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Original poster

Advice please on choosing a breed

54 replies

GleamingBaubles · 26/12/2020 20:41

I have had dogs before and would like one again but need help choosing a suitable breed?
Previously I've had rescued/rehomed labrador crosses (crossed with goodness knows what!).
I don't want to do that this time as I want a puppy - I have small children and want them to learn to train, work with and look after the dog which I think would be best with a known breed puppy.
My children are aged 4 to 10 and are used to treating family and friends' dogs appropriately.

I work part time, my husband works from home, we have a garden, and easy access to dog walking paths. We plan to crate train and maybe do agility.

Anyway - so a smallish - medium sized dog with not too shedding hair, and good for a small family who walk a lot! One that would be happy to snooze under a desk most of the day, and play with the kids without toy/food guarding.

Any suggestions? Smile

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GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 26/12/2020 21:41

Whippet? Can walk a fair distance, tend to be very chilled, minimal grooming, and can be very cuddly.

If you'd prefer something a bit sturdier, perhaps a lurcher.

Just be aware that puppy prices have gone through the roof during lockdown.

Original poster
GleamingBaubles · 26/12/2020 21:49

Ooh Ive known some lovely whippets - not been very playful though?

I'm not after getting one right now - much later in the year - I'm just starting my research now! Also puppy training has changed massively since I last had a dog - it was all about the alpha thing - so I need a lead time to swot up! Grin

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Blueuggboots · 26/12/2020 21:50

Beagle? Bloody fab dogs. You just need to accept that they're food orientated a d train accordingly. My partner had one for 10 years. She was 4 when me and my 2.5 year old moved in. She was brilliant. Never once barked, growled or showed any negative behaviour to the little one. They were great friends.
We miss her terribly.

Fastforwardtospring · 26/12/2020 21:53

Border terrier ticks those boxes, great with kids, just make sure they are well socialised with other dogs from a puppy.

OohMrDarcy · 26/12/2020 21:54

I have a miniature poodle pup here. Not a breed I originally considered but has worked out perfectly for us. Definitely read up on their temperament, and if unsure Google poodle with normal haircuts!

Very sweet natured, intelligent and loves to learn, also loves a good walk.

Original poster
GleamingBaubles · 26/12/2020 21:55

I've genuinely never considered a beagle! I've only associated them with hunting so have never thought of them as family pets!
Do they need to work though? Like collies?

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Original poster
GleamingBaubles · 26/12/2020 21:57

I had considered a border terrier but then read something about them being notoriously stubborn and difficult to train?
You poodles - ooh I don't know. I've only known snappy ones. I've known some lovely standard, but that would be too large for the space we will be putting the crate.

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NewMumma1819 · 26/12/2020 22:05

Labrador! Ours is 4, had him since a pup, super sociable with other dogs/kids/people, couldn't hurt a fly if he tried and will happily play or lounge around. And he's great with our 1 year old, very inquisitive of him but super gentle, let's him pat (smack) his head and doesn't flinch!

fallfallfall · 26/12/2020 22:24

Tibetan Spaniel, nice sturdy size and great with kids.

clareth · 26/12/2020 22:30

I second whippets :) we have a 7 month old whippet, she’s such a friendly and sweet little pup. Playful and happy to chase a ball in the garden with the kids, loves a good walk and enjoys long naps on the sofa too, she’s currently cuddled up next to me with her head on my lap!
I can’t recommend her enough to be honest, she’s been such a lovely addition to our family (3 kids age 3, 7 and 12)

Original poster
GleamingBaubles · 26/12/2020 22:31

Oooh never heard of Tibetan spaniel! Loving what I'm reading so far!

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Original poster
GleamingBaubles · 26/12/2020 22:33

So.... Beagle, whippet, Tibetan spaniel!

Brilliant, thanks, - I knew this was the place to come!

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VirtualLearning · 26/12/2020 22:34

Have you considered a cavalier? Ours is a lovely size, incredibly good to train, fun, devoted and adores all people Including toddlers he meets. I have never met one that wasn’t wonderful and we chose a breeder very carefully who health tested parents and grandparents carefully. I nearly didn’t get one as was worried about their health but ours is super sporty and fast! He adores walks but also undemanding .

fairydustandpixies · 26/12/2020 22:34

A staffie! The softest, gentlest and kindest breed ever!

clpsmum · 26/12/2020 22:35

I've got long Charles spaniels and they are the most easy going dogs ever and very child friendly. Just as happy to walk for miles or sleep all day!

