at 4.30am to run downstairs whilst the dog is doing his poo dance, let alone trying to find my shoes and the lead.

I kid you not @userxx !

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Do not get a miniature schnauzer if you're not fond of barking!

Balcony? So you’re in a flat?
You want to leave a puppy shut in a flat all day while you work?
You’re happy to have it pee on the balcony so it drips down for the neighbours?
It won’t have anywhere outside to play until fully vaccinated?
Sounds awful.
You need to start with what you can offer. Not what breeds you fancy.

@SisterWendyBuckett I had read this. Hoped it wasn’t true I wouldn’t really mind but I think the neighbours would!

From your list, I'd avoid a cockapoo. They are full of energy - other dog owners laugh sympathetically at us - and really needy. Ours is now 8 months and can be left for a couple of hours, but until recently he'd cry the moment we left the room.

@userxx no it completely makes sense obviously would be easier with a garden. It’s to do with where I live. There aren’t many gardens in zone 1. I literally only have one friend with a garden.
My balcony would have to do. Not ideal as it’d smell and it’s not very big but it would work for the very early/late incidents.

Yes this is what I thought about cockerpoos. I do love them though.
I actually think the frenchie sounds ideal but I’m concerned with the health issues.

border terrier. Good all rounder, not huge, friendly, generally good with kids

Big little dogs. Strangely once on the bed they seem to grow to Rottweiler size 🤷‍♂️

Puppies need to go out after eating and drinking and sleeping and playing and at least every half an hour.
So not early morning. Late evening.

I think it's just too long to leave a dog. They're social animals and it's cruel to expect one to be left daily for that long.

So nobody that has a dog has a job?
I know I’m clueless but the comments I’m getting here are really not the reality I see.
I know loads and loads of dogs happy in flats. Majority of those owners work too.
I’m prepared to be told I’m wrong but maybe I’d be better actually speaking to people I know that have dogs and how it’s worked for them.
I really just wanted breed (not bread) information.

@Wolfiefan why so horrified at the idea of a flat rather than a house with no garden. It’s the same thing. It’s a large 3 bedroom flat with 2 balconies. I wouldn’t like to have a dog and only let it out in a garden anyway.
This is why I’m asking about breeds that don’t need lots of exercise and there are lots of dogs suited to flats. So many dog owners in london (zone 1 mostly flats)

I am taking advice on board and this is why I’m researching breeds before being 100% I can even get a dog but just getting lots of negative comments.

Not a puppy no. They are massive amounts of work.
Don’t be selfish.

So nobody that has a dog has a job?

We both have jobs.

However I work shifts so the overlap is rarely more than a few hours.

For people that are out the house most of the day they either employ dog walkers or use daycare. Or they have family or friends nearby. When I lived in London i would take care of a neighbours dog for them if they had to work or wanted to go out for the day.

My neighbour takes his dogs to work with him.

There are ways to be a responsible dog owner and work, but it doesn’t involve leaving the dog alone 7 hours a day, 5 days a week.

I’m really hoping you’re a troll.
How can this work? You can’t leave a pup all day and expect it to be toilet trained and happy?
Your breed list includes some high energy types and those that have bloody awful health problems.
You have nowhere a puppy can go outside and play. For weeks.
An dog may be fine in a flat. Or with working owners. A puppy? Not so much.

Please don't get a French bulldog. They are bred to the point they can't breathe. It's awful.

@Micah
But that is exactly what I said in my earlier post. I have my mum round the corner for the early days and would then get a dog Walker.
I never said I expected to leave a dog, let alone a puppy for 7 hours a day. It’s also 4 days not 5.

@Wolfiefan I give up as I’m assuming you haven’t read my posts.

I know I'm playing Mumsnet dog bingo, but have you thought of a greyhound?
They don't need much walking, they're used to spending long periods in kennels so often happy to be left for longer than other breeds, don't bark and whilst they're big they're tidy and usually asleep somewhere!

I know one of my friends used to drop her pup to her mums before work and collect after. That’s an option for me but not a long term one. But surely once the first year is over you’d just get someone to come in as a dog Walker in the afternoon. I’m walking distance to both my mums and work.

You’re not reading mine!
It’s not the early days. It’s months. You can’t expect someone else to toilet train and socialise your pup.
What can you offer? How many hours a day do you have to devote to a dog? How do you see this working?
So far it’s all about what you want and not what the dog needs.
So you won’t get a dog off a decent breeder. Buy from a puppy farmer and ditch it when it eats the flat.
FFS.
Get a cat.

You only said your mum could help out in the early days. Short term implied.

Does she work? Could she do two or three days at least?

A dog walker for an hour 5 days a week isn’t really enough. If your mum can’t is their daycare nearby?