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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

OP posts:
longcoffeebreak · 27/12/2020 00:46

Poodle. Cased closed!

Advice please on choosing a breed
GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 27/12/2020 09:33

I almost suggested a border terrier but I've known a few recently and they've all been a bit sharp - two don't like other dogs and one was a manic chaser of things like swings and would grab at the children on them. Check out the parents and any older siblings carefully.

As for stripping their coats, you can do it yourself, it doesn't take very long.

wetotter · 27/12/2020 09:37

One of the less stubborn terriers - how about a soft-coated wheaten for medium size, or if you want small a Norfolk?

wetotter · 27/12/2020 09:52

BTW, here is the list of vulnerable native breeds

www.thekennelclub.org.uk/getting-a-dog/are-you-ready/vulnerable-native-breeds/

I think several of these might be suitable for you. They are generally only bred by breed enthusiasts, rather than larger commercial breeders, so you might find it easier to verify what sort of home life the pregnant bitch and brand new puppies are having.

SimonJT · 27/12/2020 09:55

Staffy

Not big, not small, don’t shed a huge deal and require very little grooming. Very trainable and eager to please, happy on a long active walk and on shorter ones, also very happy to have a lazy day sleeping. Very sturdy so the odd paw being trodden on won’t cause issue.

catsrus · 27/12/2020 09:59

My friend has poodles (she does competitive obedience) 2 standards and a mini - I have to admit the mini is a fabulous little dog, smart, willing, friendly.

I have a mini schnauzer that I got at 6 months when his owner died. Not a breed I knew, but he's fabulous. Loves kids (original owner had GC so he'd met a lot) and very smart. Happy to walk for miles, play for hours, but loves his sleep. We've had a lazy few days due to the weather and he's just been stretched out snoozing. Some seem to be very barky- he was a bit when he arrived but soon picked up the "quiet" command.

catsrus · 27/12/2020 10:01

Meant to add that poodles and mini schnauzers are both non shedding - but need clipping or become matted. Clippers are cheap and it's not difficult to do.

MabelMoo23 · 27/12/2020 12:59

This is a great thread thank you as we are in same boat.

My children are 3 and 5 so I think they are slightly too young, but appreciate any waiting list even now may mean a puppy for 2022 which is probably about right for us, but I’m researching at the moment.

I used to think a lab would be a right breed for us as very family oriented, but my SIL has a 5 month old golden lab and it’s very bouncy and boisterous and as lovely as he was, he’s freaked my girls out a little so am thinking a bit smaller

I would love a Vizla or Bavarian mountain hound but again same problem I think...

Truthfully we also aren’t the kind of family who would walk for miles and miles and hours and hours

I suspect a greyhound might be a good choice for us as they are known for being lazy but then are they cuddly and good companions?

I’m also considering a staffie, but (and I know this is just sensational headlines) but their jaws worry me - and of course I know children and dogs should never be left alone - but they have strong jaws. Am I right to be worried about that?

So I’m really struggling to find a breed if I’m honest.

BrigitsBigKnickers · 27/12/2020 13:12

I have known several people with beagles and both say that they are very hard to train to recall.

MagicMabel · 27/12/2020 13:41

I have a greyhound /whippet. I would never get any other breed of dog ever again. Easy to train, very little shedding, barks once a fortnight if that, incredibly affectionate, loves walks, sleeps a lot when not out, comes and leans against you for love, super gentle with little ones, needs snuggles to stay warm and will groom you if you need it! As I said, best dogs ever.

cjpark · 27/12/2020 15:38

I would second a staffie. Great with kids, low shedding, healthy dogs.

vanillandhoney · 27/12/2020 15:45

@BrigitsBigKnickers

I have known several people with beagles and both say that they are very hard to train to recall.
It depends entirely on the individual dog, the same as any other breed. Our beagle is nearly three and has near-perfect recall. I'm a dog walker and he comes to work with me and is off his lead every single day.

Yes, they're scent-hounds and yes, they're bred to run after things like rabbits and foxes, but that just means that, as an owner, you need to be sensible about where they're let off the lead.

