Breed recommendations?

[sammysnake]

Hi, we have young DC and a couple of cats but would like to add a dog to the family. Due to ages of DC (primary school age) rehoming doesn't seem to be viable. Also think a puppy would be better growing up around the cats. Can anyone recommend any suitable breeds? One person would always be home with the dog and we'd want one we can take for long walks once grown but not a complete ball of energy. We like retrievers but think they may be too large for the house. Thanks!

@sunflowersandbuttercups

I'll be honest and say a lot of medium-sized dogs (as you say a retriever is too big) will need more than 2 x 30 minute walks a day. Could you afford to hire a dog walker?

We can walk more if the dog needed it so good to know that we'd need to plan for more time. I think that would be the ideal time from our perspective but we'd have to adapt if it was required. I just wouldn't want a small dog that got puffed out too easily.

@Wolfiefan

An hour a day is very little. I don’t think many would be thrilled with that.

Thanks Wolfe - how much time should we expect to be walking say a King Charles Spaniel? That's probably the size I'd like but would worry about the breathing issues with that breed.

@linerforlife

Westie. They don't yap, they're great with kids (and with cats if you raise them with cats from a puppy!), they don't shed that much if you keep them booked in regularly for a clip, easily trained etc and they will also go on a long walk or short walk without being a nightmare if it's only short!! Always happy to be involved with family life whether that's snoozing on the sofa or out playing in the garden. Absolute gems of dogs and very underrated!!!

The fur has always put me off! Can they be clipped short?

Cairn’s are great little dogs :). Haven’t seen many about recently.

Beware anything ultra trendy or any poodledoodle doo type dogs. Finding one that has been bred ethically is all but impossible, puppy farms and scammers everywhere.

@bluebluezoo

Cairn’s are great little dogs :). Haven’t seen many about recently.

Beware anything ultra trendy or any poodledoodle doo type dogs. Finding one that has been bred ethically is all but impossible, puppy farms and scammers everywhere.

Just had to google - sweet faces! I've always liked border terriers bur would be worried about them round the cats. I think probably if they're socialised well from a young age it will help but some breeds will have natural instincts that won't be overcome. I do like that wiry look on a dog. Big fan of lurchers but not right for our home unfortunately.

I was going to recommend a border terrier until you said you didn't want a small dog!
I'm a groomer and have quite a few on my books and also have a few friends with some. They're great on longer walks and can go for miles, but equally the ones I know would also be happy with an hour a day.

They're fairly low maintenance in terms of grooming, they can either be hand stripped which generally gets done twice a year or can be clipped regularly if you want them kept short. They also don't have the breathing issues that the small bracypheliac dogs have.

In response to your reply to another poster, yes westies can be clipped short. Most of the westies I do get taken short in the body/legs and a short westie face, it looks really good on them, it's one of my favourite grooms to do! I find they don't grow as fast as a lot of other breeds do aswell

Westie. They don't yap
I beg to differ. I live near a pair of the barky little bastards and when everyone's windows are open in the summer the yapping is bloody annoying. Especially at 11pm.

Boston terrier? Mine walks for miles and can climb mountains! Or be very lazy. Doesn't bark, minimal shedding and very confident.

Breathing issues? Or heart and brain?

@Lou98

I was going to recommend a border terrier until you said you didn't want a small dog! I'm a groomer and have quite a few on my books and also have a few friends with some. They're great on longer walks and can go for miles, but equally the ones I know would also be happy with an hour a day.

They're fairly low maintenance in terms of grooming, they can either be hand stripped which generally gets done twice a year or can be clipped regularly if you want them kept short. They also don't have the breathing issues that the small bracypheliac dogs have.

In response to your reply to another poster, yes westies can be clipped short. Most of the westies I do get taken short in the body/legs and a short westie face, it looks really good on them, it's one of my favourite grooms to do! I find they don't grow as fast as a lot of other breeds do aswell

Thanks - I must admit I've always thought of them as slightly bigger dogs (I guess in comparison to pigs, etc). My worries would be as my cross post above though ☹️

We can walk more if the dog needed it so good to know that we'd need to plan for more time. I think that would be the ideal time from our perspective but we'd have to adapt if it was required. I just wouldn't want a small dog that got puffed out too easily.

The vast majority of small dogs are more than capable of running for hours. In fact, it's the giant breeds that can't often cope with lots of exercise due to their hearts and the strain it puts on their joints.

I would suggest having a look at the following:

Cairn Terrier - small, but hardy and can walk for miles. Generally friendly and healthy, though they do need regular trips to the groomers (probably every 6-8 weeks is best).

Shih-tzu - typical lap dogs, though fit ones can go for miles. Be careful with their face shape as they can suffer from a flat face and the associated health issues. Again, regular grooming is needed.

Border Terrier - good with people (though can have issues with other dogs), hardy and healthy - not too small either. They do need clipping/hand-stripping regularly, though.

