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The doghouse

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Original poster

What dog would you recommend?

31 replies

theresroomonmybroom · 30/09/2021 13:36

Hi, we're looking to rehome a dog next year.

We have 3 children, youngest will be 4 at time of rehoming and we also have a cat. House space and garden space isn't an issue, also have 6ft fences around back garden.

Exercise wise, we will be looking to walk around an hour a day but also have a decent garden for fetch etc.

What breed would you recommend for a family dog? Small or large, we don't have a preference. Thank you!

Ps, photos of your fur babies are also welcomed

OP posts:
bunnygeek · 30/09/2021 14:02

How are your kids with dogs? Many rescues will be cautious at rehoming any dog to a family with kids under 6 years old, primarily because they may not know the full history of the dog, or they do know the history and it's not a child-friendly history. Similar issue with cats. Smaller children can be more "handsy" around dogs, which can make them uncomfortable, the children need training as much as the dogs do ;)

Rescue dogs who can definitely live with younger kids are usually reserved and adopted within a few days of being signed over, often never even hitting the website, as the demand is so high.

The children need to be prepared for being knocked over, jumped on, barked at (which can definitely be scary for the younger ones), if you go for a puppy then nipping is also inevitable. They have to learn to never wander around with food in their hands unless they want to be tripped by an eager pup, to keep their toys tidied away or they will be chewed to pieces. Same for shoes/clothing.

How prepared are you for hair and slobber? Popular family breeds like Labradors and Golden Retrievers will also leave your entire house with a fine layer of fur. If you pick a low moulting breed, you need to be paying for regular grooming instead to keep them from matting.

Miracle29 · 30/09/2021 14:06

Golden retriever they are amazing family dogs. They do like exercise but if for whatever reason you can't take them for walks they are quite happy playing ball or some training then sleep. They love to please owners, easy to train and love children. They to malt in the summer quite alot but not so much in the winter but the hair is worth it for the breed.

CMOTDibbler · 30/09/2021 14:11

My current foster puppies will both be suitable for cats and children, and my last one went to a family with twin 6 year olds, so its certainly not a bar. But the 'easy' puppies who can live with cats and children get a huge amount of interest and certainly never make it to the website - they go on the rescue FB page and will have lots of suitable people ringing up in the hours afterwards.
I have cats/chickens/child of my own and two lurchers, so I would say I think they are great dogs.
Personally, I do think 4 is a tricky age to get a puppy/dog as they are too big to have separated from the dog, but still silly enough to not listen to you. And young enough that you need to give them a lot of attention which is time the puppy isn't getting and can therefore eat shoes/headphones/chargers...

Lifeishitsometimes · 30/09/2021 14:13

Golden retriever all the way BUT echo what others have said above about the difficulty of getting a rehome with kids and a cat. Also you haven't said what your working arrangements are but many domestic rescues will basically strike you off if you dare to work outside the home.

For these reasons we ended up getting a puppy. I think a GR puppy would be hard unless your kids are exceptionally robust. They bite. They bite hard. And their teeth are really, really sharp till the baby ones fall out! Plus like the PP says, they don't half get under your feet and would be easy to squash. Not so much an issue with a full grown one.

They also need more than 1 hour of exercise a day when adult. And getting from a rescue, unless breed-specific one and one where health history is known, is a very risky prospect because they have lots of inherited diseases that can be distressing for everyone, and very, very costly. No guarantees with a puppy from a breeder either but at least you have some info to go on.

Branster · 30/09/2021 14:17

A Golden Retriever absolutely needs a lot of exercise at least 3h/day
If you can only walk the dog 1h/day please don't consider this breed unless they are old and not very mobile.
Yes they are perfect family pets but they must get a lot of exercise. They'd look happy enough to you but they'd suffer from lack of activity.

Original poster
theresroomonmybroom · 30/09/2021 14:40

Thank you so much for the replies.
As gorgeous as golden retrievers are, I don't think they're a fit for our family so they're off the list for quite a few more years!

OP posts:
Sisisimone · 30/09/2021 14:46

I think you'll be very lucky to get a rescue with children. I tried for 4 years and my dd was quite a few years older than yours when I started. We ended up getting a (much adored) puppy.

Darkchocolateandcoffee · 30/09/2021 14:46

Also I would say be aware that it is very easy to overestimate how much you will be able to walk a dog before you get one.

We were toying between two breeds - a big and a small - and then we got the small one and I am SO GLAD because I just don't have the time to do the walks I'd have needed to do with a big dog.

Some days it is hard to do enough walking for the little one, although we do manage it! So really bear that in mind as it sounds like you have your hands pretty full already.

XelaM · 30/09/2021 15:08

We have a pug and he is the most child-friendly dog ever

XelaM · 30/09/2021 15:16

I would always go for a small breed with young kids, as big dogs can knock them over/destroy your house and small dogs are so much more portable

CurlyhairedAssassin · 30/09/2021 15:19

@Branster

A Golden Retriever absolutely needs a lot of exercise at least 3h/day If you can only walk the dog 1h/day please don't consider this breed unless they are old and not very mobile. Yes they are perfect family pets but they must get a lot of exercise. They'd look happy enough to you but they'd suffer from lack of activity.
3 hours is a bit excessive for a Golden, I think, unless they're the working type. The show type are happy with an hour in the morning and again in the evening with games in the garden in between.

