Best breed with kids

[Christmasfairy2020]

Hi
I have not owned a dog before. My mum always has had dogs. I really want a puppy since there are 0 rescue dogs around here. I had kids aged 11 and 6 whom love dogs. We have an elderly cat. I'm unsure of breeds I was thinking dalmation as a friend has one. What are your thoughts as I'm literally a novice. I want a mid size dog that likes to walk

Staffordshire bull terrier. Loyal gentle loving and FABULOUS with kids

Really wouldn't recommend a Dalmatian as a first time breed, they need a hell of a lot of exercise usually, very rambunctious especially as youngsters and can be stubborn with a mind of their own. Also to be aware that Dalmatians as a breed are very prone to developing urinary stones and require a low purine diet. Beautiful dogs but thanks to the popularity of 101 Dalmatians, so many dodgy breeders tried to cash in and even today there are a fair few Dalmatians with real temperament issues (think hyperactive, neurotic, aggressive) so will require an especially careful search in selecting the right breeder.

Generally can't go wrong with a well bred Labrador or Golden Retriever for children, obviously will need to socialise them properly with the kids but they are usually pretty bombproof if they come from a breeder that breeds for health and temperament.

Lovely thanks guys. I always thought of staffys as aggressive? I may give the dalmation a wide birth them. The neighbour has a cocker spaniel but he seems hmm interesting. Its so frustrating that the costs have trippled at moment x

When you say 'likes a walk' do you mean a 10 mile hike before breakfast or pottering round the park a couple of times per day?

Google Kennel Club A-Z, you can filter breeds by various characteristics .

We have a cocker spaniel as our first dog. Needs more mental stimulation than you think but is the most wonderful pet. Great with kids and loves cuddles. A friend has a golden retriever which was our 2nd choice and very glad we didn't get one as she is so big and bouncy she is a bit overwhelming!

Hmm yes probably 15 min walk breakfast lunch and tea and then a good walk at weekend. I say that likes to walk as my mums shorkie doesn't like walking and the hair dresses dog is a mini sausage dog and he ends up been carried

I have a (thoroughly health tested) Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Small rather than medium, but she is fabulous with children and is a sporty little thing - happy to walk and loves a run around but if I can’t do a longer walk that day she’s not bouncing off the walls.

@Christmasfairy2020 my son has a mini sausage dog and he we walk him for miles and miles he never seems tired , maybe your hairdresser just had a lazy one ! I wouldn't get a collie or a lab if you can't go for more than a 15 min walk at a time in the week. My son also has a basset hound , likes going for walks but equally just as happy with a run round the garden. They are so expensive at the moment aren't they it's ridiculous!

I have a 10 month old golden retriever, from fully health tested parents of good working lines and she is a dream. She loves kids, she loves everyone actually 😂 most important for us is keeping her mentally stimulated as we go by a '5 minute per month of life' walk a day to ensure she has low risk of developing dysplasia

Not a Labrador then, they need a lot more exercise. Most breeds will need more than that tbh.

Many Staffies are very gentle and docile around children if bred to the KC standard and properly socialised but sadly they are very overbred by bad breeders, and when that happens you get a lot of dogs with dodgy temperaments.

Also keep in mind Staffies are genetically prone to potential dog/other animal aggression and obviously are very powerful (considering their small size, very muscular) and strong-willed for their original purpose was blood sports. Not all, but it's a possible breed trait and needs to be considered. Animal reactivity really isn't easy to manage (depending on severity), especially as a first time owner, and as you have an elderly cat.

30 minutes a day during the week isn't a good walk. We had border collies and it was a good 3hrs a day walking time plus games etc and even then they needed BIG walks on the weekend.

Lurcher type might meet your needs. They're generals super chilled, need short walks and like s good zzzz

Hmm yes probably 15 min walk breakfast lunch and tea and then a good walk at weekend. I say that likes to walk
WTF.
An average walk for us is about 10 miles.
I would consider that distance about right for an active, healthy dog.

3 15 minute walks is really really low.
It’s 45 minutes a day.
45 minutes.
That is virtually nothing

Greyhound or lurcher. We've had several and they're quite happy with short, energetic walks, plus a longer more leisurely ramble at weekends. Very chilled out generally too. Don't get a Dalmatian, they are beautiful dogs, but absolutely bonkers.

Not a cocker spaniel on that exercise then as they need more than that. Do you have a big garden? If you have a lot of space you could set up activities for a dog outside if you can't walk it much. Would there usually be someone home in the day?

Whippets are apparently like dogs in cat form, and could sleep all day on a fast run about, but not sure about the cat as they can have high prey drive for small furry animals.

We had a working cocker, who is now 10 months. Kids are 13, 11 and 7! she is perfect. she needs walking but we wanted to walk her so she has an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon at least, not always off lead.
she is such a happy dog, wiggles her bum when she gets excited.
her dog cousin is a retriever but so big their child can't walk it alone as it pulls her (puppy just over 1) but a lovely dog.
yes dog will chew stuff if left alone , but i think most puppies do. we will get another puppy on the next couple of years. We have an 9 year old cat who ignores dog mainly.

and she is walked more off lead at weekends when we don't have to work from home/home school! 🤣🤣

Err... If you can't get them out for AT LEAST an hour a day, then do not get a dog. You need to find the time to exercise them properly. Or factor in the cost to hire a dog walker.

. going to also guess if you can only find 15 minutes to walk a dog....then you'll find excuses to skip the walks, and convince yourself that "oh it's.only one walk" etc

No id def walk the dog. I could do 30 min in a morning and then longer in evening if needed. I'm wfh ive been wfh since March. Its unlikely of a return for a long time and of I do it would be 1 or 2 days in which the dog would go to my mums. I have a fenced of garden but it isn't big no. Maybe we shouldn't get a dog then as sounds like just can't walk enough xx

No id def walk the dog. I could do 30 min in a morning and then longer in evening if needed. I'm wfh ive been wfh since March. Its unlikely of a return for a long time and of I do it would be 1 or 2 days in which the dog would go to my mums. I have a fenced of garden but it isn't big no. Maybe we shouldn't get a dog then as sounds like just can't walk enough
The thing is, apart from a walk, what does a dog do throughout the day?
It’s the only real exciting part of their day.
A 45 minute walk is a teeny weeny percentage of their day.

I think most uk dogs are chronically underexercised and imo, the only dogs where a 45 minute daily walk would be appropriate would be a very old dog, a dog with serious medical issues like severe dysplasia or something that needs limited exercise or a deformed breed that can’t easily physically manage much more but then I don’t think it morally right to breed deformed animals unable to exercise properly.

Saint Bernard owner here, puppy only on limited walks just now but as an adult will be fine on two 30 minute walks per day. Nothing outrageous there. Not all dogs need walked like a spaniel or a Labrador. Some are just lazy 😂 she often just plonks herself down for a wee breather on her current short 15 minute walk at random times.

"I think most uk dogs are chronically underexercised and imo"

Got to agree with you there as I have seen some seriously fat dogs since owning my puppy and doing regular walks. It's incredibly sad to see. We do weekly weigh in with pup to keep a check on her.