Suggestions on puppy to get

[girlinleeds]

As a family we have decided to get a puppy, we were going to have a crossbreed puppy from a friend but that's not possible now so just wanted some suggestions.
There's me, husband and daughter who's 12 we have 3 cats, were a very active family spend lots of time out walking, have a medium sized enclosed garden but with lots of countryside on our doorstep.
Looking for a small to medium sized dog that will like walks, possibly going running in the future, I grew up with dogs but haven't had one since leaving home. Husband likes the look of patterdales but I know there not the easiest, I wouldn't mind a old fashioned crossbred but that doesn't seem to be a thing nowadays. Won't consider any flat faced breeds or staffy type due to a very traumatic experience when I was younger. I only work two days a week and husband is at home those days

Cocker spaniel?

Springer spaniel? Just make sure if you get a working-line one to get on top of the prey drive.

Working-line labs are less drivey than springers but also nice and active.

Cairn terrier or similar - if you want a cross-bred dog, look out for Jack Russell litters as they are often not pedigree and might well have something else in them a few generations back.

Lurchers are also good if you like cross-breds but not really running companions - whereas a Jack Russell can happily do 6 or 8 miles with a bike, never mind a jogger.

I second Cocker Spaniel :)

Show lines tend to be a bit less energetic than working lines (but still lots of energy!) and tend to have lower prey drive, so might be better with your cats.

Working Cockers tend to need a ton of mental stimulation, as well as a lot of training to teach them to settle. Working Cockers are harder work, but tons of fun. They are easier to groom than show Cockers, too.

My dog is a working Cocker. He's about 14.5kg, so medium size. He's an awesome hiking buddy and will be a great running/cycling buddy once he's 18 months+. He's tolerant of our two cats, just sometimes anxious around them. But each dog will vary and a lot of it depends on early training. (We adopted our Cocker, so didn't get him until 8 months of age).

Personally I wouldn't have a Patterdale or similar strongly preydriven terrier with my cats.
Another vote for cocker spaniel here - our boy is wonderful.
The younger cat loves him. Older cat disagrees, but is happier now he's less bouncy. She despised him as a bouncy puppy; we have a stairgate so she has the whole of upstairs as a safe space.

Border terrier. Active little dogs, healthy and hardy like Patterdales but much easier 'pet' temperament.

I wouldn’t get any kind of terrier if you have cats. You don’t want a dog with a strong prey drive. Obviously no greyhound or whippet either. Cockers make me wary as a lot seem to develop separation anxiety pr resource guarding behaviours. I’d look at a poodle (miniature or standard), Labrador/golden retriever or possibly a Dalmatian if you’re serious about the exercise.

Cocker or Sprocker. I have heard about resource guarding but that's because they are hard wired to carry things. if you spend their puppy hood trying to take things off then they're going to protect what's theirs! It's easily prevented just by keeping things they shouldn't have out of reach and never taking anything out of their mouths (ever ever).
Spaniels are incredibly lovely, friendly and bonkers. Get one.

I love my cocker spaniel, he's a working show mix. So got the show cocker floof but a bit leggier. He's smart but cuddly and just huge fun. Only 5 months old and he's fab. Bitey, sock stealing, loveable little monster

You'd be OK with the smaller friendlier terriers (Border, Norfolk, Norwich) as long as you get a puppy and have fairly feisty cats who will tell it off. The higher prey drive terriers, and many sight hounds wouid not mix with cats at all

Ladbrador or golden retriever should be OK, as will many types of spaniel. Also poodles.

All those breeds should be able to run all day!

Have you thought about how much shedding or drool you can put up with? And how much grooming you want to take on?

Parson Russell Terrier. We lost our old girl at 15 nearly a year ago now. We’d not heard of her breed at all but the moment we saw her, we were all smitten.
Our instincts were right. She was everything all of us could have hoped for. Stalwart, tolerant companion for the kids, walking partner for the adults (could go on forever, on land and in sea), very tolerant of the, many, cats. She even kept the Guinea pigs company, loose, in the garden.
Above all though, she was the sweetest little soul. Loyal, brave, empathetic, so loving.
A glorious breed. Not the most elegant or beautiful but stoic to the end. She licked the tears from my face as I said goodbye to her for the last time. If she could have spoken, she’d have said, it’s ok mum, it really is. We both know the time is right. You’ll never have a better friend.