MaraScottie · 26/12/2020 22:36

Greyhound? Fabulous pets, happy to snooze all day too.

alpinia · 26/12/2020 22:39

I'd do some more detailed research on Beagles before going much further with that idea...

Tibetans, Cavs, poodles, even a small lab are all nice dogs. A friend had a very nice Toller that would be perfect for agility. Gundog breeds tend to be the most user friendly training wise.

vanillandhoney · 26/12/2020 22:39

We have a beagle - they're fantastic but he can be very noisy 🙈 ours bays when he's out and catches a accent and he LOVES the sound of his own voice.

But contrary to popular belief he's excellent off lead and is pretty well trained - knows all his commands etc. Don't be put off by a lot of the stories as most of them come from people who've never owned one!

They do need to be trained differently to a Labrador or a spaniel as they're hounds as opposed to normal "dogs" but you figure it out pretty quickly. The only other negative aside from the noise is they are prone to separation anxiety and can be escape artists so you need to make sure you have a very secure garden!

Fruitinator · 26/12/2020 22:44

I'd also recommend a Whippet. They are the most fantastic breed- such characters. (We are totally biased though)

Our experience is that they are really playful, especally as pups and can be clowns. They love children and love a snuggle too, but they are like cuddling a bag of elbows. They are food motivated so easy ish to train, but recall can be something that needs a bit of work.

Our friends have Border Terriers, and they are both really good girls too. Great with the family. They do have them hand stripped which isn't cheap. They have never said they are stubborn and they get on well with our dogs.

AlwaysLatte · 26/12/2020 22:45

I have a cavalier King Charles spaniel. Fine on the health front if you get one from an excellent breeder who has had the parents tested. We had ours when our two were 3 and 5 and she's been amazing worn them from the start. She is SO cuddly and loving.
My mum has a Tibetan spaniel. Her third. She's a cute dog but all of them have had a bit of anxiousness about something or another. They are very stubborn!

PoleToPole · 26/12/2020 22:47

I would second miniature poodles, the "teddy bear cut" is one of the more normal trims!

They are a brilliant breed, very very easy to train as they are people pleasers and love doing the right thing, extremely easy for kids to train too and excellent at agility. They have lovely natures and are laid back but confident and bold provided you do plenty of confidence building and bonding, but that`s essential for every pup.

I would also say that they can be very aloof, aren`t often at all interested in people or dogs outside their family although are perfectly civil and well mannered with other people/dogs.
Personally I like that as a trait, and it works well as I always have a working dog too (always a Great Pyr) and they are also very aloof.

You would need to be vigilant about separation training though, as they adore their families with all of their hearts, and can suffer separation anxiety if not trained carefully to cope with separation.

Our current pup is a miniature poodle cross, but I have fostered a lot of miniature poodles in the past and they are wonderful family dogs. They are also often used as service dogs where I live (not UK), as they are very caring, loyal, gentle and focused on their owners.

These are broad breed traits - you would still need to choose a breeder very very carefully, and choose the pup carefully too.

Wildswimmer2020 · 26/12/2020 22:50

I have a golden retriever who is absoutely fantastic. He'd probably be a bit big but you can get Nova Scotia retriever which are smaller! He's so gentle and good with kids, very chilled out after a walk, all round lovely.

FrostyGirl66 · 26/12/2020 22:51

We have a cocker spaniel. Bags of energy, great with agility, easy the train and they tend to have a docile, caring temperament.

Baileysoncereal · 26/12/2020 22:52

I used to have a Manchester terrier, gorgeous dogs, great with kids, love snuggling up to sleep 20 hours a day.
They loove to play when they are awake
Difficult to train as they have their own mind, but also very bright and pick up ‘tricks’ quickly - you just need to make it worth their time Grin
Short haired and small/medium sized dogs
And will walk for hours if you want them to

FrankiesKnuckle · 26/12/2020 22:58

I'm also in the research stage and have come across the lagotto romagnolo breed, I so want one in every colour!