Recommendations for breed suited to my circumstances

[Snowandtinsel]

Hi, this is my first post, so please be kind. I live on my own, but work as a childminder so always have small children in the house. Obviously not all my life is working and having grown up with dogs, I really would love to spend my 'outside working hours' with a canine companion.

However, I am stumped with what breed to go for, because of the children. I would add, that I obviously have stairgates etc and have always crate trained, so I can easily separate a dog/puppy, but I understandably just want to choose carefully. I would be getting a puppy to train from the beginning and meet those important socialisation periods and obviously my home is my work, so dog wouldnt be left on their own for very long at all.

I live on the rural edge of a town, so lots of walks after the children have left/weekends, but I would like to take the dog with the children out too sometimes.

I live in a smallish house, but it does have a safe garden with a secure fence.

I would like a small dog that doesn't mind cuddles (from me) but one that isnt so small that housetraining and therefore hygiene isn't known to be an issue (I love italian greyhounds, but understand that they are difficult to house train).

Playing fetch is something I would absolutely love to do, not sure why, just would like to be able to do this with my new dog. Also it is a good way of getting the children to interact with the dog in a purposeful and kind way. I used to have Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, but I wouldn't have another one due to their health issues and a lurcher. No matter how much training I did, none of them would play fetch, it is just not in their nature.

I used to love dog training and miss the social aspect of that at weekends.

I am not a pug/flat faced dog person nor a terrier person really. I have seen border terriers mentioned on here quite a bit but like other terriers, they can be a bit 'sharp'. Bit worried about 'cocker spaniel' rage to tbh.

Ive spent hours poring over KC breeds and have also been to Crufts and Discover Dogs a few times, but I am stumped!

Thank you x

What about a small poodle cross, maybe a cavapoo or maltipoo. The poodle side should be easy to train, no hair loss?

I was going to suggest a cav, if you got one that had its parents health tested with good scores.
But will this not curtail your child minding? Not everyone will want their child with a dog, no matter what breed, and kids can be very unpredictable and a dogs only defence is a nip! Also dogs do get jealous especially if they have one owner.
As for fetching, that's down to the personality too, not just breed. I have two of the same (miniature labradoodle- about workjng cocker size) one is obsessed with the ball, the other has no idea what to do with it!
I generally think larger dogs are better with smaller people, like a golden retriever.

A miniature schnauzer sounds like a good fit as a small option. Maybe an Australian labradoodle or a springer spaniel (if you would go that big).

If you know a dog you like, or meet one that fits your criteria, dog owners are usually very happy to share breeder details, so don't be afraid to ask.

We have the most amazing nearly 1 year old cavapoo. Mum was extensively tested so hope he doesn't have any of the cavalier health issues. He ticks all your boxes and loves a bit of fetch. However managing a new puppy with my then 4 year old was tricky enough and we have stair gates and he's crate trained so doing it with lots of children I can't even imagine. Also we spent alot of time talking to our younger daughter about how to interact with the dog and never left them unsupervised and still don't. Even though you are working from home I'm not sure how much time you would have to spend with and train the pup as no way could you just having him with the kids you mind (just my view others may disagree)

I was going to suggest a cav…

Beware the Poo crosses, especially crossed with Cav, they can still inherit the same health problems and the parents are far less likely to have been fully health tested and more likely puppy farmed 😔they can also inherit the moulting Spaniel coat.

Managing and training a puppy if you're on your own and trying to care for someone else's child at the same time is going to be an absolute nightmare and is likely to end in tears for all parties. It will be like having two toddlers in the house, but one has more fur and very sharp teeth. Neither can be left alone initially and turning your back on one to look after another can be disastrous as they are both just as good as creating their own entertainment. Being good with children, especially small children, is more down to training than breed trait to be honest. Also, not all dogs take to crate training.

It's one thing bringing a puppy into a home where the child in the home is yours, but it's very different when the child isn't yours and there will be different children visiting, some who may already be terrified of dogs.

If you were to jump in, straight up Poodle could work - you would then definitely get the low-moult coat, but they are an intelligent breed and you will need to work extremely hard to get the training right. They do really well as agility dogs and were originally bred down from the Standard Poodle, which was a working hunting water dog alongside Labradors and Spaniels, that's why the coat is like it is, not for our allergy convenience.

You can't leave a puppy on its own while you're looking after children in your home, but allowing it to mix with the children will cause a whole new set of issues.

How are you going to manage/toilet train a puppy while you are supervising children?

