Researching breeds and still non the wiser

[Jj2431]

We previously owned a rescue mongrel who sadly was pts 2 years ago. We have since had another baby so not getting another dog right now but doing our research for the future. Would consider another mongrel and rescue of course but failing that we would consider going to a decent breeder to get a puppy to grow up with the kids. Here is the issue.

DH has always wanted a shih tzu and the two he has known have been lovely dogs but I read that they aren't necessarily the lap dogs he thinks they are and the ones I've seen in rescue have always been snappy. Not sure if that's owners treating them like babies though.

I have always wanted a greyhound but maybe they would hate the noise of young children?

Other considerations were labrador, golden retriever and cocker spaniel. Show types. However I'm not sure we could realistically provide the physical exercise as I have a chronic pain condition. Please help us be realistic about what breeds would suit us so we can look into more into them and please send links my way that share the realities of breeds and websites we can trust.

Living arrangements- we live in an average 3 bed house with medium size secure garden.

Exercise- could offer an hour or so walk a day as well as playtime and mental stimulation at home.

Dog would only be left at home for school run, I stay home and we aren't a sociable family at weekends so rarely go out.

We can afford a dog as husband works full time.

Grooming isn't an issue as my other dog needed daily brushing and 6-8 week professional grooms.

Would prefer a dog that didn't bark constantly.

Must be family friendly although I know a lot of this is training rather than breed.

So basically..help me dog lovers..be real with me.

Thank you

@myfatiguehastiredness did you find your breeder through the site you mention? Rough collie is one of the breeds we’re considering so I’m on the lookout for breeders.

Staffies I agree are fabulous dogs and would fit the requirements. But do need exercising.

I know someone who breeds Bichon have you considered them?

Bichon frise I mean.

@CityDweller Yes we did. You paypal your fiver to Julie, who puts you on the list and then alerts you when there are puppies from breeders. They all know each other and show their dogs so you know you are getting a 'proper' breeder. The lady who we are getting our puppy from has her dog in her bedroom so she can keep an eye out for them.

Cabs are lovey, but there can be serious health issues. It's a breed that I think benefits from crossing, so even though often written off with other designer crosses I think a cavapoo or a cavachon might be worth considering.

Your DH seems to want a small dog, so perhaps better to stick to small to medium size. Keep researching the shihtzu - it could be a very door match. As could a bichon frise, or a miniature poodle. You can't ever be sure how vocal an individual dog would be, but I think looking at the smaller, friendlier (less obstinate) terriers might be worth it. All would require exercise and need to be treated as dogs IYSWIM (avoid temptation to 'baby' them) but will happily curl up with you at the end of the day

I will be shot down for saying this as apparently I am a chav, nouveau riche and only interested in fashion. But I would seriously look at a cavapoo or cavachon. We have a cavapoo. I would have gone for a cavalier king charles but the health problems in the breed worry me. My mum had the loveliest, sweetest CKCS but she had a number of health issues and the syringomyelia was a deal breaker for me. Our cavapoo is from a responsible home breeder, was his mum's second litter at age 6, both parents health tested with DNA papers clear from major faults in the breed. Our dog is cleverer than many CKC but just as sweet natured, doesn't shed (though some cavapoos do) and hopefully we will avoid the heart and skull problems so common in CKC breedlines.

Greyhounds are big! You will struggle to shift one if it doesn't want to move! They are great sprinters, but are then exhausted.
Sadly one of DB's "racing rescues" never got the hang of playing due to it's formative years.

Lurchers are a mixed breed. Great if you have a big secure garden, but you can't really let them off the lead in a park (or busy countryside).

Friends have had Schnauzers (giant and standard) before having kids.

Otherwise everybody round here seems to have Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Springers or some sort of trendy poodle cross (a great many seem to get dogs when the kids are about 7).

Trailhound! Have a look at trailhound trust. They are gentle, great with children, enjoy playing, minimal grooming, intelligent and trainable, and they are trained out of prey drive as when racing they follow an aniseed trail and mustn't go after any small animals. Wonderful family dogs.

