Help me pick a breed?

[gigibea]

We are looking at getting a puppy later this year/early next year.

I'm currently going around in circles looking at breeds.

We are a busy household, 2 dc aged 7&8.

Dog would be home alone twice a week max for a few hours at a time. Plenty of time for walks each day as well as playtime and training.

Looking for something mid size.

Not sure where to start, obviously want to avoid puppy farms and backyard breeders. A rescue dog isn't an option for us at this time.

Please come and tell me about your lovely family friendly dogs

Love my Airedale! Lovely gentle soul, nice size.

Couple of questions/suggestions

Dog would be home alone twice a week max for a few hours at a time

You are unlikely to be able to leave a puppy for at least several months, probably longer. We very gradually built up and could leave our cocker for around an hour at 6 months, 4 hours (occasionally, not on a regular basis) by 12 months - but some of our peers in our online "puppy support group" have had issues with separation anxiety. Could you afford daycare/a dog walker if this is an issue?

Plenty of time for walks each day as well as playtime and training

How many minutes/hours a day for walking (excluding travel time if driving). One walk? Several? If the weather is awful will the kids be willing to go out... if not, is there another adult you can leave them with or will dog need to be able to forgo the occasional walk without being too loopy?

Walking - are you hoping for sniffy offlead forest walks? On lead walking around suburbs? Going for a run with you? My cocker, for example, really needs to go off and sniff everything, whereas some breeds are more suited to going for a run.

If you want one later this year, early next... how popular a breed is might need to come into it as well.

The less there are of a breed the more chance you’ll have to wait longer as there are fewer breeders... but also the more popular a breed is the more it’s likely you’ll find lots of puppy farms and backyard breeders.

Definitely sniffly off lead walks when the recall is there. Walks during the week would be up to an hour in the morning and around 90 mins afternoon/evening with access to the garden in between. Longer on weekends though.

There's 2 of us so the kids can be left if I'm unable to drag them out in the rain .

I'm not overly concerned about the being left at home thing, on those days one of us would be able to pop home to let them out for the toilet. Also have a contingency plan of being able to wfh possibly if we happen to end up with a pup that struggles with being left.

@tabulahrasa

If you want one later this year, early next... how popular a breed is might need to come into it as well.

The less there are of a breed the more chance you’ll have to wait longer as there are fewer breeders... but also the more popular a breed is the more it’s likely you’ll find lots of puppy farms and backyard breeders.

Yes I understand for a reputable breeder lists can be long. More than happy to wait longer if necessary, just really unsure where to find a reputable breeder apart from kennel club.

I think if I could settle on a breed it would help the search for a breeder.

I would have a look at cocker spaniels, miniature poodles, Bedlington terriers, Labradors or golden retrievers.

It’s not about it going to the loo, more chewing, loneliness, general behaviour and they don’t instantly have a loo clock.

It’s a bit like leaving a toddler alone…

I’m not sure I understand rescue thing either. You can get puppies through rescues, abandoned or born on site. You just have to pre-register. They rarely get advertised as they often have homes waiting for them.

@MiddleClassProblem

It’s not about it going to the loo, more chewing, loneliness, general behaviour and they don’t instantly have a loo clock.

It’s a bit like leaving a toddler alone…

I’m not sure I understand rescue thing either. You can get puppies through rescues, abandoned or born on site. You just have to pre-register. They rarely get advertised as they often have homes waiting for them.

Yes I understand that, in my experience it hasn't been an issue leaving a dog alone for a couple of hours once they're settled but I appreciate all dogs are different and as I said above I have a plan B if we do have a dog that struggles with being left alone.

I suppose with rescues it depends where you live. There's only a couple of rescues relatively local to me, one breed specific and the other won't rehome to families with children under 10.

I think a border terrier might be a good fit, although perhaps slightly smaller than you were wanting. They’re good family pets love a good sniffy off lead walk but make sure you properly socialise them with other dogs whilst it’s a young pup. High prey drive for anything small and fluffy is probably their worst trait but that’s not a huge concern if you don’t have any other pets.

I'm not overly concerned about the being left at home thing, on those days one of us would be able to pop home to let them out for the toilet

It's not so much the toileting - although it will be harder to toilet training if you aren't watching them.

It's separation anxiety. They are babies - they need you. I couldn't go to the toilet alone until my cocker was about 16 weeks. If I'd have forced him to be alone, rather than building up his confidence gradually, I could have ended up with a very anxious dog who couldn't be left alone.

Puppies that have been left alone can become very stressed and cause damage to the house or themselves trying to find you or get out of a room.

“I think if I could settle on a breed it would help the search for a breeder.”

Definitely, lol

I just mentioned it because a couple of years ago I considered getting a very rare breed, there are only a couple of breeders within sensible travelling distance, as in I could do the drive there and back in one day... and they only breed every couple of years. So a much longer wait than say a cocker or springer.

If you’re after long snuffly walks, a spaniel is probably a good bet.

The best place to start with any breed is the breed club, they sometimes have recommended breeders, they sometimes hold a puppy list and most of them have Facebook groups you can join and get to know people on.

I'm not an inexperienced dog owner or first time dog owner so whilst I appreciate hearing other peoples experiences of their pups who have struggled being left I haven't asked for advice on this.

