Going round and round trying to figure out best breed for us (family dog)...

[CityDweller]

... and I'm hoping for some advice!

We're hoping to get a dog in the next year. Family of four. DC currently 7 & 5. Live semi-rurally. Plenty of space indoor and out. Someone at home nearly all the time. First-time dog-owners. We also have chickens. DC would also like guinea pigs in the near future.

Every time I think I've found 'the right' breed, I then read something that puts me off or we meet a dog that makes me re-think.

Requirements are:

• loving, gentle and friendly
• will bond with all of us (i.e. not a 'one-person dog),
• not prone to jumping up (or can easily be trained out of it as a pup)
• not too 'mad' or zoomy around the house (beyond the puppy phase)
• characterful and a properly 'doggy' dog (i.e. not a greyhound!)
• medium/large in size
• ideally not too smelly/ sheddy (although will compromise on this if dog fits the bill in all other ways)

These are the breeds on my short list, but they all seem to have various drawbacks that are making me pause:
Irish terrier
Irish setter
Golden retriever
Cocker or Springer spaniel (working)
Standard poodle

I also really love the look and sound of Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers (Tollers), but they seem impossible to find...

Any input on whether any of these breeds might suit us, or others worth considering, would be much appreciated!

Standard schnauzer. We love ours to bits. She is low shedding. Medium size. A complete character. Fabulous with children. Not barky. Very gentle. Doesn't jump up. Well worth considering.

Terriers will eat your chickens and guinea pigs, so I'd rule them out (much as I love them and have one myself!).

Labradors would fit the bill

Consider the puppy stage carefully... I'd suggest guinea pigs now and puppy when DC are a little older. Guinea pigs are wonderful pets.
We have a cocker spaniel puppy, he is lovely but he has bitey periods daily and at 11 weeks his bite is strong enough to draw blood.
I think that would be quite tough for a 5 year old to deal with (they need to be able to calmly 'be a tree' in response to bitey zoomy puppy rather than flap about or cry - something that can be difficult as an adult when the bugger grabs your ankle!).
When considering breeds, the larger breeds tend to mature more slowly so again worth considering this with regard to the length of the puppy/adolescent stage.

@Epwell. Hmm - I hadn't considered because they seem hard to find/ I had read that the standards aren't as good-natured as the minis. Did you get yours from a breeder?

@Literallynoidea - labs have never appealed to us. Too 'boundy' and 'jumpy up' for the DC, I think.

Retired Greyhound would be perfect.

(I know a lovely lovely toller, but be warned even with a really brilliant handler they can be quite naughty...)

Cocker spaniel.. but show strain

Bright, clever, easy to train, eager to please, love a cuddle.

I can't think of a negative.

yes @AwkwardPaws27 I do see your point. It's probably what's making me hesitate the most. But we don't want to leave it too late either - we really want the kids and dog to form a strong bond that will see them through the kids' tween and teen years

I've had setters and Goldens before.

Irish setters are lovely but a bit cracked. Not the smartest dogs, fairly excitable...in my experience anyway.

Goldens shed. A lot. Would be a better fit for you overall but you'll be able to knit spare dogs out of the hair many times over!

I understand, but on the other hand if they are a few years older they can be much more involved in care and training from the start - so it becomes much more a family dog with everyone being involved.

We have a lab cross springer and he fits all your criteria bar the shedding ( its hideous). Best thing that happened to our family, such a sweet natured old boy ( 12 nearly 13 now)

Oh yes from a breeder and with a pedigree as long as your arm. There is so much puppy farming about, we were really really careful. I'm not sure you can get standards easily otherwise! We had to go and be vetted by the breeder as suitable before we could even go on the waiting list for a puppy, and it took 2 visits before we were deemed acceptable! We were very careful. Minis can be very yappy and barky and nervy. The puppy stage was a bit mad but she is now the most fabulous, loyal, devoted, gentle, good natured dog. we love her to bits. Well worth considering.

Cocker Spaniel Show dog. We have one with 4 kids. He’s now 9 so we got him when my twins were 7 & my youngest was 5. He bonded very closely with my eldest who was 12 then. Of course she’s now at Uni but he adores her relentlessly still. He’s a great character, has attitude, is a bit naughty ( took on the family characteristics within a few days) and is like another member of the family. I remember him fighting with our youngest, as a puppy, over some chocolate and I think he bit toes a bit.
My dh has had setters and he said they were absolutely beautiful, but a lot of work & very loving and not as intelligent as Cockers.

I know, it's a bit bigger than your wish list, but what about an English Mastiff? All the ones I know are lovely and gentle.

Talk to your local rescue centre for advice. A good rehoming centre will match you with the right dog, and there will be plenty to choose from. Don't get too hung up on breeds, not all dogs show classic breed traits - I had a young greyhound once, a completely failed racer with absolutely zero chase instinct.

I would think carefully about a cocker - lovely dogs but they run and run and run.... exhausting.

Might be a bit small but a carefully health tested cavalier could be a good fit. They are proper dogs with lovely family personalities. They vary a lot in siZe, you could look for a larger one.

German Shepherd. Not bouncy, protective, easily trained and great with other animals. Will like to herd everyone, including the chickens but I always found that useful!

Oh we have a Golden and I love her so much. Beautiful, ploddy, eager to please, will run and run on walks if we want her to, comical, happy, likes fireworks, the postman, anything. We're so glad we got her, and the hoovering requirements really aren't that bad.

A friend of ours has 2 kids, chickens, cats, rabbits.. And two labradors, they are both so gentle, soppy and very well behaved.

We on the hand have a lunatic misbehaving bouncy rescue jack russell lurcher crossbreed who we love to bits but wouldn't wish him on anyone 😂😂

If you think labradors are too jumpy and bouncy then don’t get a golden retriever as they are IME far worse when they are young . How about Airedale’s or bearded collies .

When i read your list of requirements 'lab' was what came into my mind. My lab, while far from perfect, isn't bouncy or bouncy.

Is there a reason why a rough collie isn’t on your list? Should be good with the smaller animals, loving and gentle? Is the hair putting you off? If I was in your situation, it would be top of the list - I’ve met a few and am captivated. Practically speaking a smaller non-shedding dog would suit our city family better but my DH is refusing a small dog and we are both so taken with rough collies...
Bit scared of the hair though!

Not large but our cavalier King Charles spaniel is amazing. She loves us all to bits, is constantly on one of our laps and and loves long walks too. She and her parents were cleared of any health issues which is important.
Our previous dog was a rough collie and she was fantastic too. So loving and happy and again she loved walks but wasn't on the go all the time.

Airedales are lovely.

My gorgeous collie ❤️