Can you recommend me a dog breed?

[PooSniffer]

I can’t decide what dog to get. I’m moderately active so the dog would get two 1 hour walks a day, longer on weekends (possibly all day trips to the forest etc). I’d like to take part in agility training (for fun, nothing serious) and showing.
it would have to be a medium to large breed. Good with small children (hence why no rescue).

current shortlist:

golden retriever
standard poodle
Leonberger

this is a while into the future though so only light heartedly window shopping at the minute. I’d obviously research thoroughly before the time came.

I'm just going to pop this on here then leave the thread entirely as MN HATES this breed with a passion!
We have a medium sized Australian labradoodle and she is happy going on long walks, great with children and all people in fact and I'm sure she would love agility training if we ever got into it.
She is bred from generations of Australian labradoodles so you know what kind of characteristics the puppy is likely to have (rather than bred from a lab and a poodle). They don't cast at all so has to be groomed every 8 weeks.
Gorgeous dogs with the lovely characteristics of both labs and poodles. I was brought up with both labs and poodles and didn't want either of these breeds. Our labs while gorgeous were so stinky and hairy and irritated my asthma. The poodles we had were small but were very yappy.
I'm leaving now people so don't tag me!

Whippet or greyhound. Great fun for whizzing about the park, then at home lazy and chilled like cats. (Which if you have children you will want, not another thing creating havoc).

They look elegant but with family and those they trust they are really fun goofy dogs that will try and make you laugh.

Bearded collies! They are on the endangered dog breed list and are the most gorgeous dogs in the world.

Similar size to a lab, long hair that doesn't really shed that much, hardly ever leaves fur on your clothes or sofas etc. They love long walks, they love herding their family, they love playing fetch.

They look so cute as puppies and as adults. You can brush them so they look smart or leave them scruffy and both are gorgeous.

Oh and I've had these my whole life. My parents had one when we were born and then throughout my whole childhood and now. They are great with kids. Very patient and playful

@ToBeOrNotToBee happy to be corrected! I’m think early reports were that it was a brown Doberman…. A Rhodesian Ridgeback is also a strange choice for a family pet IMO.

I’d no idea MN hated Australian Labradoodles…tbf I’m not even sure what the difference is between those and a bog-standard one!. However, a good friend of mine teaches dog grooming and she despairs about necessary shedding dogs being bred with non-shedders because of the skin conditions that can arise from an unwise mix. She sees some dogs in terrible distress because of this. Double coated breeds have to be able to shed their coats, mixing with a poodle where genes hold onto coats is a recipe for disaster really.

I’d no idea MN hated Australian Labradoodles…tbf I’m not even sure what the difference is between those and a bog-standard one!

Several thousand pounds, normally ...

I love Dobermanns, but they're not an easy choice for a first time owner or for health (although they are many leagues easier than the comical Fila Brasileiro recommendation LOL).

Good that you are thinking this through and open to thoughts though, and to the fact that although what a dog looks like will always be a factor for most - we like what we like! - but should never be top of any list for consideration of how a breed will fit in to your family.

It is also worth mentioning that this can go further than just breed too - many breeds have both working types and show/pet types, and the working bred dogs will normally be a different consideration - not worse, just very different in their needs.

That could easily have been mine 😂 the dirt comes off very easily though. We have ours clipped short every six weeks, costs £50 a time.

She's an absolute dream of a dog, so easy with the kids, so easy to train, can walk for eight hours or be happy with a half hour sprint round the park on the odd busy day. we'd always had labs and terriers before her, but I would go standard poodle every time now. Bitches tend to be smaller and in my experience easier!

I recommend this breed more!

I have a Vizsla girl who is absolutely fabulous!

They are super intelligent, active dogs (they need LOTS of exercise and stimulation) and love nothing more than using their brains (so will love long walks and agility training).

They hardly shed (unlike Labradors) and are very loving. Great with children.

I wasn’t a dog person and had never had a dog. I can’t recommend the breed more.

Two 1 hour walks a day
Longer on weekends (possibly all day trips to the forest).
Agility training
Medium to large breed.
Good with small children

Pretty much just described our Springer Spaniel op! Although obviously medium, not large breed.

Springers get a bad rep as being wild, mental etc. They're not if properly treated ime.

Ours is less than two years old and she's the calmest, most level-headed dog I've ever encountered. Perfect with the kids. Can be left alone a few hours with no issue. Never been destructive. Next to zero grooming needs (although in part this is because she's from a working line so shorter haired...we just keep her feathers trimmed which we do ourselves). Bombproof with everything. Perfect recall. A dream to train. Happy going on 8 hour hikes but equally happy with a 1 hour forest walk, some indoor tricks and then a lazy afternoon on the sofa.

