What breed to get?

[WhatsTheBFD]

I’ve been dog broody for years now and I’m finally WFH permanently, and youngest DD is 6 so have more time on my hands.

• Standard 3 bed semi
• Medium garden
• Semi rural and coastal - lots of open spaces, very dog friendly area
• DC aged 13/11/6

The only breed I have any experience with are KC Staffies. My Uncle had two sisters that I used to spend weekends dog sitting as a teenager, my Grandparents had one just before I was born and then another when I was 18, a few years after my childhood dog died, my sister has one.

A close friend has a naughty PITA but gorgeous and charming Beagle, another has a batshit but gorgeous and charming Cocker.

But I’ve never owned or trained one myself.

I’m 5”3 so don’t want a large dog.

Money not an obstacle, have several good vets nearby, am also willing to wait a year or two for the right breeder - please tell me what I’m looking for in a breeder, they will be KC but still want to go in with cautious and critical eyes

How much exercise do you want to do with the dog? What are your feelings about grooming/hair?

We have always had jrt's. The last one died when our first two dc were toddlers, and we didn't want to risk another as they can be snappy and high energy.
We got a shih tzu early this year, he's just 9 months. Fantastic little dog. Loves a walk, but happy to chill, was so easy to house train. Is fed jwb dry and does so well off it, no tummy troubles. He's so happy around the kids, has never showed any aggression of any sort. I am home most of the time but he's happy alone if I do pop out. Sleeps in the kitchen all night and not a sound from him.
I think we'd have struggled to find a better family dog! If someone had told me after our jrt we'd have ended up with a shihtzu I'd have laughed and said no chance!

To add, they don't moult, at all. So need to be clipped or groomed regularly. I have experience of clipping as I used to clip my horses so I've been doing him myself. Takes me about 40 mins. I've been doing him every 3 weeks in the hot weather but will leave it longer now it's cooler.

Whichever breed or breeds you look at, research the health conditions that are typical of their breed, and the health tests that the breeder needs to do.
I have labs, perfect for your situation other than they can be large, and live their exercise, although females are generally smaller. I would be looking at elbow and hip scores ( lower is better) and eye tests for Progressive Retinol Atrophy (PRA) - hopefully clear.
Each breed will have some things which are more typical and of course parental temperament is important. You want sociable, confident dogs.
The Kennel Club and google can advise on tests, or speak to local vets, who can tell you what to look for.

Please please please check that you can register with a vet before you get a dog.

The veterinary industry is overwhelmed with lockdown puppies, the disaster that is brexit and covid. Many practices are closing their books and struggling to provide the standards of care our pets deserve.

Border terrier.

Border collie, we have one. Amazing around children and small animals. Easy to train, ours even does the zombies given by the two year old. Don't bank much. Down side, is big poohs! Lol. We walk ours minimum of 1 hour a day plus lots of activities in the garden x

Get a staffy! Smallish, affectionate, clever, relatively easy to train (though socialising is a must!) And great with kids. Generally pretty healthy dogs. Will walk for miles if you want but happy with a couple of shorter walks if needed. I absolutely love staffies and would never have anything else.

Border Terrier. Amazing little dogs, mine is now 12 and he would suit what you've described to a T. He's funny, feisty, playful and will walk up a mountain if you take him, but equally happy trotting round the streets. Loves a ball and a game of fetch and is an absolute sun worshipper.

@ThesecondLEM

Please please please check that you can register with a vet before you get a dog.

The veterinary industry is overwhelmed with lockdown puppies, the disaster that is brexit and covid. Many practices are closing their books and struggling to provide the standards of care our pets deserve.

Fuck, really? That’s awful!

I’d love a Lab however feel they’re too big for me to safely walk, and probably too big for my house too.

Exercise - I wander for at least 2 hours a day when DC are in school, it’s essential for my MH, and then catch up on work once youngest DC is asleep at 7pm (boring typing on laptop type job).

