Can you suggest a breed for us?

[SamosaSammy]

So we're in the position where we'll hopefully be able to get a dog in the next few months. We're both experienced dog owners but not for several years now.

We're in the middle of breed research and can't decide. Totally appreciate no breed will exactly meet the below - but in an ideal world this would be the dog I'd choose.

Medium to large
Easy coat care - no allergies but ideally low shedding/easy groom requirements. Easy to clean after long muddy or beach walks so long hairy dogs are out!
Good with children
Happy to go on long walks/hikes over mountains and beaches - but equally may have to make do with an hour or so a day at times in the local park, whilst chasing a ball maybe for added intensity.
Likes to swim
Can be left alone for approx 4 hours twice a week (past puppyhood, building gradually)
Protective of the family but doesn't bark at every sound!
Fairly chilled at home (past puppy hood) - not overly bouncy and nuts
Intelligent, easy to train and socialise
Can be let off the lead after fully trained

Any suggestions? We've been through all the 'usual' breeds but wondering if there are some lesser known breeds that we haven't considered. Cost isn't an issue and nor is time - if we need to wait for two years on a breeders list that's fine if it means getting the right dog for us.

Thanks in advance!

Lab definitely 🥰 here’s a pic of our 7 month old enjoying a walk in the woods.

Show cocker spaniel...(not working Cocker, we have one of those and he is relentlessly high energy)
But show cockers are gentle, loving, easily trainablelove swimming and don't need to be bust 24/7

Golden retrievers meet all of your criteria, except the shedding. But honestly, I don’t think it is that terrible. The amazing thing about the double coat is that the mud doesn’t stick. Ours does literally wallow in mud, but then if we can, we go via the stream and he swims it all off. They are the most loving, friendly. happy dogs. Amazing family pets.

Get a Vizsla! They're an amazing breed. Gorgeous, loyal, snuggly, mine is equally happy to walk for miles or just snuggle up under a blanket. Brilliant with the kids too.

Vizslas can be nutty, but mine is very chilled. We found a great breeder and went for the most laid back pup of the litter.

Anything with poodle in it is likely to be hypoallergenic and also won't shed. I've got a real mix of a dog, but it's mostly poodle and terrier. He's great as doesn't shed at all, we keep him clipped so easy to clean. He's happy doing a 10 mile mountain hike, but equally at home with a walk round the block and a sofa to sleep on during the day. Brilliant and patient with the dc, but as he's a terrier can be a bit barky and anything small and furry is fair game, and he has a high prey drive (he can't listen and sniff at the same time)

I know mn don't like the mixed breeds, but something like a golden doodle, or Cockerpoo would suit.

For the mixed breeds, just be VERY careful who you get it from. My friends neighbour have doodle dogs, and their bitch has had 3 litters in less than 18 months.

Labrador, but they won't mature for around two years so you will have a big bouncy adolescent to manage forquite a while.
If a breeder has puppies immediately be wary -most will have waiting lists. Look for proper health tests (actual hip score results etc, not just "they've been health checked/ seen by a vet").
It might be worth looking into a young adult rescue to circumvent the bitey, bouncy, clingy puppy stage.
I have a 13 month old cocker spaniel, he is growing into a lovely dog but it's hard work, slow progress and adolescent turdery is testing! We're adopting an adult next time.

low shedding/easy groom requirements. Easy to clean after long muddy or beach walks so long hairy dogs are out!

After 4 months of dog ownership, I'm really pleased we ended up with a lab although coat type wasn't a huge consideration. Cordless vacuum deals with the shedding, although she doesn't shed much. After meeting various doodles and spaniels out on walks, I realise how easy her coat is to care for. Put a drying coat on when wet and muddy and a quick brush and she's as good as new. We met someone with a labradoodle who had to spend ages picking grass seeds out her coat after walks.

We considered a vizla or a gsp as well but as a first time owner concluded that labs are a bit easier, not quite so sensitive and less likely to decide to track a scent for miles.

