Which dog fits this criteria?

[Scoobydoobydoobydoo0987]

Family with 2 small children are thinking of maybe ( still on the fence) of getting a dog. It must be compatible, so here's the criteria. If anyone has any suggestions, please..

1. Good for children
2. Good with cats
3. Not too much exercise is needed ( Alstians need 2 hours walking a day, so big no no)
4. Nothing too yappy
5. Nothing too big that DH couldn't lift, if it was ill and had to pick up and take to the vets ( We like bull mastiff but they are around 90kgs!)
6. protective of family but not a guard dog
7. Nothing prone to medical problems

Why does it need to be protective of family? Do you live somewhere dangerous? What sort of house do you live in, how often would it be left alone, how much exercise can you give it?

Your criteria is quite extensive - I doubt a dog exists that matches all that.

When you say not too much exercise, how much exercise can you give? Dogs don’t necessarily need lots of walks if you spend time training and exercising their brains.

Do not get any dog. Hth.

Live in a 6 bedroom house in a rural location. Protective of family in case of an intruder! Wouldn't be left alone at all, we WFH. Could give an hour a day excercise plus we have a big garden

Bull mastiff fits our criteria so far, but worry that if he somehow got injured, I wouldn't be able to pick it up and carry it.

I don't think it's that extensive, in all honesty. I would rather make sure it would be a good fit for our family before getting it. I wouldn't willy nilly get a dog and then have to get rid of it at a later date. It would be unfair on the dog and the children

Very helpful advice - thanks for that

Bullmastiffs are gentle and affectionate with family members. Their generally calm, easy-going natures make them good dogs for families with reasonably well-behaved children. However, the bullmastiff's laid-back attitude with family members is likely to change when a stranger enters the picture. These dogs tend to be quite suspicious of people outside the family.

Well lets hope as you children below they stay well behaved and they also never want any friends over to visit. What makes you think this excessively large and powerful dog is a suitable dog with young children at home?

Would you be able to take care of it? It's another responsibility that needs constant care. Unlike kids, it will never "grow up" or stop needing you.

Golden retriever or Labrador, loyal, easy to train, very loving/soppy, though a golden will shed a great deal of fur so a good vacuum cleaner would be needed! Any dog that is good with cat/kids would not be a guard dog, but a dog as a deterrent/alarm raiser is probably more what you need.

mini poodle

I don’t think you sound like natural dog owners, to be honest. Maybe stick to a battery-operated toy one instead…?

I don't, hence my post asking for suggestions. Bull mastiff wouldn't be suitable at this stage in our life, but in general could be in the future.

Cockapoo. A very good size, very pick-up-able but not so small you worry about it. Very friendly, easy to train, great with kids. Not met a bad one yet. Great at guarding the home, vocal. Bonus as it doesn't shed hair.

Thank you, that's helpful 😊

Boxers?
Fabulous with children. Okay with cats if carefully introduced.
I can pick up my females, would probably struggle with my male although he is larger than the breed standard.
Would be ok with an hour of walking some days if also have access to a large garden but would need more sometimes. Very content to sleep the day away!
Although they are prone to some health conditions sadly

Yes, we both work from home, so have the time and resources to take care of a dog.

A Rottweiler bitch (the dogs are much bigger and heavier). You need to get it as a young puppy and raise it with your (hopefully respectful, gentle children). Mine used to babysit my cats kittens whenever she left them alone. My lovely girl would go straight over and sit with them until mother cat returned. She was much loved by my children and all of their friends. She was a wonderful dog who wasn’t a moments trouble. She would have undoubtedly laid down her life for us. Occasionally, she would come across a man she didn’t like the look of when she was out with me off her lead. She would go over to them and not allow them to move (simply by blocking them) until I told her it was okay and to leave. I could go anywhere at anytime with her and knew I was safe.

Forgot to say that as far as guarding goes, their bark is intimidating enough to deter intruders but if coming into contact with an intruder they're more likely to lick them to death

If you don't have previous dog exprience, a breed that has great gaurd instinct really isn't suitable. They require immense training to ensure a balanced dog. I would agree with poster above who said a dog as a deterrent/alarm raiser would be the best option rather than focusing on what they could/would do in the (unlikely) case of an intruder.

What is a 'natural' dog owner? Is it not someone who would ensure they are compatible with the family before buying? Be able to be there with it 24/7? Dedicate time for walking? Give it a big space to live in?

Two dog breeds i personally have experience with, potentially suitable.

Standard poodle, very intelligent and very deep big bark that make them sound much bigger than they are and wonderful family dogs, i grew up with one and my sister has one now and she literally hugs you, shes lovely. Need stimulation, do have high prey drives though, dont have to be kept in a big poofy coat at all.

Also, a chuangdong hound. Newish breed to the country, not massivly big. Will sleep happily all day or take a long walk if offered. Lovely with kids, very cat like almost. Look alot tougher than they are. Really nice breed and the lady in wales that brought them into the country, also really nice. Also has a high prey drive though. Breed looks exactly the same as they did 400years ago, low in heath issues.

Thank you, I'll definitely take a look at those.

Thank you, I had considered that. I always thought rottweilers got a bad rap? I've never owned a dog so I'm a bit clueless

Typo - * hadn't considered that