Best breed(s) for a young family?

[rosesarered94]

As title suggests we are discussing potentially getting a dog and would like some thoughts on what the best breed for our family might be:

•two small children aged 2 and 5
•I'm a SAHM so dog will not be alone
•this would be our first dog
•we have a small garden and live in a rural area close to woodlands and fields
•would prefer a breed that does not have extremely high energy
•one walk a day for around an hour but can do two walks if needed

Thank you

Sounds like you need a cat 😂

Golden retriever is the best family dog and would be fine with an hour a day (although the "sounds like you need a cat" brigade will say otherwise.)

We have a KC spaniel and he is the best! Pretty keen to please and easy to train and requires a 40 min or so walk everyday. They're totally velcro dogs though and v licky, if your kids can tolerate that. :)

Honestly with children that young I would wait. Puppies are a nightmare, I found it worse than a baby.
Children wind puppies up and it's never a good mix. No dog is low energy bar maybe a rescue greyhound but I don't think any dog is a great match with young children.
I say that as someone who has 3 and got our first when dc were 3.

Not any working breed eg working cocker/springer spaniel/ collie type and definitely not a designer mongrel cross thing eg anything with 'poo' on the end.

I'd probably wait until your kids are a bit older tbh. Greyhound or Whippet would suit on the other needs, but ex-racers (the easiest source for Greyhounds) can be very skittish and cautious around young children.

Show cocker spaniel
Lab x golden retriever
Snippet

Whippet! Not Snippet. Though you might be doing that later.

Definitely wait until kids are beyond toddler age! What sort of grooming would you be prepared to take on? Eg daily brushing or needed regular (expensive) trips to a groomer.

Thank you for the quick replies!

Sounds like waiting for our children to grow a bit older is the sensible thing to do so I'm sure in a few years we'll have a lovely fur baby about :)

Definitely wait until your youngest is in school. Puppies are really hard work and you really don't want a teething puppy and a toddler around the house

Labradors and Golden Retrievers are popular family dogs for good reason, but they will probably need more than an hour of exercise a day, especially for the first 3-4 years.

Whilst I agree that retrievers are fantastic family dogs, (no other breed rivals their personality and placid nature in my opinion!) I would not have one with young children around. As puppies they can be very bouncy + excitable and due to their size can easily knock a child over. Having our 9 month old GR around kids would be a recipe for disaster!

None, I'd say, with very young children and not much time.

My DS is 3 and we got a dog this year. I had no idea how hard a puppy would be. In hindsight I’d have waited until he was older

In terms of breed do your research. I originally considered a poodle cross however was very concerned about health. I’d go with a pedigree puppy or an adult rescue where you know about possible health issues if you can

@SurreyisSunny oh what did you get?

@NinNinJin a lovely but very lively and full on miniature poodle!

Tibetan Terrier, love them, but wait until the children are a little older. Also TTs are ridiculously naughty as well as being delightful, cuddly, fun, caring and gorgeous

Golden Retriever! Best dogs in the world (though am a little biased). Generally lovely with children and sweet natured.

Labrador

Dc and ddogs are a fantastic combination well managed and well raised.. Ime.

Defo whippets chilled in the house, not too messy and good with kids.

So we got one ours when the kids were 2 and 5, was easy to manage.

I think if you want to be able to let it off the lead in a wood a spaniel, terrier will disappear after rabbits etc.
As will whippets.
Labs and golden retrievers are ok though might chase a deer. Also you can throw a ball for them and they will return it.

@Goldenphoenix Completely agree that they’re the best dogs in the world - I’ve had 4 and nothing can rival their personality! I definitely wouldn’t have a GR puppy in a house with small children running around though. Our 9 month old pup is still very bouncy and excitable, she’d never mean harm but she would easily knock a child over due to her size