What breed would suit us?

[Autumnpumpkinspice101]

What breed would suit our family?

We can offer up to an hours walk per day, this will mainly be on lead with a bit of off lead time, be happy to be out and about much more of the day during the weekend and school holidays.

Not too big ideally and doesn’t shed too much, some is fine but I know something like a Golden retriever would be an issue for me (as much as I love them!)

Happy to snooze while I work from home after walk, obviously know this does come with age as well, I would expect this from a puppy.

Happy to come on UK family holidays including camping.

Good with children, pretty busy household with 3 children of our own and their friends plus other children in the wider family.

Ideally good with other dogs, lots of family and friends with dogs.

We aren’t new to dog owning but struggling to settle in a breed…

A lot of the requirements on your list are down to socialisation, training (and a dollop of luck) as opposed to genetics, so breed doesn't really come into it all that much.

If you want a dog that's low shedding and doesn't require huge amounts of exercise, you're really looking at companion type breeds - mini poodles, bichons and mini Schnauzers, for example.

But the disadvantage (if you like) of a companion breed is that they're bred to want to be around people so can suffer from separation anxiety if they're not properly trained to be left alone.

An Italian Greyhound sounds like a potential fit

Some sort of terrier? I know a Norfolk Terrier who would fit what you describe perfectly. I know they are supposed be hunters etc (chase cats and squirrels) so the off lead bit seems inappropriate, but the one I know doesn't chase anything apart from a ball and other dogs that have nicked her ball 😂.
She's great with everyone and all dogs (even much bigger ones in our walking group). She's feisty and loving. She's brilliant.

Team terrier here. Very firmly so BUT you do need to put a lot of work in if you want a well balanced dog once they mature. Mine is just a year and my first full terrier. She’s fab. Fun, cuddly, independent, low shedding, clean, up for adventure, whip smart, quick learner, playful, happy to snooze on and off after an hours off lead walk (more at the weekends), doing well at both obedience and agility.

I know some that are sods. They are huge dogs in small bodies and very clever. They need their brains working in something to be happy IME. EDIT They do need at least an hour of good quality off lead exercise a day. Mine is fine with that but we do a lot of brainwork. Lead walks won’t cut it. They need to explore and ‘hunt’. Mine has fantastic recall but we’ve put a lot of work in from 11 weeks old.

shih tzu.

My shih tzu meets all of this criteria. Very chilled at home, but happy to play and go for walkies whenever I pick up her lead and ball. Small enough to pick up if she gets tired (but easily walks 5 miles with my big dogs) or it's busy. Barely barks, amazing with other dogs, and you can learn to groom at home/take to the groomers for a puppy cut. She travels beautifully on the train, in the car, and loves camping/sleeping outside. Oh, and very food motivated to easy to train.

Whippet. No way our terriers would be happy with just an hour a day but whippets would fit in to your life style well. They are one of the best dogs.

I don't know any terrier breed that would be happy on one hour of mostly on-lead exercise a day - they need to be off to run and hunt.

Whippets are good but all the ones I know love to run. It would be a shame to get one knowing you're going to keep it on a lead most of the time, IMO.

Aww I love how some of you have suggested a Shih Tzu, my old girl was a Shih Tzu and agree she was perfect for us but I would like a different breed this time, mainly because she was so precious.

Border terrier, mini poodle, whippets were all on the list.

I was also interested in a show cocker spaniel but honestly think they might need more than I can offer at this time in my life.

Just to add, when I say mainly on lead maybe I’ve been a bit OTT here. The walks would be during the school run time however we are really lucky with our school run, they would definitely be on lead walking to school with the children but once I’ve dropped them we would back across a field and round a lake which could be off lead so I guess it would be more than 20 mins walking on lead and 25ish mins off lead twice a day during the week.

You’d need to add in training, ideally a class for a terrier to both socialise and teach them how to focus in a distracting environment. You may get away with that little but really most need quite enriching walks with the opportunity to sniff and hunt to be happy. Mine doesn’t run as much as my last dog (who was a sighthound cross terrier) but she does love to snuffle around the fields/woods etc. we go to the beach every few weeks and there she loves to run.

We have about 6 or 8 local walks we switch up so no two days are the same place. We’re semi rural so it’s easy to find that enriching environment that is always changing for her.

