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.

My favourite ever dog was a lurcher, absolute sweetheart. Would run for miles but slept next to me, loved a blanket, gave hugs. Best dog ever, unfortunately he did have a very sensitive stomach and was prone to puking. I think he was, saluki crossed with something I can't remember. He was so lovely though, not a bad bone in his body.

Miniature poodles are better (to my mind) that standards. THey will be with you at your side all day long - winter or summer - love running, love training, love people. The taller miniatures (15 inches) are not far from the smaller standards (18 inches) and I found my miniature much easier to train than my standard. He was also easier to pick up if I needed to! They both had a puppy cut every 6-8 weeks rather than the full on pom poms etc. And they both had amazing temperaments. The standard (she was black and white) was stunning and attracted many favourable comments, even when she was filthy having been swimming in the river.

I say this on all the threads like this, but anyone going for a Vizsla or similar as a pet needs to take a good hard look at the pedigrees of the breeding.

Lots of FTW/FTCh (Field Trial winner/champion) or WTW/WTCh (working test winner/ champion) in the immediate ancestry will very probably mean you get a very wired and driven dog (one of mine is out of successful trialling lines and she's bloody full on). Also be cautious of dogs descended from recent imports and find out what the European awards mean. The Germans, for example, do not piss about and won't clear dogs of their own breeds for breeding unless they've passed tests of working ability. Wonderful dogs if you want to do stuff with them that plays to their strengths, but potential nightmares if not.

Some with show awards will also be in work, so check all of that with the breeder.

Oh dear. Keep persevering. I trained mine new stuff even at 5-6. She's seven now.

I say this on all the threads like this, but anyone going for a Vizsla or similar as a pet needs to take a good hard look at the pedigrees of the breeding.

I always wonder if the people recommending pointers have any experience of them. They're lovely dogs but they're definitely not easy.

I second this! Vizslas are simply the best dogs in the world

Schanuser.

I know nothing about dogs or dog ownership, but that is a fun word to say.

I saw someone recommending a Weimaraner for a first time dog recently

Just why?!

TeenLifeMum
You are so lucky, we have a cocker and his recall is next to zero. Spoke to loads of people and apparently because they’re so good at sniffing things out they just keep sniffing on and on and will ignore any calling. (Google it!!) I adore our little man but would never ever recommend for young kids, bitey as pups, sooo much energy even with a huge garden and loads of walks and playing. He’s so easy to train in so many (so many he really is a legend!) respects but when he gets hyper he’s so jumpy and so when we have kids over we have to keep him away. Everyone I know with cockers has told me the same. Fab dogs but lunatics

I don't think there is such a thing as a perfect breed, as they all have upsides and downsides. Maybe other than a rescue. I think rescue dogs are the best breed.

Any dog can be reactive, we had to rehome ours due to guarding/fear aggression.

Poodles are brilliant but they are extremely intelligent and and can be sensitive. I wouldn’t recommend a poodle as a first time dog/inexperienced owner.

Go for a golden, I have seen lots of reactive poodles/poodle mixes, but never a reactive golden. I’m not saying they don’t exist of course, but they are generally bombproof, go for a good breeder.

Anyone had experience of a Dalmatian?

My friend has had three Dalmatians. I know tiny bit.

Any negatives someone should know about who is considering getting one? I had a Lab in the past and love them but can’t cope with the constant shredding again plus obsession with very muddy puddle in the park!

I could knit a new lab every other day with what mine sheds.

Visla or a Jack Russel.

Haha I know! My ones fur got everywhere, looking for a less shedding breed next time but still want the nice friendly temperament my old Lab had

Ha, I wouldn’t buy a Dalmatian if you want less shedding - they’ll just be whiter and sharper than Labrador hair, so will stick in your furniture, car roof, feet, etc. …

Very high energy dogs, need to find the right motivation for them. Obviously care is needed when buying around hearing, apart from other breed issues.

Thank you. Yes I don’t think they are quite right for me which is a shame

What about a setter? Energetic, good natured and so beautiful.

Why does someone always recommend a tiny dog when OP literally states large or medium breed? Jack Russell???

So you can offer plenty of exercise, want a dog that can be around small children but won't live with them full time (visiting grandchild?) and wd like to do agility or similar.

Please consider contacting a good local rescue and explaining what you want. As others have said upthread a collie cross might suit you well. There are tons of them around, they would love this lifestyle. Lots got placed for rescue as most pet homes simply cannot provide that much mental and physical stimulation, the poor dogs get bored and demonstrate frustration behaviours. Its common to hear of dogs coming in who were getting 30 min walks if lucky or balls thrown around the garden. But apart from a history of trashing cushions, barking a lot when left or trying to herd cars the dog may be pretty stable. Take advice and be clear about your situation - they don't want a dog they place to come back to them.

My dog is a short-haired working BC. Mum and Dad both worked. She gets walked for two hours a day. Sometimes one walk is run or cycle ride and she gets longer walks at weekends and on holidays. Does some trick training with DD but we never found time for agility. Is currently chilling in a basket next to me. Not destructive, not dog or people reactive. Can be left for 3-4 hrs max. Still needs close attention round cars! No grooming needs (though she's atypically clean, will lick herself all over after getting muddy), very healthy. She is very bonded to me - likes spending the evening sitting next to me on the sofa watching TV.

Keeping her busy isn't optional - she does need to go out in snow and hail. I wouldn't recommend her to just anyone. But if you can keep her active and busy she's perfectly straightforward to live with and I think she's leading a fulfilling life with us.

Rescues are full of dogs like her

Daft as a brush with no "off" switch haha! If you're very active and patient, they can work. I knew someone who had one, but they lived on a farm, their older Labrador was walking calmly with us, the Dalmatian was literally running circles and spinning about all over the place. That pretty much sums them up.

For those that recommend Viszlas, my boss has a gorgeous one whose highly reactive, needs at least 2-3 hours of walking every day and will absolutely go bananas if he even sees a dog on the horizon. They've tried everything and consulted behaviourists over him but he's got some trauma that is no easy fix.

Bitten by a friend's family Doberman when I was 9.
The dad said "walk through the doorway, she won't hurt you, she's trained"... Luckily I still had my thick coat on so my tummy was only bruised.
I'm wary of them.