I suppose that could add up to nearly 3 hours, thinking about it....Grin

Tal45 · 30/09/2021 15:21

I think it depends what's available in your area. I would see what's available rather than get your heart set on a certain breed.

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 30/09/2021 16:19

A Golden Retriever absolutely needs a lot of exercise at least 3h/day
I have working-line gun dogs and they don't need that much. They'd accept it, and they sometimes get it, but they are calm and sensible around the house on about 1.5-2 hrs/day, so long as some of that time is training and brain work.

@theresroomonmybroom, as PP have said, you will be lucky to rehome with kids and a cat. If you go for a puppy, whichever breeds you consider, check out what health issues they are prone to and what health tests are available for the breeding stock. The flat-faced breeds are prone to spinal issues as well as breathing problems, Cavaliers almost all have heart problems.

Whippets are pretty fit and I think make good first dogs, as do some of the terriers.

icedcoffees · 30/09/2021 17:32

A Golden Retriever definitely doesn't need three hours of exercise a day! Very, very few dogs (huskies, mainly) need that level of exercise, tbh.

1-2 hours a day is generally fine for most adult dogs. I have a working breed and he gets an hour a day as a general rule - some days he gets more but the other day the weather was so awful that he only got 15 minutes. He was fine.

I would look at breeds like border terriers, cairn terriers and miniature poodles. None of them need excessive amounts of exercise, they don't shed a lot and they're generally pretty easy going too.

XelaM · 30/09/2021 18:11

Our miniature poodle was insanely energetic up until old age, too smart for us and definitely not an easy "first time" dog. He was very healthy though generally.

GoodnightGrandma · 30/09/2021 18:13

Don’t underestimate how much exercise small dogs need.
Poodles, as an example, are very energetic and intelligent, so they need stimulation on top of the exercise.

Branster · 30/09/2021 18:59

I respectfully disagree but, yes, the working variety of a Goldie.
And most working breeds.
The average daily exercise time will be around 3 hours.
Which includes a mix of short energetic play depending on what cues the dog gives, long walks, more sedate walks (for example an evening walk), quick round the neighbourhood streets walk if short on time then throw in a game of hide and seek at home or any other training activity, some agility classes if the dog enjoys it, a proper long countryside family walk etc
Any any games will need commitment from the owner not half hearted play so that's time allocation.
Before you know it, if you add all this time during an entire week and divide by 7 ...
But the best part is that all this time is actually enjoyable for the owner!

Brollywasntneededafterall · 30/09/2021 19:01

I think an important factor in dc and getting a ddog is have they ever been around one? Family member? Close friend?
A novice 4 yo and a ddog isn't ideal imo.

icedcoffees · 30/09/2021 19:09

I respectfully disagree but, yes, the working variety of a Goldie. And most working breeds. The average daily exercise time will be around 3 hours.

The only people I know who give their dogs that ridiculous level of exercise own huskies.

There is really no need to give most dogs that level of exercise each day. Should they be able to cope with a three hour walk? Absolutely, but giving them that much exercise everyday is totally unnecessary.

My working breed gets between 60-90 minute a day. He's in perfect health (had a vet check recently), is an excellent weight and is perfectly capable of going longer if he needed.

He doesn't play much (at all, really) in the house as we want to encourage calm indoors. He has chews each day but that's hardly hard work on my part, lol.

As a dog walker, most of my clients give their dogs an extra 30-60 minutes on top of the hours' walk I give them, if that. Many just get an hour and use the garden for toilet breaks.

Yes, working-breed dogs can go for three hours but I don't know anyone who does it on a daily basis. It's certainly not necessary for most people to dedicate that much time to exercising their dog.

MrsPnut · 30/09/2021 21:37

@XelaM

We have a pug and he is the most child-friendly dog ever
We have two pugs and they are very family friendly dogs, they do have problems with breathing but they are also Velcro dogs. Ours have not needed BOAS surgery and do run around but they only need a quick walk if that’s all you have time for.
StrictlyProfessional · 30/09/2021 22:16

We also have a pug, my goodness he's wonderful. He enjoys his walks and happily can be out for an hour but on days like today where it's poured down all day he's perfectly happy to stay in and just play ball in the house. Obviously there's the potential breathing issues. They aren't toothy though because of their flat faces so after the initial puppy stage that's a plus.
As pp said they are definitely Velcro dogs and like to be with their people. He will follow someone around all the time and adores cuddles and playtime with the kids (mine are 15 and 5 )

XelaM · 01/10/2021 01:18

Awww 🥰 fellow pug owners!

Totally agree about "velcro". He literally follows us everywhere whatever we do in the house and have to snuggle up as tightly as possible

Suzi888 · 01/10/2021 03:50

I very much doubt you’ll be rehoming, not with children of that age plus a cat in the equation. So it’s really a puppy you’ll be looking at. Just keep in mind any breed will teethe and they’ll use you and your children to teethe on, those teeth are like razor blades. Good luck…

BasiliskStare · 01/10/2021 04:29

A well bred and trained border terrier will usually be very good with children - they can have the patients of saints ( squirrels aside ) as to the cat - well - depends but probably you could make it work if the cat can stand up for itself ( which they usually do)

StrictlyProfessional · 01/10/2021 07:16

And I know you can never fully trust a dog around children but of all dogs, I feel really comfortable with the pug around kids (and I'm quite wary of dogs in general )

They do snore though 😂

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