Otherwise:
Poodle
Whippet

We rescued our greyhound 3 years before we had our first child, he's so gentle with DS and still amazingly tolerant of all the noise 3 years later. Wheras my parents' spaniel and golden retriever aren't fans of children at all. For us a greyhound was the perfect choice as they don't need much exercise at all, can be left quite happily when we have to work - (we've used a camera in the past to check and he just sleeps!) and are very affectionate.

We have a miniature schnauzer, he’s the most lovely dog. Plenty of character, happy with one walk a day, great with our toddler, loves a cuddle! They can be a bit noisy as a breed but ours isn’t at all.

Watching this thread with interest as we have same considerations

There’s a lot of small breeds that would fit your bill :)

Miniature or toy poodle
Cairn
Westie,
Bichon

Don’t forget the yorkshire terrier either :)
Ours is pretty much as you describe. Lap dog, if you sit it sits on you. But also a proper terrier, will keep any mice at bay. Likes walks, but doesn’t miss it if you skip a day. Mine is not yappy at all, we had to teach it to bark at the door, now it’s a very effective little alert system.

I'm really sorry to hear of the previous poster's relative who had an unfortunate experience with a child tripping over the greyhound but would add that that reaction is certainly not unique to the breed and I'd expect most dogs to have a similar reaction if disturbed mid-sleep. The golden retriever I grew up with was the most gentle soul in the world but even she had the same reaction when my dad touched her not realising that she was asleep. Admittedly our grey is in the minority but we got to a stage with socialisation and training where he is able to be unmuzzled and go off lead. (He'd literally never met another breed of dog when we rescued him so was very wary initially and had zilcho recall). Just wanted to be one example that it is possible 😊

A golden retriever would def meet your requirements. We got ours when the DC were really small and he’s brilliant. A bit hairy but you say you’re prepared for daily grooming (I’m not as devoted as that!!) I’ve not heard of resource guarding in goldens being an issue... all the ones I’ve known have been complete softies and people pleasers!

I’ve not heard of resource guarding in goldens being an issue
It’s a known issue in spaniels and goldens, there are stacks of threads and posts on it.

Don’t get a Cavalier. Lovely breed wrecked by popularity so terrible health problems.
Testing the parents cannot ensure puppies free from the inherited disease. Crossbreed Cavaliers can still inherit heart disease and SM.

All very helpful. Looking like shih tzu or bichon so far x

A bichon would definitely fit the bill for you.

I’ve got a shihtzu x Maltese and he’s certainly a lapdog - BUT I wouldn’t say it would be my number one choice with young children.
Cavalier King Charles are probably a better choice but of course you need to be careful in terms of health.

What about a poodle. A friend of my mother's has a standard poodle and she's adorable. Often overlooked outside the fashionable crosses nowadays.

Like the previous poster, we have a Golden who is the softest dog imaginable. I've never heard of resource guarding being a particular problem with the breed either. The hair on the other hand ...... 😆😆😆

Ours is old now but even she will happily go for an hour long walk. She would walk all day when she was in her prime so maybe not a good choice for you OP

I came on to recommend a whippet too 😂

@mummabubs

I'm really sorry to hear of the previous poster's relative who had an unfortunate experience with a child tripping over the greyhound but would add that that reaction is certainly not unique to the breed and I'd expect most dogs to have a similar reaction if disturbed mid-sleep. The golden retriever I grew up with was the most gentle soul in the world but even she had the same reaction when my dad touched her not realising that she was asleep. Admittedly our grey is in the minority but we got to a stage with socialisation and training where he is able to be unmuzzled and go off lead. (He'd literally never met another breed of dog when we rescued him so was very wary initially and had zilcho recall). Just wanted to be one example that it is possible 😊

I suppose you are right that any dog could have that reaction - but it is worth noting my Nephew has a greyhound himself, and they've never had issues like that. We have all been around dogs since young in my family, and nobody has seen a sleep startle like that before. My nephew is also a very quiet, gentle child, and it was a complete accident - that of course all children are capable of! If you Google it, it is common with Greyhounds in particular. I'm not trying to say it is all greyhounds :) My brother's greyhound is lovely, as was the one who bit - it was not something that could have been predicted.

my mum's Italian greyhound, or my sister's whippet are a lot smaller, I would just rather that than a standard greyhound, around a child now - because of the experience in my family.

Easy Dandie
www.donthibernate.co.uk/dummys-guide-to-dandie-dinmont-terriers/