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!

A standard poodle was the first dog that came to my mind, if you don't want shedding. Disregard all pictures of show poodles and their ridiculous coats - their hair can be kept in any shape you want, including shaved down for easy maintenance.

But I agree with pp regarding Spanish Water Dogs, or Portuguese Water Dogs, too, if you fancy something a little different. They seem to meet all your criteria. I'm just not sure about how many breeders there are in the UK, and how long you would have to wait for a quality pup.

My parents have a Clumber Spaniel and she is incredible. She will ask for miles but is completely chilled in the house. She loves socialising-with both dogs and people. Extremely intelligent and very easy to train-she’s always seemed like an adult dog,never any hyper pup’ness. She absolutely dotes on my parents and is so eager to please them,she’s amazing. I have three dc ranging from 1-6 and she has always been incredible with them. She truly is amazing and these are all breed characteristics,not just hers. I had never even heard of a clumber spaniel before they got her three years ago but would definitely get one in the future now.

OP, I had some time so off I went searching for breeders. These ones breed Portuguese Water Dogs and are VERY, VERY honest. I don't know them, but their honesty might remove PWDs from your list: www.oldeelypwd.co.uk/puppyfaq

Airedale! Nice size and shape, excellent with kids. Just get it trimmed when shaggy.

Clumber spaniel or clumber cross
Lagotto Romanolo
Curly coat retriever
Pointer

Staffy.

@SilverOtter

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.

I used to breed viz. depending on line not easy to train and most have a strong prey drive, one I had even after years of training never quite got the recall when the red mist descended.They can also be quite neurotic and needy.

A Chesapeake Bay Retriever would not usually be recommended for a first time dog owner , they are much more strong willed and very different to other retrievers , and can be prone to aggression with other dogs . I meet one sometimes and he needs a very firm hand

Flat coated retrievers fit most of your criteria , although they are not known for being protective , and many don't like being left alone -
They are generally great with kids and other dogs , fine to be left off lead , love water and very happy fun dogs - they don't have as thick coats as goldens -just need brushed a couple of times a week
Also think Irish setters or Labs would be a good fit

I have a show cocker he's just been clipped back almost bald because he was matted. His coat care isn't minimal. He meets the walk criteria in the op though.

Flat coat retriever.

A staffy would be perfect. They adore children. Mine would swim miles given the chance. 😍

I thought you were describing my favourite breed (Rhodesian Ridgeback) until you got to likes water, or balls, or can be let off the lead if there's a cat, rabbit, squirrel, bloke that looked at them funny in the vicinity. That stuff...not so much

I wonder whether a lurcher might fit the bill? They're happy with short walks or will hike, easy coat care, very laid back and happy to be left and sleep. They don't do ball and swimming often though.

Ah, I see you want non chasing too.

Hmmm.

Or an actual poodle, rather than one of the crosses. I'm hoping my next dog will be a standard poodle. Ticks all your boxes though not necessarily cuddly with kids they are tolerant of kids (like a nanny). If you want cuddly too get a staffy which tick all your boxes (my last one used to pick my nephew up by his dungarees though he was an errant puppy when he was crawling and take him to her bed where he was often found sleeping 😍)

@GuyFawkesDay

Ah, I see you want non chasing too.

Hmmm.

TBF all dogs are chasing dogs, given the right circumstances

Op l had a Weimaraner and they need a massive amount of exercise...two off lead runs, and some games doesn't come close...

One of the hunt-point-retrieve breeds might work for you, though they need proper, consistent and persistent training to nail recall and keep it nailed. PPs have mentioned Vizslas and Weimaraners; maybe also consider German pointers - usually less needy than Vizslas and less independent than Weimaraners - or one of the more obscure varieties like Braque d'Auvergne or Bracco Italiano.

If you do go down that route, maybe steer clear litters with lots of field trial winners (FTW) and field trial champions (FTCh) in the pedigree as those dogs can be turbocharged.

Provided you keep their brains busy, their exercise needs are not insane - an hour and a half a day, including 20-30 mins focused training, should be fine, with the odd extra-long walk at weekends. I have known trainers tell owners to cut exercise right down and just focus on the training to chill out overwrought dogs.

Whatever breed you go for, even if a mixed breed, please please please, make sure you check both parents for temperament and that they are health checked for all breed specific requirements.

Lots of unscrupulous breeders out there.

Another one to say golden retriever - loving, laid back and up for anything.

What about a Moyen Poodle?

Please consider getting a rescue dog. There are lots of puppies available.
Give your money to a worthy organisation which rescues fogs, rather than a breeder.
It will also be a fraction of the cost.

Everyone else has given awesome input, so I'll try not to repeat too much of it :)

One thing I would say is that you'll almost 100% certainly madly love whatever dog you get. You have a good idea of what breeds you like. I'd say the next step would be to go to some rescues/breeders and get a feel for those dogs in person.

When I was trying to pick a breed, I went around and around and around, reading hundreds (maybe thousands) of articles and forum posts and watching videos and all sorts of stuff.

I decided I 100% wanted a Border Collie, German Shepherd, Dutch/Belgian Shepherd, or a shepherdy type rescue mix.

I ended up adopting a working Cocker haha
Cockers were specifically on my list of breeds I did NOT want!
But he's turned out to be an AWESOME dog. He's so much fun, brilliant on hikes and walks, loves swimming, very clever. He's very mischievous and can be defiant, and that's about the only thing that drives me mad about him. But I wouldn't trade him for the world now.
His coat is also pretty awesome for outdoor stuff. His ears need brushing regularly, but the rest of his fur is short on the body and fine on the feathery bits.

A Lab for sure sounds like a good fit, although they can be very strong once grown and very boisterous when young.
Working-line Golden Retrievers are beautiful and I considered them myself - shorter coat, usually darker (reddish colour), more athletic/energetic than show line Retrievers.
Tollers are also interesting! And pretty rare over here I think.

A lot of the other stuff will come down to training and socialisation.

I don’t know breed wise but I hope you’ll consider a rescue. On your list of ‘wants’ - I would say even if you get a breed that typically loves a particular activity, your own specimen may not! We have a Griffon nivernais, they are a hunting breed, normally love water.. he absolutely hates swimming or even rain! X

Stabyhoun
The coat is a bit longer than you wanted but meets all your other requirements.