Family of four, DC 10 and 8. Both calm, gentle kids; used to dogs as they spend a lot of time with their grandparents' dog.
We live in a small house with a small garden in a small city centre, so need a small-medium dog (but not toy breed). We live very near three parks, and are a 10 minute drive from open countryside.
I am home most of the time, the dog would very rarely be left alone and never for more than a couple of hours. I am fit and very active, and happy to give a dog as much exercise as it needs.
We also have a confident, dog savvy cat who's unphased by visiting dogs.
We've tried rescues, but haven't found one with a suitable dog, so we've decided to register with a reputable breeder and wait for the right puppy - we aren't ready to get one till autumn, as we have a holiday booked, so have time.
We want a hardy dog without congenital health issues. We are not keen on dogs with squashy faces like pugs and bulldogs, (nothing personal, my mum has a Frenchie and she's a sweetheart, I just worry about the health issues) and DH isn't keen on "fluffy, fro-fro" dogs like bichon frise (sp???), although I wouldn't rule them out.
We're financially secure and can afford vets bills, insurance, training, etc.
Initial research has thrown up miniature schnauzers, Cairn terriers and Australian shepherds as strong contenders, does anyone have any experience of those breeds? Or have another suitable breed they'd recommend?
We'd be perfectly happy with a scruffy mutt, but they seem surprisingly hard to find these days! Thanks in advance.