What breed?

[RainCloudsInTheSky]

We lost our dog about 6 weeks ago and are starting to think about potentially getting another around spring time.

We would ideally like something medium sized, non moulting, good with older kids and easy to train.

many ideas? We think a golden retriever would be lovely but so big and moult. Labs are fairly naughty if my friends labs are anything to go by. Any ideas what may suit us? Thanks.

Standard poodle?

Viszla? The bitches are quite small. Very nice natured but clingy. Active and maybe a bit too dizzy for you.

Think basically we want our old dog back. I’m wary of getting a new dog but I know the kids are eventually going to be very keen to have one. I’m very wary of the difference between our aged dog and his lack of energy the last few years compared to a new puppy. So much to think about as it’s been over a decade since we had a puppy.

Huge sympathies there as I too want my old dog back.

I still look round thinking she'll be following me.

Working female labs aren't massive - ours are 23 and 25kg. Small enough that I can pick them up and shove them int the car if need be. Mine don't seem to moult that much, certainly far easier to keep up with a bit of hoovering than looking after the coat of any sort of poo, I don't have to spend my time picking grass seeds out their coat after walks, and although they get wet and muddy i can stick their drying coats on and they seem to end up clean.

Ours are quite full on outside the house but have always been really chilled inside. The show labs we know actually seem more boisterous inside but less active when out and about.

Honestly, have a look at a beddie/whippet. Every one I know has been easy, chilled and sweet.

Edited to add disclaimer I have spaniels so I may not have accurate judgement on what constitutes chilled here

I have a cavapoo (wants cuddles all day but equally loves a walk)
And a cockapoo he is ball obsessed & loves playing snd only really wants cuddles in bed in the morning.
Both adore children & both were rehomes.

I know you said non moulting but I would definitely recommend a lab.
We have a 2 year old and she is the sweetest most adorable dog ever. Everyone just loves her. Labs are so easy to train and just the best dog.
Sure she chewed a few things when she was very young, don't most puppies? But that didn't last long, she really is a dream.
Let us know what you decide to choose.

Thanks all. We will spend a few months thinking about it. I doubt we will get one until spring but I may have a big project in spring at work in which case it may have to wait longer. I just worry the longer I’m without a dog the easier the decision not to get one will be.

i must admit that I’ve noticed I need to do less cleaning now our lovely dog has gone which is lovely.

so much to think about.

How about an Irish terrier, medium sized, loyal, need exercise but love to snuggle too!

Also team lab. I’d describe them as silly rather than naughty, we have loads of fun mucking around with them. The whole family adore them, and they adore us.

I mean I am team spaniel all the way but I cannot hand on heart say they don't moult 🤣

A show cocker spaniel, carefully bred and well trained are fun, great family dogs who LOVE to cuddle in the house and are full of beans out of it.

I have a 11 month old vizsla bitch and she is medium size. Amazing temperament and I have a 5 year old daughter. She does cast but she's short haired and hardly needs a wash. I'm a dog Walker too so always out. She doesn't stink out my car and house of wet dog.

Lurchers are ace. Lazy for 23hrs a day then 1hr spread over 2 minute intervals of total speed.

Schnauzers are ace too. Yappy and barky though.

I’d put up with the moulting and go for a Golden bitch (slightly smaller than dogs) but they’re my heart dogs so I’m biased.

Otherwise agree that a medium sized lurcher would be a good cross, and you do get some with a bit of collie in the mix so might not be too dissimilar to train and in temperament to your old dog without being a carbon copy.

I have three friends with various -poos, all with different lifestyles and different levels of dog experience; two of the dogs bought as puppies and the third an older rescue. Every single one of the dogs is neurotic and clingy, sweet and good with children but my god the clinginess! One of them had to have emergency surgery recently and almost didn’t make it…she recovered well clinically, but was so neurotic and stressed at being in a strange place overnight that the vet nurse was worried for her survival rate and called my friend in the middle of the night asking her to go in and help calm her down. For that reason I’d personally avoid that particular cross.

Cocker spaniel?

I have a working cocker, he doesn't really moult much at all. He's small enough to curl up on your lap but has a big dog 'presence' with his enthusiasm and general love of life

Oh and he is fab with children, very gentle but loves to play and was a doddle to train.

Standard poodle or a bedlington?

Working Springer spaniel all the way. Contrary to the bad press they often get, if they're well trained (which isn't hard to do) they make the most loving pets, calm in the house, energetic but biddable outside. I've had 3, all amazing with kids, and so gentle and loyal.

A miniature/medium goldendoodle? Yes, yes I know they're not a "breed". It's a massive generalisation to say all doodles are from puppy farms, there are some responsible breeders out there who health test and hip/elbow score etc.

You can generally get an idea of whether they'll shed by the look of their puppy coat. Some breeders also gene test for this. Size can vary, although if you use a breeder who has had a previous litter from same parents, you can usually gauge an average size.

I went with a goldendoodle x labradoodle in the end, simply as I wanted a large dog and the parents of this particular litter are both huge. Otherwise I'd have gone for an F1 goldendoodle.

Staffordshire bull terrier. Medium sized, very hardy with minimal health issues (stay away from blue’s though as these have been poorly bred for money )

fantastic with kids, very easy to train and very loyal loving dogs.

if you do decide to get one please contact your local breed club on Facebook who will help you find a fully health tested puppy not bred for money like the blues.

What a gorgeous dog!

@CellophaneFlower ovet 80% of puppy farmed dogs are crosses ie poo/doodle so it is a significant amount. If breeders were really that reputable they would breed pedigrees in order to improve the breed rather than cash in on designer mongrels.
The sad fact is that you can buy a pedigree dog with full papers, health tested with great scores+ DNA for half the price of a badly bred mongrel.

How about a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever?

Smaller than a golden, active but clever - needs training but lovely dogs.

Not sure about the hair though, but it can't be worse than a golden!

Thank you! She's only 12 weeks and very mischievous - I'm half regretting wanting a massive dog now as she's over 12kg already - and so fast! She's running rings round me for sure 😂