Best breed for a first-time owner with cats?

[BlueRaspberry7]

Dear dog community

Calling on your combined wisdom please!

What breed would be best for my circumstances - if any?

• prefer a small to medium size dog
• would def consider adopting / rehoming a rescue dog
• between my DH and I, we wfh so there's always an adult at home
• we can walk it 2-3 times a day and it would have constant access to garden
• we also own 3 cats who are usually outside or asleep on a bed upstairs
• live in a village and have a private secure garden backing on on to fields
• two secondary school age kids
• not many visitors, we aren't big hosts

Any honest advice much welcome, even if it's simply not to get a dog as cat owners.

Are you happy to pay for groomers (or do it yourself) or would you prefer a dog that's a bit lower maintenance?

I would say a mini poodle is a great choice - they're intelligent, playful, easy to train and love company. They do need regular grooming but generally they're very easy going dogs. The one I look after lives with a cat (and goats) and is fabulous with both.

@fieldsofbutterflies am happy to groom or pay for groomer and miniature poodle is high on my list - thanks for confirming this could be a good choice

Labrador or border terrier. I think labs are easier and they’re great with teenagers.Sea swimming sailing hiking camping, they’ll join in every adventure.

We have two Labradors and they are very good with our cat. They came as puppies and learned early on not to piss him off! Not sure how that dynamic would work with an older rescue dog. They also get on well with older kids, and our teens adore them and they are friendly with new people. Hopeless guard dogs, though their bark is the real deal.

We have found our working Labradors to be biddable, affectionate and easy to train (they aren’t perfect, but are perfect for us!)

Not sure if they are too big, but our vet calls one of ours the Pygmy Labrador, as she’s dinky!

Something like a bichon frise.

@BlueRaspberry7 they're lovely little dogs. I was never the biggest poodle fan until I started walking them - they've definitely won me over