Recommend a family dog - not first time dog owner don't worry

[pastypirate]

Not a thread about whether to get a dog. I already have a very content show cocker who isn't left for long periods (wfh and other adult almost always at home). We have a holiday home so dog comes with us and has been kennelled twice in 9 years!

Considering a second dog and ddog is getting on and we will find his passing v painful.

Dp wants another spaniel or a collie. I have said a flat no collie as I do not think we can meet their stimulation needs. Ddog is very easy and very set in his ways. I love spaniels but ddog pulled on the lead a lot and I want next dog to be walked by dc as early on as possible so logically a smaller breed seems a better option. Dn has a dax which the kids love but we have a big house with lots of stairs and apparently this is an issue with them.

I would have a rescue staff in a heartbeat I'm sure they tick every box but family not keen especially dp,

Dd1 and I want a Jack Russell but we do have rabbits so maybe not a good match. I really want a clever dog we can teach tricks to. Ddog is very loving but not the brightest and it took 7 years to teach him lie down!

I was set on a whippet but my whippet rescue friend has put me off with the prolific food stealing I'm not sure I want to invite that problem in!

I would choose a flat coated dog as I'm already stuck with a mud sponge dog who has to be groomed every 3 months. Not a deal breaker but an extra expense.

So a dog smaller than a spaniel? Keen for ideas and in no rush more interested in what breeds are suggested for us to look in to xx

They are fab family dogs I agree x

Thank you so much for all the replies. Dp seems to have a lot of agreement about another spaniel maybe he's right x

Small dogs will want to eat your rabbit and big dogs are greedy.

How about a Clumber spaniel? I think they're about the least high-intensity of spaniels

Miniature golden doodle? Mini poodle crossed with golden retriever. Great family dog with great temperament

Am in awe with all the people with cockers with good recall, when ours (2years) goes he is head down and gone. EVERYTHING I’ve ever read has says that due to their sense of smell they are too distracted by smells around them and just keep finding new things to investigate (it is also us though, we are not experienced at training although I work hard and we have gone to amazing classes since he was old enough). He is also extremely high energy, we live on an acre and play with him daily, he runs around himself and gets one to two walks a day too. Conversely he is so chilled as we go about our days, a legend through and through , a softie who would stand by you no matter what. He’s my absolute shadow and his tail never ever stops wagging.

@OrlandointheWilderness

Maybe I didn't word it correctly. From what I've seen, Labs/retrievers are such a popular family dog and the show line is far more popular than the working line, making it easier to avoid the working line behaviours.

I happen to completely agree with your comment about the training. However from OPs post, they seem to have had a very placid dog who doesn't sound at all high energy. I was merely trying to give advice to someone who may have found themselves in over their head with a full working line breed, if they haven't had experience with one before.

Parsons terrier - I'm not a small dog person but my cousin has had several now. So smart, funny and lovely looking. I would have one if I ever downsized from a flatcoat retriever ❤️🐾

@PureAmazonian ah got you! No worries, the beauty of text isn't it. Easy to misread things! To be fair I don't think I know any show line labs or spaniels, but I'm heavily involved in country sports etc.
hopefully the OP already realises the absolute importance of training, whatever dog they end up with. I'm sure all is grand and they will find something suitable.

Think the root of this might be the line 'he runs around himself'. What you have there is a self employed spaniel, who is used to self rewarding behaviour! Very tricky to undo I'm afraid, you need to be absolutely more exciting than anything he comes across.

Whippets are great, lazy loungers with loads of personality and beautiful to look at.

And another one!
Perfect little dogs. Super smart.

I did have a racing greyhound but otherwise yiu are correct I've never had a working line in any breed. The greyhound was a giant cat I don't think they count 🤣

They are utterly utterly beautiful and I'm distracted by them in public daily! They are my dream but ddog is not a food stealer and it would be hard to raise the supervision and stress level. Dp just pointed out the basket of crisps has been at nose height for ddog for a year now and he's not touched them.

@pastypirate I am with @AdamRyan Border terrier - the only downside is they do shed a bit but you can brush and Dyson do a hoover attachment which hoovers dogs. Border terriers are so family friendly , not yappy , affectionate here https://www.countrylife.co.uk/out-and-about/dogs/border-terriers-the-dogs-with-endless-energy-that-still-love-a-cuddle-on-the-sofa-229987

Lots of treats - cheese or hotdogs - command to lay down and quite a few “no” commands. To be fair, he started with old bunny as a puppy and old bunny barely moves. New 14 week old bunny has totally baffled ddog because she’s very bouncy but she’s sassy and he’s a total wimp. He does get jealous if I cuddle a bunny and lays upside down with his face to mine to get my attention. He’s a needy toddler.

One more for the Border Terrier - but friends of ours have a working cocker who is lovely https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2185170/Country-Life-declare-border-terriers-ideal-canine-companion.html#:~:text=Steve%20calls%20them%20%27the%20thinking,t%20know%20they%27re%20little.

I hope you get sorted but I'd be loathe to have a 9yr old and a puppy. Age gap too hard on the older one imho. I've had a 7yr gap and a puppy before. Hadn't heard the 7yr old growl, ever, prior to that. Felt bad for both of them really, and dont think she ever thanked me for it 😞 they fought regularly once pup matured.

I dunno why you wouldn’t have a border collie. Learn a whistle or two and stand at the doorway with your wine and have it round up the rabbits.

Exercise, brain strain, natural instinct all taken care of from the comfort of your own home.

And, yes, my tongue is in my cheek.

Sounds like you need:

King Charles caviller

My 12 yr old boy still going strong and still incredible

Lab perfect family dog, don't have all the bounce of a springer and much as we love staffies and have had several over the years once we decided we wanted children after our old one passed we decided no more for a few years so went to labs and best decision for now...easy to walk, easy to train, can be on and off lead with no problems around rabbits etc. the nearest to a groom I bath them once in a while myself lol but mostly they wash themselves in the river or sea

Agree!

Not sure what happened there - wrong thread.

Working cockers are totally awesome dogs in the right home, ie a working one.
There is a good reason that they are so popular for agility. Small and medium height classes are full of fantastic working cockers. They are insanely fast. Very trainable and people seem to have lots of them. One of my trainers has 3, my other trainer has 2 (she does agility and her husband does gundog work with them).

I have staffords. My older girl was 9 when I got my puppy. She was a rescue (at 18 months, as was my previous stafford). The difference between training from 8 weeks and taking over at 18 months is massive. They have all successfully competed in agility but it is so much easier to train when you have a clean slate. This is not just agility training, it's everything, as you don't have to undo other people's mistakes.
This doesn't mean I wouldn't get another rescue but I have to say that if I had cats or rabbits, no matter what breed I wanted, I would get a puppy as they could get used to small furries before tge prey drive kicks in.
Getting a puppy when my older dog was 9 has been hugely successful. She had been 2 years without a companion and adores him. She will be 13 next month and he is 3. I was watching them in the garden earlier with the oldie instigating play. It's lovely to see.
My friend has whippets. They have prey drive and would chase deer given the opportunity but they live with cats. She also has a rescue whippet x poodle, that she took on as an adult. Prey drive for deer is insane but happily ignores the cats.
I am a fan of border terriers too and used to have one regularly for home boarding. He was a very easy dog.
Another breed I don't think has been mentioned but is not difficult and has low prey drive is Tibetan terriers. Schnauzer may also suit your needs and comes in a choice of sizes. As do poodles.