Breed recommendations

[HelloSocks]

We are considering getting a puppy in the next year or two as our youngest (have older teens too) starts school soon (DH WFH and I work very PT, so will be at home during the day)
Cannot seem to quite pin down a specific breed though and wondered if there are any breeds we just haven't considered.

I have had a border collie previously, love of my life (dogwise), immensely enjoyed training him and he was a fantastic dog. Shed tons though! Was also less keen on children.
Also had a saluki lurcher, beautiful in the house (aside from fridge opening!) and super calm with children and cats. Great to walk, though mostly on lead because of instinct to chase. Didn't want to know beyond basic obedience.

Our preferences...
Friendly with children/reasonably to very friendly with strangers.
Would love a dog that likes to play fetch and learn new tricks.
1.5 - 2 hours exercise a day.
Doesn't usually mind being alone for up to 3-4 hours.
Any size but prefer medium.
Lowish shedding.
Can be in a home with a cat and rabbit.
Doesn't excessively bark.

We were looking at some kind of spaniel, but I don't know anyone with one to ask/meet one!

Not terribly keen on terriers or on poodle crosses but that's about it!

Thanks in advance!

Have a look down the vulnerable native breeds list - one of the rarer spaniels might suit

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

There's a poster who recommends Clumber spaniels, as very calm and laid back

Love the Brittany I know.
The only Tibetan terrier I know is a bit of a Velcro dog!
Love sprockers too.
Flatties seem to have an issue with cancer in the breed from what I’ve seen.

Just seen you got overruled on a GSP. What reason? What about an English pointer as a bit smaller?

I'm a vet, on the spaniel note my experience of working cockers/sprockers is they are very neurotic and bark a lot, also met a few who have developed a nervous aggression. I would get a springer rather than a working cocker/sprocker to be honest. or the show type cockers are a lot more chilled. I see someone else mentioned a Clumber spaniel, i absolutely love this breed, have only ever met 2 so don't have much experience but they were genuinely the happiest, loveliest, friendliest dogs i have ever met. I have a Border Collie who is my absolute right hand girl and i don't think i will ever get another dog like her, she's 14 now and starting to show her age but she's not so well suited to family life now we have young dc.
Pointer or a Brittany sounds like a good shout for you

@Mojoj

I have a cockapoo and I don't care what anyone thinks about cross breeds etc., he's the love of my life🥰🥰. Fantastically patient with my youngest child who has special needs. A lovable wee rogue who looks like a teddy bear and loves everyone. He's also super smart.

Same! We have two and they are the most amazing dogs. Only hated on MN, in real life they get so much positive attention! 🥰

@birdglasspen

Flat coated retrievers are beautiful, friendly dogs, love people, love ball chasing are good with other animals and don't shed as much as collies. Their hair tends to be easy to clean up, it's not excessive and doesn't "stick" the way some shorter haired breeds do! They are large though not medium. They are called the 'Peter Pan" of dogs as they don't grow up, in reality this just means you always have an energetic, full of fun dog, when it's time to slow down in old age you will have to take the lead! I'd say pointers and Munsterlanders are gamekeepers dogs and can be bad with small animals as they originally would have been bred to hunt them along with other game.

I've had 7 flatcoats - but their Peter Pan nature does make them a bit marmite. They are more like collies in that they love to be doing things - but brilliant with kids. 6 of mine, including 3 rescues, were fantastic with cats and other small furries. One had a really strong prey drive and was a nightmare. I had her from 8 weeks and she was my 6th FC - a real shock to the system tbh.

“Same! We have two and they are the most amazing dogs. Only hated on MN, in real life they get so much positive attention!“

Nobody hates cockapoos FFS, cockers are nice dogs, poodles are nice dogs - there’s just no extra benefit to crossing them and you get thousands of shitty breeders churning them out with very little thought to the health and well-being of their dogs or the puppies they produce.

Anyway...

OP - my suggestion is a smooth collie.