Hair - I’d rather not have my stuff completely covered by it, but it’s not a huge deal because I’m not house proud

My DC don’t like staffies, their experience with them is with my friends (untrained) arsehole dog and it’s totally put them off, despite one of my sisters having a lovely, well trained one

Oh look at that Collie! They’d not even crossed my mind

We have a pug who is the most child-friendly boy ever. He adores children and loves it when they make a fuss over him

I'd say start by looking at energy level!

High energy dogs (like working-line Cockers and Border Collies) are freaking awesome, smart, fun, loyal dogs that can make GREAT hiking and activity buddies. If your two-hour outdoor wanders could allow your dog to run around off lead, and you're really into the idea of doing lots of things with your dog (hiking, training, tricks, brain games, etc.), you could look at these to start.

Show-line Cockers and BCs tend to be lower energy than working-line ones.

Lower/medium energy dogs are what I'd look at if you want some flexibility and if your household likes to chill out sometimes (or is super busy and doesn't realistically have the time to revolve around a doggo). Unless you're super active and really want a hiking/running/activity buddy, I'd steer more towards this category. This would include most companion breeds (like Lhasa Apso, Shih Tzu, etc.).

You could look at "doodles" (cavapoo, cockapoo, goldendoodle, etc.) - no/low shedding, often friendly and happy-go-lucky. Their fur is a nightmare for grass seeds though, and they really need to be groomed properly every day with a thin wire comb, otherwise they mat very easily.

Dachshunds tend to be freaking adorable, sweet, loving (especially the males). Can be stubborn and wilful ;)

I personally have a working Cocker. He's absolutely nuts, haha. I love him to bits. He's SUPER fun outdoors. I've walked other Cockers too. They tend to be very very hard work. Depends if you want a hard-work dog, or an easier life!

The other option is to contact shelters/rescues. There is an influx of ~1 year old dogs now that lockdown pups have grown up. It's definitely worth a look. What you want is a friendly, easy dog. Breed type only gives you an idea of their likely tendencies :)

What kind of breeds do you like the look of?

Two hours of exercise a day is pretty great for an adult dog - so I don't think you're too limited when it comes to breeds. You mention moulting but what about grooming needs? Are you happy to pay for regular grooms or would you rather have a low-maintenance breed?

I'm a beagle owner and he pretty much fits all your criteria. He moults a bit but it's really not insane. He gets, on average, 90 minutes of exercise a day but would be absolutely fine with two hours if that's what he was offered. He's great with children and very playful. He does suffer a little with separation anxiety but if you're around all day it shouldn't be a problem.

The only thing I will say is you need to be really careful letting them off the lead. - once mine catches a scent, he turns his ears off and it's almost impossible to get him back. This time of year he's pretty much on-lead permanently due to all the interesting smells

He's VERY food motivated and easy to train - he does all the "fun" tricks and can walk to heel as well. You will need to be careful about leaving food out and our bin is kept securely in a locked cupboard! They're also pretty big chewers so a variety of yummy chews is essential so they don't eat your slippers!

I would start with looking at Native breeds on the endangered list many of these are endangered as there is no money in breeding them.
www.thekennelclub.org.uk/getting-a-dog/are-you-ready/vulnerable-native-breeds/

Moulting
yes or no?
Size
Will it fit in the house car place you are going to put its crate/cage/ bed?
Health
Many dogs now have lots of potential issues due to poor breeding.
Exercise
I like spaniels but could never commit the time to walking them so wont have one.
We are now on dog number 7 I think, so after 7 mostly different dogs the best fit for us is the current Dandie Dinmont, excellent fun loving dog doesn't moult, very playful good with people, can do short or long walks, very robust with kids.
Often a 12 month to 2 year wait for one but worth it.
Breeders
Its difficult, a good breeder will quiz you about dog experience etc, I believe some will loan you a dog too as its a life changing event.
One word of warning you have to be prepared for the dog just not fitting I have seen it once, the dog was one of the best most obedient in the dog training club but extremely vicious with other people, it was re homed to a family with teenage kids so never left on its own and it was a different dog so a happy out come.

