Is there a breed I'm missing?

[undermycatsthumb]

We are hoping to get a dog in the next one or two years. At the moment our first choice is a golden retriever, and I've contacted lots of breeders of goldens. We've also considered a cocker, but the show types aren't for me and I've read so much conflicting information about whether the working types are suitable for a family pet i.e. not actually worked. We've ruled out labs and flatcoats. So my question is, is there another breed outside those 4 that I should be considering? I just want to make sure we get this decision absolutely right.
Our requirements are - good with kids and a cat; up for long, mountainous hikes; trainable; gentle.
Thankyou!

Cavalier king Charles spaniel.
Gentle, brilliant with children, very good companions, lazy but can do long walks...but if its raining a quick trip to pee in the garden and back to the sofa.
Easy to train.
Small enough to be portable, take to holidays with you etc.
Just all round easy, perfect family pets.

Why have you ruled out labs? But like retrievers? Working cockers have so much energy but i understand re the cockers.

Rough collie! Very gentle, loves outdoors and quick to groom. Only problem is everyone stops you on walks for fluffles

A Newfie!! Giant lovable bear like snuggle bunnies soft as shite love hiking easy ish to train ( water rescue dogs)

What about one of the other retrievers?

Why have you ruled out show cockers? Is it purely their coat?

Setters, particularly English Setter. Good medium size, walk forever, sweetest natured, good looking.

What are your other criteria? Grooming? Shedding? Barking? Size? I’m a big fan of the Eurasier who are gorgeous gentle medium sized family dogs, that can hike but don’t need hours and hours of exercise every day. They do need a bit of grooming though.

Cavvies are prone to heart problems and eye issues but lively

Intelligent and responsive. Very agile. Don’t moult unduly. Courageous and cuddly in equal measures but...........vulnerable breed and hard to come by.

I'd also say English Setter

Why not a lab? Mine fits the bill perfectly but you can't have him

Rough collie! Very gentle

There was a survey published recently and Rough Collies came out as THE dog most likely to bite.

I think stick with a Golden Retriever. They really are the perfect dog in terms of temperament and biddability. I don't have one, so I can't be accused of bias.

Love a setter Lemon.
OP goldens are big and bouncy and VERY hairy.
I would avoid cavs for health reasons.
Big dogs need great care taken with exercise. They can cause real damage if they do too much too soon.

Any pointer type...

Or a Tibetan Terrier, if you like the grooming.

Parson terrier. I have four, nearly five. Kind, clever, funny, gentle, people like little dogs. Highly intelligent. Absolutely wonderful with my children. One occasionally chases flying birds.....other than that I walk all five off lead and adore them. Two bark if anyone comes to the door but I live very rural so it doesn't bother me, more an alert as so rare.

Staffordshire Bull Terrior! So so gentle and soft, amazing with children and can walk absolutely miles and miles without lagging

Toller? Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.

I would also second English Setters, but you are likely to have a long wait as they are on the endangered native breeds list in the UK.

Your setter is beautiful LemonRoses - not a breed I'd come across.

I wouldn't go for a cav for health reasons plus I don't like their look (sorry) - it's the same with show cockers (the look). I love Newfies but they're just that bit TOO big!

So other criteria - yes, ideally not too vocal. I'm not really fussed about shedding, don't mind regular grooming (not particularly houseproud and have to sweep constantly anyway due to trail of detritus my children leave behind them as they're constantly in and out of the garden).

I know goldies are huge and hairy - I dogsit for one and we all adore him. The size is a minor concern to me but only because we'd have to make some practical changes eg get a roof box for the car, new tent... nothing major. The exercise part in the early years does worry me, but we would just have to dial down our hikes completely for a year or take it in turns to stay with the dog/go out with the kids.

Why not a lab? It's a good question and the answer will sound really, really silly, but in short it's because my favourite dog in the world is a lab/cocker cross and, because she looks like a lab but is small, actual labs always just seem too big to me. I know that's completely ridiculous given that I love goldies but I just can't get past it

We have a GSD x Retriever. He's amazing. Totally gentle, happy around free roaming chickens, cats, rabbits, etc., great with children. Very chilled. Only barks if someone comes to the door, the postman and the icecream man.

Setters are stunning. Not sure tollers fit the bill if you don’t want noise.

Forgot photo!

German Shorthaired Pointer, Vizsla or Poodle

My friend has a Tibetan terrier and it’s the most lovely, easy family dog.

Sorry, cross post there! I love the look of Tollers but aren't they absolutely bonkers? Staffies - I know that they have lovely temperaments if they are looked after properly but I'm afraid to say they've been ruined for me by the people that don't look after them properly. Most other terriers are too small for me. Sorry, I am apparently incredibly picky!