Thanks, I do think the walk we would do would be enriching. It’s got open fields, water, bushes, longer grass, a small wooded area? But yes it would be the same walk Monday - Friday then different and exciting places on the weekend.

I can fit in all in training and in the house bits no problem, it’s more the actual out walking that I would struggle to give more too.

If you were negotiable on the shedding, and willing to put the leg work into finding a seriously good breeder that’s really passionate about improving the breeds health, I don’t think you can get a better family dog than a cavalier.

An ex racing greyhound. Wonderful family pets, lazy, gentle and sensitive, on the whole. Have a look at the Greyhound Trust website. There are thousands in need of a home.

Our boy came house trained, well behaved, walks well on lead. A little fear reactivity, but otherwise, he's a wonderful pet and we love him.

Border Terrier suits our family life, got her when youngest DC was 6, she’s a fab dog, happy with long, short, whatever walks, we don’t let her off as much as we used to due to hunting aspect. She’s great with children, lives a cuddle with them, small enough for them to hold the lead. Ours has been well socialised and is good with other dogs, most we meet out and about are but we have met the occasional snappy one. I WFH, and sometimes she doesn’t even get off her bed in my office in the day, she’s had a morning walk but happy to snooze. Borders are robust little dogs with a big personality, we actually went for her after we lost our beloved Labrador as she was a smaller dog to fit in our camper van! She gets hand stripped 2/3 times a year but I do this myself - lots of on line guidance .

But yes it would be the same walk Monday - Friday then different and exciting places on the weekend.

Just be aware that some dogs will get (very) bored of doing the same walk everyday and you may find it won't tire them out very much. I find with my beagle if I do the same walk more than twice in a row, he starts to get a bit frustrated and doesn't settle as well at home.

Norfolk terrier. Or a cocker from non working lines.

I second this. You’re set up sounds identical to ours and our Cavalier is just the best!

I know this is off topic but I find the discussion on same walks so interesting! we tend to switch it up because it's boring for us otherwise, but I didn't realise dogs got bored of the same walks too!

I'm sure it's breed specific and some (like my) lazier breeds may be bothered less but I hadn't realised - how interesting!

It’s the same as us. Anything new tires us out more. Been there. Smelt that.

It's definitely a "thing".

Different walks mean different smells, different sights and (generally) different dogs and people. They also mean you may do different things - some walks may mean they get to swim, others mean they can sniff their ball, or play with their friends etc.

Equally if you have a nervous dog who struggles, it can be easier to stick to the same walks where you (and they) know what to expect, and therefore it's less stressful for everyone.

Go to your local rescue centre and explain what you’re looking for, they’ll help to partner you with a suitable dog.

I’ve got a Labrador who pretty much fits the bill, she’s quite small, mom and dad were also relatively small for lab. She’s not overweight at all, we keep her slim but she’s so lazy. Walked for half and hour twice a day and she’s absolutely done in the rest of the time. Barely moves from her bed unless she hears the fridge being opened.

Great with kids and sociable but was so easy to train, great on a lead, great recall, not phased by other dogs or people. I think we hit the genetic lottery with her though. I know plenty of mental labs, meeting the mother (and the other dog in the household - not dad) sold us on her as they were so relaxed.

if I were you I’d narrow it down to a few breeds your keen on and visit a few litters to meet some parents. Look into their genetic history, health tests and trainability.

Labs are notoriously Velcro dogs but mine really isn’t, we can go anywhere in the house/garden and if she doesn’t think it’s beneficial for her (no food or playtime) she’ll stay where she is, snoozing.

https://www.countrylife.co.uk/out-and-about/dogs/cardigan-welsh-corgis-smashing-little-dogs-deserve-much-recognition-pembroke-cousins-202519
Cardigan corgi? Easy going funny cheerful dogs I think they’re gorgeous (I’m biased obviously) happy to walk or not not neurotic or stressy, not food obsessed but easy to feed both mine have been good with children, a big dog personality without being a big dog, only problem they do shed a lot because they have a double coat.

I was going to say greyhound would fit the bill until i noticed 'small' though they are lot less busy about the house than most small breeds.

Thing is whatever breed you go for, you can't guarantee recall will be good enough for the areas you walk, so I think it's sensible to look for those that if had to keep on lead and hire field you could still manage activity level as most dogs can walk further than us anyway so should manage occasional longer walks