Oh for goodness’ sake, that’s me gone now. Really, get yourself a parson Russell.

Get a Labrador, they’re awesome!

@Claudia84

Cocker or Sprocker. I have heard about resource guarding but that's because they are hard wired to carry things. if you spend their puppy hood trying to take things off then they're going to protect what's theirs! It's easily prevented just by keeping things they shouldn't have out of reach and never taking anything out of their mouths (ever ever). Spaniels are incredibly lovely, friendly and bonkers. Get one.

^ this. Everything out of reach. The teatowel is on a rail inside the undersink cupboard as otherwise he brings me it 10 times a day He's so much fun. I can forgive the occasional sock casualty.

Golden retriever. Ultimate family dog. Fun, loving to everyone and everything, keep up with a long walk and then chill at home for the rest of the day.

Miniature poodle
I jog 3-6 miles with mine and he is a wonderful family dog.

My first thought on reading your post was Border Terrier, just seemed to fit somehow, especially with your husband liking the appearance of Patterdales. Borders are a much more ‘pet/family friendly’ version of the hardy little terrier types than Patterdales.

That said - and I will admit to being a bit biased here, but… a Lurcher would suit your family. They’re essentially crossbreeds that come in many sizes and coat types. Will love a long walk when you want to/can go, but equally happy to have a quick burst of speed and konk out for the rest of the day. Pups are usually fine with cats if raised with them. Lots in rescue and rescues frequently have litters or a couple of pups in foster. Both of mine came from rescue as pups. Try Lurcher Link or Evesham Greyhound and Lurcher Rescue (EGLR).

I'd say a spaniel every time, I have springers and they are fabulous family dogs. You can't run easily with them though, they follow their noses and won't run in a straight line

We have a Spanish water dog. Built larger than a spaniel but not much. Non shedding.
Enjoys an active lifestyle, not fussed by our cats, good with kids, non barky but will bark if doorbell goes.
Ours gets about 1.5-2 hrs walking a day and goes to daycare if we are both working. He would manage on less walking but would need more mental stimulation.
Very biddable and very attached to his family.

Thanks everyone husband likes the look of a border terrier but will also look at spaniels

@girlinleeds

Thanks everyone husband likes the look of a border terrier but will also look at spaniels

Borders are just gorgeous little dogs and the puppies are divine they are like tiny teddy bears. Border was my 2nd choice. I have a cocker. He's obsessed with cats but if you have 3 cats and get a puppy they cats will put the puppy in its place quite easily when it's little I reckon.

I’m very biased but my corgi would meet your needs. They can go all day but have an off switch, generally good with other pets, good with children and clever. The only sod is the incessant shedding and his belly getting all soggy every time we go out at this time of year. He does also love everyone to be in the same place (or me in the kitchen at dinner time) and boops the backs of our legs to herd us 😂 Wouldn’t be without him though.

IME, very prey driven terriers can live well with cats provided they grow up with them.

Your family set up is very similar to ours only we have two cats. I wanted small to medium size but short haired puppy, the others wanted a lab.
I eventually agreed and am so so glad, she is such a lovely pup. Six months now, gentle, keen to please so easy to train, rarely barks, short hair so less muddy after walks thank a cocker would be.
My friend has a border terrier a bit older, he is lovely too but barks all the time and recall training has been much slower.

@Lou573

Golden retriever. Ultimate family dog. Fun, loving to everyone and everything, keep up with a long walk and then chill at home for the rest of the day.

The goldie I know is aggressive. I actually seen a labrador the other day with a muzzle on which is something I've never seen. Personally I'd get a Border collie.

Why not try an at risk breed like a Skye Terrier or a Dande Dinmont. My rough collie is awesome and the coat doesn't need much care - ten mins a day.

@thecapitalsunited

I’m very biased but my corgi would meet your needs. They can go all day but have an off switch, generally good with other pets, good with children and clever. The only sod is the incessant shedding and his belly getting all soggy every time we go out at this time of year. He does also love everyone to be in the same place (or me in the kitchen at dinner time) and boops the backs of our legs to herd us 😂 Wouldn’t be without him though.

Jealous I love corgis