I’m not a lab fan but I think they suit your requirements perfectly

Unusual breeds that might suit the bill include: bedlington whippet, Italian or Spanish water dogs (look like doodles but much easier coat), weimaraner (sp?)?

Have you tried talking to dog owners when you see a dog that might be a good fit? You can see things like being off lead etc.

A Labrador does sound like a good fit, I prefer the look of working Labs, more athletic and less chunk!

If you wanted similar looking there's the Curly Coated Retriever, you may have to wait much longer for a pup once you've found a breeder though. And are able to cope with people constantly mistaking your pup for a darned Labradoodle eye roll
www.thekennelclub.org.uk/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/gundog/retriever-curly-coated/

You are describing a labrador.

Irish setter ticks all your boxes. More gentle than most labs or retrievers, much less shedding and minimal doggy smell. Pretty well perfect dogs imo.

Portuguese Water Dog

Greyhound or whippet

Definitely lab. I'd say golden retriever if it wasn't for the shedding issue. Our golden is the calmest for her age (18 months) dog we know, but still lots of fun. Absolutely loyal, pure, selfless, giving and loving especially with the children. Loves her long walks but is happy with an hour a day with stimulation at home. We don't leave her often as we are fortunate not to need to but she's fine when we leave her for a couple of hours here and there.
She is super intelligent and easy to train. I got a trainer when she was almost 1 and he was asked "why did you call me you don't need me this is the calmest easiest dog I have met at her age:".
I have conversations with her and can reason with her
Shes the only one who can bring my autistic dd out of a Meltdown. She's just an amazing dog.
I'd recommend the breed to anyone.

You will need to wait though as all GR breeders have waiting lists but that's a good thing.

Labrador - perfectly meets all of your criteria. I agree with others in that i prefer golden retrievers, but i think for the lower maintenance coat, go for a lab.
I also prefer the working types. As with any puppy, key is ensuring you get one from a responsible breeder who has carefully selected the dog and bitch they are using, both for health and temperament (some may have certain traits they are aiming for - so ask and make sure they are something you also want in your puppy).

Maltipoos are cool

I'd say a staffy, a well trained one would fit all your requirements. We'll except swimming, I've never met one that liked more than a paddle.

I would suggest a whippet except that you want that a lot of them aren't as trustworthy off lead (being of course a sight hound) as I think you would like and the idea of swimming is enough to send most of them running under the doona looking for a warm napping place lol.

I think you may have to compromise along the way somewhere (particularly on coat type if you want all the other traits) so maybe have a think about where you would be most likely to compromise then go from there.

Once you think you have a breed you like, visit a few breeders and suss out their breeding dogs to see if you like them.

You could even visit a few dog shows and ask owners if you can meet their dogs there which is a nice commitment free way to meet several breeds at once.

Also meant to add you could look in to a Smooth Collie (short haired collie rough). Beautiful natured dogs, they do shed a bit though.

Labrador.

@Dragongirl10

Show cocker spaniel...(not working Cocker, we have one of those and he is relentlessly high energy) But show cockers are gentle, loving, easily trainablelove swimming and don't need to be bust 24/7

Not easy coat care though. I have one and she hates being groomed so I clip her every few months. She also hates water so doesn't swim. Not a typical spanner ;)

I would say from your criteria op, a lab or a Italian greyhound or whippet sprung to my mind.

Thanks all, I really appreciate all the posts, it's really helpful.

All the breeds mentioned here as being a good fit are pretty much our shortlist so it's good to know we're not too off track! We've done the lab/retriever/spaniel/whippet debate and then branched out into less common breeds like Vizsla, Weimeraner, setter, various water hounds.

We also looked at a Chesapeake Bay Retriever which is a rare one in the UK, would be fascinated if anyone has any insight on those as its one of the few breeds neither of us have ever met in RL.

It's really good to read people's experiences with these breeds so thank you, we're very excited 😁