The only issue with big dogs, is that when they are young and boisterous they can inadvertently knock little people flying.

I have three labs, and whilst they are all “child friendly”, the younger two can get very giddy when playing with my friend’s children and turn into furry cannon balls.

I’ve put “child friendly” in inverted commas as whilst mine are wonderful, loving and kind dogs- they are still dogs and I don’t think you can ever trust one with a child 100%. They are always heavily supervised.

Many parents won’t want to use a childminder that has a dog. Might be worth putting the feelers out to your existing customers first to see if getting a dog is likely to affect your childminding business.

Golden retriever? Good with kids, easy to train and (generally) less giddy than a lab

I'd suggest a golden too.

We have a miniature schnauzer in the family, is brilliant with kids but absolutely won't play fetch. The Border Terrier however will, and will drop the ball for the three year old with no issues at all.

I'd avoid a cavapoo at all cost. Those dogs are nuts. A lady near to me has one and she walks it past my window every morning and evening. It's about 2 now and it still won't sit before crossing the road. I often see her trying to get it to sit because I leave about the time it passes my house. Instead it spins around and around on its lead. It's like it's hyperactive. I know 2 other families with one and both have told me they are a high energy/exuberant, hard to train and they can be possessive too of their owners.

I am not going to recommend a breed because I think it's going to be logistically difficult with any puppy and childminding. Puppies are like babies for a good 6 - 12 months and need constant supervision. Most don't do well in a pen or crate unless you intensively train them that they are a good place.

We've had rescues with behavioural problems which were FAR FAR easier than the puppy we have now who came to us at 9 weeks from a really good breeder. That said, she is growing into a fabulous little dog but with hours and hours of blood, sweat and tears!

Dogs are individuals within breeds. If you do want to do it then you'd be looking at approaching a breeder who breeds for temperament specifically - there are some who breed for assistance and the dogs in schools programme.

DM has a couple of lab/spaniel crosses. They are about the size of a springer but look like a lab. It's a lovely mix, and they have all handled my dc well as they grew up. The springer cross girl is definitely 100% springer in mind, still bouncy at 10, loves to chase sticks and balls. The cocker cross girl was just gorgeously intelligent, active and stoic. And slightly less nutty springer than her half sister. (I miss her every day. She died last year aged 15).

A ton of hair and very giddy for at least the first year or two though, will send small children flying and definitely cover the house in hair which doesn't look great for a childminder. Totally different for your own kids, but not as a business.

I suppose I was just thinking of my own golden who definitely was giddy the first 12 months but never knocked down a small child. She seemed to know she had to be gentle with children and older adults. I've always found bigger breeds tend to be a bit more aware of their size, but again obviously completely biased to my own experiences!

Cavalier for those cuddles on the sofa. Easy to train, up for a decent walk (post one year of age of course), but happy with a lazy day, good with children

I would go for a poodle. They are incredibly intelligent, friendly and can be easily trained

I'm a foster carer and we've always had under 5s. We have had two jack Russell's and they have both been amazing with kids. So patient and loving but not too big . We've had several kids arrive scared of dogs and leave loving them.
look for a breeder that has young kids and puppies will have been used to little ones already.

We have recently got a toy poodle. She’s really good with children, tolerates being handled / fussed over with no issues, gets excited around them and jumps up but way too small to do any harm. Unlike the Rottweiler puppy which jumped up at my daughter at puppy training 🫣. She is mobbed on the school run every day and it doesn’t bother her at all. Very calm, easy to train, lovely temperament. Mainly sleeps in her crate during the day. However…the first couple of weeks while housetraining were very hard and we had to watch her like a hawk so I don’t know how you’d handle that stage while childminding.

None. I don't see how you can raise a puppy and childmind at the same time.

What about a Havenese? Lovely little dogs, full of personality, designed as pets so very affectionate, but not pathetic little things, love to play with other dogs and balls. Also as they’re not fashionable (no idea why not) the breeders tend to be properly ethical.

We have a Havanese. Probably OK if you want to keep the kids and dog apart, but certainly mine doesn't like being petted by strangers. He is tolerant rather than enthusiastic around children. He adores everyone in his family. Poodle crosses tend to be the opposite, jumping up on strangers etc. which is nice but not great if u had a child frightened of dogs.

Overall your plan riddled with potential issues due to your job, but if you are going to do it, maybe rehoming a trained adult dog known to be OK around children (maybe a retired guide dog for example) might be the best way forward.