What breed should we get?

[bluesky45]

We have been considering getting a dog for years but it has never been the right time (work hours, babies, toddlers, pandemic).
Towards the end of this year, we do believe it will be the right time. I have 2 young dc but both will be in school then, freeing up time for me to go on decent walks with a dog without having to drag 2 dc with me every time. The DC do like going on walks and do ask to go on them, but every day and in all weather's they probably wouldn't be too keen on!
Me and DH are both happy to walk, keen to train a dog and would like a doggy companion.
I expect my routine will be to take the DC to school (5min walk away) go home and collect the dog and take them for a long walk. Spend the afternoon at home most days doing housework etc, I will sometimes go out for the afternoon so would like the dog to be able to spend a few hours on their own. On days when I work (very very sporadic/rare) the dog will likely go to my parents as they would be doing any childcare.
I would like a small to medium sized dog, DH would like a medium to large dog so I guess medium would be best. DH loves German shepherds but I've told him no.
We want a dog with some fluff. My sister has a lab and I don't feel like it's fluffy enough (I grew up with a golden retriever) although this isn't an essential. I don't mind grooming but don't want to spend hours a day doing it.
We want to be able to take the dog on walks that currently last 2-3 hrs but we can see these getting longer as the DC get older and get more stamina. But equally, we want to be able to do a couple of half hr to an hour long walks on a lazier day.
And obviously, the key characteristic is that it is a family friendly breed.
Spending some time researching breeds but would love some personal recommendations. We have so far considered cocker spaniels and beagles. Not sure what else to look at.

We just got a flat coated retriever puppy. Four weeks in and she's settled beautifully.

She will be big though, golden retriever size. We initially wanted a medium dog and thought about spaniels for a long time but their general busyness and neuroses put us off.

Flatties seemed like the perfect option of energy and family friendliness. We have a 2 and a 4 year old. And so far it's been perfect!

So far everyone has thought she's a spaniel. But that won't last much longer as she's growing fast

Might be a bit big but how about a flat coated retriever. Wonderful dogs
Or a poodle
Or a soft coated wheaten terrier

Would say Vizsla but not fluffy ….

@beggingforsleep

Great minds think alike!

Standard poodle or medium poodle
Retriever?
Maybe a wildcard but a bedlington whippet might suit...I'll probably be torn to shreds for suggesting a cross though!

Thank you for your suggestions. I'll be writing them down for some research.
Forgot to say, DH doesn't like curly dogs 🤷🏼‍♀️ I suggested labradoodle, cockerpoo etc as they do seem to fit what we want in terms of personality.
Your pup is gorgeous! A family friend used to have a flat coated retriever when we had our golden. It was quite crazy though! 😂
I feel a retriever is a bit big. One of the things I'm considering is when they are old and need help getting in and out of the car etc. I wouldn't be able to lift a dog as big as our golden retriever was and she lived a long life and needed help to get into the car etc for her last few years. Not sure if this is a valid concern though

@DebbieHarrysCheekbones I think I'm converted to them for life now!

Samoyed! I have one neighbour that has four of them, and another neighbour that has one. They medium sized fluff balls, they’re all well behaved, and an aggressive Samoyed is pretty much unheard of, they’re great with kids. The neighbour that has four takes them for a 45 min walk in the morning and another 30 min in the evening and they’re fine. The neighbour that has one hasn’t walked the poor thing in all the years I’ve lived here, she’s still a little sweetheart and well behaved in the house

If you like the idea of Samoyed above, how about the smaller Japanese spitz? Or Shetland sheep dog. Or duck tolling retriever which can be a bit like a small golden retriever

Shetland sheepdog looks quite sweet.
Kennel club website says Samoyed needs over 2hrs exercise a day, is this not really true in practice? We would be able to manage that most days but wouldn't want to be tied to it every day, especially while DC are younger and need someone to stay home with them or they would need to do long walks every day of the weekend.
Duck rolling retriever is one I'm really keen on, very retriever in look aren't they? And seem to fit a lot of our criteria. You don't see many about though, I guess I would need to go on a breeders wait list for this breed.

Although Beagkes look very cute,I have not ever seen one off lead.Their nose is super super sensitive to any tiny bit of food.They just dont seem to have a recall at all,but are friendky family dogs.Spaniels are quite frantic dogs and are also difficult to train.I would go for a Retriever/lLabrador.

Shiba Inu

@penni00

Shiba Inu

I have one and he’s great, but they are a hard first dog as they are very stubborn, a high prey drive means many simply can’t be trusted with recall/around smaller animals.

Rough Collie

Bearded Collie.
Gorgeous dogs, long coat, great temperament. They're on the KC vulnerable breeds list so quite rare, everyone thinks ours is a OES pup.
Highly recommend beardies!

Good luck op!

We have a cross between an Australian shepherd and a labrador. She is medium sized and very family friendly. Her coat is very soft.

Poodles need grooming regularly, and you need to factor in the cost of a groomer every 6-8 weeks.
You also need to commit to plucking their ears or you’ll end up with lots of vets visits.

What about a show type cocker spaniel? They're fluffyish, and are less nuts than working types. Great with kids. Will do an hour a day or 5 up hills. Love snuggles and real people dogs.

Border Terrier. Not fluffy but otherwise fit your brief perfectly. Fantastic with kids, easy size but will walk as far as any Labrador or retriever and also very happy to slob in front of the fire.

Eurasier?
Very fluffy, right sort of size, though if the local example is anything to go by, they have a fair amount of prey drive and need work on recall.

Flat coat :)

Mine is 6 months now, yes crazy, but easy to train and so much fun!

A female flatcoat would be smaller than a goldie OP. Lovely dogs… v high risk of cancer at a young age… lost 3 to it all age 9 or younger

This doesn't fit your fluffy criteria but Staffies are beautiful dogs! They are so loving and family orientated. Brilliant with kids and other animals. They're fluffy in personality, just not in fur, which I like because moulting isn't a big issue.
I also have a daxie puppy who is just simply divine. My staffie was a little put out when we first got the daxie but she now adores him!

Also to add, staffies are easy to train and are very obedient. I find my daxie a stubborn little git and harder to train!

For a larger dog a Labrador is hard to beat as a family pet, others say a retired greyhound is also very good, and you might get one of those at no cost.
Terriers and other smaller breeds are OK usually, watch out for Spaniels they’re very boisterous, let them off a lead and they’re gone.
Cost has got stupid, you hear of £800 for a terrier, £2500 for some breeds, crazy.