Definitely echo finding out if you can access a vet first. Our practice has closed to new patients....

And then I would look on your local pages, there are so many young dogs from owners who are "heartbroken but looking to rehome our pup now we're going back to normal"

We have a goldie, but defo not for those who don't want to deal with a lot of hair!!

As you're prepared to wait, then do look at that vulnerable breeds list

The smaller terriers could be right for you - they are bred historically as working farm dogs (so can go all day) but there isn't much call for canine ratters these days and so are pets. Very good natured ones. Yes, still have terrier stubbornness, but are definitely at the more compliant end. Try Norfork terrier (watch list) or Norwich (vulnerable) or Border terrier

Look at the breed club pages for the breed - see if they can help you find a breeder known to the breed enthusiasts (ie has a reputation to maintain, produces good dogs). Find out what screenings are recommended for the breed and whether the breeder dies them (not just a health check, actually looking for specific conditions). Ask about how they select the sire (if they mention the avoidance of inbreeding , and that they travel to get the right, screened, healthy sire whose line complements theirs, then that is a good answer)

Border terrier ...

Have you considered a whippet? (I lost my purebred whippet in July but I still have my other whippet x staffie).

Marvellous with children, they don’t yap, don’t moult, happy to go on long/short walks, don’t drool and have very few health issues and easy to house train.

But I’m biased for sure.

Golden Retriever. The bitches are medium sized. A Goldie is a perfect dog with children.

@islaviolent

Border terrier ...

Yep, fantastic dogs. Smallish in size, massive in personality and have the most gorgeous faces. Will walk for miles but also happy to chill out and snooze. Do some research and decide for yourself.

Definitely check with your local vets to see if they are taking on new customers.

Imo there is no nicer dog than a setter. Some setter breeds on above KC list.

Definitely consider a border terrier, lovely little dogs. This is my lad 😍

Collies are very high energy and need a lot of stimulation and training so don't sound right for you (although they are lovely dogs).

Golden retrievers are wonderful but do shed a lot of hair.

I think you'd be happier choosing a smaller dog though as you size seems important to you.

Lower/medium energy dogs are what I'd look at if you want some flexibility and if your household likes to chill out sometimes (or is super busy and doesn't realistically have the time to revolve around a doggo). Unless you're super active and really want a hiking/running/activity buddy, I'd steer more towards this category. This would include most companion breeds (like Lhasa Apso, Shih Tzu, etc.)

Agree with this. Steer clear of dogs which as a breed have historically been working or hunting dogs. As lovely as they are (and I've had some), individual personality is a thing and you might end up with one who takes more effort than others to train- especially as a first time owner!

Also I would personally urge you to not to choose a breed that suffers with a lot of health issues due to years of inbreeding, such as pugs (sorry to the pp!).

You might like to look at rescues, there will be a lot of dogs needing rehoming because they were impulsively bought during lockdown.

I fall in love with every Lab, Newfie, Beagle and Spaniel I see on my walks However I’m not particularly attached to any as a choice for an actual real life pet, because they choice has to be grounded in reality.

We’re not super busy, or rather, our hobbies are of the outdoor variety - walking, parks, cycling (DC not me, I’m far too clumsy!) and the indoor ones my elder DC take themselves to so I’m not waiting around for them multiple times a week etc.

My Step Mum (who’s elderly Cocker died just before she met my Dad) is a 10K a week minimum runner who would bloody love a doggo to take with her and have zero responsibility for

Size does matter yes, I’m short and weigh 8 stone, no point having a Husky (my ex has one and the bugger could put its front paws on my shoulders before it turned 1!) or other large breed because I simply won’t be able to walk it in a safe manner for itself and other dogs/people.

Re rescues: that’s a great idea and I’ll have a look what’s local later today. Although very sad that so many pups are having a shit time.