Can anyone help me suggest a dog breed for my dad?

[KnitFastDieWarm]

My dad is recently retired, is about to move to the countryside, and is considering getting a dog. He’s very fit and active, walks for several hours a day, and would like and intelligent and active dog that will enjoy accompanying him on hikes and learning tricks (perhaps agility too). He love the look and intelligence of border collies but i’ve heard they can be a bit nervy/unpredictable. There’d be no children in the home but visiting grandchildren over 7 would occasionally be there. He’s not owned a dog before but has worked with them and is very serious about training and proper exercise etc.

Wise dog owners, any ideas?

Personally I'd recommend a border terrier, sturdy healthy breed who can go for miles. I'm a vet nurse and this is the breed choice for a lot of veterinary professionals. I do love border collies, grew up with them but they are hard work!

If he likes a dog with character, tibetan terriers are fantastic little dogs. They're intelligent, clownish, funny little dogs who find love making their people laugh. They adore their people and can suffer from separation anxiety. They do require regular grooming as they have a long, non shedding coat but you can just have it all clipped off into a puppy cut.

In Tibet they're used for a bit of everything - fetching and carrying, herding, guarding, companionship. They're highly intelligent and easy to train but they really have a mind of their own so they don't do anything without being given a reason but they're a LOT of fun.

My first thought was Golden Retriever. Working line if he wants a lot of energy, show line if he wants an easier life.

If he's open minded and also wants to get out walking with his dog straight away, he might just be better off looking at young adult rescue dogs! The downside of a very little pup is obviously that they can't walk long distances for a good year!

Labs are great but can be very strong and boisterous - especially working line ones. Fab if trained well from the start though.

Sheltie maybe, if he's up for a lot of grooming? They're bright and enjoy agility.

Golden retriever every day of the week!

You’ve described DM’s retirement dog. Black lab/springer spaniel cross. So good she got another a few years later.

Labs or Spaniels. Can't go wrong with either breed. 🐾

Look at bedlington crosses (poodle, whippet). We have a bedlipoo and know a family with bed-whippet cross. Both lovely dogs that will run full pelt all day or be happy with a 20min burn around a field then a quiet day.

Just don't look at the silly haircuts they give the pedigrees

Has he thought of a lab x kelpie ? Kelpies are Australian sheep dogs , crossed with a lab they are amazing pets . Don't grow too big , short haired , clever and very easy to train

We have a working line lab and I think they would be perfect for the long walking your dad would be doing once not a tiny puppy

Collies are amazing but he needs to be willing to learn about training before he picks puppy up (they learn so fast they pick up bad traits too) and ideally working with a trainer who knows about collies (and register with a vet used to them too as they are not keen on vets!!!) I've had 2, very good companions

I’ve not long got my first Labrador, she is by far the easiest dog I’ve trained and is just an all rounder. Takes everything in her stride - a welcome change from my other 2 terrors!

Any gun dog would be happy to have him as their human, I would have thought. What about a Viszla? Not as much hair shed.

A Jack Russell. I grew up with JRTs absolutely fantastic dogs, extremely intelligent,full of character, love a good walk, mine were both very loyal and protective too. If he wants a smaller breed definitely consider a JRT.

Springers are mad. Loveable but mad.
Beddie-whippets are very loving.
Don't write off smaller dogs. They're like little dynamos. They might have littke legs but a terrier will outwalk a human any day.

We'll all just name our favourite breeds (Vizslas are my favourite, I have one on my knee now, but they are not for the faint hearted). I would go for a gun dog any day for loyalty, agility and ease of training. If I were you though I would take your Dad to the RSPCA and get him matched to his ideal dog there. Staffies are very loyal and the resues are usually full of them, but it could be a terrier, a gun dog, or a mix of all sorts. They will match him with his perfect companion.

@Duchess379

Labs or Spaniels. Can't go wrong with either breed. 🐾

^ this! I've had both... got a 9 month old Springer right now. He's heavenly.

The only thing I'd say is mine needs an 'off lead' walk most days... he's happy to come into town on a Saturday and sit under the table whilst we have a coffee or whatever but really he needs to run... not ideal if you don't have fields / woods that are suitable for this.

I would say no to a collie too.

Golden retrievers are lovely personality-wise but soooo hairy!! He will have to also invest in a good Hoover!

Labradors also do shed (although slightly less obviously as the hair is shorter!) but based on your description I would say this is the best breed for your dad. There's a reason it's the nation's favourite breed! I have had all three of the breeds above and would agree with a op that a working breed Labrador would be best- they are more athletic (also more so than a retriever) so would suit his long walks and are more biddable and keen to learn and therefore to train. We got ours as DH goes fell running and she will happily run for hours.

The other curve ball I would thow in there would be a springer spaniel - again a working breed but easier going in nature than a Collie.

@pumpkinpie01

Has he thought of a lab x kelpie ? Kelpies are Australian sheep dogs , crossed with a lab they are amazing pets . Don't grow too big , short haired , clever and very easy to train

I shudder when think of a Kelpie I knew that was basically feral. The look in their eyes is far too Dingo for my liking. And they are a ball ache to train!

Just spotted you had other Springer recommendations. I would say 1st choice working lab and second choice springer

Working cocker my mum has had two they’d be perfect or a springer.

Clever and biddable is a lovely combo and a joy to own. Clever and not biddable...well. Always going self-employed.

Lord, ain't that the truth. I still vividly remember training our two rescue dogs when I was a teen, one lab X we think collie, one staffy X er, something. The lab X was extremely bright and caught on very quickly... quick enough to wonder "what's in it for me?" and "how often can I get away with ignoring the command?" It took much longer to get a concept through the Staffy's head, but once she'd figured out what you wanted, she consistently did the thing!

Pretty much second all the suggestions so far. I adore collies, I grew up with them, but I wouldn't take one on unless I had an actual job for them to do or the time to simulate one with agility/scentwork. Labs and goldens are smart, friendly, energetic and biddable. Spaniels are great too, although I very much enjoyed this adage I got from gundog people: "Labs are born half trained; spaniels die half trained."

@KnitFastDieWarm

My dad is recently retired, is about to move to the countryside, and is considering getting a dog. He’s very fit and active, walks for several hours a day, and would like and intelligent and active dog that will enjoy accompanying him on hikes and learning tricks (perhaps agility too). He love the look and intelligence of border collies but i’ve heard they can be a bit nervy/unpredictable. There’d be no children in the home but visiting grandchildren over 7 would occasionally be there. He’s not owned a dog before but has worked with them and is very serious about training and proper exercise etc.

Wise dog owners, any ideas?

Labradoodles are very intelligent and have great personalities. I love my family dog, she was just amazing x

Btw, intelligence in dogs is overrated

That is so, so true