I'm comfortable that I have a plan in place should I have a dog who struggles with being alone past the settling in stage as I've stated.

Thank you for the breed suggestions I'll take a look

The idea of getting a puppy seems very appealing, the reality is it can feel like you have another young child to look after. There are alot of threads on here re the problems people experiance and the main subject is that they openly admit they had no idea as to what they were taking on. It can put a very busy family under enormous strain, especially if things dont go to plan, so just be prepared. Thats why rehoming centres won' t rehome dogs to families with young kids because most dogs end up going back.

@gigibea

I'm not an inexperienced dog owner or first time dog owner so whilst I appreciate hearing other peoples experiences of their pups who have struggled being left I haven't asked for advice on this.

I'm comfortable that I have a plan in place should I have a dog who struggles with being alone past the settling in stage as I've stated.

Thank you for the breed suggestions I'll take a look

OK, I wasn't trying to cause offence

I probably wouldn't recommend a spaniel as they do tend to be at the clingier end of the scale (velcro dogs!).

Maybe something a bit more independent - a border terrier for example, as a PP said, could be a good suggestion.

@Moonface123

The idea of getting a puppy seems very appealing, the reality is it can feel like you have another young child to look after. There are alot of threads on here re the problems people experiance and the main subject is that they openly admit they had no idea as to what they were taking on. It can put a very busy family under enormous strain, especially if things dont go to plan, so just be prepared. Thats why rehoming centres won' t rehome dogs to families with young kids because most dogs end up going back.

As I've explained I know what I'm getting into, I'm not a first time dog owner.

I don't want to make any mistakes, that's why I'm spending the time researching breeds and reputable breeders.

@Akwardpaws27 no offence taken, I'm just conscious that the thread can easily get derailed and then I won't get any breed recommendations.

You may see some surprise breeds that you have never considered on the KC website local to you.

I agree with a border terrier being a solid. That time alone, you want anything too needy or smart that gets bored. Border terriers aren’t dumb but they aren’t as mentally charged as something heavily in the mental aerobic side like a husky, beagle or a collie etc. Maybe something like Grand Basset griffin (not the petit ones)?

Equally that time alone will only be an issue in the beginning so it’s not like you couldn’t have one of those dogs if you can build up to it.

I've always had at least one terrier in the house, all Jack Russells or Jack Russell crosses. Patterdales can be little escape artists and Yorkshire Terriers or Yorke crosses can have difficult coats to maintain. Staffies are probably a safe bet as they are so adaptable and amazing with children. Not so friendly with other dogs, but then the same can be said for many terriers.
If you are looking for something bigger Labradors (black working lines) are lovely, easy, clever.
Spaniels are great if you are able to mentally stimulate, ie agility, but as said above have velcro tendencies and would be stressed if left alone. This applies to all Spaniels, including the toy breeds. Cockerpoos are popular and lovely, but don't be fooled into thinking their coats are easy to maintain, they need careful, regular, experienced grooming. Don't forget also that they come from two good working breeds so need lots of mental work.
I'm probably teaching my grannies to sick eggs, but whatever you choose, make sure their parents are hip score tested and have good temperaments. Research any breed specific health issues and make sure the parents are tested or from lines clear of these issues. Perhaps talk to the individual breed societies once you have chosen a breed and ask them for a list of recommended breeders. This way you will avoid the bad breeders that the clubs are well aware of.
With the best will in the world all dogs have to being left for a short while regularly, and have to be trained to accept this. Mine are at work with me all day, but if I have to pop out they can be left for a few hours no problem. As long as they have a good morning walk they are fine.

grannies to sick eggs autocorrect fail 🤣

OP, are you able to be with the dog more in the first 6 months? Our goldie is happy being left for couple of hours at 8 months, but wouldn’t have dreamed of leaving her alone for that long without working up to it very very gradually, it’s a recipe for separation anxiety. There’s a good couple of months when they need to be let out every 20 minutes for loo breaks.

We have a mini poodle and she's a great family dog. Keeps up with the kids well.

My miniature schnauzer is a dream! He is ok to be left for a couple of hours now he is just about to turn one, easy to train, loves being around kids and other dogs and contrary to common misconception he is very quiet! Not a barker at all.
He needs a groom every 8 weeks but he doesn't shed hair and doesn't have a strong doggy smell.
I just love him so much.

We have a black pug and he is honestly a dream dog 🥰

Our boy is the friendliest little soul who loves everyone - kids, pets, horses etc etc. He is just an amazing dog who can be taken anywhere and is just the best companion. We take him everywhere - on long road trips, on seaside holidays, to horse shows, on days out, school runs. Everyone loves him (even my parents who were very much against getting a dog are absolutely smitten with him). If you need to leave him home alone, he never chews or destroys anything- just snoozes on the sofa.

He can walk for hours and was having a race with my daughter's pony the other day when out on a hack 😂 or sleep all day - depending on what's on offer.

He's super easy to train and knows loads of tricks and has been a dream to potty train. He is also super lazy in the mornings and can sleep until noon 😴

Honestly the best dog in the world and the best little furry companion. 😍

Our Airedale has very good recall. Does the woodsy off leash walk daily, excellent with other dogs. All our dogs have been similar despite being various breeds.