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!

As well as breed, the parents' temperament is really important

@CityDweller we have a golden retriever pup nearly 5 months old now. Can recommend a breeder if you wish-she was fab and all health scores etc were amazing, temperament of the mum was gorgeous.

BUT... i will say, adult goldens are generally amazing family pets but the puppies, well, they grow so quick and they are bouncy. At nearly 5 months, mine is 20kg and on hind legs bigger than a small child. She’s super cute, playful and adorable but she bites and it’s painful, really painful. They are known as land sharks in the GR community! We love our girl so much but her size combined with the biting is an issue as it scares my eldest and the children who I took to school before Christmas as part of a childcare bubble. Our house is open plan so we have had to baby gate off loads of areas. Her size means if she jumps up at counters she can swipe anything left on them! Lots of pups pull on leads when they’re learning to walk but the strength of a GR means you can get pulled over and the kids can’t hold the lead. They want to eat everything so you are always on your guard on walks, it’s not the relaxing stroll with dog and kids I imagined! My DDs are a little older than yours, I personally would find it v hard if they were younger.

Just wanted to give you a realistic picture as your checklist sounded similar to mine and I too, have never been a fan of labradors! Happy to answer any questions

I have a lovely 2 year old male goldie and wouldn't be without him. I love the breed and think they're an ideal family pet. My friend has a golden doodle (golden retriever x with poodle). She's smaller than my dog, doesn't shed as much although she loves the water / mud and is generally more manageable. She jumps up but being more dainty this isn't an issue. Should my dog jump up, he can knock me over! A golden doodle might suit you better.

You don't want smelly sheddy and are considering a golden retriever? They have long fur, that dangles in mud.

Personally I would go for a black or golden Labrador, but you do need to train them and not over fed them as they love eating scraps. I have grown up with labs, their fur is low maintenance, but I now have spaniels ( high maintenance fur and ears). So spaniels might be smaller, but much more anxiety.

Labs and spaniels really need to train them, they pull on the lead like a rocket, but can be very good off lead.