An Australian Labradoodle isn’t a breed. Just saying….

Is this your first dog ?

If so, and you have children, it would be best to stay away from any breeds that have guarding as an inherent trait. We all know fabulous rottweilers, dobermans, german shepherds etc but the reality is that the risk level is higher and they require experienced owners and, ideally, a defined role for them that suits their natural instincts.

There is a reason why labradors and border terriers are frequently recommended as good, family dogs for those without experience.

A working line lab would give you the activity levels you need - if it has been bred well and you do the research.

A showline lab would be a good introduction into labs but possibly less likely to be able to do agility.

A border terrier could be a managable, if slightly independent, happy addition to your life. A smaller dog might be an easier introduction into dog ownership and generally they'd cope with the family, the walks and the agility.

Vizlas have been recommended - frankly they can be amazing or bat shit crazy and you wouldn't know which you're getting until you're in too deep

Golden retrievers - lovely breed but again there's more unpredictability

The larger the dog the less likely they are to be able to do agility but there's always alternatives like gun dog training etc. A large dog will be a large puppy so that's something to factor in for the sake of your children.

Whatever breed you decide to get, do the research and do the training but don't set yourself up for failure by getting an intense breed as your first and prepare youself by researching both the best and worst traits of each breed you're considering.

I'd reccomend a springer spaniel.

Mine is 1 years old. Will walk for hours and hours but in the house is very chilled out. She is so much fun to train. Absolutely amazing with the children. Just such a wonderful family dog.

Look at schnauzers. We have 2 miniatures and they are a dream and delight.

They don't shed, are beautiful characters and love adventures. They are also happy to snooze and cuddle on a particularly dreary day weather-wise.

Intelligent and food motivated so good to train with!

Beagles!

Great with kids, friendly to people and other dogs. Fairly healthy, low maintenance coats and a good size.

They are massive d!ckheads but very loveable and 2 long walks a day will do a lot to take the edge off their shenanigans.

Not a leonberger for sure
Fantastic dogs but a dog that size isn't just a dog, it's a lifestyle.

Amongst your options, I'd go for the golden retriever.
However, my first choice would be a border terrier.

Labrador or retriever would be fine with that.

Of your list a standard poodle is definitely the best fit for what you want. Will love agility and the exercise, and you can get one that is equally capable of being shown as well as doing agility/long walks. Show bred goldies will not be good for agility (but lovely dogs), and a working one won't do well in show classes. Leoberger's are lovely, but again a bit heavy to do very well at agility. A Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever would be good (a bit smaller though), or something like a curly coated or flat-coat retriever (be careful of health issues though)? Pointers (any coat) may also be a good fit to your needs?

We have a cocker spaniel. I have no comparative experience but the first year was hard work (nothing above what we’d expected). He’s now coming up to 4 and an absolute dream. Chilled in the house but loves to zigzag on a walk so we tend to let him off the lead with occasional lead walks. Very cuddly but happy to spend an afternoon at the beach or lake paddle boarding. Not too big and is surprisingly light shedder (compared to my previous cats). Mud dries and falls off the silky fur. Also rarely barks and has superb recall.

If looking to do agility and very big amounts of exercise regularly than a retriever isn’t a good option due to the risk of hip + elbow problems

Would a spaniel fit the criteria? They are generally lovely temperaments, great with kids, love agility.

The ones I know completely ignore other dogs as they are more interested in sniffing the ground or chasing a ball!

i had a Dobermann mix, was the scariest dog I have ever handled or owned, even my fila's are less scary.

If you want a large dog and good with children, why not think about a great pyranees or a bloodhound?

Such an interesting mix of responses- thanks everyone - keep them coming ☺️

I’m not a first time dog owner but it’s been a while since I’ve had one. I always had German shepherds before but in the past few years every GSD I encounter is a reactive, anxious mess 😞

Ok so I’ve been successfully put off the Leonberger. Beautiful dogs but I think it’s best I admire them from a distance 😂 maybe I underestimated the size and hair

Still considering the goldie but the poodle is really getting my attention now … the lack of shedding is a good incentive!

I don’t have small children but I do have a small grandchild who visits regularly.

i was thinking Dobermann due to the short hair and everyone saying they’re amazing family dogs but again … I’ve been successfully put off them 😂

We have a Labrador and she's amazing. Completely up for as much action as we want to have, but also happy to mooch and sofa surf.

Golden retrievers are lovely dogs, but the shedding is unreal.

Not familiar with Leonbergers.

Standard Poodle, big dogs, but no shedding.

depends how houseproud you are OP, good luck.

Giant Schnauzer?