Miniature poodle - need probably 60-90 minutes of exercise a day, don't shed (but need brushing daily and clipping regularly).

@Wolfiefan

Breathing issues? Or heart and brain?

Ah sorry, I was thinking of heart issues with them. Known of a fair few with poor heart health as they've aged. Temperament wise I think they're lovely though.

What about a Chinese crested powder-puff? They are siblings of the hairless crested but have a full coat. If you ignore the crazy pony haircuts, and the hairless variety they are a really happy laid-back, loving family dog. They are often overlooked because the breed is typified by the hairless which is a niche breed, but this means they are not over bred or exploited and are not too expensive. They also don't have a squashed muzzle like some of the smaller breeds. Ours is happy to fit into our lives getting 2/3 walks a day of 20-30 mins and joins us on days out on weekends, but if it's raining she won't go out, and if we miss one if her walk she isn't bothered. She loves the cat, playing in the garden with the children and cuddles. Our children love her. We had a cavalier and a show cocker spaniel. Cav died young with heart problems and the cocker was a live wire I found him a bit excitable with out small children (we had him pre children). I think the cat friendly aspect is hard and general advice is to avoid terriers and hounds.

@bluebluezoo

Cairn’s are great little dogs :). Haven’t seen many about recently.

Beware anything ultra trendy or any poodledoodle doo type dogs. Finding one that has been bred ethically is all but impossible, puppy farms and scammers everywhere.

So nice to see someone else recommending Cairns!

I have one on my books as a dog walker and she's fantastic. Friendly, can go for hours or is happy with 45 minutes a day. Great with dogs and people - barks at the door but otherwise she's pretty quiet.

I'm not normally a small dog/terrier person but she really is lovely and all the ones I've met have been the same.

@sammysnake I just seen your cross post there!

They are a good size I think aswell. But yes as they were originally bred as fox hunters I believe, it is possible for them to have that natural prey instinct. Although, I do know a few that live with cats and are absolutely fine. Equally I know dogs that aren't "prey breeds" that don't get on with cats. But it is definitely a risk worth considering!

We have staffies that would tick all your boxes minus the not being too hyper 😂 ours are very lazy and calm now at 2 and 8 years but the first 18 months our youngest was so full of energy!

I do also agree with others recommending Cairns, the ones I've worked with are lovely dogs!

Although again they were bred originally for hunting so they may also have that prey drive you're trying to avoid

@XelaM a high drive gundog breed - 3 of them.
Crossing one with a pub would make long walks so much more... entertaining, until the dogs got into the bar snacks.

Although again they were bred originally for hunting so they may also have that prey drive you're trying to avoid

The cairn I had got on with cats fine. The prey drive was more toward small very small furries, i also have yorkies and the dogs and cats go hunting for mice together.

How well a dog gets on with cats often depends largely on the cat. If the cat doesn’t run away, the dog can’t chase it. All the cats and dogs I’ve had have got along fine, whatever age they were introduced.

The only breeds I’d avoid with cats are the sighthounds, as the see-chase-catch reflex kicks in long before the brain even realises.

Speaking from 30 odd years of experience, a golden retriver would be fine with 2x 30 minute walks a day and longer on weekends.

They really aren't 2/3 hours per day kind of dogs. In fact you would probably end up with a very overstimulated dog if you did that.

Flat coats are also wonderful but have no sense of personal space and until they are about 5 they can be very bouncy, in a loveable "everyone's best friend" kind of way.

They are also water obsessed (goldies in my experience are more mud obsessed and my last one was actually scared of swimming!)

Both breeds are in general excellent with children.

Size wise, a golden or flattie bitch really isn't that big. Definitely more medium than large. My current dog weighs 40 kg though so maybe shy away from boys if size is an issue.

Again, personal experience only but I would shy away from a toy breed with children. Nippy buggers. Maybe I've only met bad ones though.

My brother has a lhasa apso and they are fab dogs. Brilliant temperament, not too small, intelligent and trainable, and would equally cope with 2 x 30 min walks or a 2 hour yomp. Not sure about the cat thing, although a dog of any breed can get on with a cat depending on the individual dog.

The only breeds I’d avoid with cats are the sighthounds, as the see-chase-catch reflex kicks in long before the brain even realises.

Even sighthounds can be cat-trained, I've known plenty of greyhounds and whippets who lived happily with cats.

@Winederlust some can.
But some can. Until the day they can’t. And then the cat is dead.
We have sighthounds and cats. We ensure the cats can always have a safe dog free space. They are never left alone together.

Wolfiefan fair enough.
Same as any dog though.

@Winederlust some are much less likely to harm a cat but some breeds are bred to have a high prey drive.

I had a Westie. He was delightful but very demanding, terrible separation anxiety and happy. He was a real character but tbh I wouldn’t have another. From talking to other owners he was quite typical of his breed.

I would look at a poodle OP. They are just perfect dogs. You don’t have to do the silly haircuts and they are great family dogs and very trainable. Standard or miniature would suit you down to the ground.