A lot of it comes down to training and using your brain. I wouldn't let him off in the woods during pheasant season, for example, but I happily let him off at the beach.

Lovemusic33 · 27/12/2020 15:56

Another vote for a staffie, ignore any bad press they get, they are the most loving dogs and great with kids, as said above they are happy with a long walk or short walk, full of character and will love you unconditionally.

sunshinesupermum · 27/12/2020 16:03

Once you know the breed you want perhaps consider a rescue dog?
www.thekennelclub.org.uk/getting-a-dog/are-you-ready/breed-rescue/

Stellaris22 · 27/12/2020 22:50

The staffies I know are absolutely fantastic with children, really careful and loving animals.

Similar to a beagle, but we have a basset hound and the main appeal was being good with children as we have a child. She is so great with children and is brilliant.

Similar to pp about beagles, they just need a different training method but are far from untrainable.

Motorina · 27/12/2020 23:06

I ran ten miles with my beagles today, in forest thick with deer and rabbits. No recall issues at all.

(One did roll in foxshit, though.)

I do agility with my younger.

You do need a sense of humour with them, but they're cracking family dogs.

Funf · 29/12/2020 10:31

I would look on the Vulnerable native dog list many fantastic breeds but no money in breeding them
www.thekennelclub.org.uk/getting-a-dog/are-you-ready/vulnerable-native-breeds/
For us its a one dog race, don't shed, playful, will walk but also like to snooze
www.donthibernate.co.uk/dummys-guide-to-dandie-dinmont-terriers/

Jayne35 · 29/12/2020 14:25

We have had a rescue staffie, we had her for years and she was a wonderful dog, we didn’t have small children though so when grandchildren arrived she was not over keen but she would just leave the room. I have heard they a great with children though.

Also had a boxer from a pup, bit boisterous but she was good with the children (they were 4 and 6 when we got her). Energetic but could also lay around sleeping.

We currently have a cocker pup and she is very energetic and I imagine would be hard work with children.

Original poster
GleamingBaubles · 29/12/2020 15:37

I don't like Staffies. Pure prejudice I know but I've been scared by one when younger.
That dandie dinmont looks fab!

Also, while put today we met some jack Russell /poodle crosses who wer almost perfect

OP posts:
KarmaNoMore · 29/12/2020 15:53

I have a poodle “designer cross” (from the RSPCA). She is lovely but being familiar with both breeds, I would suggest you avoid these crosses as they are a bit of a surprise box, you never know what you will get when they grow up or whether they will shed much or not or what kind of temperament they will have.

If you like poodle crosses, get a poodle, you don’t need to have them in a silly trim. Mine has her hair cut as a border terrier. They are very playful, easy to train, they don’t shed and.. they do not smell as bad as other dogs.

SilverOtter · 29/12/2020 15:55

Hungarian Vizslas all the way!

(I'm extremely biased though)

SilverOtter · 29/12/2020 15:56

My girl 💗

Advice please on choosing a breed
MabelMoo23 · 29/12/2020 16:19

@SilverOtter

Hungarian Vizslas all the way!

(I'm extremely biased though)

I would LOVE a Hungarian Vizla, I think they are beautiful, and your pic absolutely confirms it.

Can’t help thinking they are too energetic for us though and maybe a bit bouncy l!

KirstenBlest · 29/12/2020 16:27

I wouldn't recommend a beagle. They have been bred to hunt. They are single-minded.

I would recommend a staffie.

Do your research on a breed before choosing.
A labrador would be the obvious choice.

SilverOtter · 29/12/2020 17:18

@MabelMoo23 they certainly can be VERY bouncy! We call ours a "Vizslaroo" as we think she must have kangaroo blood😂

They can be destructive but we've never had that problem; we've been very lucky with ours as she is very laid back.

Vizslas are a very special breed. They are like big hairy babies - ours sits on the sofa every night sucking her favourite teddy.

We always had mongrels for decades before we got our Vizsla, but I can't imagine having any other breed now🥰.

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